CCT02 - Cream, Aqua & Brown Color Challenge

Yesterday my sister Brenda was clicking around the WOYWW posts and discovered a Christmas Card Challenge site that she thought I might enjoy since I send a lot of Christmas cards each year. . . and she was correct! Every two weeks there's a new challenge based on a sketch or color combo or technique/stash or theme. The current challenge is to create a Christmas card using only creams, aquas and browns.

One of my goals this year is to ACTIVELY use my stash, so I began by flipping through the Christmas section in my embellishments notebook. I pulled a few items that I thought might work for the challenge.

I pulled out some card bases, paper scraps, chalking ink, stamps and a Broken China Tim Holtz Distress Ink  pad and started by creating a simple card using a pre-made cream card base, patterned papers, and a stamped sentiment.

I knew once I pulled out supplies that I'd create more than one card! This second card is my favorite. I started with the printed image that I cut from a card front and added to my stash several years ago. I made a card base with brown cardstock, then added aqua cardstock, patterned paper and a sentiment sticker.

I really wanted to use that snowman tag, too, although since it is white (rather than cream) I know it doesn't fit the challenge criteria. I had the remainder of the page from my old dictionary still out (after cutting out ACTIVE for my OLW notebook), and when I noticed that advent was the guide word, I knew it should be on a card. I made a card base from white cardstock, adhered aqua cardstock, then the dictionary page and that snowman tag for this great dimensional card.

And, of course, since I had that sheet of winter-themed stickers already out, it seemed only logical that I use at least one on a card. I had a very light blue pre-made card base, which worked perfect with an assortment of cardstocks, patterned papers, and punched snowflakes embellished with enamel dots.

When I start my Christmas cards each year, I like to choose an interior design that will be consistent as I create throughout the year. For 2017, I'll add a strip of paper along the bottom edge of the card, along with a stamped peppermint sticks image.

I believe this is the earliest I've ever started my Christmas cards! I hadn't planned to create four cards, but the INSPIRATION was obviously just right . . . and it was lots of FUN!

If you want to get an early start on your Christmas cards, jump over and join in the Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge. I'm hoping to join in several times throughout the year!