Black & White Christmas

Good morning friends!  Today I'm sharing a card that is a collaboration between my daughter and myself.  She's having some friends from both church and work over next week Sunday to make some Christmas cards.  Not a single one has ever done any stamping or knows anything about the process of making their own cards.  So this will be interesting to say the least.  She has a great sense of style and very definite ideas of what the cards should look like, including color, layout, etc.  Let's just say that I made several ideas that she turned down or did some tweaking, and this one had a few adjustments made to become this final card they'll make.  It did turn out nicely, and I hope these ladies will be happy with what they make.

She wanted a black & white card and liked the layout I had used for some Thanksgiving cards a couple weeks back, so that's where this started.

The card base is a half sheet of Basic Black cardstock cut at 11" x 4 1/4", scored at 5 1/2" and folded in half.  I cut two pieces of Basic White at 5" x 3 3/4", one for the front and one for the inside.  The front piece was die-cut about 1 1/4" up from the bottom edge with the Giving Gifts Dies using the Santa and reindeer die.  Truly, this is why I got this bundle in the first place just to get my hands on those rectangle window dies.  They are just so cute!

The sentiment comes from the Time of Giving set that coordinates with the above dies.  It was stamped with Real Red ink to add just a pop of color to all the black and white of the card.  The sentiment goes with the image and also fit the space nicely.

We struggled to find the perfect paper to go behind Santa, because she wanted something sparkly black.  This is the closest we could come.  I'm not sure how many years ago Stampin'Up! had this designer paper, but it's been awhile.

Luckily I had just enough to make the cards for her friends.  We ended up needing a piece about 3 1/2" x 2" for each card.  This was attached behind the window with adhesive.  Next the white layer was attached to the folded black card base with adhesive.  It was tucked in right at the top edge so there was more black showing at the bottom edge.

We also had some discussions about the ribbon, and I think we came to a great decision to use the Black Glittered Organdy Ribbon.  Isn't it pretty with the card?  It's still black, but the sheerness and sparkly glitter are perfect to make it more festive.  Also added two small rhinestones, one on either side of the sentiment, to add a little more sparkle.

The inside uses the 2nd piece of Basic White cardstock that was cut.  The sentiment we chose was another retired item from my stash of retired Christmas sentiments.  (You can never have too many sentiments to choose from as far as I'm concerned!)

Here's one more picture of one of the cards we'll be making on Sunday.  I hope the ladies will like the style and colors used.  We've also got a card that's more traditional red and green but with a fun twist, and a third one that's Misty Moonlight and Shaded Spruce in color.  Each card has a specifically different style to it, so hopefully each lady with find at least one she's really happy to have to share at Christmas time.  

It's been almost a year since my last class I held in Michigan and I truly miss the planning and deciding what to have for you ladies each month.  This has been a real time of rethinking what I want to do and how I want to do it.  Yes, I love holding classes and sharing with ladies how to make cards that they are proud to send out to family and friends.  Still trying to find an avenue to do this here.

That said, I miss all of you, my friends, that I've met through this Stampin'Up! business and the classes I've held each and every month for years!  Thank you so much for being a part of the joy in my life for so many years, and becoming great friends along the way!  What a blessing you've been to me, and I hope I've been a small blessing in your life in return.

If you're planning on ordering this month, I'd be grateful if you'd use the Current Host Code shown at the top of this blog post.  I appreciate all your support, both now and in the past.  During this month of Thanksgiving, you're one of my greatest blessings!  And I'm so thankful for you.  😁

Have fun creating and stamping,

Sharon