Trim-trim-trimeree and a bit of insanity...

Good morning blog friends! I just want to say how thankful I am for all the lovely comments in response to my post the other day. I have to admit I was a bit worried that everyone would just disappear and blogging would become a thing of the past for me. But apparently, there are a lot of wonderful, understanding readers out there that inspire me to keep going! So I'm not going to stress over not posting every few days, and I will just enjoy my hobby and share my love of stamping when I can. I love interacting with my fellow stampers, so if you have questions, or just want to chit chat, feel free to email me using the link in my right sidebar. I answer every email!

On to my card today. This kind of card normally would take me 2 or 3 hours to create, from coloring to assembling the final layout. This time, I worked on it sporadically for three days, probably more like 5 or 6 hours. I don't know why. I can't seem to get into my usual 'groove'. I hem, and haw and try one thing, try something else because I don't like it, etc.

See the background paper? That was a bit of insanity, lol. I got it into my head I HAD to have a diamond background cut file for my Cameo, couldn't find one I liked for sale, so I embarked on making my own. Mind you, I'm not an expert at designing cut files, actually this is the first time I've done one I liked completely from scratch. It.took.me.forever... and a day. 

The second bit of insanity is the fact that I cut the diamonds from four different kinds of paper, so I had a PILE of tiny little diamond cut-outs to poke out. Actually, most of them came out easily, although there were a couple of sticky ones that fought me. THEN I assembled all the different patterned diamonds in the red paper background, kind of like a puzzle. Kind of therapeutic actually.

A lot of work I didn't really intend to do. I envisioned the diamonds would be bigger, resulting in less 'puzzling' LOL! Needless to say I'm working on a redesign of this cut file. If you want this version, email me and I'd be happy to send it to you. I only have a Silhouette Studio version, like I said, I'm a beginner at this sort of thing and have no idea to convert to different file types. 

Anyway, I colored 'Trimming the Tree' with my Copics and some colored pencils. I made the medallion flower using several strips of edge punched patterned paper that I scored every 1/4" and folded up, then flattened. I used a dab of hot glue to hold it all together. There are tons of tutorials on the web how to make them.
I added a tiny tag to the gold bow using one of the stamps from the 'Christmas Sentiment Tags' set. I like that the tags are a really easy shape to cut out with my trusty old scissors. No die needed. A punch might be nice though...
Or a cut file...I wonder if I could manage it? I'll let you know in 6 months, lol, that's how long it might take me to figure it out! 
Any Cameo experts out there care to give it a go? ;-)

Thanks for visiting!