Sweet Stampin' ~ Christmas

Hi crafty friends, I'm back with our very last Sweet Stampin' challenge of 2023. We'd love to see your Christmas creations and look forward to your inspiration as the holiday draws near. I am still creating as I had a commission for 30 Christmas cards, (it was my mummy, so how could I say no!). I've made most of them, just a few to go, but some extra inspiration is always welcome! I have two cards to share with you today, both made for my mum and it's so lovely, she's over the moon with the cards I've made and so excited to give them to friends. As a maker, you can't ask for better than that can you?!

I adore Mo Manning's beautiful images and I've not had time to colour one lately, but I had this one sitting waiting to be made into a card, which I coloured last year, after Christmas, actually in that lovely quiet period that follows. This sweet image is called Nativity Play. I pulled out my Twinkle Stencil from Whimsy Stamps and some gold pigment ink and added some lovely sparkles around the scene. I chose very earth tone colours for their clothes, because I felt it was more authentic to what they would have worn in the time. I knew my mummy would love this scene, so I created this card with her in mind. The beautiful sentiment is also from Whimsy Stamps. I kept the card design very simple just adding the sentiment the sparkles and a layer of lovely iridescent gold cardstock to frame the image panel. I added a second mat in brown cardstock and inked the outer edge of the kraft card base with Walnut Stain Distress Ink to tie in all the tones.

I created two cards for our last challenge of the year and this second card uses a lovely Simon Says Stamp Round Heart die I had used to create some shapes for a class I did recently. This panel was my 'waste' so I backed it with some gorgeous tartan paper from Whimsy and added a beautiful sentiment from their November Release. That stamp set is so beautiful and I really need to colour up the image soon too. I used Lumberjack Plaid to stamp the lovely sentiment and then covered it with clear embossing powder to seal it and give it a lovely shine. I finished the card with the simple addition of 3 pearls in 3 sizes for a little interest and an elegant finish to the card. These flat back pearls have a beautiful sheen to them, so pretty in person.

The first card is one I made for Mum in the middle batch. I've done 3 batches of 10. I've finished all 30 now, so I'm well chuffed, but also now have no cards to send out myself! Sigh, I'll keep creating, but no chance of cards reaching abroad now, so I just send you all huge love and hugs as Christmas draws near. I hadn't expected Mum to want so many cards, it was so lovely. She started with 10, then came back for another 10 and then 10 more! I've been crafting like crazy, but I love all the ones I'd created and had a few left over from last year, or early in the New Year, when I often have time and the inclination to Christmas craft, so probably made 20-23 new, the rest were made earlier, but I'm happy to say, all quite different and 'bespoke', which she really loved. Wishing you peaceful days in the lead up to Christmas, we will be back at Sweet Stampin' in the New Year with our next challenge and the first for 2024! It's coming up so fast. Hugs to you all, Wends xoxo

(I use affiliate links where possible and I receive a small commission, which costs you no extra at all, but helps these companies see where their marketing efforts are most effective. I only design for companies whose products I love and buy for myself. My opinions are always my own.)

Challenge Entries:

Passion For Markers: December Month Long Challenge ~ Add A Sentiment