JOY!

I have another Christmas card to share this week!  I am playing along with this week's MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge.   I finally had a chance to play with my new MFT Goodies!  They arrived yesterday, but all I could do was look at them from a reclined position.  I have had a sciatica nerve issue this week with pain shooting down my left leg and muscles clenching.  I have never had this problem before.  Sciatica does not play!   

More about my sciatica nerve issue here...or skip it and go to card details below!  It got to the point by Thursday morning that I could barely stand without shooting pain going down my left leg.  The muscle would grab and hold.  It was awful!   I had to leave work Thursday which is rare for me as I usually miss for family before I miss for myself.  I have been in bed for two days trying to take it easy per my chiropractors orders.  By the way...chiropractors rock!   I go back to the doctors again on Monday.  Between taking it easy and alternating hot and cold packs, I was finally able to sit without pain late last night.  I figured I could sit at my craft desk just as easily as sitting anywhere.  Now, I must take it easy and not do housework or laundry....full mobility things, but sitting at my craft desk helped me to relax. Anyway, I am still on the mend!  I hope to be able to stand for any length of time soon since I am going to try and go back to work Monday!  I teach so walking, standing, stair climbing are all part of the job!    If you have this problem, I would LOVE to hear what you do to fix it as well as keeping it from flaring up again.

  

For my card, I started with the MFT card stock sampler!  I used sno cone, black licorice, and smooth white.  I stamped the snow cone  panel with Snowfall Background stamp using white pigment ink.  I sponged the edges with some Sno Cone Premium dye ink as well as some white pigment ink for added depth and effect. Next, I die cut the smooth white panels using the to larger angled dies from Blueprints 18.  Then, I placed the two of the Stitched Snowdrift dies on the tops of the angles and die cut.  LOVE how easy it is to get this cool stitched layer edging!  I softly sponged each stitched portion with some Grout Gray premium dye ink.  Creates some very subtle depth and dimension.

First of all, when I saw the new MFT Pierced Snowflake dies, I think I gasped at the computer screen!   When I got them in the mail yesterday, I was even more blown away!  These snowflakes are so beautifully detailed!  I used the smaller of the three on my card!  I die cut using some silver mirror card stock.  Next, I used Peace, Love, Joy die  to cut the word JOY using some red glitter card stock.  I cut this die two more times using some scrap white card stock and glued all three pieces together for some added stability.

For the tab at the top of the sketch, I used the tab die in Blueprints 18.  I die cut this using some black licorice card stock.  I used some white pigment ink to sponge the edges.  I topped this piece off with a red glittered button cut from the button die in Blueprints 18.   I topped the button with a silver corded bow. I was not finished with the Blueprints 18 yet, though.  I used the pierced row of holes die to cut the bottom detailing to follow the sketch design.  This card came together pretty quickly.  I am also playing along with this week's Festive Friday Challenge #42  inspiration and with Merry Monday Christmas "Silent Night" theme.   

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty