Tuesday 6 January 2015

Checked Christmas

I've made a Christmas card already! Last year I started in October and there was much less panic but I never thought I would make one in January. 
I was lucky enough to get the Inky Doodle Country checks stamps for Christmas and when I looked at them they suggested Christmas to me, although they are not specifically a Christmas set.
                                                             
Then I saw this lovely sketch at 52CCt:
                                                   
So off I went.

The background is stamped with the Country checks layer stamps and then all the squares filled in with the small stamps. I only used Cranberry ink. I embossed the very edges of the vellum in red to add definition. I am still very keen on the Nordic style since the 52 challenge at the end of last year. I made several in that style and I can imagine making more this year.
I was making a birthday card for my father and this sketch seemed just right for it too so I made another one:

I don't like this one quite so much but I'm sure my Dad will like it. I overstamped on the vellum here with some little stamps. I printed the text from my computer. I found this site http://www.dafont.com/ where you can find any font you desire if you don't have quite the right stamp. I liked these hanging letters. I used Adriondak Eggplant and Cloudy and Distress Faded jeans.
I know my blog sub-title tickles some of you but very little shrieking about smudging went on this time. I took my time and remembered not to ink up stamps on top of the project! 

I'm linking in with:
52 Christmas Card Throwdown Have a look at all the lovely cards there made with the above sketch.

Pixies Snippets Playground 
The snippet here is the vellum which I have has since before I started stamping (just one bit. Why?). I'm not even sure where it came from. Probably the fill a box paper shop which used to be a big temptation of mine until it closed down. Cut in half it just did for these two, with scrap left over to test for embossing and stamping. 

9 comments:

  1. Love your red card - very Nordic - thanks for joining in this week at 52CCT - Jacqueline xx

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  2. Alison I love these cards. Love the way you have cut your greeting so that you have the zig zag pattern of the paper behind it on the Christmas one and I am sure your Dad will love his special card.
    Hugs
    Margaret M

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  3. Oh wow and double wow Alison!! These are just fabulous cards - and of course I hopped over to peek at the stamp set you used. Sheesh, you must have loads of patience - although I expect it was quite therapeutic even? LOVE these!!

    Hugs

    Di xx

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  4. classique mais très élégant Alison, j'aime beaucoup l'effet de transparence, merci de jouer avec nous chez 52CCT, biz

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  5. I think your Cranberry Christmas card is absolutely lovely. A very Nordic feel to the card and I love the way the vellum adds some softness. Thanks so much for playing along with 52CCT this week!

    BTW - I think the birthday card is fab too!

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  6. Allison, I love BOTH of these cards, but I'll confess the red is my favorite. I do like the blue for your Dad though, and what a lovely way to add the milestone birthday as you did. This is a great sketch, and the vellum details were brilliant. This looks to be a most versatile stamp set...could be used for many occasions. Good for you at having your 1st Christmas card all completed! Happy wkend, and TFS. Hugs

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  7. I thought 'Christmas' too when I saw the Country Checks, it looks so good on your Nordic style card. Loving the cranberry colour too. Thank you for joining us at 52 CCT, hopefully you will have lots of cards made before next Christmas!
    Louise xx

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  8. Gorgeous cards. I especially love the top one - the red and white theme is just perfect with the stamps. xx

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  9. Popping over from the Snippets Playground where you were showcased. LOVE these 2 cards xxx

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