Candle Light and Silent Night

     This post is all about the latest challenge which starts today over at Crafting with an Attitude.  As usual, our theme is "Anything Goes" and we have Lemon Shortbread as our fabulous sponsor!  They generously supplied us with images we could use and I fell in love with Candlelight Girl. Candle light at Christmas is probably my favorite thing during the holiday season.

     I think the image may have originally been intended for Halloween but it's so versatile, it worked perfectly for a Christmas card as well.  I think it could make a great birthday card, too.

     I colored with ProMarkers, made the stars with white gel pen, and cut it with a die from Gina Marie.  I used silver ribbon with glittery, silver spots which could be interpreted as winter snowflakes.  Everything went onto a navy blue card front, and I added a tiny, hand tied, bow below the image.  It's pretty CAS but that's what showcased the image.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Cardz TV
Creative Moments
Cute N Crafty Christmas
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Friday
Southern Girls
That's Crafty!
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Nativity Night

     Today Beccy's Place is using "N" as the inspiration prompt for the 30 Days of Christmas cards and I used various parts of the Nativity set, part of which I used for "Kings" a few days ago.  I couldn't use all the parts - it would have been too large for the card.  So this time, I used a different one of the kings and added a shepherd and lamb (reversed in Word so that he was facing the manger.) 

     I love using Nativity scenes at Christmas - it reminds me of the Reason for the Season.

     I remember, as a child, being completely fascinated by a Nativity set my Grammy had.  Her father had hand carved it from blocks of soap her mother made.  She told me that when the set was new, it was sparkling white (a huge feat for home made soaps in those days) but by the time I was seeing it, it was yellowed with age.  I thought that made it all the more spectacular.  :-D  It was passed on to my mother but I have no idea what became of it after that.  If it was still around, I'd be setting it out each Christmas.

I used colors from the Tic Tac Toe Color Dare at Color My Heart,

3rd column plus Saffron for the gold shades and neutrals of beige & brown.

     Once again, I started with a pre-colored image (printed with the Nativity Night sentiment) but I used ProMarkers to add highlights and even to change some colors on the clothing.  I used white gel pen on the lamb and on the beards of the shepherd and wise man.  I cut the image with a rectangle die from QuicKutz, inked the edges with gold ProMarker, and matted it with Natural Earth CS - CS which is made completely from recycled products.

     I layered additional papers behind the image onto the card front, all of which were scraps left on the crafting desk.  I swear, most of the time the only way the craft desk gets cleared off is because I'm using up things left over from other projects!

     I dug through my bag of spangles and sequins to find the two stars, one gold and one silver.  I layered those together with craft glue (not easy to do with things that tiny) and added them above the image.  I used the gold ProMarker to draw the lines of light downward.

     Finally, I found my Noel sentiment die (by Die-versions) and cut white CS, then added Neptune Green glitter to it.  Once that dried, I put it on the upper corner and called the card finished.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafts Dreamy
Creative Craft Cottages
Cute Card Thurs.
Paper Nest Dolls
Winter Wonderland

     There will be one more post today but not until 3 a.m. my time.  I'll be sharing my DT card with you for the challenge at QKR Stampede so feel free to check back.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie