I used a little bit of artistic license this month and instead of using GREEN greenery, I used mostly WHITE greenery on my two cards. Darnell has also given us permission for this month only, to make our two cards for the same occasion if we'd like, and so I took her up on this one time offer and made two Christmas cards!
I'll apologize up front for my terrible lighting, but we in Michigan are in the NO SUNSHINE time of the year (November - April), and since I still struggle with using my light box (shadows, shadows, shadows!!!), my pictures are what they are!
I fell in love with a shadow box card that Kay Miller had made a few weeks ago and wanted to try my hand at one. My photos don't do this card justice, but in real life there is so much depth and dimension, and I was really pleased with the way it came out! I started by making my background which uses The Greetery's Frosty Flakes Stencil and blending with Salty Ocean Distress Ink. It's very soft and subtle, but sets the tone for my wintery landscape. Next I added 3 pine trees directly to the background (The Greetery's Christmas Eve stamp set). My third step was creating the branch (The Greetery's Blooming Branch) by stamping and die cutting it, and then scoring the one end of the branch so I could adhere it to the side of the box. (2 pieces of cardstock cut at 4 1/4 x 6 and then scored at 4 1/4 and 5 1/2.) Next I added a few stamped and die cut greenery branches (The Greetery's With Love At Christmas) to make it look a bit more wintery, and also added my red bird from The Greetery's Robin & Wren stamp set. To finish this card off, I added my WHITE greenery to the framing using Tim Holtz's Holiday Greens die set. Here's a close up for you to see more detail...
My greeting is on the back of the card, and it does fold flat and fits into a regular A2 size envelope. This card definitely took a bit of time, but was well worth the effort and FUN to make!
My 2nd card was definitely a bit simpler to make, but I love the way this one turned out too! I used the same Tim Holtz Holiday Greens dies on the top half of my card...I'm loving the simplicity of white on white lately!! For the bottom I simply added a piece of plaid DSP (Tim Holtz also!) and a strip of gold mirror cardstock (can you see my reflection taking the photo??) to ground all my white greenery, and then finished by adding my die cut sentiment (PTI's Wonderful Words: Holiday Die Collection) in white to balance out my card. Easy peasy and very striking (IMHO!).
Make sure you check out all the BEAUTIFUL inspiration from Darnell and her talented DT, and then play along right HERE.
Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!
Wow Marcia! Two stunning creations here!! That shadow box is delightful. The greens and snowflake background really make that red bird pop. I love the plaid and embossing on the card too. Both are really beautiful!
ReplyDeleteTwo absolutely gorgeous cards! Love them both!
ReplyDelete2 fab cards Marcia!
ReplyDeleteWAit just a minute??!!! Are we doing it AGAIN??? Just hit the post button at the Twofer Challenge!
ReplyDeleteMarcia, your out-of-the-box Box Card is the most wonderful creation - card two, with that plaid, and gold, is gorgeous, too!
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Marcia, your greenery cards are lovely. the shadowbox card with that lovely pop of red cardinal is so sweetly wintery. Your second card is fab as well, I love that the diecuts almost look like an embossed panel. Thanks for joining in at Twofer Card Challenge.
ReplyDeleteTwo beautiful cards, Marcia! Jo x
ReplyDeleteYou blew my mind with these beauties, Marcia! You ladies are so ambitious who tackle shadow box cards, but as you said, the result is so worth the effort! It's just stunning and I can see it becoming more than a card to the recipient as it is brought out every year to decorate a table! Even so, you know I swoon for plaid, especially Christmas plaid, so your second design is my fave! Don't you just want to wear a white blouse and plaid skirt and look this gorgeous?! It's perfect and don't worry about your photography! Thank you so much for playing in Twofer Card Challenge #22! Hugs, Darnell
ReplyDeleteVery striking indeed, my friend! Love the white on white with the plaid and gold! Wow! And your shadow box card is awesome! All those details make a gift of that card! WOW!
ReplyDeleteOh goodness is your shadow box card ever spectacular!! And the pop of red from the pretty little bird is perfect. Your second card is beautiful too. I love the white on white "greenery"!
ReplyDeleteAnd they are two absolutely beautiful Christmas cards, Marcia! Wow! Your shadow box scene is incredible, and your simple card is no less lovely, but in a different way. I'm so happy to see these cards in our Twofer Challenge!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards!! I love that shadow box with the beautiful greenery and the stunning red bird!
ReplyDeleteIt may have taken time (the next one will be easier now that you've done one) but your box card is spectacular and well worth the effort, Marcia. The simplicity of the second one is what makes it beautiful too. I have those TH dies but never did them in white. I will now!
ReplyDeleteI've been eyeing all the goodies over at the Greetery, and now you've gone and made it that much harder for me to resist pressing the "buy now" button! Your first card has completely blown me away. What a stunner! You've accomplished all you've set out for with this card, and it was most definitely worth all the effort! It's gorgeous. Words simply cannot describe all the goodness found here. And as to your second card...I swear this plaid looks exactly like my most favorite jumper dress mom made for me years and years ago. That said, I love this card. You've tickled memories and made me smile with it, and its pretty design. Love them both! Sending some sunshine across the Lake for you, too! And throwing in a few hugs for good measure. xoxo Bev
ReplyDeleteFantastic Twofer! I love the white on white with the classy tartan and shadow box is stunning! I'd love to buy everything from the Greetery:)
ReplyDeleteLove the bird and the plaid. These are absolutely beautiful cards. [Bunny]
ReplyDeleteOh my that Box card is truly a work of art! I had to come by for a closer look! Love the other card just as much! You have out done yourself at The Twofer Challenge this month!
ReplyDeleteStunning greenery, Marcia - just love how you used it on both cards! Darling birdie on card one and yummy plaid on card two. Great twofer!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, Marcia, what a brilliant twofer! Your wintery box card scene is just stunning ... so much interest, depth and dimension ... the fortunate recipient is going to treasure this beauty! Oh and you're making The Greetery goodies soooo tempting (they're mostly already on my very long wish list!). The white on white above the gold topped plaid on your second card is so striking ... such a classy, stylish design with huge impact! Thanks so much for playing along with us at Twofer! Hugs, Anita :)
ReplyDeleteTwo beautiful Christmas cards Marcia! LOVE the shadow box card. Your background is such a beautiful icy blue and has so much shine. Wonderful winter scene you've created with your die-cuts. A very special Christmas card!
ReplyDeleteYour second card is STUNNING with the plaid and white die-cuts. The gold mirror paper really adds lots of shine. Always great when we get caught in our photos! :) xx
Wow, these both are so amazing! The shadow box is stunning--love how it gives so much dimension! And I adore your precious red bird. The plaid for your second card is perfect with the clean white.
ReplyDeleteOh Marcia, I am drooling over these two cards! Both are so beautiful and full of detail in different ways! I love the scene you created in your shadow box and that red bird just steals the show! The plaid with the white on white is so striking - I think I need to CASE this! Thanks for joining in the fun with us at the Twofer Card Challenge!
ReplyDeleteTwo Gorgeous Greenery Christmas cards, Marcia. TFS the link to the shadow box design too. I love every detail of your beautiful textured and dimensional shadow box card. Your 2nd card is so elegant and beautiful and a wonderful Winter design with your choice of the beautiful DSP and die cut in white greenery! TFS both beauties. Congratulations on your win:-) Hugs and Merry Christmas. Nancy
ReplyDelete