Hi there! I have my first batch of Christmas cards for 2021. You know how much I love every aspect of card making, but I tell you truly that when I finish each year's Christmas cards and get them in the mail I breathe a sigh of relief.
This month's cards were initially inspired by the CAS Christmas Card Challenge which asks for silhouettes. My deer are part of the design in this older Spellbinders embossing folder. I colored them solid black and featureless with a Prismacolor pencil, then smoothed over the coloring with a stump and odorless mineral spirits. Pencils and mineral spirits do not bleed through to the reverse side, so I like them for a a single layer card.
I do think the first card is beautiful, but wanted to speed things up a bit. One embossed panel made two cards as quickly one, assembly line style. After making one of the first card I made three each of the cards pictured below. So seven cards altogether this month. I'm good with that.
Let's Squash It Challenge #4 (use an embossing folder and an animal)
Sisterhood of Crafters (use die cuts and/or embossing)
The cards in the second photo are playing at CAS Christmas Card Challenge -- Silhouettes.
I do appreciate challenges for a little extra motivation. Now back to our regularly scheduled program. Have a beautiful day!
Stamps: Poppystamps Joyous Christmas Wishes, Power Poppy Bottle Brush Holiday Paper: Neenah Super Smooth Solar White, antique gold specialty paper (old) Ink: Versamark Coloring: Prismacolor pencil & odorless mineral spirits for deer, Copics G29 & E17 for tree Other: Ranger Queen's Gold embossing powder, Spellbinders Reindeer Magic embossing folder, SU Subtle embossing folder, Spellbinders Labels Twenty & Standard Circles Small, Memory Box Bauble Snowflake and Pine Forest Frame, Hero Arts Wood Frame, Scotch brand foam mounting tape for sentiment circle
How clever of you to get a head start on this year's Christmas cards! I love them all and especially that they can mail so easily!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful selection of cards love the embossing and dies
ReplyDeletecarol x
Lovely cards as usual Leslie. Gives me inspiration to get working.
ReplyDeleteLovely cards and the gold adds a nice touch of festivity.
ReplyDeleteHello Leslie, I'm so happy you are getting your Holiday card making to a fabulous start, these cards are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI love that embossing folder, a beautiful background for your little deer and sweet pine trees.
Gorgeous gold embossing on the first card.
Stay healthy and safe.
Hugs.
Gorgeous cards, Lesley! Thanks for playing at Let's Squash It! Your designs will fit in nicely at Christmas Kickstart too s the theme is deer, Jo x
ReplyDeletewell you're just buzzing along. I'm only in Valentine mode... Lovely card. Have a great day
ReplyDeleteWOW look at you go ... getting a head start on 2021 Christmas cards. I just finally put my Christmas paper/stamps away (at least for now) so other than those I've created for upcoming DT projects, I'm taking a mental break away from holiday cards! LOL These are just fabulous and love your designs! I do believe I have that embossing folder you used on the first card but never thought to use it in that manner ... looks awesome ... thanks for inspiration! Hugs my friend!
ReplyDeleteYou are off to a great start. These are fantastic Christmas cards.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, Leslie! I don't remember seeing that embossing folder before - it's very cool. And I love the way you colored the deer. Great job of getting some Christmas cards done!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness - can't believe you are already into Christmas cards for this year! Way to go!! Actually, I was thinking of doing some as well. We'll see what happens. I love your first card with the deer. Nice idea to split the embossing panel to make more cards! It's amazing how an embossing folder spruces up a card. Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteLove these...I go for anything with trees! Great start on your Christmas cars...I worked on a bunch today too. I switched gears and did a bit of Tim Holtz type...using up some of my paper stash with all those layers..lol!
ReplyDeleteAren't you clever. I really like the smaller version better. Did you have an embossing folder that did the two types of embossing or did you do it the old fashioned way? What a great start for next year.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome embossing folder and three amazing Christmas cards! You're on a roll, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful! Leslie I like the simplicity with the textures and the deer. Your embossing is always classy! Glad you are getting a head start. hee hee
ReplyDeleteI started working on mine tonight, these are fabulous and sounds like you got a lot done! I have never tried pencils on embossing, they look terrific, I love the deer with the embossing in the frame on the second set, love them with the trees!
ReplyDeleteThree beautiful textured backgrounds and how clever of you to pencil color and blend with gamsol your silhouette deer, Leslie. Wow...7 Christmas cards total for your stash. Good for you, my friend. TFS Love and Hugs..Nancy
ReplyDeletelove your little reindeer cards especially the little framed ones. It's always great to make multiples when you have all the crafty items out :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful trio of cards! I particularly like the first one.
ReplyDeleteAll three are elegant, Leslie - you have such a sophisticated way of combining elements. Great to get a head start! hugs, de
ReplyDeleteThree gorgeous cards Lesley, great head start.
ReplyDeletePam x
Beautiful embossing folder and you've made even more special with your designs Leslie! Three gorgeous cards ... and great to make multiples which will help your Christmas card stash grow quickly. xx
ReplyDeleteWonderful and gorgeous embossed project, simply fabulous colours and design....xx
ReplyDeleteRobot has made me work the last 3 days, stupid blogger...
Each one is gorgeous and so elegant... Beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteThree really great cards, love the swirliness of that embossing folder xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely embossing folder that is Leslie, and how clever of you to color the deer to make them the silhouettes! I love all three of your designs! thanks for joining in my challenge at CAS Christmas!
ReplyDeleteSO happy you have shared this beautiful & inspiring card with us at our Sisterhood of Crafters challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.
ReplyDeleteDarlene
SISTERHOOD OF CRAFTERS
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
Please stop in for a visit!
Such a pretty embossing folder this is lesley and you have coloured the deer in perfectly to make them stand out and love the large gold embossed sentiment mat and pretty added snowflake. Then the two framed ones which look great too, and seven cards made to boost your stash. x
ReplyDeleteSorry to spell your name wrong...I've just noticed it should be Leslie. x
ReplyDeleteVery nice cards. I actually like the ones with the trees the best. You are way ahead of me. I need to start doing a few Christmas cards to build my stash up.
ReplyDeleteOh my, these are beautiful Leslie! Love your CAS style on these, and you know I would of never thought to have coloured in the deer! These are so elegant. Good for you for getting a head start on this years cards! Sorry for my late commenting. Thanks for the inspiration once again. Off to see your next post.
ReplyDeleteAll 3 deer cards are beautiful and elegant, Leslie! The wonderful intricate embossed background makes the deer silhouette pop. It's clever to think of dividing the background to make multiples. So happy to see your card in the CAS Christmas gallery. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHideko xx
Oh, these are beautiful. The first card is so elegant and then I love how you used the same folder to make the two other cards. Very versatile and great tip about the pencils and mineral spirit. Thanks for joining the fun at Let's Squash It! Hugz
ReplyDelete