One for Three, or Maybe Four, and Thus a Little Giveaway

Let's revisit this year's personal challenge to make three cards from as many different Christmas stamp sets as I can tolerate. Today's spotlight lands on Papertrey's Silent Night set. I've made three cards and a bookmark.

My favorite of all four projects is this unexpected aquamarine and red card. I've always used this sentiment with subdued blues and silvers...nighttime colors...and I've always thought the resulting cards turned out boring. (See third card below.) But this time, I decided to make it more energetic and celebratory and fresh. And I love it! Plus, check out the bling, small to large, arranged in a visual triangle and ever so sparkly!

*happy sigh*

Ink: Archival aquamarine and red geranium

Then I went VERY minimalist with the "Wise men still seek Him" saying. This sentiment usually accompanies an image of camels and kings traveling in a desert, chasing a star. The only things I kept were the sand dunes, hand cut with a craft knife, highlighted with gold marker, and the star.

Ink: Archival deep violet, Delicata gold

Finally, the last card uses the giant star in the set, highlighted by three small stars. I love the arrangement of the stars, but wish I'd left off the sentiment or put it inside. The color combo of silver and navy is kind of boring.

Ink: Delicata silver, Hero Arts navy

And now the fourth project: a fun bookmark that I'd intended to use with my Advent study. But after talking with my pastor, I ended up buying a study on my Nook and therefore don't need a bookmark. (Since some of you will ask, I am reading The Case for Christmas by Lee Strobel this December.)

So I will send this bookmark to a randomly selected winner from the comments on this post. Just tell me what your favorite holiday book is. If, like me, you don't have a favorite, just share a random one you really like a lot. For me, what popped into my head first was Ann Voskamp's The Greatest Gift. A minute from now, Olive, the Other Reindeer might pop in there.

You just never know with me. Which Susan will show up? The compassionate, kind, spiritual-fruit growing, mature Susan who loves Jesus, teaches Bible studies, and practically lives at the church; or the intellectual, cynical Susan who drinks red wine, reads boldly and widely, and might occasionally swear a little; or the laughing, silly, utterly juvenile Susan who almost lost it when her younger son pointed at a giant mercury-glass pear at the Macy's furniture store and said, "I really like that glass pear."

Giant glass pears, people! On sale at Macy's! Why do I not have one?!?!

Anyway. I hope you'll play along with the giveaway so we can amass a long list of holiday books because Heaven knows I don't have enough books.

Deadline for the giveaway will be Wednesday night at midnight, Eastern Daylight Savings Time.