Happy New Year ~ #2

I have another card to share with you today. It's for the December monthly progressive challenge at Imagine That Digi Stamps.  I received these really cute gingerbread "people" (to be politically correct) for playing in November. They also had some adorable digi papers (that I couldn't resist, so I bought them).  I used two of the papers from that set on this card. 

 

The peppermint candy image is actually the button on the gingerbread man that I enlarged and cut out . . . digistamps are so versatile.  The sentiment is a freebie from Stamp Fairy.

 

Sorry the pictures aren't the best . . . I had to take them with my phone since my camera battery is dead at the moment and I have to get this card posted.\

 

Happy New Year to everyone!

Happy New Year

The month (and year for that matter) is almost over and that means that the December Stamp of the Month Challenge at {From the Heart Stamps} is winding down.  I had to pick one of two freebie digistamps to use for the month of December.

 

Since my mom was just recently visiting me in FL and she is now back in cold, COLD Michigan, I thought this image and sentiment might reflect her feelings. Note: The other image was just as darling, but this one was for my mom.

 

I absolutely LOVE the snowman. One of the cutest I've seen.  You can check out this digistamp and others at From the Heart Stamps.

 

And here's the sentiment that came with the stamp. So fitting, don't you think?

 

I can't wait to see what From the Heart Stamps has for January. Be sure to check out their website for more ideas and great digital stamp images.

 

Recipe:  Studio Calico papers~Alpine; MFT Circle Stax Dies; Copics; Memento Ink

'Tis the Season for Giving

This is the last Challenge of the year at Crafty Creations Challenges. Our theme is:
"Anything Goes"
and the challenge starts today (Dec 18) and ends January 6. 
Not only are prizes being awarded at the CC Blog, but several of the Design Team members are offering prizes on their own personal blog also (links are at the end of this post).  And, since I love winning prizes, you know I had to offer something.

 

Leave a comment on this post by 10 p.m. Monday, January 6th and I will randomly select

THREE ~  yes 3 ~ people to each win a

$5.00 Gift Certificate to the Doodle Pantry store.

Use your GC wisely, and you could get 2, 3 or even more digital images/sets, since Doodle Pantry often has a "gift with purchase."

 

A few weeks ago, I shared a card I made using the Paper Studio Brick embossing folder. I loved it so much, I thought I would use it again with Doodle Pantry's Window Box Wishes set.  The first one uses the "Snow" digistamp. I used the color version but highlighted certain areas with Copics. 

 

 

The sentiment on the front is from Stamp Fairy ~ Lenny Christmas Scenes. The sentiment on the inside is from Doodle Pantry ~ Holiday Greetings.

 

My next card uses the Sunflower digistamp also from Doodle Pantry's Window Box Wishes set.  I lightened the digistamp before printing and used my Copics to color the flowers, leaves and window frame.

 

I printed one of the digital papers that came with the set (and matches the curtains) to use as the DP for the inside. There's no sentiment on this card because I'm not sure what I'll use it for yet.

 

I hope you'll join us for our last "Anything Goes" challenge of the year at Crafty Creations ~ I'm amazed at all the talent out there.

 

If you arrived at my blog from Marlene's, then click on Jaime's name below to visit the next blog that is offering a prize giveaway. I've also listed the other DT members that are offering a prize on their blog, since you won't want to miss any of them. 

Marlene
Heather - you are here

Jaime
Sabine

Anna
Mary

And don't forget to visit the Crafty Creations Challenges Blog and see what terrific items the DT created this week.

 

I'm also entering these cards in the Doodle Pantry Blog Monthly Challenge.

 

Don't forget to leave a comment on this blog post by 10pm Monday, January 6.  

Three randomly selected people will each win a

$5 Doodle Pantry Gift Certificate.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday, January 8 and will have one (1) week to claim their prize.

Note: The Gift Certificates are being awarded by Heather and not Doodle Pantry. 

Quick and Easy

Another Sunday . . . which means it's time for another Challenge at Christmas Card Challenges.  This week's theme is: Make Words the Focal Point.

 

Initially I had a hard time thinking of what to do for my DT card. Then I found this great free digistamp from A Piece of Heart (click here for the sentiment; click here to see all their freebies and designs) and my card was born.

 

I changed the color of the sentiment from black to green and printed it on Kraft cardstock. The striped DP is from The Paper Studio~Classic Christmas Cardstock Pack.  The ornament border is something I picked up eons ago ~ SW Glad Tidings Icon Adhesive Borders by K&Company.  I added dimension to the center only . . . mainly because it was just a tad too long and I could get it to fit better if I puffed up the middle.  And, to be honest, I didn't realize it was self-adhesive until I wrote this blog and looked for the name on the package (duh!).

 

Check out what the other Christmas Card Challenges DT members have created for you this week (click here). Hopefully we'll inspire you to make a few Christmas cards ~ for this year or next.

I'm entering the following Challenge with this card:
 ~ Clear It Out Challenges - Theme & Stash: ATG

Whew! Just in the nick of time

I finished another card just minutes ago for a challenge over at Melonheadz Friends. MelonHeadz has some really cute stamps for all occasions. Unfortunately, I mixed up 3 challenges and so this card only works for 1 of them . . . the Melonheadz Friends challenge (good thing I used a Melonheads digi stamp).  And it ends in just a couple hours, so I am really down to the wire.

 

 

The balloons (I cut off the strings) and the pennant are both from Melonheadz.  The sentiment and ribbon are from Stampin' Up!.  The DP is from Pebbles~Lakeside Paper Pad.

 

 

I added Glossy Accents to the balloons and also printed an extra balloon to add some dimension. I colored the digis with Copics.

 

 

I left the inside blank at this time. I'm not sure if I'll add an additional sentiment or just a handwritten note.

Black and White

Another post late . . . but it is still Sunday, so in a way, I'm not too late.

 

The Challenge this week at Christmas Card Challenges is Black and White Christmas Cards.  I had a dickens of a time with this challenge. Somehow black and white colors just don't feel like Christmas to me.  But, I managed to come up with a design and card.

 

I used Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio to design this card. I did add a few "shadow" trees in light grey . . . but then grey is just a light black, right?

 

I printed and cut out a second Christmas Tree to add dimension.

 

This is the inside; but after I took the pictures, I realized that the inside could be the front and the font could be the inside . . . so I may have to make a few more black and white cards using this design because I like how it looks.

 

Be sure to check out the Christmas Card Challenges blog (click here) so you can see what my fellow Design Team members also created this week. Some gorgeous black and white Christmas cards this week.

For the Dogs

The actual Catered Crop challenge theme is "Animal House Recipe Swap Quickfire" but since I chose a dog as my "animal" ~ I decided to title this post "For the Dogs."

 

A neighbor (and good friend) recently adopted the cutest little schnauzer rescue dog. So, of course, our little dog had to send a card to welcome her to the neighborhood.  If you're not a dog/cat/animal person you might not understand this crazy way of thinking.

 

 

The window digi stamp is from Doodle Pantry ~ Window Box Wishes. And since you receive jpeg and png files from Doodle Pantry, I used the png file so I could add the dog digi stamp, Stamp Fairy's ~ Charlie Happy Life.   I wanted it to appear as if the dog was looking out the window . . . from one house to the other. The window is a pre-colored digi, but I enhanced the window frame and curtains and colored the dog with Copics.   The brick embossing folder is from The Paper Studio ~ A2 Bricks.

 

The sentiment is computer-generated.  I sponged the brick and inside papers using Memento Toffee Crunch and added a bit of Memento Dandelion to the inside papers as well.

 

A Sunny Day

Living in Florida it's often hard to believe that winter is here with Christmas right around the corner. We've been blessed with 80+ degree days lately, so it definitely does not feel like Christmas.

Thank goodness Crafty Creations Challenges is having an

Anything EXCEPT Christmas

challenge this week. We're sponsored by Oak Pond Creations and I received a beautiful digi stamp called Sunflowers to use for this week's challenge.  It is definitely not a Christmas image (unless you consider sunflowers to be Florida's "Christmas Tree").

 

I printed the sunflowers on white cardstock then die cut it with a Spellbinders Oval die. The Oval matte is DP from Pebbles: Lakeside Collection. The grey DP is from DCWV: the dots, stripes & plaids stack. The yellow cardstock, plaid DP and ribbon are from my stash.

 

I printed an extra image and cut out one flower and 2 leaves so I could puff them up using dimensionals.  I colored the image with Copics

 

I finished the inside using Die-namics Layered Treat Tag Die, but left off the sentiment. I'm not sure whether this will be a Thinking of You, Get Well or Happy Birthday card. It's nice to have options.

 

I'd like to enter the above card in the following challenges:

  ~ Clear It Out Challenges ~ Theme: ATG; Stash: ATG (the Plaid DP and small piece of ribbon have been in my craft scrap bin for eons; glad to finally use them both up)

  ~ Papertake Weekly Challenges ~ Theme: ATG with optional extra: CAS

  ~ Ribbon Carousel ~ #88 ATG but must used spooled item (yellow ribbon)

  ~ Songbird Challenges ~ Theme: Die Another Day, use 1 or more dies (Spellbinders Oval and Die-namics Layered Treat Tag)

  ~ One Stitch at a Time ~ Use a Digi

  ~ Melonheadz Friends ~ Fall Colors (yellows and greens are pretty much FL's Fall colors)

 

A New Year

Today I begin another 6 months as a member of the Christmas Card Challenges Design Team. I'm thrilled to have been asked to stay on for another "term" for several reasons. First, I love making Christmas cards and this gives me an incentive to get a huge head start on my cards for 2014; second, I love the gals that are on the DT with me . . . they've been SO encouraging and supportive; and third, I'm even more happy that they found me worthy to stay on for another term.

The challenge this week is No Stamping. Yup, that was a tough one for me, since I love all stamps: digi, rubber or clear/acrylic. And, I felt no stamps meant no sentiments either. UGH!! Me without something to say . . . hardly (I know you were all thinking it, so it had to be said).

I used an embossing folder and my Sizzix ornament die for this card. I added a bit of gold twine and red vellum to finish off the look. Very quick and easy and I'm happy with the look. . . . hmmm, maybe I like "No Stamping" afterall.

Stop by the Christmas Card Challenges blog to see what the other DT members have created. I'd love to see your card designs with "No Stamping."

Happy Thanksgiving

I've had a wonderful Thanksgiving so far today. I spent a glorious day with my parents and husband.  The dinner turned out great . . . everything got done at the right time (that usually doesn't happen to me). Then I took a quick 10 minute nap while my mom and hubby cleaned up the kitchen and put the food away. Like I said . . . what a wonderful Thanksgiving.

 

However, not everything went as planned. I thought I had posted this to go live this morning.  Well, imagine my surprise when I checked the blog and there wasn't any post.  So, a quick write-up (before dessert) to go with the lovely digistamp I received FREE from From the Heart Stamps for playing along in their monthly challenge last month.  I'm entering this card in their November progressive monthly challenge.

 

 

The digistamp is called "Balloon Ride" and I colored it with Copics.  Both sentiments were included in the set.  The flourish die is from Die-namics as well as the tab die.  I'm not sure where the DP came from since I pulled it out about 3 weeks ago to work on this card and I can't find where I wrote down the info.  I also sponged around all the DP, circle and sentiments with Memento Teal Zeal.  Since one of the balloons is shaped like a heart, I can see this image being used for Valentine's Day also. So versatile.

 

Keep Crafting and I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday,

Thank You

There's another challenge this week at Crafty Creations. The theme is: Thank You and we're sponsored by Whiff of Joy. Check out the challenge details and inspiration cards from the other DT members here.

 

This is a card that I taught in a recent class. It's generic and works so well for any occasion.  I had several sentiments available for the attendees including Happy Birthday, Get Well, Thinking of You or Thank You.

Card Recipe: teal, white and black cardstock; dot embossing folder; sentiment~Stampin' Up!; image~Sizzix Hero Arts Stamp & Die-Cut set Floral; Memento Bahama Blue Ink; grosgrain ribbon from stash & various punches and dies. 

Another Gorgeous Freebie

Once again I'm down to the wire to enter a card in the Imagine That DigiStamp Monthly Challenge.  Because I entered a card in their Challenge last month, I received a cute digistamp called Birthday Sea Horse for FREE.  By making a card using this stamp, and entering it in the November challenge, I'll receive another free digistamp to use for December's Challenge (and so on and so on). As I've said before . . . I just LOVE FREE things.

 

I paired the colorized digistamp with bright blue and hot pink cardstock. I added some additional highlights and color to the seahorse and balloons using Copics. The sentiment came with the digistamp set.  And I added Glossy Accents to the balloons and water bubbles.  The embossing folder is from The Paper Studio~Dot Background; I thought it looked like water bubbles or droplets.  The blue grosgrain ribbon is from my stash.

 

The inside sentiment is from Doodle Pantry~Birthday Bash Digi Set. I used Copics to add some color to the word "happy."

 

With several new babies in the family this year, I think I'll be using this digital stamp real soon.

Faith

  It's the final challenge for the year at Christmas Card Challenges. The theme this week is: Faith. 

I recently bought the Wise Men stamp from The Stamp Place. Unfortunately, I thought it was smaller than it was (and I'm usually so good at checking out sizes before buying). It fills up the entire card and leaves little room for anything else.  However, I decided that I'd go with the CAS look, since the image really says it all.

 

I stamped the image on Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla cardstock using Memento Paris Dusk. I used VersaMark for the star and added gold embossing powder.  The card is Navy Blue cardstock with a gold metallic mat. The sentiments are from Doodle Pantry (Bethlehem and Holiday Greetings sets).  I also sponged the inside sentiment using Memento Desert Sand.

 

I can't believe 6 months have gone by so quickly. Good news is that I've been asked to stay on the Christmas Card Challenges Design Team for another 6 months, so you'll see more Christmas Cards from me after Christmas.

 

Click on the link here to see what the other DT members have created this week. They're absolutely beautiful and will give you some wonderful ideas for your own Christmas Cards.

Ready for the Holidays

That's the theme this week at

Crafty Creations Challenges-Ready for the Holidays

(Thanksgiving or Christmas).

 

We're sponsored by A Creative Need and I used one of their digistamps called "Cottage Window."  I added the wreath in order to make another Christmas card (one can never have too many, right?)

 

Card Recipe:

~White & Burgundy Cardstock

~Window DigiStamp by A Creative Need colored with Copics

~Sentiment by Stampin' Up!-Petite Pairs using Memento Cottage Ivy and sponged with Memento Bamboo Leaves & Dessert Sand

~A2 Bricks Embossing Folder by the Paper Studio, sponged with Memento Dessert Sand and raised up with Stampin' Up Dimensionals

~Martha Stewart Punch

~Pearls & rhinestones from stash

I'm Thankful

It may seem strange to have the title of this post "I'm Thankful" and then show a Christmas Card. However, I'm thankful that this year I'll be spending Thanksgiving with my parents - YAY!!. And, I'm also thankful that other events in my life are over and I can finally get back to creating cards. Being creative really relaxes me (although at times it may not seem so . . . like when I'm rushing to get a card finished for a challenge).

 

Speaking of challenges, Christmas Card Challenges has a sparkly challenge this week. The theme is  Bling.

 

 

One advantage to having my parents visit is it forces me to straighten up my Craft Room (which also is home to a sofa and TV, which they'll use).  While I was cleaning, I found this cute embellishment; not sure when or where I got it, but I thought it would be perfect for this challenge.

 

I normally don't do Clean & Simple cards; I like lots of layers or fancy die-cuts. But I think less is more with this card. I love it just as it is . . . CAS.  I had to add something to the inside (you know me, I can't leave it blank anymore), so I kept the inside CAS also. Be sure to stop by Christmas Card Challenges this week to see what the other DT members have created.

Card Recipe: Cardstock-Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla; DP-Paper Studio, Old World Winter; Ink-Memento Cottage Ivy; Front Stamp-no name except G-1591; Inside Stamp-Hampton Art; Bling from my stash

Back to Cardmaking

A tad late today, but I have a great excuse. The Art & Craft Fair yesterday was terrific (no major hiccups; or at least none that I heard about). I was/am extremely exhausted ~ I crashed when I got home around 4pm (actually after hubby took me out to dinner Yay!). Then,I had to get up early today to do some work at the golf course, came home to do my Christmas Card Challenges post and I'm getting ready to head back to work in about an hour. Whew!!

So now that the Art & Craft Fair is over, I can finally get back to designing and creating cards for myself and the two Design Teams I'm on (hopefully they're happy to have me back).  And since today is Sunday, it's time for another card challenge at Christmas Cards Challenges.  Today is a sketch challenge.

 

I have to admit, that even though I created how this card would look, the materials for it were provided by my good friend Gail at our recent card get-together (so I can't tell you what I used on this card other than "ribbon" LOL). Thank goodness the card somewhat fit the sketch design this week at Christmas Card Challenges.  Thank you Gail for saving the day.

 

Here's the sketch:

 

Hop on over to Christmas Card Challenges to see what my fellow Design Team members have created for you this week. We'd love to have you link up and show us your Christmas Cards ~ you know you have to get them done ! !  Christmas is almost here.

 

Keep Crafting,

This Little Piggy . . .

This has been a crazy week. Our community's annual Art & Craft Fair is this Saturday. I'm chairperson, so I've been finalizing last-minute details. I haven't had much time to "card craft" or post cards on the blog, but hopefully that will change in another week or two.

Today I'm sharing a card with you that I had to make - my husband asked for a "Pig Card" and so why would I turn down a chance to make a card??  While I was taking advantage of Doodle Pantry's monthly discount, I came across "Mud Piggy."  It's adorable and it also comes with really cute digi-papers.

 

I used the colorized digistamp, but enhanced it with my Copics. The striped and dotted papers came with the Mud Piggy Set. I added blue and brown cardstock and some brown grosgrain ribbon.

 

 

 

Inside I reversed the papers, using the dotted for the main DP and the striped for the accent. The sentiment also comes with the Mud Piggy Set.  I'm entering this card in Doodle Pantry's Monthly Digital Challenge #40.

 

Now, the reason for the "Pig Card" ~ we were going to a pig roast at a friend's house and my husband thought it would be cute to give them a card with a pig on it. I apologize for the not-so-great photos, but since I made the card shortly before we were leaving for the party, I didn't have time to take proper photos. 

 

Keep Crafting,

Just a Card

Nothing much to write about today . . . actually, not much "time" to write anything.  I'm getting the final details, papers, items, etc. ready for our community's Annual Art & Craft Fair. Only a little over a week to go.  I may be the chairperson, but I have a HUGE support system.  The Craft Club members really rally together to pull off a wonderful event.  And our community has the best artists and crafters around - - I can't wait to see all their creations.  However, I'll be happy when I can get back to my crafting.

 

This card is for the monthly progressive challenge at Imagine That. I received the goose image for free because I entered last month's challenge. I can't wait to see what they send me for the November challenge.  Check them out and join along. What a wonderful way to get a free digital stamp.

 

The inside is "almost" done, but my color printer ran out of black ink so I can't print the sentiment.  I thought I would use the card as a "Welcome to the Neighborhood" card. Somehow the goose with the pie just seems like a "welcome" image to me. I added a digi fence and cut a strip of grass.

 

Keep Crafting,

I love Fall

I love the Fall season. Living in Central Florida I still get to see a few Fall colors, just not like when we lived in Michigan. So I relive those Fall days and colors in the cards I make.

 

 

This card is for From The Heart Stamps' monthly challenge. It's a progressive challenge; enter the challenge once using the monthly digital image, and you'll receive a free digital image to use the following month. Harvest Medley is the free image I received for playing along in September.

 

 

The digital stamp has a set of 3 images in a square. I decided to cut them apart and put the sentiment on the front with additional die-cuts and use the other two images for the inside.

 

 

I colored the B&W digis using Copics. I sponged the edges and white paper using Memento Brown. The DP is from the Amber Autumn Matstack by DCWV. The cornstalks are from Die-namics and I'm not sure where I picked up the leaf punch.

 

    

 

I'm also entering this card in their weekly I {heart} Card Sketch Challenge #39 

 

Happy Birthday!

Imagine my horror yesterday as I was writing my blog post and mentioned that the deadline for the challenge was "October 24" . . . October 24 ! !  That just happens to be my Dad's Birthday. Yup, and the card was still on my table . . . unfinished and unsent.

 

So, I scrambled to put it all together and I'm showcasing it today. This way my mom can show my dad a picture of the "card he isn't getting in time for his birthday" {smile}   Sorry, Dad.  I hope you know how much I love you, in spite of the fact that I'm enjoying your birthday card in person and you're not.

 

I suppose I should have used a "belated birthday" sentiment for the inside, but then this card wasn't late when I first started working on it.

 

Happy Birthday, Dad.  All our love, forever.

 

Card Recipe:

  > Digi image and front sentiment: Necktie Banner-From the Heart Stamps

  > Inside sentiment: Stampin' Up!

  > DP: Mat Pad-me & my Big ideas

  > Copics