Christmas Cupcake

Wow!  It's February already (as I was preparing this post I started to write about it being mid-January!  Where has January gone?) and so it's time for another challenge from Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  As always, it is an Anything Goes (Christmas-related, of course), month-long challenge.  Our sponsor is the fabulous Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 images of their choice!  Here is my card for your inspiration:

I hope you will play along with us this month.  I know I definitely need to make all those Christmas cards early this year after my shortage this past Christmas!  I still managed to use an item from my Bits and Pieces stash: the banner.

Challenges:
Jo's Scrap Challenge #123--anything goes
Fussy & Fancy #156--monochrome
As You Like It--Favorite: One Layer or Multi Layer (while I admire a well done one-layer card, I can rarely pull it off.  It's definitely multi-layers for me!)
DRS Designs #211--sparkle and shine (glitter on my frosting and shine with the enamel dots)
Little Miss Muffet #130--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #70--anything goes
Addicted to Stamps #178--Holiday
Fab n Funky #289--Christmas
YNS #31--sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Christmas Cupcakes--Candy" digi: Verve "Ornamental Christmas"
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large" and "Standard Scalloped Circles, large"; MFT "Blueprints 13" banner
Paper: American Crafts
YNS Gumdrops

Cutest Tags Ever!

I've been playing around with different ways to use up some old scraps of Christmas paper that I have had for a long time.  The scraps are mostly too small to really create cards with, but too big to throw away.  Know what I'm talkin' about here?  You know you do!  So, I thought I would create some tags with extra fun patterned paper backgrounds.  Here is a photo of the whole set:

 Here's what the backgrounds look like without the added cuteness.  I started with the tags that have the pattern on the left:  Sort of a herringbone look.  I cut the strips into 1/2 inch strips and pieced them together; trying to work with coordinating color families.  Once I had used up most of the longer strips, I still couldn't bear to throw away the "almost" too short strips.  So I started creating the tags with the pattern on the right.  And these are actually pretty fun.  It was like putting a puzzle together, trying to match up the diagonal ends and matching up colors.  I prefer the "v" shaped pattern, but the other has it's charms too.  Which do you like; I'd love to know.

 I'm going to start with the snowmen tags, 'cause they're my favorite.  Aren't those little snowman, so cute!!??  I stamped them a second time onto more patterned scraps and used it to piece their little scarves and hats.  LOVE it!

 Here's some more paper piecing on these cute little presents, using some more of those scraps.

 These reindeer tags are my second favorite.  I mean, really, those little guys are super cute.

 Then there are these sweet little angles.  I added some glitter pen to the halos and wands, but it doesn't show in the photo.

 And last, but not least, these cute little Christmas trees.

I popped up all the images with two layers of cardboard to help them stand out from the backgrounds and stamped the sentiment on a little banner die cut.  My plan is to use them on kraft paper wrapped packages.  I think they will look sooooo adorable!

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #70--anything goes
Crafty Gals #56--anything goes
Creative Craft Cottage #46--anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown #218--anything goes
One Stitch At A Time #254--bingo (I chose the Lots of Blue, Make Your Own Background and Metal {the eyelet)--lots of blue on the snowman tags
Sweet Stampin--vintage or shabby chic (the present tags are very vintage to me)
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #60--vintage Christmas tags (the present tags are very vintage to me)
Hiding In My Craft Room #235--any holiday
Creative Fingers #101--anything goes
Hana & Friends #240--die cuts
Aud Sentiments #147--anything goes
ART Impressions #176--paper piecing
ABC Christmas--B is for baubles (the tree tags have baubles on them)
Crafty Creations #307--paper piecing
Card Mania--#76--winter fun
Cuttlebug Mania--Baby it's Cold Outside (use a snowman)
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #36--inspiration photo (inspired by the blue and the snowmen for my snowman tags)

Pixie's Snippets Playground #213--anything goes with at least one "snippet" (my entire post is about snippets, even the images were stamped on little off cuts of white card stock.  AND when I was about halfway through cutting the tag shapes, I realized I could cut them out of old, ugly (or at least unloved by me) pieces of patterned paper; I just adhered the strips to the patterned side and it left the white side for the writing on.  Perfect!!)

Supplies:
Stamps: YNS "Holiday Snow Globe"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" tag and banner
Papers:  ALL scraps!!  Yeay!!

Purple Tulips

Hi, and welcome to another What If Challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week Wendy has given us a great sketch to work with:

I love sketches; it means I don't have to think about coming up with my own.  : )  As soon as I started with this one, I knew what image and color scheme I wanted to go with, but other than that it came out way different than I had planned.  But definitely in a good way.  I'm totally in love with how it turned out.

I have some gorgeous deep purple (almost black) tulips in my garden in the spring, and that's why I wanted to color these beauties up in purple.  And yellow is the perfect complement to purple.  I used up a piece of cream sheer ribbon from my bits and pieces stash (which makes me happy) and I even used some patterned paper that I've had (literally) forever!  I did some masking on the sentiment to get it to fit on my "banner".
Thanks for stopping by!  Head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the DT has done with this sketch.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "912W Tulip Bouquet" and "1113D Birthday"
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Ovals, large", "Radiant Rectangles" and banner; MFT corner bracket.

Challenges:
Creative Fingers #101--anything goes
Winter Wonderland--something new (the tulip image is brand new, just received it last week)
Aud Sentiments #147--anything goes with a sentiment
Word Art Wednesday #218--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
{Pin}spirational Challenge #157--inspiration photo (I was inspired by that yellow background)

Cards Galore--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow
Crafty Calender--something new (brand new tulip image)
Scrapper's Delights #51--anything goes
Vintage Stamping Challenge #40--anything goes with your new stash (tulip image)
Crafty Cardmakers #156--punches and/or dies
Our Daily Bread Designs--something new and something old
Tuesday Throwdown #278--anything goes
Fantastic Tuesday #121--use some flowers

The Lord has come

So, here's another card that is sort of a result of trying to clean up my work desk.  I have one more of these gorgeous A Day For Daisies images left printed out ready to be used.  I really love this image; it's so sweet, speaks to the true meaning of Christmas and is really easy to color--I used a total of 5 markers.  I used a bunch of fun scraps on this one: the "tag" and bit of twine were in my bits and pieces stash and the burlap ribbon was recycled from a favor I received at a women's retreat this fall.  I had to trim the pearls off from the section that is underneath the circle layer so that everything would lay nicely.  I used some of those left over pearls to decorate the centers of my flowers.  (I feel like a recycling queen!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges:
Hanna & Friends #240--die cuts
Aud Sentiments #147--anything goes
Crafty Ribbons #142--Fabulous flowers
C.R.A.F.T. #347--Christmas
Southern Girls--anything goes
Penny's Challenge #261--cats and/or children
Addicted To Stamps #177--make your mark (ink pads, markers)
Fab n Funky #288--buttons and/or bows (little twine bow on the tag)
Word Art Wednesday #218--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Creative Inspirations #343--anything goes with option of a sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: A Day For Daisies "A Sign I Give"; Verve "Silent Night"
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large" and "Layered Poinsettias"; Verve "Charming Ovals"

Sweet Friends

This card is another result of trying to clean up my desk.  I've had this image for years, and I've had it printed up for nearly as long just waiting to be colored.  She's gorgeous and this little scene is just too adorable.  Also, the bottom two rows of scallops are from a scrap from a paper collection I am trying to use up.  The bow is tied with both a satin black and a sheer black ribbon; the sheer bit was in my bits and pieces stash as was the little banner that the sentiment is stamped on.  Yeay for using scraps!!

I've pretty much forgotten about embossing folders lately, but a couple different challenges reminded me about it.  I'm so glad that did; I love embossing folders.  I embossed the black layer with a snowflake ep and then swiped white ink across the raised parts to highlight them.
 Here's a close up of the sweet image and the glittery snow.  Isn't that little robin the cutest?

Supplies:

Stamps: Whimsy Stamps "Alannah"; Verve "Ornamental Christmas"

Punches/embossing folders: Martha Stewart border punch; SU! scalloped border punch; Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--create with critters
Inspiration Destination #69--anything goes
Penny's Challenges #261--cats and/or children
Inky Impressions #282--all about the borders (2 different border punches)
Addicted to Stamps #177--make your mark (markers and ink)
The Paper Shelter #230--rough it up (I distressed the edges of the red mat behind the image and curled the bottoms of all the scallops)
Fab n Funky #288--buttons and/or bows
Crafting by Designs--winter, glitter, sparkles
Fantastic Tuesday #120--make it girly
Shopping Our Stash #235--3, 2, 1 (3 rows of scallops, 2 stamps {1 digi, 1 clear} and 1 bow)
Simon Says Stamp Monday--Best Friends
Aurora Wings #22--Ice & snow
The Paper Girls #96--Forest Friends
Eureka Stamps #176--Pile it on
Come And Get It--embossing
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps--anything goes (and I used the sketch)

Sweet Stampin--things with wings
Hiding in My Craft Room #234--embossing
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #264--cute or anything goes
Winter Wonderland--glitter & shine
Crimbo Crackers #98--anything goes
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow
Pattie's Creations #118--Fun in the Snow
Card Mania #76--winter fun

Clear winter day

Welcome to another What If Wednesday? from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have an inspiration photo for you:

Here in Southern New England, this view is what we woke up to Monday morning!  It was our first real snow of the year and the sun came out early and the kids had a great time playing outside most of the morning.  For my card, I was inspired by the colors.  All that white with the bright blue and little pops of dark (I interpreted it as black, but you could definitely use brown) shades in there just really make a stunning color combo.  And here is my card:

I was planning to go a in a different direction, but the blue patterned paper was sitting on my desk from an envelope I had made last week.    And it sort of reminds me of snow falling, so in it went. : )  The black ribbon was in my bits and pieces stash, as was the square focal panel (so I continue my streak of using at least one item from it on every card I've made within the last couple of weeks).  The paper I've had forever!! And the blue rhinestones I recycled from some mosaic projects my girls had.  Don't worry, I didn't take them OFF the projects; they were left overs. : )  I realize I had used these two stamps on every card I've made for the last What If Wednesday challenges.  Partly because they are the only winter themed stamps I have from Repeat Impressions, but mostly because I LOVE this snowflake.  It's so gorgeous!  If you've missed the previous cards, here they are:

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "8912W Snowflake Solid (lg)" and "1141F Christmas"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13"; negative from a polaroid die from Simon Says Stamp

Challenges:

Eureka Stamps #176--pile it on

Sketch Saturday #395--sketch

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #264--cute OR anything goes

Crimbo Crackers #98--anything goes

Holly Jolly--use patterned paper

Through The Purple Haze--anything goes

Clear It Out Challenge--theme: winter, stash: snowflake

Shopping Our Stash #235--3, 2, 1 (3 rhinestones, two stamps, one patterned paper)

A child is born

This card is the result of trying to clean up my craft desk. : )  I have used this sweet image several times in the last couple months, and you will be seeing it a couple more times as I printed out 5 or 6 of the images.  So, the sheet with the images was (hmmm . . . still is) on my desk and the piece of gray card stock was too; left over from a project from last week.

Challenges:
Shopping Our Stash #235--3, 2, 1 (3 gray panels, "stars", 1 image)
Crafty Cardmakers #155--New: baby, house, etc (my card doesn't celebrate a new baby but it is celebrating a baby and babies are always new and I used a brand new die set that I got for Christmas)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #264--cute OR anything goes
Viva La Verve January week 2--sketch

A Day For Daisies #139--stitch it up (the circle stitched die and the top and bottom panels were cut with stitched dies)
Crimbo Crackers #98--anything goes
Emerald Creek Dares--New stuff (dies I got for Christmas)

Supplies:
Stamps: A Day For Daisies "A Sign I give"; Verve "Richly Blessed"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 12"; Spellbinders "Poppy" the yellow 'stars' are part of the flower centers

Right shoes

Hi, everyone!  Welcome to a new challenge from the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog.  It's an all-time favorite: Anything Goes!!  I know everyone loves those.  Our three sponsors are:

Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet

Limited Runs Stamps

Sparkle N Sprinkle

The sponsor I am working with is Sparkle N Sprinkle and I chose this GORGEOUS image to use.  I'm a total shoe girl, so when I saw these slippers and the sentiments that go along with them, I knew I had to use them.  Aren't they stunning?  

I knew I wanted a very soft feminine look to go with them, so I created my own background by die cutting a piece of white card stock with a stitched die.  Then I stamp a musical score background stamp with light gray and added some flourishes in a soft pink.  I used the same pink to sponge around the edges and a little bit of the light gray right on the very edge.  I had the pink doily in my bits and pieces stash and it was the perfect shape for the sketch I used.  When I looked in my flower stash, I came across the pink roses that I didn't even know I had.  Perfect!  I really love how this one turned out.  I hope you will get a chance to play along

Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps--anything goes
Wags N Whiskers #169--anything goes
Fussy & Fancy #135--fashion
As You Like It--Favorite: Paper or non-paper project?  (I also love making jewelry, but haven't made much in a while.  I've been completely caught up in making cards; I just LOVE it.  Cute little bits of art that you can give to others)
Little Miss Muffet #129--anything goes
Fresh Brewed--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #68--anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenges #260--anything goes
Addicted To Stamps #176--anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown #276--Add Dimension
In the Pink #185--anything goes (with lots of pink)
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #217--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Creative Inspirations #342--florals
The Paper Nest Dolls #1--anything goes
Crafting with An Attitude--anything goes
Unicorn Challenge #5--get your glad rags on
Sweet Stamps--anything goes
Viva La Verve January week 1--sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: Sparkle N Sprinkle "Ballet Shoes BW" and "The Right Shoes Saying"; Hero Arts Musical Score background stamp; Clear Dollar Stamps Flourish
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; MFT "Blueprints 13", small doilies, and "Fancy Flourish"

A little bit of spring

Hi!  Today is my day to post a Project of The Week on The House That Stamps Built.  I'm going to show you how to add a plank look to your card.  I wanted a weathered wood look, so I started with a gray piece of card stock that measures 4 in X 5 1/4 in.  You can use whatever color card stock you want and whatever size as long as it is slightly smaller than your card base.  I'm making an A2 sized card and that's why I used the measurements I did.  I used my scor-pal and laid my card stock on it with the long side at the top: 

 I scored at each 1/2 inch mark all along the length of my paper.

 Then I turned my paper a quarter turn so one of the short ends was at the top:  For the next step, you can score at whatever intervals you want, just make sure they are far enough apart so they look like planks.  On my top row, I scored at 1 in and 3 in.  Make sure you only score between the top of your card stock and your first horizontal line.

 In each of the following "planks" you want to stagger the vertical score lines.  My second row was at the 2 in mark.  After the first row, it gets a little tricky to find the grooves, so just go gently until you are sure you are in the groove.  My third row is scored at 1/2 in and 3 1/2 inches.  Continue staggering your score lines until you have scored all the rows.

 Using the direct to paper technique and a tan ink pad (I used Creamy Caramel from SU!), drag your ink pad across the paper in the direction of your planks.  Repeat until you are happy with the look.

 Using the same technique and a white ink pad (I sued white craft ink from SU!), repeat the previous step.

 This step isn't necessary, but I think it adds a bit more interest.  I used a fine point black Sharpie to add two "nails" to each side of the vertical score lines.  And if you think it needs more weathering, keep dragging the ink pads across the paper until you are happy with it.

It's been cold here and we even had snow this week (not much), so I felt like a spring card was in order.  Here's my finished card:

 I used the Out of the Box technique to die cut my branch image and masked my sentiment so I could fit it in the planks.  I was even able to use up an item from my bits and pieces stash: the hot pink zig zag piece.  Yeay!  Here's a close up this gorgeous Repeat Impressions stamp.  I colored the eggs to look like robin eggs complete with little gray speckles.  : )

Thanks for hanging in there!  I hope you'll give this a try.  I created another card with this technique a couple weeks ago.  If you want to see it, you can find it here.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "1703W Bird's Nest Branch" and "9717W Happy Hello"

Dies: Spellbinders "Classic circles, large", "Classic Ovals, large" and "Scalloped Ovals, large"

Challenges:

Tuesday Throwdown #276--Add Dimension

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps--anything goes

Crafting By Designs--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #217--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Creative Inspirations #342--florals

YNS #30--sketch

Cards Galore--anything goes

Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow

Wags N Whiskers #169--anything goes

The Paper Girls #96--forest friends (these little eggs aren't friends yet, but they will be!)

Lava You!

I made this fun ADORABLE little card as a Valentine's Day card for my one-year old nephew.  Dinosaurs are perfect for little boys, don't you think?  And this little guy is just super cute!  This is the first time I've inked up this set and it definitely won't be the last.  I even got to use a piece from my bits and pieces stash: the larger circle.  Yeay!!

Challenges:

Emerald Creek Dares--New stuff (first time using this stamp set)

Cute Card #408--A bit of fun (isn't this sentiment fun paired with the volcano images?)

DRS Designs #209--heart to heart

Fab n funky #287--for a child

Shopping Our Stash #234--something new

Simon Says Monday--stencil it (I stenciled the heart background)

Eureka Stamps #175--use something new

Sugar Pea Designs #36--sketch

Word Art Wednesday #217--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Cuttlebug Mania--"New"

Vintage Stamping Challenge #40--anything goes with your new stash

Raisin Boat #40--happy heart

Supplies:

Stamps: Sugar Pea Designs "Prehistoric Pals"

Dies/punches: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; Sweet n' Sassy Stamps heart die; SU! scalloped border punch

Stencil: MFT

Quick Christmas

Welcome to mid-January!!  It's time for our mid-month inspiration from Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  If you're not familiar with the challenge, it is a month-long, anything Christmas-related goes challenge.  Here is my inspiration for you:

 It's confession time.  Early December found me being all smug and proud of myself because I had been making my Christmas cards all year long.  Well, then I went to count my cards and see how many "extra" I had.  Boy, was I in for a rude surprise!!  I needed about 50 and I only had 34 made!!  Yikes.  That was a bit of humble pie I had to eat.  Luckily, I found a couple more that I had made and just weren't yet in the Christmas pile.  But, I had to come up with a bunch of card and quick!  That's where these simple, but cute little guys came in.  I don't usually mass produce cards, but since I was in a BIG rush, I made an exception.  I quickly die cut a stitched rectangle to use as the main layer.  Then I pulled out an ooooollllllldddddd SU! set and stamped the wreaths.  Added the sentiment and I was good to go.  I finished 16 in just over an hour while my kids were still sleeping.  I intended to use the dark teal as the base layer for all of the cards, as it pulled out the teal in the squiggles.  But, I only had a few pieces of the teal, so I ended up finishing the rest with this lime green that tied in nicely with the wreath base layer.

 I really like how both turned out, and if I get in this kind of bind again I wouldn't hesitate to use the same idea or something similar.  Here are both of them together.

Which color do you prefer?

Challenges:

Fresh Brewed Designs--anything goes

Inspiration Destination #68--anything goes

Penny's Paper Challenge #260--anything goes

Addicted To Stamps #176--anything goes

Christmas Card Challenge #6--anything goes

Creative Fingers #100--anything goes

Jo's Scrap Shack #120--anything goes

Brown Sugar Challenge #180--anything goes

ABC Christmas--A is for anything goes

V's Sweet Ideas #41--non-traditional Christmas colors

Supplies:

Stamps: SU! "Sketch It"; Verve "Merry & Bright"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13

Shaker Christmas

Welcome to another What If Wednesday? from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have Winter Wonderland as the theme for you.  So many options with that one.  Here is my card for your inspiration:

 I created a fun little shaker card to add to the wintery feel.  I was even able to use up some scraps from my "bits and pieces" stash: the two die cut snowflakes and several of the sequins.  I cut several more to match.  And the papers are part of a pack that I am trying to use up completely.  I'm getting pretty close. : )  Here is a view of the shaker in action:

Come on and play along, I can't wait to see what kinds of winter wonderlands you come up with!

Challenges:

Come And Get It--baby it's cold outside

Christmas Card Challenge--anything goes

Hiding In My Craft Room #233--Super Scraps Saturday

Suzy Bee's #112--It's bloomin' cold out here

Creative Fingers #100--anything goes

Jo's Scrap Shack #120--anything goes

Brown Sugar #180--anything goes

Art Impressions #175--winter wonderland

ABC Christmas--A is for Anything Goes

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch

Crafting By Designs--anything goes

Our Daily Bread Designs #269--something old, something new (the papers are OLD and though I have had the polaroid die for a couple months, this is the first time I have used it.)

Craftin' Desert Divas--Let it snow

Card Mania #76--winter fun

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes

Cards Galore--anything goes

Raisin Boat #39--Christmas/New Year's

V's Sweet Ideas #41--non-traditional Christmas colors

Tuesday Throwdown #276--add Dimension

Holly Jolly--use patterned paper

Shopping Our Stash #234--something new (the unused die)

Clear It Out--theme: winter  stash: snowflake

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "8912W Snowflake Solid (lg)" and "1141W Christmas"

Dies: Sweet n' Sassy Small snowflakes; Simon Says Stamps "Say Cheese"; PTI sequins die

Groovy

Events usually sneak up on me, so this year I decided to start on my Valentine's Day cards a little early. : )  I think I will probably be sending this one to my best friend.  

I didn't use the traditional colors (except pink) or hearts, but combined with the sentiment inside that says Happy Valentine's Day, I thought the sentiment on the front was perfect for the occasion.  Since I am using the Mojo Monday sketch from Verve, I decided to go completely verve with my stamps and most of my dies.  I started out by stamping an image from "Celebrating You" with  brown ink on the background for a tone-on-tone effect. I created my own "patterned paper" by stamping a text from "Text Objects", a flower from "Surely Goodness" and some leaf sprigs from "Be Blessed".  The second photo shows the background stamping better than the first.  The white circle, pink flower, star border and the dotted ribbon were all in my "bits and pieces" stash.  I'm going to try really hard to use it a bit more this year.

Challenges:
Inspiration Destination #67--anything goes
Crafty Gals #53--anything goes
The Paper Shelter #230--punches and/or dies
Crafting by Designs--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #217--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Creative Inspirations #342--florals
Mojo Monday #429--sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Celebrating You", "Surely Goodness", "Text Objects", "Be Blessed"
Dies: Verve "Border Trim Trio" and "Sprightly Sprigs"; Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; Marvy Uchida flower punch