Time for Tea

This entry for Beccy's Place Sixth Annual Month of Holiday Cards Challenge inspired by the letter "T" is Tea. The teacup stack image is from a Beccy's Place digi set named "Tea Time." I did some major fussy-cutting and paper piecing on this card, but love the results. Using instructions that I found on the web for another digi set of stacked cups (beyondthefringecrafts.blogspot.com/2018/04/getting-creative-with-digital-stamps.html), I printed the stack of teacups on 8½ x 11 paper, in four different colors of paper, [two patterned, two pastels and one white]. I printed four stacks on the white cardstock, which served as my "base" for the paper piecing, and one stack of cups on the other papers. So, I have extra cups to cut out and paper piece in the future when I need an extra special card for someone!

I used the directions in the link provided above but added a few tips [photos below.]

I finished the card by adding a section of a paper doily placemat behind the finished creation, attached it with gold photo corners, added a sweet mini-sentiment tags from a Lili of the Valley digi set, and perched the beautiful sprig of  holly, named "Holly Blossoms," which is one of the nearly 250 freebies created by artist, Beccy Muir [find it here- beccysplace.blogspot.com/2010/05/printable-21.html] The inside sentiment is from a Beccy's Place digi set "Blessings of the Season."

 Photo A shows the printed stacks on white and also two of the colored stacks, with one cup missing [used to make the card.] It also shows how I shaded the cups with two tones of grey Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen highlights. 
 Photo B shows how the shading bleeds through to the back of the sheet… which helps with the next steps! 
Photo C shows that I used the shading to place a strip of transparent tape on the back of the images, helping prevent the delicate handles from tearing when cutting out the centers. 
 Photo D shows a stack of cards. Before cutting all of them apart, I number them from the bottom up,- 1,2,3, etc. in pencil. This helps simplify things when I later start stacking them! (I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to arrange the colors when I had piles of them covering my table top. But then I was NEVER good at puzzles! 
Photo E shows that fussy-cutting the cups means there will be some tiny pieces that can easily get lost. I will need these little tidbits when creating additional cards in the future.

Entered into: 

Beccy’s Place Challenge- Month of Holiday Cards- Letter T      (beccysplace.blogspot.com)

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

The Paper Shelter- #363 A Christmas Card                                  (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

Word Art Wed Challenge- #362-#363 Anything Goes               (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Happy Little Stamper- Christmas-Anything Goes                       (happylittlestampers.blogspot.com)

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greetings- Anything Goes            (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

I was first introduced to the Outlawz Challenges when they celebrated their 7^th Anniversary in January.  I then joined their Progressive Challenge which provides members with a free digi every month.  If they create and enter a card with the digi in the monthly challenge, they automatically receive the next month's freebie.

This month's freebie is an adorable digi named "Snowman Couple" from Drawn by Krista [etsy.com/shop/DrawnbyKrista] I had fun creating this cheery card that I'm entering in several challenges including two that related to dressing to stay warm or festive and one, "If You Give a Crafter a Cookie" that included snowflakes and "Double D" mood board that includes plaid.

 

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenges- Progressive Freebie- Nov             (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Outlawz Challenges- Twisted Thursday- Plaid              (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Bugaboo Stamp- Stella Says Sketch Challenge #619    (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Double D’s Challenge- Snuggle Up Buttercup               (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Let It Snow                  (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Simon Says Wed Challenge- Baby It's Cold Outside     (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Kitty Bee Designs- #132- All Wrapped Up                         (alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.com)

The Cutie Pie Challenge #129 Winter Layers                  (cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com)

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #107 Christmas             (giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.com)

I picked up a few of these sparkly red gift card holders for 90% off at last years after Christmas sale. Added a gift tag made with a vintage PSX wood-mount stamp, and after I purchase a gift card I can cross one gift off of my Christmas list! Am entering the card in several challenges, including "Christmas Crafts All Year Round" which has a Gingerbread theme this month. [Although the gingerbread cutie on this tag is small… he is adorable so hope it meets the requirement.]  

Entered into: Outlaw Sat – PSX tag for credit card holder

Cute Card Thursday- #557 Festive Colours                     (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

Christmas Crafts All Year Round- Gingerbread             (christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #209           (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays- Christmas            (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #411 Anything Goes (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)