Winter is Baaackkk!

Although the calendar says Spring, we are getting yet another blizzard this weekend here in the Midwest. It is so big that the National Weather Service even named it, Winter Storm Zanto. Enough already!! So, since it looks like winter outside, I decided to make a few winter cards. This is the first, using a Bugaboo Digi named "Snowmen Block. I cut the images apart and adhered them to a filmstrip created from a Marianne Design die.

Entered into:

Bugaboo Stamps- Anything Goes                                         (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

QKR Stampede- #291 Anything Goes                                  (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

The Cutie Pie Challenge- #122 Delightful Digis                (cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com)                

Another winter themed card that will add to my Christmas Card collection, since it seems like I am always too busy during the holidays to make enough cards. I had found a sweet template a while ago that I loved… but had put aside. I used it to make a cute card. I used a page from a Christmas coloring book, cut down to fit the front of a card as the background. Added a little coloring to this image, but kept them muted so that Santa's laundry will stand out. However, wanted it muted even further, so added an oval of vellum behind the clothesline.  I stretched a piece of white twine across the front of the card, then attached Santa's Suit and long-johns with foam tape. I drew some clothespins on white sticker paper and added them to the card. To add a bit of texture, the trim and cuffs on the jacket and pants are cut from quilt batting.  A little tedious to make, but oh so cute! Am entering it into several challenges including one that requires twine and one that is to focus on mythology (There is a historical Saint Nicolas, but the popular Santa Claus is a myth!) 
You can find the template here-   
www.papercraftsmag.com/content_downloads/E19_Santas_Clothesline_Frame.pdf 

Entered into:

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Mythology/Inspired by a Story   (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge-  Anything Goes                 (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Double D’s Challenge- Twine                                                                 (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #197                                 (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
                  

Decided I didn't want to focus on winter anymore so made a beautiful Peacock card using an image and sentiments from Beccy's Place digi set named "True Beauty."  I seldom use pre-colored images because I am a miser with printer ink, and I love to color. But I really like the coloring that Beccy did on this beautiful bird, so decided to print it off. The blues and teals are so gorgeous! The beautiful paper is from a 12x12 pad of Asian inspired paper a JoAnnes a while ago and was fun to put it to use!  I'm entering the card into a few challenges, including one that requires texture (the gold pattern on the paper is raised, and the gold corners adds a smooth and shiny texture. ) A tutorial for the card can be found here- www.qbeesquest.blogspot.com/2013/05/secret-garden-tri-fold-shutter-card.html

Entered into: 

Beccy’s Place Challenge- April                                                       (beccysplace.blogspot.com)

Penny's Challenge- #375 Anything Goes                                     (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Add some Texture           (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #330-331 Anything Goes   (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge                           (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)