More Christmas Poinsettias

Still frantically trying to finish up the last Christmas cards for the season - note to self: Make sure to start early next year and make sure to make multiples of any card that looks good! I think today's card will be on my mass production list for next year. And I might even take the time to start next year's cards first thing when I'm back home after spending Christmas in Finland. This year it all got left slightly last minute. We have received so many cards this year, more than usual and I feel really guilty that many of the cards we are planning to send are still waiting to be written and sent. Talk about last minute...

Anyhow, I couldn't use any of my pre-made cards for my Grandma as the sentiment has to be in Finnish. I genuinely thought I had bought a Finnish "Merry Christmas" stamp last year when I was in Finland, but if I did I certainly can't find it now. Luckily I have several sets of alphabets so I could create my own. 

I also enjoyed making this card as I actually got to craft with a friend. I don't know any crafters in "real life" apart from a friend who lives in Canada. So obviously we don't really get to craft together as it's just slightly inconvenient due to the distance. But luckily she was visiting and popped up to see me for a few days so we got to sit down and have some crafty time together. I was very excited to introduce her to Brushos. I used the Brushos to create the background by sprinkling red and yellow onto watercolour paper, and then die cut the background using the CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies. I stamped the gorgeous poinsettia image from Framed Christmas Peace Love and Joy three times in Versamark onto watercolour paper and heat embossed in gold. Then I coloured the images with Tim Holtz Distress markers and a watercolour brush. I fussy cut the images, adhering the top and bottom ones directly onto the background and then popping the middle one up using foam tape. Last, I die cut the banner for the sentiment using a leftover scrap of the background card and heat embossed the sentiment in gold. 

I'm linking up my card with the following challenges:
ABC Christmas Challenge - Y is for Yikes and Z is for Zoom (this was certainly a yikes, I don't have a card for my Grandma...)
Christmas All Year Round - ATG 
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick any challenge from 2016 (I combined two - the November sketch and the watercolour technique challenge from August)
Alphabet Challenge - U for Use something Red
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - ATG

Card: 250 gsm white card, 300 gsm Daler & Rowney Watercolour paper
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Markers Aged Mahogany, Festive Berries, Fired Brick Fossilized Amber, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Brushos
Stamps: STAMPlorations Framed Christmas Peace Love and Joy, Lawn Fawn Claire's ABCs
Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Lawn Fawn Everyday Banners
Other: Gold embossing powder