*If You Don't Believe*

Well kids... we are finally at the end of the Christmas cards I created in 2020.  I had this embossed background sitting on my desk... I had created it for another card and then decided to not use it.  This card came together pretty quickly, without a plan in mind... and I think it might honestly make my top 10 favourite Christmas cards of 2020!  Sadly, I didn't get a record of what items I used on this card...  I believe it's a Darice embossing folder, Stampin' Up! Cherry cobbler paper and a stamp by Kraftin' Kimmie along with a piece of ribbon from my stash.

I hope you've enjoyed the Christmas cards I created this year as much as I enjoyed creating them all.  I have tucked my Christmas card making supplies in to a corner and will probably pull them out from time to time to see what else I can create... but I'll be back sometime in the fall with more Christmas card ideas.

Thanks for coming along on my 2020 stamping journey with me!

*Joy To The World*

Another quickie card, using up some more of that wonderful Stampin' Up! patterned paper.  I also use a snowflake from Simon Says Stamp and a stamp from Gina K.

*Quick and Easy Joyous Holiday*

 I swear, I'm almost done with the Christmas cards!  Another one created to use up some patterned paper.. not honestly sure how I feel about it  I feel like it's missing something.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Patterned Paper:  Photoplay Gnome for the Holidays

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backers; Spellbinders cirlces

*Tools:  Gemini Jr

*Be Merry Gnome*

When I saw these Photoplay Christmas gnome stamps and dies, I just had to have them... and then I promptly ignored them until late in to my card making season.  I love the simplicity of this card....  and that gnome is just so stinkin' cute!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Color Copy Cover 100lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Patterned Paper:  My Favorite Things Black & White Stripes

*Images:  Photoplay Gnome for the Holidays; My Favorite Things Festive Friends

*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Photoplay Gnome for the Holidays

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Gemini Jr

*Embellishments:  Frost Lace Stickles

Entered in to the challenge at Color Hues

*New Years Eve*

 Well, here we are... at the end of what has been a challenging year for so many.  A global pandemic has made all of our lives different in the last 9 months, however I refuse to say that 2020 has been awful.  I had some challenging times but they would have been challenging with or without Covid-19.  But 2020 also made me stronger, helped me show myself what I can do... in 2020 I beat cancer for a second time and am hopeful for my future (which is something I didn't feel a year ago).  I have spent more time with my family of four, learned a new way to do my job (that I've been at for 8 years), I have figured out other ways to connect with family and friends... and I had the opportunity to make more cards in one year than I've ever done before!  My card count for 2020 is 327 cards... which means I will be sharing a few more 2020 cards as we start 2021.

I wonder how many cards I'll make in 2021...  2020 gave me a lots of time to play with being off while undergoing treatment and being home a lot more often thanks to Covid-19.  I'm not going to stress over it... just keep count as always, for interest sake.

But for today, another Christmas card for you (and yes, there are a few more Christmas cards to share)...

I swear to you, this card looked way better in my head...

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Real Red; green foil

*Patterned Paper:  Photoplay Gnome for Christmas

*Images:  Avery Elle Merry Merry

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alphabet

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Gemini Jr

*Merry & Bright Plaid*

In my internet travels this fall, I found a card that was similar to this....  and since I am on a kick to use up some of my Christmas patterned paper, I decided to try it out.  I'm not sure my card was as successful as the original, but I still like it.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! glitter paper, Basic Black

*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up!

*Dies:  Stampendous Christmas Bright; MFT Party Lights

*Tools:  Big Shot; Perfect Layers; Heat Tool

*Etc:  white embossing powder

*Singing Loud For All To Hear*

This stamp from Kraftin' Kimmie goes perfectly with the Catherine Pooler Nice List stamp set... and I totally love how this card turned out!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Real Red

*Patterned Paper:  American Crafts

*Images:  Catherine Pooler Nice List; Kraftin' Kimmie Chritmas Cheer Sentiments

*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics

*Dies:  Catherine Pooler Nice List; Lawn Fawn Everday Sentiment Banners

*Embellishments:  Nuvo Shimmer Pen

*Dark Christmas Lights*

I saw a card like this on my internet travels and knew I wanted to try the idea of the black panel with the sparkly lights.  I embossed the string of lights stamps with gold embossing powder before adding dies of the lights cut out of glitter paper.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black; gold

*Images:  My Favorite Things Party Lights; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Ink:  VersaMark; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  My Favorite Things Party Lights; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips & Simple Strips Backer

*Tools:  Gemini Jr; Perfect Layers; heat tool

*Embellishments:  Glossy Accents; gold detail embossing powder

*Blue*

I'm on the Scrap 'n Stamp Canada blog today with a card using the Random Act of Cardness prompt of Blue.  I had fun playing with different shades of blue to create this beautiful ornament!  I LOVE the Birch Press layering dies and had to buy three different Christmas ornament ones this year.  For this card I used some blue shimmer cardstock from my stash as well as some silver glitter paper, along with part of a sentiment from a stamp set from Gina K and the Belle Ornament.  I stamped the word JOY with Versamark ink and embossed it with white embossing powder.  I had fun playing with the different layers, deciding how it should all go together... which colours where.

*Magical*

I hope you don't mind but I'm not done sharing Christmas cards yet...  I have about another 7-10 days worth for you.  I LOVE making Christmas cards.... and made about 80 different designs this year.  I put away my Christmas card making supplies on December 14th when I made a couple of last cards... an idea I had in my head.  Not to mention I received a couple of cards from people I wasn't expecting them from so I had to make a few more and pop them in the mail real quick :-)

Items Ued:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Stampin' Up Shaded Spruce, Real Red

*Patterned Paper:  American Crafts

*Images:  Lawn Fawn Merry Messages

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Concord & 9th Iconic Christmas; My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangles

*Embellishments:  Frosted Lace Stickles

*Merry Christmas!*

 Just a quick post from me today as I am spending the day in my jammies, watching movies and playing games with the family.  We had fun opening presents this morning and just finished off a wonderful Christmas brunch.  We will have some toasted turkey sandwiches for supper later.  A quiet day, enjoying our time as a family.  I am a lucky woman!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Cherry Cobber, Pumpkin Pie

*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up!

*Dies:  My Favorite Things Filled With Joy

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler It's A Boy

*Tools:  Taylored Expressions Blending Brushes; Gemini Jr

*Embellishments:  black Kaiser Pearls; Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen

*Ornamental Joy*

 And here it is... Christmas Eve.  I'm working a half day today, sporting my ugly Christmas sweater with the rest of the staff at the Chiro clinic I work at.  After today we all get a few days off which I think everyone is looking forward to.  

Tonight our little family of four will be eating our big turkey dinner.  We did this for the first time last year... we changed up Christmas not knowing how I'd feel a week after my 2nd round of chemo and we liked it so much we're copying it this year.  Of course, we would love to have some extended family and some friends over to celebrate the holidays, but this is the year to keep it small.  I am thankful my grown sons still live at home so that we don't have to have Christmas without them.  I am hopeful that Christmas 2021 will look a little more like Christmas past.

I know it's not how many of us expected to see Christmas this year, but I do hope that each of you makes the best of what is...  it's important for us all to do our part to stay healthy.  I think maybe it will make all of us appreciate what we normally have, just a little more.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas... cherish those you have around you, enjoy the time spent virtually with family and friends...

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; silver mirror

*Patterned Paper:  Brutus Monroe Candy Stripe

*Dies:  Birch Press Ornament Basics; Stampin' Up! Joy; My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangles

*Embellishments:  Honey Bee Prism Gems

*Sending Christmas Cheer*

I am SO very happy that I decided to buy these Stampin' Up! bell dies...  they are just so pretty!  I've used a lot of silver mirror cardstock this year... I'll need to stock up again next Christmas!

Items Used:  

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black; silver and green mirror

*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up!

*Images:  Poppy Stamps Art Deco Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Sounds of the Season

*Tools:  Gemini Jr; Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Christmas Red Stickles

*Sparkle Christmas Light*

Do you want to know what I hate most about blogging?  It's coming up with titles for the posts.  I used to just number my Christmas cards as post names over the years but this year I've been naming them all.  I hate naming my posts.  Maybe in the New Year I'll just make the title the date of the post.  

Anyway...  it's been exciting to me over the last few years that the different companies have come out with some wonderful Christmas light dies, punches and images.  Christmas lights are one of my favourite parts of Christmas.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, glitter paper

*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up!

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips & Simple Strips Backer; Impression Obsession Traditional Lights

*Tools:  Gemini Jr; Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Star Ornament*

 This card was created using some scraps that were sitting on my desk.  With things like my glitter cardstock, I don't want to waste anything.  It's not like I can't get more, it's just so dang pretty!  The only thing on the front of this card that wasn't a scrap was the red bow die cut.  Everything else was already cut and ready to go.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; silver and red glitter cardstock

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  My Favorite Things Filled With Joy; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips & Simple Strips Backer

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Gemini Jr

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Season Sparkle*

This Memory Box star die is such a joy to use.  Not only is it beautiful, it cuts like a hot knife through butter!  I need to branch out a little as I've only ever cut it out of silver foil cardstock.... but it looks SO beautiful done this way!  I've been loving the silver with red accents this holiday season so you'll see it quite a few times in my creations.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; silver mirro

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backer; Memory Box Chandele Star

*Tools:  Gemini Jr

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Joy on Grey*

This card looks even better than I imagined it might... I had no idea how much I'd love using grey in a Christmas card!  The silver, white and red are the perfect highlights on this card!

Items Used:
*Cardstock;  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Grey; silver sparkle

*Dies:  My Favorite Things Filled With Joy; Simon Says Stamp Holly & Pine Frame

*Embellishments:  Christmas Red Stickles

*Believe In The Magic*

I love the font that Simon Says Stamp used for this "believe" die... it's just so pretty!  I cut it out twice for this card, once in white and once in black.  I then offset them to create a bit of a shadow behind the white die.  I added it all to an embossed panel.  I love how deep of an impression this Darice embossing folder makes.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Bashful Blue

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Believe in the Season

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Believe

*Etc:  Darice embossing folder; Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen

EDIT:  I'm excited to announce that I was the winner for a recent Time Out Challenge with this card!!!  

*Joy To The World*

 I totally love this fun patterned paper from Brutus Monroe... it's all candycane inspired.  I was hoarding it for a bit this season but then decided it was time to just use it.  I can find something else that I love next year LOL!  I wasn't sure how this card would turn out when I first envisioned it, but I think it turned out almost as good as I hoped it would!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler

*Patterned Paper:  Brutus Monroe Candy Stripe

*Images:  MFT Filled With Joy

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; white Gelly Roll

*Dies:  MFT Filled With Joy

*Tools:  Gemini Jr; Perfect Layers

*Spoils You Rotten*

So hard to believe that Christmas is just 10 days away... This year has felt long in some ways, but has flown by in others.  Some days during lockdown felt super long, but it feels like forever ago that I was doing chemo and feeling crappy.  If any year should have gone by fast for me, I'm glad it was the year of the return of cancer.  I'm happy to be where I am now compared to year ago... treatment is behind me and I am looking forward to happiness and health in 2021.  I know the holidays feel different for a lot of people this year, but I choose to focus on the good that 2020 has brought and will enjoy the holidays, no matter how different they might be.  I am happy to be here, happy to be healthy, happy to currently have no evidence of cancer in my body.  The last year was filled with a lot of uncertainty and fear...  I will not go in to 2021 feeling that way.

I truly love making Christmas... and I hope you're not sick of seeing them yet... as I have a lot more of them still to share!  I love this little penguin...

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb

*Patterned Paper:  American Crafts

*Images:  MFT Santa's Elves, Polar Penguins

*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  Frosted Lace Stickles; White Gelly Roll pen