Christmas Mail

Die Cut Divas' challenge theme for this month has been "Christmas in July." I created this card, using Sketch #SC636 from Splitcoaststampers.com, in response to their challenge.

I stamped the "Holiday Mail" image from Deep Red Stamps onto a piece of white cardstock, with Hero Arts Black dye ink. After I colored it with my Prismacolor colored pencils, I cut a slit in the cardstock along the right side of the package in the mailbox. I die cut 3 envelopes using two of the Essentials by Ellen "Bitty Envelope" dies, highlighted the score lines on each with a light grey colored pencil, and slipped them into the slit. I squirted a little glue under each envelope to help hold them in place. I also added Spectrum Noir Clear Overlay glitter pen to the bow, Star Dust Stickles to the snow on the ground & mailbox, and Morning Dew Nuvo Crystal Drops to the berries around the mailbox. Finally, I used a fine-tip black pen to extend the stamp lines where the mailbox post is in the snow.

Loosely following the sketch, I die cut a piece of striped paper from my scrap stash with one of the "Stitched Borders 2" dies from Pretty Pink Posh. I trimmed that into a 1.25"-wide strip. I cut my greeting strip from red cardstock. I stamped my greeting, from Hero Arts' "Merry Christmas Messages" set, in Versamark on that strip, and heat embossed it with Recollections Snow embossing powder.

To add interest to my background, I die cut several white snowflakes using dies from Sizzix/Tim Holtz "Snowflakes, Mini" set. I ran them through my Xyron Creative Station, to apply adhesive to the back of each, & adhered them to my white A2 card base. Then I used my ATG tape runner to adhere my striped paper & greeting strips. To help my focal panel stand out a bit more, I inked around the edges with Peeled Paint Distress ink, before adhering it in place. As a finishing touch, I die cut another envelope & punched a small heart from white cardstock. I glued them in place on the greeting strip, and added Star Dust Stickles to the heart. I will send this card for the "Cards for Little Hearts" holiday card drive. They are collecting holiday/winter themed cards for children in Nationwide Children's Hospital who have congenital heart conditions. If you would like to donate cards, you can read more about it at Christina Hor's blog.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create #199: "Anything Goes"
Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Anything Goes"
Send a Smile 4 Kids: "Christmas in July 4 Kids"
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday: "Add Sparkle"