ABC Christmas Challenge: H & I

The first Wednesday of the month brings with it a new instalment of the ABC Christmas Challenge! This month the letters H and I are taking the spotlight: H for "hang it up" and I for "intricate". 
I decided to hang a couple of stockings...

This is one of those stamp sets I had to have (possibly because there was a cat...), and yet don't use very often. I started by watercoloring the cozy fire and the firebox behind it (yes, I looked that up), then added a screen over it with a background stamp. While that dried, I stamped and embossed the exterior of the fireplace and painted the bricks and the hearth. I thought the mantle would look good in white, but it was a little stark, so I toned it down with warm grey Copic markers. The stockings have white puff embossing powder on their cuffs, and on the heel and toe of the red one as well. 

By the time I put everything together and finished the first card, it was all feeling pretty intricate to me, but I knew I wanted a second card that would qualify for the current Christmas Kickstart challenge, delectable die cuts. Besides, isn't the idea to have as many cards ready as possible before the Christmas rush? ;)

It was actually quite fun to mix and match the pieces of this intricate snowflake die until I had a combination I liked. The sentiment is embossed in silver to go with the top snowflake layer of silver glitter paper - and the reason for taking the photo on this funny angle, as it wanted to look dull grey otherwise. I dry embossed the back panel to make everything just that bit more intricate. 

My teammates have created inspiring projects for these two prompts, so be sure to visit the challenge blog - and then join us! 

Supplies: (hang it up) Neenah white & desert storm & Stampin' Up naturals white & basic black cardstock, Canson watercolour paper, Stampin' Up Festive Fireplace & Hero Arts Envelope Pattern stamps, Versafine onyx black & Colorbox grey whale inks, Wow clear & white puff embossing powder, Gansai Tambi watercolours, Winnie & Walter Katharine cutaway die; (intricate) assorted cardstock, Studio Calico Very Merry stamp, Versamark ink, Ranger ultra fine silver embossing powder, Birch Press Design Issa snowflake die, PTI (?) snowflake impression plate

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