Sunday, 8 May 2011

Week 18, 19 Christmas Cards - Three cards including a Squidgy Santa

Afternoon All,

It's turned out lovely here after the awful storms of last night and we now have bright sunshine. The birds are really enjoying it and singing their hearts out. I even spotted a squirrel earlier. I've been working on Christmas cards to keep up with my personal challenge to make one a week, even managing to make two for last week and one in advance for this week. Here's the first.

Squidgy Santa Front
Some time ago my DH surprised me by bringing in a pack of Christmas Squidgy Stickers he'd found in one of the pound shops. That was 15 stickers for 99p - quite a bargain though at the time I did wonder what I would ever use them for! However, they do have just the sort of texture a small child would love to touch and squeeze so this card will be going to one of the tots in the family this year.

The black and white script card was scanned as a jpg so that it could be imported into a graphics programme to create the insert and also printed out for layering. A red chalk ink pad from docrafts was used to distress the piece of card used on the front.

Materials used: White cardstock for 5.5" x 5.5" base and for print out of script layer; black/white script card from paperbox.co.uk; white copy paper to print insert; red car die-cut; red chalk ink pad; squidgy Santa topper.

Snowflake card
The second card kind ofgrew out of the first, though I did originally intend using the gorgeous snowflake die cut as something to put a stocking topper on. However, while I was working on it, it became clear that it wouldn't work so it was back to the drawing board. And that's when I decided to double up the snowflake, distress it a bit and bling it up. I lifted the tips of the topmost snowflake to add a bit of dimension to it too.

Materials used: white cardstock for 5.5" x 5.5" base and for print out of script layer; red paper from Cock-A-Doodle Christmas Page Packet; Two white snowflake die cuts; Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Black Soot & Fired brick; Perfect Pearls, Forever Red; docrafts red glitter; flat-backed rhinestone from stash.

insert

The inserts for these cards were the same and the backs were similarly decorated.

back
The third card uses the stocking topper intended for the second card - one thing just led to another this week :)

Christmas Stocking Card

This card proved impossible to photograph face on because of the silver embossed card reflecting the light. So these are the two best shots taken at two different angles.

Christmas Stocking Card

The top of the stocking has been decorated with fluffy stuff - I love the texture - and a sprinkling of silver glitter. No insert for this one but it's decorated inside, as is the back, with the design paper.

Inside
This card I'm submitting to Crafty Hazel's Christmas Card Challenge - the challenge this week is based on this cute photograph.



I've a busy week ahead of me with several cards to make. My wee brother, Colin, turns 60 on 20th May - I can hardly believe it. It doesn't seem so long ago I climbed up onto the sofa to peep at my new baby brother in his pram! And my son's daughter, our lovely granddaughter, Jolene, is 11 on 24th May - she's growing up rather too fast too. Living as they do in rural Aberdeenshire we don't see them as often as we do my daughter and her family, so we are travelling up this coming weekend to pay a visit - it will be lovely to catch up. 

Anyway, I'd better get on - I've a stamp to colour!

Take care and happy crafting,

7 comments:

Hazel said...

Oh wow! Elizabeth - delightful cards - you're getting ahead of yourself this week. Hope you get all the family cards made and have a lovely time next week - thanks for once more taking part in my challenge - hope to see you again for the next one. x

Christa said...

Hi Elizabeth , that is a good job : making your Christmas-cards during the year. For me it doesn't work....I can't make them when it's hot outside. These 3 cards are great ; and so different. Compliment. And good luck this week with all the cards you have to make....Love from Holland , Christa.

Gez Butterworth said...

awe, bless your brother..hope he has a lovely birthday :) Scary where time disappears too. Enjoy your card making..xx

Your Christmas cards are so beautiful :)

Jackie said...

What lovely bright and cheery cards :o)
Jackie xx

coops said...

gorgeous cards elizabeth.i love the images especially the fun santa and great colours and designs ;D

xx coops xx

Carrie said...

I am mightily impressed by what you have made with your Squidgy Santa....well done to EM on his fabulous Crafty Find. Loads of birthdays for you to celebrate this month....I hope they all have wonderful birthdays filled with plenty of surprises.
Hugs
Carrie
xxx

gymjean said...

Wow elizabeth lovely card you are getting ahead with those Christmas cards ,At the moment I cant upload my cards on my blog, do you no if it has change lately Hugs Jeanxx