A Happy Accident...

Do you ever set out to create a card with a certain idea in mind only to end up going in an entirely different direction?  Today's card is an example of me starting out with a CAS design in mind and ending up with a completely different look.  First I'll show you the card I ended up with and then I'll explain how I got there!

Vintage holiday card using Bells & Boughs and Merry & Type stamp sets.

Definitely NOT CAS, hunh?  So here's what happened...
I started out needing a scrap of always artichoke cardstock to emboss and then cut out the oval designer frame from.  I grabbed a piece from my stash, ran it through the embossing folder and then flipped it over to check the quality of the impression.  Lo and behold, there were holly images I had stamped in bleach (months ago when trying to come up with designs for convention swaps) in two corners.  Liking the look, I decided to go with it and use it to frame the focal point for a card.  I then found some torn scraps of Deck the Halls fabric in amongst my ribbon scraps...I added that as a ruffle along the right edge using sticky strip to adhere it.  From there I just kept layering and adding, finishing it off with the perfect sentiment from the Merry & Type set!  Don't you love it when things just sort of fall into place?  I think that's one of the things I love most about Vintage cards...they're meant to look like they're made up of spare bits and treasures, so it is easy to use up all the little bits and bobs you were too cheap to throw out! 

Holiday Mini Sneak Peek #2

Here is another card I created using products from the upcoming Holiday Mini.  This one uses my FAV set from the new mini...check it out:

Christmas card using the Christmas Lodge stamp set and Frostwood Lodge DSP

The products in the Frostwood Lodge suite are so homey and cozy.  The patterns in the DSP remind me of flannel nightgowns I wore as a child and the images in the Christmas Lodge stamp set are just so detailed and beautiful!  The tree on this card is from that set...isn't it gorgeous??  I combined it with a sentiment from the Merry & Type set in the IB&C for a vintagey, homespun look.  The quilted satin ribbon adds that final, cozy touch.
Have you entered my Bloggaversary draw yet?  If not, what are you waiting for?  There is some quality blog candy up for grabs!  Just leave a comment on THIS POST to enter.  I'll be choosing the winner when I get back from my week up north on the 21st.