Card Design: Countdown to Christmas with Nicecrane Designs, Day 1

Oooooh Boy!  It is December 1st and the Christmas countdown has officially begun.  Last night in anticipation for the start of this holy month, I was singing Christmas carols and wanting to put up decorations--I'm not sure I'll even have the time to do so as this is going to be ONE PACKED MONTH both here on the blog at in my home as we get ready for the arrival of the big guy.  I might be 47 years old but I am always a kid at this time of year!

Today I am posting the first of a series of Christmas themed creations made with images from Nicecrane Designs.  I have several ideas planned, now I just have to hope that I can pull them all off in time!

These first two cards are from a set of five that I created for my momma as part of her Christmas gift from LAST year.  It is high time that I finally show them to you.  I'll show you the rest later in the week.

  
FRONTS

Digital Image Details: 

• A Joyful Christmas:  For these first two cards I used the images you see on the left hand side of the preview below.  Click on the watermark below to take you to its location in the store.

Digital Sentiment Details:

• Ones I created specifically for these cards.

Other Notes:

• I added faux stitching digitally to each of the panels that served as a base for the image and sentiment.  The colour of the stitching was designed to match the colour of ribbon used on each card.   

Embellishments:

• I thought it fitting to use ribbons from the collection I got from my Momma so the ribbons used on each of these cards are Spool O' Ribbon brand although I don't know where they come from.

Embossing Folder:

• The card base was embossed using the one of the folders from the Cricut, Paper Lace II set.

INSIDE

Other Notes:

• I kept the inside simple only adding the same digital faux stitching that I did for the front.  While the colour of the stitching is green in this particular sample picture, each card's stitching matched the front.

OVERALL
Paper Products:

• Card, image and sentiment base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.

Challenges I am hoping to enter...

• http://scribbleandscrapcrafts.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://www.lunagirlmoonbeams.com/ -- Holiday Children
• http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.ca/ -- Gift from the Heart (These two cards are from a set of five that I created as a gift for my mom last Christmas so I hope that qualifies) 
• http://christmascardchallenges.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://www.myperfectlifeuk.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes Christmas Cards
• http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Christmas 
• http://www.ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Christmas (with ribbon on creation)

Before I go...
I can't possibly leave without sharing two more wonderful Christmas themed sets available at Nicecrane's Designs.  Check out the great images available in the Twas the Night Before Christmas Collections, set 1 and 2.  Each set contains several cool distressed looking vintage images that would be great for card and ATC design.  Be sure to go and check them out while you are at the store (click on each image below to head to its location).

Don't forget, to stay current on ALL the latest releases and to check out the fabulous inspiration from my fellow DT members, be sure to head over to the Nicecrane Designs blog.  

I am so happy that you had a chance to pop by and check out my latest creation.  I'll be back later in the week with more! 

Until next time,