Sunset Spirit Of The Season Card - 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Embellishment Challenge

My friend Kelly sent me a link to a Christmas card challenge blog - the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge blog.  I really like the idea of getting a head start on Christmas cards this year and making one a week is easily achievable.  Every year I say I'll carry on making Christmas cards after it's all over but I've never managed it yet - I'm usually sick of them by then and really can't face making any more!

Another idea that appeals to me about this challenge is that I will use what I have in my Christmas stash rather than being seduced by new goodies.  The theory is that come September when the new Christmas stuff is hitting the shops I won't need to buy any of it 'cos I'll have the majority of my Christmas cards made.  That's the theory anyway - we'll see the reality later on LOL!  I'm certainly not going to make any promises after I said I wasn't going to buy any Christmas stuff in 2011 - and failed miserably!  I think taking part in this weekly challenge is a step in the right direction though and I hope I can be disciplined to keep at it!

Kelly sent me a beautiful easel card for Christmas, I just fell in love with it and had to buy the Kanban Enjoy the Spirit of the Season set immediately. It's such a lovely set, the frame stamp has so much detail - gorgeous!   I stamped the frame, sentiment and Santa onto white CS and then got inky with various Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  I used a craft mat and the foam applicator tool to apply the inks, swirling them on in a circular motion.  After I'd finished inking I trimmed the panel to size and applied a generous spritzing of Champagne Mist alcohol spray for lots of sparkle.  I matted the panel onto black CS and attached it to a Riding Hood Red 5 3/4" square card base.  I used the Sizzix 'Brackets' On the Edge die to cut a black decorative border and I applied the negative piece to the card base.  This week's challenge is an embellishment challenge and you must use at least 3 sparkly rhinestones.  I added 3 rhinestones to my bracket edge and applied more to my sentiment frame.  Some ribbon finished off the card front.

I stamped a white panel for inside the card and stamped the Santa, sleigh and reindeer image on the envelope flap to finish off.

It is so hard to capture the sparkle of the Champagne Mist spritz in a photo  - here's a close up so you can see a bit of the sparkle at least!

Supplies:
Stamps: Kanban Enjoy the Spirit of the Season clear set, PSX Snowflake Medley, sentiment from Penny Black
CS: SU! Riding Hood Red, Basic Black & Whisper White
 Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Fired Brick & Dusty Concord, SU! Riding Hood Red
Tools: Sizzix 'Brackets' On the Edge die, Ranger foam ink applicators & tool, craft mat, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint in an alcohol spritz, black satin ribbon, black & white gingham ribbon, SU! Basic Rhinestones