Caffeinated Christmas Card challenge #54 - Guest Designer

Hello again friends, welcome back to my blog. I was lucky enough to be invited to be a guest designer for the Caffeinated Christmas Card challenge this month.   Their challenge runs until 25th June and the only rules are you have to make a Christmas/holiday card with a coffee, tea and/or hot chocolate theme.  Sounds fun right?  

For this month's challenge DT Christine is the hostess and the optional shop is Stampin' Up, which just means if you have any SU supplies then feel free to use them, but it's only optional so don't worry if you don't.  I don't have any SU products so went with some Spellbinders dies on my card.  I hope you like it.  

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting all the elements to create my mug of hot cocoa from coloured card from my scraps bin.  I used a slightly darker red for the base of my mug and a lighter red for the cup and I also added some shading around the edge of the cup to give the centre a slight glow.  I used liquid glue to assemble the candy cane and tree and also to adhere the foam/marshmallows to the base before adding the cup with foam squares.  I decided to do a shaped panel from my background so used an oval die to cut out some green textured card.  I added the cup onto the green panel with foam squares and added a few loose marshmallows with a mix of liquid glue and foam squares.  I stamped the sentiment in red ink onto white card and used a smaller oval to cut it out.  I added the sentiment in the upper left of the panel with foam squares.  The panel was added directly onto the card base with double sided tape.  I finished off with a few red solid sequins.  For the inside I cut another oval from white card and cut a small piece of red card using the same die.  I adhered them together with liquid glue. I added a die cut tree to the bottom right and stamped the sentiment in the centre with red ink.  I somehow managed to mark the panel (I think I put my damp tidy towel on top of it) so covered over the mark with two of the small yellow stars.  The panel was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut

CRAFT challenge - Christmas

Die Cut Divas challenge - ATG must use a die cut

Farm Quest Grocery Game challenge - food and/or drink

Girlz Creative Christmas challenge - ATG Christmas

Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes

Peace on Earth Christmas challenge - ATG Christmas optional inspiration board

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up challenge - ATG Christmas optional twist marble magic

I would like to thank Amy at CCCC for inviting me to be a guest for this fun challenge and I hope you will pop over and leave the team some love.  I can't wait to see what you create.  

Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Spellbinders - merry mug creations die set

Spellbinders - Santa's sippin' sayings stamp (for both sentiments) - on sale!

Spellbinders - essential stylish ovals die set

Spellbinders - scarlet color essential smooth disc sequins

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

*Gina K Designs - ink pads - cherry red, red hot, fresh asparagus

green textured card from American Crafts Project Life Strawberry Edition card pack

all coloured card from my scraps bin

*I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 
Thank you x