MERRY CHRISTMAS --- CARDS...........

Finally, I finished the few cards that I send out for Christmas. I did a couple (or really 3) different versions of the card for several reasons. The ones we would be hand delivering have the bow tied to the front where the ones to be mailed do not (it makes the envelope too bumpy). So thats versions one and two. The third version came to life when I ran out of the Crumb Cake cardstock that I was using for the base. Out of Crumb Cake??? You must be kidding me!!!!! I will have to place an order very soon. Anyway, when this tragedy happened, I switched the base to Soft Suede cardstock.

I love this image from the Merry Crittermas stamp set out of the mini catalog. The sentiment is from the same set. I cased this card from one on Splitcoast Stampers here. I changed up the color combo to Old Olive, Bravo Burgandy and Crumb Cake/Soft Suede. I colored it using my ink pads with one of the blender pens. Now, those that know me know that normally I would have watercolored this, but some of the spots to color were really tight. One of my stamping sisters (Hey, Cindy!!! --- check out her blog here) swears by these pens, so I figured I would give them a try. Oh my goodness!!!!! I love these things!!!! I don't know if I will ever go back to the aquapainter. Okay, that is a bit extreme, but these pens are just wonderful, especially when you are working with the smaller spaces. And especially if you are coloring on the Whisper White cardstock. If I had colored this with the aquapainter, the paper would have bubbled up from all of the moisture.

I also used the Northern Flurry embossing folder and added one of the shiny, sparkly rhinestones to the center of the big snowflake. To get the border on the Decoative Label Punch, I followed the instructions here. Super simple. Here is one with the bow on the Crumb Cake base:

And one without the bow and on the Soft Suede base:

So, from my family to all of yours

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!