Christmas Card 2021

For this 2021 card, I used one of my favorite Christmas drawings, a Madonna and Child from my 2010 Advent calendar.  It's computer-printed with a large white border on Neenah solar white card stock.  The handwritten words say "Christ the Savior is born."

Since 2010, I've used one of my annual Nativity drawings for the card fronts, with a greeting inside "Wishing you all the joy of Christmas."  To see past years' Christmas cards that I've drawn, click here, then scroll down.

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Purple and Orange Prints with White

Bright and bold with plaid, striped, and dotted prints and a crisp banner.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) royal velvet (purple) and stamper's select white.
• Patterned paper is from PTI orange zest pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired) and Pink & Main not too spooky (retired) 6 x 6" paper pad.
  
• Die is from PTI keep it simple frames.
  
• The sentiment "thanks" is from PTI thanks all ways (retired), stamped with PTI royal velvet ink.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Red Birds on Gray Birch Trees

A few bright red birds on some tall gray birch trees.  A striped texture on the card base adds to the tree effect, and a red rectangle anchors the scene.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) stormy sea (greenish gray), pure poppy (red), and rustic white.
• Embossing folder is Sizzix Tim Holtz stripes.
• The sentiment "warmest wishes" is from PTI sentiment staples: warmest wishes, and the images are from PTI through the trees (retired), stamped with PTI pure poppy and stormy sea inks.

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Stems for Autumn and Winter

Two cards with leafy stems in the same wreath arrangement, with autumn and winter color schemes. 

 Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) terra cotta tile (rusty red), scarlet jewel (burgundy), and stamper's select white.
• Patterned paper is from PTI summer sunrise (yellow-orange) and blueberry sky (medium blue) pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
  
• The sentiment "thinking of you" is from Hero Arts everyday sayings, "anniversary wishes" is from PTI keep it simple: anniversary (retired), and the stems are from Altenew warm wishes, stamped with PTI summer sunrise, terra cotta tile, and Americana (rustic red) inks for the autumn card, and PTI blueberry sky, scarlet jewel, and tropical teal inks for the winter card.
  

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Tag with Lace on Woodgrain

Many details of pattern and texture for a monochromatic fall-toned card.

Card details:

• Card stock is Essentials by Ellen tan woodgrain and Papertrey Ink (PTI) terra cotta tile (rusty red) and stamper's select white.
• Patterned papers are from Memory Box garden folly 6x6" pad.
• Embroidery floss is DMC 3862.
  
• Dies are from PTI tiny tags, My Favorite Things scallop ribbon border (retired), and Spellbinders standard circles large (die #2 of 7.)
• The sentiment "for you" is from PTI enclosed: apple (retired), stamped with PTI terra cotta tile ink.

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Red, White, and Blue with Gold Sparkle

Bold red stripes with a handsome sentiment band in gold and navy.  The gold layer is very sparkly in real life. 

Note: the gray border is background, not part of the card.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) dark indigo (dark navy) and Tim Holtz deco sheets (gold - retired). 
• Patterned paper is from PTI pure poppy (red) "+ white basics" patterned paper (retired). 
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI keep it simple: thank you (retired), stamped with Versamark ink and gold heat embossed.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Red, White, and Blue Thank You with Twine

Bright and crisp red, white, and blue.  The starburst print, striped twine, and layered "thank you" sentiment all add interest.

Card details:

• Card stock is My Favorite Things red hot, Paper Source royal blue, and Papertrey Ink (PTI) stamper's select white.
• Patterned paper is from Doodlebug patriotic picnic 6x6" paper pad.
• Red, white, and blue twine is by Doodlebug.
• Dies are from Trinity Stamps scripty thanks.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Blue-Gray Trees on Teal

I designed today's card using some tree trunk shapes left over from last week's tree card.  A short strip of card stock grounds my scene, and the small punched dots (light bulbs? fruit? leaves?) encourage the eye to move around the card.  The light blue-gray trees stand out against the deep teal and navy. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Paper Source hydrangea (light blue-gray) and cobalt (navy) and Papertrey Ink (PTI) tropical teal. 
• Dies are Elizabeth Craft hello (retired) and PTI mighty oak cover plate. 
• The dots are punched with my very old 1/4" circle punch.
  

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Purple Trees on Light Blue-Gray

   
 

Two lovely cards with purple trees inlaid on a light blue-gray background (more blue in real life).  I like the effect of the slanted stars and "hello" word with the leaves radiating from the tree trunk.

 

Card details:

• Card stock is Paper Source hydrangea (light blue-gray) and Papertrey Ink (PTI) plum pudding (medium purple) and royal velvet (deep purple). 
• Dies are PTI mighty oak cover plate and wonderful words: hello (retired).
• The stars are cut with EK Success mini star punch.
  

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Red, White, and Blue Star on Shimmer Star Background

Lots of stars - embossed, stamped, and die cut.  Red, white, and blue on a shimmery gold background.  The gold in my image looks a bit grayed and grainy, but in real life it's nice and bright.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red), enchanted evening (dark blue), sun shimmer (gold), and stamper's select white.
• Embossing folder is The Paper Studio tiny stars (retired).
• Dies are from PTI seeing stars (retired) and WeR Memory Keepers/ Lifestyle Crafts nesting circles (retired - 1" circle).
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI ribbon tails (retired), and the starry pattern is from PTI bitty background blocks II (retired), stamped with PTI pure poppy and spring rain (light blue) inks.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Multicolor Lattice with Burgundy

The colors, lattice pattern, and "hello" font combine for a handsome "retro" effect in today's card. 

 Card details:

• Card stock Papertrey Ink (PTI) scarlet jewel (burgundy), enchanted evening (dark blue), and stamper's select white.
• Die is from Altenew bold greetings.
• The lattice pattern is from Concord & 9th lovely lattice turnabout, stamped with PTI weathervane (gray), pinefeather (dark green), scarlet jewel, and enchanted evening inks.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Red, White, and Blue Star Circle

Lots of red, white, and blue for a patriotic theme.  The star circle's "thank you" is layered on my homemade thank-you themed patterned paper.  The medium blue strip grounds the circle and sets off the sentiment on its busy background. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red), enchanted evening (dark blue), blueberry sky (medium blue), and rustic white. 
• Patterned paper is computer-printed on Neenah 65 lb bright white with red and blue inks, using American Typewriter 8 point font.
• Dies are from PTI limitless layers: 1-3/4" circles (white circle - retired) and Spellbinders standard circles small (dark blue circle - die # 4 of 7).
• The inner "thank you" star and the outer star circle are from PTI military stars (retiring), stamped with PTI enchanted evening and pure poppy inks.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Bicycle with Red, Blue, and Tan

A retirement card for a friend who enjoys bike rides.  The bicycle's stamp set was designed with buttons in mind, but instead I used diecut circles for the wheels.  After stamping the bicycle in dark blue, I used colored pencil to make it red.  The white wheels are stamped with red and dark blue for the spokes and hubs.  It was fun mixing pattern, color, and texture to make a special card.

Card details:

• Card stock is Essentials by Ellen tan woodgrain and Papertrey Ink (PTI) spring rain (light blue) and pure poppy (red). 
• Patterned paper is from PTI enchanted evening (dark blue) pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired). 
• Colored pencil is Venus Spectracolor, 1403 crimson.
  
• Twine is PTI rustic cream button twine.
• Die is the 3/4" size from WeR Memory Keepers/ Lifestyle Crafts nesting circles (retired).
• The bicycle and the sentiment "enjoy the ride" are from PTI everyday button basics (retired), and the wheel details are from PTI hello sunshine (retired - spokes) and PTI land that I love (retired - hubs), stamped with PTI enchanted evening and pure poppy inks.

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Green Branch on Dark Blue

I like the rich combination of green with dark blue.  Though it's just two die cuts with no embellishments, the colors and shapes have enough interest to make the card look complete.

 Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) enchanted evening (dark blue) and new leaf (green).
• Dies are PTI branching out and "grateful" from PTI counting my blessings.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Red with Twine on Muted Teal

I chose the muted teal card base to match the patterned paper, but you'd never know that from my image!  In real life, the colors are similar.  A bold "hello" font and some bright reds add energy. 

 Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red) and ocean tides (muted teal).
• Patterned paper is from Pink Paislee pen pals 6 x 6" pad (retired).
• Twine is maraschino (red) stripe from The Twinery.
  
• Die is PTI noted.
  

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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