Wednesday, January 6, 2016

A Late Christmas Card

Hello everybody!  I may look like I'm on top of things, making my Christmas cards for next year already, but truth be told this is a card I just made for my sister for THIS year! Yup! I'm late with her Christmas gift! I ordered a gift card  for her favorite ice cream shop, but it somehow got shuffled around with the paperwork on my husband's desk, and it just surfaced.  I didn't want to just give her the gift card by itself, so I made this card to send it in. It's all good though, because my sister and I are never on time with each other's gifts; we believe the spirit of Christmas should be throughout the year (it's our little sisterly tradition), and I already sent her a home made card enclosed with her other gifts.


No new techniques here, but I was inspired by Pamellia's Christmas Polka card with it's peek a boo opening and her beautiful  blue, silver and white color scheme. Further inspiration came from Ingrid with her incredible snowy "postal" card.
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The bottom layer was made using Tim Holtz Layering Stencil, Stripes and Perfect Pearls Mist, Pewter. The blue layer is inked with Distress inks and given the old spritz and flick. I fussy cut the stamped trees and popped them up.  The  die cut trees (popped up further), the large snowflake, and the bottom edge of the oval got a snowy treatment using  Distress glitters. The snowflake background stamp is my latest addition to my collection. Love it! I ended up using 3 layers of foam tape, so this baby's thick!



To finish off the card I added a floppy hand dyed bow made using my vintage seam binding.  This doesn't hold it's shape as well as Tim's Crinkle ribbon, but it takes a wicked curl--I wish my hair would hold a curl like that! A bit of bling for the snowflake and a splattering of white acrylic paint for a little flurry.  Have I mentioned how much I LOVE my Tim Holtz Splatter brush????

Dies: Sizzix On the Edge Tree Line, Snowflake Duo; Spellbinders Opulent Ovals. Inks, sprays, paint:  Distress-Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Blueprint Sketch; Archival-Watering Can; Distress spray-Blueprint Sketch; Pewter and Perfect Pearl mists;  DecoArt paint- Titanium White; Distress paint-Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Brushed Pewter (snowflake and ribbon). Stamps:  Tim Holtz Merry Christmas (trees); Deep Red Snowflake Background. Powders/glitter:  Ranger Silver Embossing Tinsel; Distress Glitter: Tumbled Glass, Rock Candy.  Other:  snowflake punch, vintage seam binding, bling, Ranger Multi Matt Medium and Embossing Dauber

The Spellbinders die was a gift from my talented friend Kathy Clement; she gave me a bunch of sets! Thank you, again, Kathy!


I would like to enter my card into the following inspiring challenges:
Emerald Creek Dares Celebrations Around the World Please see first paragraph for our tradition.
Frilly and Funkie Holiday Hues Favorite holiday-Christmas; favorite colors today and mostly this season-blue, white, and silver.
Scrapy Land Challenge # 33 Anything Goes I've listed my die brands above; 2 Sizzix and one Spellbinders dies.
Live and Love Crafts Challenge # 43 Something New I'm using my new Deep Red stamp for the first time.
Classy Cards n Such Challenge # 118 Winter Blues Isn't that a wonderful inspiration board with those birds?
Paper Sweeties Inspiration #39 My inspiration comes from the blues, the snowflakes, the glittered beads on the cupcake and the sugar under the cupcake. Yum = cupcake!
papersweeties-inspiration#39

Die Cut Divas New Technique, Die, Stamp, Colors I'm using my Deep Red Stamp for the first time!

Thank you for stopping by today and for all your amazing comments! I read and appreciate every single one!
Hugs and Blessings!
Sara Emily
Honored!!!!
TOP 3 




44 comments:

  1. Wow Sara, this goes straight to the top of my list of favourite Christmas cards this season!! You are so sweet for the mention and I'm glad I could inspire you, but this is all you girl! I love the snowy winter scene you built behind you little window, what a lovely forest that I would so love to visit! Your metallic snowflakes are brilliant and I am in awe of the amazing shots you got of the glitter, I have a camera worth a billion dollars yet I can't seem to get shots like that! Bravo! The shabby bow is beautiful and all the blues, oh boy, I love me some blues!! Just stunning Sara, LOVE LOVE LOVE!! hugs :)

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    1. Thank you, Pamellia! I know my sister will love it! Yeah, what's up with the glitter showing up...finally! I did add some magic fairy dust, but I don't really believe in that stuff! :):) I think the snowflake was cut from a peanut butter seal--that's why that has so much shine to it.

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    2. I'm with Pamellia here Sara!! This card is outstanding! Love the whole peek a boo effect!! Just brilliant,both creatively and shiningly! (my own word)
      Jackiexoxo

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  2. Oh my, Sara, I know that I said this so many times about a lot of your creations, but this brilliant Christmas card is my absolutely favourite! I adore all the cards you've created for Christmas but this one is something else! It's breathtaking and so unique, so Sara's fantastic style! Bravooooo, my friend! Huge hugs! Branka xxx

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  3. I'm sure your sister will forgive you the slight delay when she sees this beautiful creation - what a glorious card! Like Branka, I might have to call it my favourite, but your next creation will be along soon, and then what shall I do?!

    By the way, I delayed Paloma's departure so that she wouldn't get lost in the Christmas rush... she'll be spreading her wings to come your way tomorrow. I just didn't want you to worry about her non-arrival!

    Alison xx

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  4. Such a wonderful card, it so pretty! Love the wintery scene and the gorgeous trees. Stunning. Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Hugs, Sandra

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  5. Gorgeous shabby card Sara! Wow! I am so impressed with this make my dear!
    Hugs
    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  6. Sara, your sister will not be disappointed to have had to wait for this little beauty! Absolutely amazing detail - WOW! Thank you so much for sharing your lovely work with us this month at Paper Sweeties :)

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  7. ooooh, Sara! I love the sketch/layout of your card! Those "business size" cards are not easy to come up with new ideas - and this one is fabulous! I've pinned it for future reference. Beautiful colors and die cuts! And now for my other hat: Thanks for playing in the {Scrapy Land Challenge}! Hope to see your pretty projects again soon!
    crafty hugs,
    de
    {Creative Smiles}

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  8. STUNNING... wow... just sooo lovely. She will be thrilled when she sees it but of course the ice cream gift card will over shadow the card a bit!!!!!!!! Hehhehehe!!! Not really - the card will take her breath away but when she recovers... off for ice cream!! XO j.

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  9. Hey Sara Emily -- so beautiful -- I will have to look at this make several times. I am getting ready to make a winter journal spread.
    Sandy xx

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    1. OOOOH, I can't wait to see it! Have you made a resolution to blog???? I'm off to see!

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  10. Absolutely beautiful, Sara Emily. Cannot believe you fussy cut the trees - ha! I'm quite lazy in that regard. I'm doing the opposite. I picked up the die for a song, and am cutting foam to make it into a stamp. : ] Love the pewter spray through this gorgeous stencil and I love the droopy bow. I hate it when mine are stiff! Beautiful creation. Hugs, Autumn

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  11. Oh my word, this is stunning, Sara!! Wow!! I keep staring at the photos to glean every single detail I can!! I love the colors, the trees, the snowy scene you've created!! The perfect amount of texture and sparkle!! And the bow - love!! You did such an amazing job with this!! Your sister will treasure it!!

    Thank you so much for linking up at Scrapy Land!! (You're fine with the timing, too..as long as it's same day :) I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday my friend!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  12. Wonderfull card Sara, Absolutely fabulous !Love this gorgeous snowy scène and the blue color !
    THANKS for joining us at SCRAPYLAND challenges blog Sara and good luck !
    I have a technical problème with blogger SARA but i just published my DT post manualy .
    Apologizes Sara , and Thank you for your Lovely comment on my DT Card
    Maryvonne DT MEMBER

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  13. Absolutely gorgeous creation with the snow scene!!! Thanks so much for joining us for the challenge at Paper Sweeties this month! Please come back soon!:-)

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  14. Well, I think this beautiful creation is definitely worth the wait for your sister! The cool colours are amazing and I love the trees and your gorgeous bow. I can actually see some sparkle in your photo too, I think I may need to take lessons from you on how to do that! Hugs, Anne xx

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  15. I love your beautiful card - your colour choice is soo gorgeous and now I have seen where you got the inspiration I will take a look! I now have my new camera but I doubt it will take photos as well as yours Hugs, Chrisx

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  16. What a beauty Sara, feels so wintery and wonderful, love the cut out peeking into that gorgeous scene! Your sister must have loved it, thanks so much for sharing it with us, Deb xo

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  17. WOW! This is AMAZING! I LOVE the gorgeous textures and layers--your finished product is totally stunning! Thank you so much for joining us at Paper Sweeties! Sending HUGS! :) Mynn xx

    PS: I'd LOVE it if you entered this with us at House of Cards, too! :)

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  18. When you combine grunge and shabby I just swoon and this card is exactly the combo of the two. Makes my heart sing! Gorgeous colors and use of glitters and dies-oh my! I bet your dear sis will loves it! How very sweet of your friend to gift you some dies, that oval one is splendid! I have it on my wish list now. Hehe! Want to try to make a shaker card this year. :) I am with you on the seam binding. Some brands just don't crinkle like others. I end up wrapping BG a rubber band around the wadded up SB and throw it in my dryer, it usually ends up crinkled better. Your card is stunning and amazeballs my dearie! Hugz to you muffin! ~Punkin

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  19. Beautiful. I am happy that I stopped by today! It's been a long time since I was able to come and visit! Have a wonderful New Year!

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  20. Absolutely gorgeous card! I love the colors on your card and how perfectly the ribbon matches the colors! The tree scene is stunning! Thanks for playing along with us at Scrapy Land Challenge #33!

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  21. A very gorgeous card. Thank you for joining us for the Classy Cards N Such challenge.

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  22. I love the splatter background and soft colors, also fantastic elements.

    So glad you joined us at Die Cut Divas.

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  23. Never too late... When it is such gorgeous! Just send cards "à la française" and you won't be late until February!

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  24. Holy cow, Sara - this is absolutely stunning!! Who cares about "late"? Including you, I hope, since I am late visiting here due to travel, lol! LOVE this card, especially your background, dear! xxx Lynn

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  25. Hi Sara!
    It's always such a pleasure to stop by your blog!! Your card is absolutely STUNNING!! I love the peekaboo opening (want to try that soon)! With the sparkle and frost, and all of those pretty snowflakes, I can almost feel the chill in the air. What a perfect way to deliver an ice cream gift card:-)) Thank you so much for sharing this with us at the Frilly and Funkie, and thank you for all the amazing inspiration!
    Hugs,
    Nancy

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  26. A gorgeous winter scene. I love all the fabulous details of your card. Thanks for joining us for the Classy Cards N Such challenge.

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  27. Amazing winter wonderland you have created, Sara! Just beautiful! Thanks for sharing it at Paper Sweeties' January Challenge! Happy New Year!

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  28. I love how all of the elements come together on this card, it looks fantastic. Thank you for joining the Diecut Divas new technique, die ,stamp colour challenge. Cathie DT

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  29. Stunning card Sara! Love all the different layers that you added. Thanks for joining the challenge at Southern Ridge Trading Company.
    -Katelyn DT Member at Southern Ridge Trading Company

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  30. This is totally stunning! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful creation with us at Paper Sweeties!

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  31. Oh Sara, your crafty mind is a gift to us all! This is stunning, bursting with elegance and joy. Every detail is perfectly thought out and executed, leaving me ever speechless with ways to tell you how much I love this. :) Gorgeous in every facet, my dear friend. I am on a mobile device so I must end this here, but I was determined to visit while I had a moment! Thank you for sticking with me during turbulent times. Have a lovely night. :)

    Hugs and blessings,
    Karen

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  32. This really is so beautiful Sara and I love the way you've turned the whole design on it's side to work with the fabulous aperture. Sparkle, a chilly festive scene and of course such a glamorous bow! Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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  33. A gorgeous card and I bet your sister loved it!! A gorgeous winter wonderland scene xx

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  34. Sarah, So gorgeous! You created a winter wonderful in a paper world. Your colors are perfect and all the glitter makes every thing magical. Thank you for joining us at Scrapy Land.
    Hugz from Wisconsin, Patricia
    Scrapy Land Store
    rubber stamping is my game blog

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  35. Wow! This is beautiful. I noticed this on the scrapyland blog and had to come for a closer look. Love the colors and all the details!

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  36. Oh my this is absolutely gorgeous! I love the glitter and all the texture/depth you have added. Beautiful. Thank you for joining us at SRTC.

    Carla

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  37. Hi again Sara Emily, just wanted to say I am so happy your card was featured at Frilly and Funkie! This is so very beautiful, the perfect holiday hues in my book! About the frame on my butterfly card, it is actually paper and was purchased ages ago. I would love to try my hand at making these with Prima's new molds and recycled paper pulp. So many ideas, so little time... Hugs, Autumn

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  38. A beautiful card, and I LOVE that pretty seam binding bow. I know your sister was thrilled when she received it! Thanks so much for joining us in the January Paper Sweeties Inspiration Challenge!

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  39. Awww...I'm happy to read I'm not the only one who's late with Christmas projects. :-) Good thing to have such an understanding sister. Beautiful card in my favourite colour - frosty blue. Thanks for joining LLC for our January challenge; hope you can play with us again this month!

    Hugz, Sandy
    Owner & Operator @Live & Love Crafts

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