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1/08/2017

Christmas Card Club - Challenge 1 for 2017 - Anything Goes

Hello and welcome to the first Christmas Card Club challenge of 2017, and our sweet Dutchess selected our theme for this week: "Anything Goes". I must confess after the holidays, returning home from visiting the DD in sunny Florida, dealing with year end business and starting files for 2017, I did not have a great deal of Mojo. Had several ideas, but couldn't settle to any of them. Saw a sample on the back of a Penny Black package of the deer used on today's card, and Voila: This is what I did.




- the background was created using H20's (which I'd forgotten that I had, since I've not been very successful at using them well). Had seen a video by Jill Foster using Shimmerz paints, and thought to try the technique with the H20. Used Canson Mixed Media #98 paper; slightly wet the surface, just dabbed the different colors of H20 on it, using icycle, blues, lavendars, a rose gold and a buttercream yellow. The paper warped a bit as it was dried with a heat tool.

- Stamped tree stamp with Hero Arts Ombre green shades, then slightly reinked over that with Memento Northern Pine.

- Impression Obsession tree die cut from a textured Bazzill green, then used a finger dauber to add some Hero Arts Unicorn White for a snow 'effect'. once the trees were mounted on the card, added some glue, dropped Martha Stewart chunky glitter, and finally added some SnS Twinkling Clouds. The trees are mounted on foam.

- Fish tail banner cut from old dictionary page, and the other banner is a 'half-cut of a fishtail' from a previously created background. (snippet!)

- PBlack Leaping Deer cut from a created background - think it was done with  brushos using Yupo paper, but not sure. There are 2 layers on the deer. Added some sparklies, an outline sticker sentiment, and that's it.

Hope you'll have time to visit my fellow team mates to see what they have shared for our first 2017 challenge. Also hope to do a post later this afternoon to add some pictures of cards that awaited us when we got home, and some of the snow pictures from the little storm we got Friday night.

Thanks for joining me today. Hope your New Year is off to a great start. Blessings & Hugs.

42 comments:

  1. Hi Mary, Loving the card. I made the decision that I will buy charity Christmas cards from now on. For some reason I have never liked making Christmas cards.

    You take care. Sue

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  2. Happy New Year Mary! You've got off to great start with this Christmas card. I love all the elements you have added. Hugs Christine xx

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  3. Absolutely stunning Mary. Love the leaping deer. Hugs Rita xxx

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  4. Happy New Year Mary, your card is full of festive delight, love the reindeer, trees and sparkle, looks fantastic.
    hugs
    lorraine x

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  5. Lovely card Mary...love the background and your fabulous die cuts.....it's hard to get going again and I have to admit I struggled with ideas too.....hope all is well with you now you are back home xxxxx

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  6. Hi Mary, that is so lovely. I love how you did the background, and the trees. I shall remember that tip for the H2O's, I have a selection of them, and I too have never really got the hang of them, so this should help. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz xx

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  7. Beautiful and elegant card.
    Have a lovely day.
    Valerija xx

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  8. Such an elegant Deer Mary, and in the soft blue set against the fir trees your eye is really drawn to his elegance - I say he, but who knows.

    B x

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  9. Beautiful card Mary, love thet flying deer in the middle.
    Hugs Veerle x

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  10. This doesn't look like a result of lacking mojo. The background is brilliant and I like the dimension given by both the stamped and die cut trees.

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  11. Happy New Year Mary! Glad you got home safely. Wow! The leaping deer looks so splendid leaping high over those gorgeous trees. Your colors are beautiful. Sensational card to start the New Year!

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  12. Mary, the card background is amazing. All the colors and textures and dimension are so cohesive and beautiful. The deer is gorgeous. I love how he is leaping through the air. This is one spectacular card.

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  13. Wow, this is stunning, like the background, the trees and the dimension and the blue reindeer is fabulous!

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  14. Well this turned out beautifully after leaving Mr Mojo still on holiday in Florida :o)
    I love the muted colours and depth in this design Mary.
    Lorraine

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  15. The mojo may be low Mary, but this is a fab combo of textures and colours for our challenge. I really love what you do with mixed materials. Florida for the holidays sounds idyllic. Happy New Year hugs Zx

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  16. Oh wow, I love this, Mary!! The deer is so beautiful!! I love the trees and background!! Absolutely stunning card my friend!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  17. LOVE the mix of colours in your watercoloured background. So pretty! The trees and leaping reindeer are so pretty. Great design Mary! xx

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  18. beautiful work Mary - I adore what you have done and such a lovely start to your new card stash! Hugs rachel x

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  19. Oh Mary, your card is beautiful. Love the leaping deer over you beautiful treed forest scene!
    I have not tried the YUPo paper yet but plan a trip to my local papercrafts store to have them order some infor me.

    Your background looks fabulous (as always).

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  20. This is lovely Mary, the scene is built up beautifully and I love the dictionary banner. Deer play a daily part in our life at the moment as we have a family of six close by and the pups are always keen to follow them!! xx

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  21. This is a fabulous card Mary, a beautiful background and lovely forest scene.
    Pauline
    x

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  22. Hello there Mary, what a wonderful card, the whole composition is brilliant. Gorgeous colours and design.
    Hope all is well with you and your family, sounds like you had a lovely time with you Daughter over the Festive season, Kate x

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  23. Gorgeous background on your beautiful card Mary, love the deer and tree die cuts.
    Pam x

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  24. It seems not that you haven't mojo, Mary!! This card is a delight! Stunning deer on this background, great textures and details!!Great work with your snippets!
    Happy New Year!

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  25. I adore the H2O background Mary and the added dictionary page and remnant from a previously created background work well with it. The die cut and stamped trees make a good wintry forest look and your leaping deer is a fabulous splash of colour too. I haven't really got going since Christmas as I am trying to have a sort out of all my stuff first but that is taking longer than anticipated so am using up things which have been sitting in draft to fill the gap. x

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  26. Gorgeous background and a great way of continuing the Christmas trees with the die cut ones, really lovely design.

    Kath x

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  27. Very pretty card, Mary. Love that deer and the soft colors in the background really let him take center stage. Have a good evening.

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  28. This is really pretty and I alike the effect of the H2o's I plan on making a Christmas card but it can be tough right afte the holidays

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  29. I think Mojo managed very well on your card. I love the flying stag with the streamers and the background looks fab. Hugs Mrs A.

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  30. I love how that pretty deer is leaping way above the trees! The shimmer on those trees is gorgeous, and I love the strip of text paper in the midst of it all too! Beautiful card!

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  31. Fabulous background-I have twinkling H2o's not used for a long time either must try this -things tend to get forgotten as we buy new stuff-shame really
    Carol x

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  32. I love the deer that looks like he's taking off for the North Pole, Mary! A wonderful winter scene with beautiful background colors!

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  33. Love your leaping reindeer and the trees, the newsprint and the sparkle a GREAT card.
    Faith
    x

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  34. Oh my this turned out gorgeous Mary!! Love the colors and the background here!! I think you've figured out where MOJO went and took off!! :) What a great start to a creative New Year! HUGS

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  35. WOW! Your background is spectacular, Mary and I love all the elements you added to this gorgeous Christmas card! Good for you for starting early too!

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  36. Gorgeous card, Mary! I love the background and your sparkly trees. The design is so awesome. Hope you have a great week!

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  37. Such a beautiful card Mary, love the layers and the reindeer die cut. wonderful, I hope your Christmas was a good one.

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  38. What a fabulous card Mary - an awesome start to your crafting year!! love your background - must try that, thanks for the inspiration.
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  39. All the shimmer and sparkle on your wintery scene is fabulous, Mary ... lovely layering and dimension! Hugs, Anita :)

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  40. A wonderful card Mary, love all the shimmer and the gorgeous dies you've used. Carol x

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  41. Great Christmas card. Love the deer color and the scene you created with your awesome trees. I have finally admitted I can't do Christmas cards near Christmas and need help planning, so I have joined a Christmas challenge too. So far so good but I am a slacker and I admit it. Lol. Hugz

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