Friday, March 24, 2017

Two for Christmas in March

Hello!  I hope you'll bear with me as I wrap up the week with the monthly Christmas cards.  I have to honor my commitment to myself, and if I don't share them it would be too easy to cheat, wouldn't it?

I kept it simple this month, using only dies and stamped sentiments.  First up is a sponged sky in the background.  It could be a bright moonlit night or a winter sun.  I just didn't feel like going dark with it, so perhaps it's not very realistic, but then, neither is a glittery gold tree in the stitched landscape.




The sponging was done with teal ink on X-Press It Blending Card, but the dies are cut with Neenah 110 lb white -- my favorite for dies.  The tree is three layers.  The top was smooshed into my Versamark pad and embossed with gold embossing tinsel.  I can't even begin to capture the flash and sparkle in a photo, but I tried.  Just imagine it 1000% more sparkly:




Dies used on the first card are:

  • Simon Says Stamp Birch Column
  • Poppystamps Stitched Landscapes
  • Impression Obsession Fir Trees


The second card is simpler still.  Just the Birch Column with a Power Poppy Botanical Tree "Joy" sentiment.  I layered the Birch Column over silver glitter paper and used shimmery silver card stock for the base.  The sentiment is embossed with a claret-color powder, and star sequins added.




Back to spring stamping after this.  There's been more going on with the stamp room re-do.  Rich put up a molding strip and I had to take some things apart for spray painting, so it's somewhat in disarray at the moment.  I allowed myself  a few crafty days before making another mess in there, but currently it's not easy to stamp when all my inks and embossing powders, etc. are in another room...  I do have a couple of cards I'm still limping through, trying to finish.  See you next week, I hope!



16 comments:

Pauline said...

Wow, wow, wow! Leslie these are both gorgeous! And 2 more Christmas cards for your stash - good for you. Love the simplicity of both of these, same die complete different look. Love them both. I hope you get your room back together soon, but it will be nice when fully completed. Hope to see you back here next week with some spring cards. Have a wonderful day!

Sherri said...

Oh, I SO need to work on Xmas cards too! Especially after seeing your gorgeous cards! Love them both and of course, now I want that die! You are such an enabler! Love the background on the first! I can really see this as a moon shining over the glittery snow. Love the simplicity of both of them...nothing fussy, just pure beauty!

Yogi said...

both pretty. Nice die, Have a great day

nancy littrell said...

I Love your white Winter Moon, Leslie and the clean look of both your cards. So pretty with your Birch Column die cuts. Your tree really pops with all the gold glitter on your 1st card and your Joy is so pretty perfect with your silver accents on your 2nd card. TFS my friend. Hugs..

Evelyn S. said...

I should be doing Christmas cards this way! I especially love the "Joy" card because of its monochromatic theme and elegance.

pam said...

Wonderful fresh looking Christmas cards Leslie, love the layouts and dies you have used.
Pam x

Margaret said...

Gorgeous both of them. I love that die.

Ros Crawford said...

Oh they are beautiful and as I have that die it's lovely to see different ways to use it. Have a super weekend!

Conniecrafter said...

I love both your cards using this die and they look totally different. The moon/sun is a great touch behind and I love the look of the layering of the sparkle tree also, gives it such great dimension. I haven't used those sparkle embossing powders but they do look like they would be great to use!
Good luck with all your crafting remodeling :)

Lynette said...

Gorgeous - both of them! Love your dies. (Have I ever said that before? LOL!) Can't wait to see pictures of your stamping room.

Lisa Lara said...

Oh how I love your sponged sky with the moon and the pop of gorgeous sparkling gold Leslie!

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

You are so good with your Christmas cards!! You will definitely be ready for the holidays next year. I love the dies especially the fir tree! Hope your room gets completed soon. One can always think of something else to do there. My boxes are still unpacked looking at me!!

Diane said...

Beautiful peaceful scenes, each with a touch of WOW factor...the sparkle on the tree is gorgeous and I love the red Joy on the birch trees! I envy you getting a few holiday cards out of the way, so much smarter then waiting until the last minute like me, then never send any out...I imagine you are totally in love with your creative room redo..it sure sounds gorgeous and what I have seen of it, it is...happyng stamping!

Pretty Paper Junkie said...

I wish I had your talent for design. These are so simple, and yet wonderfully elegant! The subtly of the moon peeking out from behind the trees is genius!

crafty-stamper said...

Beautiful Christmas cards love the dies and gold tree
Carol x

Stacy Morgan said...

Glad you kept yourself honest and posted these. ;-) I like the crisp and clean feeling of both, very classy. The tree dies are awesome. Need to use mine more, great inspiration girlie!