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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Blog Hop Winner and A Berry Pink Christmas card!

Happy Wednesday, my dear friends! I hope your week has been fabulous. :o)

I have a very special card to share with you today, but before that I want to thank you all for the incredible comments on my carousel. It made me happier than a Christmas twinkle light! I'm so thankful you all played along with us over the weekend. :o) Welcome to my new fantastic friends... I can't believe I surpassed 100! Woohoo! :o)

Now for the blog candy winner! I wish I could give you all something, but the sole lucky winner is comment #36: Debeez-Designs. Congratulations! :o) Email me when you have a moment so we can set up your prize. :o) (Contact information is under the Contact Me tab!) You have two weeks to claim your prize (October 26th)!

This card was not only a heap of fun to make, but it also serves a very special purpose. The marvelous ladies at Jingle Belles are making a donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for each pink Christmas card submitted in their challenge this week. How fabulous is that? I am thrilled to participate. With that incredible cause and a few challenges in mind, I created a mini crystalline winter wonderland. :o) It's my first shadowbox card, which also doubles as a wall hanging thanks to a chipboard backing and the metal thingamabopperjigs that are on frames. :o)

"Wishing you a berry pink Christmas"

(I didn't get a picture of the interior, which is a gorgeous light pink brocade. A tiny piece of velcro is all that's needed to enable this to be a card *and* a wall decor item. I'm sure there are oodles of other options aside from velcro to keep it securely closed when hung, too.)

The instant I saw the Jingle Belles challenge, I knew there would be a pink strawberry so I could be all punny. Instead of making it literally fruity, I printed an online coloring book picture of Strawberry Shortcake, cut out her super cute strawberry hat, and plopped it on this adorable Copic-colored stamp. I couldn't make it a regular strawberry hat though (if there is such a thing)... I had to make it sugared. So I gave her a sugared berry festive hat via gallons of glitter glue in varying colors. Her scarf and gloves are coated in a green iridescent glitter glue, while her boots are covered in Cotton Candy Stickles. The 'berry pink' part of the sentiment is a mix of pink and black... I promise it looks spiffy in person.

The idea for her winter wonderland began with using pom poms as snow. (Yes, pom poms again already!) The benefit of a shadowbox is that instead of simply using white pom pom ribbon as a little trim as I had first planned, I was able to pile up 'snowballs' on the ledge with larger poms! So fun. Our pink sweetheart is pop-dotted against a massive snowflake and sitting in the snow. I wanted to make some outdoor Christmas trees for the scene, so I used one of my favorite jolly papers since the colored dots could serve as ornaments... but then I decided each tree needed rhinestones, anyway. The trees are pop-dotted atop snowflake-embossed pearlescent cardstock. Then my iRock nearly exploded when I decided to make the entire shadowbox sparkly. It's a special card for the Cure and deserved to be as crystalline as possible. Sparkling snowflakes in abundance! To complete the card, I spritzed it a few times with Sparkle Shimmer Spritz.

One more important aspect to this project. See those two tiny hearts? One of the challenges I made this for requires at least one heart. Originally I assumed I would have a plethora of hearts. You guys know I'm sappy. But then as I settled into making my project, I reflected and thought about the meaning of Think Pink... and subsequently scaled down their visual impact, but gave them the most important purpose. The trees are topped with hearts because love is the true sparkle of Christmas. And the hearts are small because all it takes is one tiny touch of love to transform a life. One divine touch. One heartfelt gesture to a woman engaged in battle. One faithful prayer to break strongholds and open the door for a miracle. Love never fails.

Challenges entered:
 * A Gem of a Challenge~ "With love at Christmas" (Christmas card with at least one heart)
 * Fantabulous Cricut~ Wall decor
 * Jingle Belles~ Pink!
 * Love To Crop~ Embossing
 * LUFP~ Pink!
 * My Sheri Crafts~ Think Pink!

Thank you for visiting me today! I wish you all a berry pink week. :o)

Key Recipe Components:
 * Cricut cartridges: Create a Critter, Gypsy Wanderings
 * Cuttlebug embossing folder: Winter Wonderland pack
 * Spellbinders Nestabilities: Labels Four
 * Stamp: Warm in the Winter (The Paper Shelter)
 * Copics: E25, E31, E50 (hair); E00, E000, E0000 (skin); RV10, RV13, RV14, YG11, YG13, YG17 (coat, hat, gloves); Y11, Y13 (belt); B00, B02 (pants); C3 (kitty)
 * Paper: Core'dinations, Heidi Grace, K & Company
 * Ribbon: Hobby Lobby
 * Miscellaneous: Creatology pom poms, Dew Drop Brilliance ink, iRock, Shimmer Spritz, Stickles

Photobucket

29 comments:

  1. Karen this is GORGEOUS.It really is a stunning piece of art.Your colouring is just amazing and love your sugaring. The softness of the pom poms really compliment it and so appropriate especially in relation to your text about the hearts...you are so right,just one tiny touch of love does transform a situaution.
    Big Hugs
    Jayne x

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  2. Absolutely STUNNING!!! She's adorable!!
    Thank you for joining Link Up for Pink!
    Yolie
    www.JustYolie.com

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  3. Wow, Karen! This is amazing! The little girl with the kitty is adorable. I love the embossing and the little hearts on top of the trees. So pretty! :)

    Karen
    craftedwithlovebykaren.blogspot.com

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  4. Karen your card is stunning love the little girl image and those christmas trees they are fabulous the whole card is amazing and congratulations to the winner:) Sandra H

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  5. Ooooooooh! I LOVE IT! :) Your creativity never ceases to amaze me, my friend! Look at her! Just LOOK at her! She is ADORABLE, with her sugared strawberry hat and her twinkling scarf and mittens. And the BLING! All Christmases should be exactly THIS sparkly. :)

    The pom poms are GENIUS and that pink ribbon? Brilliant. But know what my favorite part is? The HEART that went into it. I love how everything you add to a card has significance. Your posts always tear me up a little - you just phrase things so perfectly. *sigh* You just made my day again. :)

    Thanks for being my cheerleader today!

    Hugs,
    Nita

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  6. OH MY GOSH!!! This is FABULOUS!!! She is just adorable and this would look fantastic on a wall in a little girls room:) What a great gift idea too:) Thanks for the idea...it is amazing! Another wonderful project from you...
    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

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  7. what an amazing card. so cute and pretty and pink! just lovely

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  8. Karen, this is just breath taking.. and I always enjoy reading your blog... you are so amazingly talented and creative. Thanks for popping by to see me... hugs from ukiah

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  9. Great project, and your girl is colored so perfectly too! So glad you shared on FCCB!
    Bernadet
    bernadetscraftblog.blogspot.com

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  10. This card is soooo beautiful.
    Thank you for joining us for Link Up for Pink....
    Celeste
    www.touchedbybutterfly.com

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  11. what a berry pink and berry ♥AWESOME♥ shadow box card! i love this! strawberry shortcake is FABULOUS, the construction is terrific, the pom poms are inspired and the i-rock... well... ROCKS! :) thank you for jingling along with us in a really good cause! ♥

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  12. Love the pile of snowballs ... and the awesome way you framed your design ... so glad you "went pink" with us at jingle belles.

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  13. Absolutely brilliant work i really like these designs...
    Business Gift Cards

    Hotel key Card

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  14. Hi Karen
    Please stop over to my blog, I have an award for you my friend!
    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

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  15. Super cute wall decor project. I love all the detailing. You did a great job. Thanks for crafting with us today at FCCB.
    Carissa

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  16. What a pretty framed winter decor! Love the embossed frame snowflakes and added sparkle! Thanks for sharing this week at FCCB! :)Amy
    amyscraftingspace.blogspot.com

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  17. wow absolutely love it super cute...

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  18. Your card is absolutely adorable. Love all the detail. The pom poms add a delightful softness.
    Thanks for joining my blog and for your sweet comments. Craft on...
    Carole

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  19. Oh Karen, once again you have created a masterpiece! This is so absolutely amazing! Your details are simply stunning my super sweet friend!! I love the pom poms - what a great visual touch! Everything about this is just gorgeous! You are a master at coloring now - the little girl looks sooooo adorable! The embossing is perfect...actually, the entire project is perfect! You are so talented and creative and I adore this!! And thank you for linking up with the Love to Crop Embossable You Challenge!

    Lisa
    Love to Crop Guest Designer
    indymermaid.blogspot.com

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  20. This is such a pretty card/ decor item you have made I love it tyfs

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  21. Gorgeous sweet Xmas creation..

    thanks for sharing with us at "A Gem of a chall"
    this time

    smiles Christine x

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  22. Testing 123...TEE HEE!!!

    *super forever huggles*

    Christina :)

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  23. Karen, this is just so beautiful. I have just been sitting here staring at all of the amazing details. Those pom poms are GENIUS, and I LOVE all the sparkle.
    Thank you for sharing your talent with us! Have a great weekend m friend!:)
    Shelly

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  24. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Blogger just let me post! AHHHHH!!! OMJ!!!!!!!! I can't believe it! It finally let me post!!! SQUEEEEEEEEEE!!!

    *grabs my sweetest Sunshine and hugglers her something silly*

    I can't even type I am so excited sis! See? fjasjda;sjd;ajasjdlkjdakjdjjsaa!!! TEE HEE!

    Do you think it will let me post forever now, Sunshine? YAY!!! It likes me again! *dances with you* Can you believe it?!?! *faints*

    And now...to some very important long awaited gushing. TEE HEE! I missed leaving you comments soooooooooo much!!! *cries*

    My sweetest sis...your Christmas creation is so stuffed with love and sparkling blessings of the heart that I am positive it is going to burst open at any second and those adorable little pom pom snowballs will come flying straight out! TEE HEE! I haven't stopped smiling since I fist laid my eyes on it Sunshine. I have never even seen a card like this before. Your designing is just getting more and more magical by the minute. My eyes can't look away. *cries super happy tears of joy*

    Only my Sunshine would think of a way to integrate sweet little Strawberry Shortcake into a Christmassy theme. I love her sooooooooooo much!!! She is sooooooooooo pretty! *needs to borrow her happy hat* SQUEEE! Did you have a blast making her?

    Your masterpiece this week Sunshine so stunningly represents everything the fight towards a cure is all about. The love you have shown today will be felt by all who need it most. Did you know that your forever giving spirit is at the very heart of hope and healing? It's true. A love like yours Sunshine can deliver so much hope to so many. And what you have made in this most gorgeous card will just keep on inspiring and spreading courage to everyone it reaches. Your love is kinda like a giant huggler-filled snowball, sis! As it rolls along, it just keeps growing and becomes more jammed-packed with sparkling happiness along its happy journey. In fact, I'd say that your love is the very definition of the snowball effect. It just keeps on giving and growing and expanding. And spreading endless joy along it's path. God bless you Sunshine...I love you something crazy!

    *forever happy happy Christmassy super squishies* I'm soooooo proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!

    Christina :)

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  25. Such a clever idea! Thanks so much for sharing with us this week at My Sheri CRAFTS ;-)

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  26. Well, her hat is just gorgeous! Love this card! :)

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  27. That is a beautiful card! I love all the details, it looks like you put a lot of love into it! Your coloring is amazing, and I absolutly LOVE what you did to her hat. It really does look sugared! :) I have a feeling its going to be another late night for me, as I will be looking through your projects!
    Also thanks for becoming a follower of my blog, i really appreciate it! and thank you for your kind comment. :)
    Tracy M
    tracyscricutcorner.blogspot.com

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  28. What a lovely card...and all that work!...paid off!
    Thanks for linking up your fabulous creation with us over at LUFP! ~Gaby
    www.gabycreates.com

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  29. Oh so pretty in pink! The sweet girl is so cute holding her little kitty. Your coloring is perfect Karen, wow! And I love how you made a frame card too. The embossing is lovely and those little trees are so sweet. Love the pom-poms too!
    Excellent work my crafty friend!
    xx

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Thank you for leaving some love! Have a beautifully blessed day. :o)

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