Monday, November 27, 2017

A Trio of Christmas Cards

My entry in Beccy's Place Fifth Annual Month of Holiday Cards Challenge for the letter "X" involves a bit of holiday humor. My card inspired by one I found on Pinterest years ago when I was making cards for Operation Write Home.  Remembered this cute idea when pondering this X challenge thinking Santa's belt is probably a size XXX! Remembered that it was actually a pretty simple card to put together so got to work. The beard is made the beard with a dry embossing folder (Swirls from Cuddlebug) which I clipped apart and fussy cut to make layers of luxurious "chin locks"! I made the belt with a strip of leather that I cut from an old purse (in my stash), stapler,  and an aluminum pop tab (also from my stash.) Printed off the sentiment on my computer. The insides sentiment says, "…. Just beCLAUS!"
PS I speak of my stash quite often but I don't think non-crafters can fathom just how many treasures a stash can hold. My DH hubby can attest to its breadth and depth and often teases me about it. Here is a conversation that we had years ago when I started collecting can tabs. 
    Me- Please save your pop can and beer tabs for me.
    DH- Why?
    Me- I’m using them in card making.
    DH- Oh, I thought maybe you were saving them for some kind of cause or fundraising.
    Me- They’ll be buckles on Santa cards that I am making for soldiers in Afghanistan.
    DH- Oh, Santa belt buckles. That was my second guess!
I have amassed quite a few since then (although most go to Ronald McDonald House for their recycling fundraising.)
Entered into: 
Beccy’s Place Challenge- November                                       (beccysplace.blogspot.com)
AAA Card Challenges- Christmas                                           (aaacards.blogspot.com/)
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- Anything Goes   (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge2- Extra for Nov   (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.com)
                               
Love the cute little reindeer blocks from Bugaboo. For this card, I just used one of the sweet little guys for Stella's Sketch. Printed sentiment on the computer. The inside reads, "Thanks so much for helping to make our holidays merry and bright!"
Entered into: 
Bugaboo Stamp- Stella Says Sketch Challenge       (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)
CAS-ual Fridays- Gratitude & Attitude                     (CAS-ualfridays.blogspot.com)
Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #191      (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
                             
When I was growing up, I remember my mom making quilts… lots of them. She called the little bits and pieces of fabric that were often leftover "snipples." And, since she believed in trying to use everything, very few snipples ended up in the garbage can. So, when I discovered a challenge named "Pixies Snippets" that encourages the use of all the little bits and pieces we amass when making cards, I knew I had to join!  For this card, I used some precious snippets. One scrap is from a collection of vintage music sheets (inherited from my husband's grandmother. Actually, rescued from the trash when her home was being cleaned out!) Also used scraps of vellum… which I love to use but hate to waste, especially the one with white swirls. So pretty. And the sentiment was upcycled from an old Christmas card.
(Also entering the card in the Bugaboo color challenge since I used a few of the shades from that color palette and Word Art Wednesday because of the scripture verse.) 
 
Entered into: 
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes       (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)
Bugaboo Stamps- Color                                                   (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)
Pixie's Snippets-Week 309&310                                   (pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com)

9 comments:

  1. Great idea to use the swirl embossing folder for Santa's beard Kathy, it's fabulous and definitely gives the impression of luxurious locks. I think most of us can understand the stash collecting to some degree. I like to think I keep things fairly under control, but my Mum loves to save little bits and pieces for her cards and crafts too. Thankfully she has enough cupboard space to keep it all organised and out of sight!
    The reindeer card is very cute, I love the way he's just peeping over the top of the frame. You did a wonderful job coordinating the different colours for this one, I really like kraft with red and white, I think it's an awesome combination.
    Your "snipples" card is wonderful Kathy... and I love the word, it's new to me and is fun to say. It seems to imply lots of different items, not just fabrics, not just paper, but a bit of everything. You did a fabulous job incorporating all the different snipples to make a festive and traditional looking card. Beautiful.
    Cheers,
    Beccy

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  2. All fun creations but I really like Santa. Very creative - his beard, his belt. Love it.

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  3. Wow! I'm glad I opened your card on Beccy's challenge. I've learned so much from your post. Every card is clever.

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  4. Hi Kathy, and welcome back to the Snippets Playground! What a lovely link with your Mom's 'Snipples' the Playground has. Love your cards, and wonderful use of the snippets on your actual challenge entry - and a super tip about using the swirls EF for Santa's beard!

    Hugs

    Di xx

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  5. What a fun Santa card, Kathy. :) Thanks for playing along at AAA Cards Clean and Simple Christmas card challenge.

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  7. Great set of cards and a wonderful idea using the can pull as a buckle. Thanks for sharing at Catch the Bug. Pippa DT

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  8. Super cute set of cards. Thanks for playing along with us at Catch the Bug. Good Luck. Our Christmas Chases begins December 2nd, hope to see you play along.
    Lynn aka Lynnpenguin

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  9. Your cards are adorable! I love the clever use of the can tops for the santa belts :) Thanks for sharing at AAA Cards.

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Thanks you for your comments. They bring joy to my day!