Hello, SCT friends! It’s day three of our 12 Days of Holiday Giving event and we’re carrying on with the fun and festivities brought to you by our talented design team and amazing partner sponsors. If you missed yesterday’s post, be sure to go back to find a free cut file along with two giveaways up for grabs!

Today, we have our lovely Editor In Chief, Susan R. Opel joining us with some creative cards, and giveaways from Hero Arts and us here at SCT headquarters! 

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Greetings from Utah, dear readers! I hope you’re having an AMAZING December so far!

 There’s something about the holidays that gets my creative juices flowing, and I’m sure you’ll agree that there are all sorts of Christmas-themed products that you just can’t HELP but use! This fall I got my hands on some awesome holiday products from Hero Arts, and I’m excited to share three cards that I made with them.

 This first card is an homage to the Christmas Eves I celebrated as a child, and I modeled the tiny church after my childhood church with regal pines.

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 Supplies | Stamps: Hero Arts; Dies: Hero Arts, My Favorite Things; Patterned Paper: Doodlebug Design; Markers: Spectrum Noir; Cardstock, Embossing Powder, Glitter, Ink: Simon Says Stamp; Glitter cardstock: My Favorite Things; Embossing folder: Provo Craft; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, Therm O Web, Ranger Industries 

Each December 24th, we’d enter the sanctuary singing as snow often fell outside the darkened stained-glass windows. But inside we were warmed by the hiss of the radiators, the soft candlelight, and the arrival of baby Jesus. It was simple and like a storybook. And I’m so glad it’s a part of my story.

 I loved adding glitter to the roof and trees on this card, and I pulled out a long-forgotten polka dotted embossing folder to add to the whimsical scene. Polka dots from Doodlebug Design are never a bad idea! The Cozy Town stamp set from Hero Arts is just the sweetest thing, don’t you agree?

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 Supplies | Stamp: Hero Arts; Dies: Hero Arts, My Favorite Things, Simon Says Stamp; Patterned Paper: Simple Stories; Cardstock, Ink: Simon Says Stamp; Specialty Cardstocks: My Favorite Things, Simon Says Stamp; Adhesives: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, Therm O Web

 My second card includes a tiny wintry town scene created with the Tri-Fold Edge Village die from Hero Arts and cut from holographic cardstock. While my hometown wasn’t mountainous, we did have lots of piles of snow in the church parking lot! I remember climbing those hills during very cold recess time. The Simple Stories patterned paper was perfect for the pretty snow-filled sky, and I love the sentiments in the Comfort and Joy stamp set from Hero.

I can’t wait to send this card to a friend to bless her Christmas. What a joy to share the love via something handmade!

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 Supplies | Dies: Hero Arts; Foil:: Therm O Web; Cardstock: My Favorite Things, Simon Says Stamp; Trim: Canvas Corp; Sentiment: Simon Says Stamp; Adhesives: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, Therm O Web

The third card that I created has a more rustic feel to it, which isn’t my normal go-to style, but I was still able to add my signature shimmer with Lily Pad Fairy Tale Deco Foil from Therm O Web! I started with double-sided adhesive on red cardstock and then die cut the Hero Arts Merry Christmas script die. Once that was done, I peeled back the adhesive and added the foil to it for a fun and simple technique.

For the background, I used the Hero Arts Woodgrain Texture fancy die and added even more rustic charm with a twine bow.

I hope you’ve been inspired by these simple cards!

May the light and love of the season bring you warm memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime! Merry Christmas, and here’s to a wonderful, happy, and prosperous 2021!

~ Susan

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Wow, Susan created some stunning cards. We love that each one is special and unique. To go along with Susan’s beautiful card creations, our friends at Hero Arts have generously donated this gift:

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This prize package contains:

To go along with your holiday cards, you also need something to record your holiday memories! Our winner today will also receive our own Happy Holidays album kit!

Capture the joys of your holiday season with our exclusive 2020 6×8 Happy Holidays album kit designed by Virginia Nebel and complete with full colour assembly instructions. This curated kit includes products from Crate Paper, Echo Park, Carta Bella, Simple Stories, and Photo Play Paper! Your finished holiday album, containing over 35+ delightful traditional and pocket pages with fun interactive flaps will surely bring a smile to your heart this holiday season, and for years to come.

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To enter to win both of these festive prizes, leave a comment on this post by December 22nd at noon EST. A winner will be selected at random and announced here on the blog on December 23rd! Don’t forget to follow our friends at Hero Arts at the links below to get a daily dose of creative card inspiration! Let them know how much you love this prize too!

Hero Arts : Shop | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

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Just joining us? Be sure to click each day below!

Day One – Giveaway from Doodlebug Designs &  Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Day Two – Giveaway from Photo Play Paper and Pink & Main