Monday, December 14, 2015

Christmas Wreaths, Wrapping Gifts and a Challenge

Hello Friends! Welcome to a new week. Christmas is rapidly approaching! I've got all of my shopping done and most of my gifts are wrapped, but I am terribly behind on my Christmas cards. I think next year, I will try to play along with some of those Christmas card challenges that run all year. That way, in December, I will have a nice stack of cards completed.

Before I get to today's card, I want to share something with you that has really helped me this Holiday season. I share a lot of things on Facebook and Instagram that don't make it to my blog, but this was such a hit, I decided to post it here, too. Okay, here's what I did...I took a corner of my bedroom and set up a gift wrapping station.



In the basket I have washi tape, adhesive, bakers twine, gift tags, scissors and pens. In the sleigh I have ribbons and bows. The gift wrap, boxes and tissue paper are in the basket on the floor. Christmas music can be accessed with the touch of a button and I have the scents of the season in the form of candles, warmers and potpourri. What's uber cool about this is that everything is all in one place and when someone needs to wrap a gift, they can go in my room, close the door and have a nice relaxing wrap session.

Okay, on to today's card share...

I wanted to get back to Wreaths Plain and Fancy from Power Poppy, so that's what I did...


I used my MISTI to stamp the image with Peeled Paint Distress ink. I stamped it onto watercolor paper and then using a damp brush, I did a bit of watercoloring. Then, I stamped the image again with Pine Needles ink and I did a little more watercoloring. I just pulled the color from the stamped ink, going over the stamped lines very lightly. Next, I added the little candle image.

This set is soooo beautiful. You may remember that I stamped it all out HERE. I used the same stamp and watercolor technique for the candle. For the bow, I scribbled some Worn Lipstick Distress ink onto an acrylic block, picked the ink up with a damp paint brush and watercolored with it. And to finish off the image, I colored the berries in with Festive Berries and Fired Brick Distress inks and blended them with a Clear Wink of Stella glitter brush. Then I coated them with Crystal Effects to add dimension and shine. I adhered the focal panel onto my card base and that was that.

I finished the inside by stamping the wreath with Antique Linen Distress ink and then over stamping that with the sentiment in dark green. I added a little strip of the same patterned paper from the front of the card and then adhered that all down.


And then I decided to make a coordinating envelope, too...



**I am entering this card into the Christmas Card Challenge hosted by Sparkle Creations!** This week it's a color challenge.


I used to participate in these challenges a few years ago. They are a lot of fun and like I mentioned at the top of this post, they are a GREAT way to get your Christmas cards completed in a timely manner.

So that's it! One more card completed, several more to go! Have a wonderful Monday and thanks for stopping by!

Blessings ~




supplies~ 
stamp sets: Wreaths Plain and Fancy, Botanical Tree(Power Poppy)  Holiday Wishes(Papertrey Ink)
card stock: Fresh Asparagus(GinaK Designs)
specialty paper: Canson XL Watercolor paper
patterned paper: Noel Collection(Bo Bunny)
ink: Peeled Paint, Pine Needles, Antique Linen Distress ink(Ranger)  Versamark(Tsukineko)   Olive(Close to My Heart)
bling: Clear Wink of Stella glitter brush(Zig)
coloring media: Pine Needles, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss,Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Wild Honey, Carved Pumpkin Distress Markers(Ranger)
other: Crystal Effects(Stampin' Up!)   Metallic Gold Rich Regular embossing powder(WOW)

6 comments:

Jeanne said...

Gorgeous, Barb!! I love the idea of a wrapping station. Yours looks perfect and so well thought out. Thanks for sharing here, too! Your card is so beautiful. I remember when you stamped them out and it's lovely to see what you have created with the set. Thanks for sharing how you achieved the look on the wreath with your inks. The end result is magnificent! Thank you for sharing. I'm "behinder" than you are and am probably going to stay that way this year. But I will do what I can with a happy heart! Big hugs!!

Creating with Susan said...

What a beautiful card! I love your gift wrapping station - I think I'll set up a gift wrapping table in my craft room :) thanks for playing along with us at Christmas Cad Challenges.

Shirley-Anne said...

Simply a beautiful CAS card with a simply powerful message of peace . Love your water colouring .
Thanks for sharing with us at Christmas Card Challenges

JoAnn said...

Very pretty wreath. Thanks so much for joining us at Christmas Card Challenges.

CherylQuilts said...

Oh, Barb, you are very organized with your wrapping station, and I just love this card! Beautiful watercoloring, along with a beautiful inside. And the envelope is a perfect match! Love it! Hugs!

Sharli Schaitberger said...

A beautiful wreath card, Barbara - I also will be imitating your idea of a gift wrapping table - that is simply awesome! Thanks for all your inspiration!