Crazy for Christmas

 

Yup, I'm crazy. 

Our first 20+ C. day here in Ottawa, and I'm talking about Christmas cards!

I'm following Justine Hovey's Christmas Card Tutorial 2015.

She provides a video lesson and PDF with a new technique theme each week.

This is my CASE of the first week's tutorial.

Then I had fun playing with the techniques a little more:

And my favorite:

I'm getting lots of inspiration from the cards the other class participants send in, too.

Never too early to start on Christmas cards, especially as I intend to contribute to the Caring Hearts Card Drive again this year (so I hope Vera Wirianta Yates hosts it again!).

Check out Justine's blog and the Christmas Card Tutorial 2015. She's offering a monthly prize, too.

Celebrating...

First up, the first birthday of Fresh Squeezed Stamps!

Ryann and Shannon are challenging their fans to create a NEW birthday card, and link it to their blog, for the chance to win a Sa-weet new stamp set.

As October 4th is my sister's birthday, and as my life has been pretty chaotic lately (moving kids, moving house, packing then unpacking my crafting supplies...) I haven't had the chance to make a card yet, let alone send it to the Netherlands. So, here ya go, Morag, Happy Birthday! You'll see it here, first!

I used the fabulous "On Trend 2013" stamp set, which I was lucky enough to win earlier this year.

I masked off a heart/harvest moon with Eclipse paper, and sponged on a sunset. The sequins in the set made some dandy stars. The water lines were done with Versamark pen. I LOVE that skyline with the subtle little heart...

Not to waste all that ink, I used the mask for the greeting on the inside of the card:

Off to link up to Fresh Squeezed Stamps!

If you'd like to join the Birthday Bash, you have until 6:00 pm Friday to create a birthday card to share.

*****

Come back tomorrow, October 5th for another milestone:

I'm celebrating the second anniversary of my blog by participating in Operation Write Home's World Card Making Blog Hop. It's going to be STUPENDOUS! And you just might win a little something-something if you leave a nice comment...

Happy Crafting,

Caroline

Supplies Used:

CTMH inks in Sorbet, Pear, Twilight, Outdoor Denim and Black

Versamark Inkpad and pen

Clear embossing powder

Tim Holtz sponging tool

Eclipse printable sheets

Sizzix heart die

Fresh Squeezed Stamps' "On Trend 2013" stamp set

Clean and Simple

This week, I have been "attending" online classes on Clean and Simple Card-making.

You can find the link HERE. Even though the classes started this past Monday (and run for TWO WHOLE WEEKS!), you can register and join in any time. The classes are available for review with lifetime access.  They feature an instructional video, three examples and links to even more. Plus a gallery to which you can upload your creations.
As I have not had much time to "play" this week, I've managed only one card so far.

The first class focussed on simple sketches, like this:

In my version, the outer frame was stamped leaving a masked space in the middle. I used a left-over die-cut shape for my mask, loosely adhering it to the centre. I stamped my background image, Universal Backgrounds, by Close to My Heart in quilting quadrants, in two shades of teal ink. I stippled around the edge of the mask, to give it extra definition. I decided my sentiment looked better overlapping the outer frame, rather then in the middle, as in the sketch. "Missing you" was heat-embossed in Archival Black. I added three little buttons for an accent.
I thought the combination of the vintage script (like old love letters), the empty space in the middle and the muted, monochromatic colour scheme contributed to the feeling of wistfulness. I used the mask itself as a focal on the inside of the card.

I can't wait to try out some of the other ideas featured on Days 2, 3 and 4. Happy Stamping...