Seasons Greetings

Happy New Year!  Can't wait to see what 2016 brings, can you?  Since it is the beginning of a new month, we have a new challenge for you from Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  As always, it is a month-long, anything goes (Christmas related, of course) challenge.  Our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 images of their choice.  Here is my card for your inspiration:

Every piece of paper (except the green card stock) is a scrap that was sitting on my desk from some projects I made last week or the week before.  I'm desperately trying to use up some Christmas scraps that I've had for years.  I love it when some little strip is the perfect size and can be used up.  That's exactly the reason we hoard little bits and scraps isn't it?  Anyway, hope you will play along.  It's a good time to get started on those Christmas cards.

Challenges:
Inspiration Destination #66--anything goes
Crafty Gals Corner #52--anything goes
Mod Squad--use at least one die cut
Dis Digis--anything goes Christmas
Crafty Creations #35--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #261--anything goes Christmas
Creative Inspirations #341--sketch

C.R.A.F.T. #344--anything goes
As You Like It--anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #406--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Christmas Jar" digi; Verve "Ornamental Christmas"
Dies/punches: Spellbinders "Layered Poinsettias" PTI "Mat Stack 2"; MFT "Blueprints 13"; Fiskars flower punch.

Merry Christmas

Welcome back!  Oh, wait, we were the ones that were on vacation. : )  But now we are back with another challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  Since it is still holiday time, we are making it nice and easy for you: Anything Goes!  I was woefully short on Christmas cards this year so I decided to get a head start on next year's cards.  Plus, I hadn't had a chance to use this beautiful snowflake stamp, yet.

I started by stamping the snowflake on the background in both a light gray and ocean tides green.  I stamped the focal snowflake in the same colors offsetting them just a bit so it gives a shadow effect.  I love the pops of red in this color combo, so fun!  Come and play along, I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Challenges:

Raisin Boat #39--Christmas or New Years

The Paper Nest Dolls--anything goes

Fashionable Stamping #106--make your own background

Tuesday Throwdown #274--anything goes

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #34--photo inspiration (I was inspired by the snowflakes)

Sketch Saturday #392--sketch

Simon Says Monday--winter wonderland

Holly Jolly--anything goes

Fantastic Tuesday #117--'Twas the night before Christmas

Crafty Gals Corner #51--anything goes

DRS Designs #206--'Tis The Season

Brown Sugar #179--Christmas

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #261--anything goes Christmas

Eureka Stamps #173--snowflakes or snowmen

Crafty Cardmakers--snowflakes

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "1141F. Christmas" and "8912I. Snowflake, solid (lg)"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" and "Blueprints 12"; Sweet n Sassy Stamps snowflake die

Special Anniversary

My parents celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary the day after Christmas.  Next year will be the big 40!!  Here is the card I made for them.

This sentiment would also be perfect for a wedding card; it's really beautiful either way.

Challenges:
Craft Dee Bow-Z--anything goes with handmade bow
Word Art Wednesday #214--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch

The Paper Shelter--anything goes
The Paper Girls #94--celebrate
Tuesday Morning #332--anything goes
Hiding in My Craft Room #230--favorite challenge from the year (I chose super scraps Saturday, because all those hearts were cut from little scraps of DP)
Crafty Creations #35--anything goes
Mod Squad--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #65--anything goes
Crafty Gals Corner #51--anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #405--anything goes


Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet n Sassy Stamps "Anniversary Innies"
Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A"; Sweet N Sassy Stamps hearts
Papers: MME "Collectable: Unforgettable"

Special Gift

Happy Christmas week!!  I can't believe it is here already!  Today begins the last challenge of the year from Love To Scrap Challenge Blog, and it's a fan favorite: Anything Goes.  Our sponsors are

Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet

Angie's Cards & Digis

A Day For Daisies

I was able to work with an image from A Day For Daisies and chose this gorgeous baby Jesus image.  Ooo . . . I just love it!!

It is really easy to color up, and I added a bit of yellow ink around the star to give it a glow.  The papers were scraps that were laying on my table from another project.

Here is another card I made using the same image:

See, isn't this image beautiful?!  For more details on this card and the background I created, check out this post.  Thanks for stopping by, I hope you will get a chance to get inky and play along with us.

Challenges:

Sweet Stampin'--Merry Christmas

Hiding in My Craft Room #230--favorite Hiding In My Craft Room challenge from 215 (this week it is definitely Super Scraps Saturday--I'm into using up those scraps)

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #260--anything goes Christmas

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes

Brown Sugar #177--anything goes

Crimbo Crackers #96--die cuts

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--die crazy

Inspiration Destination #64--anything goes

Crafty Gals #50--anything goes

Penny's Challenge #258--anything goes

Sugar Pea Designs #34--sketch

The Paper Shelter--anything goes

Crafty Creations #324--happy holidays

Crafting by Designs--here come the holidays

Creative Inspirations #340--Merry Christmas

Tuesday Throwdown #274--anything goes

Die Cuttin' Divas #246--Christmas

Di's Digis--winter holidays

Sweet Stamps--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #117--Christmas

Raisin Boat #39--Christmas & New Years

Sparkles #59--die cuts for Christmas

Supplies:

Stamps: A Day For Daisies "A Sign I Give" digi

Dies/punches: Spellbinders "Layered Poinsettias"; MFT "Blueprints 13"; Fiskars "Upper Crest" border punch

Sweet Baby

Last week, I had an idea to use up some of my scraps of Christmas patterned paper that are too small to use but too big to throw away.  (Know what I mean?!)  So I cut a bunch of them into 1/2 inch stripes (I think one of the scraps I started with was already that width, so it seemed like a good measurement) and combined them together to create this fun background.  Actually, one of my 7-year-olds cut all the strips for this one.  I had grouped my scraps together into coordinating colors and had already created a card front with some red and greens.  When she saw what I had done, she wanted to try the cutting.  She did a great job.  After I had all the strips cut, I cut a panel the size of an A2 card and drew a line down the center to use for alignment.  I sprayed the panel with spray adhesive and then stuck the strips on in a prearranged order.  I trimmed off any strips that were hanging over the edge and then cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die.  It's so pretty, I could hardly bear to cover any of it up. : )

Challenges:

Kraftin' Kimmie Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes

Brown Sugar Challenge # 177--anything goes

Crimbo Crackers #96--die cuts

Emerald Creek Dares--celebrations around the world

Little Miss Muffet #127--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--die crazy

Inspiration Destination #64--anything goes

Crafty Gals Corner #50--anything goes

Penny's Paper Challenge #258--anything goes

Inky Impressions #279--non-traditional colors

Crafty Creations #304--happy holidays

Crafting by Designs--here come the holidays

Creative Inspirations #340--Merry Christmas

Tuesday Throwdown #274--anything goes

Die Cuttin' Divas #246--Christmas anything goes

Our Daily Bread Designs #266--sketch

Simon Says Monday--just a pinch (just a pinch of patterned papers)

Eureka Stamps #171--non-traditional Christmas colors

Fashionable Stamping #106--make your own background

Hiding in My Craft Room #229--super scraps Saturday

Fussy & Fancy #154--happy holidays

Di's Digis--winter holidays

Hanna And Friends--Christmas in unusual colors

Sweet Stamps--anything goes

Crafting with An Attitude #9--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #117--Christmas

Stamping with the Dragon--vintage Christmas

Raisin Boat #39--Christmas & New Years

Sparkles #59--die cuts for Christmas

Supplies:

Stamps: A Day For Daisies "A Sign I Give"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13"; Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle  and "Floral Doily Motifs"

Silent Night

Oh, my goodness!!  It's less than two weeks until Christmas!  Are your Christmas cards finished, yet?  Mine should be all done, but not a single one has been put in the mail yet.  I guess I'd better get working on it.  Since it is the middle of the month, I have some inspiration for you for Crafty Hazlenut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  You have until the end of the month to play and as long as your project is Christmas related, you are good to go!  Here is my card:

I had the red patterned paper sitting on my desk from another project I had just finished and thought it would be fun to use up some more of it.  Unfortunately, I think it was a little too busy for this design, but I did use up a good amount of it.  And it really creates a fun color combo with the lime green.  Traditional, yet a  bit modern, too.  And the bow was recycled from a birthday present packaging, so using scraps AND recycling on the same card.  A win-win situation in my book. : )  I hope you already have all you cards finished and mailed and now you can sit back and relax and enjoy the holiday season.  But just in case you haven't, come on and play along with us.  I can't wait to see what you create.

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Peace on Earth"
Papers: DCWV Christmas pack
Dies: Spellbinders "Radient Rectangles"

Challenges:
Crafting Musketeers--use a sentiment
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #59--die cuts for Christmas
Cards Galore--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Craft Dee Bow-Z--anything goes with handmade bow
Card Mania Challenge #75--Christmas
As You Like It--Masculine or Feminine and why? (I definitely prefer feminine cards--I love ribbon and rhinestones and pretty papers)
A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes Christmas
Come And Get It--anything goes Christmas
The Paper Girls #93--Christmas
Where the HeArt Is #4--Christmas colors
{Pin}spirational Challenge--inspiration photo

Holly Jolly--anything goes--Christmas
Creative Inspiration #339--all wrapped up (my card is wrapped with ribbon)
Word Art Wednesday #213--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafting by Designs--here come the holidays
Crafty Creations #306--Happy Holiday
Penny's Paper #257--anything goes
Crafty Gals Corner #49--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #63--anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. #342--Christmas
Time Out Challenge #46--inspiration photo

Fussy & Fancy #54--happy Holidays
Jo's Scrap Shack #118--anything goes
Creative Fingers #99--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #259--anything Christmas
Hiding in My Craft Room #229--Super Scrap Saturday
MFP Challenge #292--green (mostly green card)
Raisin Boat #39--Christmas and New Year's
One Stitch At a Time #252--the colour red

Drummer Boy

How are those Christmas cards coming?  Not done, yet?  Well, we have the perfect challenge for you on the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog: It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.  How easy is that?!  Our three sponsors are:

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More

The Paper Shelter

Kith & Kin Stamp Co.

I was given this fabulous image from Kith & Kin Stamp Co.  This is one of those images that just really comes to life when you color it up.  Isn't he adorable?

Here's a free tip for you: If you don't have metal embellishments to match your color scheme, spray paint them.  I really wanted to use the star brads that I had, but they were a matte silver color which didn't fit with the gold accents on my image.  So I spray painted them with gold paint and now they are perfect!  Also, the gold mat behind image is actually recycled wrapping paper.  It's got a really great texture to it.
Head on over to the LTSCB and check out what the rest of the DT created for this challenge.  Then come back and play, I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Challenges:
Come And Get It--anything goes Christmas
Christmas Card Challenge #1--Inspiration photo (I was inspired by the color scheme)

Mark's Finest Papers #291--red
Hiding in my Craft Room #338--Christmas colors
A Gem of a Challenge #159--anything goes Christmas
Creative Fingers #99--anything goes
Brown Sugar Challenge #175--anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #402--Festive Colours
Little Miss Muffet #126--anything goes
Fresh Brewed Designs--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #62--anything goes
Crafty Gals #48--anything goes
Penny's Paper #256--anything goes
Inky Impressions #278--traditional Christmas colors
Addicted To Stamps #173--holiday
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch

Crafting By designs--anything goes
Unicorn Challenge #4--winter
Card Mania #375--Christmas
Patties Creations #117--Christmas
Cards Galore--anything goes
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #59--die cuts for Christmas
Craftin' Desert Divas--Christmas

Supplies:
Stamps: Kith & Kin Stamp Co. drummer boy digi stamp; Hero Arts musical score background stamp; Verve "Ornamental Christmas"
Dies: MFT corner bracket and "Blueprints 13" sentiment strip

Miss You

I just won this fabulous stamp set from Skipping Stones Design: Victoria Summer and just HAD to give it a good inking. : )  Soooo gorgeous.  I think it will probably get used a lot.

It's tough to see, but I stamped a French Script in light gray on the background panel, followed by some pink flourishes.  The flowers are embossed on vellum and colored on the backside.  Such a pretty technique.

Challenges:
Fresh Brewed Designs--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #62--anything goes
Crafty Gals #48--anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge #256--anything goes
Mod Squad Challenge Blog--use at least three of the listed products/techniques (I used embossing, ribbon, stamp, flowers, bling, die cuts)
Crafter's Cafe #138--die cuts/punches
Word Art Wednesday #212--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Mark's Finest Papers #290--white EP embossed vellum flowers
Come And Get It--sentiment
Skipping Stones Design--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Skipping Stones Design "Victorian Summer"; Hero Arts french script; Clear Dollar Stamps "Flourish"
Dies: MFT "Labels 4 STAX"
Punches: Martha Stewart Butterfly punch

Merry Christmas

It's time for another What If? Wednesday challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have a color combo for you to use:

It's just perfect for Christmas, but it's a gorgeous color combo and could work for so many occasions.  I went with the Christmas theme:

Repeat Impressions "Poinsettia" stamp is perfect for adding some dimension.  I stamped a total of six flowers; fussy cut 3 whole flowers and 3 centers only and layered them together with some foam tape.  I colored some white pearls with my gold paint pen and added them to the centers.  I masked portions of the sentiment to get it to fit on my tag and finished the tag off with some frantage embossing powder.
I can't wait to see what you create with this color combo!  I believe this is our last challenge before Christmas so now is the time to join in.  Hope on over to The House blog for the full details and see what the rest of the team has done with this color combo.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "2012W Poinsettia" and "1141W Christmas"
Dies: Spellbinders "Floral Doily Motifs"; PTI Tag Sale die; MFT "Fancy Flourish"
Darice musical score embossing folder
Verve Seam Binding

Challenges:
Come And Get It--sentiment
One Stitch At A Time #251--winter
Christmas Card Challenge #52--anything goes
Hiding In My Craft Room #227--any holiday
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #257--use die cuts/punches
DRS Designs Blog #202--let the holidays begin
C.R.A.F.T. #339--winter
Craftin' Desert Divas--Christmas
VLV sketches November Week 2--sketch

Cuttlebug Mania--embossing
Holly Jolly--embossing
Creative Craft Cottage #52--Christmas
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #59--die cuts for Christmas
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow
Card Mania #75--Christmas
Unicorn Challenge #4--wintertime