Decorated "Merry" - 52CCT April Stash Challenge - Glitter

Hello friends!  Here we are to the weekend and time for another challenge at 52 {Christmas}Card Throwdown - where we are helping you get your Christmas cards ready one week at a time :o)

Deborah has chosen the 52CCT April Stash Challenge which is to use Glitter 

Yep - that's right - Glitter!  We think that most of you must have some of this in your stash in some form.  For example, bottles of glitter, glitter glue, glittery stickers, glitter paper. Hmmm...am I missing anything?

I LOVE the look of glitter - but HATE the mess of it. 

Most of my glitter stash is in the form of glitter glue and stickers. 

I do have some glitter paper that doesn't flake off  on everything that I like as well.  

So... here's what I came up with using some glitter from my stash. Take a look:

As you can see, I went to my cardstock sticker stash and made something fun :o)

It's kind of hard to see the glitter so here's a closer view:

Oh dear - I don't know what's wrong with this photo. I apologize for the poor quality!

Hopefully the glitter stuff at least shows better.

I had this negative die piece sitting on my desk from a previous card.  It worked perfectly 

for me to use and participate in the Merry Monday Challenge #105

which is to use a Christmas word or words and decorate each letter of the word.

I am also entering my card in the following challenges: 

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - April Anything Goes

The Crafter's Cafe Challenge #60 - Add Glitter

Simply Create Too Challenge #60  'Stack Um Up' - use at least 2 layers

So will you join us for the 52CCT April Stash Challenge?  You can use a lot or a little glitter.

The rest of my lovely DT pals have made some wonderful glittery creations to inspire you.

Please go visit them and say "hi". We love to hear from you :o)

Til next time friends...hugs and happy crafting! D

Holiday Wishes...52CCT - March 2014 Sketch Challenge

Hello lovelies! Hope this first day of March finds you healthy and happy.
Today's forecast is below zero and more snow.
A good day to stay in and make Christmas cards for me :o).

Time for a new month of challenges and a new DT hostess at 52CCT.
Patricia will be our hostess this month and she has some great challenges for us.

The first week of each month is a sketch challenge - take a look:

So many possibilities with this great sketch.
You can use any shape you like (hexagons, circles, flowers, snowflakes, etc.).
Just make sure that we can still see the bones of the sketch -
oh and of course, that it's Christmas themed.

I must have changed my mind about 5 times on what I wanted to do with this sketch.
Eventually I decided on ornaments as my main shape (for the larger circles)
and a mix of circles and snowflakes for the smaller circles in the sketch.
Here's what I have to share with you today:

One of my ornaments was stamped and then embossed in silver.  

All three were punched using my ornament punch.  

I remembered that I had these silver rub ons from ages ago (probably 5 or 6 years) 

that would coordinate with the punched shape.  

I used to be addicted to rub ons. Still have quite a stash that I probably should use more :o). 

Anyway... lots of different textures on this card. The dry embossed snowflake panel,

the glittery silver, the shiny silver, the matt silver and the pearls.  

I am entering my card in the following challenges: 

Merry Monday #97  (where I got the color inspiration for aqua, silver and white) 

and

Divas by Design - Make it Sparkle

I sure hope that you will decide to join us this week at 52CCT for the March 2014 Sketch Challenge. 

The rest of our wonderful DT members have made some beautiful Christmas cards to inspire you.  

So fun to see our different interpretations of this sketch. 

Please pop into their blogs and say "hi".

Til next time friends...hugs and happy crafting! D 

Christmas Landscape - February Theme Challenge 52CCT

Hello friends!  Welcome to my two newest followers, I'm so happy that you're on board with me :o)

Time for another weekly challenge at 52CCT. This week our February hostess Jacqueline has chosen the theme challenge of landscape.  We'd like to see you create a Christmas card with a Landscape on it.

I really, really admire cards that have a nature theme and especially landscapes, but must admit this one wasn't easy for me as nature and landscapes are not my strong suit.  I fussed and fussed around with different ideas and then decided to stay true to my own style and still meet the landscape theme with a spin of my own.  Take a look please:

This card took me a L-o-n-g-g-g-g time to make - LOL.  I started with a piece of glossy white cardstock and stamped Santa and the reindeer, and then embossed in black.  Then I stamped the trees along the bottom of the panel using Always Artichoke. I cut a small circle and put it over Santa before I cut masks of the trees using a few post-its (this was tedious and took the most time).  I wanted to create an ombre effect in the sky so I started using the brayer with Marina Mist from the right edge, then I added Island Indigo for the darker color. The brayer didn't get really close to the trees so I had to go back over all of that area (and around the moon) with a finger dauber. Thankfully with the glossy paper it was fairly easy to smooth out and blend.   Somehow along the way I got a finger booger on the panel and didn't notice it until I had heat set the color :o(  Then I colored in the moon with a finger dauber and some Daffodil Delight.  As a last step I put the white layer on the trees and embossed (hoping it would look like snow covered trees that Santa was flying over).   When I was done I had this really gorgeous flow of darker to light in the sky - was pleased and let it dry overnight.  When I finished the card the next day I noticed that the colors had soaked into the paper a bit more and the ombre effect wasn't quite as noticeable any more - bummer.   I am not in love with this card... but it's okay and I had fun making it (while learning a couple lessons along the way). 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Merry Monday #85 - Use an animal on your Christmas card

Twisted Tuesday Challenges - 2TC69 - Up in the Sky 
(they want to see the sky and something in it (flying reindeer)

and

Crafty Hazelnut's CHNC Challenge Extra for February (anything Christmas)

I hope that you will decide to join us this week at 52CCT for the theme challenge - landscape.  The rest of the DT have made some amazing creations to share with and inspire you.  You can see them by clicking here.  I can't wait to see what you create!  Til next time friends... hugs and happy crafting!D
       

Chillin' with my Snowmies - PP178. MM91 and MOJO328

Hello friends - a quick evening post and then off to bed I go to get my beauty rest.  I'm so glad that tomorrow is Friday - whoot whoot! No big plans - just looking forward to chillin' with my children and a little crafting time (if I'm lucky).  Anyway, I've been rolling this card around in my head for a few days now but hadn't had time to get it all together til tonight - please take a look:

I saw the color challenge from LeAnne at The Paper Players and was just instantly in love with that vibrant combo.  LeAnne has spring in mind but I immediately thought of bright colored scarves, hats and mittens. I guess spring still seems too far away for me and I'm in winter mode. Here's the great colors from PP178.

Lucky for me the Merry Monday Challenge #91 is to use a snowman or snowpeople on a Christmas card. So I quickly decided that these colors would make a terrific non-traditional Christmas card.  Love me some snowman with bright happy colors!

Once I had the colors and the image in mind, I needed a great sketch to finish the card.  Its been quite a while since I've played along with the MOJO Monday challenge so I decided to try that.  Here's the sketch (MOJO328):

So there you have it - done, done and done :o)  Really happy with how it turned out. Hope you like it too and thanks for popping in to visit me today and see my card.  Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

Colorful Winter Combo for 52CCT January Color Challenge, FMS118, Merry Monday #90, CCAYR January and ABC Christmas "A" is for Anything Christmas

Hello dear friends and followers, hope this post finds you happy and warm.  I'm looking forward to the weekend and trying more recipes from my Pioneer Woman Cookbook.  My family is lovin' the returns that this gift is providing to them.  My daughter said "I'm just so glad that Mom is really cooking lately".   What???!! I said.  "What do you mean? I cook all the time".  She replied,  "Yeah but it's usually got some part of it from a box or drive through.  Everything you are making lately now is entirely from scratch".   I didn't know whether to laugh or be offended - couldn't really be offended though as it's true.  Hmmmm... just when you think they aren't noticing :o).   Anyway - tomorrow I think I'll make glazed donuts for breakfast and chicken and noodles for dinner.  Wanna join us? Friends are always welcome!

So back to why you probably dropped in to visit.  Today I'm sharing with you my DT card for the 52CCT January Color Challenge.  We would like you to use at least 3 of the colors noted below - but you're sure welcome to use all of them if you like.

I love this great wintry combo and reached for one of my favorite snowman stamps - take a look please:

I used a piece of double sided -patterned cardstock for the base (retired Stampin Up!) - those embossed dots are on the front and back.  The dots make me think of a bunch of snow balls flying around.  Kind of a fun and different use of the paper and it made me feel quite "thrifty" for getting good use of my paper :o).  It has a good solid feel to it and the reverse pattern on the inside is nice too - another bonus.  

I am also entering my card in the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches (FMS118) - sketch

Merry Monday #90 - Use Ribbon or Twine (I used just a wee strip)

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Use Ribbon or Lace

Christmas Cards All Year Round - January - Anything Goes Christmas

ABC Christmas Challenge - "A" is for Anything Christmas
and (because Hazel so kindly invited me)
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge

I'm excited to see what you might make this week with these great colors. The other ladies on the DT of 52CCT  have also made some terrific cards to inspire you this week. Won't you pop on in and visit them to see? Soon we will be having more DT members join us too - Yahoo!    Til next time friends... hugs and happy crafting! D

52CCT - Pick a Previous Challenge - Santa Claus

Hello friends! Here it is the very last Saturday of the November, 2013.  When there are five Saturdays in a month the 52CCT Week 5 Challenge is to Pick a Previous Challenge - as specified by the hostess.  This time Louise (our November hostess) has selected 

Pick A Previous - THEME.   

To see all the previous themes that we have done at 52CCT - just look in the Themes Archive.   

I had several favorite themes this past year so it wasn't easy to choose - ultimately I picked the April 2013 Theme - Santa Claus/Father Christmas.  Here's my DT card (hope you like it):

Isn't he just a jolly guy?  Every once in a while I get the bug to do some distressing and this was one of those occasions.  I used a Kraft scallop circle base and added a whisper white circle to layer on.  To get the list to go over on the sentiment just a tad, I stamped the hand and list a second time, fussy cut around it and then placed it on top of the original image in the circle.   

Fortunately through the 52{Christmas} Card Throwdown Challenge  (52CCT),  I have plenty of cards to send out this year.  Now I need to get some serious shopping done - eek! Most of the people on my list have been nice this year :o)  I won't specifically mention the naughty ones - you already know who you are - LOL!  I do think Santa allows "do overs" though as I've gotten a couple myself in the past :o) (slightly naughty grin).   

The other ladies on our fabulous 52CCT DT have also made some beautiful Christmas cards using past themes to share with you as well.  I hope you will go visit them and then decide to join us this week. 

I'm also entering the following challenges:

MOJO Monday 321 - Round or Square

ABC Christmas Challenges - X is for Out of the Box (NO square shapes)

4 Crafty Chicks Challenges (4CCC) #170  - Christmas

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did.  Til next time friends...hugs and happy crafting! D

Merry Monday #83, JUGS215 & CCC49

Hello dear friends and followers.  A quick post to share a card I made using my new Fresh Squeezed Stamps set called "Christmas Treats", for the following challenges (I apologize for the poor photo) :

Merry Monday #83

Just Us Girls #215 - Color Challenge

and

Creative Card Crew - Challenge #49 Pearls 

(used pearls for candy buttons on the gingerbread men and the snowflake on the cocoa mug).

Isn't it great how these challenges worked so perfectly together? The Stripes part of the Merry Monday challenge gave me an excuse to open up and use my Strips texture embossing folder :o).  I LOVE non-traditional colors for Christmas cards - and Red and Browns are a great combo.  

Thanks for stopping by friends - I'm sure glad that you did.  Rushing off to go teach a class today - will share the card we made later when I return. Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

52CCT - Technique Challenge #22 - Fancy Fold

Hello dear friends and followers, so happy to have you join me today.  Here it is the last weekend of October and thus also my last challenge for the month as hostess of 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown (52CCT).  I've had such fun being the October DT hostess for 52CCT.  It's always a bit nerve-wracking I think to choose the challenges and then cross your fingers and hope that people like what you've put out there for them to try.  So... that being said, here's what I chose for the 52CCT - Technique Challenge #22: 

I have long admired the talents of so many crafters when it comes to cards with a fancy fold.  I decided to challenge not only you - but myself too, as I have only just started learning how to make different folds for my cards.  My DT card to share with you today is a new fold for me - take a look:

I'm so tickled with how it turned out. But...I must admit as I was making my cuts and trying to measure it out I did start to doubt myself and asked myself "what were you thinking when you picked this challenge?". LOL

Here's a side view to show the fold a bit more:

  I'm honestly so happy I gave this a go and plan to make a couple more now that I know what I'm doing.  To see some more terrific fancy fold Christmas cards - please go visit the rest of the lovely ladies on the 52CCT DT.  I hope that you will decide to join us this week and I can't wait to see what you've made. 

I'm also entering this card in the Merry Monday Challenge #80 which is to create a Christmas card that either uses music or is inspired by a Christmas carol.  Can you guess what my Carol is...really more of a song than a carol - but it was always my kids favorite...Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer :o)   

Well... since I stayed up so late getting my card together, I guess I'd better get myself to bed now and get some beauty rest (a gal can never have too much of that as far as I'm concerned).  Til next time friends...hugs and happy crafting! D

Animals, Sparkle and Bling and a Sketch - 52CCT, Merry Monday #53 and CCAYR

Hello dear friends and followers - a quick and short post tonight as I am exhausted!!! after a rough week at work and was rushing to get my card done in time for Louise's great Theme Challenge at 52CCT this week. Louise wants to see animals on your Christmas card - but she has specified "no birds". Well, this darling polar bear was my obvious choice this week as I just think he is quite cute! (note: I apologize for the terrible photo).   

 

I'm also using the sketch from Merry Monday which inspired me to get this card together so very quickly and have added lots of sparkle and bling so that I can participate in the Christmas Cards All Year Round March Challenge - Sparkle & Bling.   Hope you like it and I do hope you will play along with us this week at 52CCT!  The gals on the DT have come up with some terrific inspiration for you. 

 
Til next time.... Hugs and happy crafting!! D

Merry Monday #44 (Color Challenge) and Addicted to CAS #4 - Embossing

Hello friends!  It's been awhile since I last played along with a Merry Monday challenge so thought I'd check it out and see what's new for the new year.  Looks like this year Lesley and the team are mixing it up a bit and have added some different type of challenges (last year was all sketch challenges).  This weeks challenge  - Merry Monday #44 - is a fun color combo that I just had to try (see below).  I also wanted to see if I could personally challenge myself a little more and see what the theme is this week over at Addicted to CAS.   To my great delight the ATCAS Challenge #4 is "Embossing" - whoo hoo - I love to add dry embossing to my cards.  I used my handy dandy Score Pal to create a space for my tickets and to help me keep my embossing straight.

Hope you like my card today (I apologize for the poor picture - lighting in my craft room at night is not good). Thanks so much for stopping by to visit! Til next time.... Hugs and Happy Crafting!! 

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Whisper White and Pool Party.   Stamp - That's the Ticket (NEW in the Spring Mini Cataolg. Ink - Real Red and Island Indigo. Embossing folder - Delicate Designs. Other - Ticket Punch (NEW in the Spring Mini Catalog).

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Embellishment Challenge #9 and Merry Monday #33

 Hello friends - The theme this week for this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is an Embellishment Challenge using eyelets and here is what I came up with for my DT card:

Does the thought of using eyelets on your Christmas cards or other projects make you feel light-headed or weak in the knees?? Well if it does, you are definitely not alone.   I must confess that I was in a real stew for days over how I was going to make my card this week. Long ago I thought I loved eyelets and bought a bunch of them with the greatest of intentions of doing something fabulous with them.  Just within the past 6 months or so I gathered up many items that I had been hoarding and put them in grab bags at a garage sale.  There was a bunch of never opened packages of eyelets included in that sale.  Long story now short... along comes our 52CCT challenge and when I saw what it was I said "Eyelets - EEK" and my heart when "THUMPITY THUMP THUMP"!

There are times I go out to one of my favorite challenge sites and am so freaked out by the challenge that I just can't seem to come up with something to enter, and yet the DT samples make it look sooo easy.  Usually though I do try to push myself because that's what the "challenge" is all about.    I really hope that when you look at this card that look me forever and a day to come up with (maybe not quite but it felt like it :o) ) you think it looks easy too.  But the truth is that this challenge in particular was a bit more of a "challenge" then some for me due to the eyelets - LOL.  I am pleased with how it turned out eventually (so sparkly) though and am glad that I didn't give up. 

I based my card on the sketch for the Merry Monday Challenge #33 (see below) - having a sketch to follow always helps me to put my ideas for a theme into an actual project.  My main rectangle is a bit larger than the sketch and I've moved my sentiment to the middle - but I think you can still see the main sketch.

I can't wait to see what amazing thing you come up with this week!!  Won't you please also pop into the websites of the rest of our talented and amazing DT at 52CCT and see what they have come up with for this challenge . Leave them a little love while your there - its always fun to hear from you.  

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit - I'm sure glad that you did!  Til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting!

Supplies (all from Stampin' Up!):  Cardstock - Basic Black. Glimmer Paper - Champagne, Red and Silver.DSP from the Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack in Black.  Sentiment from More Merry Messages.  Punches used: Ornament and Modern Label. Large eyelets in pewter.  Gold and Silver thread ribbon (retired). 

Merry Monday Challenge #29, Paper Play Challenges Week 34 and My Time to Craft Challenge #185

Hello friends, so glad that you've decided to come visit me again!  You are the reason that I keep doing this - hoping that I am giving someone a little piece of inspiration.  I realized that I have made a lot of cutesy cards lately and wanted to make something that was a more reflective of the true meaning of Christmas this time.  This sentiment seems to sum it up quite perfectly - I think.

Tonight I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Merry Monday Challenge #29 (based on this great sketch)

Paper Play Challenges Week 34  - Sentiment as the Main Image/Focus

and

My Time to Craft Challenge #185- Christmas in August (my second entry to this challenge).

 

Thanks to all the challenges for the opportunity to play along!  Here's the inside too:

Please stop back again anytime - I love to know you've visited!  Hope you like this card. Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!
 

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Cherry Cobbler (base), Very Vanilla and Lucky Limeade.  DSP - Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack (NEW and available in the Holiday mini catalog). Sentiment and inside stamping is all from a stamp set called First Christmas (Holiday mini). I colored the sentiment stamp with my SU markers in Cherry Cobbler and Lucky Limeade before stampin it on the Very Vanilla then I used my Sizzix Big Shot and the Apothecary Accents Framelit to cut the shape around the sentiment (I cut a second piece in Lucky Limeade and layered behind the first one).  That gorgeous texture at the top of the card base is made with one of the Delicate Designs embossing folders.  The ribbon is  the 1/8" tafetta ribbon in Old Olive.  

Merry Monday #28 - Clean and Simple with Designer Paper

Hello friends, I was able to make another card today to share with you.  Lesley, the host of the Merry Monday challenges has come up with a sketch this week for Merry Monday Challenge #28 that makes my patterned-paper-loving heart go pitter patter!  Here's the sketch:

You can see how quick and easy this card could be to make, can't you.  It could easily be a 5 minute card - that is if you don't take 1/3 hour trying to decide which DSP to use - lol! It's no secret that I have an ever growing stash of patterned paper - I just can't help myself!  Sometimes it's so pretty that I hate to cut or cover it up - so this sketch just makes my heart sing!  This is some NEW DSP from Stampin Up! (yep - I couldn't resist) called Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack.  Each sheet in this stack double sided and is 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" so you don't have to cut off much of the paper to make a card.  Piece was an instant winner for me as I love red and blue together on Christmas cards.
I kept it clean and simple (pat on the back for me) but just couldn't resist adding some pearls to the centers of the "snowflakes" (could also be flowers - but I think they are snowflakes) and by the sentiment for a little more elegance and depth.  I have this thing about "flat" cards - trying to get over that because they are beautiful, but I just want to layer and texture everything - lol.   Here's a close up of those lovely pearls on the DSP.

The sentiment is from a SU set called More Merry Messages and is stamped in Cherry Cobbler ink.  Hope you enjoyed this card!  Thanks so much for stopping by to visit. Til next time - Hugs!

 

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Theme challenge #7

Hello friends!  Here it is the 3rd week of July and that means that the Design Team at  52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown has a Theme challenge for you.  Can you guess by my card what that theme is?  Yep ... you guessed it - wreaths! Here is the inspiration photo for the challenge:

I decided to try something a little different from my usual style and do some distressing.  I love this when I see it from other people but this is not usually my first technique of choice as it seems that when I try it, it comes out looking "dirty" instead of distressed - LOL.  But, the style of the DSP seemed to be leading me in that direction so I decided to give it a go and see how it ended up.

I first added pearls around the edges of the main DSP area.  Then I rubbed some Cherry Cobbler ink around the pearls and paper to "age" both a bit. This photo doesn't do it justice at all - I had a dickens of a time getting this to photograph well - argh! Here is a closer view of the details - hope this is a bit better.

I ran the card base through my Big Shot with the poinsettia textured folder and then distressed the card base with Always Artichoke ink.  I also sanded it a bit after the ink dried to give it some more "distressing".  The felt wreath also got a shot with the Always Artichoke ink to tone down its brightness just a tad (but I still wanted it to stay the focus of the card).  After stamping and centering the sentiment behind the inside of the wreath I sponged some Always Artichoke around the word.  Here's another close up:

And then it was complete -  and I stared at it forever trying to decide if I liked it - hmmmm... Yep, I like it.   Not sure that I'll do it lots, but I think with practice I'll be more comfortable with it.  Thanks for letting me share with you.  Hope you like it!

Please  visit the 52CCT challenge blog and see the wonderful creations the rest of the design team has created for your inspiration this week.  I hope that you will share your amazing creations with us as well! It's a delight to see what you come up with each week - I always find new inspiration from you too.  If you want, leave us a note and make sure you link your post back to the 52CCT blog so that others can share in the fun!  Hugs!

Supplies (all from Stampin UP!): Cardstock - Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and Very Vanilla.  Textured Embossing Folder - Petals-A-Plenty. DSP - Deck the Halls (retired). Felt wreath (retired). Sentiment - I colored just the word Merry from a sentiment that says "Merry Christmas" in the More Merry Messages set (NEW).  Basic pearls - lots of them :o)

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Color Challenge #7

 

Happy Saturday friends!  It's time for another great 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Challenge.  The 52CCT Color Challenge #7 uses White, Black and SPLASH of blue.  So grab those supplies and get started on your colorful creation. We can't wait to see what you come up with!!  

 

I am also playing along with the Merry Monday July Challenge which is to create 4 cards during the month of July (basically one each week) based on any past sketch so far.  I have once again used my favorite tall and skinny snowbuddy and based the layout of my card on a past Merry Monday Sketch #2 ( I previously missed that one so thought I'd give it a try now).

I stamped my snowman with Staz On black ink and then colored in parts with a blender pen and basic black, indigo island and tempting turquoise inks (oh and a teeny bit of calypso coral for his carrot nose). I first outlined the sentiment frame from the bitty banners stamp set (NEW) and then ran it through the Big Shot using the coordinating Bitty Banner framelit die (NEW). I trimmed the excess white off around the sentiment and then made one more banner with basic black cardstock and layered the two pieces. My sentiment was too long and covered up part of my snowman's body so I decided to be creative and snip it in two. I kind of like how it turned out (but wish I had centered the saying a bit better within the banner).  Here's a close up of my snowman:

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit - I'm sure glad that  you did.  I hope I've inspired you in some way to go create something fun!  Hugs! 

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Whisper white, Tempting Turquoise and Basic Black. Stamps - Snow Much Fun (snowman), Bitty Banners (sentiment outline) and Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment).   I used a retired snowflake embossing folder for the background texture, and the Northern Frost Sizzlit strip (retired) for the snowflakes.  I used the scalloped edge border punch for the bottom strip.