Sunday, December 15, 2013

Joy to the World

Well I've finally found a few minutes to "blog" one of my Christmas cards... it's probably one of my favourites for the year, (though I haven't finished making all I need yet!) so I'm giving it to my Mum and Dad :-)
I made a three-step card, I've seen these around blogland and always fancied making one, it being Christmas and having almost no time to spare seemed to be the right time to try one, lol.  I used this great template and tutorial, it really wasn't that hard :-)
Sketch Saturday wants us to use any of their sketches after # 215, I've used # 240 though ended up adding the corner element to all four corners; I can't help it, I'm a symmetrical kinda gal!  The super sweet image is Berry, a digi from Wee Stamps. I coloured with Prismacolor pencils, adding some gloss to the berries.  The sentiment is a freebie from The Desert Diva, thanks very much :-) I was going to colour the ornament but decided against it. 
The image panel and narrow gold mat was cut using Nestabilities Standard Ovals as a template, the Kraft mat was cut using Nestabilities Floral Ovals, one of my favourite Nesties.  I just find the difference in size between the Standard and Floral Ovals doesn't always suit, so freehanding is the way to go.
The paper is Kaisercraft's Twig and Berry - 1 sheet (it's red one side and green the other!) Delightful Challenges wants us to use Red and Green and Stampin' for the Weekend wants us to Use Some Red, so I'm entering there.  The banner is from my Christmas scraps folder.  I used gold stickers (peel offs) from my stash for the borders and the corners, the leaves are from Mulberry Crafts and the Dewdrop berries are from The Ribbon Girl, I used very fine gold wire from my stash to finish the arrangement. Clear It Out has an Anything Goes theme and we can use any Stash so I'm entering there.
Now, the really significant thing about a three-step card is, wait for it, the three-steps! which of course are on the inside of the card.

I finished them with more of the Twig and Berry paper, gold stickers and a flourish cut with a Memory Box Snowflake Corner die.  The oval on the left came from a Kaisercraft 6" pad and the mat behind the jotting panel was another of the Floral Ovals dies.  The "JOY" letters are wood, coloured with Chalk White ink then embossed with iridescent EP, they (of course) look much nicer IRL!
Pile It On has P is for... for it's challenge, I'm thinking P is for Pencils, Peel Offs, Patterned Paper and Pretty image - I know, bit desperate :-)
I don't usually list the challenges I'm entering but as there are so may Christmas challenges running at the moment I thought you'd forgive me.... so I'm entering all these:

Papertake Weekly Christmas Creatures (NOT Berry, the little furry friend she's holding, lol)
Moving Along With The Times Walking in a Winter Wonderland
My Mums Craft Shop Winter/Christmas
Crafty Hands Season's Greetings/Winter
Jingle Belles Christmas
That Craft Place Christmas
Crafty Calendar Christmas
Deep Ocean Challenge Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Anything Christmas related)
Colour Me Copic Holiday Themed
Sweet Stampin' Last Minute Christmas (I do have some even-more-last-minute cards to enter here too!!)
Crafts 4 Eternity Christmas Chaos (goes without saying, lol)
Cute Card Thursday Christmas Catch Up (I may, catch up that is!)
Cuttlebug Mania Anything Christmas
Corrosive Challenge Anything Goes
Gem of a Challenge Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations Free and Easy
Divas by Design Anything Goes

I hope you like my card, I really do (which doesn't always happen, lol) I've got quite a few more cards to show over the next week or so; mostly Christmas and CAS - some CAS because I thought Clean and Simple was appropriate and some less CAS and more SOT - Short Of Time!!!
We're in the middle of a heatwave here, we failed by 0.9 degrees today to reach a December record of five days in a row over 38C; instead of a record it was just HOT - though not as hot as yesterday at 40.4C It's forecast HOT again tomorrow, but we should have a balmy 29C on Tuesday.  Our hottest month is February, so it looks like it's going to be a long hot summer, sigh.
I'll be back with some cards soon, until then, Happy Crafting Donna

27 comments:

Desire Fourie said...

Just delightful and what a lovely surprise on the inside.
Hugs Desíre {Doing Life}

Vicky said...

Fabulous as always hun....:o)

biggest of hugs Vicky xx

Jac’s Playground said...

Adorable card, love the cute image and holly decoration, thanks for joining us at Divas by Design this week. Jac x

Donna Mosley said...

Gorgeous card Donna, love the very sweet image and pretty vintage papers.

Donna x

Sue said...

WOW! This is stunning Donna. I love the sweet image, wonderful colouring and way you have designed the inside looks amazing. A card to be treasured for sure.
Take care in that heat, it must be almost unbearable.
Sue xx

NGCARDS said...

This is such a cute creation! Thanks for playing at MMCS and I wish you all the best for the festive season! xxx

debby4000 said...

Adorable, gorgeous card, love the inside as well.
luv
Debby

Kimbo said...

This is a gorgeous work of art - beautifully designed. Thanks for playing along at Cuttlebug Mania this time x

As.I.Do.Rodos. said...

Stunning card love the design Ginny♥

Debbie said...

Super Last minute Christmas and perfect for our challenge this week at Sweet Stampin'. Happy Christmas to you. Debbiex

Kerry said...

Stunning card and I love the colours, nice and different. Thank you for joining in with our Christmas challenge at Cuttlebug Mania x

Sandy Palmer said...

This is absolutely gorgeous! You really did a fabulous job on all of it! Your Mom and Dad are going to love it! Thanks for sharing it with us at Delightful Challenges, "Red and Green"! :)

Mom2Two (Jenni) said...

Beautiful!! The colors, the gold accents, the image......all beautiful!! Thanks for joining us at Clear It Out Challenge blog, best of luck!

Anonymous said...

A gorgeous make xx

Thanks for joining us at Craftyhands Challenge Blog.

Moira DT.

Inkyfingers said...

Wow, Donna, this card is amazing. I love everything about it and it must have been a labour of love!

Thanks for joining us at Holly Jolly Christmas and I hope it cools down for you soon.
Hugs
Carol

Cards By MI said...

Really really lovely. Everything about it is perfect. Great one that your parents will love. Thanks for playing along with us over at PTW.
Love n hugs
Marie

brenda said...

So very sweet and lovely traditional colours, thanks so much for sharing with us at Stamping Sensations challenge.

B x

Janine said...

Wow, what a fantastic design! Lovely image and beautifully coloured. Thanks for joining us at Divas by Design.
Hugs, Janine xx

Amanda said...

Stunning card for Christmas, thanks for joining us at C4E this week
Love
Amanda

Stacey said...

Fab card. Thanks for sharing with us at That Craft Place. Merry Christmas xxx

mixamatoasties said...

Gorgeous card. Love that image.

Thanks for sharing at MAWTT this week.

Susan

JANINE QUINN MIDDLESBROUGH, UK said...

Really pretty 'last minute' Christmas card and beautifully coloured. Thank you for sharing and joining in with the fun at Sweet Stampin’ this week and good luck. Hugs Janine xx

Kim said...

This is gorgeous, so creative! Glad you joined us and all the fun at CMC this month.

Eret said...

Donna, this card is incredible. Love everything about it. Inside of the card looks as fabulous as it is in front. Really stunning card. Thank you so much for sharing it with us at Stamping Sensation.
Eret x

Helen said...

I love this - what an amazing idea!!

Thanks for joining us at A Gem of a Challenge and Happy New Year!

Helen x

Dana Joy said...

Wow...that is one AMAZING card. Thanks for joining us at Color Me Creative.

Helen said...

Fabulous 'P' project!
Thanks for playing at Pile It On!
Happy New Year!
Helen x