Card Design...Adding Another Christmas Card to the Pot

Hello my lovely peeps.  I'm here today to share another Christmas card that I managed to get finished.  Recently, my good friend Vicky, a.k.a. Crafting Vicky, put me on to a really wonderful blog.  I had never heard of Nicecrane Designs before, so I was of course intrigued by what the blog might have to offer.  If Vicky was a fan, I knew that Nicecrane Designs must be fabulous.  I wasn't disappointed and now I have to admit that I am officially hooked!
  

Ignacio who is the designer behind Nicecrane Designs has some absolutely incredible vintage images.  He offers many different varieties and you can find both coloured images and black and white ones plus some other really neat creations.  I've only gone through three sections of the store and I've already added thirteen items to my wish list!  Ignacio has also graciously offered up a number of freebies on his blog and it is one of them that I used to create the card I am showcasing today.

I decided I wanted to keep the background pretty clean and simple because I didn't want to detract from the beauty of the image.  It was also nice to go with non-traditional colours in creating this holiday card.  While it looks a little red in the picture, the card base is actually a salmon colour that complimented the colour of the building.

Check it out...

FRONT

Digital Image:

• See?  I didn't exaggerate.  The image really is quite remarkable.  The choice of colour along with all of the detail, makes for a beautiful winter scene.  You can still find this image and another in the same style available for free by clicking HERE and scrolling down to the bottom of the post.  Make sure you take a moment to say thanks to Ignacio if you do grab it.  I do hope that you'll also take a moment while you are there and check out the entire post.  Not only does it feature some more awesome images available for purchase, it also showcases several of Vicky's beautiful cards.

Digital Sentiment:

• I brought the image into Publisher and added the text 'Happy Holidays' before printing.

INSIDE

Digital Sentiment: 

• I followed the same layout as the front and just created a simple verse incorporating the same font that I used on the front.

OVERALL
Paper Products:

• Card base and matting for image and sentiment: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, Preppy Beach collection.
• Designer Papers:  
• The grey plaid paper is from the Recollection's Bright & Basic Paper Pad. 
• The grey cardstock that I embossed is from the Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, Cool Water collection.

Embossing Folder: 

• The embossing folder is the same one I used in a recent Scribbles Designs card.  It is still downstairs but I'm pretty sure that it is Goosebumpz brands.  The reason I went with the same tiny dots is because of the snowflakes that are so small they appear as simple dots.
• I am definitely addicted to the idea of texture.  Now I just have to keep building my folder collection!

Challenges I am hoping to enter...
(sorry but in order to save me some time, I am just including the hyperlink as opposed to setting up the name and linking it to the challenge blog. Every second I save these days counts.)  

• http://avenue613.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes with optional twist
• http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.ca/ -- Add a sentiment
• http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/-- Anything Goes  
• http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.ca/  -- Anything Goes
• http://c2cu.blogspot.co.uk/  -- Twist #2--Vintage Christmas & Polychromatic (the image itself is vintage from 1953 and there are definitely more than three colours on my card.)
• http://craftyhandsdevon.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Vintage (image is from 1953)
• http://creativecornerchallenges.blogspot.de/ -- Snow or Winter
• http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Winter Wishes Sentiment

Before I go... 
As I mentioned earlier, the image I worked with is a freebie; however, if you love Asian winter scenes, there are two other sets I'd like to recommend that you check out.  First, is this wonderful set of prints called Stunning H. Kawase (Ukiyo-e).

 

Aren't these images simply stunning?!  The colours are just so rich and the detail incredible.  If you would like to check them out further, you can click on the image to head to its location in the Nicecrane store.

The second set of prints I'm going to recommend based on this style is called Amazing Kawase.

Another eight beautiful Asian scenes.  Best of all, these ones could be used for a variety of different cards and not just winter based ones.  Once again, clicking on the image will bring you to where you can find it in the store.

Well, that is it for my post.  I hope that you have enjoyed my non-traditional Christmas card and that if you have the opportunity, you'll pay Ignacio of Nicecrane Designs a visit.  Your time will definitely be well spent.  He has an incredible Creative Team and you'll definitely walk away inspired!

Until next time,