Addicted To Stamps, CAS-ual Fridays, Lollipop Crafts & Merry Monday

Hello to all of you this fine Saturday!  I am participating in four challenges today: Addicted to Stamps Theme Challenge #1 - "Christmas in July" and Lollipop Crafts Challenge #84 "Christmas in July" and the Merry Monday July Challenge which is to make 4 cards during July (basically one each week) using any past sketch. I used Sketch #1 for this card.  I love the non-traditional color combo in this DSP - a different twist on a Christmas card and probably not one I would send to a male friend - LOL, but I can think of a couple of my other friends who would appreciate this.  

I am also participating in the CAS-ual Fridays CFC60 - TEXT ME, which is to use text in your Clean and Simple Design.

As you can see - the text is the only stampin and focus of this card.  I used the Sizzix Scallop Oval die to create a base for my frame and then used another oval die to take out the middle of my first oval so I would have  a frame to then glue 3/8" pleated satin ribbon around (I see that I didn't get it exactly even all the way around - argh!). 

Overall I'm happy with how this turned out - hope you like it too!  Thanks so much for stopping in to visit me - I'm sure glad that you did!  Hugs!

Supplies (all from Stampin UP - except as noted): Cardstock - Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride and Early Espresso.  Sentiment - More Merry Messages (NEW), stamped with Early Espresso ink.  DSP - Letters to Santa (retired).  Ribbon - 3/8" pleated satin in Blushing Bride and Pear Pizzazz. Pearls - Close to My Heart. I used the scallop edge border punch also.  

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Sketch #7

Hello friends!  Thanks for popping in to visit me today for my very first post as a DT for 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - whoo hoo!! Since this is the first week of the month the we have a sketch challenge for you (see below). 

I couldn't decide if I wanted to go cute or classic - so I did one of each for this week's challenge inspiration.  You can add lots of layers (as I have done with the card above) , you can flip this sketch (as I've done below),  you can keep it CAS, or you can embellish it up to the hilt (just make sure the sketch is still obvious).  On both of my cards I expanded the size of the main rectangle slightly.

As soon as I saw this darling new set from Stampin Up I knew I had to have it for the cards I will make for our younger group of family and friends.  This set will also make darling tags for packages - I can't wait to try that!! I used the new Finishing Touches Edgelits.  This is just a single edge strip so I had to run it through my Big Shot 4 times to get the edging all around the primrose layer. I did get it a bit off when I placed the Big Shot clear plate on top though so next time I'll use a dab of dotto to hold it in place a little better. I still like how it turned out though - gives it kind a fun and funky vibe that goes along with the stamps and card in general. I colored the stamps with my SU markers to get the different colors and stamped the deer's scarf on a scrap of pink and then pieced it onto the image. I used a retired SU snowflake punch and snipped off the ends to create the green snowflakes which mimic the snowflakes on the DSP.

Here's the other card I made with this week's sketch:

Please pop into the 52 {Christmas} Card Challenge blog and see the wonderful creations the rest of the DT has created and shared with you for inspiration. I hope that you will decide to join us in this fun challenge - we are seeing our numbers growing and the inspiration I'm getting from all of you is just amazing! Remember, the sketch is just a starting point for your creativity - can't wait to see what you do with it!

Supplies for "cute" deer card (all from Stampin Up! except as noted): Cardstock - I used 3 of the NEW In-Colors on this card called Gumball Green (base),  Primrose Petal and Raspberry Ripple.  I also used Very Vanilla.  Stamps - sentiment and deer from No Peeking.  DSP - Be of Good Cheer.  Misc - colored rhinestones.

Supplies for "classic" deer card (all from Stampin UP!): Cardstock - Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla. DSP - Be of Good Cheer. Stamp - Christmas Deer (NEW). I snipped the little bird out and placed in the deer's antlers.  I used a 1" and and 1 1/4" circle punch for the sentiment (sentiment is from a retired rub-on set from SU).

FMS42 { CAS - Miss You}

Hello friends! I was able to squeeze another card in today to participate in the Freshly Made Sketches  #42.  I kept this sketch CAS (something that is not easy for me to do) and I really like how it turned out.    Oh darn....just as I pasted in the inspiration sketch below I see that I goofed in the layout a bit compared to the sketch - and here I was feeling so proud of myself!  That's what I get for trying to work from memory.  My apologies Jennifer T ;o( , I meant to follow your sketch to the "t" this time because it is such a classy, clean-lined sketch. Hopefully its still "close enough".

I stamped the image first on a piece of whisper white cardstock and then again on a piece of basic grey so I could cut out the mailbox and piece it on top of the original image. Not sure why I'm so into paper piecing lately :o) but I really like how it just made this "pop". I decided to just keep it to two colors this time - Tempting Turquoise and Basic Grey. I used a piece of textured cardstock for the main layer on this card to provide just a hint of "touchability" and not compete with the pieced mailbox. This is a NEW stamp set called "For the Birds". I knew as soon as I saw it that I just had to have it. It has lots of versatility for occassions and seasons. I'm sure you will be seeing more of it from me in the future. The white and grey DSP is Twitterpated and the striped grey is from the neutrals collection of the Designer Patterns Paper Stack (getting lots of use out of those stacks lately!).

Here is a closer look at my paper pieced mailbox:

Thanks so much for stopping in to visit me - I'm sure glad that you did and I hope I've inspired you in some way.  Hugs! 

MOJO248 and colourQ challenge #144

Happy Friday friends - so glad you've stopped in to visit me today!  It's a gorgeous sunny day this morning so I want to finish up a couple cards and go out and play today for a bit.  My card today is based on the MOJO Monday 248 contest sketch (see below) and the colourQ challenge #144 which challenges us to use the colors of Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade, Night of Navy and Bordering Blue (see below).

You'll notice that I chose to flip the MOJO sketch and that my elements are a bit larger than on the sketch so that I could fit my image on the card and stay as true as possible to this great sketch. I have a confession, sometimes I am intimidated by the colours selected at ColourQ but I love to give them a try regardless. This time though I had this darling little stamp sitting on my desk waiting to be used and the colors seemed to work really well.  I paper pieced this little guy's shirt (what was I thinking - those little sleeve pieces are tiny!!) and colored the rest of the image with a blender pen.     

Well... I off to do some chores before I enjoy the sunshine a bit.  Thanks again for visiting - I hope you like this card.  There is some great inspiration at ColourQ to see and the MOJO248 contest is still open for a couple of days.  The prize you could win is a Verve stamp set of your choice.  I've been lucky enough to win twice so far - so awesome!  I encourage you to check out these blogs and participate if you can.  Hugs!

Supplies (all from SU except the stamp): Cardstock - Whisper White, Night of Navy. DSP - Sweet Shop (retired), Build A Bear Patterns (retired), and Night of Navy from the Designer Series Paper Stack (regals collection). I used the scalloped edge border punch and the 1" circle punch (sentiment). 
Ink colors used are Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Night of Navy (sentiment and shoes), Soft Suede (hair) and Blushing Blossom (skin).  White bakers twine is my ribbon (don't you love how it looks like the strings on the balloons?).  Stamped image is from Stampendous called "Balloon Kiddo".

Dynamic Duos #9 {For the Birds}

Hello Friends!  I told you that I would also be sharing some non-Christmas cards with you this week and here is the first one.  But this will be a quick post so that I can make the deadline for the Dynamic Duos Challenge #9 - Crumb Cake and Your Choice. 

I've been dying to use this new stamp set since I received it.  My color choice of Tempting Turquoise to combine with the Crumb Cake seemed like a no brainer for these darling little birds.  The touch of blushing bride is an allowed neutral (along with the white).  My daughter is pleased that I have made something other than a Christmas card :o) Hope you like it too!  Thanks so much for stopping in to visit me - I'm sure glad that you did!  Hugs!

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!): Cardstock - crumb cake (base), tempting turquoise, blushing bride and whisper white. DSP is from the Brights collection of the Designer Series Paper Stack.  Stamp - For the Birds (NEW).  Ribbon - Whisper White 1/4" stitched grosgrain ribbon (NEW). Buttons are from the Bright collection and basic pearls fill the middle of each button.  I colored the image with a blender pen and the TT ink.  I used the Adorning Accents textured embossing strip folder along the top and bottom of my card.

Paper Players #102, Retrosketches #18 & Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge

Happy Tuesday friends!  If you've popped into my blog tonight and said "hmmm... another Christmas card..." then you are not alone.  My daughter said "I really, really like this Mama but what's up with all the Christmas cards lately?  Aren't you going to make any other kinds any more?"  I do seem to be making a lot of Christmas cards lately and not so many of the other kinds - but here's the thing...I've discovered that I LOVE to make Christmas cards - LOL.  By the time Christmas gets here I will be done with the cards and can concentrate on the other fun things of the holiday - like baking cookies.  Oh, and of course, there were three great challenges that I wanted to participate in today of which 2 are specific to Christmas themes so how could I resist?!  Not to worry though, I am working on a few non-Christmas creations too which I will be sharing with you soon.  But for now, thanks for visiting and I sure hope you like this card that I am entering into the following challenges:

The Paper Players #102 - "Christmas in July" theme

Retrosketches #18 (see below)

and
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Acrostic Christmas Challenge

The idea behind the Acrostic Christmas Challenge is to use at least two different letters from the word ‘CHRISTMAS’ to create a project.  My card uses the letters C for Cookies, H for holiday, R for red and ribbon, and S for Sweet.  Too bad there is not a Y in Christmas cause I would say YUMMY  (I love cookies - they are my favorite treat) :o)

This card uses a mix of old and new products.  The darling gingerbread cookies are actually cardstock stickers that I've had in my Christmas stuff "stash" waiting for me to make a scrapbook page.  They no longer had any stick to them so I used my trusty tombow adhesive and viola! The white ric rac ribbon is also from that same stash of Christmas stuff :o) The blog post from Ann at Paper Players reminded me that I still have some of rub-ons from a past Stampin Up! purchase (actually I have a lot of them) and was delighted to find the perfect saying to go with my card - whoo hoo! Unfortunately these rub-ons are quite old and they didn't go on as smoothly as I would have liked :o(  Note to self - "use your stuff - don't just hoard it!" 

I made the cookie sheet with brushed silver cardstock.  My card base is Crumb Cake cardstock and I ran the Poppy Parade cardstock strip through the Adorning Accents embossing folder (hearts).

I am pleased with how this card turned out - making Christmas cookies is a favorite tradition for me and my kids so it has a special meaning to me as well.  We make the frosted cut-out sugar cookies and gingerbread people.  We give each family member their own specially decorated cookie.  I know that Christmas has arrived when we start making those cookies. 

Til next time - Hugs!

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - "Anything Goes" & Merry Monday Challenge #26 {Come to Bethlehem}

Happy Sunday friends!  I could not be more excited to share some great news with you today...I responded to a design team call from Mynnette and Jacqueline at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and was selected to be a new member on their team starting next month!  This will be my first time as a DT member and I'm soooo excited and thrilled to have the opportunity to share my creations with you in this manner.  I hope I don't disappoint - gulp!  The challenge this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is "Anything Goes". This week I am just sharing with you - but next week I will start my term as a DT!! If you haven't checked us out - please do so - there's lots of great inspiration to been seen. 

My card is based on the sketch below from Lesley for the Merry Monday Challenge #26 (my other absolute favorite Christmas card challenge): 

I've had a super busy week and this is the first card I've made since Monday! I think I'm having withdrawals!!  We took a quick 3 day trip for some more college stuff - following a business trip that I made right before that - so it is no understatement when I tell you that my house is a disaster and I have a pile of laundry almost as tall a me to take care of today.  But, last night I figured that the house would still be a mess today and the laundry will patiently wait for me - so I ran up to my card room shortly after we got home and  put together this card (I'm truly obsessed, I know) :o) 

I decided to stay true to Lesley's sketch and made a quick CAS card  - but I did have to add just a bit of bling...

I fussed around with the background I wanted to use on this card and finally ended up with a retired DSP called "Merry Moments" from 2009.  I printed the image and sentiment from "Come to Bethlehem" using My Digital Studio - but this is also a current stamp set in the Stampin Up catalog.  With the exception of my shiny star to lead the three wise men, my card is monochromatic using Old Olive (one of my favorites for all occassions, but especially Christmas cards).

Thanks for stopping by to visit - I'm so glad that you did!  Hope you like this very Clean and Simple card today.  Gotta go - my son wants me to go climb a mountain with him (UGH!) - might be a good idea after all the restaurant food I've been eating these past couple of weeks.   Hugs!!