Sunday, April 11, 2010

Snowflake Peace

It's hard to think about snow when it's 70 degrees outside, but if I'm going to make over 200 Christmas cards this year, I've got to get cracking.

By the way, I make 100 Christmas cards for my own use (military families have long Christmas card lists!) and 100+ for the troops to send home to their families.

Today's cards started with a sketch in Papercrafts Go-To Sketches but then went wild enough that they share precious little with the original sketch. Cards like this seem so simple when they are done that I feel like an idiot for taking so long to make them. But I'm not an idiot...just slow. There's a difference, don't you think?



Which do you like best? The blue version above or the black/clear bling version below? The photo for the black/clear version doesn't do it justice. Sometimes editing these white-on-white photos is a pain in the tushy.


I hope you're enjoying a lovely spring. Unless of course you live in the southern hemisphere, in which case I hope you're enjoying a lovely fall. Y'all are closer to snow than the rest of us!

Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts
ink: bashful blue, palette noir
paper: PTI white
accessories: various snowflake punches, gemstones, glue pen

34 comments:

Deborah said...

Beautiful cards. I like the blue better as it sets it off more. Everything you create is awesome. :)

Joan B said...

I think I prefer the blue, as it brings out the cold better than the black. Both rock.

jaki said...

I like the black/clear the best :)

Angela said...

Both are elegant and lovely!

annesatx said...

I prefer the blue one. The black/clear just seems a little too blah to me. But I love the first one and I really love the layout of the card and punched out snowflakes with the rhinestones.

Karen said...

love em both but the blue one speaks to me....

Karen B. said...

Blue seems a bit softer and more detailed, but they are both wonderful.

Betty said...

i vote for the blue one - just seems to fit winter and christmas better. very elegant design.

Anita said...

Both cards are beautiful but I prefer the blue. It seems a bit softer and I think it makes me think more of snow than the black one.

Sue said...

I like the blue with the blue bling better, but both cards are crisp, clean, and gorgeous. I particularly liked that you used 3 sizes of bling on the 3 snowflakes. The "peace" sentiment on these cards is perfect, as the entire card speaks peace and calm.

Linda said...

blue for sure!!

Ravengirl said...

Beautiful! I prefer the blue!

Barbara L. said...

I like the blue. Blue says ice and snow.

Samantha said...

They are both lovely but I really like the contrast with the black sentiment.

And I like to consider myself "particular" - not slow ;).

Christine M said...

Love them both as I am a sucker for snowflakes (even real ones!) ... but the blue just nudges it I think.
Perfect sentiment, but you have this wonderful knack of using just the right one :)
TFS

Sharon D said...

I like the blue better--seems chillier and just more special. But I love them both! You're so inspiring!

Bahb said...

For some odd reason, the blue looks more significant than the black. And for us, the gift you give to us is that you spent all that time fussing and fuming to get to perfection, and now we don't have to, unless of course those punches have been discontinued.Even though copying is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery, I admit to feeling guilty EVERY time I copy you because it's like cheating.......on my own, I would NEVER come up with such artistry. Will the recipients discover I'm an Impostor, I wonder?

Mim said...

Hi Susan, I was sitting here nodding my head when I read your comment about the 'simplest' of things taking the longest of times to put together - know that you are not alone! You are also right about autumn here in Australia (Melb), it is lovely to have crisp mornings again. I like the blue version of the card the most, reminds me of snow on ground and clear blue skies from my time in Denmark!

Melinda aka Passionfruit said...

I like the blue because I always associate snow/snowflakes with the color blue!

Anonymous said...

I like the blue for the same reason as Melinda aka Passionfruit, I to associate snow with blue
I really like this card.
Cheers
Geraldine

Lindsey said...

If I had to choose, I think I'd have to say the blue one, just by a teeny bit. But, as you said, the b&w one was more difficult to photograph...
A followup to yesterday... think how much we faithful followers could LEARN by seeing your non-simplicity card!

GirlGeek101 said...

They are both beautiful but my favorite is with the blue! Wonderful big head start on Christmas! Very inspiring too!

Doris said...

Count me as another blue vote! I think it conveys a more peaceful feeling, just like the hush of a snowfall. The black is more sophisticated, but I still like the blue better.

Doris said...

On second thought, I think the blue one would have been better with the clear gems and the black one would have had my vote if you'd used only the one large snowflake. (I think that's it now...)

Jeanette said...

My favorite it the blue one. It feels like a peaceful cold winter.

Bev E said...

I think your cards are wonderful! My favorite is the blue.

Nancy said...

Both of these cards are beautiful. Like the others, I have more of the feeling of the calm peace that envelopes the land after a snowfall. There is something about the elegance of the black card that calls to me though. So, which do you like best?

delightfuldaisy said...

Both of these cards are very pretty. They convey a simple elegance! I especially like the blue stones!

Deanna C said...

I think the blue has more impact! It seems more Chrismasy to me.

Dee in N.H. said...

Love them both but if forced to choose, I think the blue one wins. Both however, are gorgeous!

Susan (peebsmama) said...

I'd have to say that I like the second version better. There's something so peaceful about the lower contrast of the white/clear.

Marie B. said...

Oh Susan! I love these! The email notification is going right into my inspiration folder! :)

Donelda said...

I like the blue best but I'm sure the black and white is stunning in real life too!! These are CAS at it's best!!

Laura.K said...

Lovely cards. I like the blue one.