hop-inspired adventure

Did you make it all the way through the Llama Holiday Hop?  There were so many great ideas, I went back again and tried some myself.  I loved the embossed glimmer paper Marsha used on her Valentine, so I tried it as a Christmas card:

(seriously, I don't know why I can't get a straight picture when both the viewfinder and the subject matter have straight sides)

I used the Petals-a-Plenty textured impressions embossing folder because it seemed more Christmas-y, but I think Marsha's bolder embossed design - Vintage Wallpaper - stands out more.

I also had to try Debbie's Mocha Morning Christmas.  The Mocha Morning specialty designer series is one of my favorites, I think it's really elegant, but I never quite know what to do with flocked paper.  I don't have the stamp sets Debbie used, so I made a few changes:

(see what I mean?  this one is even worse!  aaargh)

 I used Versamark with the Baroque Border Stampin' Around wheel after embossing the sentiment from The Sounding Joy in gold on Very Vanilla.  I used the Scallop Trim border and corner punches and Stampin' Dimensionals to set it off over the Victoria 5/8" crochet trim.  It's unusual for a Christmas card, but it's striking, don't you think?  And, bonus for me, flocking is SOFT so I'm back on track at Jingle Belles!