Friday, September 27, 2013

Lantern

Happy Friday!  Time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  This week it is a sketch challenge.  You have to chose one of the sketches created by the DT and make your project with that sketch.  I chose a nice CAS layout, 'cause I usually use someone elses sketch to get my card started.


Our sponsor this week is the fabulous Fred She Said and the winner will receive $10 to use in the store.

I got to use this gorgeous image: Christmas Poinsettia Lantern.  It's a beauty to color up.  I added gold pen to the centers of the flowers and a sponged circle around the candle flame.  Heat embossed the sentiment in gold and added a few clear rhinestones.  And it's done!  Now go check out all the sketch choices on the CSAYL blog and come play along.

Challenges:
Wags 'n Wiskers #113--sparkle (the gold flower centers, gold sparkly thread, gold embossing and gems)
Card Mania #30--cute as a button
Love to Scrap #14--run for the border
Tuesday Throwdown #166--Clean and Simple (must use a stamp)

Supplies:
Stamps: Fred She Said "Christmas Poinsettia Lantern" digi; Verve "Merry and Bright" sentiment
Punches: Fiskars "Upper Crest" border punch

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Amazing

 Is this image not STUNNING!!??  Oh, I love it!   No more explanation is needed.  And here's the inside of the card.

Challenges:
Seems a Little Sketchy #48--sketch

Digi Stamps 4 joy #76--color inspiration with a twist: use twine or ribbon

Sweet Stamps #136--roses
Creative Inspirations #233--your favorite stamp company (Papertrey Ink is my absolute favorite, Verve is my number 2)
Word Art Wednesday #99--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Paper Pretties #277--NO designer paper (I stamped my middle panel)
Delightful Challenges--Happy Fall Y'All--I used fall colors and at least around here in New England roses start to bloom again after the hot and dry summer
Charisma Cardz #38--Inside (decorate the inside of your project
A.R.T. Card Challenges #16--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet Pea Stamps "Rosarna" by Karen Middleton digi; PTI "Guide Lines 2" (orange and blue panel), "The Sweet Life" roses, and "Year of Flowers Collection" sentiment
Dies/embossing folders: Spellbinders "Floral Doily Motifs" and "A2 rectangles"; PTI "The Sweet Life" die and border die; Verve "Classy Label Mini" dies; Sizzix "Botanical" embossing folder

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Gratitude

Since it was my husband's birthday last Wednesday and my birthday on Saturday, we are in need of lots of Thank You cards.  (Ok, maybe not lots, but we do need some).  So here is a start.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve September week 3--sketch

Cuttlebug Mania--Flying high (birds and butterflies both fly)
Fab n' Funky #186--button it up
Word Art Wednesday #99--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafter's Cafe #30--die cuts/punches

Supplies:
Papers: Basic Grey; SU! Brocade Blue cardstock
Stamps: Verve "Beautiful You" sentiment and flower and "Blue Skies" butterfly
Dies: spellbinders circles and scalloped circles, large; Verve butterfly die


Poinsettias

Ooops!  I forgot to take a picture of the inside of this card with the remainder of the sentiment.  Otherwise it seems a little funny to say "Wishing you a".  The inside finishes it with "Merry Christmas".  Makes more sense that way, huh?

Challenges:
Viva La Verve September week 4--sketch

Sister Act Card Challenge #25--anything goes
Fancy & Fussy--punches & dies
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #143--stamp, stamp, stamp (use a stamp, not a digi)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything Christmas goes
Our Daily Bread Designs #172--anything goes--must use an ODBD stamp
Crafty Creations #141--split it up! (split up your sentiment--that's why mine is finished on the inside)

Supplies:
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs "Poinsettia"; Verve "Merry and Bright"
Dies: spellbinders Label 4; Verve "Charming Oval" die
Papers: DCWV

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

God's Art



I tried something a bit unusual on this card: I did some paint splattering.  And it was fun!  Except I got an orange paint splat on my toenail that is dark teal.  Oh well.  Other than waiting for the paint to dry (ha!) this was a quick and easy.

Challenges:
Twisted Tuesday #59--splatter & chatter (must splatter ink/paint and use a sentiment)
Delightful challenges--buttons and bows
Crafty Ribbons #62--anything goes with ribbons
Sister Act #25--anything goes
Di's Digis--Fabulous Fall Colors
Scrap Creations--Fall
Die Cuttin Divas #134--Fall colors
Loves Rubberstamps #11--show us your Fall colors

Supplies:
Stamps: Flourishes Fern set
Dies: PTI leaf die

Friday, September 20, 2013

All Dressed Up

It's FRIDAY!!!  Yeay!  And that means it's time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.
Our sponsor this week is Creations by AR!
The challenge this week is ANYTHING GOES!!! 
  How easy is that??  I have THE most adorable project today.  The design team was able to choose which templates we wanted to work with and I chose the Tux and Gown Box set.  Here they are:
 Are they not the cutest little boxes you have ever seen???!!!  And they were so fun to "dress", too.  Now just think of how many occasions you could use them for.  They are little, 2 inches by 2 1/4 inches tall.  They would be perfect for favors at (here you go) wedding receptions, bridal showers, engagement parties, Christmas parties, Valentine's Day parties, New Year's parties OR holding a little gift for any of the above or prom, or graduation . . . My couple is going to a fancy Christmas party.
 Here are the details of the man:  I wanted a little bit of pin striping on the tux, so I stamped and heat embossed with clear powder some narrow stripes.  Inspired by the project on the store website, I created some pleats along the button placket with my scor-pal.  To match the Christmas theme, I drew a little spring of holly and some berries for the jacket lapel and added some red square gems for the buttons.  Don't you just love that bow tie?
And the lady: she is dressed in a shapely gold dress to which I added some gold glitter along the bodice to imitate some elaborate beading that you might find on a formal gown.  Of course, she had to have some jewelry, so I made her a "diamond" necklace.
While these might look involved and maybe a bit difficult, they're not.  The templates come with all the base details you need and instructions, too.  Unfortunately, I lost mine (thought I put them in a certain folder but can't find them anywhere) but was able to put the boxes together without them.  My 7-year-old even made her own gown box after she saw what I was doing.  I printed the templates out for her, but she did all the cutting, decorating, and construction.  I didn't get a picture of hers, but I might try to add one later.

Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #142--cut it out (there was definitely a LOT of cutting with scissors on this one!)
Lacy Sunshine #17--anything goes
There She Goes #225--the gift of giving
Divas By Design--anything goes
Art Impressions #119--anything goes

Supplies:
Template: Creations by AR "Tux and Gown Box Set"
Stamps: PTI "Distressed Stripes" pin stripes on the tux

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Fall Time

Hi!  Today is my day to post my project for the current Lollipop Ladies challenge:
Smarties
with the additional challenge of punches/die cuts
Apparently, there are lots of fun British candies that I am unfamiliar with.  These smarties sound similar to m&m's but in the U.S. smarties are pastel colors with fruity flavors.  So I think that is why I had pastel colors stuck in my mind and was having a hard time thinking of how to create a card with them.  But then I really looked at the picture and saw the rich fall colors: orange, brown, red, yellow, green.  Now that I can work with!  So, here's my card:
It's a birthday card for my husband (his birthday is today!) and I actually pulled in ALL the colors from the inspiration photo.  The chevron paper even has the plum, pink and blue.  I used little "droplets" on the bottom and top right corners that tie in the shape of the smarties and the brown color (which I have been told is the original color).  And I used a leaf die, oval and scalloped dies, too.  Hop on over to the Lollipop Ladies' blog for all the details and then come play along.  We've got a great prize but can only give it away if 7 or more people play along.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve September week 2--sketch

The Squirrel and The Fox #52--It's raining men
Crafty Catz #198--men/boys
The Cutie Pie Challenge #53--one for the boys
Eureka Stamps #57--mustard, plum, red, orange, lime (the paper on the background layer looks orange, but it is more mustardy in real life)
Get Inky #13--Let me tell you 'bout that (I have a tree and the theme of love)
Sassy Cheryl's #184--spots & dots (with a Sassy Cheryl image)
Die Cuttin Divas #13--Use an apple
Fab n' Funky #185--leaves
Word Art Wednesday #98--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Supplies:
Paper: DCWV; Basic Grey
Stamps: Sassy Cheryl "Noah Tire Swing" pre-colored digi; the sentiment and the apple come from an old Flourishes set that I can't remember the name of right now.
Dies: PTI leaf; Spellbinders oval and scalloped oval, large

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Pumpkin Love

 This is a busy week for our family as far as card giving goes.  Tomorrow is my in-laws' anniversary, Thursday is my husbands birthday and Saturday is mine (and this past Monday was my brother-in-law's birthday)!  But that means I "have" to play, right.  This card is for the anniversary.  It doesn't quite seem like Fall is here yet, but the weather has been a bit more chilly.  And I love pumpkins, so pumpkins and leaves it is. ; )  Here's the inside of the card:

Challenges:
Viva La Verve September week 1--sketch
Sarah Hurley #84--Autumn glow
Verve September Diva Dare--tic-tac-toe (I have grid paper, a circle and the theme of love)
Craft #224--paper piecing
Sister Act Card Challenge #24--anything goes
Desert Island Craft Challenge #62--choose at least three of the following (I used 2, 4, 5, 8, 9)
1.  use at least 3 of the colors
2. pumpkins
3. crows
4. at least 3 layers
5. embellishments
6. add a tag
7. not a card
8. add a sentiment
9. use ribbon
10. add paint
Lexi's Creations--Autumn colors
Paper Nest Dolls #13--Happy Fall Ya'll
{Pin}spirational Challenge #75--inspiration photo
Our Daily Bread Designs #171--fall colors
Sweet Stamps September challenge--paper piecing
One Sweet Challenge--brown, yellow, orange, red

Supplies:
Papers: DCWV (had these papers forever!)
Stamps: Verve "Tall Oaks" pumpkins; "Text Objects" sentiment; "Take Note" hearts; Sweet n' Sassy Stamps "Anniversary Innies"
Dies: spellbinders circles, large and Labels one

Friday, September 13, 2013

Full pocket

Hi, all!  It's Friday so time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  This week's challenge is Cute and Cuddly.  Easy Peasy!  Our sponsor is the fabulous Bugaboo Stamps and one lucky winner will win 7 digi images from the store.  And let me tell you that there are some cute and cuddly images.

Here is my cute and cuddly project:
Is this little reindeer not the cutest little thing?!  So, hop on over to the CSAYL blog for all the details and to see what else the DT has created.

Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #141--layer it up (at least 3 layers)
Timeless Tuesdays #287--make a good impression (use dry embossing)
{Pin}spirational Challenges #74--inspiration photo (what really caught my eye in this photo was that adorable bear's little red plaid bow, plus I pulled in the browns and tans)
Our Daily Bread Designs #170--Get ready for Christmas
Scrap-Creations--Polka Dots
Loves Rubberstamps--have a sentiment on the front
Tuesday Throwdown #164--anything goes
Crafting by designs--anything goes
Crafty Creations #239--Let's Get Krafty
C.R.A.F.T. #224--paper piecing
The Paper Girls #39--wired up!  (I used thin gauge wire to create the silver snowflake)
Our Creative Corner--forgotten things (the papers weren't actually forgotten, but I have had them for probably 10 years and haven't used them in quite a long time.)

Supplies:
Papers: DCWV
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Reindeer Pocket" digi; Verve "Ornamental Christmas" sentiment
Dies/embossing folders: Verve "Charming Ovals"; Cuttlebug "snowflake" embossing folder

Friday, September 6, 2013

Pears

It's Friday and that means (among many other things) that it is time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  This week the challenge is to Dress Your Card for the Cold--meaning you have to use at least 4 layers on your card/project.  Our sponsor is the fabulous Beccy's Place and the winner will receive 3 images of their choice!
Visit My Digital Store
So, my card looks a bit CAS, I think, but it is actually quite layered.  7 layers on the focal image including the two layered ribbons!!
Now it's time to hop on over to the CSAYL blog for all the details and to see the well dressed cards of my DT teammates. 

Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #148--let's get inky and/or painty (markers totally use ink and I stamped the sentiment with Versamark ink)
One Crazy Stamper--Christmas
Lacy Sunshine #16--dies and/or punches
Desert Island Craft Challenge #61--use at least 3 of the following (I used #7 (brads), 8, 10)
1.  Rick St. Dennis image
2. create a scene
3. make it spooky
4. favorite fairy tale
5. fantasy & mythical creatures
6. monochrome
7. show us some metal
8. layer it up
9. ribbons and pearls
10. sparkle & shine
Timeless Tuesday  #236--Double the ribbon (use 2 kinds of ribbon--I actually have 3 if you count the ribbon in the image)
Cuttlebug--back to nature (pears and mistletoe are definitely nature)
Fab n' Funky #185--opposites attract (green and red are opposites on the color wheel)
C.R.A.F.T. #223--Christmas
Crafty Ribbons #60--anything goes with ribbon
52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown--choose a previous color scheme (red, green, gold) and previous sketch (#6)

Supplies:
Stamps: Beccy's Place "pears and mistletoe" digi; Verve "Ornamental Christmas" sentiment
Paper: DCWV Christmas pack; recycled gold wrapping paper
Dies: Spellbinders labels 4

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Christmas for OWH

This weekend I had a bit of time to stamp and decided to make some Christmas cards for Operation Write Home.
Challenges:
DRS Designs #85--mad about plaid
Art Impressions #117--People Parade
Just Add Ink #180--just add colouring
Loves Rubber #68--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Fred She Said "Emma and the Chickadee" digi; Verve "Star of Wonder" sentiment
Papers: DCWV Christmas pack
Dies: spellbinders ovals and scalloped ovals, large

 Challenges:
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #32--non-traditional colors
Christmas At Sweet Stamping #7--winter animals
Cutie Pies Challenge #52--cute Christmas
Pattie's Creations #74--anything goes (must use an image)

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Little Penguins Winter Decorate Tree" digi
Papers: DCWV Christmas pack
Punches: Martha Stewart snowflake die

Challenges:
Paper Creators Crafts--anything goes
Love to Scrap--anything goes
Paper Nest Dolls #12--CAS
Our Daily Bread Designs #169--one layer
Word Art Wednesdays #96--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! "Lovely as a Tree"; Verve "Star of Wonder"
Challenges:
JUGS #204--distressing (Used ink to distress the edges of the main background panel)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #140--let's get inky and/or painty (ink to stamp the musical score, distress the edges of the panel and the oval, and highlight the embossed sections on the flower)
Christmas Card #40--something new (the musical score stamp and the poinsettia die are both new)

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts "Music" cover a page stamp
Dies: Spellbinders ovals and scalloped ovals, large and Layered Poinsettia



Crocodiles and Washi

It's time for me to post my project for the current Lollipop Ladies Challenge.  This fortnight the challenge is
Crocodiles . . .
with the additional challenge of washi (remember the additional part is optional, but it makes it more fun to try to incorporate it into your project).

As I don't have any images of crocodiles (and I have to admit I don't really desire one), I had to get a little creative for this one.  Do you see how I used this inspiration photo?
Well, the obvious answer is that I pulled out the yellow and blue (and the red noses) from the crocs for my color combo.  BUT . . . doesn't that embossing folder I used look kind of like crocodile skin????  I think so.  Check out the designs on the backs of the crocs in the photo.  And I've got my two little washi tape banners at the top.  Hope on over to the Lollipop Ladies blog for to see the other projects from the design team and then come play along.  We have a prize but can only give it away if 7 or more people play.  What are you waiting for?

Challenges:
Seize the birthday--anything birthday goes
Di's Digis--Birthdays
V's Sweet Ideas #15--washi tape
Sentimental Sundays #170--Happy Birthday (must have a sentiment)
There She Goes #223--banners and birthdays
Twisted Tuesday #58--primary colors with the twist of buttons
Inkspirational Challenges #36--red, dark yellow, powder blue (my sentiment is navy, but the button is more of a powder blue)

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Happy Thoughts"
Cardstock: PTI "Lemon Tart"
Embossing folder: cuttlebug "Tiny Mosaics" (I embossed the top and bottoms of the white layer and left a strip plain then embossed a line both at the top and bottom of that strip to define the area)