Hot Cocoa Christmas card...

This card is based on three specific challenges:  Inspiration Station (photo), Try Stampin on Tuesday (sketch) and My Time to Craft Christmas (anything with the letter S.)   It's just a simple and sweet card (pun intended).  I am also linking to A Perfect Time To Craft as "anything goes."   I've been stamping and making cards since January 2002 when I went to my first Stampin Up party at a friends.  Cardmaking has evolved amazingly over these years and I've aged 20 years and face challenges associated with normal aging along with challenges that accompany the treatment for Multiple Myeloma that I was diagnosed with in January of 2014.     When I first started if there was such a thing as having a blog, I certainly didn't know about them.    A few years ago I decided to try my hand at it and I really enjoy it so much and it is so inspiring to visit your blogs and be inspired by your artwork and learn of new and irresistible products that are available.   Doing challenges is so good for me,  being part of an online community and while sketches make sense to me (put something here--put something there) they are far from easy if you are trying to remain fresh with your work.   Color and photo challenges and a use this use that challenge are areas where I am determined to grow more this year!    I love to read mysteries of all kind and watch British TV mysteries.    I might could even characterize my cardmaking style as a mystery, since very often even I don't know how it's going to turn out.   I often start with something in mind and the finished product is way different.   For this card, looking at the Photo I thought hot cocoa, and then the throw (which looks so soft) set me to thinking about the literal warmth of hot cocoa and Christmas cookies and how could I bring that together on a card.   The sketch at TSOT gave me the perfect place to put all the elements that I came up with in place, it was a double challenge but I chose to not do monochromatic this time.  I can always use it again!   Trying a new challenge "Anything with an S" for sweet cookies and cocoa at My Time to Craft Christmas.    So that's what my gray matter has been up to...I look forward to hearing what you think and visiting your blogs and seeing what you have been up to!     Stay safe and may your weekend be a good one!              Kathy

Supplies:  

SU Painted Christmas DSP

Sentiment-SU Poinsettia Petals

ETSY--Christmas Cookies

ETSY--Christmas Mugs