Merry Monday Christmas Challenge: My Favorite

I was organizing the past Christmas this morning - (yes, I organize everything!).  I was marking off who we sent cards to, who we received cards from, checking return addresses to make sure I had everything right, etc. When my family is finally up today, we will take down the tree and eat the last of the Christmas cookies.  The season is over and it's time to think ahead to the new year.

While I was reviewing everything, I decided to link up to the Merry Monday challenge which is to pick my favorite Christmas card of 2016.  (Besides, my first Christmas card of 2016 was for Merry Monday so I thought I'd end the year with a link to Merry Monday!  LOVE you guys - thanks for all of your inspiration!!)

I thought it would be hard to decide, but I found it right away.  There was only one card that I did in multiples, partly because it was clean, simple and fresh, but mainly because it had exactly the right message for the season!

All of the details can be found on the original post here.

Taylored Expressions: Prayers at Sunset

Masculine cards can be so hard to do, especially if you live in my household where one little sequin or enamel dot is declared as "too much bling".  Sometimes I think they would be happy with a sentiment stamped in black on a white card - but I'd prefer to make a little more effort.

Today I made a masculine sympathy card, thankfully not because I need it - but I'm sure there will be a need in the church card racks.

I used my Clarity Stencil Brushes (now available at Taylored Expressions!) to brush a narrow strip of yellow across the center, with a wider strip of blue on top and green at the bottom.  I added a bit of orange for the setting sun.  I LOVE these brushes.  I've never been able to sponge; no matter what sponge I use nor how careful I am - I always get lines.  The color goes on so smoothly with these brushes and you can build it up to the intensity of color that you need.
I would highly recommend using Stick It Adhesive on this die cut.  Cut a piece of cardstock slightly bigger than the die and adhere Stick It Adhesive.  Then cut it out - just peel the back off to adhere and every little bit and piece has adhesive!
SUPPLY LIST

Care & Comfort	Seasonal Trees	Stitched Banner Stacklets	TE Premium Cardstock - Poppy Seed
TE Premium Cardstock - Toffee	TE Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	TE Premium Ink - Poppy Seed - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Sprinkles - Full Pad
TE Premium Ink - Lemon Meringue - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Candy Corn - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Peapod - Full Pad	Stick It Adhesive - Handy Pack
Scrapbook Adhesives - 3D Thin Foam Squares Assorted

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Papertrey December Blog Hop Challenge

I am playing along with Papertrey Ink's December blog hop.  They had a fun graphic with fresh cheerful colors.  Although it's labelled "Holiday Wrapping Party" - I decided to create a birthday rainbow!


I've had this rainbow die and "birthday wishes" die in my not yet used stash and I did need a birthday card just a few days ago when I was making this card.  I was inspired by the rainbow of wrapping paper to the right of the picture - some with stripes and some with dots.  I also saw stars in the graphic and I used a bit of sparkle.

Thanks for the inspiration PTI!!

SUPPLY LIST

FYI - I'm not near a computer to easily fix this list, but I did not use the Doodlebug White Sprinkles. I was going to add them as the dots for the "i" but changed my mind!

PTI Big Basics: Birthday	PTI Rainbow Stripes	PTI Small Sketched Stars	PTI Hawaiian Shores CS
PTI Aqua Mist Stripe	PTI Bright Buttercup CS	PTI Hibiscus Burst CS	PTI Bitty Star Basics
Doodlebug Lily White Sprinkles

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Joy to the World

Joy to the world! The Lord is come.

Let earth receive her King.

SUPPLY LIST

Picture Perfect - Horizontal

Nativity Border

Embossing Folder - Dotted Lattice

TE 6x6 Paper Pack - Build a Scene Christmas

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Freshly Made Sketches: Deck the Halls

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Mitchell.  This sketch will stay open until January 4th so you have plenty of time to play along.

Over the weekend as I was thinking about this sketch, I still had two Christmas cards to go.  (I'm done now and ready to coast into the holiday weekend!)  I came up with the center panel fairly quickly. 

The side panel gave me some headaches.  I think I tried paper from every Christmas paper pad that I had. I don't know what prompted this tree - just desperate because I couldn't come up with paper - but I like the bit of an overhang.
So while you are waiting for people to get up on Christmas morning or it's the first day of Hanukkah or when you need to escape from the family or when evening comes and the tree is lit and the wine is poured - I hope you find some time over the holidays to play along!
SUPPLY LIST

WPlus9 Festive Greetings

TE Stitched Square Stacklets

TE Embossing Folder - Brick

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Joy & Wonder of Christmas

I wanted to make a special card for wonderful friends of our family. We got together this weekend for a Christmas concert and a wonderful dinner.  And the best thing - even though we have male children of the same general ages and interests - we "adulted"!  What a wonderful evening!!


The wreath die is my favorite product this holiday season.  I used it with some bright Christmas colors on this card.  When I cut the white metallic leaves for that card, I saved the rest of the die cut for a future card and this is it!  Although you don't see it in the picture, the glimmer in the white metallic is a bit golden, so I pulled out warm colors and prints.

SUPPLY LIST

The patterned paper is from Simple Stories - Cozy Christmas.  I linked up the dies to Pinecones.  I originally had it out for a sentiment, but ended up changing to the sentiment from Ornamental; however, since it was out I used the bow die to add a little sparkle.

Wreath Cutting Plate	Ornamental	Holiday Florals	Holiday Florals Dies
Simply Stamped - Pinecones Dies	TE Premium Cardstock - Metallic Neutrals	TE Premium Cardstock - Dijon	TE Premium Ink - Mulled Wine - Full Pad
TE Premium Ink - Cherry Pop - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Sweet Basil - Full Pad	TE Premium Ink - Dijon - Full Pad	Doodlebug Sprinkles - Gold

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