Cardinal Christmas

     Having done 30 Christmas cards with images from Beccy's Place over the month of November, here I am starting December with another of her images.  Beccy is sponsoring our challenge this month at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies where our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Critter."  All you need to do is feature a creature on your project and you can enter it.

     I've used one of Beccy's gorgeous cardinals, this one called Cardinal and Holly, and you can grab it as a freebie if you click on the image name above.

I used red and green from the colors at Color My Heart.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Memory Box die
Sentiment from Beccy's cut with Sizzix die
Red, stitched, satin ribbon
Wide, sheer ribbon for bow
Black card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creative Knockouts
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Greetings
Simon Says Stamp
Southern Girls

     I hope you're going to come play in our challenge this month.  You have until the 25th of the month to link up your entries.  We love being inspired by you but the team probably won't be commenting this month because we give them time off so they can get ready for their own holiday celebrations.  Merry Christmas to all.  NanaConnie

Christmas Wreath Besties

     This is an unexpected second post today but I want to share a warm and wonderful story, and the card which resulted from it.

     I first saw this new AuroraWings image when Donna Mundinger posted her card using it over at the Outlawz challenges.  I had to go check out her blog post for more info and I fell in love!  On the Outlawz post, I left a comment that if I wasn't so broke I'd be over at AuroraWings buying it right then.  I also opined that if I was really good, maybe Santa would bring it for me.  :-D

     A few hours later, it arrived in my mailbox with a note that it had been sent to me by my Secret Santa!  Somebody at the Outlawz has the most generous heart in the world!  Thank you, Secret Santa.  You are truly blessed.

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a Sizzix scalloped die.  The frame was cut with a die from QuicKutz.  I layered those together and went looking for ribbon.

     I found that gorgeous, sparkly gold, wide ribbon in my Christmas stash and wrapped it around the card front, adding the image piece on top of it.  The sentiment was cut with a Die-Versions die and I used a glue pen to adhere the words to the slate gray card front and the ribbon.  I used a white gel pen to outline the two words on the gray CS.  That made them pop.  Before that, they were a bit hard to read.

     The final touch was the snowflake which is covered in glitter but that just doesn't show in the photo.

     Challenges:
Cookie Challenge
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pile It On
Simon Says Stamp
SUYP Cats

     I think that's all I have for today but I am headed back to the craft room so who knows what may get created that demands immediate posting.  lol  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie