Last Christmas card of 2013

Hello friends and followers - today I'm sharing the last Christmas card I will make for 2013.  Is it just me or did this year just fly by?? I can't believe that in just a few short days we will be celebrating Christmas with our families.  I hope that each of you has a very blessed holiday.

This is also the last challenge of the year for ATS&M as our DT will take a short break and come back at the start of the year with some more inspiration and challenges.  The ATS&M Challenge #76 is Anything Goes. Once again Deedee's Digis has generously sponsored our challenge and is offering a prize to our TOP Addict.  I've used one of their images and made my card for a sweet friend who loves cats.

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

Merry Monday #88 (Use an Animal on your card)

Divas by Design - Anything Goes

I hope that you will decide to join us this week at ATS&M for the last challenge of 2013.  Our fabulous DT has made some wonderful creations this week for Anything Goes - please go visit them out and leave a little holiday love while you're there. 

We have a new feature at ATS&M called the Wall of Fame - go check it out :o)  It's our way of saying "Thank  you for  your support".  Til next time friends - warm holiday hugs to each and every one of you.  

Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #75 - Photo Inspiration w/Sami Stamps

Oh my goodness... here I am late for my DT post at ATS&M!  I have had a very crazy week this past week and managed to quickly get my card together for the ATS&M Challenge #75 this morning - but then didn't get it posted or blogged.  Oh well, guess it doesn't do my any good to moan about it.  Best to just get on with it and share my card with you this week using the beautiful Christmas photo above and a terrific digital image for our sponsor this week - Sami Stamps. 

Hope you like it!

A while back I was practicing a technique called faux patina.  It didn't turn out quite as I would have liked (just a wee bit too much gold) but I kept the panel in  hopes that I would have a reason to use it in the future.

As soon as I saw this photo I knew that this was the time to use it.  I also colored the beautiful Sami image using gold tones (I think Nonni likes these colors :o) ).  I also copied Kylie on a previous card she did by cutting the image so that the scarf was outside the circle - quite fun and I love the way it turned out.  

Will you decide to join us this week for the Photo Inspiration Challenge #75?  I sure hope so! The rest of my DT pals at ATS&M have outdone themselves with beautiful creations for you this week.  And did I mention that our TOP Addict gets a prize for Sami Stamps?  You better get on over to the ATS&M challenge site and check out the details :o)

I am also entering my card in the following challenges: 

Sami Stamps Blog  - Sami Stamps Challenge #008: Add Red or Green (or both). 

 I made my cocoa mug green so I could participate.  

Divas by Design - Feeling Festive (holiday creations)

Merry Monday #87 - make a card with a mitten(s) on it. 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me.  I'm sure glad that you did! Til next time friends...stay warm and cozy.  Hugs and happy crafting! D

Any Previous 52CCT Challenge Goes.

Hello friends - hope you are all staying warm.  We've had below zero temps in Montana the last few days.  Forecast is saying it should come to an end soon. I sure hope so!!! Every winter I wonder why I live in Montana (really don't like snow and cold much) - but every summer and fall I know the answer.  Guess I'll just bundle up and tough it out :o) It is a great reason to craft inside where I'm warm and cozy.

So enough about the weather. Time for the last challenge of 2013 from the DT at 52{Christmas} Card Throwdown (52CCT).   This challenge will run for two week and then we will take a break to enjoy the Christmas holidays and come back with a fresh start for 2014.   The last challenge of 2013 is Any Past Challenge Goes (color, sketch, theme, technique or embellishment).  You can find the Sketch, Theme and Color Combos from 2012 and 2013 in the Archives tabs at the top of the 52CCT Challenge site.  If  you're feeling really adventurous or creative you can combine a couple of them - which is what I did.

I used Theme Challenge #5 - "Nativity" from May 2012, Color Challenge #9 from September 2012, and Sketch Challenge #22 from October 2013 (slightly modified to square shape and sentiment moved)

 

And here is my card that combines those previous challenges.
 

How did I do?  I embossed this great stamped image the first time using Early Espresso ink and powder.  Then I stamped a second image and embossed it in Cherry Cobbler ink and powder and cut the banner and stable out to glue over the first image.  Then I sponged some soft suede ink ever so lightly over the embossed image and wiped the excess ink from the image (a previous technique called resist embossing).  I was going to pop up the middle of the image using dimensional dots, but then I didn't like how it looked (seemed too high) so I used glue dots instead and its just slightly raised in the middle. The overall size is 4 1/2" square. 

 

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your support by joining us this year at 52CCT.  I've gained so much inspiration from each of  you and made some lovely new blogging friends along the way.  I hope that you will join us for the last 2013 challenge and then again in 2014.   

 

I'd also like to recognize the other lovely ladies on the 52CCT DT.  They are each so wonderfully talented and amazing.  I've been blessed to be part of this team.  I hope you will go visit each of them and see what they've done and leave a little love along the way for them.

 

I hope to be visiting you soon. Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D  

ATS&M Challenge #74 - CAS

Hello friends, did you get some shopping done over the Black Friday weekend?  I did a little but not as much as I'd like.  I'm not an "early bird gets the worm" kind of gal (that means I don't do early morning anything) and I was too stuffed with turkey and all the good stuff to want to go out and shop on Thanksgiving evening.  So I missed out on a lot of the really early in the day sales and after a couple hours of dodging people and not finding what I wanted, I decided that I might have better luck on line and that I'd rather be crafting :o)   I did listen to the new Duck Dynasty CD and found it to be surprisingly good - who knew they were such good singers??

Anyway, hope you are all doing well and are ready to play in our next challenge at  Addicted to Stamps and More! ATSM Challenge #74 is CAS (Clean And Simple).  We have a terrific sponsor this week (who is also offering a prize of 5 digital images to our TOP ADDICT). 

 

Here's my DT card (using sponsor image):

 

 I used a larger image and made it the focus of my card, but still kept it CAS (CAS defined - minimal layers and few (or none) embellishments, lots of white space).   

 

I'm also entering this in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenges - X is for Out of the Box (NO Squares allowed)

Creative Card Crew Challenge 50 - Sweet Treats

CAS.ology - Week 73 - Ribbon

 

The rest of the DT at ATS&M have made some wonderful CAS creations to share with you this week for ATS&M #74 - CAS - I hope you will go visit and see what they've made. 

 

Will you be joining us this week at ATS&M?  I sure hope so! Til next time friends...hugs and happy crafting! D



Merry Owls for cQc #217, CFC121 & Let's Get Inky - Stamp a Happy Christmas

Hello friends - just a quick post to share a card I made tonight.  The idea has been rolling around in my head since I saw the colors at Colour Q Challenges #217 and I'm just barely in time to enter.

Here's the color inspiration and challenge:

 

And here's what I made:

Don't they just make you want to smile?  I love the one looking at the one who is sleeping as if to say "wake up dude!"

This is a stamped image colored in with copics - I didn't have the exact colors shown, but I think I came very close. I added 8 little sequins so that I could also join the fun at CAS-ual Fridays - CFC121: Create with 8.

And last but certainly not least :o) I am also entering this in 

Nonni's Christmas Card Challenge #1 - Let's get Inky - Stamp a Happy Christmas 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did.  Hope you are having a most wonderful day wherever you are.  Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D