FRIDAY FREEBIE - 52 Christmas Card Challenge - Wreath

I'm still working on Christmas cards. This week we were challenged to make a wreath as our focal point.

52 Christmas Card Throwdown

I used a Whisper White card base and a Cherry Cobbler mat cut the same size - 5-1/2" x 4-1/4"

The wreath is an image cut from Stampin' UP! Petal Promenade DSP:

Wreath print is part of the 12" x 12" sheet on the bottom left

Petal Promenade - #146913 - $11.00 (12x12 - 12 sheets)

I used the largest scalloped circle die for the outside and the 2nd or 3rd smallest for the inside. To create the window on the Cherry Cobbler Mat and the card base, I used the matching circle die.

The Lace Trim is current SU, glued to the front of the Cherry Cobbler mat then the mat was glued onto the card base. The wreath looked plane so I added tiny SU pearls in places as well as to balance out the corners. The sentiment is from Snowflake Sentiments:

#144820 - Clear Mount - $22.00

Magazine Monday

Another beautiful day in the Ozarks. It is hard to believe we are still in the throes of winter. It is 54 degrees outside but if you are in the sun, it feels much warmer. I even ventured outside to photograph today's card.

Today's inspiration comes from the February 2010 issue of Crafts n Things Magazine. The card I chose was 'Love is the Reward' by Crafts n Things Design Team member, Elizabeth Allan. Her cards are beautiful and I encourage you to stop by her blog for a peek and say hello.

She used a 4.25x5.5 vertical card. Her card title echoes the sentiment she stamped on white CS, matted and tied with the striped ribbon at it' base. She used 3 square brass brads positioned on-point to the left of the sentiment. Her card has a distinct vintage feel that caught my attention.

I was inspired by the color scheme and the simplicity of the sentiment. And I think my choice of DP is just feminine enough to cover my tastes without being too girly for my husband's valentine. What do you think?

For my husband's Valentine, I chose to flip Elizabeth's design horizontal to coordinate with the layout of the sentiment from SU Holiday Best. I ran the ribbon beneath the sentiment rather than tie it. I used SU Cherry Cobbler and Chocolate Chip CS and a print from My Minds Eye called Love of My Life Floral. I followed Elizabeth's design of giving the brown mat for the sentiment a scalloped edge to soften the look, again just soft enough for a girl but man enough for my 6'4" hubby. To balance everything out, I used three gold brads in the opposite corner.

Whatever inspires you, make it yours....

and share with someone you Love!