Christmas cards galore!

I'm baaaack! :)

I've been crafting Christmas cards like a crazy woman. I know, I know. Most people have already made and sent theirs... I like to 'age' mine first! :D

I do have some more in process (one is actually done but no pic yet) but I figured I better put these up before January... or later....

First up, a funny/cute card I made a while ago. It's a shaker card with a bunch of different glitters in the shaker part. Some Martha, some from Wally world - just a hodge podge. After I was done sticking it all together I wished that I had put less stuff in there - it's difficult to get it out of the way to read the 'funny'. Oh well, I don't make them very often so I tend to forget that less is more! The 'funny' says 'May Santa grant you the serenity to accept the gifts you can't return, the courage to exchange the ones you can, and the receipts to know the difference!' - which I think is hysterical! Ho, Ho, Ho! was stamped with an alphabet set from Hero Arts. Papers are from one of those scrapbook paper sets you could get at Michaels ( but I think they're either on clearance or all gone by now). Can you tell that I drew over the 'ribbons' with a glitter pen? Hey, Christmas is about BLING! :D

Up next is one made with one of those cheapie felt stocking shapes from Hobby Lobby (like ten in a package for about 2 dollars? this set came with white, red and green ones). I painted it with a silver paint dauber (from Ranger) and then dunked it in glitter. After it was dry I glued it to the background paper that I made using Tim's wrinkle free distress technique and cut it out. The aqua panel is edged with the same silver dauber, then raised off the navy panel which I ran through the cuttlebug swirl folder. Ribbon is from Target (in the wedding/invitation section). Since the folders don't reach all the way to the edges (grrrr) I used a silver pen to dot around the border - double dots on the bottom since I can't seem to line everything up 'just so'. (another grrrr!)

This next card was made with a clear set I bought at Wally world for *cheap*. And yes, you get what you pay for! :) I dig this angel tho, so I was willing to put up with (ahem) less than perfect. You probably can't tell, but the angel is on a piece of the same background that I glued to the stocking on the previous card. This little piece gives you a better idea of what it looks like IRL - and BTW, those gorgeous flourishes are from Bea at Katzelkraft. I *LOVE* those flourishes. The sentiment took a turn for the worse when I tried to stamp it in gold (you couldn't see it!), then went over it with a black glaze pen, then decided it looked too stark - so I brushed it with gold perfect pearls. Hmpf. It does look better IRL, sorta looks like a hot mess in the picture though. The stars on the angel's dress are colored over with a gold pen. The little stars near the top are leftovers from the Martha Stewart snowflake border (the style matched perfectly!) that I glued on.

This final one is something I've seen versions of all over. The top panel is shimmery white c/s run through the cuttlebug folder then cut with a small nestie. The inner card is also cut with a nestie so you can see the sentiment through the window. The ribbon is sandwiched between the layers and bling added to the ribbon. Since the bling didn't have anything to relate to, I went over the sentiment with a glitter pen (it says 'Peace' and is also from the cheapie Wally world set). That makes them look like they belong together - color and bling wise.

Since I'm putting up so many cards in this single post, I hope you'll forgive me for not listing the recipe like I usually do. If you have ANY questions about supplies or techniques, please leave a comment and I'll get back to you ASAP! Thanks for visiting!