I was a tad disappointed when I read on the Merry Monday challenge blog that it was closing for a two full months during summertime. While I agree that the design team deserves a break and should enjoy the nice weather with their family, I really like their challenges and love that it challenges me to keep going on Holiday cards throughout the year. I thought this summer break would be a good time to catch up on some of the wonderful challenges they've posted up until now this year but that I've missed out on, not for lack of interest but for lack of time. I left a comment suggesting adding a Linky open all summer where people could share their creations, catching on past challenges. Lori took me up on the idea by adding a Summer LinkUp and even gave me a shout out in the post. And the gallery keeps growing, so there's a few of us working on those past challenges.
Speaking of which, today's card was inspired by Merry Monday #211: Use blue, gold and white/silver. I found the Hello Winter from Echo Park in my stash and thought the mix of blues would work well for this challenge. One of the paper has a full winter scene, including a pond, so I was immediately reminded of those cute winter animals from the Stacey Yacula collection at Purple Onions that could possibly work. Sure enough, they were just the right size, so I embossed them in Gold Powder on watercolor paper and colored them with ink and a blending pen.
I combined it with the Stamping Smiles Designs challenge #14, and selected Add Dimensional, Intricate Dies and Ribbon from their tic-tac-toe grid.
Another touch of gold was added at the top by die-cutting a Deco Label out of Gold Glimmer paper for the sentiment block. On top of it, I added a sentiment die-cut with the Christmas Greetings Thinlits and the new Sunshine Sayings stamp set. The banner was punched using the Duet Banner Punch. White and aqua sequins were added everywhere as falling snow.
The paper was coming from a 6" x 6" paper stack and I didn't want to cut it down too much so as not to lose the scenery, so I just cut off slivers on all sides and made a 6" x 6" card base, This card is bigger than my usual square cards. I used a sheet of 12" x 12" paper (from our former Winter Frost Specialty DSP pack) and the Envelope Punch Board to make a matching envelope.
Supplies
Stamps: Souhaits et voeux (Sunshine Sayings - Stampin' Up!), Stacey Yacula Collection (The Purple Onion)
Cardstock: Bazzill, Mint Macaron (SU!), Whisper White (SU!), watercolor paper
Patterned Papers: Hello Winter (Echo Park), Winter Frost Specialty DSP (SU!)
Ink: VersaMark, Lost Lagoon
Accessories: Blending Pen, Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Sequins, Duet Banner Punch, Gold Glimmer Paper, Deco Labels Framelits Dies,
Dapper Denim Ruched Ribbon, Envelope Punch Board
Wow, another amazing Christmas card! I adore the Stacy Yakula images you embossed and your coloring is fantastic! Such an adorable card, love this happy scene! Thanks again for joining us at Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #14!
Posted by: Judy1223 | July 31, 2016 at 20:27