Going Dutch

Can you believe it? I'm sticking with my European Christmas series. My third festive offering is for a our Dutch friends. A lovely couple and I love them even more at Christmas time because they insist on showering us (namely moi) with Banketstaaf - the most delectable, delightful and decadent traditional Dutch pastry ... oh I'm salivating just writing about it. It's yummy warm, cold or a day old...its just divine. (Excuse me while I wipe my chin!).

While I dream of my Banketstaaf, I leave you with this card which reminds me of a gingerbread house... oh yum...again! And in case it isn't immediately obvious, I'm attempting a CAS card. My friend Sandie and I decided to challenge ourselves: she "unCASes" me while I "CAS" her... or is it the other way around: she "CASes" me while I "unCAS" her? Oh bother...  And in that nebulous fog, I offer thee my CAS effort.

CAS point 1: no patterned papers.  CAS point 2: no fancy die-cutting and layering. So far so good, Sandie?

And here's where it all goes to pot: I used an image that needed elaborate colouring because I was driven by visions of a gingerbread house. I must have used a gazillion SN and Promarker pens to get the biscuit (brickwork) right. And true to form I applied Crystal Stickes on the snow to give it an icy glow. Not so obvious in the photo. Oh woe my photography skills! 

And CAS continues its downward spiral: Embossing: hot for the sentiment and dry for the snowflake background. Some silver mirri stars for festive pizzaz!

CAS hits rock bottom: stitching. I'm addicted. Nothing looks right without it!

The shame continues inside: more embossing, lashings of Crystal Stickles, layering and stitching.
Sorry Sandie, I tried.

Supplies:
Stamp: WMS "A Cottage Christmas"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Stampendous Fine White EP
Colours: Spectrum Noir and Promarker alcohol markers. (details to follow)

I'm using the sketch from Waltzing Mouse Challenge #117, which I turned on its head, with a fair bit of artistic licence. Colours and thoughts of festive sweet came from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long#30: "Photo Inspiration" and for sugar frosting - Jingle Bell: "Dashing Through the Snow". As always, you'l find my card over at MIM #109.














Thanks for visiting. I'll update the long list of alcohol markers later, but now we've off to church.  Have a blessed Sunday y'all and we'll catch up soon. And Sandie.... can't wait to see what you come up with!

Beijinhos