Thursday, October 13, 2011

Christmas in October

Hello again friends & followers!  I had a fun and crafty day, and have three more cards for your viewing pleasure, all with a Christmas/winter theme.  The first I created using this week's Sweet Stop Sketch SSS129 from Sweet n Sassy Stamps using their Christmas Joy stamp set and some yummy papered from Echo Park's Season's Greetings collection (both new items):
I had so much fun coloring this BEAUTIFULLY illustrated cardinal with Copic markers.  I added some platinum Stickles (LOVE this color!0 to the edges of the paper poinsettia's and, although it does not show up well in the photo, I went over the pine cone with a Copic Spice pen to give it a subtle sparkle as well.  In addition to SNSS's sketch challenge, this card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:
Wild Rose Studio Festive Frolic Blog Hop - Make a Christmas card,
ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Unused Stash (the stamp set and the paper pack were brand new, gifts from hubby - Thank You Sweetie!!),
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Things with Wings,
Ribbon Carousel Challenge 24 - Make a card with sparkle & ribbon or twine.
My second card was created with two challenges in mind: (1) Stamp TV's Free-for-Friday Challenge by Suzanne Dean to use red & kraft cardstock, and (2) Bridget's 'Things are Looking Up' HYCCT09 challenge on Splitcoaststampers - you are supposed to incorporate something you can see when 'looking up'; I used snowflakes, which can be seen falling from the sky on a snowy day.  :)  Here is my card:
I went with a CAS approach and stamped the snowflakes from Gina K. Designs' 'Warm & Wonderful' set in white and sponged the edges in white as well, inspired by the way snow collects on the edges of your windows when it is falling.  The sweater and hat are embossed with white EP onto Real REd cardstock and I added a pom pom to the hat for additional dimension.  In addition to these two challenges, this card also fulfills the requirements of Creative Inspirations Challenge 133 - to make a one layer card.
I stuck to the CAS style with my last card as well, based on Skipping Stones Design Sketch Challenge SSD97 and Wanda's Hope You Can Cling To Challenge HYCCT1108 - Hang in There! - to incorporate something that 'hangs' into your card - I selected an ornament, which hangs from the bough on your Christmas tree:
The ornament & sentiment are from SSD's 'Christmas Swirls' set and the ribbons are both from a recent score at the Offray Ribbon Outlet in Hagerstown, MD (if you live within driving distance, totally worth checking out!).  In addition, this card fulfills the requirements of the following challenges:
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge 139 - make a card with an Ornament,
Creative Inspirations Challenge 133 - create a single layer card, and
ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Unused Stash (both ribbons were recently purchased but this was the first time I had used them).
(Holiday Card Count - 45, still shy of where I like to be by this time of year)
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!  I will have more creations for you to see tomorrow.  have a good night!
~Crafty Math Chick

20 comments:

Suzanne said...

Oh my, that cardinal is gorgeous!!!!!! I love him and his cute chubby belly. You've colored him perfectly!

Heather Rogers said...

What a cute CAS ornament card. Thanks for playing at FTTC. :)

Luanne said...

All of your cards are beautiful!
Great job.

Luanne

~amy~ said...

fabulous cards...happy friday!!

Theresa said...

Hello Friend - wow your cards are AMAZING!! I totally love all three of them. The cardinal is beautifully colored and the layout is awesome. The sweater and hat are perfect and I love the CAS card too! Fabulous my friend.

Shannon White said...

These are all So Fabulous! Love your Sweet Cardinal image and the Darling hat a sweater card and the Sweet CAS ornament card too! Just Wonderful Christmas cards! So glad you could join us at the Sweet Stop! 8-)

Lorraine A said...

Gorgeous cards ,, all of them are fabulous :-)

thanks for joining us on the ABC Christmas Challenge :-)
luv
Lols x x x

p.s the Wild Rose Studio have a blog hop, details are on my blog if you are interested

Karen B. said...

You've had some productive crafty time. All these cards are just fabulous. I love the pop of red in each. Thanks for playing at the Skipping Stones Design Sketch Challenge!

Silke Ledlow said...

All three cards are awesome! Thank you for creating the ornament card for the FTTC challenge...hugs ~S~

Rosemary said...

fabby cards... the ornament card is really cool!

Katie Gehring said...

Your cards are fab! All those pops of red and divine and put me in the holiday spirit! Thanks for joining in the sketch challenge at Skipping Stones Design!

Laurel said...

I really love what you have created! Thanks for playing at RCC.

Sarpreet said...

This is a gorgeous cute card, love the layout.

Thank you for joining us on the Wild Rose Studio Blog hop.

To also qualify for the Wild Rose studio challenge, dont forget to hop along to all the DT Blogs and leave some love, i fyou have not already done so.

P.S Your link on the Wild Rose Studio Blog Hop is invalid, I managed to work out the correct link. Please add new link in mr linky before 9am uk time.

Dulcie said...

Gorgeous card! Thanks for entering the Wild Rose Studio Blog Hop and good luck with the challenge! Dulcie xx

Jingle said...

These are all fantastic! All biases aside, the third one is STILL my favorite! Gorgeous cards and thanks for always playing along with us over at SSD! :-)

ellen vargo designs said...

Gorgeous card! Thanks for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show!

Ellen :)

Jessica Buffa said...

Lovely creations...wonderfully festive!
Thanks for joining the ABC "U" challenge!
:O)
Jessica
GDT

Barbara said...

So many gorgeous creations in one entry... Love design of the robin card!

Dorte said...

Such lovelu Christmas cards you have created.
Thank you for joining us at the ABC Christmas Challenge. Hope to see you again.
Dorte,x

Helen said...

Gorgeous card!
Thanks for joining us at the ABC Christmas Challenge!
Helen x