Christmas mouse

Just a quick post today to introduce the first Christmas card of the season. 

I've been invited to prepare a GD project for the newest challenge over at Penny's papertake. I said yes, but the thing is: I've had this conversation in the beginning of September, and since the challenge was scheduled a few weeks from then, I completely - and I mean totally - forgot about it. Only a couple of weeks later it occured to me that there might be some unfinished project in the back of my mind, and suddenly it dawned on me... Didn't I take on a GD task ages ago? I anxiously checked my inbox, already convinced that I screwed up, because it really has been a long time since I have been in touch with Geesje. 

Sweaty and shaking I finally realized that the due date was yet to come - what a relief! I could have sworn that I've already embarrased myself, and now it turns out I could play it off as "being late". So, I picked one of the digi's I've been offered almost a month ago, but since the challenge was still a couple of weeks away, I put it aside for a bit - and promptly forgot about the challenge once again! What a mess!

Last week, I remembered that unfinished task again, and while checking my inbox again I was now completely sure that I've missed the challenge - only to realize I had, in fact, a few days left. Off to work before I ultimately forget about my due project! And here it is, my twice forgotten GD task featuring this adorable mouse from Digi Doodles. It's a Christmas themed motif obviously, but I decided to use rather untraditional colours. 

The checked background paper has been on my mind for quite some time. I was thinking about creating a card inspired by the pink ribbon, but I can't help thinking that the whole pink October thing is just a way for people and businesses to look good, to gather attetion and revenue. I'm all for awareness and research, but I can't understand what a discount code for a random store will do just because it's printed in pink? It seems to me that the symbol of breast cancer gets abused a lot this way, and therefore, the whole thing just doesn't resonate with me. 

Anyway, as I had the paper at hand, I thought I might as well use it in my Christmas project. At first, I matched it with a couple of other papers to create the general layout of my card. Then, I painted the little mouse with coloured pencils. I mostly kept the pink and grey colour scheme, except for the holly. 

After that, I made one major change to my card plan: originally, I wanted to place a white ribbon on the grey cardboard, but I opted for a sheet of white embossed paper instead. I used a border punch to create an eye catcher on the left part of my card, and printed a simple Christmas wish which I placed on a piece of pink cardboard.

After I glued everything together, I think it doesn't look too bad alltogether. I'm thinking about adding a bit of glitter to the mouse's cap, but I'm not sure whether I should add shimmer or not. I'll be happy to take your thoughts into consideration whether my card is finished enough, or is it still in need of a little something?

challenges:

- 613 avenue create: ATG
- a bit more time to craft: ATG
- a place to start: purely handmade
- gem of a challenge: ATG
- allsorts challengeblog: ATG

- as you like it: critter or people (definitely critter - I think they're easier to incorporate into my projects because I'm better at colouring animals than people, and I find it easier to match papers/embellishments when I feature an animal, even though I can't really explain why this is happening)

- C.R.A.F.T.: non-traditional Christmas colours
- cardz4guyz: any animal

- Christmas with the cuties: in the pink

- classicdesignchallenge: ATG DT 

- colour crazy challenge: ATG

- crafty catz: ATG with optional twist "add some layers"
- crafty sentiments: ATG
- craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge: ATG as long as it's Christmas
- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper

- creative crafty uncles: males go feminine
- creative moments: ATG

- love to craft: ATG 

- scrapping4fun: ATG

- 12 months of Christmas: ATG

- through the craftroom door: ATG

- vesela hiska: grey as a mouse
- wortartwednesday: ATG
- worldwide open design team challenge: ATG