Mystery Guest Design Spot

Today I am happily posting a card for a GDS at Crafting By Designs in conjunction with their current challenge theme,  Getting Ready for Christmas.  

They were kind enough to Spotlight one of my cards last month, which is how I got this gig.

There is a story that goes with this post, so please bear with me.  

Doris contacted me about making something for the Crafting By Designs Blog on September 3rd.  Unfortunately, our communications back and forth mysteriously disappeared from my google mail account shortly thereafter.  I knew I had a card to make but, for the life of me, could not remember for whom.  I did, however, remember the date by which it needed to be ready.  Under the circumstances, I thought it would be fitting to use a mystery message card, a card fold I had recently discovered and never made.  And then I hoped that whoever had asked me to make something for Aug. 24th would contact me.  

Thank heavens, Doris followed up on her request and I was all ready with a card.   At least I thought I was.  Next mystery, what happened to the card photos?  I didn't have a draft for the post.  That would have been too simple and efficient.  And I couldn't find any photos in my picture file.  The postman had delivered it to a friend weeks ago, so I couldn't retake them.  Now what?  Then I checked my camera and found the photos still there waiting to be uploaded.  I uploaded them, did a little editing and was ready to send them off. Whew!  

When Doris contacted me, the thread of original emails was restored and I could again view the original email which had disappeared.   Oh no!  I didn't remember there was a theme!  I had a fall birthday card all ready and the challenge theme was Getting Ready for Christmas.  Doris was gracious enough to give me a few days to prepare another project.  So without further ado, a Mystery Message Christmas Card...

Card Front looks like an ordinary Gate Fold

Card Back

Inside of card

So where's the Mystery?

Another card lurks inside containing a mystery message.

And here's the message from The Fat Man himself.

I borrowed a few new CTMH products** from my

 CTMH consultant, Joyce Houck,

 to make this card with the promise that she could have the card for display at our next rapidly approaching 

 stamping show,

 October 11th & 12th in York, PA.

**CTMH Yuletide Carol Paper Pack (Some of the papers I didn't use for the card itself I used as background for taking the photos.)

**CTMH Stamp Set Merry, Merry Holiday

I also used some old CTMH paper for the Ho Ho Ho, which was cut using the CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge. 

Personally, I think this is a really cool card fold.  And it is so easy!  I am definitely making more.  Don't you think it would be a neat Make & Take for the card show?  Would you sit down at a table to discover the mysteries of this card?  Please leave a comment and let me know.  I'd also be interested to know how much you would be willing to pay to make a card like this?

 

I  am entering this card in the following card challenges:

Jingle Bells Challenge - We Three Kings (use 3 different DP)

Winter Wonderland Christmas Challenge - Layer It Up

Dream It Up Challenge - Christmas and the Holidays

Red Rubber Inspirational Challenge #139 - Stay Focused on Stamping

ABC Christmas Challenge - S for Something festive (the wreath)

The Paper Shelter Challenge #175 - Card with many folds

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Lots of Layers

Crafty Sentiments Design Challenge - Christmas in September

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Favorite Tool (I love the look of ink distressing.  You can see I distressed almost every edge on this card, and there were a lot of them.  So I'd say my favorite tool was the spoinge dauber.)

 Now the only mystery remaining is  (besides what I am making for dinner)  - when will the first mystery message birthday card appear on my blog?

If you aren't one of my 99 followers, I hope you don't miss it.