Jesus

 It's Friday again!  And that means it's time for another challenge on the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long blog!  Today's challenge is Anything BUT a Card.  You can use any stamp, any paper, any embellishments you want as long as 1) it is a Christmas/holiday project and 2) it is NOT a card.  And the PRIZE, you ask?  Well, it's a surprise, but I know it will be a good one.  So head on over to the CSAYL bog to get all the details, check out the other Design Team members' projects and get busy creating anything that is not a card.  I used this adorable template from My Time Made Easy: Mini Card Candy Wrap.  It measures about 3x3x1 inches and it is so cute!  My cover design was created to fit three other challenges and then when I went to post it, I realized they were all for LAST week.  This is always happening to me. : )  Oh well.  It stretches me anyway, right?

Challenges:
Pretty Palette #69--white, light blue, navy and kraft
Crafty Ann #72--Christmas in August
Stampin Sisters in Christ #154--punches, dies, shapes
Eureka Stamps #3--Anything Goes

Supplies:
Template: My Time Made Easy "Mini Card Candy Wrap"
Stamps: Verve "Richly Blessed"; Inkadinkado snowflake stamps
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink "Enchanted Evening; SU! light blue; recycled brown paper bag
Punches/Dies: Martha Stewart snowflake punch; Fiskars scalloped border punch; Papertrey Ink button die
Other: blue rhinestones and blue embroidery floss

Elegant birthday

A relative is celebrating here 80th birthday this weekend, so I needed to create something elegant for her.  The funny thing is, this sketch is the Viva La Verve August week 4 sketch which is their "CAS" sketch and I probably put more fuss into this one than normal.  It was just easy to glam it up.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve August week 4--sketch
JUGS #151--inspiration photo

Delightful Challenges--frilly & fancy

Supplies:
Stamps: Skipping Stones Design: "Timeless Textures"; Papertrey Ink "Damask Designs"
Dies/punches: spellbinders labels four die; fiskars open scallop punch
Cuttlebug embossing folder; rhinestones; white ribbon

Thinking of you

 The idea for this card came to me when I was thinking about the colors for the Pretty Palette #68, which I thought were saffron, red and black.  Saffron is  definitely NOT a color I am comfortable using, so I was trying to think what I could possible do with it when I thought of Winnie-the-Pooh.  Then, I checked and discovered the the colors were saffron, red and chocolate brown.  But hey, it still works and maybe even a little bit better since the brown is not as harsh as black would have been.  I have had this stamp for a very long time and don't know why I don't use it more often; it's so cute.  If you know anything about Pooh, you know that he is a "bear of very little brain" and thinking is something that is difficult for him.  That's why the look of concentration.

I was trying to create an "all-occasions" card, so I finished off the inside with this sentiment: "thinking of you".  So, if you read the sentiments together, it reads "Think, think, think . . . thinking of you."  Cute huh?  I thought so, but I might be a little bit biased.

Challenges:
Pretty Palette #68--saffron, red, chocolate
Skipping Stones Design #142--sketch
Timeless Tuesdays #183--Butterflies, bees, spiders, oh my! (what goes better with Pooh than bees?)
Clearly Inspired Challenge #58--circles

Supplies:
Stamps: Winnie-the-Pooh single stamp; single background stamp from Hampton Art; bee from SU! "Sweet Summer"; Verve "Celebrating you" (inside sentiment)
Dies: Spellbinders standard circles, large and scalloped circles, large; Verve "Charming Oval" dies
Other: SU! jeweled brads

Greetings

Another really fun challenge from Christmas Stampin All Year Long again this week: use non-traditional colors.  The sponsor for this week is Meljen's Designs and the prize is 4 (non-colored) images of the winners choice!!!  Now, if that isn't incentive to play along, I don't know what is!!  This card turned out quite different from how it started.  I was planning on going with pink and blue (which IS what I ended up with), but after I started coloring my image, the pink turned more into a peachy pink and then I had to scramble to find some papers that matched.  And it gave me the chance to use some paper that I have had forever and just never matched anything.  It was the perfect color, but a little blah, so I "fancied" it up a bit.  You can see it better if you enlarge the picture.  On the base panel, I used Guide Lines 2 stamped in gold and pink.  The left hand layer I stamped snowflakes in gold and the right layer I stamped a musical score also in gold.  Then I spritzed everything with a little gold glimmer mist (my new obsession) and edged all the layers with gold ink.  It really gives a subtle pattern to otherwise boring paper.  And I finally managed to use my heat and stick powder.  Thanks, Michelle, for the tips.  I used it adhere the flocking on the rim and ball of the snowman's hat.  It worked so much better than anything else I have tried.  Make sure you go over to the CSAYL blog to check out all the details, the other DT projects, and make sure you play along.  Can't wait to see what color combos you come up with!

Challenges:
Lollipop Crafts #87--anything goes
Seems a Little Sketchy--sketch
Card Mania #1--anything goes

Supplies:
Digital image: Meljen's Designs
Stamps: Verve "Ornamental Christmas"
Paper: DCWV
Cardstock: PTI "Enchanted Evening"
Dies/punches: Fiskars "Upper Crest" border punch; Verve "Charming Ovals" dies

Let it snow!

I know I'm a little slow, but I just discovered glimmer mists and I think I might be in love!  I have gold and red.  I haven't been successful with the red (maybe because I am a little afraid of using it), but I love the gold!!  It adds such a subtle glittery affect to card stock.  You can see it best on the base layer of my card and because I had to use the flash (due to procrastination on my part) it is actually more pronounced in the picture than in real life.

Challenges:
DYSU#85--buttons (they are also having a blog hop with a prize)
Sweet Stop Sketches #172 with a spin: use die cuts and/or punches--sketch
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #86--use a building
52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown--Christmas carol or hymn inspiration (I'm not sure what the actual title of the carol is, but you know what it is; the one that goes "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow . . ."

Supplies:
Cardstock: SU!
Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps: Gina K. Designs "Let it snow"
Punches and Dies: Spellbinders classic scalloped circles and standard circles, large; Fiskars "Upper Crest" border punch; Martha Stewart snowflake punch: Papertrey Ink button die

Look Out World

Do you not love the colors on this card?!  I am not usually a bright color card creator, but the occasion called for celebration and these colors scream celebrate!!  The occasion? you ask.  Well, my brother-in-law just wrote the music for his FIRST Broadway musical.  They had to produce and perform it at a musical festival, but the reviews coming in are super-positive.  If you live in NYC and like musicals, check it out.  It's called Non-equity.  Then, you'll have to let me know how it was because we are not going to be able to go see it.  Anyway, this card is going to be a "congratulations, shoot for the moon" card.  Don't you love that sentiment?!  It's from my favorite Verve set "To the Moon".  Though it's more of a cute set, this sentiment is actually perfect for this type of card.

Challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesdays #167--sketch
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #153--sentiment only; no images
Stampin' Sisterhood --color inspiration: lime, orange, yellow

Supplies:
Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps: Verve "To the Moon"
Dies: spellbinders classic oval and scalloped oval, large
ribbon: SU! real red
square rhinestones: Kaiser Kraft

Love

Ok, this is my last entry for the Verve Anni-VERVE-sary release week challenges.  It's their 5th anniversary and they are throwing a big party.  Head over to the Verve blog to see all the details.  This card is for the day 3 challenge sketch and a gorgeous sketch it is!

Challenges:
Verve release week day 3--sketch
Tuesday Alchemy--sea green, pink, and brown (mine looks blue, but it is a greenish/blue)

Supplies:
Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps: Verve "Celebrating You" and "Text Objects"
Punches/dies: Spellbinders standard circles and classic scalloped circles, large; Martha Stewart scalloped border die

Life and Love

Tire of me yet? : )  Because this is another entry for the Verve Anni-Verve-sary week challenges.  They are celebrating their 5th anniversary, hop on over to their blog to see all the details about the festivities.  This card is for the Day 2 challenge to create an anniversary card (fitting!) using either wood and/or silver.  As you can see, I went with silver.

Challenges:
Verve release week day 2--anniversary card with wood and/or silver
Viva La Verve August week 2--sketch
Frosted Designs-Fabulous Friday--twine and/or ribbon

Supplies:
Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps: Verve "Text Objects"
Dies: spellbinders classic circles, large; Sweet n' Sassy stamps heart dies

hot apple cider

Another entry for Verve's fifth anniversary Release Week Challenges.  This is for Day 1: green, pink and brown.  To check out all the details for the festivities hop on over to the Verve Blog.  There are a lot of fun things going on.

Challenges:
Verve Release Week Day 1--green, pink, brown
Viva La Verve August week 1--sketch
{Pin}spiration Challenge #20--inspiration photo (apples and apple cider)

Supplies:
Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps: Verve "Accent Notes"; Flourishes "Apple of my Eye"

Thinking of you

Another entry into the challenges for Verve for their release week celebrations (check out all the festivities on their blog).  This card is for the Day 4 challenge: clean and simple.  This was also the perfect theme for the new 10 minute craft dash challenge.  This week is the first challenge and it is simple: create a project in under 10 minutes.  This card actually took 11 minutes and 30 seconds, but I thought that was pretty good.  I'll have to get better for the next challenge.

Challenges:
Verve Release Challenge Day #4--clean and simple
10 minute craft dash #1--10 minutes or less
JUGS #150--orange, kraft, blue, rust
Skipping Stones Design #141--sketch
Timeless Tuesdays #182--kraft

Supplies:
Cardstock: SU!
Stamps: Papertrey Ink "Mehndi Medallion"; Verve "Accent Notes"

Reindeer tag

Verve is celebrating their fifth anniversary this week and they are having a big celebration this week.  If you want to check it out, go over to the Verve blog and get all the details.  I'm doing things a little bit backwards today, as this tag is for the fifth challenge they are hosting: Anything But a Card.

Challenges:
Verve Release Challenge E--Anything But a Card
Viva La Verve August week 3--sketch
Just Add Ink #131--garden green, chocolate chip, crumb cake and very vanilla

Supplies:
Cardstock: SU!
Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps: Verve "Ornamental Christmas"
Punch: SU! scalloped border punch

giftbox

 This week's challenge on the CSAYL blog is super fun!!  (At least I think so)  The challenge is to create your own patterned paper for your project.  This week's challenge is sponsored by AR by Adela and I believe the winner will get to choose TWO of her awesome templates as their prize.  If you have never seen any of her templates, make sure you go check them out 'cause you are going to want to play along for this prize.  Just sayin'.

 I chose to work with this gift and card combo template.  It's really cool.  It can be the card AND the gift packaging for a little gift.  It's not very big, but is just perfect for a homemade ornament (like my quilled snowflake below) or a candybar, or a piece of jewelry , scarf, pair of socks . . .

 Whenever I want to make patterned paper, I have to pull out my Guide Lines 2 stamp set by Papertrey Ink.  It has this large grid stamp that you can stamp and then use as your guideline for whatever other design elements you want to use for the pattern.  I usually stamp my grid in clear versamark ink because you can see the guide but once you stamp it practically disappears into the design.  For my design, I chose one of the elements from the Guide Lines 2 set that I thought looked somewhat like a snowflake (it's a stretch) and stamped that in red and I used a circle element from PTI's "Simply Stationery" set that I stamped in green.  I discovered a while ago that if you stamp a second image slightly overlapping the first, it creates a fancy wreath looking image.  I have used this a lot for Christmas card.  Then I added a trio of three itty bitty dots from PTI's "Boy Basics: Out of this world" to look like holly berries.  This part is a bit hard to see, but in between these two main elements, I stamped a small snowflake and then covered it with crystal glitter.  In real life it adds just the right amount of sparkle without overwhelming the rest of the design.

The previous picture is of the back of the giftbox, but that patterned paper was supposed to be the front, because I like the layout better than the one that ended up on the front.  I was so careful to make sure I put them on right and then, I went ahead and adhered the box inside on the WRONG flap!!!  So aggravating!!!!!
At least I remember to put the ribbon on before I adhered the cover flaps this time.  I've messed that up before, too. : )  A good lesson learned: always check before you adhere anything down.  Make sure you hop over to the CSAYL blog and check out the other fabulous creations of the DT and please play along with us.  I can't wait to see the papers you create.

Challenges:
Delightful challenges--punches & dies
C.R.A.F.T. #168--box

Supplies:
Template: AR by Adela "Gift and Card Combo"
Cardstock: PTI Ripe Avocado
Stamps: PTI "Simply Stationery", "Guide Lines 2", "Boy Basics: Out of this World", "Places, Please" (little snowflake); Verve "Ornamental Christmas"; SU! "Versatile Verses" (sentiment inside)
Dies/Punches: PTI Mat Stack 2 die; SU! scalloped circle punch; spellbinders standard circle die, large
Embellishments: SU!dazzling diamonds glitter; PTI ripe avocado twill ribbon, silver brads

Greetings

It's time for another awesome Christmas card challenge over on the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long blog. This week's theme: anything goes! (As long as it is Christmas related)  How easy is that?  You have no excuse for not joining in this week, right?  The prize for this week's winner will be some 6x6 papers and a pack of ribbons--perfect for creating more Christmas cards.  Hop on over to the CSAYL blog to see the other DT cards and get all the details.  We would LOVE to have you play along this week.

Challenges:
52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown #5--sketch
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #84--use your favorite color (BLUE!!!)
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #19--punches (you've got all month to play along with this one)
Creative Inspirations #175--anything goes

Supplies:
Paper: Papertrey Ink Enchanted Evening cs; DCWV patterned paper
Stamps: Verve "Ornamental Christmas"
Punches/dies: SU! snowflake punch; Verve "Charming Oval" dies

Fall birthday

Flourishes is getting ready for their August release AND their 5th anniversary, so they have issued a "Birthday Wishes" challenge this week.  I've had this image colored for a while; I was going to use it in another challenge and never got around to it.  I was a bit at a loss as to how to use it because it is really quite tall (almost fills up an A2 card).  But with a little trimming and a little fussy cutting and the super elegant Fleur De Lis Squares die I think it makes an awesome focal point.

Supplies:
Stamps: Flourishes "Apple of my Eye"; Skipping Stones Design "Dandelion Dreams" (sentiment)
Dies/punches: Spellbinders Fleur de lis square die; EKSuccess fleur de lis border die; pearls; white embossing powder

Damask birthday

It's been a while since I use this set (Damask Designs by Papertrey Ink); since it's my favorite I figured it was time to pull it out again.  Plus, although I love this floral paper, I didn't really know what kind of image to put with it.  It's so bold.  Damask image to the rescue!  Can you really go wrong with damask?  I don't think so.

Challenge:
C.R.A.F.T. #166--sketch

Supplies:
Paper: Papertrey Ink Enchanted Evening cs; Basic Grey paper
Stamps: Papertrey Ink "Damask Designs" (with a little selective stamping on the sentiment)
Accessories: Spellbinders standard circles, large and classic scalloped circles, large; Kaiser rhinestones

From our house . . .

I love all the different card (or paper crafting if you prefer) challenges out there in blog land, don't you?  I find it so much easier to create something when I have some guidelines to go by.  Sometimes the "challenges" are easy and sometimes they stretch you a bit and I think that's why they are called challenges.  The current challenge for JustRite Stampers is one of those that is actually a bit challenging for me.  Not the theme which is "Christmas in July" (super easy), but the requirement that you have to use JustRite stamps.  Now their stamps are gorgeous and I love the idea of them, but (and here is the challenge) I only own one set so far: the From My Kitchen set.  It has a bunch of fun borders and great sentiments for adding to homemade kitchen goods.  But a little tricky to create a Christmas card out of.  But, I did it!  This sentiment seemed perfect to go along with the fireplace scene that can be created from Clear Dollar Stamps' "Home is Where the Hearth Is" stamp set.  It is full of a whole bunch of elements that you can mix and match to create a homey scene.  I actually used the border from the JustRite set as a wreath over the mantel in my scene and then used it again around the main sentiment to tie them both together.  On both, I added a trio of little dots (from PTI's "Boy Basics: Out of this World" set) in red to mimic berries.

Here's a close up of the sentiment and border.

Challenges:
JustRite Stampers #78--Christmas in July
Just Add Ink #129--sketch

Supplies:
Paper: DCWV
Stamps: Just Rite Stampers "From My Kitchen"; Clear Dollar Stamps "Home is where the Hearth is"; Verve "Ornamental Christmas" (Merry Christmas); Papertrey Ink "Boy Basics: Out of this World"
Ink: SU! Basic Black, Creamy Caramel, Real Red and Barely Banana; Martha Stewart  Mandarin Orange and Stem Green
Other: Spellbinders Standard circles, large and Classic scalloped circles, large; SU! Real Red ribbon

Happy Birthday

 This is the inspiration photo for this week's Skipping Stones Design challenge.  Isn't it so bright and cheerful?   I love that bright pop of turquoise; it's what inspired me to play along.  I really wanted to use the dandelions from my new "Dandelion Dreams" set from SSD, but was having a terrible time with the inks that I had.  Plus, what color can dandelions be other than white? But white ink on white paper doesn't show up very well.  So, I hit upon the genius idea of stamping them with white craft ink and embossing them with white powder on a sponged blue background.  Genius I tell you!!!  But I found out the hard way that you have to sponge the blue AFTER you do the stamping and embossing.  Otherwise the embossing powder also sticks to the sponged ink.  Ah, live and learn.  But I am quite happy with the way it turned out (eventually).

Challenges:
Skipping Stones Design #139--inspiration photo
Sweet Sketch Wednesdays #165--sketch
Delightful Challenges--birthdays
DYSU #83--polka dots
Clearly Inspired Challenge #57--things with wings

Supplies:
Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps: Skipping Stones Design "Dandelion Dreams"
Ink: SU! basic black and white craft ink; Martha Stewart forget-me-not and pink geranium
Dies: Verve "Charming Ovals"; Spellbinders standard circles, large and classic ovals large
Other: Martha Stewart dove embossing powder; mini pearls and pearls from Michaels

Kittens

Today begins another great challenge over on the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long blog:  a pair of threes (use three of everything)  When I made this card, I didn't even think about the theme.  Nope, I was just making to make.  Then I got ready to write this post and realized there was a theme for this challenge.  Oops!!  But, luckily, I added a lot of threes:  three patterned papers, three flowers, three brads and three flourishes (one was cut in half).  The sponsor for this week is Digi Doodle shop and there will be three winners (fitting with the "three" theme).  Each winner will get an image of their choice from Digi Doodle Shop!!  I chose this adorable image called "A box of kittens."  Aren't they so cute?!  I colored them with colored pencils; I have a gray cat and an orange tiger so, of course, I had to put them in the picture.  Go on over and check out the other Design Team cards and then try your hand at the challenge.  We'd love to have you play along
                                                      .

Challenges:
Seems a Little Sketchy#18--sketch
Cutie Pie #23--Christmas in July
52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown--at least 3 brads
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #150--use torn paper (it's hard to see, but both of my top two papers are torn)

Supplies:
Stamps: Digi Doodle Shop "A Box of Kittens", Verve "Ornamental Christmas"
Papers: DCWV
Dies/Punches: Spellbinders "Floral Doily Motifs", Fiskars flower punch

Friend

I just received a letter from a high school friend, so of course, I need a card to send back to her.  Hopefully, before too many months have gone by. : )  It always seems like writing a letter is something I am "going" to do and then all of a sudden I realize it's been forever and I need to get it written.  Maybe I'll be better this time.  At least in this stage of life, (young motherhood) everyone realizes that you are busy and don't have a lot of free time.  I better not let them see my card stash!  I hope you all have friends to whom you still write actual letters.  They are so  much better than e-mail.  There is just something about holding a handwritten note in your hand.  Isn't that why we are making cards?

Challenges:
Viva La Verve July week 4--sketch
Phindy's Place #114--button it
Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday--One word title
JUGS #147--inspiration photo (I went with the butterfly and the bright pink color)
Creative Inspirations #174--in the garden (flowers and butterflies are found in gardens)

Supplies:
Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps:  Verve "Text Objects" (sentiment and quote stamped on brown butterfly); Skipping Stones Design "Dandelion Dreams"
Accessories: Spellbinders scalloped ovals and classic ovals, large; buttons (recycled from baby clothes); Martha Stewart butterfly punch; Papertrey Ink butterfly die