Warm Cocoa Wishes

Recently I created a paper shadow box with an easel for our Time Out #297 "Your Favorite Season" Inspired By-themed challenge. It is difficult to have a favorite season where I live now because summer is HOT, fall is the very unwanted hot/humid hurricane season, winter is nice, mildly warm/low humidity with about a week of cold (60 degrees Fahrenheit?), and spring is very short with increasing temps. 

From age 5 through retirement I was always in schools in other climates and my favorite season was of course summer (vacation). To make things simple, my favorite unconventional choice for the challenge is the Christmas season! Calm and pleasant weather, baking, cooking, stitching, shopping, crafting and gifting; It encompasses all of my favorite things!

Our wonderful sponsor, Waffle Flower Crafts, is generously offering a $25 store credit as a prize for our Challenge Winner, who will also get an invitation to join us as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

We are joined by Darnell Knauss of djkardcreations, and winner of Time Out #292 as Guest Designer. Darnell runs the wonderful NBUS Challenge, Never Before Used Schtuff.

What I used for my card:

Spellbinders - Cocoa Wonderland and Mugs and Mittens die sets

PinkFresh Studio - Festive Grid Coverplate die

Impression Obsession- Easel die

Card stock scraps, including glitter papers in rose gold and red shimmer

Stampin' Up! - Classic ink pad

I have made this paper shadowbox frame before, but a long time ago. I had to search You Tube for a formula (here) to make the exact size I was looking for, which is A2. Her (Papercrafting Threads) example is another size. On my third try I got mine right, thankfully. 

Next, I die cut the background and ink blended an ombré teal color. I just love the little symbols of the season in this coverplate. I added bits of the rose gold glitter card stock behind each star in the background panel.

I assembled the pieces of the mug and adhered them together. Then I popped it all up on foam tape inside the frame.

Last, I die cut the sentiment out of a pretty red shimmery card stock and added it to the scene. 

There is an easel behind my shadowbox that can be undone to lie flat.

Which season will you pick for your favorite? We can't wait to see your cards in the gallery with the seasons represented! See you there?

Carol