Very Merry Christmas Trees

I would like to offer my deepest sympathies and prayers to all of those who were touched by the Las Vegas Massacre.  May God give you peace and comfort in the midst of this truly senseless tragedy.  

Hello, Friends!

I had intended to post one card for all of you on Wednesday.  

Instead, I decided to make ten cards, which meant it took me two days

 to finish them instead of one!

I have always wanted to participate in one of the card drives that collects cards for the elderly or children in hospitals.  In fact, I had just emailed a card making friend and told her that I wanted to participate in one of those drives when I received an email about one later that evening.  

In 2008, Vera Yates, a fellow stamper, began collecting holiday cards for the elderly who live in nursing homes.  The first year she collected 750.  Last year, they collected of 66,000 cards and distributed them in the United States, Canada, Australia and United Kingdom!  If you are interested in the Caring Hearts Card Drive, you can click the picture above and it will take you to Vera's blog page that will tell you all the information you need about participating in this hop.  

I had planned to make one of this card for the Merry Monday challenge, however when I received the information about the Caring Hearts Card Drive, I decided to start making multiples of my Christmas cards now so I would have cards ready to participate.  On Tuesday, I die cut and stamped the Christmas trees.  I used the MISTI to stamp everything on my cards except for the bows on the presents, which I did myself using an acrylic block.  For the Christmas trees, there are three separate stamps used to make each tree and a fourth to stamp the trunk.  The tree is made up of so many different stamps so you can use three different colors on your tree, if you would like.  They can be stamped in fun, bright colors for a whimsical look, or darker colors for a totally different elegant look.  After stamping the green portions, I stamped the tree trunks.  I also stamped the garland in red pigment ink and embossed it with clear sparkle embossing powder.  As always, you can't see the sparkle in the picture but it's there and it's cute!  I also cut my card bases and my Dad die cut the red frames.  After laying out where the frame would be and the tree would go, I figured out where the sentiments should be on the cards and stamped them.  After all of that, I was worn out and had to stop!

On Wednesday, I finished my cards.  I die cut the stars for the tops of the trees.  I tried embossing them so they'd be shiny but that didn't work very well.  Instead, I ended up putting Clear Wink of Stella on them to give them some shine.  I decided that I wanted to add two Christmas presents under the tree.  I laid my tree where it would be adhered on the card to determine where the presents would go.  I had thought about putting the tree on with foam tape, which I love!  However, I thought that might add more bulk which wouldn't be good for mailing all of those cards.  I still wanted the presents to look like they were under the Christmas tree, so I planned that when I put the presents on the MISTI.  Since the tree was on a die cut, the presents still looked like they were under the tree!  After the presents were stamped, I stamped the two different bows on the presents.  I glued my stars to the tops of the trees and the frame onto the card base.  Then I put the trees on the card bases and all ten cards were finished!

It was important to me to participate in this card drive because my Grandma was in the nursing home before she died right around this time last year.  She always enjoyed looking at the cards I made.  When I would show them to her, the other residents enjoyed looking at them, too.  If I can bring a little bit of joy to their days, I absolutely want to do so.  

This card had a lot of steps which probably was not ideal for a card drive.  I'd like to make as many cards as I can for this drive, so making ten cards that took two full days for me is probably not the best choice.  However, I also want the cards to look special and not like I just slapped something together really fast.  I'll try another design and keep both of those goals in mind when I plan it.  

If you can, please consider participating in the 

Caring Hearts Card Drive.

There are prizes that are drawn for people who participate as well, 

but it's definitely not about the prizes, but bringing joy to our elderly.

  

I am entering my card in two challenges.  

The Merry Monday Challenge #259 is to use a Christmas Tree on your card which is what inspired this card from the very beginning.  The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is to make a Christmas themed project.  

Be sure to come back tomorrow!

I will have a very special post

for you to see!

Happy Stamping, Friends!

I used the following products to make this card:

Very Merry Stamp Set by Papertrey Ink

Very Merry Dies by Papertrey Ink

Pierced Rectangle Frames Die-namics by My Favorite Things*

Sour Apple, Gumdrop Green and Field Day Dye Ink Pads

by My Favorite Things

Pure Poppy and Cocoa Bean Dye Ink Pads by Papertrey Ink

Cherry Crisp Pigment Ink Pad by My Favorite Things*

Solar White Card Stock by Neenah

Pure Poppy and Bright Buttercup Card Stock by Papertrey Ink

Clear Sparkle Embossing Glitter by Wow!

Heat Tool

MISTI by My Sweet Petunia