Christmas Cards

I stayed up far too late last night making Christmas cards.  I haven't had a lot of crafty time lately, but I do need to get my Christmas cards finished.

I used several challenges for inspiration.  I loved the sketch at RetroSketches this week, and combined it with the red and green challenge at Less is More, which I've missed for the last two weeks.  :(  I used a Studio G sentiment that I picked up for 50 cents and stamped it in red and green. I used a patterned paper from my scrap bin for the background pieces and a tiny gem to finish it off.

I used the same sketch to make another Christmas card in white and purple.  This uses a Hero Arts dove and more paper from my scrap bin.

Finally, one last red and green card using a Hero Arts ornament.  This card also fits the challenge at Addicted to CAS, where the code word is bauble. I felt this card was turning out rather boring, but I didn't want to scrap it altogether.  I threw a bow on it and popped up the main panel.  It's a little better, although still not my favorite.

I don't often use red and green for Christmas cards.  I think one reason is that I just like non-traditional Christmas cards.  Another reason is that I don't have any perfect Christmas ink.  For these cards I used Memento bamboo leaves for the green.  On the first card I used ladybug red and the last card uses rhubarb stalk.

I recently bought a large Memento ink pad in cottage ivy, thinking it would be the perfect Christmas green.  I haven't made a single card with it, as it doesn't stamp well.  It appears blotchy.  If anyone has a recommendation for good Christmas colored inks, I'm all ears! :)

Have a great day!

Ann

Less is More 82 & Retrosketches 26

I found some crafty time late last night and made a card for Less is More 82 and Retro Sketches 26.  It's a 3-2-1 challenge at Less is More and for my card I chose to use 3 colors, 2 flowers, and 1 word (or bow).

I loved the simplicity of the sketch at Retro Sketches this week and I think I've managed to link it in time.  The last two cards I made for RetroSketches didn't make the deadline. :)

Thanks for your visit today!

Ann

Retro Sketches #26

PDCC141 and RetroSketches 20

I was quite taken with sketch 20 at RetroSketches this week.  It had a lot of white space, which I love, but also a lot of elements to put together, which scared me. :)  I determined last night to give it a go, and I chose to use the lovely, soft colors of PlayDate Cafe 141.

This is what I ended up with:

Unfortunately for me, when I went to post my card, the challenge at RetroSketches had already closed.  Oops.  Oh well.  I'm still fairly pleased with the result and all those elements really gave my brain a creative workout. :)

Supplies:
Paper: PTI white
Stamps: PTI happy hexagons, mega mixed messages
Ink: Memento cantaloupe, Versamagic pink grapefruit,
Other: hemp cord, corner rounder, Cuttlebug embossing folder, flowers by Recollections

Beautiful Inspiration:

RetroSketches #14

I'm playing along for the first time with the RetroSketches challenge.  This week's sketch really appealed to my clean and simple nature! :)

I immediately thought of the Wplus9 Mother's Day Bouquet set.  I've been wanting to play with those gorgeous flowers since I got it!  I stamped the flowers and leaves using the citrus-colored VersaMagic inks that I've been so in love with lately.  I cut each bloom and leaf and put them together to make a a flower cluster.  This set is so pretty, and a great deal at just $6.00.

 

For the vertical element, I first masked and sponged an inked panel but I wasn't too excited about it.   Then I remembered this beautiful card from Maile Belles, and decided to place the sponged panel behind a cut out section of white card to give it a little dimension.  It  still needed a little something to set it apart from the flowers, so I stamped my large plaid HA background stamp across the sponged panel.  Finally, I popped the flower cluster up on dimensionals and added a sentiment.  

I wondered if it need a little something up in the right hand corner to balance it out.  I've never been very good at random bling, but I gave it a try.  I can't decide which I like best.  What do you think - bling or no bling?

 RetroSketches #14

Supplies:
Paper: PTI white
Ink: VersaMagic persimmon, pink grapefruit, mango madness, key lime
Stamps: Wplus9 Mother's Day Bouquet, PTI communique curves sentiments