Christmas Countdown?

Playing catch up seems good for the crafting mojo. Last week I intended to get through the Anything But Cute challenges along with the Clean and Simple lessons. Made it through the Anything But Cute and had to console myself with doing the Clean and Simple this week. Yesterday I blogged the Masculine, One Layout Four Ways lesson. Fairly happy with the results so onward I trudged to the Clean and Simple Countdown to the Holidays, Lesson One.

I am undertaking this project because I need to convince myself that November is not enough time to start thinking about Christmas cards. Yes, I said thinking; often I don't make cards till the 2nd week in December.

The goal is to take a simple image, come up with a design and go to town - make as many as you can with same image,  find ways to "change it up" and still keep simple. Here are the supplies I used. I tried to stay away from cute even though Christmas whimsy is my most comfortable version of cute. The stamp used is an oldie from Stampin Up - don't know the name but it has a spring/summer, fall and winter rustic look. Might be from the year 2003.

Pretty simple, stamp, color with distress inks and glitter. If you are wondering why the two glitters; because one is a fine, crystal sparkle and the other is opaque white. Allow me to go teacher here and show you a close up of  the two (like you don't understand the difference already).

The left is translucent and finer while the right is opaque and a bit more chunky. Both were applied with a glue pen from Zig. Normally I would use my Art Institute glue but the Zig does dry faster. In CAS your goal is a card in 10 minutes or less. Here is an image just glittered. White opaque used on the little evergreen and clear sparkle everywhere else.

Cut background paper for a little contrast to the white card blank. Kick it up first level by changing the card opening, therefore the image mounting. Also, changing the sentiment gives me another two versions of the same card. I can get four different looking cards with very minor alterations. That's not even counting the variety I can get by changing inks used on the sentiments. Possibilities are almost endless and I haven't put in much effort yet.

Bottom card was first made and unfortunately, mounted a tad bit wonky. I do wonky well.

Still intend to work with this image some more and see what I can come up with. While I don't think I have a style, if I had to name one that fit me most Clean and Simple would be it.

If you are wondering, even with the glittering I can make one from start to finish, including the card blank in 14 minutes. Not bad for somebody who tends to think a couple of hours coloring an image is the norm. Check out Lyn's Countdown to the Holidays in the Clean and Simple group on Paper Craft Planet. Just follow the link, CAS Countdown to the Holidays

Quote for the day:

“Think left and think right and think low and think high.

Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”

Dr. Seuss