Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas, Bring It On Home!

LOTS to show today, lots to show!  It's the day before Christmas, and I'm cramming in the last Christmas cards of 2013.

Up first, one for hubby:


I gold-embossed a beautiful word tree from O Christmas Tree (JustRite) and gave it a tree-topper made of twine and a pearl.  Hubby knows to expect pearls and some feminine touches on the cards I give him.  It's just what I do.  ;-)


Instead of mounting the lace trim on vanilla colored cardstock, I slipped a thin strip of black underneath.  It creates a bit more shadow.  The tree trunk is a bit of burlap I rescued from a ruined art project of my daughter's (wet basements - ugh).


One for the shop:  a mistletoe card for someone's sweetheart.  It's pretty straightforward, and uses an Inspired By Stamping sentiment.



Up next, a Christmas card for the employees of Arts Plus Gallery, where I sell my cards.  They are the kindest folks, and I am grateful they give artists a beautiful place to sell their handcrafted wares.


I used modern snowflakes (made from little Christmas trees!) from Verve's Christmas Is In The Air.  They were stamped full-strength in kraft ink, then stamped off for a lighter effect.   I used a dab of Platinum Stickles in the center of each.  Linking this up to Verve's Diva Dare "Favorites" challenge.  :-)


Here's a cute, happy snowman for my sweetest 12 year old daughter.  She's got a personality to match this card.


The colors in this beautiful wreath were my inspiration:

Photo source
I used Flourishes' Warm Winter Wishes, a set I was fortunate to win a few years back, and a sentiment from Verve.  Plenty of icy glitter found its way onto this, too!


I'm putting this card in the Merry Monday challenge:  use an animal on your card (I've got the bird).  The deadline was extended until 1/5/14, so I can play!  Yay!


Originally, I was planning to give this last card to my husband.  It's just not really 'him', though, so I made the card that you saw at the top of this post instead.


Been a while since I dusted off Stampin' Up!'s Branch Out set, and I really do love it.  It makes cards that are perfect for any season.  I used Iridescent Ice embossing powder, also from SU, to create some drifting snowflakes.  The sentiment is from Flourishes.


Have I mentioned before that white seam binding, to me, is like the ubiquitous little black dress?  I LOVE using it on so many projects.  It creates soft bows that flatten nicely for mailing, but still looks good when  arriving to its destination.  I get mine from Zipper Stop.  The 100-yard roll lasts and lasts and lasts, and the price is great, too.  They offer, like, a million colors.  But white...well, it goes with most everything.


Friends, I wish you the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest New Year.  May your holidays be filled with wonder, love, blessings, and perhaps a few crafty trinkets.  ;-)

Crafting and blogging make my heart happy and I would be here even if no one ever came by.  It's gratifying to know that other eyeballs see what I make, though.  Thank you so much for your visits and comments throughout 2013.  I truly appreciate you.

See you all in 2014!




Card #1 - Christmas Tree in Gold
Stamps: O Christmas Tree - JustRite Paper: Vintage Cream, white - PTI; Lost & Found Madison Square - My Mind's Eye; Chocolate Chip, Basic Black - SU Ink: Versamark - Tsukineko Fibers: burlap; twine - Creative Impressions; lace crochet trim - Hero Arts Accessories & Tools: pearl - Queen & Co.

Card #2 - Mistletoe
Stamps: Christmas Greetings - Inspired By Stamping Paper: white - PTI; Garden Green - SU Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Branch with Leaves - Sizzix; pearls - Queen & Co.; corner rounder punch - Fiskars

Card #3 - Mod Snowflakes
Stamps: Christmas Is In The Air - Verve Paper: Very Vanilla - SU Ink: Crumb Cake - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: white seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: Platinum Stickles - Ranger

Card #4 - Happy Snowman
Stamps: Warm Winter Wishes - Flourishes; Winter Mittens - Verve Paper: Tempting Turquoise, patterns - SU; white - PTI Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Night of Navy - SU Fibers: white satin ribbon - Nicole Accessories & Tools: iridescent glitter; Copic markers

Card #5 - Bare Tree Christmas
Stamps: Branch Out - SU; Warm Winter Wishes - Flourishes Paper: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, pattern - SU; white - PTI Ink: Versamark - Tsukineko; Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Basic Gray - SU Fibers: white seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: rhinestone brad, Iridescent Ice embossing powder - SU

13 comments:

Marisa said...

You've been busy!! Love the burlap tree trunk, elegant leaf, VERVE!!, cute snowman and darling tree. Way to squeeze them all in! Wishing you a blessed Christmas :)

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Wow wow wow!! These are all gorgeous! LOVING how you used the burlap as the tree trunk on the first one!! Merry Christmas!!!

Leslie Miller said...

Merry Christmas to you, Colleen! I'm enjoying a quiet morning before heading to the kitchen for candy making and all your lovely cards are a great boost to my Christmas spirit, not that it was waning. These are all just wonderful. I especially love your hubby's card, but the one with the Modern Snowflakes is awesome in its simplicity. They're all fabulous!

Tenia Nelson said...

Awesome cards, dearie!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours!! :)

Linda Callahan said...

Beautiful collection of Christmas cards! Merry Christmas to you!

Erum Tasneem said...

Love, love love loveeee

Paperesse said...

Beauties ALL, Colleen! A very Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!

Janny's Cards Creations said...

Many beautiful cards. For you and your family, Mary Christmas and the best wishes for 2014. Janny

Darnell said...

It is so blissful to be sit here at my computer with Christmas in all its lovely chaos behind me and just feast my eyeballs (to use your phrase) on all these pretty and creative cards!!

I love them all, Colleen, but I will say the mistletoe green with the pearl accents, instead of the normal red berries, just blew me away. Genius CASness!! I'm so pinning and stealing that idea!

Here's to a mega-creative 2014!! Happy New Year!! Darnell

Crafty Lein* - enjoy creativity said...

WOW so many beautiful lovely cards!!! Hope your Christmas days were wonderful and already wishing you a perfect New Years Eve.

With love from The Netherlands,
Leintje*

Unknown said...

So many wonderful cards my friend. I love seeing what you create. I do hope you had a Merry Christmas and Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year.

Hugs~

Holly AKA KopyKat said...

Wow these are all so fabulous

Emily Keaton said...

I loved seeing your last Christmas cards of 2013, Colleen! And thanks for the tip on where you get your seam binding! I have always wanted some but have never been able to find anything affordable. I just may have to treat myself ;) !!

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