Sunday 5 January 2014

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

43 comments:

brenda said...

Now that's what I call organised Mo, Christmas cards in January, I am well impressed and just wish I could get ahead like that.

And I love Poinsettias so this is right up my street.

Hope you have a good Sunday.

B x

Desire Fourie said...

A gorgeous Christmas design with a lovely vintage feel to it.
Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

Jenny L said...

Hi Maureen,
what a fab card. Love your colouring of the poinsettia, and that Father Christmas is great. Wonderfully designed card.
I do hope you had a great Christmas, and a very Happy New Year to you and your family.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

brenda said...

Me again Mo, I totally forgot to say thank you for joining in at Allsorts this week.

B x

Sally H said...

Beautiful, and very organised too. I love poinsettias and your colouring is perfect x

dutchess said...

fabulous that Santa is just wonderful.....and you and I have the same resolution to do the insides of the cards......love itxxxx

Christine Harrop said...

Fabulous start Maureen! Really lovely card and the colours are great. This year I am determined not to have a mad dash so I am determined there will be a Christmas card every week! Hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year. Love and hugs Christine xx

cotnob said...

This is a gorgeous Christmas card, I love your beautifully coloured Poinsettia - it's never too early to start on your Christmas cards!
Pauline
x

Irene said...

You are definately organised, and what a brilliant first card. Your colouring of the poinsetta is stunning, and I love the Vintage feel to it.
luv
irene
xxxx

Planetsusie said...

Happy New Year Maureen! This is a lovely card and I am glad you left it just like this - it is perfect. As for your Poinsettias, what gorgeous colours you have chosen, this one goes soooo well with the shades of the papers you have used.

A wonderful first CCC card methinks!

Hugs to you Sue Pxxx

Jean said...

A lovely card, the poinsettia is beautifully coloured and is perfect with the DPs.
Jean x

Pia S said...

What a beautiful Christmas design! You've done a great job coloring the poinsettia, I find coloring flowers so difficult myself, but you make it look so easy!

Sue said...

Hi Maureen! what a gorgeous card I love it! hope you and your family had a wonderful time over Christmas and the New Year huggles Sue xxx and furry huggles from Olliebobs xxx

McCrafty's Cards said...

Happy New Year Mo, Gorgeous Christmas card I like the Santa and the poinsettia
Kevin xx

Redanne said...

Wow, I am so impressed that you have got your first Christmas card finished - and it is very beautiful. I love the way you coloured that poinsettia, it is gorgeous. Happy New Year to you! Hugs, Anne x

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Gorgeous card
love the poisentia and Santa
hugs Tamara

Princess Judy Palmer said...

You know, this year I get the starting in on Christmas cards right away and have even made a couple myself. That said, I'm ready to start seeing other things as well, but I like your fine selection of off colored cards (wait, non-traditional colors I guess sounds better). I applaud your finish the inside of the card goal! That is something that caught me over and over again this past year--cards ready and done but not the insides or the back with my name.... so it delayed me again and again. Like you I am now trying to make sure the card is really and truly done when I'm finished with it. That way I can grab it and go when I need it.

505whimsygirl said...

Hi Maureen,

Love this card! What a great job coloring the poinsettia - and coloring a bunch at the same time is definitely the way to do it.

Hugs,
Kay

Karen Petitt said...

That's gorgeous Mo and I love the colour scheme you have used. Most of us are trying to do the inside too. I'm trying to stick to my pledge of 'No photograph until there is a sentiment inside' lol, whether I keept to it or not is another matter lol xx

Hettie said...

Hia Mo.
Gorgeous card there. That stamp is lovely. I cannot believe you are already on 2014 Christmas cards though. I have only today shared some more of my marathon.
Hugs to you and Al and I hope you are keeping warm.
xx

Darnell said...

This is so, so pretty, Maureen! I think you win the prize for first Christmas card of 2014! I'm hoping to follow your lead and make them all year long this year, too, and make it much easier on myself. There are so many fun Christmas challenges out there all year long.

I wish you Happy New Year and I hope they have your newish computer entirely fixed up! Hugs, Darnell

Craftin Suzie (Susan Wykes) said...

Happy New Year Mo! Fabulous card love that Santa sticker and gorgeous Poinsettia image. You are super organised, trouble with me is I get a bit sick of making Christmas cards by this time of year! Susan x

Gibmiss said...

Hi Margaret
Fabulous card... For our1st Challenge ... Mine is up but a away in Spain and cant link on my ipad.... Will do tonight
Hugs Sylvie xx

debby4000 said...

Absolutely gorgeous
luv
Debby

Di said...

Hi Mo! First in the Playground this week :)

LOVE your Christmas card, such gorgeous colours too.

Hugs, Di xx

Deanne Saunders said...

Sweet card! Thanks so much for participating in our CRAFTYHAZELNUT CHRISTMAS EXTRA challenge!! Hope to see you again for our next challenge!!
~DEANNE~
A Little Bit O' Paper

Mrs A. said...

I do so love your Father Christmas image and the inside of your card looks perfect. I feel like all of last yr was spent making c. cards so I'm having a little respite from them before I start making them again. I thought all those darn pesky/adorable little elfs had all scampered off from whence they came but I have a fresh order for another one for 2014 already. Grrrr.
Hugs Mrs A.

Sarah said...

Wow a Christmas card already, you are so much more organised than me Mo ;-) Fabulous card, love the Santa. Thank you for joining us at Allsorts this week x

Jo said...

Lovely card, that Santa is fab!
x

Carol said...

Fab first card of the season Maureen, love the stamps you've used. We'll have to rap each other's knuckles if we see unfinished cards lol. Carol x

MaryH said...

Hey Maureen, Ooops I missed that deadline! Well, your card is lovely, and good for you at using up some NBUS & getting your 12x12 over to your Christmas station. Great coloring on your poinsettia, and loved the Father Christmas image. Love your idea of finishing up the inside & having it ready to go. Hope you are keeping warm & snug inside, and glad that your new toy got its 'sick' fixed. And under warranty. TFS & good to see ya in the Playground...I been missing all the folks while I was away. Still playing catchup round the house. G'nite

Anonymous said...

beautiful christmas card! i love the colouring of the poinsettia and the layout.
linda

Sarn said...

Really lovely Christmas card Maureen. Love the jolly Santa image and the card layout.

Hugs, Sarn xxx

Peanut said...

Fabulous card, Maureen. Love the festive flowers, beautifullY coloured. And the 3D Santa is looking particularly good. Happy New Year, my friend!
hugs,
Asha - Sunny Summer Crafts

Words and Pictures said...

Such gorgeous colouring on the poinsettia, and a really lovely Santa image...

Be great to see you join in with the FJ tags next year - I think Linda is amazing. And so interested in your comment about freeing things up - I always feel like I need to let go more... so maybe it's just a journey we're all on in that direction!!
Alison xx

Elizabeth said...

Gorgeous card, Maureen. Well done for making such an early start too. You sound very organised, having sorted out papers and having a Christmas station :) Elizabeth xx

Hazel said...

Thanks for entering this lovely card for my CHNC challenge extra for January - hope to see you again soon x

Sue - said...

Lovely card and colouring, but oh my goodness how organised you are!

nwilliams6 said...

This is beautiful - inside and out. Beautiful colors - I am going to try this! Thanks for sharing this with us in the MFPSpeedyTV Inspiration challenge.

Jenny Marples said...

I so admire your organisation here Mo. Lovely card. Jenny x

Greta said...

I love how you colored the poinsettia & it certainly doesn't need any other elements--What a beautiful card!

Tracy said...

Very pretty card. I think the non-traditional colours are stunning.
Is Santa a dimensional sticker? I have those :)

Cornelia (fun stamping) said...

Fantastic scene - amazing how you did that! The poinsettia makes me swoon!