Hello everyone and welcome! Can you believe it is October! Yes, there is no getting away from it, the nights are drawing in, specially up here in Scotland, very soon it will be dark already around 4 o'clock. But October does not only mean shorter days and Halloween, it also means Christmas is less than 3 months away....
Anyway, the theme at
Countryview Challenges is
Sparkle and Shine. So the moment I saw the theme I knew this would be the perfect chance to start on my Christmas cards.
I decided (like quite a few of us I think) that I would keep my Christmas cards simple and without too many embellishments.
I started by cutting a piece of strong white card to 3.75 by 5.75 " and coloured by blending Chipped Sapphire all around it. I then used the Tim Holtz Holiday Knit stencil and more Chipped Sapphire to do some stenciling at the top and the bottom.
I added some drops of Diamond Stickles to the centre of the patterns for more sparkle.
Next I gathered the other elements I wanted to add:
Some Kraft card for the backing, a layered snowflake die cut on which I had used a lot of Clear Rockcandy Dry Glitter (impossible to see on the photograph) and a stamped sentiment from the Tim Holtz Mini Holiday set. I layered it all together and that was really all there was to it. Quick and easy, just what we want when doing Christmas cards....
Here you can perhaps see the snowflake a little better. I layered a second one, lightly coloured with Stormy Sky and Gathered Twigs on top of the first one. There is a lot of sparkle and shine on the flake, but it is impossible to get a good photograph I found.
Well, hope you like my Christmas card and that you will decide to play along with our challenge. You can read all about it by clicking
HERE and of course there is some amazing further examples to the theme, including more Christmas cards, from the rest of the team.
Thank you for visiting, and this being the first of the months, I will be back with another project a little later.
Wow, this is one stunning Christmas card. Love the shaded blues and knit design is perfect. Have a Good Day. Hugs Rita xxx
ReplyDeleteLove your snowflake and gorgeous colour.xxx
ReplyDeleteSooooo beautiful. Very simple, but yet sooo gorgeous and well made. It´s absolutely amazing hun, and in my favorit color again. I just can´t help it, but I so love these awesome blue colors.
ReplyDeleteOh Astrid, this is one ELEGANT and STUNNING card... Love the rich blue and the glittering white... lovely. Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie
ReplyDeleteTruly stunning- that blue is knockout with those stamps and die-cuts!! alas, yes, the fast approaching C and the other four letter word..SN-W are just around the corner! xoxo
ReplyDeleteWow Astrid, just gorgeous! The dark blues and browns go so well together and your snowflakes are stunning! So glittery and festive! hugs :)
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful! Love the colors!! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteJust lovely… the bold indigo with the earthy kraft frame is a wonderful alternative take on Christmas colours and the frosty sparkle of the snowflake is perfect against the midnight sky. Love it!
ReplyDeleteAlison xx
Stunning work Astrid and so inspirational
ReplyDeleteHilda x
Simple it may be but it is really beautiful Astrid - that snowflake is stunning! Anne xx
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous Astrid, stunning snowflake, and I really like the stencil that you've used. Another thing for my never ending wishlist lol xx
ReplyDeleteFabulous Christmas card, I must get started on mine soon.
ReplyDeleteYvonne
Hello Astrid,
ReplyDeleteThe Blue on this card is just heavenly, it helps enormously that it is juxtaposing with the Kraft as it warms up the palette beautifully.
Love the snowflake so much, it should be center stage as it is just sparkly gorgeousness.
The contrast to your rustic creation above is vast, but also designed and embellished amazingly well.
I wonder which one you preferred making!
Smiles:)
Sue
Sparkly Gorgeousness, Astrid! And good for you for getting a start on your Christmas cards!! I love the blue background--it reminds me of those crisp, clear and freezing nights of Winter--Beautiful! XOXO-Shari
ReplyDeleteIndeed, a lovely start to your Christmas cards! Helene
ReplyDeleteI like simple with Christmas cards Astrid and I adore the blue tones you have used on this card. Do let me know which die cut the snowflake is from, it is one of the nicest I have seen around, I am guessing a spellbinders?? Love the rock candy sparkle. Mo x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Christmas card... Love the blues & Fabulous snowflake... Hugs May x x x
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done!! Even your cards are a work of art!
ReplyDeleteStunning! The color is SO rich.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful Astrid. Stunning snowflake especially. Nicola x
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful Astrid. Stunning snowflake especially. Nicola x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteFabulous, the blue rocks.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card! The dark blue background makes the snowflake really pop out, love this!
ReplyDeleteThat super sparkly snowflake works perfectly with the deep, rich stencilled background. Love it! Jenny x
ReplyDeleteGorgous. This is really striking with the snowflake on the dramatic backround. Love it.
ReplyDelete