Christmas Card Club - A Card for Someone Special

Good Morning, and my apologies for being MIA for a while. We were away, then when we returned, still had a house guest. Once our BF headed back home, we were busy with car insurance & repair aggravations. However, I think that is in hand (we don't know yet how successful that will be - but at least it's in progress).  We had fantastically beautiful weather in Florida, and basically I read, relaxed, and enjoyed the family & sunshine. First trip we've taken in recent memory that I took no craft supplies...just my kindle.

As I'm doing this post, it is lovely sunshine outside, about 63F degrees, and shaping up to be a splendid day. Several sweet readers have asked what the card sets on in the photos: It's a Yankee Candle topper. I got the idea from some clever UK folks who were using them when I first started this blog. Although I had a couple of other style YCandle toppers, mine were nothing like what I was seeing the UK folks use. So the hunt was on. There's a picture at the end of this post showing exactly what the one I've used of late - looks like. I watch the sales, folks, and try to find seasonal looks. Sometimes it's not always shaped to have the card set in the opening as straight as it should, which of course, I never see until I look at the photo! Thank goodness for Photo Shop and the rotation feature!

One last comment before the Christmas Card Club part of this post: This blog started on March 12, 2012...so a Fourth Blogaversary is coming up. I've been saving up some goodies - I had hoped that the Blogaversary and 350 followers might just happen close together. Since I've lost some followers, that ain't gonna happen, BUT...the 4 year mark will. So Watch This Space...I hope to find new homes for some surprises to You, my wonderful followers!

{Ahem}: Now for the Christmas Card Club stuff:

Today our challenge was chosen by Our Zoe and Zoe chose the challenge Someone Special. At first I thought this was to be for Mother's Day, which I believe comes in the UK before ours does in the States. So after some thought, I decided to do something with the Most Special Mother of all time: Madonna. I've always particularly loved images & pictures of Madonna and Child, and have some old, very wonderful purchased Christmas Cards with beautiful images on them.

So here's my card in honor of Someone Special:

- image is an old wooden Inkadinkadoo, stamped with Versafine Majestic Blue. Had decided to do no coloring, let this very finely detailed image just be very simply done. First thought of sepia tones, then decided I'd go with the darker blues.  I was quite pleased that it stamped out as finely as it did. The only coloring is some Clear WoS for sparkle on the Mother's veil and the Baby's wrappings. Doesn't show in the photo, but is quite pretty IRL.

- Paper Trey Ink Scroll  Cover Plate for the embossing. Before embossing, used a S/B Large Petite Oval die to cut the center shape larger than the cover plate's opening. My first attempt was to use the plate as a die to cut a frame. However, once the center was enlarged, the frame didn't look right. Then decided to just cut the opening, and then emboss the frame into the design, and this looked much better. The plate's aperture didn't reveal enough of the image.

- used the small & large S/B ovals to cut a textured silver frame to place just inside the navy blue frame; this was a last minute idea.

- Elizabeth Craft sentiment die to cut the sentiment, using 2 layers of snippets white c/s. A pentel Slicci silver pen colored the white c/s, then placed a silver layer cut from the same piece as the framing silver (also a snippet). The 3 layers created good dimension but still let the image remain the focus. The thought process in making this card was geared to Mothers. Didn't want to do a Merry Christmas, but I think Mothers all over the world, would feel Peace is a greatly desired quality to have - and not just at Christmas. I'm certain this particular Mother would have felt so.

Please pop over to my fellow Christmas Card Club members to see what they have shared for this challenge. Their blogs are listed on the right sidebar.

And many thanks to so many of you who emailed to ask about us, while I was missing. You've no idea what a lift that gave to my day, and was so appreciated. My many wonderful friends have been the biggest bonus of this Blogging Adventure! So lots of hugs & have a wonderful day.

Yankee Candle Topper used as easel for photos. This one is a Snowflake pattern.