Sunday, August 31, 2014

Wishing You Peace at Christmas


My second card for Our Daily Bread Designs' sketch challenge is a Christmas card. I know--Christmas is not quite around the corner--yet--and I'm sick of some of the Big Box craft stores putting out their Christmas decorations and supplies in June. But we send out a lot of cards for Christmas, and I decided not to repeat last year's effort of over 100 cards in one month, which left me incredibly burned out!

Again, I based my card on the ODBD sketch:


The only real change I made to the sketch was to substitute a die-cut doily for the banners.

This time I chose the "Chickadee Single" stamp. I stamped it on a piece of white cardstock in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and cut it out with the coordinating die. I die cut a label from a patterned paper in the Creative Imaginations/Iron Orchid Designs "Rejoice" 6x6" pad, using a die from Spellbinders' "Labels Eight" set. I traced around the same die onto burgundy cardstock, and cut it out with scissors to create a narrow mat. After coloring the berries, branch, and chickadee's beak and feet with colored pencils, I glued that die cut down to the label panel. Finally, I stamped the greeting underneath the chickadee, using some of the stamps from this set and Tuxedo Black.

I chose 2 patterned papers from The Paper Studio for the background and smaller, checkered panel. I double-matted the background with burgundy and kraft cardstocks. I also matted the checkered panel with burgundy. I temporarily positioned the checkered & label panels onto the card front, and marked the bottom edge, as well as where the label came onto the checkered piece. I glued a piece of dark red ribbon onto the small panel, so the label would cover most of it. Then I glued the label & checkered panels together.

I cut a doily out of white cardstock using Lifestyle Crafts' "Dainty Doily" die. I lightly sponged Scattered Straw Distress ink over it, just to soften the look. I cut off a portion, and glued it in place on the card front. Then I glued the label/checkered panel over it, wrapped the ribbon behind the patterned paper, and adhered the completed card front to a 4.5x7.25" card base.

I'm also entering this card in Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday "Anything Goes" challenge.

4 comments:

  1. Oh, Andrea, how beautiful! I love this bird (one of my faves), and I love how you've made this into a Christmas card!! Brilliant! And I love your take on the sketch by adding the doily below! Beautiful card, with DP, and lovely Christmas sentiment! I so agree with you about burning out making a "ton" of cards for Christmas late! I've done that so many times, and I hope after my DD term (that ends September 15) that I will be able to start mine!! So glad you've joined us once again and shared this beautiful card for the ODBD Shining the Light challenge (and started your Christmas cards)! Hugs, sweet friend (and I see you have another to share)!

    ReplyDelete
  2. such a pretty card :) so elegant! thank you for playing a long with simon says stamp wednesday challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I adore this beauty Andrea! The doily looks wonderful as the banner! I cannot imagine as 100 cards in a month! At least you've gotten a head start! Thanks for creating with us at ODBD!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is so beautiful Andrea!! The dp matches the chickadee and berries perfectly!! The doily is such a creative take on the banner!! Glad you were able to get a start on your cards for Christmas!! That sure is a ton of cards to create in a month!! Thanks for joining us at ODBD!!

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear your thoughts on my work, so feel free to speak your mind!