Monday, December 1, 2014

Winter Wonderland Card AND Lots of Challenges For You to Enter

GECKO GALZ DECEMBER CUSTOMER CHALLENGE

The December Gecko Galz products are available and the Customer Challenge is up and running at the Gecko Galz blog HERE.  This month's theme is WINTER WONDERLAND.

My interpretation of this theme is a view from inside a church of a family's trek through the snow to celebrate the wonder and joy of the birth of the Christ child.



I used the From Russia With Love collage sheet.  After cropping this particular image, I resized it slightly larger to fit my die (Grand Gothic Window from poppystamps, inc.)  I cut a second window from DCWV gold glitter paper. Then I used a Sizzix brick embossing folder on a piece of Websters Pages Waiting for Santa paper found in my stash.  I trimmed the window with Starform red glitter stickers and found some gold trim and ribbon in my stash.

An interesting thought:  in harsh winter climates, pussy willows are used instead of palm leaves as part of Palm Sunday, the week before Easter.  I noted pussy willow branches are being held by the women in this scene.  There is snow on the ground.  An early Easter?  I could find no documentation that pussy willow branches are used in a Christmas mass.  I was raised Orthodox Catholic here in America, but I have no memory of using pussy willows here.  However, I do remember my Polish mother (who was Roman Catholic) having a special fondness for pussy willows in the spring.

I hope you will enter this customer challenge.


The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz image--including the many that are freebies.  Winner gets a $25 Gecko Galz shopping spree to spend on Gecko Galz digital images.  This challenge is due December 30.

I'm entering my card in these challenges:

As You Like It Favorite Christmas Style and Why:  Traditional because I'm most comfortable creating vintage looking projects.

Country View Crafts:  December's Festive Challenge: Nostalgic Christmas (due end of December)

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge for December

Digitally Sweet Challenges:  #116 Anything Goes (due December 25)

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #222:  Die Cuts (due Dec 2)  Gothic Window die

Luna Girl Moonbeams:  Holiday Children (due December 7)

Mema's Crafts:  Anything Goes for Celebrate the Holidays or Cold Winter Days

Simon Says Stamp.com Monday Challenge:  Holiday Cards (due December 7)

Shopping Our Stash:  Challenge #170 Free is Good (something we got free) (due December 11): the ribbon is from a gift box given to me (I think it was either a box of candy or cologne).  The DCWV glitter paper I received from my daughter who gave up scrapbooking as a hobby and gave me all her supplies.

Try It On Tuesdays:  Christmas is Coming (due December 8)


UNRULY PARTY ARTS LINK UP PARTY

I'm posting this card to the Unruly PaperArts Blogozine 12 Days of Christmas Link Up Party.



CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE

I  hope you'll post the UPA Link Party badge


and link up something as well.  Not only will it be a great way to share your art and visit other blogs, but also--for your participation--you have a chance to win $25usa voucher to spend in Heather Hudson's My Artistic Adventures Etsy store.



DECEMBER ISSUE OF UNRULY PAPER ARTS

The schedule of contents for our December issue of Unruly PaperArts blogozine is posted HERE.

This month we're thinking outside the box.  My article will be posted mid-month but here's a sneak peak of my shadowbox with a hidden compartment.   Be sure to come back to see all the components of my box within a box.



FREE COLLAGE SHEET

In addition to the Gecko Galz Winter Wonderland customer challenge, Gecko Galz owner Leanne Seed has a challenge on her Fripperies and Butterflies blog.  Either of these challenge entries would work for the UPA Link Up Party.  If you do both, that gives you two chances to win Heather's digital collage sheets.

Leanne has posted one of her collage sheets which you can snag FREE and use in a creation for her December Christmas Challenge. You will email Leanne for the free collage sheet of Santa images. You will link up your entry to the Gecko Galz FaceBook page.  All the challenge details HERE. Winner of this challenge gets a lovely prize pack including a $25 shopping spree with Gecko Galz and a IRALAMIJA SHOP digital gift pack. 

GECKO GALZ 12 TAGS OF CHRISTMAS 

Starting tomorrow, design team Christmas tags will be featured on the Gecko Galz blog, along with an opportunity to collect daily digital stamps.  Our Christmas gift to our blog followers!  My tag will be posted on December 9.




SOMETHING USEFUL

What a time saver!  I've heard of using wax paper, but here's a video on how to use dryer sheets with those pesky dies.

22 comments:

ddazzled71 said...

Wow Helene you have been busy and what wonderful fun all of these challenges sound like. I love the beautiful winter themed card using the Vintage Russian image, your trimmings for this are just wonderful too. Thanks so much for joining the Party this month at Unruly. Danie xx

Sarah said...

A truly traditional feel to this card, a lovely image and beautiful texture too. Thanks for joining us at AYLI and Good Luck!! Sarah :0)

Linda Simpson said...

Absolutely gorgeous card and love the beautiful topper and bow.
Hugs
Linda xxx

TangledBlueRose said...

Such fun! What an amazing busy December! Love your card and ribbon, so elegant!~kim

Margik said...

This is a stunning card! Love the lovely image and beautiful embellishments.
Thank you for joining us at Try it on Tuesday.
Mar x

Kate M said...

Absolutely stunning Christmas, reflecting the spirit of Christmas, love it!!
xx

Kelley said...

Beautifully stunning.

Karen Lunagirl said...

Hi ~ This is so pretty. I love the gothic arch and your Russian Orthodox imagery. Very beautiful for Christmas. Thanks for sharing in my Holiday Children challenge at LunagirlMoonbeams.com! Nice to see you there again! ~ Karen

Barbara Rankin said...

Absolutely gorgeous card, and now you have me wondering about those pussy willows, too!

creative lady said...

Beautiful card, love the image and all the elements you added. Thanks for playing along with Mema's Crafts!

Brenda Brown said...

A gorgeous card Helene and a beautiful traditional image which you have added to magnificently. So glad you have entered the challenge at Country View Crafts and thanks for letting me know. xxx

zandra said...

Such a great take on the Christmas Challenge. So, many pretty things. Thanks for playing with us at TIOT.
Hugz, Z

Papercrafting Princess said...

What a sweet card and thank you for sharing the helpful tip! Happy Holidays and thank you for joining our December challenge at Mema's Crafts.

Tamie said...

Your Window die is super neat and makes for a perfect seeing for the image. Loving your clean and simple design. Merry Christmas :) Thank you so much for sharing your amazing creation with us at 4 Crafty Chicks Die Cuts Challenge.

Tamie DT

DonnaMundinger said...

Gorgeous Helene and so elegant! Love the window shape and beautiful image and embellies. xxD

Denise Pustelniak said...

WOW! Love it!
Thanks for joining us at Digitally Sweet!

Julie Lee said...

I just love anything Russian themed for Christmas. You have used that image brilliantly and the card with the Russian family is totally gorgeous!Your blog looks so beautifully festive too! A visit here has been like a lovely warming glass of mulled wine!!! Julie Ann, your teamie from UPA xxx

PennyRae's Mandala Creation's said...

Beautiful traditional card. Thanks for joining us at Mema's Crafts. PennyRae DT

Mema's Crafts said...

You have been a very busy person and we at Mema's Crafts would like to say thanks for sharing your talent with us.

Michelle said...

Beautiful! Such wonderful projects! Thank you for sharing your lovely work with us for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. ~Michelle
http://www.michellezerull.blogspot.com

Heather said...

I love how you used the image in your card Helene...it reminds me of a beautiful traditional Christmas...love the colors and your bow!! Busy Busy girl!!
Hugs!!
Heather

Words and Pictures said...

Absolutely love this card with the feel of a Russian icon - wonderful! Thanks so much for playing along at Country View Challenges.
Alison x

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