Cozy Fire

Phew . . .it's the middle of October already!!  That means it's time for our mid-month inspiration for Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  It's always anything Christmas-related goes.  You have all month long to play along with us.  Here is my inspiration for you:

 I have had this card base for at least 12 to 15 years.  Someone was cleaning out their stash and gave me a whole bunch.  The window was already cut and I've been looking at it for several months now thinking it would make a really fun card, but not knowing what to do with it.  And today, for some reason, an idea popped into my head and I went with it.  I started by using some rust colored ink and a brick wall stencil to create the outside of the "house".  Then I stamped the wreath image 4 different times so I could fussy cut the different layers of the bow to give it dimension.  You can't see it in the photo, but there are 4 layers to the bow, counting the center knot.  Glued them all in place and fussy cut the wreath out so I could "hang" it from the window.  Then, I had fun stamping the little scene inside the house.  Each element is separate, but it was much easier using my new mini MISTI.  I totally forgot about this set, but I might need to pull it out and use it again, the scenes you can create with it are so fun!  I used a sheet of acetate behind the cut out to create a window and placed a piece of patterned paper behind the upper half of the "window" to create the look of a window shade.

I hope you will play along with us.  Christmas is coming, and fast!  And it's never to early to get started on those Christmas cards.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions: "Wreath"; Clear Dollar Stamps "Home is Where the Hearth is" all scene elements and sentiment

Challenges:

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--anything goes

Crafting with an Attitude--anything goes

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge--anything goes

ABC Christmas--U is for unlimited

Tuesday Throwdown #364--stencilling

Addicted to Stamps #126--holiday

Crafty Creations #352--anything goes

The Merry Christmas Challenge #38--anything goes

Art Impressions #219--stamp a scene

Hanna and Friends #284--stars (I used star brads on my sentiment strip)

Christmas letters

Happy Friday!!  It's time for another challenge from Jo's Scrap Shack.  

As always, we are now an Anything Goes Challenge.  Our awesome sponsors for this week are Starz Stamps

 and Limited Runs Digital Stamps

I was given this adorable image from Starz Stamps to use, and here's my card:

 I added wink of stella clear to the "fur" on her clothes and the snow on the ground.  I have trouble using my pen (user error, I'm sure) and a blob dropped on my desk.  So, I dipped my pen in it and used it to color the snowflake.  It doesn't show well in the photo above, but you should be able to see it better below.

What do you need to do to enter?

Challenge Rules

1. Please post a direct link to your blog post that includes your challenge entry project, using the linky tool on Jo's blog. 

2. Be sure to include a link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering your project into

3. THREE entries per person are allowed for each challenge and you must post a separate blog post for each entry.

4. For all entries -NO BACK LINKS ACCEPTED- 

The date on your blog post should be dated between the start date & the end date for the challenge you are entering, in order to be eligible for the challenge prizes.

5. You may link up to other challenges but be sure to link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering 

 * All entries that do not meet the challenge requirements

WILL NOT be eligible for the top 3, any sponsor wins or any random wins by Jo

All random wins will only be mailed within the US and Canada only.

You have until Oct 19th by 6:00PM (eastern, USA) time to link up.

All winners will be announced during the week of Oct 23rd.

Have fun and we look forward to seeing what you create.

Supplies:

Stamps: Starz Stamps "Santa's Letter" digi; Verve "Peace on Earth" sentiment

Dies: Spellbinders "Standard Ovals, large" and "Classic Scalloped Ovals, large"; Marianne Designs snowflake

Challenges:

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--anything goes

Sparkles Challenge #31--Christmas is for kids

Scrapper's Delights--anything goes

Creative Sketchy Girls #16--sketch (I turned it on it's side)

Crop Stop Challenge--anything goes

The Holly and Ivy #16--anything goes

Southern Girls--stripey days are here again

Penny's Challenge #350--anything goes

ABC Christmas --U is for unlimited (anything goes)

Addicted To Stamps #263--anything goes

Patterned Pumpkin

Welcome to another challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have a tic-tac-toe board for you to play along with:

And here is my card for your inspiration:

I used the first column: Pumpkins, patterned paper and metallics.  I also used eyelets and black and white (mostly).  My card for last week's "Count Your Blessings" challenge used paper pieced pumpkins, but I just couldn't resist doing the same again this week.  I just think pumpkins are so fun with a little pattern on them.  I made this for my sister-in-law's birthday which is this week.  She is very classy and elegant, but simple and uses a lot of black and white both in her clothing in decor.  So, I went with this classy black and gray color scheme with just a pop of color from the pumpkin.  I pulled in my metallics with copper thread and eyelets.  I think this will be perfect for her.
I hope you will play along with us this week; the tic tac toe challenge allows you to create your own challenge for the most part.  So, there's no excuse!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Round Pumpkin" and "Happy Birthday"
Dies: Impression Obsession "Stitched Pumpkin leaves"; Spellbinders "Labels 27"

Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge #204--birthday card
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Dies R Us #382--life's events
Cuttlebug Mania--hello sweet pumpkin
As You Like It--choose ribbon or flowers (I love using ribbon as even a little bit can dress up your project without being overly froofy!!  This piece was a nice little scrap.)
Cute Card Thursday #498--anything goes
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #79--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the pumpkins and the black of the spiders)

Aud Sentiments #190--use a die cut
Viva La Verve October--sketch

Cardz TV #16--anything goes
Hiding in My Craft Room #321--Halloween colors
Crazy 4 Challenges #406--make a card
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps #402--fall colors
{Pin}spirational Challenge #201--inspiration photo (inspired by the colors)

Birthday Invitaion

Last weekend, we had a surprise 60th birthday party for my mother-in law.  It was a small party with a few family friends and my father-in-law wanted me to create a small invitation that he could hand out inconspicuously at church.  So, I created these one layer 3x5 sized cards (this is the front and the invitation info is on the back side--no folds at all).

 Here is the info on the back:

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Mum's The Word" mums and leaves; Sweet n' Sassy Stamps "Anniversary Milestones"; Flonzcraft flourish, and the invite info is from a random wood stamp I've had for ages!

Challenges:
CAS-ology #270--ODD (I used 3 flowers, 3 corner brackets and 3 rhinestones
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps #402--fall colors
Less Is More #349--hot and spicy colors
Stamplorations CAS--orange

Crafty Catz #87--CAS
Inspiration Destination--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Incy Wincy--Let's celebrate
Power Poppy--mini & mighty (create something smaller than an A2 card)
Dare 2B Artzy--fall colors
Paper Nest Dolls--anything goes

Cowgirl Mom

I'll start off with a disclaimer: this post contains a LOT of pictures!!  But it is a gift for my mother-in-law's birthday and a special gift and card deserve a lot of pictures.  Here it the entire set I created:

 The card is 5x7 to fit the size of the images I printed out.  I wanted to use both the hat and boots and have seen a lot of fun folds around lately, so I decided to make a z-fold card.  Since the card is so large and the image panels are large, I had to figure out dimensions and layout bit by bit.  I had to piece together the card base as it actually ends up being 5x14 and my card stock doesn't come that large.

 Here is the view of it starting to open:

 And here are the fabulous boots on the inside:

 The sentiment is stamped on the center part of the interior z-fold element:

 Here is a close up of the hat:

 And the boots!!  Oooo . . . I just love them!!  The image actually comes as one boot, so I printed two out the exact same size, colored them, fussy cut one out and adhered it on top of the other to look like a matched pair.    I just love how it turned out!!

 Due to the large size of the card, I used my envelope punch board to create an envelope for it.  I totally forgot to  to take a picture of the inside of the envelope.  I used a sheet of patterned paper that looks like a hale bale which I thought was perfect to go along with the cowgirl theme.  I decorated the envelope with the horseshoe image and added a flower to coordinate with the card.

 I created this adorable little treat holder to hold s special little gift I made for her.  I used the same kraft card stock as the card and added some pink ribbon to tie it into the card color scheme.  I stamped the box with a small leaf sprig stamp to add some interest and finished it off with a sweet little tag.

 And last, but not least, here are the earrings I made for her:

They are hammered sterling silver with sodalite ovals.  They are a gorgeous denim blue with tan inclusions, unfortunately the light in the photo gives them a much darker appearance.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Digi Stamps4 Joy hat, boots, and horseshoe digi images; PTI "Big Birthday Wishes" sentiment and "Turning a New Leaf" leaves on box and tag and "Mat Stack 3" sentiment on tag

Dies: PTI daisy die; Verve "Sprightly Sprigs" leaf sprigs; Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangles;  Elizabeth Craft Designs treat box

Challenges:

Card:

Simon Says Stamp--make a card for World Card Making day

Crazy 4 Challenges--make a card (for world card making day)

Cardz TV #16--anything goes

A Bit More Time To Craft #53--anything goes

Cute Card Thursday #298--anything goes

Little Miss Muffet #173--anything goes

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes

Inspiration Destination #135--anything goes

Penny's #349--anything goes

Fab n' Funky #365--pretty in pink

Crafting By Designs--anything goes

Incy Wincy Designs--Let's Celebrate

Sheep Ski Designs #7--use some pink

Dies R' Us #83--Life's events

Cheerful Sketches

Crafting with an Attitude--anything goes

Cards Galore--anything goes

Unicorn Challenge #26--perfectly pink

A Gem of a Challenge #204--Birthday card

In the Pink--flower power

Box:

As You Like It--choose ribbon or flowers (though I did use a flower on my card, I would have to say I prefer ribbon.  I used two little snippets on my box and it is just the perfect way to finish off something like that.  Plus it can be used on just about any style card--even masculine--without being too feminine)

Creative Knockouts #121--anything goes

Crafty Creations #53--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe--use die cuts and/or punches

Score-pal #42--treat holders (mine is a little treat holder, it just happens to hold some bling treats!)

Earrings:

Love to Craft Challenge--anything crafty goes

Teen Boy

Welcome to another challenge from Di's Digi Designs: Add A Sentiment.  It doesn't get any easier than that, does it?

Here is my card for your inspiration:

One of the boys at our church is turning 13 at the end of the month!  I created this card for him.  He is very quiet and enjoys playing piano, trumpet and the drums so I think he will appreciate this young guy listening to his music.  I kept it simple as I didn't think he would be into much embellishing, but the patterned papers bring in a lot of fun!  I die cut the circle with a spellbinders die and then used a stitched circle die to emboss a circle inside the die cut one.  It adds a fun, subtle texture.

Supplies: 

Stamps: Di's Digi Stamps "MP3 Mike" digi; YNS "Silly Monsters" sentiment

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle and "Blueprints 12" stitched circle; Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"

Paper: MFT "Woodland Trails"

Challenges:

Crafty Catz #387--anything goes with the optional twist: CAS

Aud Sentiments #190--use a die cut

Southern Girls--stripey days are here again

CAS(E) This #242--sketch

CAS-ology #269--grid (on my paper)

A Gem of a Challenge #204--birthday card

Dies R' Us #82--Life's events

Aurora Wings #58--CAS

Addicted To Stamps #262--make your mark

Count your blessing

Welcome to another challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  As it is the first of the month, it is a Designer's Choice Challenge, and Patti has chosen "Count your Blessings".  Here is my card for your inspiration:

I just love these pumpkins!!  They are fun to color, but super fun to paper piece!!  I had the tall one and the wide one and just got the round one a week or so ago, so it definitely had to come out to play!  I also love this Fall paper pack as it is Fall themed, but with softer colors than your normal orange, yellow and reds.  I distressed the edges by sponging on some caramel ink and then roughing up the edges with scissors.  I also sponged the two die cuts as the white was very stark against all the muted colors.  I added a bunch of antique gold eyelets (remember those?!) to finish it all off.  I hope you will play along with us this week (actually you have all month); I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Tall Pumpkin", "Wide Pumpkin", "Round Pumpkin" and "Count your blessing"
Dies:
Spellbinders: "Floral Ovals"; Verve "Charming Ovals"

Challenges:
Cuttlebug Mania--hello sweet pumpkin
Shopping Our Stash #323--give thanks (I'm thankful for my family and that I live in New England where we have 4 distinct seasons, even if they do sometimes get confused!)
Crop Stop Challenge--anything goes
Dare 2 B Artzy--fall colors
Divas that Cut--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the pumpkins)

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #301-302--anything goes with snippets (all the pumpkins were cut from snippets--one was even hanging out in my bits and pieces stash)
Sweet Stampin'--autumn
Hiding in My Craft Room #320--freestyle
Alphabet Challenge--O is for Oval
Fussy and Fancy #197--shabby chic
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #122--sketch

Creative Inspirations #281--anything goes