A blog devoted to the cards I make in my tiny upstairs space. When my sister stays there, she calls it an "artist's garret". I'm not an artist, but am an enthusiastic cardmaker - hence the title "Cardmaker's Garret".
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Wednesday 3 May 2017

Animals on Christmas Cards

I'm getting behind in posting the Christmas cards I make throughout the year so today I'm showing you three, all featuring animals.

First up a reindeer, done for this week's SCS CAS challenge, Wonderfully Wild! (use wildlife), and the April SCS Christmas Card Challenge, Christmas Creatures.


For the background, I laid a TCW stencil on watercolour paper, sprinkled two shades of blue brushos over the openings, spritzed with water, and immediately removed the stencil and let it air dry.

When dry, I stamped a bit of random script on it and heat embossed in white.

I created a stitched circle frame for the background out of shimmery cream cs, and cut it twice more out of scrap white cs. I glued those layers together for a bit more dimension (but not as much as foam tape would give). The card base is the same shimmery cs.

I die cut the reindeer out of shimmery black cs, glued his back legs to the frame and popped the rest of him up on foam tape.


Now on to a cute Christmas dog, done for a SCS Free for All challenge, Cuddly / Snuggly - "something that makes you think of cuddling or snuggling...It could be a cuddly animal, a warm sweater/coat/mittens...whatever it means to you, cuddle or snuggle":


I thought this dog looked pretty cuddly, and he's wearing such a nice warm snuggly scarf!

I kept it pretty CAS and managed to use up a piece from my stash of dp!  And it's nice and flat for mailing.


And lastly a horse on a Christmas card, done for a SCS Ways to Use It challenge - to include elements on your card project that spell out the word "HOPE."


Here's how I used the word HOPE:

H = horse
O = oval die cut for my sentiment
P = "peace on earth"
E = embossing - heat embossing on the sentiment, and heat embossed chunky white embossing enamel for the snow in the sky

The background is two shades of blue Brushos sprinkled on coated cs and spritzed with water.

The challenge was in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness month - it made me think of my riding instructor who is a breast cancer survivor, and who, coincidentally, has a horse she rescued from the slaughter house and named "Hope". I will give this card to her.






Supplies for card 1:
Stamps - Wendy Vecchi script stamp
Ink - ColorBox Frost White
Paper - shimmery cream and black cs, watercolour paper
Size - 5.25" square
Accessories - turquoise and oster blue brushos, TCW stencil, white embossing powder, Lil Inker stitched circle die, Penny Black reindeer die, foam tape

Supplies for card 2:
Stamps - Penny Black
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper - white cs, dp
Size - turquoise and oster blue brushos, TCW stencil, white embossing powder, Lil Inker stitched circle die, Penny Black reindeer die, foam tape
Accessories - copic markers

Supplies for card 3:
Stamps - A Muse sentiment
Ink - ColorBox white
Paper - white cs, coated cs
Size - A2
Accessories - white embossing powder, Frantage chunky white embossing enamel, Nesties oval die, StarLit Studio Horse Country die, blue brushos




8 comments:

  1. Three fantastic cards Susan!! LOVE that brushos, stenciled background. The colours are gorgeous and so is the design of the stencil. The heat embossed script makes it even more spectacular! :) LOVE the glitter of the reindeer.

    That dog is snuggley and cuddly looking. He's so happy. Great with the DP background. And great colouring!

    And your last card is just perfect for your friend. Beautiful sky with the brushos and a wonderful mix of die-cuts to create a beautiful winter scene. Looks like you've been having lots of fun this week creating! xx

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  2. I agree...fantastic cards Susan...love, love the first one but all are great.
    Good for you getting them done early. I need to get my head wrapped around that too.
    xx Karen

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    1. p.s. do you know the name of the stencil you used on your first card...it looks amazing.
      thanks

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    2. Hi Karen - it's TCW Winter Wonderland 6"x6" - I think it's discontinued as I couldn't see it for sale anywhere.

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  3. Susan, all three cards are just fantastic! I just love your background on the first one and the dog image is just too cute. He looks so soft and cuddly! The background of your horse is gorgeous! Fabulous cards!

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  4. they are all great but I must admit the first card has such an amazing background, bring the stencil with out on Sunday :)

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  5. Beautifully creative Christmas cards featuring animals, Susan. Your friend will especially treasure her Hope card. TFS all 3 of your beauties my friend. Hugs...

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  6. Wonderful Christmas cards, my friend! I love the shimmer of the first one and that fantastic background! The puppy with his scarf looks very snuggly and your Hope Christmas card is so meaningful and I'm sure will be greatly appreciated!

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