Shiny, sparkly wishes for 'ABC' Challenges - Happy New Year

Hello friends - enjoyed a break from some of my DT responsibilities over the Christmas season with my family, but it felt really good to get back in my craft room and create again. Hope you had a Merry Christmas as well and are ready to start playing along with us again at 'ABC' Challenges! The challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges is to make a card with something sparkly or shiny on it. My card is reflective of a celebration of a shiny New Year. For me, 2012 felt like it contained more struggles than joys. But as we all know, we have to take the good with the bad. I choose to believe that 2013 is going to be far better than 2012 and will be full of blessings! So my glass is more than half-full and I'm excited to see what the New Year will bring. How will you celebrate 2013? Do you make resolutions? What wonderful things will you have to be thankful for this next year? Hope there are lots for you! The champagne bottle in my card is made from the Apothecary Accents Sizzix Framelit die. I then added the top by hand-cutting the bottle neck and putting a band of brushed gold around the top to represent the label around the bottle. The "Celebrate" sentiment (embossed with gold powder) is a sneak peek from a stamp set that will be coming out soon in the Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration catalog. Please pop on over to the 'ABC' Challenges site and see what the rest of the fabulous DT has prepared for your inspiration. I hope you will decide to share your sparkly/shiny card with us :o) Til next time...Hugs and Happy crafting.

Winter Card for 'ABC' Challenges and Freshly Made Sketches #65

Hello friends!  The challenge theme this week at 'ABC' Challenges is to make a card using paper piercing on it. I used the Blossom Punch around the snowflake and popped a glittery orange brad in the middle.  Originally I only used paper piercing on the snowflake, but then decided that it didn't show up very well so I added some piercing all around the DSP rectangle too.   The sentiment is on the inside rather than on the outside this time (something I rarely do).  This will be a thank you to my Secret Santa who spoiled me last week.

I am also entering Freshly Made Sketches #65  as my card is based on that sketch (see below).  I've noticed mixed reviews lately about sketch challenges as I've been visiting blogs.  I personally LOVE to combine sketch challenges with theme or color challenges as it helps me put a starting parameter around the rest of the card.  The sketches at FMS are always fun and leave lots of room for creativity.  I stuck pretty close to the sketch this time as I was short on time. I like how it turned out - simple but fun.  I hope you like it too :o)

Please go visit the other ladies on the DT for 'ABC' Challenges this week and see what they have prepared for your inspiration.

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Theme Challenge #12

Hello friends - here it is almost Christmas. What a blessed time of the year to celebrate the birth of our precious Saviour and to celebrate our connections with family and friends and to share our joy!  This is the last challenge for 2012 from the DT at 52 {Christmas}Card Throwdown. We wanted to have a little break to enjoy the season with our families, but we still wanted to get one last fun challenge in - with a "bang".  Our hostess this week is Jacqueline and she has the really fun Theme Challenge #12 of Christmas Crackers.  Do you know what Christmas Crackers are?  I didn't :o)  Here's what Jacqueline told me "Christmas crackers in the UK are like table favours, they are cylindrical and have centres that resemble toilet tissue middles. They have small gifts inside and a long strip of paper that when the two ends of the cracker is pulled go crack!"  Now that sounds almost like fireworks for Christmas to me :o) and so much fun that I might have to try to find some.   Here's what I came up with:

My Christmas cracker has (had) lots of confetti in it.  As you can see, I took direct inspiration from the photo and the explanation of what a Christmas cracker is.  You can Interpret this as you wish - images of crackers, hats, toys confetti etc - you can even do a joke card (as in you crack me up!) it's up to you.  The rest of the DT has come up with some other fun interpretations of this challenge that you will want to see.  So please pop on over to the 52CCT site and visit each of their blogs from there. 

 

Hope you can squish in one more week with us this year!  I can't wait to see what you come up with!  Til next time... MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS YA'ALL!  Hugs to each and every one of you.   

 

A new Birthday challenge - "Seize the Birthday"

 

Hello friends -  I have been following the talented Lesley Croghan from Always Playing with Paper for quite some time and have participated in many of the challenges that she has dreamed up and brought to life for us to participate in.  She has now created another challenge that I'm super excited about called "Seize the Birthday" which officially starts on January 10th.  To get the party started and generate a little excitement for this fun new challenge - and I suspect to give us something else to create beside Christmas cards right now (although I love to create Christmas cards) she has initiated a Linky Party {Birthday Cards}.    I love the idea of this challenge in that the theme each time alternates between female and male using the same sketch.  I think this is going to be so much fun and I seriously need to get better at masculine cards.  Isn't that part of the fun of a challenge - to help us practice and get even better in our skill level.  I know that since I've started participating in challenge blogs that my skill level and range of creativity has increased tremendously - and I'm still growing.   Not sure how often I'll get to play - life has been a bit upside down for me lately, but I'll paly as often as I can ;o)

Here is my card for the Linky Party.  I made this for a new friend and fellow Stampin'Up demonstrator named Beth.  Beth is a bright, beautiful sparkly gal so I tried to incorporate that into her card:

Here's the inside too (sorry had a hard time adjusting the light on the second photo, finished the inside at night.  It is the same blue on the inside as the outside but you sure can't tell it):

 

Thanks for stopping by to visit me  - sure glad that you did! Til next time... Hugs and happy birthday crafting!! 



Class Project Sneaky Peek

Hi all - a quick lookie at a couple possible projects I am considering for a class this weekend. Going to make the gorgeous ornament from the front of the Stampin Up! Holiday Mini catalog for sure and 2  more.  Not sure which additional projects we are making yet - but here's a sneaky peek at a couple of my ideas which I CASEd and put my own spin on(both of these were inspired by other projects I saw out on the SU demonstrator website).

Santa mini gift bag:

 

Elf Candy bar wrapper:

 

Working on a Stocking gift card holder and a couple other fun projects still.  Watch Thursday or Friday to see the next couple possibilities. 



 



Me and My Big Mouth {ATCAS}

Cardstock - Crumb Cake

Stamps - Christmas Deer and Curly Cute (sentiment)

Inks - Versamark and Cherry Cobbler

Other - Early Espresso embossing powder.

 

Hello dear blog friends - so happy you've popped in to visit me!  You might remember that earlier today I was feeling pretty pleased with myself in that I actually created a CAS card for the Addicted to Stamps and More! Bingo Challenge - without even needing to.  I was boasting about how I just might need to keep right on going and make another card that would qualify for the Addicted to CAS challenge - Bauble.  Well, my dear pal Kylie called me on it and said "I can't wait to see what you come up with for ATCAS!"  GULP! Now I really needed to follow through - me and my big mouth - LOL!!  So... this is what I came up with.  Amazing what a gal can do under self-imposed pressure to perform - hahahaha.  Hope you like it :o) 

 

Here's another one that I made - not totally sure that it is CAS with the blingy strings - but I liked how it turned out too so I'll share with you. I kind of wish I would have left that last sentiment off (especially since it is a bit off on the slant - lol) but oh well... hindsight you know :o)

  Thanks so much for stopping by. Til next time... Hugs and happy crafting!

Addicted to Stamps and More - Bingo Challenge #5

Hello dear blog friends!  We have a fun and popular challenge for you this week at Addicted to Stamps and More! It's Bingo Challenge #5 - whoot whoo!! The fun of the bingo challenge is that you get to choose how you want to play.  You can use any row or column (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) to make your card and in the middle is the ever popular FREE Space (just try not to use your FREE the same as one of the other items already on the bingo board).  I chose the top row for my card this week and used Red, Green and die cuts (the holly leaves and berries). 

Cardstock: Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple and Crumb Cake.

Sentiment: Curly Cute (in gumball green ink)

Other: Simply Scored Scoring Tool (lines at top and bottom of sentiment are, white signo gel pen. Chevron texture folder for the dry embossing.

 

The holly is from a retired SU sizzix die that I just loved last year (so sad they retired it).  I kept it CAS this time (well... I guess technically it's not clean since I sponged and inked up the edges a bit - but is it a simple design with very few embellishments).  This is really unusual for me if I'm not specifically creating for that reason - the other ladies on our DT are rubbing off on me.  Kylie started a sister challenge not long ago called Addicted to CAS and a couple of the ladies I'm team members with on this challenge are also designers over there.  They've had a fabulous response to their new challenge so far.  My card doesn't qualify for this challenge even though it is CAS - the theme over there right now is Bauble. So while I'm in the CAS mood maybe I'll go make something with a bauble and join in too (might even use this bingo board again as my inspiration).

This will be our last challenge for 2012 but we will be back in the new year with lots more fun ideas. I hope that you have been inspired to play along with us for our Bingo Challenge at ATS&M this week.  I can't wait to see what you create!  The other ladies have practically out-done themselves this week with their gorgeous creations - so please go check them out and leave them a little love while you are there.  Til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting

Snowflake tree for 5 challenges {inspired by Hallmark}

Supplies: Cardstock -whisper white,gumball green and pixie pink (retired) all SU.,

Dies - Bitty Banners and Northern Frost (snowflakes, retired).

Punch - miscellaneous snowflake punches that I've had forever.

Rhinestones - retired SU special set from a past holiday mini

DSP - Be of Good cheer.  Stamp - Teeny Tiny Wishes

 

Hello friends!   My card today was inspired by a Hallmark flyer I got in the mail (see below). 

See the card in the middle made with the snowflakes? That's where my inspiration started.  Before I started making cards myself, I spent quite a bit of money on those Hallmark cards.  I still think they're beautiful but now I look at them and think "Hmmm... I should try that...I'll bet I could do that". 

Our challenge for you this week at 'ABC' Challenges is to make a card with Snow, Snowflakes or a Snowman on it, so I thought now was the perfect time to give it a go.  I'm pleased with how it turned out, but I wouldn't want to mass produce this, it took me forever to place my snowflakes just where I wanted them.   Here's a closer look at my snowflakes:

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin' Challenges - Dies and/or Punches. 

My Time to Craft Challenge #200- None traditional colors (pink is my favorite NT color to use). 

Divas by Design #64 - Let it Snow

Paper Play Challenges Week 49 - "Christmas is Coming". 

 

Can  you believe it will be here soon!! I've hardly started by Christmas shopping but have a great stock of cards to send out this year (that's my project for tomorrow).  I hope you will decide to join us this week at 'ABC' Challenges.  Myself and the rest of the DT really enjoy visiting many of your blogs and getting lots of inspiration from you each week - please keep playing along with us, we love it!  Speaking of inspiration, there's plenty more to be had from the other DT gals so pop on over there and see what they've made to share with and inspire you!

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

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Christmas Bingo and Creative Card Crew #25 - Star

Stamps: Evergreen - SU holiday mini

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Always Artichoke and Brushed Gold (all SU)

Other: Woodgrain embossing folder, natural twine, naturals buttons - SU

Hello friends, so glad that you've come by to visit me today! Hope you are having a wonderful day. Are you getting your Christmas shopping done? How about your Christmas cards? I think I'm pretty close to done with my cards at this point. The challenge over at Holly Jolly Christmas Challenges is Christmas Bingo challenge.  I've prepared a CAS card using the Christmas tree, FREE, Gold row of the bingo board (see below). 

My FREE spot for this card is dry embossing.  I used the woodgrain texture folder for my CAS card this week and a new stamp sets from the SU holiday mini called Evergreen. I love how the sentiment layers over the top of the tree silhouette. I mounted the tree image on a piece of brushed gold cardstock (sorry it doesn't show up well in the photo).  I also colored my star with my new gold SU marker.  I added the last little bit of my stash of natural hemp twine and a naturals wood button and viola... my CAS card was done - and I like it :o)  Hope you do too!

I'm also entering this card in the Creative Card Crew Challenge #25 - Star.  It's not a big star but I think it still stands out for this challenge.

Had all kids of ideas for both of these great challenges, but not as much time as I have ideas so I'm happy to be able to share at leaset one and to practice my CAS skills while I'm at it.

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

Metallic Christmas Tree for 52CCT Color Challenge #12

Hello friends!  Today I am both nervous and excited to share the card I have made for the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Color Challenge #12 (see above).  You know how sometimes an idea pops into your head and just won't go away??? Well my card today is a result of one of those occurrences.  When I saw what our challenge was for this week at 52CCT I just couldn't get the idea of gears out of my head - and then I thought of making a Christmas tree with them somehow.  Before I show you this card I want to say that the reason I'm nervous to share this with you is because it is completely different from anything I've done yet and it is an unusual take on a Christmas card. I'm excited though because I really stretched myself creatively and I kind of like how it turned out.  Well... enough suspense - please be kind:

I apologize for the very poor picture. The background behind the tree is white but it doesn't look like it. I tried several different ways to get the photo better but it has too much shine from the blast of silver shimmer mist spray that I used (more than I had intended originally to put on).  Here are a couple different views that help the sentiment and cogs show up better:

I embossed the sentiment in Pewter.  As I mentioned, I gave the overall card a very good dose of silver shimmer spray.  Initially I was going for a totally masculine feel but then I just couldn't resist adding the rhinestones inside the smaller cogs/gears (whatever the proper term is for those "deally bobs" - a true gear head I am not -lol).  I used brushed silver and gold cardstock for the punched shapes. The overall card size is 5 x 7.  Oh, and here is the inside ( I used my new metallic silver marker and randomly squiggled a border around the inside).  I allowed myself to not try to be perfect in how I put this on (boy was I really feeling my oats this day - must have been the lack of sleep) ;o)

So there you  have it! Hope I've inspired you to try something new with a metallic finish or image.  At the very least I hope you will go check out the other samples from our fabulous DT at 52CCT and decide to make and share your own creation with us this week.  Til next week... hugs and happy crafting!!



Addicted to Stamps and More! - Make your Mark #5 and Lollipop Crafts #95 - A Christmas card

Hello friends - happy middle of the week to you!  The challenge this week at Addicted to Stamps and More! is  "Make Your Mark - Challenge #5".  This is one of my favorite challenges at ATS&M because I get to color - its like being a kid again. I'm also entering this card in the Lollipop Crafts Challenge #95 which is to make a Christmas or other holiday card.  My card today uses a Mo Manning image - isn't it darling?? I am now practicing the fabric folds and lighting sources with my copic markers - oh and shading.  I love how their little faces turned out :o) here's a close up of my card:

I kept my layering to a minimum so that the image would take center stage.  I used a texture folder to create the oval embossing and then added the sentiment with another punched oval layer.  The DSP I used is called Spice Cake and I like how it almost looks like the fabric that one of these little cuties might be wearing.  I hope that you will decide to join us this week at Addicted to Stamps and More! Pull out those markers and start coloring - I can't wait to see what you create! It can be of any theme - I chose Christmas because I'm very much in the mode right now for that (was listening to Christmas music while I made this card).  The other ladies on the DT at ATS&M have also come up with some fabulous inspiration for you - go visit them too, you will be wowed, I'm sure of it :o) 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

'ABC' Challenges ' Holiday Card w/Bling

Hello friends and dear blog followers - hope today finds you in a blessed state :o)  Our challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges is to make a holiday card with some bling.  The sentiment is from a SU stamp set called Greetings of the Season (in the holiday mini).  I hunted around in my stash and found these fun sparkly swirls and then was even more delighted to find the red rhinestone button and the circle bling.  The flowers were also in my "to use someday" basket.  Sometimes it really pays to go through our secret stash :o) not to mention that it looks so much prettier on a card to send someone than sitting in a box or basket.  Do you have some blingy stash to use this week?  Perhaps you have a newer blingy purchase that you just can't wait to do something with.  Well... good news... now's the perfect time to use it!  And then we would love for you to share it with is us week at 'ABC' Challenges - Holiday w/Bling. 

I layered three of the petals to give this flower more depth.  Here's another look that shows the dimension of the card a little better (finished card size is 5 1/4" square):

The other DT members at 'ABC' Challenges have created some amazing samples to awe and inspire you - pop in and visit them too.  Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did.  Til next time.... Hugs and Happy Crafting! 

A snowman for Crazy 4 Challenges (C4C165) and the Paper Players #124

Hello friends - so happy that you've stopped by today to visit me.  The gals over at Crazy 4 Challenges have a fun challenge this week. They want to see our creations with a snowman on it.  Thankfully we don't have snow here yet.  I'm hoping it will hold out til closer to Christmas.  I don't mind the snow if I can sit and watch it fall while I'm snuggled up under a blanket with my cocoa or latte. But..I'm just not ready for it yet :o)   The theme challenge this week at the Paper Players #124 is "Snowmen" also - they must be wishing for snow too :o). 

Anway... I had just found these fun snowglobe type stickers at my local craft store.  Purchased them because they were so stinkin' cute that I just had to have them - even if I wasn't sure yet what to do with them.  So how perfect is the timing of the challenges at C4C#165 and Paper Players #124?  When you shake this card the snow flies around in there - soo cool! I put that fun sticker on one of my Sizzlit Framelit labels to help it stand out a bit more on the card.  I used my Northern Flurry textured embossing folder on the card base.  When I first made this card I left the rhinestones off - and it was pretty (see below) but then I got the idea that I needed to add the red rhinestones.  I like it both ways - but I do think the rhinestones add a bit of fun to it.  Here's what it looked like pre-rhinestones (a more CAS look):

Well... better get going for now. Got some Christmas shopping to do while I have a couple hours to myself.  Til next time...Hugs and Happy Crafting!!