Joyful Winter Wishes

Hello Hello! Another Christmas card to share with you today, but it's safe to say it's non-traditional. I made it for friends of ours who are really big on saying Merry Christmas. So, I intentionally made them a card that doesn't say that, until they open it. Just a little good-natured teasing between friends!

I was inspired by challenges to make this card my version of Clean and Simple, use purples and greens, feature a floral stamp colored with my ProMarkers and use a "winter wishes" sentiment, in addition to keeping it flat for mailing.

SUPPLIES:
Paper: KI Memories Embossed card stock; Neenah index, SU card stock, Recollections 110# card stock
Stamps: Stamplorations, Impression Obsession, PaperTrey Ink, Sugar Loaf
Ink: Ranger Archival, VersaMark, Ranger Distress
Other: ProMarkers, Cropadile Corner Chomper

I used a Split Coast Stampers sketch and resized it in my mind, foregoing my usual editing in PSE and printing out. Well, it was pretty simple, would have been a waste of paper and ink, as I didn't follow the measurements, just the basic elements of the sketch.

  

I believe this is my first real experience at coloring a stamp like this. I had no real rhyme or reason to what I colored other than maintaining symmetry (because Nature usually does). I did zen out while coloring and it was enjoyable, but I was very intent upon staying within the lines as well as being able to use the number of different shades of purples and greens that I was able to see in the Outlawz challenge inspiration photo.

 Because the embossed card stock I used for my card base is not that stiff or thick, I decided to adhere 5-inch squares of 110# card stock to the inside.

 I stamped an IO poinsettia repeatedly with VersaMark on the left side and heat-embossed with white powder. Then I used a blending brush to apply Shaded Lilac Distress Ink

 on both sides. On the right side, I stamped a Papertrey Ink sentiment in Archival ink.

On the back, I screwed up by adhering my snippets for the siggie in the wrong orientation. I caught it as I was deciding on what siggie stamp to use. Oops! Time for the save, using a Sugar Loaf vertical siggie. At first it looked really weird to me, but now I kind of like it!

I wanted to add some sparkle but I could not really decide on what to use so I am going to leave that for now and revisit later on. It's already such a busy image. I dunno, I don't think my brain wants to choose right now. :-)))

CHALLENGES:
1.  Split Coast Stampers Sketch SC728 -- sketch shown above
2.  Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge Aug. 27-Sept.9: Use Photo Inspiration -- I used the colors and used flowers.  

3.  Stamping Sensations September Challenge: AG with Flowers
4   Stamplorations Summer CAS Card Challenge: Anything CAS Goes

5.  Stamplorations Summer Theme & Sketch Challenge: AG + Stamps

6.  Stamplorations Never-Ending Anything Goes Challenge

7.  Sparkles Christmas Challege #104: Winter Wishes
8.  Catch The Bug August Recipe Challenge: Clean and Simple
9.  613 Avenue Create #225: AG + Opt. 3D Box -- I did not play the option.
10.  Colour Crazy Week 34: AG with Colouring -- I used ProMarkers to color my flower.
11.  Moo Mania #199: Use a Stamp
12.  LTSCB Challenge #125: AG
13.  Crafty Creations Challenge #397: AG

Thank you for visiting me and allowing me to share my creations with you. Until next time, Stay Artsy, my friends! XOX