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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jan 1, 2021 2:14:01 GMT
In one of the frozen peas threads, I mentioned that I wanted to try to make all my Christmas cards this year, and I thought I could do it with the itty bitty goal of 12 cards per month. (I neglected to mention that I want them for the pea swap, which means I need about 120.) joblackford thought it might make a good monthly thread, so here it is. What's the challenge? Make 12 cards each month. That's it? That's it. (I will probably come up with a bonus but optional challenge as a suggestion for getting started.) Do they have to be Christmas cards? Nope. Make whatever you like. Can I make more than 12? If you have the time, motivation, and energy, you bet!  Do they have to be the same card? Personally, mine often are-- I usually make 8 for card swaps, and 8.5x11 cardstock divides nicely for multiples of 4-- but feel free to make what you like.
Do I have to post them here? Nope. Not required, but it's always fun to see others' work. Can I earn points? Sure. 1 point for each card you make, whether 1 or 20. If you hit the magical dozen, take 8 bonus points-- so your first dozen cards are worth 20 points total. If you make two dozen, you can have another 8 bonus points. (So, 20 points total per dozen available.) If there's a bonus challenge/prompt, and you use it, take another 10 points. What are points? Read about joining a team here, or contact grammadee for more team info. You do NOT need to join a team to play along. ****** January (optional) prompt: use something you bought/got over "the holidays." (I'm going to be using the November stamp of the month from Close to My Heart because I haaaaaaaaad to have it.) But it can be anything-- even that new roll of ATG tape.
February (optional) prompt: incorporate a printable element. Could be a digital stamp, a sentiment you generate in Word, just something printed from the computer.
March (optional) prompt: time to pull out your dies and incorporate them into your cards. You just need one on a card, and any kind of die is fine-- a word, a shape, a layer, a cover plate, etc. If you don't have dies, you can substitute punches. April (optional) prompt: use journaling/pocket cards to create your greeting cards. May (optional) prompt: use a nontraditional color scheme. For example, my Christmas cards incorporate a peachy color, but this does not have to apply to JUST holiday cards. June (optional) prompt: pull out one of your paper pads and put it to use! If you don't have a paper pad you want to use, just stick to a single paper line. (Use any cardstock, embellishments, stamps, etc., that you would like, but just one patterned paper line.) July (optional) prompt: use a sketch as the starting point for your card(s). Remember that you do not have to make a literal interpretation of a sketch-- you can flip it, add elements, etc. You are also free to create your own sketch. Another option for this prompt would be to use a set of dies that basically serves the same function as a sketch (MFT's Blueprints collection is a really good example of the kind of dies. August (optional) prompt: I am hopefully going on last year's vacation this month (I am vaccinated and have plenty of masks), so your prompt is to use a travel OR tropical/desert theme. September (optional) prompt: our cards are more than just card fronts-- don't forget the insides and the envelopes! For bonus points, create a coordinated INSIDE panel or a decorated envelope to go with each of your cards. These don't need to be super complicated-- a computer generated interior sentiment, or a fancy "deliver to:" stamp on your envelope is just fine. It's just one further cardmaking step I always intend to do, but never actually complete. October (optional) prompt: Incorporate something specifically marketed as part of a Halloween line into some non-Halloween creations. For example, that line of Halloween paper might have a cute purple plaid design. Or take a look at these sequins from Stampin' Up-- marketed for Halloween cards, but would work with almost anything! (If you have nothing from a Halloween line, feel free to sub another holiday's materials into the challenge.)November (optional) prompt: If August makes me think of palm trees, November makes me think of the northern forests. Incorporate something "foresty" in your cards-- this could be forest critters, a forest color palette, whatever you think fits the theme. (Pine trees work, too!)December (optional) prompt: There isn't one, so if you're playing for points, take the 10 bonus points as a holiday gift.
Thanks for playing along this year! |
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Post by joblackford on Jan 1, 2021 3:34:26 GMT
Awesome, I went looking for our chat yesterday and couldn't find it! Thanks for setting up the challenge.
I just bought two new holiday items on sale, a Christmas die and a Halloween stamp, so if they arrive in decent time I might use them. Actually I might have to because I'm not sure I got anything else... oh no, I did get another couple of stamps which I also haaaad to have... no I have to use them!!
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Post by joblackford on Jan 1, 2021 3:40:17 GMT
I've made a thread on the card board directing people here. Hope that's ok with you!
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jan 1, 2021 3:46:53 GMT
I've made a thread on the card board directing people here. Hope that's ok with you! Thanks! I wasn't totally sure where to put it.  |
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vexedangel
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Post by vexedangel on Jan 1, 2021 4:28:06 GMT
I am planning on playing along!! Thx!
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Post by Linda on Jan 1, 2021 5:48:05 GMT
Thanks - I'm planning on playing along as well. Not on a team this month but that's okay. As for the something new - I think the last new stuff I bought was from EP's warehouse sale so I'm going to try and pull out one of the 6x6 pads
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azcrafty
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Post by azcrafty on Jan 2, 2021 5:36:52 GMT
This is fun.
I'm in. I have a lot of holiday stamps, dies and papers I haven't really used. I was planning to make up 12 kits, 1 for each month and create some christmas cards thru the year.
This year ( really last year 2020) I made 130+ for the swap and I kind of burned out by the time come to make my own cards for friends and family.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 2, 2021 6:23:37 GMT
This year ( really last year 2020) I made 130+ for the swap and I kind of burned out by the time come to make my own cards for friends and family. That happened to me the first couple of years I did the swap too. (Not so much this year because I was burned out even before I started so I kept it super-simple for everyone.) I like your idea of creating monthly kits. I might consider that too. I am going to make a Christmas box anyway, to keep all my Christmas things together. |
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Post by grammadee on Jan 2, 2021 15:16:43 GMT
I have some Christmas gifts that need a little workout... Some slimline dies from justjac and a foiling kit from dh. All my older Christmas scrappy supplies have exploded out of their cupboard and want to play too. Usually use them for pages, then stuff them back into their corner, but may as well make some cards, too, right? |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jan 7, 2021 3:06:20 GMT
For once, I am ahead of the curve! I finished my dozen cards for January.  I used stamps from the CTMH November stamp of the month, You Warm My Heart. The most important lesson I learned? Red ink gets everywhere. When I was cleaning up my cards (because each strip is glued on) with my adhesive eraser, DAYS AFTER stamping, I somehow ended up with ink all over my left hand. And then a few days later, I found some more ink on top of the paper towel roll in the kitchen. |
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nicolep
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Post by nicolep on Jan 7, 2021 4:19:13 GMT
For once, I am ahead of the curve! I finished my dozen cards for January. I used stamps from the CTMH November stamp of the month, You Warm My Heart. The most important lesson I learned? Red ink gets everywhere. When I was cleaning up my cards (because each strip is glued on) with my adhesive eraser, DAYS AFTER stamping, I somehow ended up with ink all over my left hand. And then a few days later, I found some more ink on top of the paper towel roll in the kitchen. Those are adorable! What paper is that with the little houses on it? |
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Post by grammadee on Jan 7, 2021 15:19:08 GMT
Those are awesome cards, Eddie-n-Harley ! I love that colour red. Too bad it went "everywhere", but it looks wonderful on your cards. Is that a CTMH ink pad? What colour?
Got as far as reading the directions for my new foiling kit. I need to measure out some toner ink, pour it onto one of the pads, and then I will have two hours to stamp everything I want foiled before the ink dries. Don't need to foil right away, but the stamped images would be ready.
Hoping to pull that out tomorrow. Two hours of stamping should give me enough focals and sentiments for alot more than 12 cards. But then I would need another session to do the foiling, diecut & actually assemble that dozen I need for this challenge.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jan 7, 2021 17:16:33 GMT
For once, I am ahead of the curve! I used stamps from the CTMH November stamp of the month, You Warm My Heart. The most important lesson I learned? Red ink gets everywhere. When I was cleaning up my cards (because each strip is glued on) with my adhesive eraser, DAYS AFTER stamping, I somehow ended up with ink all over my left hand. And then a few days later, I found some more ink on top of the paper towel roll in the kitchen. Those are adorable! What paper is that with the little houses on it? Thanks. That is from a CTMH line or project pack called city sidewalks. It's a few years old and I only originally had some scraps from my friend, which I found while cleaning out my CTMH paper file... and then of course I had to go find a full pack from eBay because I apparently only like things three years after they were for sale. |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jan 7, 2021 17:18:54 GMT
Those are awesome cards, Eddie-n-Harley ! I love that colour red. Too bad it went "everywhere", but it looks wonderful on your cards. Is that a CTMH ink pad? What colour?
Got as far as reading the directions for my new foiling kit. I need to measure out some toner ink, pour it onto one of the pads, and then I will have two hours to stamp everything I want foiled before the ink dries. Don't need to foil right away, but the stamped images would be ready.
Hoping to pull that out tomorrow. Two hours of stamping should give me enough focals and sentiments for alot more than 12 cards. But then I would need another session to do the foiling, diecut & actually assemble that dozen I need for this challenge.
Thanks! It is CTMH; I believe it's candy apple. I'd like to know how your stamping with toner ink goes. I am debating whether I need it... I was planning to rely on the photocopier... |
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nicolep
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Post by nicolep on Jan 7, 2021 17:41:03 GMT
Those are adorable! What paper is that with the little houses on it? Thanks. That is from a CTMH line or project pack called city sidewalks. It's a few years old and I only originally had some scraps from my friend, which I found while cleaning out my CTMH paper file... and then of course I had to go find a full pack from eBay because I apparently only like things three years after they were for sale. Obviously my luck too! 😂 It's so cute! |
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Post by grammadee on Jan 8, 2021 19:30:25 GMT
Okay, by the end of the weekend, I should have my dozen cards put together. Spent the morning playing with Heidi Swapp toner ink. Had planned on using one of the pads in the kit until justjac sent me a link to this Heidi Swapp and Tim Holz Live presentation. Ended up drizzling the ink onto a couple of surfaces (part of the packaging, and the front of a Vicki Boutin foundations cs pad), then picking up with a brayer and applying it from there to the stamps. After clean up--which is a breeze, BTW, with alcohol spray hand sanitizer--I selected some foiled images and cut/tore them to size to use on 12 cards. Also have a ton of sentiments that need to be punched or diecut into shape. |
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Post by grammadee on Jan 9, 2021 18:23:07 GMT
Here are the first six of my cards from the foiled stamping attempt. Used a Penny Black background stamp for these:  foil kit 3 by Gramma Dee, on Flickr Another four that resulted form stamping with a TH huge background stamp on photo paper I had coloured with oxide inks:  foil kit 2 by Gramma Dee, on Flickr The script background from TE did not work as well with this technique. Not sure if I had actually used Heidi Swapp's ink pad to stamp them, but none of the sentiment stamps foiled very clearly. And it doesn't help that my photo of these last two cards are blurry:  Foil kit 1 by Gramma Dee, on Flickr But, I DID it! One dozen Christmas cards ready for next year! Oh, and an extra one created with the negative image from the used foil:  Foil kit 4 by Gramma Dee, on Flickr |
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oaksong
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Post by oaksong on Jan 9, 2021 19:09:12 GMT
I love this idea. I’m not ready to put away Christmas, and I want to make valentine cards for my friends. Thanks for the motivation Maybe I’ll play along!
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Post by joblackford on Jan 9, 2021 19:10:29 GMT
Your foiling experiments came out really well grammadee and hopefully you learned a lot about how the HS toner ink works. I love that you were able to make use of the negative piece as well. Yay! one month down. |
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Post by anniefb on Jan 10, 2021 20:50:29 GMT
Thanks for the chalenge! Not sure I'll be able to play along every month, but I do want to get my cards done earlier this year so will give it a go.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jan 14, 2021 2:11:47 GMT
foil kit 2 by Gramma Dee, on Flickr But, I DID it! One dozen Christmas cards ready for next year! Oh, and an extra one created with the negative image from the used foil: Oh, I love the big stamps on precolored backgrounds. It looks so cool. Congrats on getting 12 down! |
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vexedangel
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Post by vexedangel on Jan 16, 2021 6:38:51 GMT
Well, I'm making my first round of cards with this die set but it may also be my last!!Cut and folded 24 card bases and only 7 ended up usable! The wreath has 19 pieces! 😯 but I do like how this one is looking so far (inside not done).  |
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vexedangel
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Post by vexedangel on Jan 16, 2021 6:39:23 GMT
How the door opens  |
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nicolep
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Post by nicolep on Jan 16, 2021 15:15:17 GMT
How the door opens I love making gatefold cards! I made a design like this but the wreath was a one piece Print and Cut with my Cameo. Yours looks pretty and sounds like you've put in a lot of work! |
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vexedangel
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Post by vexedangel on Jan 18, 2021 1:22:30 GMT
Ok, this doesn't ultimately "count" for this because I only had 6 out of 24 bases that made it to the finish line, but this challenge inspired me, and I do like how they turned out! And now I am packing that die set away for a bit.  |
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Post by justjac on Jan 30, 2021 20:55:14 GMT
I did quite a few cards this month. I can’t show you the one design because they are birthday cards for peas!  These are some cards I stamped while I was doing the Scrap Smarter Experience a couple weeks ago. I needed to kept my hands busy.   This is a trifold card I made for my niece. |
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Post by joblackford on Jan 31, 2021 3:32:53 GMT
I made some Christmas cards for the challenge! I did half of these yesterday and then decided just to keep going because I already had the materials out. Sheetload of cards sketch from July '20, using a Pink Paislee 6x8 paper pad. Just the right level of simplicity for donation cards IMO.  Jan share by jo.blackford, on Flickr And experiments with a NEW PURCHASE Trinity Stamps die and various kinds of cardstock. I felt like I could've tried harder and done more with these (ink blending, spritzing?) but this is how much energy I had, and the gluing was tiresome. Next time I will try adding adhesive sheets on the back before die cutting. (And yes, I already had another version of the same kind of die, even fiddlier and more frustrating, all in one piece, but it gives a really nice effect and I love it in white on the night sky paper).  Jan share by jo.blackford, on Flickr |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Feb 1, 2021 4:08:48 GMT
Well, I'm making my first round of cards with this die set but it may also be my last!!Cut and folded 24 card bases and only 7 ended up usable! The wreath has 19 pieces! 😯 but I do like how this one is looking so far (inside not done). That is a neat die... I'm sorry more of them didn't turn out. I bet the wreath would be just as lovely with just the bow. |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Feb 1, 2021 4:11:12 GMT
I did quite a few cards this month. I can’t show you the one design because they are birthday cards for peas! These are some cards I stamped while I was doing the Scrap Smarter Experience a couple weeks ago. I needed to kept my hands busy. This is a trifold card I made for my niece. Are your purple flowers a multi-step stamp? Super impressed if so! And I adore the trifold card. Not sure I could do 12, but I will definitely have to look it up for doing some singles! |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Feb 1, 2021 4:18:23 GMT
I made some Christmas cards for the challenge! I did half of these yesterday and then decided just to keep going because I already had the materials out. Sheetload of cards sketch from July '20, using a Pink Paislee 6x8 paper pad. Just the right level of simplicity for donation cards IMO. And experiments with a NEW PURCHASE Trinity Stamps die and various kinds of cardstock. I felt like I could've tried harder and done more with these (ink blending, spritzing?) but this is how much energy I had, and the gluing was tiresome. Next time I will try adding adhesive sheets on the back before die cutting. (And yes, I already had another version of the same kind of die, even fiddlier and more frustrating, all in one piece, but it gives a really nice effect and I love it in white on the night sky paper). I love all your cards-- I am a big fan of clean and simple. I don't think the bottom ones need more, especially if you have a metallic die cut. |
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