That's Life: Happy Holidays....

Hello everyone...

Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and you're now ready for a brand new week and a new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. This week, our theme is all about a Matching Set and we can't wait to see how you'll interpret the challenge.

For my make, I created a matching pair of Christmas cards that are also a match made in heaven because these cards celebrate a very cute couple, Mickey and Minnie Mouse who are all dressed up and ready for the holidays. I also made these cards with another special couple in mind, my beloved Mum and Dad ~ they were, and always will be, the perfect match!

So, let's get started and here's how I created this week's magical project...

CARD BLANKS

To begin with I created two card blanks from Kraft card, measuring 19 x 10.5cm.

For each card, I cut a panel of black card, 18.5 x 10cm and then these with a layer of matted a panel of gold metallic Kraft card, followed by a panel of black card, that I splattered with white paint, before adding a machine stitched border and each time, I left a narrow border around the outside. I then mounted these layers onto my card blanks.

Along the bottom of the final card panel, I added a film strip which I cut from black card using the Sizzix Vault Picture Show Die Set by Tim Holtz. Before I attached the strip, I applied an application of Lisa Horton Copper Metallic wax, and then adhered the strip into position.

For the final layer on these cards, I cut a panel of black card and then applied Translucent Grit Paste through the Falling Stars Layering Stencil.

After removing the stencil, I sprinkled gold embossing powder over the top and set this to one side for the paste to dry. Once it is touch dry, I used my heat tool to melt the powder ~ do not overheat the paste as this will cause it to bubble, heat areas slowly and once molten, move on.

I then used Mica Stain Sprays in the following colours to add that touch of sparkle to the background:

Crooked Broomstick, Unravelled, Iron Gate

Leave this to dry and then cut the card into two panels, each measuring 12.5 x 7cm, add machine stitching detail around the outside edge and then matt them onto gold metalllic cardstock before mounting them onto the card blanks using foam pads.

ROSETTES

For each rosette, I used the following dies:

Sizzix Seal Dies and Switchlits Embossing Folder to cut metallic gold Kraft card

Simon Says Stamp Basic Circles Wafer Dies to cut two black circles and one gold circle

Spellbinders Flags and Banners Die to cut the pieces to make the rosette that sits in the centre

With all my shapes cut, I layered them to form two rosettes and attached these to my cards.

In the centres of each rosette, I inked up one of the stamps from the Tim Holtz Holiday Postmarks Stampers Anonymous stamp set and stamped each one onto a piece of black card. I sprinkled them with gold embossing powder and then used the coordinating Simon Says Stamp die sets to die cut them.

I then attached them with foam pads to the rosettes.

To complete the rosettes I added a hint of Snowflake Paste, sprinkled with some Mica Flakes over the top and then painted some Hardware Heads with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Paint and added them around the outside edge of each of the circles.

MICKEY AND MINNIE

We're now ready for the stars of the show, Mickey and Minnie and for these I used the Spellbinders Steamboat Willie Duo Die Set and began by colouring some cardstock. I inked 4 separate pieces of Mixed Media Card using the following Distress Inks; Fossilised Amber, Lumberjack Plaid and Antique Linen and the final piece of card with Black Soot Distress Spray for the black card. Once happy with the colours, I applied double sided adhesive sheets to the back of the card and then cut all my pieces to create Mickey and Minnie before assembling each character.

Mickey and Minnie are now ready for their Christmas embellishments and using the die set that has been released by Spellbinders to accompany the original Classic Mouse Steamboat Willie die set for the holidays, I cut all my pieces to create the Santa hats, the holly leaves, the bauble, scarves and the mistletoe from inked cardstock. I always keep scraps of card that have been inked for previous projects and these dies are perfect to use up all those tiny offcuts.

Once I'd assembled my pieces, I dressed Mickey and Minnie on all their holiday refinery before I attached them into position on my card fronts, using foam pads to add some dimension to the cards.

To ground each of the characters, I applied some Glossy Accents beneath their feet, and then sprinkled some Mica Flakes over the medium before tapping away the excess.

....and applying some Snowfall paste to their little Santa hats.

SENTIMENTS

On each card, I added a sentiment. These are both stamped and then embossed with white embossing powder using stamps from the Cartoons stamp set.

I matted the sentiment to a piece of gold card, then attached it to my card blank using foam pads.

I then added two tiny die cut holly leaf embellishments to either side of the sentiment.

FINISHING DETAILS

I stamped and die cut another of the postmarks using the same Holiday Postmarks stamp and die set as before, and then attached the "Approved" postmark to each card, placing a holly leaf on Minnie's postmark as a finishing touch.

...and to complete the Mickey card, I painted a tiny clip with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Paint, then clipped this to the top of my card, attaching a label with the number 25.

So that's my Matching Pair project complete and I hope you love the cards I've made and you'll be inspired by some of the techniques.

As always, if you make anything, or if you've been inspired by anything that you've seen here on my blog ~ then please, let me know by tagging me on social media or leaving a comment here and I will be right over to take a look!

Don't forget that every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $25 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp and you can join in up to 5 times, which means you could have 5 chances to win. You have until next Monday at 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....