Monday, October 25, 2010

Papertrey Blog Hop!

This month's theme for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop is to make a card or project celebrating a winter holiday!  Since PTI showcased Christmas for 10 days in October, Nichole Heady asked participants to make a card featuring a holiday that is celebrated by another culture or in a different country.

Happy Chinese New Year!
A time for new beginnings, giving thanks, and reunions with family and friends.  Chinese New Year begins at the second New Moon after winter solstice.  This typically corresponds with a day between January 21st -February 19th on the solar calendar.  The holiday lasts 15 days, and each day is distinguished with a different activity, such as visiting relatives or eating special foods.

I bought my daughters Eva and Claire a darling book called "My First Chinese New Year" by Karen Katz when they were little.  The book is torn and tattered because they loved reading it so much.  This inspired me to head to Google to find out more about this holiday!  To my surprise, it represents "Turning over a New Leaf" which just happens to be a stamp set from Papertrey Ink!

Here is my card.  The meaning of each part of the card is listed below:


The red signifies the Red LaiThese are red envelopes given to children with money or gold coins inside for good luck.

The white leaves are from the PTI set "Turning a New Leaf"

Used PTI's Guide Lines stamp set on the bottom to signify Spring CoupletsThese are expressions of good wishes for the family in the coming New Year.  They are written in black ink on red paper.

Used orange rhinestones to signify tangerines, oranges, and pomelos, foods typically eaten on Chinese New Year.  Orange signifies "wealth", and tangerines signify "good luck".  The reason these fruits came to represent these things is because of a language "pun".  These pairs of words in Chinese have the same sounds (tangerine/good luck, orange/wealth).

Kept the design clean and simple.  It is tradition to clean the house and "sweep away the bad luck from last year, so the family is ready to welcome good luck in the New Year."  This holiday, more than any other, stresses family ties.  On Chinese New Year's Eve there is a dinner gathering which is among the most important family gatherings of the year.

Lastly, I used the Best of Luck sentiment from PTI's Faux Ribbon set.  To wish Good Luck in the coming year.

I so enjoyed making this card and learning somthing new!  I can't wait to see everyone's creations!  Thanks for stopping by!

43 comments:

Keva said...

Cool card! I love the way you used the meanings of things for each section of your card.

Banu said...

Beautiful card. Loved the way you have created this.

Susan said...

I love how you integrated the meaning of the holiday with your card. VERY creative!!

Karin Åkesdotter said...

Relly love your card and your take on the challenge! Super!

Dana said...

Oh Kelly, you are a creative genius. LOVE that you used turning a new leaf for the perfect sentiment of the CHinese New Year. Lovely colors, beautiful LO, all around perfect card!

Jen Carter said...

So pretty!

Unknown said...

I love it so creative and neat giving each part a meaning.

Laura Isham said...

This card is really great! I love the holiday you chose and the elegant way you celebrated it.

Adele Fowler said...

great card!! Love the meanings too :)

Kay D said...

Great card, and a fabulous explanation of Chinese New Year!

Barbara DeBose said...

You did your homework! What a great job and thanks for the education on the Chinese New Year!

Babies-Beth said...

Wow! Thanks for all of that! What great use of new information you did!

Linda said...

So-o-o clever! And so well done. Thank you for sharing.

itsallrosi said...

this came out great!

Carol's Ink Spot said...

Kelly your card is fabulous! I love how you incorporated as much of the meaning of the Chinese New Year into it along with explaining the symbolism too.

Mariah said...

Great card...with such meaning...very nice!

Christi said...

oooh what a beautiful card! I love all the symbolism you used in your elements.

Kelly Braund said...

Kelly this is fabulous! Love the story and the bottom stamped paper looks beautiful!

Paula Laird said...

This is wonderful! thanks for explaining the elements, too! Might have to CASE this for my neighbors!

Lea L. said...

This is so clean and elegant! I love the colors of it, and the jewel accents are awesome!! Great job with the PTI Blog Hop challenge! ♥♥♥

Kara said...

beautiful!!! thanks so much fro including all the symbolism!! wonderful!

Sue Lelli said...

Not only is your card a work of art but the education I received was enlightening! Thanks!

Terri said...

Great card. Thanks for sharing more about the Chinese New Year too!

Cammie said...

Perfection, Kelly! I love the signficance of each detail on your card. You are so creative!
Thanks for sharing.

Harriet Skelly said...

Kelly this is one awesome card - thanks for explaining the different parts!

nancy said...

This is a very thoughtful and clever card. And it looks great, too.

Amy Kolling said...

Kelly what a great holiday to showcase and thank you for telling the story behind it! Great job with your card and this challenge!

Marge said...

Wow, you rocked this challenge & your explanation of each part! TFS!!!

Helen F. said...

Stunning card, Kelly! Love how you explained the meaning of each part :o)

Cindy Coutts Designs said...

Kelly, love this card and it's very creative and ingenious to think of this.

Stacy Simpson said...

This is fantastic!

Unknown said...

Perfect card!! the colors are so pretty! and I enjoyed reading your post! learned a lot! everything in your card symbolizes something..fascinating!

Rosanne said...

Great card!

Kelly said...

Kelly, your card is lovely. It is just so interesting to find all of the different ideas about this challenge. Good job!

Terri Trotter Earley said...

What a great card. Great job with the PTI challenge.

It's a good life!
Terri E.

DF said...

This is gorgeous!! I love the background pattern you created, and the white leaves against the red (with the red bling!). It's such a striking look!

I made a Chinese New Year card too. :)

Gayatri said...

Gorgeous card! Love it ")

Vicki Dutcher said...

Kelly - what a GREAT holiday and your card is fabulous! Love the dots of bling~~

Kristii said...

What a fantastic card!!! Thanks for sharing all the symbolism behind it!!!

Laurie HIMCR said...

Very clever take on the challenge! Gorgeous card!! TFS!

Gabby said...

WaY COOOL card! :)

Susan said...

very fun card, Kelly. It was interesting to learn the details of the holiday.

jen said...

So pretty!!!