Well, if nothing else, at least I’ve got this month’s Christmas card done. Would you believe this is the first card I’ve made since the last week of March when I was on vacation? I know! If I don’t use it I’ll lose it, right? It’s a spring thing, I guess. I need to adjust to the change of the season. All that fresh, puffy green outside makes me want to wash windows and plant flowers and pack up a picnic. It sure as heck doesn’t make me want to stamp Christmas cards, but I’m sticking to it and come December I’ll be glad I did.
I used a several Flourishes sets on this card, all of which are listed in the recipe, below. I stamped the background and made a designer paper frame which is raised on foam mounting tape. The main image, of course, is the beautiful poinsettia. It was stamped in Versamark ink on 90 lb hot press watercolor paper, then embossed with glittery Gold Tinsel embossing powder. It’s watercolored with Stampin’ Up! inks – just two colors, Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke. I stamped and embossed the image twice so I could layer the flower, and I added gold rhinestone bling to the flower center. The pine boughs and the “Joy” are embossed with regular gold embossing powder.
And that’s that! Another Christmas card to tuck away in the drawer. Now I’ve got some flowers to plant, but I’ve been doing a little coloring on the side and I may possibly manage some early morning stamp room time to put some cards together, too. I love spring and sunshine. No complaints here! Have a happy day!
Stamps: Poinsettia (retired?), Christmas Music (background), Dove and Holly (holly sprig), All That Glitters (pine bough) Paper: Red textured, Classic Ivory, 90 lb hot press watercolor, BasicGrey Jovial designer paper Ink: Versamark, Creamy Caramel, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke Accessories: Rhinestones, gold embossing powder, Spellbinders Curved Rectangle and circle dies, Scotch brand foam mounting tape
So gorgeous! Love the rich colors and your dp use as a frame. The music background is a great touch. Great layout. I'm so bad. I have yet to start on my Christmas cards.
Posted by: Maggie S | 04/25/2013 at 03:59 AM
Beautiful Leslie. Sounds like your week vacation is just what you needed. It's nice go get some of those chores done and out of the way.I haven't got the urge yet, hasn't been that warm here yet but I'm sure it's on it's way. Good for you on getting your Christmas card done - you are so committed, I've yet to start! Love everything about your card, from the stamped background paper to your pointsettia - which is absolutely gorgeous - and everything in between!
Posted by: Pauline | 04/25/2013 at 04:47 AM
Beautiful, I envy you getting these done...I keep thinking of doing this myself, but its hard to make myself do it...so keep up with it, and maybe it will inspire me to get ahead for once....a very gorgeous card!!
Posted by: Diane H | 04/25/2013 at 05:16 AM
Oh Wow that is just Gorgeous, your watercoloring of the flower is perfection, and love the framing and stamping!
Posted by: Conniecrafter | 04/25/2013 at 06:43 AM
Beautiful Christmas card Leslie! Absolutely has the WOW factor! I thought rain took care of washing the windows?
Posted by: Tammy Hair | 04/25/2013 at 07:05 AM
that's really pretty. Haven't made 1 Xmas card yet...
Have a great day
Posted by: yogi | 04/25/2013 at 07:51 AM
Oh so gorgeous, Leslie!!! Your poinsettia is jaw-dropping perfection! Love the gold and I also love the holly.
Posted by: Lynette | 04/25/2013 at 11:48 AM
You are definitely a step ahead of me..I have no Christmas finished to date! This is just gorgeous too!
Posted by: Glenda | 04/25/2013 at 01:30 PM
When I saw this in my email inbox, I was like, "Whoa!" That poinsettia is magnificent, and can't believe it was colored that way with only two colors! Such depth and dimension!
Glad you're keeping on track with your Christmas cards. You sure will be glad come December. :-)
Posted by: Colleen Dietrich | 04/25/2013 at 03:24 PM
This is just gorgeous! And until today, would have fit in perfectly with our weather here! Monday we had snow, sleet & slush and today it is 70 outside. Got to love Mother Natures's sense of humor! I love the way you watercolored the flower. It looks almost real. Looking at this gets me in the mood to pull out some Xmas stamps.
Posted by: Sherri Dean | 04/25/2013 at 04:55 PM
I hope I catch your bug soon..Your card is sure inspiring and GORGEOUS! TFS Leslie
Posted by: nancy littrell | 04/25/2013 at 06:55 PM
Gasp... Your card is breathtakingly beautiful. It is simply over the top in the gorgeous department; particularly the poinsettia. I keep going back to look at it. Indeed, I was incapable of writing a comment yesterday - I couldn't come up with the superlatives I needed to describe how I felt about this masterpiece. Nicely done, just didn't cut it.
Posted by: Francie in Montreal | 04/26/2013 at 08:48 AM
Oh Wow!! This is just GORGEOUS Miss Leslie!! Love all the fabulous stamp sets you combined to make this Fabulous creation!! Love the glittery embossing and your beautiful watercoloring too! Just Love every Wonderful Detail! 8-)
Hugs
Shannon
Posted by: Shannon White | 04/28/2013 at 07:50 PM
Gorgeous Leslie! The embossing is fantastic and you know I LOVE Christmas cards all year. Love love this... Miss you girlie. Hugs...
Posted by: Stacy aka Twinshappy | 04/29/2013 at 09:41 AM
This is gorgeous, Leslie! Those touches of gold are a beautiful touch, too. Good for you for getting a jump start on your Christmas cards.
Posted by: Linda E | 05/01/2013 at 03:02 PM
What a stunning Christmas card, Leslie! All of your little touches make this an amazing masterpiece that the recipient will surely treasure...probably even frame it!
Posted by: Lisa Dolson | 05/02/2013 at 08:34 PM