And They Laid Him In a Manager

It's finally here... Not the time to focus on the presents, or what we are going to eat, or what time we have to be somewhere.  

It's time to stop and be thankful, grateful, and fill our hearts with peace.... that the son of our God was born

and they laid him in a manger. 

For today's card I used Unity's Blessed Baby, by designer Angie Blom.  

After stamping on Neenah 110# card stock, I used Copic markers for coloring the image.  I added Quick Quotes Chalking Inks, Pale Pink and Blue Jeans around the image to soften the white space.  Then I die cut the double oval on the image using a Pink & Main Large Stitched Oval die, and an additional oval out of purple.  I used an 8 1/2" x 11 piece of heavy white card stock folded for the card base and mounted the 8 1/2" x 5 1/4" blue mat to the card base.  The largest oval measured about 6" tall, so I was able to adhere the image and ovals about 3/4" from the top of the card and then trim off the bottom of the card to balance out and also reduce the overall size.  While this meant I did have to make an envelope, using my Stamping Up envelope maker made this an easy task.

Thank you so much for following the 25 days of Christmas with me.  Merry CHRISTmas to each of you!  


Next I'll be sharing a few of the gifts I made this year.

Card Challenges:

The Holly and the Ivy, Christmas Challenge #62
Word Art Wednesday #418-419


Serving a Risen Savior,
Pam

Copics Used:

Skin: E51, E53, His Hair: N4, N6, Her Hair: C21, C23, Clothes: BG72, BG57, BG18, BG49,BG09, BG75 (in that order)  Baby: BG11, Manager: E21, E23, E25

Products Used:

Unity Blessed Baby

Pink & Main Stitched Oval

Here Comes Old Saint Nick

It's finally here! The kids are jumping with joy and Santa's elves are hurrying to assemble all the last minute toys and presents!

Today's card is from Colorado Craft Company (CCC) and it's from the Lovely Legs selection, appropriately named~ Santa is Coming.

Lots and lots of detail coloring in this beautiful image, which of course I used my Copic markers.  I think the hardest thing to remember is not to have too many colors when you are working on a piece this detailed. Try to maintain the color set consistent throughout the image so that the viewer's eyes aren't distracted by too many color families. 

I used a 6" card base and covered it with the small holly print paper first.  Then layered the green holly mat (5 x 6, with the Tattered Lace Nested Beaded Chain Die cut edge) and then the colored image (~4 x 5) placed on the right top corner.  I folded the corner of the green mat up and used a double sided tape to hold it in place.  If you look closely you'll see the 'thread' in the button, isn't thread.  It's a super thin strip of paper ~ that is a scrap of matching paper!  A scrapbooking trick from long ago to make your button thread match your page elements.  For the finishing touch, I added the vellum strip 'Old Saint Nick'.  This one ended up taking quite a while to complete, but it was worth it in the end. I made it for my crafting BFF, someone who definitely knows the hours of work that goes into some of the cards like this one. 

Thanks for stopping by, now get everyone in bed so Old Saint Nick can come down your chimney!

Card Challenges:
The Holly and the Ivy Christmas Challenge #62
Colour Crazy Challenge Week 50
Christmas Crafts All Year Long ~ Santa
Merry Little Christmas Challenge #17

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam 

Products Used: 

Colorado Craft Company, Santa is Coming

Tattered Lace, Nesting Beaded Chain

Fun Surprises!

Not everyone loves a Giraffe like I do ~ but I adore this Inky Antics Giraffe image from their Holiday BaZooples #2 Clear Stamp set.

For this card, I wanted it to be a little bit wild ~ for my 12 year old grandson.  If the giraffe spots weren't enough, the dots on the package add a bite more random wildness...then when the time is right, add a matted paper of green with bright red dots. 

I used the Gina Marie X x Die which gave me the extra height I needed and still use a standard 5 x 7 card.  Turning a smaller die to add the sentiment is a good way to balance the layout of the card.   Since the card is going to a boy, I added the buttons and a snowflake instead of a bow.  

Challenge entries:
2 Crafty Critters Crazies~ December Challenge
Crafty Animals Challenge #33

Thanks for stopping by again today.  Christmas is coming soon!

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam

Products Used:

Inky Antics, Holiday BaZooples #2 Clear 

Special Mail Delivery!

Each year I try to find a new image to make a special Christmas card for my mail lady.  She takes such special care of me all year long, carefully bringing my card making supplies straight to my front door many days rather than leaving them propped up against the railing where they could get blown away or damaged by the rain or high winds.

When I ran across Whimsy Stamps Special Delivery Pup (designed by Crissy Armstrong) earlier this week, I was tickled PINK!  This cute little pup is the perfect image for Ms Jeannine's Christmas card.

I stamped her on Neenah 110# card stock and used my Copic markers for coloring.*  I used a new die to me - the Gina Marie Frames Scalloped Squares die  to make the pink border square frame and then mounted the frame and the white interior to the bottom outside of the card base.  I had the sentiment left from a previous background piece of scrapbook paper - just perfect.  For the final touch, I added the white organza double bow.

Thanks for stopping in to see today's somewhat different Christmas card.  See you tomorrow ~ 

Challenges Entered:

The Holly and the Ivy Christmas Challenge #62

Colour Crazy Challenge - Week 50

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam 

Copics Used:

Hat: R83, R85, Envelope: N1 Heart R83, R85; Eyes: E23, Ears & Paw Pads: R30 & BV25, Pup: E21, E23, E25, Shadow: W3, W2

Products Used:

Whimsy Stamps, Special Delivery Pup

Gina Marie Designs, Framed Scalloped Squares

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas ~

When you live in the sunny south, having a white Christmas is truly a dream.  But beautiful images like this Whimsy Stamp, Sleigh Ride by Jennifer Dove, are the dreams that we add to our 60 - 70 degree days to make it feel like we might get to see a little white flurry.

After Copic coloring the image, I used the Penny Black Elegant Stitching Die for both the image and the two red matting pieces. You will notice I simply cut the sentiment "Merry Christmas" from the red background paper .  I mounted the pieces on a Kraft card base and added a single twine bow with a snowflake embellishment.

Thanks for stopping by today as we only have a few more cards to go till Christmas day!

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam

Products Used:

Whimsy Stamps, Sleigh Ride

Penny Black, Elegant Stitching

What Every Little Boy Dreams of...

And lots of little girls too... There is just nothing like those trains running around the base of a tree at Christmas time.  Crissy Armstrong penguins continue to capture the hearts of so many of us with their soft smiles and big eyes.  Here I took part of the image (just the boy elf and the train on the right side of the image)  from Whimsy Stamps' Penguin Elves at the Workshop.

After sizing the image to about 4.5" x 3.5" and printing, I used my Copic Markers to color the image and the Gina Marie Designs X-Stitched Rectangle die for cutting this piece.  I trimmed the plaid matting to fit about 1/2" smaller that the red card base, then applied using my book-bonding glue.  The sentiment is also glued on the top left corner along with a coordinating button.

Thanks for popping in to see what I've been working on - Hope you are posting your Christmas cards online somewhere also for others to share and enjoy.    Merry Christmas friends~ 

This card was submitted for the following challenges:

The Holly and The Ivy Christmas Challenge #62

Dare 2B Artzy Holiday Challenge

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam 

Products Used:  

Whimsy Stamps, Penguins at Santa's Workshop

Gina Marie Designs X-Stitched Rectangle

Miss Frosty and Her Birds

Today's Christmas card is another adorable Whimsy Stamp image from artist Sylvia Zet, named Miss Frosty.  

I did this card for a card challenge - 'Card with a bird(s)'.... and just couldn't resist such a cute snow 'gal' to show off those two little blue birds bringing you Winter Wishes.

This Whimsy image is available in Red Rubber and the Digital version.  I grabbed it on Cyber Monday when Whimsy had their awesome Digital files for 50% off!  I love using digital images if for no other reason  other than once printed I sure don't have to worry if I've used the right ink to color with my Copic markers.  NO smearing ink from my printer images ever! 

You can see the list of Copic colors I used below if you'd like a reference to color your Miss Frosty.  Once colored, I used Spellbinders Deco Rectangles Die set to cut the image then added a solid purple matting before gluing both down onto a standard A2 lavender and white card base.  I elected not to add the double bow on this card since it was being mailed to my swap partner in Oklahoma.

Thanks for stopping in to see today's Christmas card. 

Serving a Risen Savior,
Pam 

Copics Used: 

Berries: R35 & R46, Leaves:YG03 & G94, Snow: BG000 & B000, Birds: B00, B000, B41, Beak:YR04, Y17, Tree: E70, E71, E74,  Hat: V91, V93, Fur, V91, Scarf, Vest & Button: BV02, Bv01, BV0000.

Product:

Whimsy Stamps, Miss Frosty

Memories of Arizona

Boy was I excited to run across this older Whimsy stamp when I wanted to find something special to send to my friend in Arizona. 

Merry Cactus by Krista Heij-Barber is another Whimsy Stamp that is a treasured stamp in anyone's collection.  Here's the card I made with this image.

I used Copic Markers for coloring all but the center of the star ~ I used a yellow metallic gel pen for that part.  I cut the border using  the Whimsy Zig Zag Stitched Rectangle Die.  Then I added a green plaid mat  before mounting on a 4 x 6 red card base. I also added Clear Wink of Stella to the string of lights and the sentiment from the Altenew Blessings set.

I've entered this in the following card challenges also:
The Holly and The Ivy Christmas Challenge #62
Through the Craftroom Door ~ Anything Goes


Thanks for stopping by today ~ Hope you will be back tomorrow also!

Serving a Risen Savior,
Pam 

Products Used:

Whimsy Stamps, Merry Cactus

Whimsy Stamps Zig Zag Rectangle Die

Sending Lots of Warm Thoughts

It's Tag It Tuesday on Polka Dot Orchard and I'm up with a Coffee Gift Card Tag to share with you today.

For this project, I selected Artist Crystal Minkler's digital set, Woodland Cuties (Winter Fox).  I wanted to make the tag to accommodate a 'Starbucks' Gift Card with a separate pocket to hold the card so it could be reused.  Here's the completed Tag, and a few more details so YOU can make one too! 

I colored the Latte cup with Copic markers and then fussy cut the image.  I used Gina Marie Designs Arched Stitched Tag Set dies for the large background die and the sentiment die.  For the card pocket, I also used the same die, but just reversed the die and only cut the top layer with the top of the die (upside down).  For assembly, I glued the gift card pocket down horizontally first, then added decorative washi tape across the top and bottom of the card pocket.  I used a large foam pop square at the top and bottom of the cut out Latte cup and then placed it to the right side of the gift card cover piece.  Then I punched a single hole in the top of  the sentiment and the background tags.  I then made a double bow using Christmas ribbon, and tied the bow and the sentiment tag to the top of the gift tag.  For the final touch, I added Diamond Ice Stickles to the fur brim and ball of the Santa hat and then set the tag aside to dry.  

I hope you like this Gift tag and will follow the link over to Polka Dot Orchard.com to see all of the new items Jessica has just listed. She also has a great sale going on right now! If you aren't a member of the Facebook page, the link there is  ~ Friends of Polka Dot Orchard.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will be back tomorrow. 

Additional Challenges
The Holly and the Ivy Christmas Challenge #62
Word Art Wednesday #416-417

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam 

Copics Used: 

Scarf & Hat, R29, R49, Cup, G7, G17, N1, N3, N4, White Gel Pen, Diamond Stickles

Products Used:

Polka Dot Orchard, Woodland Creatures

Gina Marie Designs, Arched Stitched Tags

Wishing You a Blessed Season

Here we are down to the 15th of December, only ten more days until Christmas Day!  It's time for a new posting from my other Design Team today ~ Createful Heart Digis and Designs.

For December, I selected Christmas Bells Are Ringing.

I printed the digital image on Neenah 110# Card stock and colored with Copic markers.  After die cutting with Pink & Main's Square Scalloped Edge die, I added the sentiment from  Altenew Blessings Stamps.  The card base is 5 1/2" square with a Black background holly and berries print.  I angled the colored image slightly when I adhered it to the card base and then added three enamel dots for grounding.

This is a nice image for sizing to A2 or larger and colors up easily.  Now don't forget the month long challenge at Createful Heart Card blogspot.  Here's the link to add your Christmas cards to the Anything goes challenge.  

Challenge #15 - https://createfulheartcards.blogspot.com/2019/12/hello-and-welcome-to-challenge-15.html This challenge will begin on December 15th and end on January 14th, just a day later than usual.

To purchase digital images from Createful Heart, please visit the Zibbet shop @: https://marketplace.zibbet.com/createful-heart-design

Once you're ready to post, here is the Createful Hearts 

Blog Challenge: https://createfulheartcards.blogspot.com/

Additional Challenges:

The Ivy & the Holly Christmas Challenge #62

Dare 2B Artzy Christmas Fun

Word Art Wednesday #416-417

 Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been working on.   Hope you'll come back tomorrow too.

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam 

Products Used:

Createful Heart, Christmas Bells are Ringing

Pink & Main Square scalloped die

This card is also being entered in The Holly and the Ivy Christmas Anything Goes Countdown#62