I still have very few Christmas cards ready for Christmas giving this year. It is starting to weigh heavily on me that I'm so far behind; therefore, my next card must be a Christmas card for my stash! I just received my Sweet Candy Cane stamps/dies and the Christmas Banner stamps/ dies that I ordered from the current Stampin' Up mini catalog so I'm eager to try them out.
The Sweetest Christmas dsp in that same catalog has a lot of wonderful patterns and strips. I decided on a criss-cross background effect using a striped diagonal paper pattern along with the diagonal die-cut panel. I used all three colors in the striped paper on my card front stamping and die-cuts, Real Red, Garden Green, and Pool Party, plus I added a bit of aqua glitter paper to add some sparkle bling!
As most candy canes come in individually wrapped clear cellophane wrappers, I decided to cover my Real Red, ink-stamped canes with Scotch clear packing tape to resemble these cellophane wrappers. This is an idea we used in a class card designed by Dar Peterson that I borrowed.
My card design evolved as I perused my list of SCS challenges that I have not completed. In all, I found 13 challenges to enter, which are listed below:
1) SC921 - Sketch Challenge - 8/31/22. The sketch used a diagonal criss-cross pattern for the background, plus a square panel overlay. I changed the #3 square to a patterned edge circle and used it to overlay my canes, pine fronds, and petite little bow. In addition, I added a small double-layered sentiment circle off-set to the lower right.
2) ABC17O15 - Alphabet Challenge/ Letter O = Overlay - 8/31/22. My letter O for Overlay is the mat layering overlays: cardbase, turquoise glitter payer, patterned paper, and finally the diagonal background die-cut. Then I have numerous overlays in creating the candy cane focal piece from the base up: the ornate circle die-cut, the criss-crossed canes, the pine fronds, and finally the petite sheer bow. Lots of overlays going on in this card!
3) AOCC22 - All Occasions Card Challenge/ August 2022 - 8/1/22. An ongoing/monthly challenge that encourages you to set goals ahead for each month to help you complete and mail your cards more timely! This is a much needed card for my 2022 Christmas stash.
4) USEIT2022 - Use It Challenge/ August 2022 - 8/1/22. An ongoing/ annual challenge that requires you to use OLD/ DUSTY and long unused items and/or OLD/NEW items purchased, never used, and seemingly forgotten! OLD/ DUSTY: Spellbinders Splendid Circles way back in 2012. I've only used it once when I first purchased it. I'm not sure why, it is a beautiful die!
5) SCSCCAUG22 - Fan Club Monthly Christmas Challenge/ Movie Challenges - A Christmas Story - 8/1/22. I was inspired by this poster for the movie to make a candy cane card: A Christmas Story!
6) F4A646 - Free 4 All Challenge/ Christmas in July! - 7/8/22. Challenge: create a winter card, e.g., Christmas, winter scene, winter birthday, etc. in the heat of summer!
7) CCC22MAR - Christmas Card Challenge/ Sweet Treats - 3/1/22. My card fits Christmas sweets in the form on Candy Canes...an all time favorite sweet!
WT876 - Ways to Use It Challenge/ Deck the Cards (with Boughs of Holly) - 12/23/21. Challenge: add bough to your card, e.g. bough of holly, of pines, of mistletoe, etc. I've used boughs of pines.
9) CT1221 - Fan Club Monthly Challenge/ December 2021--Red Suits Black Boots - 12/15/21. Challenge: Be inspired by colors in Santa's iconic suit and other Christmas related items. I'm using the red and white from Santa's suit in the candy canes.
10) MIX441 - Mix-ability Challenge/ Winter in July! - 7/9/21. Challenge: make a winter card in the heat of summer! It's a little past July, but it's still summer as it's 92 today! My card is for my Christmas card stash and features Christmas candy canes. My mediums are: dye-based ink, clear packing tape (candy cane wrapper simulation), glitter paper.
11) IC799 - Inspiration Challenge/ Homebnc - 3/27/21. Loved these homey, country-style candy canes giving me inspiration for candy canes on my card: Wrapped Candy Canes!
12) MMTPT540 - Teapot Challenge/ Purse-onally Yours - 2/27/18. Challenge: A story was told of a faux tea party with sisters and their Mom where they decorated cookies, dressed up and had a tea party. Since they always carried elaborate purses with their dressy clothing, the challenge was to make a card with a purse or with tea party "ingredients," e.g. clothing, cookies, etc. I was inspired to depict my family's tradition of making Christmas cookies with a Benchwarmer beverage during the tasting party! We made Christmas frosted sugar cookies, and one of our favorite cookie cutters was the candy cane, plus the Benchwarmer hosted a candy cane as a stir stick!
13) CAS466 - Clean & Simple Challenge/ Keep It Clear - 1/28/18. Challenge: include something clear on your card. I used Scotch Clear Packing Tape over my red, ink-stamped candy canes to make them appear individually wrapped in cellophane.
Ingredients: Stampin' Up-- Cardstock: Basic White, Garden Green, Pool Party. DSP: Sweetest Christmas. Stamps/Dies (J-D 2022 Mini): Sweet Candy Canes/ Candy Cane dies; Christmas Banner dies (pine boughs). Ink: Real Red. Punch: 1-1/4" Circle. Ribbon: 3/8" Pool Party Sheer. Gems: Elegant Faceted Gems. Other-- Paper: DCWV 6"x6" Glitter Pastels Mat Stack. Spellbinders Dies: Splendid Circles. Scotch 2" Clear Packing Tape.
Registered: January 20, 2010 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 26225
Tue, Aug 30, 2022 @ 6:35 PM
Love that candy cane backing paper! Your cluster of pine branches and bow look fabulous with the pair of candy canes. Great Christmas card for the stash!
Registered: August 21, 2007 Location: Wayland MA Posts: 105288
Wed, Aug 31, 2022 @ 7:40 AM
What caught my eye right away was the sparkly blue!! I love your beautiful Christmas card!
------------------------------ Anne HarmonFS154, QFTD58, PROUD FAN CLUB MEMBER (photo of our Great Granddaughter Elise, just 6 months old) and me, even older.
Registered: April 6, 2009 Location: Weyers Cave, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley Posts: 31237
Wed, Aug 31, 2022 @ 2:43 PM
Such a Cute candy cane Christmas card, Carlene! Love the bg paper and those sweet as ever candy canes and the way you've placed them! Beautiful bow and love the glitter paper~
------------------------------ ~Roberta
�Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.�
― Lou Holtz
Registered: May 9, 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 8704
Wed, Aug 31, 2022 @ 5:57 PM
Lovely Christmas card. I would never have thought to use plaid paper. Very cool!
------------------------------ Mary ~~ QFTD #152, FS#514CC Guest Design Team 2012, 2013, 2017 & 2022 2014 CAS Spring Design Team MemberSC Guest Design Team 2015 & 2022 Dirty Dozen Alumni SU Consultant "Life's greatest adventure is finding your place in the Circle of Life" - Lion King
Oh, how fun that a poster inspired your design. This is so much fun! I really like how you added pine branches to the candy cane focal point! Fabulous! Glad we could help you out with another card for your stash!
Registered: February 5, 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 92694
Fri, Sep 02, 2022 @ 4:17 AM
Literally a "sweet" Christmas card with the candy canes as your focal point, Carlene. The bg DP was perfect with its colors for the diagonal diamonds of the SC and the dimension of the candy canes and pine are wonderfully done.