Saturday 20 September 2014

Christmas Card Club #20 Winter Wonderland

Hello to you all.  Thanks for paying me a visit today - even though I am being a very poor blogger at the moment!   However, I think things are actually beginning to look up so I should be able to get back to some kind of routine again.  I would have said "normality" but I'm not actually sure what normal is anymore. I know there are a number of others suffering - or their loved ones are - so my thoughts and prayers are with you all!

This card is not actually due for posting until tomorrow but I have an OSAAT DT card due then and I prefer not to make two posts on the same day.

 Card # 1



It was my turn to choose the theme for our 20th challenge and I went with "Winter Wonderland.".  Although I said challenge the only challenge is to yourself, because sometimes there is something which takes you out of your comfort zone - and that has got to be good for us. 

I decided to make a box card because I haven't made one for quite some time.  I never quite know what to call these, whether it is a shadow box or a box card or what.  In the past I have actually attached it to a card base or have put a loop on the back to hang on the wall  but this time I have attached a stand to the back to make it like a picture.  I started out with an  8" square piece of card which when scored and folded makes a 6.5" square box with a 4.75" internal area to decorate.

My stamp is one of the very first I ever bought about 12 years ago and was made by an American company Petaluma.  I stamped it in black and heat embossed it with Pearl Plum embossing powder which gives a really subtle plum glow when the light catches it.  Unfortunately it is not visible in the picture.  That is why I cut  the back of the box from  a plum colored card and used the same colour for the pearls and the snowman's scarf.  However, even the plum card looks black in this picture.  Maybe I'll try again later.   The snowman was a freebie which I found on the internet and shrank it right down to fit the rest of the image.  Unfortunately I think the deer is too big - I should have used the smaller one in the set.

Memory Box - Frostyville Border
Memory Box - Twiggy Tree
Spellbinders Create a Flake Four - Snowflakes
Marianne Craftables - Deer
Marianne- Tiny Trees
Twinklets Diamond Dust - Roofs and trees
Lashings of Glamour Dust everywhere!!!!
Hobby House - Pearls

Card # 2

My second card was a last minute addition. I was looking through my digi folder for a snowman and came across this image which I bought last year and never used. I am almost sure it is called Winter Wonderland but I don't know which company it is from. All this one needed was more lashings of Glamour Dust, some Twinklets and a pop of colour on the cardinal (just for you Mary!) and the deer - and some "blobs" a la Ollie's Mam from Cosmic Shimmer Pearl PVA.  I matted it onto silver mirri which always seems to look black. Another Christmas card for very little effort at all!

Well that's it until tomorrow.


31 comments:

cuilliesocks said...

Hello Christine, hoping you and John are well, as you say many of our blogging friends are having difficult times just now.

Two gorgeous cards for CCC, lovely scenes, and embellishments. It's a great challeng, thank you. Hugs Kate x

Doreen said...

Two gorgeous cards.xx

coldwaters2 said...

WOW Christine these are two very beautiful Christmas cards, the scenes on both are stunning and very frosty looking brilliant creations.
hugs
lorraine x

Lorraine said...

A gorgeous scenic card Christine. Love the image and all the sparkle.
Lorraine x

Patricia said...

Brilliant cards Christine,
Love them, I really like the Box Card, a great "frosty" effect on them both.
Hugs

Patricia xxx

Jenny L said...

Hi Christine,
2 really superb cards.
I really love them both as they are so superb.
Your designing is fantastic too, and all that lovely glittery snow is fab.
I think the deer is fine he looks like he is looking into the the lovely snowy scene.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Christine
Nice to see you back.
Both cards are wonderful Winter wonderlands. Gorgeous!
Your deer looks fine as he is in the foreground, so would be bigger.
Glad things are settling down for you and John.
Best wishes.
Ang x

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Wow you have certainly been busy Christine making these two gorgeous cards. I love the box card and it's snowy scene with all the different die cuts, but I equally love the more simple second card with it's frosty snow scape. This was a great theme for our challenge thanks and I really enjoyed it.
Lorraine

Sue said...

Such gorgeous cards Christine. The images are beautiful and I love all the sparkly detailing on you first card.
I am pleased that things are starting to look up for you.
Take care
hugs Sue xx

Marie-Louise said...

Both cards are brilliant Christine. Hope all is well with you.

Carol said...

Two gorgeous cards Christine, your box card is stunning! Love all the dies you've used. Glad things are settling for you. Carol x

JJ said...

Two stunning cards Christine, love them both. I love the winter trees.

Love & Hugs

Jacquie J xxx
http://jewelscardcraft.blogspot.co.uk/

Wendy L said...

Two gorgeous Christmas cards , lovely and sparkly, xxx

Carole Z said...

Two beautiful cards Christine, gorgeous design and winter sparkle! Hugs Carole Z X

Gerrie's kaarten said...

Goedemorgen Christine
Prachtige kaarten heb je gemaakt.
De onderste kaart die vind ik het mooist
Fijne dag
Gerrie

Peanut said...

Oh my word!!! Gorgeous cards... so clean and pure and lots of snow. I feel like jumping into the wintery scenes. The die-cuts in the first card is just amazing ... dare I put them on my ever-growing wish list! lol. Thank for a fabulous challege, Christine. I really enjoyed this one. Rosie is going very well... praying that she keeps up the good work.
hugs, Asha

aussie aNNie said...

Gorgeous card Christine, love this sweet Christmas design, and the beautiful papers....stunning as always.xx


The Journey is the Start

Planetsusie said...

They are both beautiful Christine - love the 'lashings of glitter' - you just cannot beat it!!! Thank you for this theme I really enjoyed this one as well!! Oh btw - I don't think the deer is too big, he gives it more perspective and I felt he was looking in on the scene from further afield - now is that poetic or what!

Lots of love to you both

Sue Pxxx

Sue said...

Two stunning cards Christine love all that glitter!!! great challenge I loved it...lots of hugs to you and John xxxxxxxxxx Sue xxxxxxxxxxxx

Liz said...

Gorgeous. Hugs xx

Karen Petitt said...

Both of these are stunning Christine - I love all that frostiness. Thanks for a fabulous challenge and I hope things are good real soon for you all Karen x

kath said...

Stunning cards Christine xx

Hazel said...

Christine lovely to see you back with two beautiful cards, I think we are all finding blogging all the time difficult these days so don't worry as long as you and John are ok. That's all that matters. Hazel xx

Brawny x said...

Gorgeous cards Christine x

Hazel said...

Gorgeous card, Christine. Thanks for a lovely CCC challenge. And thanks for entering your lovely crafting for CHNC challenge 195 - you could also enter this into my CHNC challenge extra for September - I'd love to see it there too. x

MaryH said...

I loved #1 - the icy snowflakes really glistened & loved the way you shaped the framing. I'm glad you said the embossing was in plum, as I was trying to figure out what the color was..didn't think it was sepia. But it is truly beautiful. The snowflakes & trees that frame the scene are beautiful. #2 is also very lovely. Sparkle n Sprinkle have a set that looks like this, don't know if there's a digi for it too. (gosh you reminded me I have this). Both are beautiful cards, well done on the Winter Wonderland scenes. Hope things settle down at your part of the world. Big Hugs & TFS

scrappymo! said...

I LOVE this card. I have never made this type of card before and am over the moon with your design. It is fabulous!

I think all the dies are wonderful but especially love the tiny trees Marianne Die.
Idare not add any new items to the hoard I will have to pack soon, so will resist for now...but will be tracking it down once we are int he new house. in the nNew Year.

I will get my card made as soon as I can...sorry I have had to let you and the girls down this time.

Your second card is so pretty too. A great addition to your Christmas Card finished cards box!

Stamps and Paper said...

Two beautiful cards Christine...

Anne

Irish Cherokee said...

Excellent Snow scene cards. The sparkles really show on them. - Jim

Mrs A. said...

I love all the frosting on your two cards. Excellent choice for a challenge theme too.
Hugs Mrs A.

Zoe Tant said...

Beautiful cards Christine. I especially like the snowman one! Zx