See What Happens When I Get a Weekend Off?

Crafting! I saw a good sketch on the Cardabilities website (via Jen Allen's blog) and thought I'd play around with it. I have the Ovals Originals Die for the Big Shot, and I hadn't played with it yet. This didn't turn out at all like I thought it would, but sometimes that's a good thing.

I won't bore you with the evolution of this card, but I will tell you that I started out thinking there would be a greeting in the Very Vanilla oval with some sort of embellishment, like the sketch, in the lower right corner. The greeting I chose ended up being better oriented horizontally instead of vertically, so I began to rethink everything. A set I am not normally drawn to, Home for Christmas, came to mind, because I thought I could focus on the door in the image and pair it with the sentiment that goes with the set.

I inked the image in Early Espresso and laid the middle sized oval where I wanted it on the stamp. I colored only the wreath in Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler and matted it on Cherry Cobbler card stock with the largest oval. Again I chose Jolly Holiday DSP (I prefer traditional Christmas colors and this package is less muted than Deck the Halls DSP, the offering in the Holiday Mini) for the paper that the sketch showed as two large pieces behind the ovals.

I had some snippets of the 5/8" Victoria Crochet Trim and thought I could add them to soften up the sketch. This is about as vintage or shabby chic as I get, peeps. I like the end result though. These would be quick and easy cards for Christmas, as they don't require much coloring or stamping.

I know many of you lurk but don't ever comment, so let's see if I can get a response from you. How many of you are making Christmas cards this year? If so, what set are you using? If not, why?

Fourth Post of the Day...This Must be a Record

My husband says that sometimes his brain is like a thunderstorm...a flash of brilliance and then sudden darkness! That's probably how you'll feel about this blog in the next few days, since I've exhausted my creativity quotient for the week with all this activity today!

But, while the mojo's flowin'(and you have a deadline for a hostess on Friday) you have to take advantage.

The first card is yet another using Season of Friendship. If you haven't figured out that I meant it when I said that this set is versatile, the THREE cards I made with it and posted TODAY should be sufficient evidence. This one incorporates the new Ski Slope DSP from the Holiday Mini Catalog--it's scrumptious! I used Kraft as my base again, matted three pieces of the DSP on Chocolate Chip, and then created my focal point on Baja Breeze.

The snowflakes were embossed using White Embossing Powder. For some reason the stuff and I don't get along. It left behind some dusty spots in places I didn't want them, so I got out my brayer and the Versamark and covered the entire piece in the sticky ink. Then I doused the whole sheet with Dazzling Diamonds. Problem solved! Except...the stuff began to molt when I handled it. Next time I'm going to douse the whole thing in Heat & Stick Powder and then add the DD. Then it won't go anywhere. Glitter's great, but it makes a MESS! Still, I love the look. The little ribbon accent is done with the white satin ribbon, and I cheated and tacked it around the backs and then tied a separate little knot in the lower corner. So much easier than wrestling with positioning it while trying to keep said glitter from coming off...

The second card is a mighty quickie, and I am thrilled. This sentiment is from the Home for Christmas set, also in the Holiday Mini. The image in the set is best colored with markers, colored pencils, etc., but I don't want to use that at the SAS I'm making this card for...too time consuming when you have 15 cards to make in 3 hours or less.

I was about to give up about an hour ago after several experiments with this weren't going like I wanted. Then I had a lightning strike of creativity and went back to the craft room and pulled out these FANTASTIC felt snowflakes! They come in a pack of umpteen bazillion and they're AWESOME in their three sizes and three colors! Stamp the sentiment from the set, lay down a sweet layer of way cool felt ribbon, adhere said flakes, and it's done! SWEET! I made my deadline with a day to spare, so now I'm going to read a book and fall asleep.

Have a great rest of the week!