Today I’m sharing a Christmas card that I’m adding to my stash. No Design Paper on this one, instead a simple stamped background that is smudged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The greeting is stamped with pigment inks and embossed with clear embossing powder – a look that I love. Lastly a little bit of piercing around the edges just for some added interest and four small pearls (I tried to leave them off but just couldn’t).
The center image is cut from Spellbinders Classic Oval Large layered on a Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Oval Large and popped up for some dimension. I’ve found that Christmas cards are an excellent opportunity to add burgundy velvet!
Well, as you can see, I’ve been bitten by the "inside" bug. I’m surrounded by people who love to decorate the insides of their cards. I have to give credit to Amy Sheffer and her blog Pickled Paper Designs; she has the most extraordinary cards and the most charming insides. Also, Denise (Peanutbee) on the The Paper Landscaper – phenomenal cards with charming insides too (she flips the card inside out to photograph it). I am so copying you gals.
That’s it for me today, but there’s more stuff coming. In the next week or so I have another technique to show. Also thanks so much for the people who leave comments, questions and awards. I have to admit, I’m knee deep in stamping and trying to come up with new things. I have not been the best at answering questions that are wrapped up in comments. I plan to start a Q&A or FAQ page where I’ll answer questions and those who ask can look for the answers there. It seems to be the best format for me because the same question is asked multiple times. Also, I’m way behind on acknowledging awards – thanks so much for those who take the time to give an award and come back to leave a kind word. I hope to start a separate page for those awards and all the award information so that those who give them know that I appreciate it so much.
Stay tuned, later today I’ll be back with some blog candy . . . while I was busy stamping my hits counter was silently clicking way. I just noticed that it has topped the 900,000 hits mark for which I am speechless. So, it’s time for me to get on the ball and show some thanks to the many who stop by every day.
Card Recipe:
Stamps: Inkadinkado, Impression-Obsession
Paper: The Paper Company, 140lb Watercolor
Ink: Colorbox – Merlot, Colorbox – Olive, Colorbox – Black, Martha Stewart – Brownstone, Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Oval Large, Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Oval Large, Clear Embossing Powder, Ivory Embossing Powder, Velvet Ribbon, Pearls, Paper Piercer
Tag you’re it.
I think your work is amazing, and this is no exception, and so I am tagging you.
oh how lovely, as is all your stuff. I love everything you have made i have not left a comment lately, cause i have been a little under the weather and busy with christmas. you know how that is. but i have saved all your work in my becca file. keep em coming i cant wait to see what u will come up with next.
kay
Oh my word! This is just STUNNING! You do amazing work!
Oh, this card is just soooo elegant!! Love the velvet ribbon. TFS
Absolutely gorgeous. I just love the color combination and the inside is really beautiful. I have that Martha Stewart leaf punch and have the hardest time punching cardstock with it but am afraid that regular paper won’t hold up given the detail. Is it just a bumb punch I’ve got or do you have the same issues?
Beautiful card!! Love the burgandy ribbon.
Absolutely STUNNING, Becca!
Ohhhhhh so beautiful!!
Wow! This card is truly gorgeous! Love all you do.
Thanks for sharing your lovely work.
((Hugs)) Mechelle
Beautiful! Love the look of clear embossing, too – very elegant looking. TFS!
Very pretty – love the velvety ribbon!
Magnifique !!!!!
ABSOLUTELY beautiful, Becca! It’s always a joy to visit your page. I’m always intrigued to see the insides of your cards…
Your cards always look so elegant, and the inside is just as beautiful.
GASP! I love that ribbon Becca…makes for SUCH a classy card!
What a beautiful card. You do such awesome creations. TFS
Love this Becca, wondeful colors girl.
Becca: Where do you find the time….you must operate on a 36 hr clock! As usual a lovely card….thanks you for your stunning work.
WOWSA!! I love this one – the little details are wonderful (I love pearls – I never have enough!) and the ribbon is perfect and luscious! And 900K!! Holy Blog Hits!!! You are a million hit baby almost!! Congratulations!!!!!
Becca,
Lovely card. I also do the inside of my cards. I love doing it. So much fun. Can’t wait to see what you have in store. And looking forward to all your changes/additions.
~~Diane~~
p.s. Over 900,00 hits…..FABULOUS!!!!!!!
Becca everything you do takes my breath away! Love this in it’s simplicity and elegance. That velvet ribbon is WOW…the entire card is WOW!!
Love the way you made that beautiful BG with stamps!! Your cards is stunning!!!
Absolutely beautiful, as always. Thank you for taking time to share your beautiful creations with all of us. I would love to know what stamp(s) you used for your background.
Becca, This is a beautiful card, inside and out. And that ribbon is just gorgeous! Some day I would love for you to show a photo of your ribbon stash so the rest of us could dream!
I love your card it looks like a beautifully wrapped parcel. Gorgeous velvet ribbon. TFS Ann Lind
Becca, I hope you don’t get tired of being told that your work is amazingly beautiful! Each card is more gorgeous than the last. Thank you for sharing!
Gorgeous!!! That stamped background and the velvet ribbon is so yummy!! 900k hits….WOW!! That tells you how much you totally rock!!
hugs, Jami
Such a beautiful card! I love the velvet ribbon.
Elegant looking card-I love it all and that ribbon is gorgeous! tfs
Hey Becca!! This is lovely!! Hope you are well !!
Truly beautiful creation and I see you’ve really been bitten by the ‘inside’ bug. Gorgeous inside!
Lovely, the velvet ribbon, and the embossed background are so pretty!
Good evening, Becca-I just love this card. The burgundy is so Christmas. and your inside is lovely. I always present my inserts too, to match my card, but I use digital graphics ‘cos I’m not a stamper but I imtend to try hearde in 2009 :)
I really like this card and especially that you added inside decoration. Do you ever mail cards like this though? What do you do about the large bow? I was just wondering. Thanks for all the inspiration.
Gorgeous!!!!! Love the velvet ribbon and the little punched branch!!
Congrats on your hits!! That is an amazing number! But, I am not surprised, your work is out of this world!!! :)
My Dad is now 94 years old but in excellent health. My family all gather around him (3 sons, their wives, 16 grandchildren, and my sister and her family as my Dad reads the Christmas story to us from the chapter Luke in his Bible. He really doesn’t need the Bible as he can say it from memory. We then have prayer before opening our gifts. I’m sure this tradition will be carried on long after my Dad has gone home to life with our Lord.
I absolutely love your blog and check it every day. It is through you that I found the wedsite Our Daily Bread. I would buy every set if I could afford it. Absolutely love the ones I have. In fact, my Christmas card was from the set Joy to the World.
Gorgeous Becca! Love the rich colors and thelittle bird is very sweet!
Love the colors and layout of this card. Just beautiful!
Gorgeous, and very elegant.
Lisa A.
Love the colors and the composition Becca. Your talents appear to be limitless as is your generosity in sharing.
I love bird images done in black. Very folk/primative. Gotta look for that stamp set although my cats just might attack the bird outline!
True story…. an artist friend in Santa Barbara California, who does illustrations for Bird Books and the local Natural History Museum, did a detailed feather by feather pencil sketch of a red tailed hawk.
Then after framing it he left the life size sketch on the easel while going to look for some dinner. When he came back he discovered his cat had jumped up and tried to grab the bird! While the claws didn’t rip the extra thick art paper he likes for sketches they did leave subtle indentations! He decided the work wasn’t saleable so he hung it in his study over the cat’s pillow (after covering it with glass).
When I was over for dinner one night I commented on the piece and he showed me the marks and told me the story. I offered to buy it then and there but he stood firm about not wanting to sell damaged goods. I told him the story was as priceless as his art work and that he should feel complimented that the cat couldn’t tell his work from the real thing! No luck…until a few months later I received the work as a birthday gift! Needless to say I wrote the story on a card and put it on the back of the drawing for future generations. My cat’s have tried the same thing but since the drawing is covered by glass they have to content themselves with stalking my cards instead!
Good ideas for blog additions as well!
Merry Christmas my feather friend! – Jean
Absolutely a stunning card…which stamp did you use from Impression-Obsession to get that beautiful embossed look on the page.
Thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas,
Sheila
Hi Becca,
I love your elegant cards. You’re so talented and such an inspiration to me with my creating.
I have a question on Spellbinders/Nestabilities:
Can I use the dies with my Cuttlebug?
Thanks so much.
This is simply beautiful. I love all of your work and visiting your blog. I was showing your site to a co-worker yesterday. She was just in awe of your cards.