Sunday, October 23, 2016

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.

16 comments:

  1. I would love to meet any of the Susan's you have described!! I love reading your blog and looking at your creations. Thank you for sharing your talents with us!

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  2. I haven't read much other than children's books for the last several years (that's slowly starting to change). One story we love is "Red Boots for Christmas"

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  3. One of my favorites is "The Christmas Lamb" by Max Lucado. It's a children's book. A lot of my favorite books are children's books!

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  4. What pretty cards......and the bookmark is gorgeous. How about Dickens' A Christmas Carol as a fave holiday book. It is a very quick read too!

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  5. One holiday book that I like is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. It's an oldie but goodie.

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  6. Your cards are lovely! The many facets of Susan made me laugh out loud!!!!

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  7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss.

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  8. The Greatest Gift has been my best so far, but also like One Incredible Moment by Max Lucado. I see he has a new one out this year ...Because of Bethlehem.

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  9. I've gotten away from commenting much, but read all your posts. When you combine all your stamping skills and talk of books, I pay even closer attention. I just bought the latest in Rob Scotton's Russell the Sheep books: Russell's Christmas Magic. I buy his books for a little buddy of mine for Christmas, but may have to add it to my own collection. It's not as interesting (story wise) as Scotton's 2 previous Russell the Sheep books, but the illustrations are worth it alone. Scotton is the author and illustrator.

    I like Susan in all forms! I haven't "met" a card of yours I didn't like. That flourish stamp is divine and I can look at whatever you make with it and never get tired of it. I'm going back to my corner now, trying to adhere to my goal of not spending so much time on the computer. It works out some days better than others....

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  10. I don't have a favorite holiday book, but two books I like a lot are The Eleventh Hour by Michael Phillips (and the entire Secret of the Rose series) and Past Forward by Chautona Havig.

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  11. My favorite holiday book is Raymond Briggs' The Snowman - although I really prefer the movie with the gorgeous music. I watch it every year, and have never failed to be touched and captivated.

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  12. It's really a short story not a book but I love the story 'Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry Makes me well up every time.

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  13. I too read all your posts but rarely comment. I am keen to comment now because I love Christmas books. I have a collection of smallish books, some children's books, which I like to put out as a decorative pile at Christmas for people to browse whenever they want. I hope you will forgive my listing a few. Two by Susan Hill - Lanterns Across The Snow &The Glass Angels. Two by Elizabeth Goudge - The Lost Angel (short stories) & Sister of the Angels. The Christmas Tree by Julie Salamon. The Best Christmas Present In The World by Michael Morpurgo. A Wayne In A Manger by Gervase Phinn. I live in England & the last book is about mishaps at nativity plays at schools in the Yorkshire Dales several years ago.
    If I have to choose one, I think it will have to be the Michael Morpurgo.
    Gill Kingsman

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  14. My favorite Christmas story is in Jan Karon's book, Shepherd's Abiding, that includes the refinishing of mis-matched nativity pieces that somehow come together to make the message of the first Christmas even more poignant.

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  15. I am late in commenting, but wanted to mention a favorite book of mine, "Wombat Divine", by the Australian author Mem Fox. Wombat loves Christmas, and most of all, the nativity play put on each year. Wombat is finally old enough to participate, but every role seems to be taken, except.... The story line is wonderful, the illustrations are delightful, and for me, an Australian in USA, it brings back memories of Christmas in Australia when I was a child.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!