Christmas Cards

I have two Christmas cards to share today and they were both inspired by the gals at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown. My first card is for their current sketch challenge:

You have until Friday, August 10 to enter this challenge -- why not join in????

My second card was inspired by an example from Patty, a member of the design team, for a previous challenge. Here is her card.........

And here's mine......

Thanks to my friend, Alice, who allowed me to use her embossing folder (and her Big Kick) at our card making group yesterday.  My Big Shot jammed up this past week and the handle wouldn't turn. My husband took it apart, straightened out a bent piece, and put it back together again -- you've probably seen where there were leftover parts at the end of the process -- that happened to us, but the thing is still embossing and cutting dies!!!! I can't take it to our stamping group any more because it has to be handled just right, but thank the good Lord, it's still working! I use that thing on almost every card that I make and it's going to be awfully hard to replace since I can't just run down to Michael's with a coupon and replace it -- no Michael's here in Mexico!!

Bye for now,
Betty