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

Monday, November 07, 2022

A Cardinal Christmas Wreath - Jan's Digi Stamps

December's Sale includes all 50 of Jan's Holiday Stamps, including the 2022 freebie!

Hello, my friends! May this find you well, and looking forward to the upcoming celebrations.

 Today is the November kick-off Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps! 

If you use a JDS image in your card, please mention it. There is a 2nd draw specifically for those who use one of Jan's fun images.

Jan's images are easy to use because most of her sets embrace the same style, so they mix-and-match. Jan has a slightly vintage, slightly contemporary way of expressing her memories, and the enjoyable things of life.


The new Red Cardinals set is one that can be used all season long.

In this case I've combined it with her beautiful 2022 "freebie" set "Ornaments". 

Each year, Jan's tradition is to gift the rest of us with a lovely new Christmas set to help jump-start our holiday card making. 

Be watchful! They are limited editions, and disappear on Christmas Night in the year of their release!



Jan's "Banners and Bow" was created for celebrating. 

She has provided both orange and red to encompass the holiday season, as well as the black-and-white version for anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions.

To Make This Project:

First I created a "round ring" in my word processor. 
Then I placed the cardinals-on-twig image from Red Cardinals onto the ring. 
Select the long twig and small holly bunch repeatedly copying-and-pasting them around the ring. If your word processing doc allows, do a "select all" and "group" everything in place. Add the ribbon bow from the "Banners and Bow" set. Finally, place the sentiment from "Ornaments 2022" in the center. Make your wreath as full or as skinny as you like by adding more greenery (or even copying the entire wreath, making it slightly smaller then pasting atop the original wreath for a fuller look). Be sure to save your digital work in the same folder as your digital sets so you'll find it easily another time.
Below are the images I've used:


I must confess this is a "cheater" card. Jan's gorgeously precolored images were used, and then highlighted for additional depth:

Here is a simple card made using "my" wreath:


Who can resist a bit of sparkle?

Lots of dimension make this 5x7 creation extra festive:


Try playing with your free word processor if you don't have special software, to "layer" your digital projects. Once you've tried it, the technique becomes easier each time you play.


Don't forget to play in the Challenge!


Products Used:  Jan's Digi Images: Red Cardinals 4025 (new and on sale),  Banners and Bow 4015, AND the sentiment is from BEAUTIFUL FREEBIE SET "Ornaments 2022" (will be removed from the store on Christmas Day).     Dies: Sue Wilson Australian Collection "Melbourne" CED 8105, Memory Box Meridian Border 98134 (Copic Markers, Distress Ink, glitter paper, stash papers)

I'd like to play in the following Challenges please:

  1. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #10 AG DT 11/15
  2. Pammie's Inkie Pinkies #2245 AG 11/14
  3. Crafty Catz #613 AG with 3 or more layers (one card 4 layers, one has 6 layers) 11/10
  4. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #11 AG 12/1
  5. Classic Design Challenge #11 AG 12/1
  6. Crafty Friends Challenge #161 Christmas 11/28 
  7. My Time To Craft #494 All Creatures Great or Small 11/11
  8. CD Sunday Plus Challenge #96 AG using downloadable products ( I used 3 digital stamp sets, making a holiday wreath. The sentiment and bow are downloaded from other sets - all three sets are listed above) 11/14
  9. Allsorts Challenge #701 Sparkle & Shine 11/11
  10. Tic Tac Toe Challenge #186 I am using the middle column with "red - sparkle - holly" for my creation: 11/10

30 comments:

brenda said...

Delightful seasonal makes Donna, always love a Christmas wreath design and in the traditional colours just perfect. Thanks so much for joining in with our Sparkle and Shine theme at Allsorts challenge this week.

B x

KarinsArtScrap said...

these are gorgeous and elegant cards Donna

gr karin

Donna Walls said...

Absolutely gorgeous Donna and I love how you combine all the images into something so lovely. Thanks for a great team project for the Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge!
Donna xx

KT Fit Kitty said...

They are both so beautiful, Donna! Looks like you coloured them yourself, even though you mentioned you just added highlights with your markers. Cardinals are a favourite of mine - we saw a female in our yard a few weeks ago and we keep hoping she will come back and bring a male with her, but so far, nothing. They are a beautiful bird with a beautiful song. Wishing you a good day, my friend!
Hugs,
Kitty

Ellibelle said...

Such a beautiful traditional Christmas image/set and both your cards are gorgeous! Thank you so much for joining us this week at Allsorts challenge where it's all about Sparkle and Shine!
Ellie
Ellibelle's Corner

Donna said...

Such gorgeous cards, love your designs and colors Donna!

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

I love you told us how you made the wreath, and what a beautiful one it is too. A gorgeous finished card Donna.
Faith x

Becca Sadler said...

Donna: Both cards are phenomenal and if I hadn't read your blog, I would have thought the wreath came prepared as a stamp or digital image. So kudos to you for learning how to manipulate word processing functions to create your own 'mash up' images!!! Thanks for including MTTC's Critters/Creatures theme in your link-ups! --Becca/DT

Chris said...

Such beautiful cards Donna, perfect choice of images to seamlessly create your lovely wreath, fabulous papers and beautifully embellished.
hugs
xxx

crafty-stamper said...

Both gorgeous cards Donna,love the traditional papers and beautiful wreath you created -I thought it was an actual image too
Carol x

Verna Angerhofer said...

Beautiful card design and so festive!

As.I.Do.Rodos. said...

Gorgeous traditional cards.
Thank you for joining us at Crafty Catz Challenge Blog good luck Ginny DT for Crafty Catz Challenge Blog
My Blog

Donna Phelan said...

These are beautiful! That wreath is perfection! I love the yellow hi-light too! Pretty papers and those pom poms lol LOVE!

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my goodness are these just gorgeous, oh yes we love the sparkle too, and the little interest you added with your markers. That scalloped border and little pom pom swag is such pretty little details!

Aimeslee Winans said...

Hi Donna dear, just something about red and green with a bit of golden yellow, just screams Christmas to me. So pretty and festive, and I'm agog at your digi skills as usual. The wreath is a work of art all by itself. Prayers for today! And dangit, what the heck is that storm doing, will be praying y'all don't get hit badly. Hang tough, girl! XOX

Pamela said...

Two beautiful cards for your entries into the challenge.
We'll have to delete your previous entry (#7) under your own name as it's only a link to your online shop.
Pamela
CD Sunday Plus DT.

cuilliesocks said...

Hi Donna, what gorgeous cards, I love the traditional design and lovely colours. I hope you are keeping well, Kate x

Leslie Miller said...

Such beautiful images and cards! You're a wizard with the digis. I do think they're a lot of fun to manipulate and have enjoyed that muchly in the past. My digi box needs replenishing, so I may print a few when I don't have a zillion other things to do. Your bit of shading with the Copics adds even more life to the birds and their wreath perch. And then you've designed these two festive cards for them. I feel like I've been treated today, Donna!

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Lovely traditional festive colours and beautiful images too, thank you for sharing it with us at Allsorts this week.
Lorraine

Lori m said...

Fabulous Christmas cards, loving the pretty pom-pom banner and all the pretty edge die cuts to make your image pop, hugs, Lori m

Jocelyn said...

Lovely Christmas colours have been used for this card. Thank you for sharing with us.
Jocelyn x
CD Sunday Plus DT

Mervi said...

Lovely card!
Thank you for sharing at Allsorts this Sparkle week;-))m

Wendy L said...

Hi Donna, loving your Christmas cards, thanks for joining us at the Crafty friends challenge, xxx

KraftyKoolKat said...

Such beautiful creations Donna.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

Seafield Jo said...

Beautiful Christmas cards in lovely, rich colours.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Jo
CD Sunday Plus DT

pam said...

Beautiful cards Donna, love those digi images and your extra colouring touch, perfect Christmas cards.
Hugs Pam x

Diane Louise J said...

Hello Donna... thanks for entering your beautiful Christmas card into the challenge at Crafty Friends. Good luck and hope you will join us again.
Diane Louise (Team Leader) xx

coldwaters2 said...

Hi Donna I was thrilled to see that you had left a comment on my blog I have managed to get internet for a short time and felt I had to come visit you I am so glad I did your cards are outstanding they are full of beauty and elegance superb work
hugs
lorraine x

Beebeebabs said...

Beautiful cards - great job as always. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your Family!!!

Margarets designer cards said...

Hi Donna
Just a quick message thank you for leaving a comment on my blog, but the card has not been entered in any other challenges and is images from Joanna Sheens CD Victorian Christmas