Christmas Card Club - First card of 2014

This is my first card of 2014! It is for the Christmas Card Club and Sylvie at Gibmiss chose the theme for this fortnight. It is Anything Goes, as long as it is Christmas.

Now I know it is a New Year and it may seem a little strange to see Christmas cards again so soon...But in order to have all my Christmas cards finished for next year,  it is  better to get cracking on!

Our newish laptop picked up a virus that somehow got past the Norton Antivirus installed at the store when we bought it. Luckily, it was all under warranty, but I have not had a computer for a few days. Instead of blogging, I spent the last couple of days sorting my 12x12 scrapbooking design paper. It is amazing how many of these patterns are suitable for cards. I was able to move several full sheets as well as several large snippets, over to the area I have set up as the Christmas Creations Station in my room.

This card was created from one of those sheets. I thought it was fitting to use some non traditional colours since it is still so early in the year. IRL this paper has very salmon, cream and muddy green tones. The camera flash has drained the colour on the top left  but that whole top area is greenish like it is on the right. As soon as I saw the page,  I remembered that I still had one K & Co Father Christmas 3D sticker in my stash. I thought it would be rather fitting in light of the Santa Season sentiment on the DP.

Quite some time ago, I coloured up a half dozen of the poinsettia images. I coloured each one in slightly different shades and colours. Luckily I one left that had some salmony undertones. After choosing these elements, the card came together rather quickly. Due to the unusual Christmas colours,  I had originally filed the DP with some coordinating cardstock. So it really was only a matter of placing everything together. I did plan to add some other elements...perhaps snowflakes or even a florish...but everything I added looked contrived somehow, so I decided to leave it as is.

In keeping with my 2014 goal to finish the inside of my cards when I make them, I decided to make this card a notecard. I finished the inside flap and left the inside blank so I have room to write a small letter. That way I will not be trying to write over the lumpy card elements! I can now write on the smooth inside and the back flap too.

Recipe
Card base and envelope - from my stash, white textured square card
DP - DELish INdulge Series, Seasoning Buffet from my stash
Cardstock - snippets of Wild Asparagus,Hope Dots/Lime; and snippets of MME 29th Market Bright Buddy Boy, Little Jack's Engine Paper; both from my stash
3D Sticker - K&Co Father Christmas, from my stash
Stickles - Stardust, from my stash

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Pixies Crafty Workshop - must use snippets
2. CHNC Extra - Anything Goes as long as it is Christmas
3. Marks Finest Papers Speedy TV Christmas Card Challenge - must be Christmas
4. Christmas Card Club - Anything Goes, must be Christmas
5. Allsorts - Free and Easy