Metallic Christmas Tree for 52CCT Color Challenge #12

Hello friends!  Today I am both nervous and excited to share the card I have made for the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Color Challenge #12 (see above).  You know how sometimes an idea pops into your head and just won't go away??? Well my card today is a result of one of those occurrences.  When I saw what our challenge was for this week at 52CCT I just couldn't get the idea of gears out of my head - and then I thought of making a Christmas tree with them somehow.  Before I show you this card I want to say that the reason I'm nervous to share this with you is because it is completely different from anything I've done yet and it is an unusual take on a Christmas card. I'm excited though because I really stretched myself creatively and I kind of like how it turned out.  Well... enough suspense - please be kind:

I apologize for the very poor picture. The background behind the tree is white but it doesn't look like it. I tried several different ways to get the photo better but it has too much shine from the blast of silver shimmer mist spray that I used (more than I had intended originally to put on).  Here are a couple different views that help the sentiment and cogs show up better:

I embossed the sentiment in Pewter.  As I mentioned, I gave the overall card a very good dose of silver shimmer spray.  Initially I was going for a totally masculine feel but then I just couldn't resist adding the rhinestones inside the smaller cogs/gears (whatever the proper term is for those "deally bobs" - a true gear head I am not -lol).  I used brushed silver and gold cardstock for the punched shapes. The overall card size is 5 x 7.  Oh, and here is the inside ( I used my new metallic silver marker and randomly squiggled a border around the inside).  I allowed myself to not try to be perfect in how I put this on (boy was I really feeling my oats this day - must have been the lack of sleep) ;o)

So there you  have it! Hope I've inspired you to try something new with a metallic finish or image.  At the very least I hope you will go check out the other samples from our fabulous DT at 52CCT and decide to make and share your own creation with us this week.  Til next week... hugs and happy crafting!!



ATS - Addicted to {Gold} Color Challenge #2 and Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Monochromatic Christmas

Hello friends - another quick post today.  I didn't sleep well last night as I was making cards in my head all night.  Do you do that too??  So, instead of starting my housework and laundry as I planned last night, I ran right up to my craft room and put my visions together in real life.  It's frusterating when you want to sleep but sooo much fun when you get up the next morning and the card you made in your head turns out exactly like you envisioned it - like this card did for me :o) 

The reason I made this card was to enter it in the ATS Addicted to {Gold} Color Challenge #2. I love to make metalic cards but they are so hard to photograph.  I made my own patterned paper background by stamping the snowflake in gold ink and heat setting it (really tickled with how it turned out!). I lined the cs up against my grid paper so I could eyeball the lines and keep my stamping somewhat straight.   I used a Brushed Gold cardstock base and one layer behind the tree.  I did use gold embossing powder on the tree to give it a bit more dimension and shine.  Wouldn't this be extra pretty with some randomly placed red rhinestones?  Hmmm... should have thought of that earlier (maybe I'll still add them).  I am also entering this in the Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Monochromatic Christmas. 

Well... really must start my housework (drat!) and spend some time with my kiddos :o) It's a beautiful day here so I don't want to be inside all day...well... maybe I would if I could just keep playing :o)  Thanks so much for stopping by to visit - I'm sure glad that you did.  Please come back again soon. Til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting!

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Brushed gold and Basic Black.  Stamp - Snow Swirled. Sentiment - Border Banter (NEW in the Holiday mini catalog) - I masked off two of the "merry" words to put on this space.  Other - versamark ink and gold embossing powder set with a heat gun.