Card Design: Lady Anne's Progressive Christmas Challenge #10-First Card

I hate to say it but I am running so late this month that I may not even get my second card in.  That is the first time since this challenge started that this might happen.  Thankfully, it is just a bonus to be able to do so but I really want to.  The problem is that in addition to the second card for the Christmas challenge I also have three more cards that I have to finish--two by Saturday and one by Sunday including a mountain of behind the scenes stuff to wade through, typical to my week.  Now for all you suave card makers out there, I'm sure most of you could pull off three cards in one simple evening.  While I am getting a little bit faster, I'm nowhere near that fast.  Maybe if I do one digital design and one partial digital design and then....well however I get things done, I am at least going to try and get my second card done.  At this point I still have 2 and 1/2 days left.  Wish me luck please!

Unfamiliar with my progressive Christmas card posts?  Well, each month Lady Anne hosts a progressive Christmas Challenge where we get two images to play with.  As long as we submit a card with at least one of them, we are eligible to receive two more the next month.  This cool arrangement works for me and is definitely incentive to work ahead of the Christmas Card Panic sessions! 
 
I finally decided to take five minutes just now and do a proper count.  I was actually right on in my thinking as I stated that my second card last month would have been 20.  Then with the addition of the Nicecrane card I did last weekend that brought me up to 21 and now today's card makes it 22.  Arghhh!  So much for avoiding the Christmas card panic.  It is officially in full swing.  Since 10 of those cards are headed to my mom as part of her Christmas gift that means that I only have 11 left for myself and I probably need close to 50 just for my own needs.  Oh Lord, I am in trouble.  Now I know I can get away with some store bought ones for some of these people--those who don't know I make cards!  I know you can all agree with me just how awful you feel when as a card maker you have to send someone a store bought card--ESPECIALLY when they know that you make cards.  It always makes me feel, that they must feel, they aren't good enough to warrant me spending time to make them one.  Guilt, guilt, guilt!  Why do we have to deal with an emotion as awful as guilt...but that is a topic best suited for another kind of post.  Right now I need to get on with this one so that I can get back to making some more Christmas cards!!!  Then there are a couple thank you cards I still have to do.  Oh and a couple birthday cards as well.  Right, I still need to get that adoption anniversary card done for my cousin...oy vey.  I am REALLY in trouble!  <sigh> Let the panic begin...
 

This month the sponsor is...

I've never actually used an image from Fred, She Said so this was a treat!

Here is my card and details.  I hope I don't forget anything...
 
General Information: 

• Doesn't this cute little Santa look like he was meant to stand next to that tree?  Well, I thought so and it allowed me to showcase another artist's image (details below), alongside the one from Fred She Said.  You know how much I like to give as many artists as possible as much exposure as I can.  I just wish that I could combine more digis this way but of course they have to work together, to make it look seamless.  

 
FRONT

Digital Images:

• Santa:  This cute Santa image is of course from this month's sponsor, Fred She Said.  You can find it in the store by clicking on the watermark below.

• I used Copic Markers to colour in the image.  Santa:  E000, E00, E02, R20 (skin); colourless blender, N0, C1 (facial and regular hair); R22, R24, R29 (outfit); C4, C7, 100 (boots). 
  
• Tree:  This awesome tree is from San's Designs.  San may be taking time off from the blog but the store is still open for business and she has some great images to help you with your own Christmas card panic.  This funky tree being one of them.  You can find it in the store by clicking on the watermark below.

• The tree itself was also coloured with Copics.  Tree:  G02, G05, G09.  Star: Y32, Y35, Y38.  Garland:  R22, R24, R29.  Baubles: Assorted colours.  Mat: W1, W3, W5 (base); W7, W9 (hearts).
• Flooring and wall was done with coloured pencils.   

Paper Products: 

• Designer Papers (DP):
• Plaid paper--Recollection's Bright Christmas paper pad. 
• Shimmery Green cardstock used as a border--Michael's open stock scrapbook paper.

Embellishments: 

• Little metallic stars are from Dollarama.  Unfortunately, with the lighting in this photograph, it is hard to see that they are indeed metallic and nice and shiny.

Punch: 

• While it is difficult to see, the top of the green shimmer cardstock was punched with a pine tree border from...well I just went to look and I honestly can't remember who made it.  I can tell you that it isn't a Recollections punch or a Fiskars one and I can clearly see the packaging in my mind's eye but for the life of me, I've gone blank on the manufacturer.  I'll have to keep the packaging from this particular company next time I'm lucky enough to get another of their punches.

INSIDE  

Digital Sentiment:

• I kept the inside very CAS and just added one of the sentiments I offered up last year as a Holiday Handout.  If you are new to my blog and interested in obtaining over 22 freebie images related to the Christmas season, just click on Holiday Handout in the label section and you should be able to find them all.  This particular one can be found HERE. 

Paper Products:

• Designer Papers (DP):
• Shimmery red cardstock used as matting--Michael's open stock scrapbook paper.

 

OVERALL 

Paper Products:

• Card base: Crafts Brand Cardstock, pastel green coloured--available Dollarama.
  

Challenges I am entering:

• Lady Anne's Challenges -- Progressive Christmas Card Challenge #10

Other challenges I might get it into...

• http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.ca/ -- Christmas
• http://hollyjollychristmaschallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Warmth (using warm colours--reds, yellows, beiges)
• http://cardsformen.blogspot.ca/ (max 10 others) -- Christmas
• http://craftybloggersnetwork.blogspot.ca -- Christmas
• http://www.withoutwordschallenge.blogspot.ca/  --  Getting Ready for Christmas
• http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Christmas
• http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.ca/  -- Christmas Indoors
• http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/  -- Anything Goes Christmas

Oh, oh.  Something came up and I had to write a tutorial for someone so while I started this post at 2:00 p.m. it is now 7:00 p.m. which means I don't have much time left to get my Wonderful Wednesdays post done and out tonight.  So, I just wanted to let you know that there is a possibility that it will be deferred a day.  I hope that isn't so, but just in case it is, I wanted to give you all a heads up.

  Moving on to making some freebies.  Fingers crossed they'll get finished tonight...