what Christmas ought to be

Hi everyone! Well, we’re another day closer to Fri-YAY for all of you who work! I’m back this morning with a couple more cards I created for The Outlawz Challenges. I’ve spent the last few days in my studio doing what I love to do! Life is good! Affiliate links are used in this post at no cost to you. I really appreciate your support! I created this pretty kraft and gold Christmas card for The Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge! I really liked the sketch this time so I pulled out a STAMPlorations stamp set with coordinating CUTplorations dies to create this card. Never too early to get started on those Christmas cards! Sherry West Art is the sponsor this time and here’s the sketch:

I’m in love with this American Crafts kraft and gold 6×6 Christmas paper pad and have only used it once before and it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the sketch. Funny how I struggle with some card designs while others just pop into my head and work up quickly – and look exactly as planned. Love it when that happens, lol!

I went literal with the sketch except I didn’t use ribbon or twine – I used a partial clear bling strip that I colored with an alcohol marker to match the brown ink I used for stamping/embossing. I created a square top-folding card base from CutCardStock Twine cardstock, along with layering panels from solid gold, dotted and striped papers from the paper pad. I stamped the sled full of presents and the sentiment from the STAMPlorations Warm Hands Warm Hearts stamp set in brown archival ink on CutCardStock Twine cardstock, then stamped over the brown with Versamark and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder. I learned this trick many, many years ago and haven’t bought colored embossing powder since (except for metals)! I noticed that this clear embossing powder has flecks of white in it and I’m not sure whether I accidentally dumped some stray white in the container the last time I used it (which I don’t remember because it’s been a good while ago). It looks good, though! But I’m not sure why I would have had clear and white embossing powder out at the same time so this is a real mystery. Things that make you go Hmmm…

Okay, back to the card. I colored the presents with fine point Sharpies and the sled with an alcohol marker, die cut it with the coordinating die and layered it on three more plain die cuts for a little dimension. I adhered some looped gold thread on the background panel before adhering the focal image with foam pads. I adhered the sentiment to the bottom panel and then added clear string bling that I colored with the same alcohol marker used to color the sled.

I embellished the inside panel cut from CutCardStock Twine cardstock with a strip of kraft and gold striped paper and a strip of plain kraft (both from the American Crafts paper pad) for a tone-on-tone look, stamped the sentiment in brown ink and layered the panel on solid gold paper from the paper pad.

And one more look… totally loving how this turned out in spite of how darn hard foil is to photograph!

Sharing in these additional challenges:
1. 613 Avenue Create: #2 – February Anything Goes w/ optional twist of Heart and Soles
2. A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge: #2-2021 – Anything Goes
3. Classic Design Challenge: #2 – Anything Goes
4. Lemon Shortbread Challenge Blog: #139 – Anything Goes
5. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: #151 – Anything Goes
6. Pammie’s Inky Pinkies Challenges: #2106 – Anything Goes
7. STAMPlorations: Never-Ending Anything Goes

8. Winter Wonderland Challenge Blog: February Anything Christmas Goes

Products used:
Cardstock/Paper: American Crafts 6×6 kraft and gold Christmas paper pad, CutCardStock Twine cardstock
Stamps: STAMPlorations Warm Hands Warm Hearts stamp set
Ink: Ranger ground espresso archival ink; Versamark, Sharpie fine point markers- Lime, Orange, Blue and Berry; Spectrum Noir alcohol marker EB7 (used to color the clear bling string)
Dies/Punches: STAMPlorations Warm Hands Warm Heart die set
Accessories: Tombow Mono permanent adhesive, Bearly Art precision craft glue, Ranger clear embossing powder, Hero Arts white embossing powder, Coats gold metallic thread, Eyelet Outlet clear bling strip

I hope you’ve enjoyed this project and will come join us in The Outlawz Challenges! Lots of fun going on! Thanks so much for stopping by – we’ll see you next time!

Scrappy hugs,