Friday 30 April 2021

Rudolph Days Challenge - April 2021

Wow, squeaking into Scrappy Mo's monthly Rudolph Days Challenge at the last minute here! It's one challenge I make a point of never missing - no matter what.

I've still been battling a painful and lately 'scrunchy shoulder' - sounds a bit like a bean bag (remember those from school?). So I decided to go through my box of saved 'shop bought' Christmas cards, kept to upcycle, and cull some of the older ones whilst also looking for the makings of a Rudolph Days card. I ended up being quite ruthless - styles have changed and many looked very dated since I began saving ones with possibilities (found one with a message in dated Xmas 2011!). Now I just have what I think could be 'useable pieces' with the backs cut away - ready for future transformation. Eventually I combined elements from two cards - and came up with this:

The light was weird here so the red sparkle on the sentiment and the poinsettias  - along with the lovely shimmering gold touches on the wreath - doesn't show up as well as in real life. But it's all there, I promise - and I love how two very different upcycled cards offered such a good match of toppers as well.

I used:

- 6.75" white square card blank, side opening

- sheet of kraft card trimmed to 6.5" square and glued onto the card front

- sheet of Christmas red card trimmed to 6.25" square and glued onto the kraft layer

- the wreath was so tricky to carefully remove from the original card front as it was popped up on sticky pads - once it was off I carefully scraped every bit of the sticky pads away so I could glue it totally flat onto the card front

- wreath in place so all that was left was the sentiment - which is exactly as I removed it from a different shop bought card

- the already red-glittered sentiment was stuck on with a long sticky pad and, rather than risk crumpling it, I very carefully snipped the background of the card away from the added sentiment before trimming the left 'attached' piece of the background to the same size as the sticky pads - those babies were not going to part company!

- then just glued the sentiment piece, on the back of the 'card covered and not going anywhere' sticky pad, onto the middle of the wreath

To be honest, the planning and measuring for this card took way longer than the actual assembly stage. I had quite a few options in mind believe me! I used kraft card as the outer layer rather than gold (which I did hold up as an option) just because it seemed to detract from the wreath itself and also would have left the sentiment on kraft perhaps looking a bit out of place and not tied in. Am very much into 'tied in' these days! Sort of 'crafting bondage' really - I wonder if anyone will notice what I just wrote there? Also debated about adding some ornate corners to the red layer - but in the end decided it was more striking as it was. Len spotted it and said 'Wow, I would buy that one in a shop!'. Which is good enough for me.



24 comments:

  1. Wow gorgeous wreath design and colors.

    Hope the shoulder gets better soon, sounds like frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis,). I had that years ago and finally had acupuncture that fixed it and never had a problem since.

    Hugs Diane

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  2. Excellent way to use saved goodies. Please take care of yourself (and Dudley, of course) and not over do things. Hugs.

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  3. What a beautiful Christmascard Diane.

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  4. Great bit of upcycling on this card and obviously made with your usual attention to detail.

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  5. Great upcycling Di, a very elegant card. Hope your scrunchy shoulder is better soon.
    Hugs,
    Katrina x

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  6. What a gorgeous card Di, great upcycling, it sound like you went the extra mile scraping off the old sticky pads. Thanks for joining in the fun at Rudolph Days this month.

    Sue xx

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  7. Hi Di this is a gorgeous Christmas card. I love it. I do hope your shoulder gets better soon. Take care. Hugs Jackie

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  8. It's a lovely card. I like the font of the sentiment too.

    I hope your shoulder feels better. [Bunny]

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  9. Hi Di,
    Happy Rudolf Days.
    Sorry to hear you have a pinful shoulder I can sympathize mine also sounds at times like that too.
    I am battling with the aches and pains all over at the mo ever since my first jab it seems to have made the Arthritis worse or is just me getting worse who knows.
    I do hope you are soon out of pain as I have had shoulder pain and it's not nice at all you can't sleep on that side for long either.

    Love you re-cycled card that wreath is very pretty and looks brill against the red background.
    I always admired your lovely Matt Red Mirri card and remember you said Joanna Sheen no longer kept it.
    I found it on the Tonic site if you don't already know.
    Lots of crafty love and hugs. Jenny L.

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  10. Fabulous upcycling of the gorgeous wreath and glittery sentiment. Love the red and kraft layers on the white card base - it ties it all together so well. You've inspired me to go through my box of saved shop-bought Christmas cards. I'm sure I have plenty of old ones!

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  11. Gorgeous card Di and even up cycling does a lovely card .....sorry to read of your shoulder being sore it really does make things card hopefully pain free shortly take care x

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  12. I agree with Len, I would buy it too, it's a really Beautiful card Di.
    Faith x

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  13. I hope your shoulder feels better soon. Could it be rotator cuff related? If so, a massage therapist specializing in shoulders could really help. They will also give you exercises to do at home.

    Your card looks wonderful. I chuckled as I read your story of the foam tape that did not want to come off! I have been organizing my craft room and going through embellishments and donating any that I don’t love!
    I noticed that some of the ones I kept had foam that was looking ratty and sort of crisp! I peeled it all off And remade them all with new foam (about 100 embellish). Did so many that I wore the fingerprint on my forefinger...heehee
    Any from the same package that had the odd one that retained their stickiness, I removed it too! I know your pain in getting that foam off.

    Your card is lovely and sorry about the long reply...
    Thanks for taking part in the Rudolph Days Challenge..

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  14. A beautiful wreath Di and a gorgeous card. Have a lovely weekend and rest your shoulder. Hugs, Carol S.xxx

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  15. Oooo what a stunner hun and am loving all the sparkle too, with my DT hat, thanks for joining us April's Rudolph Days Challenge, Luv Sam x

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  16. Get to feeling better. Rest friend. Pretty card.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  17. How gorgeous, I like the shimmer and your use of kraft card stock for the sentiment!

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  18. Your card has come together so well . The Reds all look like they blend and you would 't think had come from two cards. Hugs me.

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  19. Bondage!!!lol! Hope your shoulder feels better soon. Great upcycling, it looks lovely 😍

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  20. Super recycled card there mate.

    Sorry to hear the shoulder is giving you gip, but if you WILL participate in 'craft bondage' what DO you expect????? LOL!

    Gentle hugs,
    Sarn xxx

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  21. Great recycling Di, it’s made a stunning card. Hope your shoulder is getting a little easier.xx

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  22. Love your up-cycle, Di! Your pieces made for a wonderful card - it will be loved. And speaking of loved, I caught and loved your crafty bondage - lol

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  23. I love the traditional colours and feel of this card featuring some very pretty poinsettias! Thank you so much for playing along with the Rudolph Days Challenge.
    Linda, DT

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