August Christmas Card Challenge

This is a tri-shutter card from Split Coast Stampers. When I saw the card I just knew I wanted to make one. After I watched the video tutorial and saw how simple it was to make the base of this card I knew I could make 5 for my monthly Christmas Card Challenge.

May's Christmas Card Challenge Completed

I now have 25 of my 50 card goal done. It's usually December 15th by the time I hit this mark. That's when I start deciding who gets a store bought card and who gets a handmade card. By then I know I'll never get 50 done and I'm tired of trying. This new plan of making 5 cards each month until November worked out so well last year I decided to do it again this year.
This month I used a ghosting technique I learned about 5 years ago. I couldn't quite remember how I did it. With some experimentation while I listened to the short story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (free on www.librivox.com by the way) on my iPod I figured out how to do it.

Later I found a tutorial for this technique on Split Coast Stampers. The technique is called Ghosting. As the tutorial said, "It's not scary at all." It was very easy. I had all the materials and tools and was able to crank out 5 cards easily in an hour. The length of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" by the way. Did I enjoy the story... that's another post. I very much enjoy making my cards with the Ghosting technique.

April's CCC

I would love to add pictures with my post, but as mentioned before the computer only recognizes my camera when it feels. It didn't feel like it... this week. I used my kids' computer and uploaded some pictures to my webshots account. So, if you would please follow this link to my Webshots account you'll see pictures of my April Christmas Card Challege cards.

I used Stampin' Ups Bold Snowflake wheel on a 12X12 piece of off white paper. Bad idea, because I was using a stamp pad. I wanted the Chocolate chip color and don't have a wheel ink pad with that color. So, half the 12X12 had fainter stamping. Next time I'll roll each piece for each card to ensure a properly stamped image. Live and learn.

Next I sponged a caramel color ink around the edges of the stamped piece and the tag. Next I sponged on Moss Green to mostly the tag to make it stand out.

Then I found fiber and matting that looked good with the card. I taped it all together and really liked the outcome. Although how could I not seeing as I got the idea from Splitcoaststampers. When I saw it I knew I wanted to recreate it as best I could. I loved the nontraditional Christmas colors and I loved it even more that I owned all the ingredients. Didn't have to buy anything. I knew the couple things I didn't have like fiber I could get from my stash.

Simple But They're Done

I am continuing to do the Christmas Card Challenge this year. It worked out great having all my cards made by November last year. This year I know it's great to have them done, but I'm so lackadaisical about it. The above cards were made using a 12X12 cut out of Christmas trees. I worked at cutting it a part so a piece of it would look nice on each card. They actually look quite nice. It was a bit more difficult that I thought being as I didn't want to cut any of the trees. I could have layed it down on a cutter and just cut out probably 6 nice rectangles. As I said I didn't want to hack it up. So, I carefully snipped it to get 10 pieces to overlay on a piece of burgandy patterned paper. I was pleased with the outcome. Now on to April's cards.

And the winner is....

This year's RCS Christmas Card Challenge is over. I had a great time and I've heard that the other gals had a great time too. Getting a few of our Christmas cards done each month definitely took the sting out sending out hand made Christmas cards to our friends and family this month. I have 66 cards, which is more cards than I usually send out. I wanted a few extra so I could give them out willy nilly if I felt like it. If I have some left over I'll use them next year.

For the challenge I offered to put together a gift basket drawing for all those who followed the rules. They were set a goal of cards to make each month of 3 or more, make and post a picture of your cards during the month they're due, and miss no more than 3 months during the year. 8 gals, Cathy R. , Crystal, Karen, Linda C., M-C, Sandy, Shannon and myself were able to accomplish this goal.

One honorable mentions goes to Linda C. for not missing one single month during the year. I myself, didn't miss a month, but I felt an obligation as hostess to not miss a month. You know set a good example and all that good stuff.

So, this evening I had my beautiful daughter assist me with the drawing. I wrote the 7 names on recycled paper...mine not included just seemed silly to put my own name into my own drawing. I can see it now...OH I won... what a surprise!.... ahhh no. LOL

So, my daughter... err... unbiased assistant did the drawing.

And the winner is...What can't read that teenie tiny piece of paper.

Congratulations Shannon!

After confirming your address your prize will be in the mail next week! Thanks to all that participated. Seems like we have some interest in a another year. We'll cross that bridge come January 2009.

October's Christmas Card Challenge

I made six of these cards. They are a paper piecing project that was actually quite easy. I saw the card on Valita's Designs & Fresh Folds. I originally made the first card with background colors of my choice thinking they'd look great. BUT the original colors were so nice I ended up duplicating them as close as I could for the other 5 cards in my monthly challenge. I printed out the pattern and it came out the perfect size to use right away. I clicked out the circle first. Then holding it over a scrap piece of paper I clipped out each package for a template. Keep the upper portion of template to use for placement of packages on your pattern paper circle. For the base pattern paper circle.... I don't have nestabilities, but I do have CM circle cutters and finding the size I needed it to work out great. On the burgundy top piece of ornament I actually dusted off a pair of pattern scissors. They were fun to play with and made me wonder why do so many people (including myself) pooh pooh pattern scissors. They do have their place in crafting. I inked the edges of everything except the ribbon using a finger dauber. I liked the subtleness of this look.

September's Christmas Card Challenge

This is my card for the month. I made 6 identical cards. This is a bit washed out with the flash. Some day I'll take a photography class. I really enjoyed the combination of blue with the black. Credit for the original idea goes to a gal on Split Coast Stampers. The stamp comes from a Stampin' Up set call "Alphabet Stew." I just love the mixed up letters to make the sentiment.

August CCC

If you've forgotten CCC stands for Christmas Card Challenge. This year I challenge myself and about 10 friends to make a minimum of 3 Christmas cards a month for 11 months. I figured for myself I'd make 6 a month. That way I would have 66 handmade cards by the end of November. It's always been my dream to make Christmas cards for everyone. Last year I tried starting after Thanksgiving and I made cards until about December 15th before I realized I couldn't make enough in the time I allowed. I needed about 50 cards and I got 30 made. Not too bad, but I didn't enjoy making about the last 15 as I rushed to get them done. Then I went through my list to see who would get a handmade card and who would get a store bought. Hated doing it, but had no choice. Then there are always a few more cards sent out as you received cards or meet new friends or remember someone you had forgotten. So, thought 66 would be a good bet. August has just past and I have 48 CARDS MADE! I was SO excited as I counted them out and admired them. I almost wanted to play out THE scene from "Indecent Proposal" where they roll around on the bed in the money. Except my version would be the Christmas cards. I restrained myself and put them neatly with their envelopes into the two tins I have set aside for this year long project. So, here's a picture of August's cards. These cards were fairly simple. I had purchased fairly cheaply some envelopes and cards at big lots... red cards with green envelopes. I already knew I wanted to use my new Stampin' Up stamp set ... the tree any how. I found some lovely burgundy paper to back up the tree. While looking for some other matching paper I stumbled upon the plaid paper the colors just worked so well. I added 2 strips of ribbon for a little more embellishment and was done.

Pinwheel a go go

I've just had the greatest time playing with tag punch pinwheels. The first one I made was a birthday card for a friend. Then I found this red plaid paper left over from the cupcake cards and thought wouldn't it make great Christmas pinwheels. The first card I made I used traditional Christmas colors. I liked how it turned out. Then I found some tag board snowflakes in my stash that I'd been wanting to use it and one of the color is lime green. So, thought I'd again work with nontraditional Christmas colors. I used my color wheel to come up with red, lime green and turquoise. Well, I didn't have the right color of lime green in card stock and that card I thought looked terrible. I really wanted to throw it away, but DH and daughter liked it and insisted I not waste a "pretty" card. So, I kept it. I tried again with lime green using the actual lime green tag board snowflake and I liked it better. The 3rd card I made I steered clear of lime green and liked it even better.


I'm all out of the red checked paper and I may be bored with pinwheels.... who knows. I need to make 2 more cards for my Christmas card challenge. I'll see if there is any paper that strikes my fancy and maybe I'll make at least 2 more.

Cupcakes!

Not the kind you can eat, but just as delicious. These cards turned out so cute. I wish I knew how to take better pictures. I got the best compliment when my daughter entered the craft room and said, "MOM! Those look like real cupcakes." Mission accomplished. I chalked the cupcake top to give it more dimension. I used a crimping tool to give the cupcake wrapper a more realistic look. I did shrink the top a bit so the whole card would fit into a regular sized envelope. Hey I'm making all my Christmas cards this year... I don't want to have to start making envelops too.

I got the templates to make this card from Linsey Rickett's "Outside the Lines" blog. I did alter them to suit my needs, but it was a great jumping off spot.