WWC171 - Heidi's "All About Christmas" Challenge

It's my turn to host our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I couldn't be more thrilled.  My challenge is the "All About Christmas" Challenge this time.  How cool is that?  I can add another card to my growing stash of Christmas cards.

I bought the Apron of Love bundle a few months back and so far only got so far as to open the stamp case, look at the stamps and then put it away again.  For some reason it didn't "speak" to me or get my creative juices flowing.  Until now!  This time I opened that stamp case and began using those stamps.  And those matching framelits.  I had so much fun!

Of course one of the key points to getting my creative juices flowing was that I was sorting my retired Designer Paper.  I had put that chore off far too long, as you can tell from the paper I pulled out to use for this card.  This is the Candy Cane Lane Designer Series Paper which actually retired at the end of December, 2016.  And I still love it!

My colours are all pulled  from the designer paper:  my base is Whisper White.  The layers are Real Red, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso.  Do you see the embossed design on the Early Espresso?  I created that by putting my paper through the Big Shot twice, laying the paper first slanted one way and then the other, using the Simple Stripes embossing folder.

I cut the apron from a piece of the previously mentioned designer paper and the pocket as well.  The baking mitt is stamped on Whisper White using Real Red.  The rolling pin is cut from the gorgeous (and carried over) Wood Textures designer paper while the whisk is cut from Silver Foil.  The spatula and wooden spoon were both cut from Very Vanilla and then coloured.  And finally, the Merry Christmas sentiment is heat embossed in White on Real Red cardstock.

But the fun begins inside the card.  I decided to use the adorable gingerbread people from the Cookie Cutter Christmas bundle.  I stamped them on Crumb Cake cardstock using Crumb Cake ink.  Then I cut them out using the coordinating punch.  To bring out their eyes and mouth, I used black and Real Red.  For the white icing "piping", I used the White Chalk marker.  They're standing on a "cookie sheet" of Silver Foil.  I used the sentiment from their stamp set since it seemed to say it all so well.

For the background, I turned to the same Designer Series paper again.  The diagonal stripes in Real Red, Crumb Cake and White looked great behind those adorable gingerbread people.  I liked it so well that I used a similarly striped piece of retired Washi tape at the foot of the card.

I hope you've enjoyed my little creation.  Pop Up cards are such fun to make and to receive.  

I trust you'll check out the wonderful creations by the other Watercooler Artists over at our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge blog.  And then I hope to see your card linked up for my challenge.

I'm also entering my card into the Merry Monday Christmas Challenge #291 - Add sweets, canes or cookies to your card

The Addicted to Stamps and More #293 - Holiday

And in the Fab 'n Funky #395 Challenge - Christmas