My blog is called "Creative Smiles" because my designs are the result of incorporating mistakes. With fumble fingers that drop whatever they are holding - repeatedly, it takes a lot of giggles, smiles and creative patience during my crafting process. xx

Thursday, November 01, 2018

Christmas Cardinal - 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge

Happy November First to all my critter-loving friends!
Today begins a new Challenge at Two Crafty Critter Crazies where we love to see any project with a critter on it! Critters include "real life" everything alive (except humans and flora), to mythical creatures as well. Our sponsor is Sparkle N Sprinkle, so join us with your crafty creations this month for a chance to win and be recognized.


Yikes! I waited to the last minute to do my Christmas Cards! Thank goodness for the digital artists who provide marvelously pre-colored images for negligent folks such as myself.

My cards feature the beautiful Cardinal and Holly Digital Set 895 (also available in rubber). I printed two to a page and used that lovely SW holly die - it's so ornate with the piercings and details. Each card is a little different, but all use the same image and dies.

 First, here's a close-up of the cardinal, colored by Tracey-Lynn Miller of Fred She Said designs. Tracey is a dream artist to work with, and I dearly love the images she makes for SNS.



My cards are 5.5" square, and flat for mailing.
While these cards use two frame style dies, they would be pretty using a single die cut for smaller cards, or for making name-place plaques on a holiday table.

Check out this bright white on red card! The "shadow" behind the Merry Christmas is a separate die. The Tonic set is a 2-die set where you can cut them out together, and make a great "negative" image in addition to the Merry Christmas, or they can be used individually, to achieve color variations like I have done on these cards. The Red Card has a green-red print "slab" behind the white Merry Christmas:

Next is a White on Green variation with a red center and red slab:

Solid green outside, solid red around the cardinal, and red/green designer paper in between:


Finally, I used some designer paper with a red center panel.
I think it is my favorite, but I like them all! It was a great way of using up some of my odds and ends Christmas cardstock.


For quick interiors, I used my own SNS digital set Happy Holidays Digital Stamp Set 897 (also available in rubber). The digital set has some black-and-white and colored holly corners, and also a border with it. So I quickly arranged the following and copy-and-pasted it 3 more times. It would be pretty all by itself!


Thanks for stopping by today. Hoping you enjoyed seeing how we can still experience the joy of card making, while using some quick tools!


Products Used:


https://sparklensprinkle.net/?rfsn=487273.8c3a2

I'd like to play in ScrapyLand's 100th Challenge pretty-please- AG with SL dies - Tonic, Sue Wilson, Spellbinders 11/7

stamping hugs,

35 comments:

brenda said...

A really pretty set of cards with a lovely traditional Christmas feel Donna, those colours never fail to please the eye and will certainly grace the homes of the recipients.

B x

Wendy L said...

Gorgeous cards Donna. xxxx

KarinsArtScrap said...

these are very beautiful cards Donna.
great red robin and fab dies
Gr Karin

Beebeebabs said...

Wow such beautiful cards - love the birdies and beautiful choice of die cuts thanks for sharing and have a fabulous week my friend!!!

Chris said...

A fabulous set of cards with a beautiful image, gorgeous die cuts and lovely traditional Christmas colours. The insides are beautiful too, lovely sentiment and font, framed by the pretty paper.
Hugs
Chris
xx

cotnob said...

Beautiful cards Donna, such a lovely Cardinal and fabulous shape - I love the sweet verse inside.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Shona Erlenborn said...

These are gorgeous Donna. Love that they are all different. You make the digi card creating look so easy! The inside of the card is as pretty as the outside too. Wonderful job, my friend.

Mia said...

FABULOUS cards, Donna. I LOVE all of them!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for the inspiration. Hugs, my friend.

Lisa said...

Wow, they are all so stunning, Donna!! I love the beautiful designs and the papers you used!! The way you layered the dies is so fabulous!! I love, love these, my friend!! So gorgeous!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

*Vicki* said...

Wow that Cardinal set is quite stunning and I absolutely LOVE what you've done with your card set here my friend! The die cut borders really make this such an eye catching and elegant design too! The greeting fits beautifully with the Season as well! Beautifully done my friend!! HUGS

Linda Simpson said...

These are fabulous, love the papers and images. Gorgeous layout.
Hugs
Linda xxx

KraftyKoolKat said...

A gorgeous array of cards Donna.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

Sue said...

Hi Donna, Lovely cards. I was watching a programme about Canada through the seasons the other day and they showed Cardinals. Stunning birds.

Hope you are having a nice week. Sue

Lori Kobular said...

These are all so beautiful! I love cardinals! The traditional red and green Christmas colors are perfect with the cardinal!

Leslie Miller said...

I'm a critter loving friend! Wow, Donna, four of them and so pretty! Thank goodness for the precolored images. Definitely one of the benefits of digis. I'm nowhere near done with my Christmas cards, so don't feel too bad. We're all in this together!

NanaConnie said...

These are so gorgeous, Donna! I love your suggestion of making place cards using that beautiful cardinal, too. I think my flu has gotten the best of me and I'm heading back to bed. Just wanted to get a couple of comments made before I did that. :-D

Ann Greenspan's Crafts said...

Gorgeous cards, Donna, and I love that Merry Christmas font on the die.

Verna Angerhofer said...

Those are so gorgeous and the coloring on the cardinals is awesome. I love the way you framed them too. Your work is always so amazingly beautiful!

Donna said...

Such a beautiful set of cards, lovely design and I like how you made each one a little different!

Sherrie K. said...

Pretty images and beautiful frame dies that you used~Gorgeous designs!
Thanks for joining us in the 100th Challenge at Scrapy Land!
Sherrie K
Scrapy Land DT Member

Conniecrafter said...

I do love using images that are already to go when you want to make some quick cards, and the coloring on them is terrific. I really love the ones where you used the pattern papers for the backgrounds, makes them extra special! Love the dies you used to frame them, works terrific together! They are beautiful!

Donna Phelan said...

These cards are gorgeous! That Holly die is magnificent as is that fabulous Red Cardinal--my most favorite! I adore these....and don't worry, I am just starting mine lol...merry merry and fa la la la la and all that jazz!

SewPaperPaint said...

I always love seeing you use these lacy dies and these festive cards really inspire me! Such gorgeous layering and vibrant colors! Hugs, Autumn

cuilliesocks said...

Wonderful selection of cards Donna, love the Cardinal bird image and your lovely card shape, super traditional colours too, Kate x

Margarets designer cards said...

Beautiful Christmas cards, love the design and the images

Beebeebabs said...

I love to shop - everyday is Christmas lol - I actually start my Christmas shopping in Nov.

Janice said...

Beautiful cards Donna in their different colour ways.
Janice x

pam said...

Beautiful card selection Donna, wonderful image and dies used.
Pam x

crafty-stamper said...

Beautiful Christmas cards Donna gorgeous dies and love the cardinal images --to date I have made 3 Christmas cards and all in the last three days!!!
Carol x

April said...

I love birds and these cards are beautiful with the cardinals. Great job!

CherylQuilts said...

Sweet Donna, I LOVE cardinals (and my precious mom did as well and always had them around for Christmas in all forms). Your cards are gorgeous, and I love how you've finished them inside as well. What beautiful artwork indeed by Tracey-Lynn. What is so very talented! So inspired to see these cards, and I need to get moving more on my cards. I've joined the SCS Dirty Dozen Christmas Challenge and have been making them throughout the year, but I need lots more!! Hugs and love, precious friend! You are dearly loved!! xoxo

coldwaters2 said...

Gorgeous set of festive cards Donna I do so love that image brilliant work
hugs
lorraine x

Monica said...

Lovely cards, Donna. Perfectly traditional and so pretty. Thanks for that lovely email you wrote. I so agree with it. You are such a harbinger of love and peace. I also love to make friends with people of different nationalities and ethnicities. It makes the world a warmer and heartier place. And I find there is so much to learn from each one of us. Cheers to our tribe of humanity.

Love,Monica

Sue said...

Oh WOW, these are beautiful. Love the cardinal, so pretty. The dies look awesome with the digi and I just love the traditional Christmas colors of red and green. Stunning holiday cards, lucky recipients.

Hugs
Sue

KT Fit Kitty said...

These are so gorgeous, Donna! I just love cardinals for holiday cards. I saw my first cardinal in real life a few months ago and they are a beautiful bird. Love your cards and all the variations!