52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Sketch #12

Hello friends - can you believe that we are now in December?? I sometimes think that this year has gone by wayyyyy toooo fast and other times I'm ready for it to move on and looking forward to the new start in 2013. Today's card is based on the great sketch above. I took a little creative liberty with this one and put my sentiment in the top panel and used a heart as my shape and bottom element.

Stamp: Heart of Christmas - SU

Other: Fashionable Hearts embosslets - SU, SU markers in Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green and Basic Black. Sizzix Sizzlit - Swirls (retired - SU)

I have been dying to use this stamp since I got it. I colored the stamp with my SU markers to get the different colors. This is a fun way to get more creative use out of your stamps. The swirls are from a Sizzlit die and the heart is from the Hearts Sizzlit Embosslet folder. The card base is Very Vanilla and the other colors used are Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green. A pretty quick and easy card really :o).

We only have 3 more challenges for you this year at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and then we start fresh next year. I hope you will join us this week - I can't wait to see what you create! The other gals have also prepared some amazing creations for you inspiration as well. Pop into their blogs and visit them too.

Addicted to Stamps and More! - Sketch Challenge #4

Stamps: Winter Memories - SU holiday mini

Other: Designer Series Patterned Paper - Brights (garden green) - SU

Ribbon: Cherry Cobbler seam binding - SU

Other: Regals brads (garden green) - SU, Woodgrain embossing folder

 

Hello dear friends and blog followers - so happy you've stopped in to visit me today.  This week at  Addicted to Stamps and More! we have a sketch challenge for you (Sketch #4).  I chose to stick pretty close to the sketch (see below) but this great sketch leaves you lots of room for creativity.  I added a panel of woodgrain texture as my background and distressed it a bit.  I colored the stamped image with my copic markers (still practing the look of wood - getting a little better :o) ).

The other gals on the DT for ATSM have created some beauties for  your inspiration as well.  Pop on into their blogs and visit - leave a little love while your there, we love to hear from you!  I can't wait to see what you come up with this week!  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting xxoo

Anything Goes for 'ABC' Challenges and Creative Card Crew #24

Hello friends - I'm excited that the challenge theme this week at 'ABC' Challenges is "Anything Goes" - remember though that it's Anything Goes for a CARD as 'ABC' stands for Always Beautiful Cards. I've chosen to go with a Christmas Theme as I'd like to get a few more sent out this year. I used the 3 sizes of the Lables Framelits to make my card and added some piercing around the inside of two of the sizes. Thank goodness for my paper piecing template that also has that shape! It would have taken me ages to go around each of these without it - and... keep it looking somewhat like the shape. I went with the color combo of summer starfruit, gumball green, chocolate chip and whisper white. I sponged some of the Summer Starfruit around the edges of the first layer to create the effect of a glow. I like how it turned out and it was a pretty simple card to make :o)

There is also an "Anything Goes" Challenge #24 going on over at the Creative Card Crew Challenge that I would like to enter this card in too.

Myself and the other gals on the DT for 'ABC' Challenges would love to have you join us. Our challenge is pretty new and growing still. We are so thankful for your support and participation and love to see what each of you come up with each week for our challenges. The other gals at 'ABC' Challenges have prepared some beautiful cards to inspire you - so please pop on over there and check it out! Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

Freshly Made Sketches #62 and Divas by Design #62 {Merry Christmas}

DSP: Snow Festival DSP (owl and papers) - SU

Stamp: Be of Good Cheer - SU

Other: 1 3/8" circle punch - SU

 

Hello friends!  Yesterday I managed to get some good quality card making time to myself - whoo hoo!! Of course I decided to defer the pile of laundry in my closet until today - but...gee I had fun :o)
My card today is for Freshly Made Sketches #62.  I really liked the sketch with its layers and circle element.  I decided to go with a simple and whimsical card.  I fussy-cut this cute little owl off a piece of the Christmas DSP.  Here's the great sketch I used:

I am also entering this card in the Divas by Design challenge #62 - which is to use 2 or more patterned papers on your creation.  I have used two different papers on this card.  

52{Christmas} Card Throwdown - November Embellishment Challenge and Merry Monday #42

 

Hello friends - hope you are all doing well. Since I had to work Friday I missed out on most of the Black Friday sales. I usually start my Christmas shopping at this time of the year so hopefully there will still be some good bargains to be had :o) Fortunuately I am in really good shape Christmas card-wise as I have been both designing for 52CCT for several months now and have also played along with the Merry Monday Challenges whenever I can too. Don't despair if you are a bit behind on making Christmas cards - just go grab your stuff and start creating! To help you get going this week Mynnette has a great Embellishment challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - to use pearls on your cards.  Here's what I came up with: 

I LOVE using pearls on my cards but for some reason I was a bit stumped as to what I would do this week until I saw the fabulous sketch at Merry Monday #42.

I hope the polka dot paper I used doesn't distract too much from the fabulous snowflake.  In real-life it looks quite elegant but as I'm looking at this picture it looks a bit busy - here's a little closer look:

I sure hope you'll decide to play along this week at 52CCT - I'd love to come visit your blog and leave you a note.  Thanks so much for stopping by - til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

 



 



Addicted to Stamps and More! CAS #4 {Happy Thanksgiving}

Hello friends - hope all is well in your world! The challenge this week at Addicted to Stamps and More! is the ever popular Clean and Simple (CAS #4). I made a Thanksgiving card in honor of one of my favorite days of the year (my first favorite being my own birthday - LOL). Why is it one of my favorites? I LOVE the fellowship of family and friends, the reminder of all our blessings and of course... the food! Our family has a couple favorite foods that we make each year, but this year I'm going to start a new tradition also called the "Thanksgiving jar". I'm going to decorate a large Mason jar and ask each person to jot down something they are thankful for. Then right after we eat I'm going to read off all the responses. Do you have a favorite food at Thanksgiving or a favorite tradition around Thanksgiving? I'd love to hear about it if you do.

I like to combine challenges whenever I can - it helps me be even more creative. I chose the colors for my card based on the color challenge going on over at 'ABC' Challenges (where I'm a DT member too). The layout for me card comes from a friend name Cindi who heads up a local card exchange group that I participate in as well.

I hope that you will decide to join us this week at Addicted to Stamps and More! I can't wait to see your CAS cards. The DT at ATS&M has done a fabulous job creating some beautiful CAS cards for your inspiration - please pop in and visit them as well. Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

Supplies (all Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Chocolate chip and Whisper White. DSP - Patterns Designers Series paper stack in Bright collection (pumpkin pie).  Stamps - Full of Blessings (available in the holiday mini) - colored with pumpkin pie, choc chip and old olive inks and a blender pen.

'ABC' Challenges - Color Challenge and Lollipop Crafts #94 {Giving Thanks}

Hello friends and blog followers, so happy that you've decided to pop in and visit me today.  We have a color challenge for you this week at 'ABC' Challenges. We'd like to see your beautiful cards using Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Choc Chip. Here's what I came up with for your inspiration:

 

I am also entering this card in the Lollipop Crafts Challenge #94 - We are Thankful.  It's getting close to Thanksgiving and I LOVE Thanksgiving! I love the fellowship of family and friends (so very thankful for each and every one of them), celebrating our freedoms and blessings (thanks to our military personnel who so bravely defend us), I am thankful for our health, and of course the food - the wonderful, delicious food - Yum!! This is the one day I really let myself just enjoy (and usually regret it later) in terms of whatever I eat.  Does you family have any specific food traditions for Thanksgiving?  We usually have scalloped oysters as one of the dishes that is made.  And for me... I just must have sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.  Am I making you hungry?  Sorry - I almost made myself hungry too :o) Pie anyone???

So... on to this card.   I punched out a bunch of leaves using Choc Chip and Pumpkin Pie cardstock and assembled them in a wreath shape.  The Argyle embossing folder provided some additional texture to this card.  A pretty quick Thanksgiving card really - aside from the time I spent getting the leaves to conform into sort semblance of a circle ( ;o) ).  My layout comes from a sketch that my friend Cindi found on-line for one of our card exchange group get togethers. I am very thankful also for this great group of crafty ladies - they are a wonderfully supportive group.  I will be sharing this card with the group - hope they like it! 

Well... off I go for now. Hope you decide to join us this week at 'ABC' Challenges.  The other DT members have created some beautiful cards to share with and inspire you too.  I'd love to come visit you and see your beautiful cards - so go get crafting.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!  Hugs! D

Supplies (Stampin Up! except leaf punch): Cardstock - Choc Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz (sentiment strip).  DSP - Brights collection of Patterned Paper Stack - Old Olive.  Embossing - Argyle texture folder. Sentiment - Full of Blessings (available in the holiday mini).  Other - naturals wood button and pumpkin pie bakers twine.

Sending Christmas Wishes for Clean & Simple #217, Color Throwdown #218, CAS-ual Fridays CFC79, and Sweet Stampin - Snow People

Hello friends - last post for tonight, I promise!  I can't tell you though how productive and relaxed I have felt today to have the luxury of making 3 cards.  I also managed to do several loads of laundry - and overcook the chicken that was for dinner tonight (oops!) and... it looks like I'll be in bed earlier than I usually do. Yep - this was a good day :o).   My card this time is based off of the following terrific challenges:

Clean & Simple Stamping #217 (see sketch below)

Color Throwdown #218


Sweet Stampin' - Snow People
and 

CAS-ual Fridays CFC79 - Winter Blues: Create a CAS winter project featuring blue

 

 

So... how did I do on combining all those challenges?  I LOVE when the stars align and I can get 3 or 4 different challenges elements to work all at once.  The color challenges where there are more than 2 colors to use are especially challenging for me - but I like how this turned out.  I hope it does qualify as CAS as well (another concept I struggle with). 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by - I'm so glad when you come to visit and leave me notes. Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!



Retrosketches #38 and Dynamic Duos #29

Hello dear blog friends.  Tonight I have another card to share with you.  Sympathy cards are hard for me to make. Somehow it just never seems as if I know the right thing to say or can adequately convey my feelings for those folks who have lost a loved one. One of my dear friends recently lost her Mom to a lengthly battle of illness.  She fought valiantly but finally gave in.  It was very hard for me to see the sadness that my friend felt while watching her dear Mom keep slipping away - the end was inevitable, but I don't think that it is ever easy when it comes, even knowing that there is no more pain or suffering.  This friend is very dear to my heart, as if she were my sister, and I'm so sad for her. The wonderful person that she is is a testiment to the wonderful person her mom was.  I hope that this card will help ease her sorrow somewhat.

How fortunate we are as crafters to have a way to express ourselves creatively and genuinely by sending someone a handmade card to express what we may not be able to say in words. I think it shows how very much we do care.  Thankfully having a sketch or color theme to focus on while making a sympathy card seems to help me in completing the task.  In this case I used the sketch at Retrosketches #38 (see below) and the color combo challenge at Dynamic Duos #29.   

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

FMS#61, and DD#29

Hello friends, hope you are all doing well.  I'm excited today because I managed to make two cards for a couple different challenges that I haven't been able to participate in for a while.  The first challenge is Freshly Made Sketches #61 (see sketch below).  I just couldn't resist this sketch.  The second challenge is Dynamic Duos #29 - which has one of my favorite color combos of Marina Mist and Black with the dessert option of a snowman (my card has two snow people on it).  I wanted to us a snowflake charm but didn't have one so I thought the heart worked well with the saying of kind words warming the winter months.  I am not typically a winter person (too cold for me) - but making snowmen with my kids is one activity I enjoy :o)

I had fun making this card.  I used my blender pen and some Marina Mist ink to color in parts of the image.  Pretty pleased with how it turned.  Usually CAS is hard for me - but this sketch really helped me.  Oh and I also did something fun on the inside where I used a couple different snowflake punches...

Hope you enjoyed this card! Thanks so much for stopping by to visit.  Til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting!

 

 

Supplies (Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Basic Black and Whisper White.  Ribbon - 1/8" tafetta ribbon in Basic Black.  Charm is a retired product from a previous holiday mini.  Stamp and sentiment  - Winter Memories. DSP is from the Patterns Designer paper stack (subtles).   Other - scallop edge border punch, basic rhinestones, corner rounder punch.

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Theme Challenge #11 {Scripture Verse}

Hello lovely friends and blog followers!  We  have a terrific theme challenge for you this week at 52{Christmas} Card Throwdown.  We want to see your cards/creations using a scripture verse as your main element.  Here's what I came up with:

I decided to keep it as CAS so that the scripture verse stands out. Of course, I'm no good at one layer cards so I added some depth by using my Labels framelits as well as the snowburst texture folder (retired SU).  I sponged around the main image with Summer Starfruit ink and also gave this a shot of color around the outer edges as well.  The sentiment is stamped in gumball green. 

 

I made another one that I will share with you later in the week - this one was my daughter's favorite so I chose to share it first.  Hope you will decide to join us this week at 52CCT - I can't wait to see what you create.  Please pop on over and see what the rest of the DT has made - can  you say GORGEOUS?!  Til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting!! 



Sneak Peek - Addicted to {Red and White} Stamps and More! Color challenge #4

Hello my lovely friends and blog followers - so happy that you're here to visit me today!  I'm so excited about the challenge this week at Addicted to Stamps and More! Its a Color challenge using Red and White.  I am missing my summer flowers (which have been replaced with snow - sad face) so I decided to make a cheery jar of red flowers.  I wasn't sure if I really liked this card at first - but the more I look at it the more it grows on me.  Hope you like it and that it inspires you to pop on over to Addicted to Stamps and More! and play along with our current challenge.  The other DT members have prepared some stunning cards using this vibrant and happy color combo. I punched some of the flowers out with a 1" circle punch and pop them up for extra effect. 

The challenge starts later today and I can't wat to see what you create.  Now that I've given you a sneak peek get going, get creating and share it your card with us at ATS&M :o)  Thanks so much for stopping by today - til next time...hugs and happy crafting!!  

Supplies (all Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Whisper White and Real Read.  Ink - Real Red and Basic Grey. Stamps - Perfectly Preserved (available in the holiday mini).  Other - basic pearls, 1" circle punch and 1/8" tafetta ribbon in Real Red. 

ABC Challenges - Its a Sketch

Hello lovely friends and followers, so happy that you've come by to visit my blog today.  This week at 'ABC' Challenges our wonderful challenge leader Patty has come up with a sketch for you to try.  I decided to keep mine very simple (see below) but you could add layers and embellishments too.  Just keep the sketch visible so we can recognize it when we come to visit you. 

Sketches are such a great way to jump start your creativity or help you create a card in a hurry. I think I spent more time thinking about what kind of card and what papers I wanted to use than I acutally did  making it.  I think the overall production time on this card was close to 10 minutes (probably less).  Sometimes it is just awesome to create a quick and simple card that still has a great pop of pattern and color - this sketch helped me do just that.    What will you do with the sketch this week? I can't wait to find out!  Pop on over the our challenge site at 'ABC' Challenges and see what the rest of the DT members have made to share with and inspire you.  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

 

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo and Whisper White.  Ink - Real Red. DSP - Summer Smooches. Stamp - Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired hostess set). 

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Color Challenge

Hello friends - we have a fabulous non-traditional color challenge this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Color Challenge #11.  If you have been following my blog at all you will have noticed that I LOVE to use pink in my Christmas cards so I was excited that this is our color combo this week.  The color of pink that is in the button in the inspiration photo above also happens to be my favorite color.  So...how are you doing on your Christmas cards?  Are you feeling like you are pretty caught up - or are you just deciding to get started?  Playing along with us at 52CCT each week will help you keep caught up, or get you started - depending on which spot you are currently in - so I hope that you will join us!! Here's what I came up with this week (WARNING - lots of pink below):

I started out thinking that I was going to do a CAS (clean and simple) type card but then got carried away with stamping my doily snowflakes and before long it wasn't CAS at all.  I really struggle with CAS cards for some reason - sorry I digress. I embossed the larger snowflakes with Early Espresso and just stamped the smaller ones and punched out for a bit for dimension and effect.  I forgot initially that I needed to use a little white or cream too so managed to get that in before I finished it.  I love how my fellow DT member Mynnette uses bling on most of her cards (and how she groups the bling) so I made an attempt to give it a go too with the brown rhinestones. So... a busy card but my 12 year daughter told me she thinks it an elegant card - so I'm pretty happy about that :o)  Hope you like it too and that I've inspired you to play along with us this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  There's lots more inspiration to be found from our other DT members on the challenge site so pop on over there and check it out.  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

Supplies (all from Stampin Up! except the rhinestones): Cardstock - Pretty in Pink, Whisper White and Early Espresso.  Stamps - Delicate Doilies and Border Banter (sentiment).   Brown Rhinestones - Close to My Heart (thanks Beth!).



Addicted to Stamps and More! - Flowers

Hello dear friends and blog followers - feeling a bit under the weather yesterday and today so a quick card and a brief post today.  The theme this week at the fabulous Addicted to Stamps and More! challenge is "Flowers".  It's a nice cheery theme especially since we are not seeing many flowers anymore here in Montana - in fact my poor flower bed really needs to be cleaned up and readied for winter.  Only have a couple more days to get it done as we are expecting snow (90%) starting Thursday - yuck! Oh well... at least I can make flowery cards to bring some color and sunshine to someone's life :o)

Hope you will decide to join us this week and share you beautiful flower creations wtih us.  The DT members over at ATS&M have prepared some fabulous cards for your inspiration and viewing pleasure. 

I am also entering this card in the Less is More challenge - week 92 "Pink". 
Thanks so much for stopping in to visit me. Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!! D

Supplies (all Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Pear Pizzazz, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla, Melon Mambo (little flowers) and Lucky Limeade (leaves).  Punches - Bird Builder (leaves), Blossom (two bottom layers of the flower), 1 1/4" circle, Boho Blossoms and Itty Bitty Shapes (smallest flowers).  DSP - Designer Series paper stack (brights collection).  Sentiment - curvy verses (retired). Other - rhinestones. 

'ABC' Challenges - 3 in a Row

Hello friends and happy fall y'all! The challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges (this means All Beautiful Cards) is to make a card picking 3 in a Row . You get to pick any 3 squares in a row - up , down, across or diagonally.  How fun is that?!   My card today uses the middle 3 squares of Punch, Fall Theme and Dry Embossing. 

 

I used two different types of dry embossing - on the main background and on the leaves.  I used 4 different punches on this card too - the leaves, the 1" circles, the 2 3/8" scallop circle and the 2 1/2" circle punch.  I colored the main image with my Stampin Write markers directly onto the stamp and just love how it turned out (though I will admit that I had to put my readers on to see those tiny little leaves).  I sponged a little of the Cajun Craze ink around the edges of the card too. It's a little busy of a card - but I like how it almost seems as if the leaves are flying around the main image.  Am not quite sure how it happened here in Montana but I just didn't feel like we had much of a fall this year - very short amount of time for the leaves turning the gorgeous colors and then BOOM we had snow

:o( (that's my grumpy face).  Here's the inside of my card too:

I got a little punch happy when I was making the leaves (its kind of theraputic to use punches) so I decided to put some on the inside too.  The sentiment stamp is from a Christmas set but I thought it worked well for the Fall/Thanksgiving Season too.  Please pop on over to the 'ABC' Challenges site and check out what the other ladies have made to inspire you.  We hope you will continue to play along - we've been so pleasantly pleased with the number of entries and the inspiration we are getting from you.  Leave us a comment if you like - we love to get mail.  Can't wait to see what you make! Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!! 

 

Supplies (Stampin Up! unless noted otherwise): Cardstock - Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White and Rich Razzleberry (ink colors are all the same too except I also used Choc Chip, Early Espresso and Soft Suede).  Dry Embossing folders - Herringbone and Perfect Polka Dots.  Stamps - Four Seasons (Hostess Only) and Greetings of the Season (sentiment).  The letters are from Close to My Heart - stamped and then punched out of the middle with a 1" circle punch.  The leaf punch is one I've had for a long time in my basket of punches. 

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Sketch Challenge #11

Hello friends - so happy that you've stopped by to visit and check out my inspiration to you for the current challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Sketch challenge #11. I loved this sketch this week and here is what I came up with. 

This is one of my favorite winter/Christmas card sets- the snowmen and cheeky little birds are just too much fun. I used some flocking for the first time on this card and was so impressed with how it turned out.  What fun to watch it puff up as I heat set it :o).  The little joys in life you know - lol.

As you can see , I used the labels framelit instead of the oval in the sketch and my little bird on the snowball replaces the heart.  But I do think the basics of our sketch are still very obvious.  You can choose to follow the sketch exactly as is or modify it slightly as I have done (just make sure the basics of the sketch are still obvious).  Please pop on over the the 52CCT challenge site and see what the other fine ladies have made to inspire you.   We'd love for you to give it a go this week. We are constantly amazed and inspired by what you come up with and often it is very hard to choose our winners.  Remember to check out our few simple rules to be considered for the Top Honor or Honorable Mentions.  Ready.,..set... Go get crafting!  Hugs to you!

Supplies (all from Stampin Up! except Copic markers): Cardstock - Baja Breeze and Whisper White. DSP - Snow Festival DSP (holiday mini). Stamps - Snow Much Fun.  Ink - Real Red (sentiment).   Coloring - Copic markers and Memento Black ink. Dies - Sizzix Labels Collection framelits. Dry Embossing - Delicate Designs folder.