Christmas card using Contempo Christmas

At the end of November, I ran a card class for some friends and today's card was one of the designs I came up with for that.

I cannot get enough of this neutrals/black-with-a-splash-of-colour scheme and it particularly lends itself to a touch of sparkle with glitter, adhesive rhinestones or shiny brads. The rhinestones I've used here are only £4.50 and you get 150 small, medium and large; plus 63 small stones which can be used separately or, for a huge impact, in strips. Have you spotted the background? It's Fine Flourish, one of the large, square background stamps. I adore this stamp and feel it sometimes gets overlooked, but it's another of those stamps you can use for almost any occasion, male or female. The ornament and the sentiment come from Contempo Christmas - an absolute bargain at £15.95 for a set of four! Personally I think the Merry Christmas sentiment alone would be worth that as I've used it so often this season! 

Here's how to make this card:

• Cut a 9cm square card base using Basic Black card stock.
• Ink up the Fine Flourish background stamp with Crumb Cake ink and stamp it onto Crumb Cake card stock. Trim round the image with your trimmer and glue to the card front.
• Stamp the bauble twice using Basic Black ink on Very Vanilla card stock. Cut them out.
• Decorate the centre of each bauble with a large rhinestone and place a smaller rhinestone either side of it. Add a bow to the top of each bauble using Sticky Strip.
• Position the baubles on the card (without actually sticking them down) and use as a guide to add 'string' with a Basic Grey marker.
• Stamp the sentiment in Real Red ink using a stamp-a-majig for accurate placement.
• Glue the right-hand bauble to the card front and add the other with dimensionals, allowing it to overlap the first.

Supplies

Stamps: Contempo Christmas, Fine Flourish

Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Card stock: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Other: Old Olive 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Basic rhinestones, Basic Grey marker

This is such a busy time of year and you could end up feeling exhausted and unfulfilled by Christmas. Yesterday, some friends and I took an hour for coffee at a local hotel when we had dropped our children at school. Most of us are working and struggle to find the time to complete our chores but I think we all felt better for that stolen hour - I know I did. Thanks ladies!

Thank you too for taking the time to visit me. I can hardly believe it's time for Three Minute Thursday again tomorrow but I shall certainly be here with another speedy Christmas card to inspire you. Hope to see you then!