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Sunday, September 18, 2011

Sing Unto the Lord Christmas Card

Happy Sunday, my sweet friends! I hope your day is beautiful. :o)

Two posts in two days... this is truly magical! ;) For a couple of days I've had an idea for a very special card inspired by a few challenges. Against all odds, I'm ecstatic that it came together last night to beat the first deadline. :o) I had a particular vision for this card and I'm happy to say it mostly came to pass as intended. On the surface, it's a rich purple Christmas card (my first handmade Christmas card!)... but it's truly so much more.

"Sing unto the Lord, all the earth" (Psalm 96:1)

While purple Christmas cards aren't the norm, I went this route because it's a personal card that required my favorite color. Celebrating Christmas with songs of love and praise... while also honoring my grandparents. As some of you know, I lost my grandpa this summer. So I made this card especially with him in mind, and also my other grandparents who have been gone for a long time. My vision is singing praises up above to my Lord, where my sweet grandpa now resides. Looking upward to see him and keep him closer. I used those particular Elegant Edges cuts to make it like the angel is nestled amongst fluffy clouds. When I first saw this stamp, I thought it was a dancer. While technically she's a fairy, to me she's a dancing angel... dancing her heart out for the Lord and her loved ones on a purple Christmas morning. It's too new to elaborate beyond that right now, but I'm sure you understand the inspiration (despite my poor wording).

It's so windy outside that I had a hard time getting a picture, which is unfortunate. Unseen are details such as the tiny yellow glow I put around the angel because she's glowing with the inner light of faith. The ribbon separating the colors is sheer glitter, adding a gorgeous shimmer along the top half of the embossed pearlescent cardstock. I made the rosette with sheet music patterned paper, so in person you can see music notes tucked all along the scallops and folds. I centered it with a fabric flower inked with a Copic, then added a butterfly punched out of the same purple paper as the background. (And of course lined the body with tiny rhinestones.)

The angel's hair has silver stars, her wings are completely coated in Stardust, and the entire card was given a spritz (or three) of Sparkle Shimmer Spritz because everything sparkles in the heavenlies.. especially with my grandpa there.

Challenges entered:
 * Cooking With Cricut~ Heritage/Grandparents
 * Fantabulous Cricut~ Make Some Music (instruments or musical notes)
 * Frosted Designs~ Punches
 * Jingle Belles~ Hybrid Holidays (incorporate at least one digital stamp or element)

Thank you for dancing on over to see me today! Have a gorgeous rest of the weekend. :o)

Key Recipe Components:
 * Cricut cartridge: Elegant Edges, Gypsy Wanderings
 * Cuttlebug embossing folder: Victoria
 * Paper: Core'dinations, DCWV, stash
 * Stamp: Tiddly Inks~ Fairy Fae Catches a Star (I removed the stars so I could use music notes)
 * Copics: E000, E00 (skin); E25, E31, E50 (hair); V12, V15, V17 (dress); BV0000 (wing accents beneath Stardust)
 * Sentiment: Computer generated
 * Punches: Fiskars butterfly, Martha Stewart Small Monarch
 * Flower: Paperbilities
 * Miscellaneous: Fiskars Seagull paper edgers, iRock, Shimmer Spritz, Stickles


Photobucket

25 comments:

  1. Wow Karen your card is amazing love the colours and the sentiment the background papers are so adorable the whole card is truly lovely!:) Sandra H

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  2. Karen, I for one love Christmas cards that aren't red and green. This one is beautiful. The sentiment is really special and a great tribute to your grandpa and your other set of grandparents. Awesome job:) TFS!! I am happy you joined us this week at Cooking With Cricut.
    ~Madison CWCDT funkycards.blogspot.com

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  3. My sweetest sis...

    There simply are no words that can accurately describe what my heart is feeling right now after seeing your creation. This means so much more than you will ever know, Sunshine. Right now, your precious Grandpa is smiling brighter than ever before as he holds your gift in his hands. He loves you SO much sis. Forever and always. This is the most beautiful present he could ever receive. Do you know how proud he is of you? *wipes away happy tears*

    Without question, your precious grandpa is also going to be a huge part of your return to dance, Sunshine. Your journey is going to be blessed with his eternal love and he will be right there beside you as you heal more and more each day. And you know what sis? He will be there the moment you dance again for the first time. He is going to be your biggest fan as he cheers you on and sends down super rainbow sparklie hugglers straight to your heart from above.

    I can't stop staring at your gorgeous flutter-bys and the colours you picked. I am in love. *cries more happy tears and squishers you silly*

    I love you my most gorgeous little dancer!!!

    *endless Christmassy squishies and candy cane hugglers*

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  4. Oh Karen. This is just, well, I hope you get what I mean when I say it made me cry...in a good way. I love everything about it - the sweet singing angel, the butterflies, the purple background, the sparkles, and most of all, the sentiment behind the whole card. Thanks for sharing something so special with us. *hugs*

    (I've started playing with my Copics. It's definately going to take some practise! Thanks for all your encouragement.)

    Nita :)

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  5. Oh Karen - this is just breath taking....and the story u told with it is so beautiful.. What a blessing you are.. You did an amazing job on this. And thank u for stopping by my blog.. I will definitely be back to see your beautiful creations.

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  6. The purple and white are so pretty together and I love your punched butterflies!! Thanks for playing along with us @ Frosted Designs!

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  7. Another great creation Karen.....

    Such a cute purple card you made .... it looks so real as if she was singing.... !!!



    Catarina

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  8. Your sweet Grandpa in heaven and your Grandparents on earth are so blessed to have you as their Granddaughter! And I know they all are loving this card! It's so precious Karen! I love the purple and white, the embossing, and the dancing angel, and how she is dancing up to the Lord and loved ones!
    Thank you for joining our music challenge this week at FCCB my so super talented friend!
    Sabrina
    xo

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  9. WOW Karen what a gorgeous card. The care and thought put into the "why" for each element is truly a tribute to your love for the Lord and the gift he gave you in your grandpa. Made me think of my Grandpa who is there too! I am your newest follower and looking forward to more of your amazing work. Thank you so much for sharing with us at at CookingWithCricut.com



    Melin
    Blog: CookingWithCricut.com
    Shop: PaperCraftingWorld.com

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  10. Despite the fact that it's a Monday, my day actually is beautiful, thank you very much! And so is your card :-)

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  11. Love the colors on your darling card- and those little butterflies are so cute- I love purple and butterflies..thanks for joining us at frosted designs this week

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  12. Hi Karen,GORGEOUS!AMAZING job with all the details and LOVE the pretty image,Just BEAUTIFUL!FANTASTIC job as always!!:)

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  13. The purplke and white are beautiful together. Wow, this is fabulous!!! I love the colors and the embossing looks amazing. The butterfly and rosette are gorgeous and add a perfect touch. Such a elegant card! Love it!
    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

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  14. what a beautiful and magical holiday card! i ♥ADORE♥ the purple, and the entire thing is utterly lovely!

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  15. Absolutely lovely and what a great way to honor those you love & miss ... so glad you joined our jingle belles fun.

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  16. I really love you card is beautiful and the most important is the meaning of this card and the inspiration you put to make it, I love the colors, great job.

    alvinascreations.blogspot.com

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  17. Just beautiful, Karen -- the card, the thought behind it and all the special little details. Thanks for linking up at Cooking With Cricut this week.

    ~ Jen, CWC Design Team
    www.gator-4-life.blogspot.com

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  18. What a gorgeous, gorgeous card! I love the shape and the rosette with butterfly makes for such a wonderful accent! Fabulous job!
    Thanks so much for playing along at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog!
    Kate
    Small Bits of Paper

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  19. Soooo beautiful!!!! Thanks for playing with us at Frosted Designs!!

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  20. Once again you have created a beautiful card. The purple is the right color for this card. After your story about your Grandpa, and the dancing angel, purple is the color of Kings, and the King of Kings wears purple! Perfect color! Beautiful! Hugs, Pam at http://craftycards4u2.blogspot.com/

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  21. This looks so beautiful! I love the different color combination, and your story behind the little dancing angel... She definitely does look like she's dancing! :) I also can't believe this was your first handmade Christmas card, it looks great!
    Amy
    redheadedcrafter.blogspot.com

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  22. Hello again my Sparkly Friend! I have an award for you on my blog! xxx

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  23. Karen - this is just gorgeous! You should really check out the Tiddly Inks Challenge blog and join us occasionally! I love your coloring style!
    Hugs,
    M

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  24. Gah, how did I miss this gorgeous creation, Karen?? I am so disappointed with myself...I try to check my dashboard regularly and somehow this slipped by me. So I apologize for not commenting sooner! As usual my sweet friend, this is amazing! I love every single detail, from the shape, the color the adorable singing girl, the music notes...all combine to make a truly fabulous Christmas card! You are creative and talented and I leave with a smile on my face every time I visit!

    Speaking of visiting...mine will be limited the next two weeks (shh...vacation!) but I will stop in if I can! If not, I will definitely catch up with you very soon!! Big sparkly hugs,

    Lisa :)
    indymermaid.blogspot.com

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  25. Congrats Karen on your win of Top 3 at Cooking With Cricut Ch#51 Heritage/Grandparents.
    Melissa
    "Sunshine HoneyBee"
    http://CreatedbySunshineHoneyBee.blogspot.com

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

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