Birthday & Christmas cards

Hello there! Sorry I've been AWOL for almost 2 weeks. My so-called LIFE got in the way of my art play big time and it took me awhile to get focused again. I have 2 cards to share with you today!

My first card is a birthday card for my sweet mother-in-law. I used a collage sheet image for my center focal point from Free Vintage Digi Stamps. It was a free download - go HERE to download the sheet. I'd printed me one a long time ago and still trying to use up the sweet images.

For my background, I used an expired freebie I'd saved and printed out from Stamplorations called Colorblooms Sampler. I had printed it on copy paper for reference and decided to try my Distress Markers on it and it worked just fine so I just used the sheet I'd printed.

I was even able to blend Cracked Pistachio and Tumbled Glass coloring the flowers! On 20# laser/copy paper! Some of those flowers have 3-4 layers of color. No pilling. Wonders never cease...

I followed the Stamplorations November sketch for this card but I did not get around to uploading and joining the challenge that ended yesterday. Story of my Life! Sigh...

I finished off the card with a ribbon on top of some jute lace and Goldenrod Stickles in the background flower centers. I'm not showing the inside or back because I left the inside blank for a handwritten note and the back is just card stock on this one.

I'm sharing my birthday card with the following challenges:

1. Stamplorations Never-Ending Challenge - I used their Colorblooms Sampler coloring book page as the background.
2. Scrap From Your Heart #28 - Coloring - I colored the background
3. LTCCB #29 - December Anything Goes
4. Crafter's Cafe #210 - Use Lace and/or Christmas-Theme - I used LACE.
5. Crafts Galore Encore #58 - Anything Goes
6. A Bit More Time to Craft #81 - Anything Goes
7. IKE'S World Challenge #114 - Anything Goes / Color Inspiration

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 My second share is a tall Christmas card that fits in a #10 business envelope. I have some that are dark red so I wanted to use some of them for Christmas cards. I have used "vintage" (if scrapbook papers are older than a decade, they are vintage, right? heehee) Project Imagination Chloe's Closet Reindeer Games papers and embellies. This collection features 2" square coaster tiles, ribbon and phrase stickers.

I used a couple of Hero Arts sentiment stamps on the inside.

And anothercoaster tile on the back with a Gelatins siggie circle stamp.

I used a Lucy Chesna sketch that she shares with friends.

I do like this paper. It feels very much like the old Chatterbox, such wonderful texture, heavy paper. I'm going to keep making cards with this collection and see how much of a dent into it I can make.

I am sharing my tall Christmas card with the following challenges:

1. CHNC Challenge #414 - Anything Christmas + Opt. Stickers - I have used word stickers.

2. Christmas at Sweet Stampin - Anything Christmas

3. 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up #48 - Anything Christmas

4. MIUCB #20 - Anything Goes + Opt. No Stamping - no stamping on card front

5. Moo Mania #179 - Trees

6. Three Muses - Illustrate a Quote

7. CHNPP Challenge - Anything Goes + Patterned Paper

8. Merry Little Christmas Challenge #5 - Anything Christmas

9. CCAYR - December Anything Christmas

That is it for this post. I MAY have a second post tonite, keeping my fingers crossed that I can get it done. Hope everyone has a wonderful week! xoxo