A Nod to “Elf”

Before I share today’s post, I want to thank the Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge Design Team for selecting my “Season of Joy” card with the Merry Patterns stamp set as an Honorable Mention for the week.  I love the inspiration from online challenges, but it’s always an honor to be recognized by the team.  If you missed my “Season of Joy” card, you can see it here.  Thanks to the Merry Monday Team!

This week’s Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge asks us to share a project inspired by a Christmas movie.  I’m a big fan of funny things.  One of my favorite movies (and a Christmas favorite) is “Elf,” an over-the-top comedy starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf who is a human raised as an elf.  He travels to New York City to find his parents when he learns he’s not like the other elves – but he still behaves like an elf.  Such a great movie with lots of laughs and lots of heart!

Here’s my card with a little nod to “Elf” in Buddy’s signature green outfit and yellow tights:

Festive Phrases, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, elf Christmas card

Just to prove how much I love this movie, here’s an old picture of me at Stampin’ Up!’s Founders Circle pajama party wearing a shirt with my favorite quote from Buddy the Elf shirt – “I just like smiling.  Smiling’s my favorite.”

And here’s the banner for the challenge that inspired my card:

Tips, Tricks and Reminders

  • Festive Phrases.  You don’t have to twist my arm for me to fall in love with a good sentiment set.  AND when a set covers lots of different holidays, I’m all in.  Festive Phrases is a four-stamp set with two Christmas stamps, a Halloween stamp and a Valentine’s Day stamp (although this one is versatile to be used for any gift at any time of year).  I adore this shy, little elf and am sure I can mask the sentiment to add something else to his sign.  “Happy Holidays” works fine for this card, though, so I didn’t have to make any changes.  Yay!  Here’s a look at Festive Phrases:
    Festive Phrases, Stampin' Up!, 144960

    Festive Phrases, Stampin’ Up!

    I paper snipped the little guy, layering all the pieces and then coloring his ears and hands with Powder Pink: Festive Phrases, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, elf Christmas card

  • Christmas Around the World.  I love this bold, red-and-white stripe from the Christmas Around the World Designer Series Paper.  It gave me a perfect backdrop for this sweet elf.  Here’s a look at this paper:  Christmas Around the World, Stampin' Up!, Brian King 144629Here’s a tip for lining up stripes:  I wanted to make sure the stripes were equally distributed on the card such that the amount of “leftovers” on the top equals the “leftovers” on the bottom.  First, I cropped my paper at 3-7/8″ (the width of the piece) and then slid the paper across the ruler on your Stampin’ Trimmer to find the place where the stripes are equally balanced before cutting the 5-1/8″ height of the piece.
  • Emerald Envy.  I keep one or two packs of all colors of cardstock on hand at all times – I never know when I might need a bunch of one color – and I use it all.  For some reason, though, I have 5 packs of Emerald Envy.  I’m guessing I made a mistake in my paper calculations one time and was excited to use it up with the Holiday Catalog.  When we were first introduced to this bright, cheery green in 2016 (it’s a 2016-2018 In Color), we were excited by the possibilities.  This year’s “Christmas green” seems to be Garden Green, so Emerald Envy is nowhere to be found.  This is my effort to deplete my stash before the color retires next year.  🙂

Stamp Sets:  Festive Phrases  Papers:  Around the World Designer Series Paper, Emerald Envy, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White  Inks:  Archival Basic Black, Powder Pink  Accessories:  Paper Snips, Blender Pens, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I hope you’ll pop over to the Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge site to see the cards by the design team members and to play along with this week’s challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Brian

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44 Comments

  1. I adore how you paper snipped his hat and shoes! He looks particularly handsome against the red strip designer paper. Well done!

    • Thanks so much, Mary! Since Buddy the Elf has no red on him (he’s all green and yellow), I decided to pull in red on the back panel. Paper snipping was a fun way to brighten up the small images on the card. Thanks!

  2. Fun card Brian! And oh my goodness, my leftovers have to match perfectly too! Maybe we were separated at birth??!

    • Yay! I know we are separated by a large ocean, so we might not be separated by birth… but I love that you are detailed with your leftovers. 🙂 Thanks so much, Lorraine! <3

  3. This is a super bold and bright card! It has great colors , layout, and the elf is perfect. A wonderful card and layout to CASE. ?

  4. Brian, you have such a pretty face – you should be on a Christmas card! 🙂 elf is a favorite too – I remember going to the theaters to see it and laughing out loud so much. Adorable card! Really wish it was a single stamp!

    • Thanks so much, Holly! This might be the first time someone has said I have a pretty face. 🙂 Thanks! So glad you like this card – there are two other great stamps in this set. 🙂

  5. Linda W. (ScrappinBari)

    Super cute elf, Brian, and I love him with the red & white striped paper behind!! Fun photo of you in your Elf quote t-shirt too! That movie has so many goodies. Thanks for joining us at Merry Monday and congrats on your HM from last week!!

    • Thanks so much for the comment, Linda! It was a fun challenge – thought I was going to have to sit this week out until I came across this cutie. Thanks so much!

  6. So fun Brian, I love the paper snipping and the festive colours on your holiday card. Thank you for joining us for Merry Monday.

  7. Brian, first congrats on the recognition they must have some pretty savvy people judging those challenge entries. Secondly today’s card is so stinkin’ cute. I love that little bashful elf, you could say he’s tots adorbs. I think this card is simply another example of your amazing creativity . Awesome project

  8. Ooooh, my friend I love your smile , it makes ANYONE start there day with a happy smile, you did mine , lol……love it♥️
    And your card is soooo cute , love that set , shhhh, I think I love them all, ?
    Tfs hugs Frenchie ♥️

  9. simply adorable!

  10. Hahaha!! I love that movie too, it’s a classic every Holiday Season.
    And this card can’t be more cute and adorable, love your paper piecing and as always, your layout brings the best on your images and sentiments.
    Thank you for sharing.
    XO
    Maria.

  11. Your card is so cute. Love buddy hiding behind that sign and the striped background paper. Thanks for joining us this week at Merry Monday.

  12. Elf is my favorite Christmas movie. Have to watch it at the very least, one time each year. Your card is so cute.

  13. Your card is very cute….love the movie Elf!!

  14. Just too cute!

  15. Trying to type with watery eyes is difficult, but the comment from Holly has me in stitches. I absolutely love your fan base! You are deserving of ALL compliments!!! This card is Awesome with a capital A.
    Love the colors, paper piecing, and the balance is superb. Thank you Brian, for all your effort to give us perfection in this gorgeous card!

  16. Awesome card…very elf like for sure!

  17. Gotta love a stamp set that you can use year round!
    Love the elf!

  18. Have to totally agree with your choice of favorite movie as you can see it is mine too! Your card is perfect with all the little snippets and LOVE the red & white striped background too! And congrats on your HM last week…well deserved! Thanks so much for sharing with us again at Merry Monday this week! :0)

    • Thanks so much, Marcia! This was a super-fun challenge. Wasn’t sure I’d be able to give a nod to a movie until I realized how he could look like Buddy with all the right colors. Thanks so much!

  19. Such a fun card, and I love the candy cane stripes.
    xxx

    • Thanks so much, Caroline! I appreciate that. It was a fun card to make – had to add in some red since Buddy’s outfit is green and yellow. These red stripes were fun to play with.

  20. Adorable card, great movie, and great picture of you!

  21. Your card caught my eye in the Merry Monday gallery! We chose the same movie 🙂 love it no matter how many times I see it! Great card 🙂

  22. Love this card!! Would you please share the dememtions of the papers?

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