Getting Into the Christmas Spirit using #AHSC705

It's been a few weeks since I last posted, but I have a great excuse.  I've just returned from a cruise to the land down under, and now I'm back and ready to jump into the festive season with some fresh new cards and designs. 

For the next few weeks I'm going to be busy making Christmas cards for customers, friends and family using various card styles and sketches and challenges for inspiration.  I hope you'll follow along as I create 100 cards.  

Here's my inspiration for this card provided by Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #705: 

I hope you'll play along this week and create your own card using this sketch and share it on Facebook, or your blog.  Participation in sketch challenges can be so rewarding.  Not only will you complete another card for your stash, but you'll have an opportunity to enhance your crafting skills. 

Here is My Card: 
I actually made two cards with this sketch just to show that this layout works with both a traditional top fold and side fold style.

Card # 1:  A5 Card - Top Fold

Here is the inside of card #2, stamped without additional mattes, to cut down on the weight of the card for mailing purposes.  I think it turned out really well.  The sentiment is stamped in Mossy Meadow and I added a stocking sticker at the bottom of the card as I couldn't find a nice Christmas stocking stand alone stamp in my stash.  The inside of the second card is the same, however I added candy canes to match the front design. 

Card #2: 

Sometimes I wish the stamp manufacturers would make stamps that run horizontally rather than vertically so they're easier to use on side fold cards.  Oh well I made do by stamping the greeting on this label die from the "Greetings of the Season" die set.  I added little candy cane stickers to either side of the sentiment on Card #2 and a star on Card #1.  Love these little puffy epoxy stickers.  So cute! 

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

• Brightest Glow #159542 - "Season's Greetings" and "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
• Stylish Shape Dies - Cut 3 circles for Card #1
• Spellbinders 1/14" circle dies  for circle mattes
• Greetings of the Season Dies #164112

Cardstock and Designer Paper (DSP):

• Basic White 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock for base scored at 4 1/4" 
• Note:  While I usually cut a DSP or coordinating cardstock matte and top it with a layer of basic white matte for the inside of my cards.  This year I've decided to reduce the card weight by just stamping my sentiment on the inside card base.  Hopefully this keeps the card under 29 grams so I don't have to pay additional Christmas postage costs.   
• Mossy Meadow for cards 1 & 2 cut a 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" matte and adhere 
• Mossy Meadow scrap 3 3/4" x 5/8" for sentiment strip Card #1 and die cut three 1 1/4" circles
• Cherry Cobbler matte 4" x 5 1/4" for Card #1, a 5 1/2" x 1" scrap for the scallop border on Card #2, and a 3 3/4" x 5/8" strip for the sentiment on Card #1

Designer Paper: A Little Christmas 12 x 12 DSP #168414

• Card #1 - cut a strip of striped DSP 1 12" x 5 1/4", cut three 1" circles with mice and candy canes, cut one 5 1/2" x 1" scrap of DSP for the scallop border.

Ink:

• Mossy Meadow
• White Embossing Powder for sentiments on both cards

Accessories:

• Starform Silver Strips stickers
• Christmas Epoxy Shapes (stars and candy canes on Card #2 and white star on Card #1 sentiment strip.

Okay that's it for this challenge.  I hope you've enjoyed these cards and that you'll try out this sketch yourself.  I'm loving the "A Little Christmas" DSP and have a whole bunch of other cards I'll be talking about soon, so come back and check out what's new.  

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006