Sunday, June 03, 2018

CAS Christmas June Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the CAS Christmas June Challenge.  Can you believe it's half way through 2018??  Time is whizzing by and thankfully I have a good start on my Christmas cards. :)

This month's challenge is being hosted by Christine (It's a Card Day's Night).  She is challenging us to make CAS Christmas cards that are ...


I don't make many masculine Christmas cards, but as soon as I saw this challenge, I knew exactly what to do.  My dear friend Julia, sent me a few pieces of birch patterned paper.  PERFECT for a masculine card, don't ya think??!!

Very simple design.  I cut the birch panel to size, stamped and heat embossed three branches, and added Nuvo crystal red drops for the berries.  After the drops were dry, I heat embossed a black sentiment banner in white and framed the panel in black, popping it up on a foam layer on my card front.  It only took me a short time to make this card.  The longest time was waiting for the drops to dry and harden. :)  I made a second card exactly the same while I was at it.  More for my stash!!  I had to buy these drops after seeing this beautiful card made by my friend Marcia.

Here's a close-up ...

We are thrilled to have Bobby (bit and pieces) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see Bobby's masculine Christmas card, along with the cards by the rest of our amazing designers.  I know you'll be inspired to play along!







Stamps:  Branches (Inkadinkado)  Snowglobe sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Birch paper (gift from friend); White card base (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Black (Memento), White Pigment (Hero Arts)
Accessories & Tools:  Black embossing powder, White embossing powder, heat tool, Nuvo crystal drops - Autumn Red

Challenges:
CAS Christmas June Challenge - Masculine

33 comments:

Mac Mable said...

Wonderful masculine Christmas card Loll. The paper is gorgeous and the addition of the branch stamping and the nuvo drop berries is absolutely perfect. Fabulous inspiration....Thank you x

Betty said...

your masculine card is fantastic Loll - love that birch paper with the red berries!!!

Vicki Dutcher said...

Oh this card is lovely! I adore the colors you used.

Lee-Anne said...

Fantastic masculine design. That paper is perfect for a manly card and it’s the perfect backdrop for the red berries.

Barb Ghig said...

Stunning masculine card, Loll! Your birch papers are perfect and I love how you added dimension with Nuvo drops on the berries...the autumn red works so well, too! You have definitely inspired me to play along again...I love this challenge!

Christine Alexander said...

love the birch DP Loll, and such a great way to dress it up with the Nuvo berries. A perfect masculine card.

nancy littrell said...

I received this birch paper from Julia too...now you really have me inspired, Loll! I LOVE your background with your stamped branches and Nuvo red drops. Adding your black framing and sentiment were the perfect final touches. TFS , My friend. Hugs...

Melissa said...

Beautiful card!!!

Nstiz said...

This really is such a wonderful, masculine Christmas card. Love the birch paper and the fact that you accented the branches with Nuvo drops. Awesome design!

Papercraft Boutique said...

I love this classy masculine card, Loll! The dark red drops look fantastic against the rustic birch patterned paper. The black matte and the sentiment strip adds a sharp and crisp feeling. Hideko xx

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

This one really caught my eye at CAS Christmas, Loll - what a standout!! The berries on the birch bark look amazing!!

Marcia Hill said...

Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL card Loll! So simple but absolute perfection! And don't you just LOVE those Nuvo Drops for the berries?! I can see why you made 2 of this card...definitely perfect for a masculine card and I love it!! Also really LOVE your photo backdrop!! :0)

Brenda said...

I do think birch paper is great for a masculine card Loll! I love this card, it is a pretty and masculine Christmas card. Can a card be pretty and masculine?!! Well I think it is! lol I love the Nuvo Crystal drops on the berries, they just make the card. Hugs, Brenda

Trina P. said...

Brilliant use of the birch pattern paper, Loll. Such a classy ‘handsome’ card! It looks even more amazing IRL. The Nuvo drops is a superb finishing touch. Love it! xx

Linda said...

Stunning masculine card, the birch paper looks fab, perfect backdrop for those festive berries xx

kiwimeskreations said...

What great use of the birch paper Loll - love that you have let is shine through the branches. Those berries are stunning
Blessings
Maxine

Jeanne said...

That is one handsome (and also beautiful) Christmas card. For a second I thought you might share how you created that birch background. What an amazing pattern paper. I can see why you love the Nuvo drops. Such a pretty red. Wonderful card!

Kara Lynne said...

That birch paper is wonderful, and the sprigs are perfect with it! I wouldn't know where to begin with a masculine Christmas card, but you sure did!

Quillish said...

Masculine Christmas.. could only be snowman or Santa to me.. but wow.. this is so wonderful! That paper looks so pretty.. for the background!

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Love the feeling this gives me, it's beautiful.
Faith

Susan said...

That birch patterned paper is so perfect for a masculine card - as are your simple branches. I love this!

MaryH said...

This is some really fantastic looking paper. Not sure if I've ever seen birch paper, but it is just beautiful (and I happen to love the white birches that our New England states have). Great look with the nuvo berries against the 'woodsy' background. Just a lovely, lovely card. TFS & Hugs

Bonnie said...

Yep, that's the card that enabled me to buy the red Nuvo! Thanks for linking it as I had lost it. Love how you've stamped the berry bush on the birch paper! I'm still enjoying hoarding mine. I look at it and decide it's too rich to cut! Now I'm thinking twice about hoarding it. Thanks for the inspiration, dear friend.

Anita in France said...

What a handsome card, Loll ... the berried branches are fabulous against the birch ... that nuvo texture is fantastic ... I just want to touch! Hugs, Anita :)

Julia Aston said...

The birch paper is perfect behind this lovely red berry branch Loll! Love the white embossed sentiment on the black too - so bold!!

Jo said...

Yup I agree, Julia's birch paper is the perfect choice. Love the subtility of black on your card. The framing, sentiment tag and branches make for the best triangle keeping our eye on those delicious berries. Waiting for them to dry, definitely a defeat LOL. Beautiful card Loll xx

BożenA said...

This card is so different from your style, but very interesting. I love her for her calmness and elegance. The addition of red berries beautifully enlivens the card. Beautiful!
Hugs,
BożenA

Brenda in IN said...

Oh my, this is so beautiful and so is Marcia's card. I love how you did the berries with Nuvo drops. The birch paper is so pretty as a backdrop.

Colleen said...

Stunning card Loll and yes the background birch paper is perfect along with the4 fabulous Nuvo drops!!

Karen Dunbrook said...

love it!! fab card mf.
xx Karen

Darnell said...

I do think, Lolly! What a lovely gift from Julia, which you turned into a stunning manly Christmas card! Love the berry branch!! Hugs, Dolly

Leslie Miller said...

Perfectly masculine, but the great thing about masculine Christmas cards is that I love them, too. Anything earthy or natural is extremely appealing to me. Time draws near... thanks for the inspiration, Loll!

Bobby said...

I love birch bark and would love to know where to get some of that paper. It makes the perfect backdrop for those red berries, Loll.