Hello crafty friends and visitors! As you might recall, I made a little promise to myself at the beginning of the year to make at least one Christmas card per month so as not to get myself all jammed up at the end of the year. Well, it may be the last day of March, but I've made it (after a late crafty night).
A couple of my closeups were taken at night in poor light. There are a lot of shadows, but it did show off the gorgeous sparkle on the tree. Please forgive.
My inspiration came from a packet of Christmas die cuts my talented friend, Autumn
(Sew Paper Paint) sent me in a huge pile of goodies this past Christmas. I just love the traditional look and glitter on these die cuts, and this Christmas tree stole my heart. There's lots of pretty designs, so check back for more of this type of Christmas card.
She also sent me a rubber stamp in the image of Christmas sheet music--"Silent Night, Holy Night", my favorite Christmas hymn! I embossed just the song title on vellum for my sentiment, masking the stamp with tape to get my spacing right.
The background was done using Distress Oxides in Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint and Iced Spruce. This is actually the second panel I made. The first turned out much prettier, but when I was cutting my mixed media paper, I mistakenly picked up and inked the smaller piece, and didn't realize it until I assembled the card. Duh! The verdict is still out on the Oxides for me...I don't think I have the patience for them. If anyone has any tips on how to use them, I'll welcome them. Addendum: Since writing this I note that Autumn has a couple of excellent tutorials on her blog using Oxides. Thanks, Autumn; so happy you shared your tips!
To finish, I heat embossed the edges of a panel to frame my simple card. Three months down to keep my crafty resolution, nine to go!
I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Because this is such a short post (for me), I thought I would share some photos of what it looks like when we get a snow storm in the south. The day before the snow we were on the beach in our shorts!
We have a different meaning for "yellow snow" here in the south. That yellow you see is pollen!
Thank you for visiting and for all your wonderful comments! I read and appreciate each and every one of them!
Hugs and Blessings!
Sara Emily
A beautiful creation. Thanks so much for joining our challenge at the Season's Greetings Challenge Blog. And also thanks for sharing the lovely pictures!
ReplyDeleteMajo - DT ♥
Gorgeous Christmas card and wonderful pictures of the snow. I am afraid that since we left the mountains of North Carolina - I will never see snow again!!
ReplyDeleteSandy xx
It's beautiful Sara, love the gorgeous background you created too. You have created beautiful layers of colour and shimmer. The tree die cut/image is just stunning too. Where on earth does Autumn find these beautiful images lol! I need to know her contact.
ReplyDeleteI just got an awesome discount voucher so I've been able to pre-order some of the Distress Oxides, will have to wait until late April but the discount was well worth the wait. I will be going back to read the tips from Autumn and there was a You Tube video from Tim or a video on his web site that I will be hunting for too, let me know if you want me to copy the links and I'll email you then. Have a lovely weekend sweet lady xx
Ooooh I love that Oxide background, it is gorgeous and really sets off the beautiful tree wonderfully well - the tree looks so realistic. I love the embossing on the vellum, it is so rich! No real tips about the Oxides, except just keep playing with colours and layers... I have made tons of backgrounds so far but not made up a single thing...
ReplyDeleteThe snow looks so out of place with all those beautiful blossoms, I hope it didn't kill them off, that would be such a shame. Great photos though! Hugs, Anne xx
Oh, wow, Sara Emily, this is so gorgeous!! The background looks amazing!! I love the colors!! What a beautiful tree with the sparkle!! The embossed sentiment is a perfect touch!! Love, love this, my sweet friend!! It's stunning!!
ReplyDeleteWow!! Those pictures make me shiver!! Ugh, snow!! And ice!! Your shots are fabulous though!! I hope the beautiful blooms survive!! Happy Friday!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)
Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
What a beautiful Christmas card...love your oxide ink background and gold embossed sentiment. I'd be excited to get a Christmas card done in March, too! Thank you for sharing your lovely card with us at Mustard Seed Faith challenge blog!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful card Sara and the Oxide background looks fabulous and I'm sure you'll get to love them the more you play with them. Love the embossing on the vellum, adds a gorgeous touch. Hope the snow doesn't last or spoil the beautiful blooms.
ReplyDeleteAvril xx
Your Christmas card is absolutely gorgeous Sara Emily that wonderful oxide background sets off the tree beautifully and the embossed vellum is a perfect finishing touch. Such pretty pictures but snow is not what you want to be seeing with blossoms blooming, hope they don't get affected by it. Have a great weekend xxx
ReplyDeleteYour card is really amazing , loved the oxide background and the picture is just perfect. Thank you for going us at Season's Greeting
ReplyDeleteHugs
DT
Pavitra
A beautiful card ,even though I am having difficulty thinking Christmas! lol
ReplyDeleteAnd for your snow photos- not funny! You keep them- We have had enough of our own! I prefer to go back to dreaming of your sunshine and warmth down there!
love ya,Jackie xx
Gorgeous card Sara Emily!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Samra
Paper Talk with Samra
Beautiful card. I have these oxides on my wish list. The background looks amazing. Thanks for sharing with us at The Mustard Seed Faith Challenges
ReplyDeleteThat pollen makes me want to sneeze from here ... lovely Christmas card ... thanks for joining us at jingle belles.
ReplyDeleteOh my! Mother Nature must have experienced a lapse to do this to her creatures! All than snow and ice on spring blossoms - it's just not right! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow generous of Autumn to share from her stash! I love what you have created. Sara! Gorgeous background, beautiful tree, an amazing creation. It's breathtaking! You're doing much better than I regarding Christmas cards! I must get started!
I love your beautiful card, Sara Emily, and I think you did an amazing job on your DOX background (still waiting for mine to arrive...)! The background is truly perfect for that gorgeous tree and gold embossing. I really love the simplicity. Thank you for sharing your snowy photos - hate when it spoils the beautiful flowers :-( Hugs!!
ReplyDeleteLoving your Oxides background Sara Emily. Well done for keeping up with your cards. The snow pictures are beautiful, especially when you don't have to venture out into it! Thanks for joining in with us at Country View Crafts.
ReplyDeleteLove your card, and your gorgeous photos too. Thanks for sharing at fab n Funky.
ReplyDeleteSharon x
Love your traditional tree against its non-traditional inky Oxide background - a really cool design. Good work on keeping up with your resolution too - you'll be in good shape come Christmas. Amazing to see your snowy pictures... believe it or not, we've been out in the garden in blazing sunshine even here in the Czech Republic the last few days, yet we're forecast snow flurries later this week - it's mad, isn't it?!
ReplyDeleteAlison x
I love your background! It really showcases your tree but I think it's he star:-) Thanks for joining us at The Mod Squad Challenge
ReplyDeleteWOW! Did you ever bring that tree to life! This is oh so beautiful and I comment your efforts in keeping up with your Christmas stash! I'm terrible at that. Love love this beautiful project! Hugs, Autumn
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, what a beautiful Christmas card Sara! That background is just glorious, wow, all the splashes and splatters, love it! The neutrals work so well as a backdrop for your wonderful Christmas tree! Love the gold embossed sentiment on the vellum strip, so very elegant!! An absolutely stunning and festive card!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, how much do I love your snowy photos! I can't believe that there are flowers and green leaves and then snow on top, how bizarre! We won't get flowers or green leaves for several more weeks. Planning my first patio garden ever this year, how excited am I!! sending hugs :)
very pretty and such a unique way to use stephanie's sketch! thanks for joining the fun at JINGLE BELLES!
ReplyDeleteSara Emily, I adore this card! YOu chose the perfect background colors to make that lovely vintage Christmas tree pop right off the page! How brilliant to heat emboss the greeting on vellum and have it span the background. This is a beauty! We also had pollen on snow here...what a hoot!
ReplyDeletePS...the photography is lovely!!!!
ReplyDeleteHello, your card is beautiful, I know someone will be very happy to receive this! Thank you for Joining in our Anything Goes challenge at Word Art Wednesday! Ginny M DT
ReplyDeleteOkay, this is STUNNING and so beautiful! Gorgeously done and I have to agree with you about the tree. Awesome sauce, fantabulous, magnificent and totes Wowzers! Hilarious about the yellow snow! Seems like the weather is just as crazy in your neck of the woods as it is here. I haven't used the DOX yet but now am even more curious. Thanks for the info. Hugz to you muffin! ~Punkin
ReplyDeleteI love your background. Gorgeous card.
ReplyDelete