Did you have a blessed Christmas??????

We sure did...
What a huge blessing to be surrounded by family during the Christmas Holiday!!!
We actually have two Christmases in our family.
Our kids (three grown children with families of their own) all live out of state. So in order to make sure we get together, we have Christmas at Thanksgiving.
Usually, the snow doesn't come until after Thanksgiving, so everyone can get to our daughter's home in Chicago.
Our son and family come from St. Louis, MO.
Our daughter lives in Chicago and hosts the whole crew (what a huge blessing you are to the clan).
Then our youngest daughter just moved to Virginia and they were able to come too.
The only one missing was a grandson who is studying at MIT and was traveling with a crew for a project. At age 21 he has already earned his Engineering degree and is at MIT working toward his PhD.
We are BLESSED!!!

Then my hubby and I traveled to my sister's home in Flint, MI for a joyous time with her family.
Their grandkids are growing up too, but two of their daughters still have kids who are pre-teens.
It's a fun time with a traditional Lithuanian Christmas Eve dinner and gift opening.
Esther (sister) and I fix a couple of foods that we had when we were growing up and there's lots of talk about our days when we were children in a Lithuanian household.

Before I go on with a Birthday card I made for one of my volunteers at church, I want to share with you a new company that is just starting up. They are the creators of the most beautiful chipboard cutouts you have ever seen. They are doing a give-away right now and you can get on their site to enter your name.
http://design-honey.blogspot.com/2012/12/guess-who-graphic-designer-behind-blue.html Click on this link and follow directions. You won't regret taking a look. Their chippy pieces are gorgeous!!!

So here's the card:

I had wanted to do this dark sky and wind for a long time and just never got around to it. So I took this opportunity because I wanted to do a winter card and it just fit.
Here's the deets:
...I stamped a pretty flourish with Versamark and embossed in white translucent. Thought it would give it a bit more visibility...and it did, kind of! I wasn't too happy with the results.
...Then I did the Tim Holtz version of applying Distress Ink to the sky part. I used several different colors of blue, including a navy blue from SU! They have a beautiful night sky blue that I just love.
...I stamped the trees in black Tuxedo Memento.
...the deer was then stamped in Versamark and embossed with gold. The deer is a small stamp from SU!...and it's my favorite.  My Versamark pad is getting dry and it didn't cover the deer very well, so after I embossed the first time, I used my Versamark pen and filled in. Unfortunately, that didn't make for a very smooth deer, it's ok but not as great as it could be.
...Then I used Artist Spackle from HOTP to make the snow. I added Diamond Stickles to make the glitter and I really like the drift look all over. A little different than the normal smooth cardstock.
...I chose to make a frame with gold and white cardstock. It really gave it a good finished look.
...That gold liner was given to me a long time ago and I just hated cutting into it because it was so pretty. But it is getting kind of ratty just sitting around being moved here and there as I search for papers....it is definitely time to USE IT!!! I tend to hoard papers and have to force myself to just use it and enjoy it!!!

Here's the challenges I am entering with this card:
http://zeusandzoe.blogspot.com/ Sparkle & Shine
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://thestampmanuk.blogspot.com/ winter
http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com/ anything goes

That's it for me for today...
Have a wonderful and safe New Year.
Make it a concerted effort to lavish love on all those God has given you!!!

elena