Better Late Than Never

I’m having a wonderful time visiting with my parents in Michigan. The weather is cooler; however, they don’t have internet, so I am sitting at McDonald’s getting my post done for this week’s challenge at Christmas Card Challenges . . . albeit a little late. We couldn't find any fast food places last night with wifi access. 

 

The Christmas Card Challenges theme this week is: Anything Goes.

 

I really enjoyed making this card, but unfortunately since I don’t have access to all my information right now, I’m only able to post the pictures without a whole lot of detail as to what products I used and how I created it. I sponged all the edges (DP and base card) with Memento Green and Red.

 

Here's what it looks like all closed up (above photo).

 

My Crafty Ladies . . . how about I schedule an Advanced Class ~ after the Art & Craft Fair ~ and we’ll make this card (or one very similar to it)? Let me know what you think.

Be sure to check out what the other Design Teammates have created for you this week at Christmas Card Challenges (click here) ~ and, since I'm writing this late, I've already seen their beautiful cards. They are definitely worth checking out.

Keep Crafting, 

 

When All Else Fails . . .

Well the weather isn't cooperating.  We are still pushing 90 degrees the past few days.  SO I have decided to head north to Michigan's cooler temps ~  actually I'm there today, although I wasn't when I originally wrote this . . . oh the wonders of blogland where I can write this days in advance and have it appear at the right moment--hopefully.  I'm excited to spend some time with my parents and extended family and enjoy the cooler temps ~ although I'm praying it doesn't get too cold.

 

However, the Design Team responsibilities continue, so today Crafty Creations Challenges weekly theme is: Split It Up!  ~ put half of the sentiment on the front and the other half on the inside.  Our Sponsor this week is Stitchy Bears.

 

 

I used digital papers and a digital stamp from the Stitchy Bears shop.  They have so many beautiful papers and images to choose from.  The papers are from the Chocolate Dreams Paper Pack 2 and the digistamp is Butterflies in the Grass. ~~ Click on the names to go directly to the correct site.

 

The sentiment is from SU! and it actually comes in 2 parts. However, the words of each stamp could actually be used alone as well. 

 

 

I love the digistamp. It could be used for so many occasions and I'm sure it will become a part of many "Thinking of You" and "Get Well" cards along the way.

 

 

Please check out what my fellow CC teamies have created for your inspiration this week. We love to hear from you {hint-hint: please leave us some comment love} and we also love to see your creations entered in the Crafty Creations weekly challenge.

 

Keep Crafting,

Christmas Card Challenge # 43

This week at Christmas Card Challenges we are having a Sketch Challenge. I hope you play along with us and create a Christmas Card (there's only a few months left to get those cards done, so you might as well start now . . . if you haven't already).

 

Last week's theme was Music, so I must have had music on the brain when I created this card. The image is from Dearie Dolls and the DP is from Old World Winter by the Paper Studio. The sentiment is a stamp by Inkadinkado-Holiday Assortment.

 

I colored the image using Copics and added some sparkle with a Sakura clear glitter pen. A few dots of Creative Imaginations Pearl Pen created dimensional "snowflakes."  I decided to carry the sketch (albeit altered a bit) to the inside of the card.  I may add a second sentiment to the inside . . . or just write a long note.

 

If you haven't figured it out by now, below is the sketch for this week's Challenge.

 

Hop over to the Christmas Card Challenge Blog to see what the other Design Team members have created for you this week . . . and get out those Christmas papers and create your own Christmas Card.

 

Keep Crafting,

Another Fall Card

From the Heart Stamps has a "Stamp of the Month" Challenge.  Since I played along in August, I received this lovely digistamp ~ "Bobbing for Apples" ~ for free so I could play along in September.

 

I used Die-namics' Double Dot Border ~ I thought the rounded border resembled apples.  The DP is from SU!  Not sure why I chose blue cardstock . . . I just liked the way it looked when I put it with the red.  Besides, green made the card look too "Christmas-y."

 

I used Copics to color the image and decided to make her dress peachy in color. The red in the DP is more of an orange-red, so the peach doesn't look too "off" in person.  OK, truth be told, I only have one red Copic, but I have 3 peach ~ it's easier to shade/blend with 3 similar colors than with just one which is why I used the peach {smile}.

 

Back to laundry and cleaning, but be sure to check out the stamps and challenges over at From the Heart Stamps.

 

Keep Crafting,

 

It's Autumn Time

  Working on Christmas cards didn't help to cool things down here in FL, so I thought if I switched to Fall/Autumn cards, maybe the weather would start to cool down. . . after all, it's a huge jump to go from the 90's to 60's, so I'll happily accept 70-ish or even the low 80's.  I can at least wish.

 

 

I love Fall colors. The oranges, yellows and greens just seem so calming to me.  The pumpkins are from Doodle Pantry. It's a free gift this month if you buy something . . . wow, these stores have my number {smile}.  The best part about Doodle Pantry digistamps is you also get a color image (on most) ~ so for us Copic newbies, it helps us see how to color/shade an image. Or, you can always just print out the color version and skip the coloring part (I like to color, though).

 

 

 I know Halloween and Thanksgiving are the typical "Fall" cards, but I wanted to use the colors and images of Fall without the card being a Halloween card. So I computer-generated the sentiment to create a "thank you" card.

 

 

I'll let you know in a few days if this ploy works, but I think the temps are still supposed to be near or above 90 for the next few days. At least the sun is shining and Fall/Winter will get to us soon enough.

Keep Crafting,

 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

 ~ Aud Sentiments Challenge #89: Use a sentiment suitable for Autumn, but not Halloween

~ Craft Your Passion #180: Autumn/Fall Colors

~ Crafty Sentiments: Fall/Autumn Colors

 ~ Doodle Pantry Monthly Challenge: Use a DP image

 ~ Great Impressions September Challenge: Fall Colors

 ~ Nutcrafter's #52: Your Favorite Color Combination (Oranges, Greens, Yellows)

 ~ Our Daily Bread Designs #171: Fall Colors

 ~ 4Krafty Girls #2: ATG

 

Card Recipe:

 ~ Ivory and brown cardstock

 ~ Ribbon Stitched Poly Peach Parfait by SU!

 ~ Digistamp by Doodle Pantry

 ~ Green DP by DCWV: The Bewitched Stack

 ~ Orange DP by DCWV: Amber Autumn Fall Stack Collection

 ~ Memento Rich Cocoa for accenting edges

 ~ Sentiment: computer-generated in brown ink





Another Christmas Card

   It has been SO hot the past few days that I thought if I worked on Christmas cards it would at least FEEL a little cooler.

 

   I picked up this really cute penguin image (Penguin Cocoa) from Imagine That Digi Stamps (they are offering it free this month so that you can hop into the monthly progressive challenge . . . that is, play along this month and get a free image to use in next month's challenge and so on).

I didn't use the traditional "penguin" colors (black and white). I wanted a softer look so I opted to go with greys.  I added  Crystal Snow to the whipped topping to give a "fluffy" appearance. And I "dotted" the color on his cap so it would look more like a knit cap ~ at least that was the look I was aiming for . . . it's all in the eye of the beholder {smile}.

 

 

I carried the layout theme to the inside as well and decided to add an second sentiment to balance it all out.  OK . . . OK . . . so the font and color don't match on the 2 sentiments;  I'm hoping the recipient will be in such AWE of my handmade card that they won't even notice.

 

Even though the weather hasn't gotten any cooler ~ and it doesn't look like it will for at least another week ~ I had fun creating this card. I hope you enjoyed it also.

Keep Crafting,

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

~ Imagine That Digi Stamps Challenge #12: Use Penguin Image

~ Christmas Stampin' All Year Long #33: Cute and cuddly (I think the penguin looks C&C)

~ Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #142: Cut it out (punches and die cuts were used)

~ Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for September: Anything Goes

 ~ Created With Love Challenge #58: Anything Goes

~ Christmas Challenges {with Sketches} #90: Use the following sketch

 

Card Recipe:

 ~ White and red cardstock

 ~ Red grosgrain ribbon

 ~ Green DP (Boquet de Fleur by DCWV)

 ~ Striped DP (Vintage Ornament digipaper by Doodle Pantry)

 ~ Outside Sentiment computer generated

 ~ Inside Sentiment (Holiday Greetings Digistamp by Doodle Pantry)

 ~ Labels Two Die by Spellbinders ~ outside

 ~ Designer Labels 4 by Die-namics (mftstamps) ~ inside

 ~ Oval and scalloped oval punch by SU

 ~ Stampendous Crystal Snow

 ~ Copics & Sharpies

 ~ Inks: Memento Cottage Ivy & Tim Holtz Distress Ink Tumbled Glass

 

 

It's Musical

  This week's Christmas Card Challenge theme is to incorporate Music into your card.  I had SO much fun putting my card together this week.  I think out of all the cards I've done recently, this one I'm most proud of.

 

I colored the image (from ginormasource) using Copics. Everything just came together the way I envisioned it. I'm learning how to shade and color using a limited number of Copics. Maybe someday I'll splurge and buy more, but for now, the budget doesn't allow it.

 

 

The musical background paper is from the Paper Studio-Old World Winter Paper Pack. I added organza ribbon and a bell charm pin I made.

 

 

So as not to muddy up the outside, I added the sentiment to the inside of the card (it's from Stamp Fairy).  The solid cardstock is black and deep wine. Not sure if those colors come through on the blog or not.

 

 

Be sure to check out what the other Christmas Card Designers have created for your inspiration this week. Click here.

 

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:

  >  Our Daily Bread Designs Challenges #170: Get Ready for Christmas 

 

Keep Crafting,

Let's Get Krafty

   Let's Get Krafty . . . that's the theme this week at Crafty Creations Challenges. So, show us your craft projects using kraft colored card, ribbon, felt, etc. Our Sponsor this week is Bunny Zoe Crafts.

 

I decided to keep my card simple (although it definitely was not easy like I thought it would be).

 

The card base and top layer are Kraft cardstock. I added yellow for a little color. And, the best part about making this card ? !  I used two new items I just got in the mail: a stamp and a die.

 

The pattern on the front of the card is a stamp by JustRite Stampers called "Stitched Ribbon Background." I inked it up using VersaMark Watermark Ink, added clear embossing powder and heat embossed it.  I see SO many possibilities with this stamp.

 

The other new item is the flower. It's the Die-namics Hibiscus die I got from mftstamps. I'm not sure the picture does it justice; it's real cute in person (it has vein lines on the flower petals).

 

 

The sentiment stamps are from Stampin' Up-Thoughts & Prayers. The flower stamp is also by Stampin' Up!-Secret Garden and I colored it with Copics and Sharpies.

 

 

Be sure to check out what my fellow Crafty Creations teamies have designed for you this week as they Get Krafty. Click here to check them all out.

 

Note:  If you receive my blog posts via email, I finally have the "Email the Author" option at the bottom of the email working. So, if you don't want to leave a comment on my actual blog web page, then you can click the "Email the Author" option and I will finally get your email. I love hearing from you and you can let me know if there is anything special you'd like me to feature in the future..

 

I'm entering the above card in the following challenges:

  >  Catered Crop: Sentiment-al Recipe Swap Quickfire

  >  Shopping Our Stash: Favorite Stampy Technique (mine is heat embossing my stamps)

  >  Tuesday Throwdown: Anything Goes

  >  Nutcrafters: CAS

 

Keep Crafting,

Christmas Card Challenge #41: Snowman

     The new challenge this week at Christmas Card Challenges is Snowman. You can check out the details as well as what the DT has put together for your inspiration by clicking here.  And here's my contribution this week:

 

I had a bit of fun creating the paper "ribbon."  I glued down the end, then rolled it around a pencil and glued down the next little bit, removed the pencil, rolled it, glued it, and so on. I flattened the rolls a bit so they weren't standing up so tall.  I also used dimensionals on the snowman and the sentiment.

 

 

The sentiment is computer generated. I don't remember where I got the snowman from, but it's actually a clear sticker that I stuck to white cardstock, then glued that to red cardstock and cut around the image to create the frame. The DSP is from the Old World Winter Pack by the Paper Studio.

 

 

 Don't forget to take a peek at what the Christmas Card Challenges DT have put together for you this week (click here).

Keep Crafting,

It's A Lemon-y Day

   I have a dear friend that always makes me laugh.  However, right now she is going through one health crisis after another.  I wanted to "cheer" her up and this card came to mind. I realize that I couldn't send it to just anybody . . . but I knew she would smile/laugh/giggle/roll on the floor when she read it.  Some people are just like that; always looking on the bright side even when the clouds haven't lifted for weeks (or months in her case).

 

 

The image is a free one from Dearie Dolls and it came at just the right time (if you want the actual image, click here). I used Glossy Accents on the pitcher so it would appear like . . .  well, glass.  I also thought the bright yellow and neon green ribbon would add to the overall "uplifting" feel of the card.

 

 

But the best part ~ at least in my opinion ~ is the inside. The sentiment is from Meljens. I was going to computer-generate it, but when I saw this, I just HAD to get it.

 

 

To continue the card "theme," I also included a packet of lemonade mix with the card.  She called to say the card brightened her day and she was enjoying a cool, refreshing glass of . . . lemonade.

 

 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

  >  Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #187: Use Yellow

  >  Artistic Inspirations #57: Buttons or Anything Goes

  >  Crafty Ribbons #60: Anything Goes with a Ribbon

  >  4 Krafty Girlz Challenges #1: Anything Goes (congrats on your very first challenge)

  >  DRS Designs #86: It's So Bright in Here (use bright or neon colors)

  >  Word Art Wednesday #96: Anything Goes

  >  Craft-Dee-Bowz-September Challenge: Anything Goes and include a bow

  >  Digi Darla's #78: Anything Goes w/optional twist~Flags

  >  Creative Moments #25: Anything Goes/Birthday

 

Keep Crafting,

 

It's a New Week

   Welcome September! Wow, another month, another week. And, another challenge at Christmas Card Challenges. The theme this week is: Something New.

This may not appear "new" to those of you who know me well or take my classes ~ after all, this is not new ribbon, a new punch or even new embossing folders. But . . . my new is in how I use all those items.

 

I have recently begun embossing a LOT of different shapes. I always emboss larger pieces of cardstock to use on my cards; but you can add texture, dimension, uniqueness to a punch or diecut shape by using an embossing folder. For example, the ornament on this card or the leaves in my last post.

 

A CAS design, quick and easy to put together, but by embossing the ornaments, this card now has depth and character.

 

So, grab your punches/dies and embossing folders and see how you can create something new. Don't forget to check out what the other Christmas Card Challenges Design Team members have created for you this week~ click here.

 

I'm entering this card in:
  > ABC Christmas Challenge: Q is for Quick - this card was quick!
  > Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra-September

Keep Crafting,