Christmas Presents, Ribbon and Bows

Hi everyone,

Well, my August holiday is almost over and come Monday it is time to go back to work :( I've loved being away for so long but I guess the fun is over :( Nevertheless, I can look back on a great month with lots of crafting, hurrah!

Since it is the beginning of another month, it's also time for a new Christmas Cards All Year Round Challenge and this time the theme is "CHRISTMAS PRESENTS with an optional extra of RIBBONS AND BOWS". Remember, it has to be Christmassy too! I hope you can join us, you have the entire month of September to link up.

Here's my make, using SMIRK decoupage. I'd purchased this SMIRK decoupage pad a few years ago and I have to say I'm a little disappointed in the quality of the pad. Not a whole lot of thought seemed to have gone towards layering the layers up, as each layer is surrounded by white, which makes the image look a bit funny when completed. I ended up ditching a few layers and fuzzy cutting around the others to tie in properly with the base image. It ended up more work then just cutting out decoupage, as that is usually geared toward making it possible to cut the image out without white edges. Such a pity, because I love the SMIRK characters. Also, I had also bought the matching DP pad, thinking that they would look so good together. Unfortunately, it didn't work at all, colours and images didn't really compliment each other and the card just looked to darn busy with all the different patterns, I hate it  when that happens! Sorry, I'll stop ranting now :)

Materials:
* Docraft SMIRK Christmas Decoupage image and sentiment on front on the card, using foam pads
* Studio Light DP scraps, some of them distressed with a green ink pad
* MS Presents border punch
* Ribbon, peel off borders and sentiment from stash

Challenges:
* Polka Doodles (Stitching)
* Sentimental Sundays (Stitching)
* LEJ Designs (Anything Goes)
* Use It Tuesday (Use That Ribbon; Hoarded supplies = the Decoupage image)
* Emerald Fairies (Punches & Dies)
* Crafting For All Seasons (Stitching)
* Creative Card Crew (Christmas)
* Perfect Sentiments (Anything Goes with a Sentiment)
* Sassy Studio (Christmas Carol, Twelve days of Christmas: all the presents that were given)
* Cute Card Thursday (A Stitch in Time)

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Something not christmassy for a change

Down at the 3D Cards Challenge Blog (http://3dcardschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/09/challenge-9-sponsor-nellie-snellen.html), they are currently having a challenge to incorporate fruit into your card. Now, I'm all for eating 2 pieces of fruit a day, but I found it hard to get inspired and add fruit to the crafting mix. Thankfully, when I was perusing through my crafty magazines, I came across this little doggie. It's not really in season, but I really couldn't resist. Also, I liked the fact that it was so different from the Christmas Cards I have been making recently, too much Christmassy cheer early on in the year is overkill for me, although I am sure there are plenty of crafters out there who start in January for next year! I was planning to also submit it to the Gorjuss Challenge (not a square card), but I missed the deadline :( Oh well, next time perhaps! Backing paper is Smirk (I LOVE that stuf, it's just too cute), Love and Friendship set I believe. I have decorated the inside a little bit as well (a very good habit I picked up from Mary J, although I am not as good as her at it yet!), but I also like a big surface to write on so kept it small and around the edges. Finished it all off with white peeloffs and a sentiment. I like the fact that the card shape it a little unusual because the topper is wider than the card. How I am every going to get this into a regular envelope though............something to worry about later!

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