Christmas is here...

Lately when I walk into the Hyatt on the way to work, they have been playing Christmas carols for weeks. I'm also connected into the Palliser Fairmont Hotel, and I decided to go for a walk down that way as I'm spending one night there to sleep off the liquor and go to work the next morning.

I walked into the Fairmont to be greeted by this:

This is carved from white chocolate, dark chocolate and sugar with a gingerbread chimney by one of the Palliser's newest pastry chefs. It took 40 hours to do. How amazing is that?

Today's inspiration is Case Study #118, in particular Maureen Merritt from Mama Mo Stamps' variation.

I've had the set Holiday Commentary for some time without not knowing what to do with it but it was the perfect pair to three cheery little raccoons. It's again a bit more simple than what I usually do, but the colors pop on this card so well and the Baker's Twine with green rhinestones just finishes it off.

As you can see, I carried the same theme throughout the rest of the card. I decided to do a bit of distressing throughout - on the front it's the paintbrush from the distressing tools from CTMH and inside the sponge for the edges.

My Stash:
* Green solid cardstock
* White cardstock

CTMH:
* Texture Tools
* Christmas Love
* Holiday Commentary (retired)
* Bundled Buddies (retired)
* Ponderosa Pine Ink
* Barn Red Ink
* Liquid Applique
* Blue and Green Assortment Sparkle
* Cranberry Baker's Twine

Stay warm and watch the ice on those slippery roads!

Tree's up..

.. and tomorrow is our annual Xmas potluck that we have for a few close friends we see a few times a year. I can't believe that December is flying by so fast.

Today's inspiration is from Mojo Monday : MOJO218. I absolutely adore their layouts.

 

It`s really easy to make your own card bases! A tip from Wishes is to simply take a 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper, cut it in half to make two 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 pieces, and score straight down the middle. What's even better is that my local stationery store happens to sell matching sized envelopes; $12 for 100.

As you can see I couldn't resist using Liquid Applique to give my little inked Santa a bit more oomph on the front of the card, and dressed the card up with a bowtie and some little sparklies.

I always love matching up the colors on the inside of the card with the outside. I've also noticed a change in quality of the photos taken - in previous posts, they were done with a Canon point and shoot; these two photos were taken with a Canon Rebel XT aided with a Canon Speedlite 430 EX.

Michaels:
* Cardstock - "Primary"
* Rhinestones

CTMH:
* Mistletoe Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)
* Wonderland Level 2 Paper Pack
* Christmas Cheer
* Christmas Love
* A Timber
* Festive Thoughts
* Ponderosa Pine Ink
* Cranberry Ink
* Chocolate Ink

It smells like Christmas here,