Hello!  Once again, it’s time for a new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Asha, our hostess, has chosen an interesting theme for this week:  Nordic Christmas.  To borrow some of her words from the challenge description:  “It’s rustic, minimalistic, cool, cozy, calm and peaceful… the look: homespun, handmade.”  Check out the 52{C}CT site for more information and to see what the rest of the design team has made.

It took me a while to figure out what to make for this challenge.  My first attempt fell very very flat, so since I wasn’t very happy at all with that card, I went on to try it again.  The “homespun, handmade” part of the description called out to me, so I thought that maybe I should try a simple cross-stitch design.  Off to Google I went, and my search turned up quite a few patterns, including some pretty but simple snowflakes.  So I stitched up one of them on some 14-count Aida cloth.  I borrowed this week’s CAS(E) This Sketch! layout for my card, turning it on its side and tweaking the placement of the sentiment.  Although I had a hard time getting the stitched panel and its mat trimmed as precisely as I would have liked, I’m overall a lot more pleased with this card than with my first attempt.

What will you do with our theme?  Please show us by linking your own Christmas or wintry card at the 52{C}CT site by 1:00 p.m. Eastern time Friday, September 26.  We’d love to see your artwork!  Thanks for stopping by today.

Supplies:
Stamps: Short & Sweet (Stampin’ Up); Happy Everything, Critters in the Snow (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Real Red, Naturals White (SU)
Ink: Real Red (SU)
Other: embroidery floss (DMC); Aida cloth (Charles Craft)