Just Because......

 Welcome to my blog today and are you ready to see the NEW challenge at Shopping our Stash? We want  you to dig in your stash and make a card Just Because you want to send a surprise hello or thinking of you for a friend. Everyone loves to get a card Just Because you are a thoughtful friend. Mine is for a friend I haven't heard from in a while and I hope it gives her a smile.

As you see I have been "working" from the lake, trouble is to get a good picture you only have a 2 hour time frame to get good sun. Working from the lake has a few disadvantages, one is if you forget a part for your project you have to improvise. I thought I had my large Hello die with me, I had 20 other dies but not Hello so Hugs just has to take it's place. I gorgeous Delicate Blossoms from Hero Arts, since I'm missing the packaging and google was no help I believe it's Circa 2010. I used a fairly new 3D folder (only one that was packed) I was really concerned my red inks were going to last as who would think to bring re-inkers? Hugs was die cut out of red metallic poster board and I layered it on two more heavy weight die cuts to elevate it.

Finished the inside with a couple of scraps and a Thinking of You die cut, of course leaving space to add my own sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see your Just Because card in our gallery at SOS.

Inspired by Christmas Cookies Part 2!!

 I did manage to get the second idea  finished today and I'm sliding in with 2 hours to the deadline of 6 p.m. EDT. First I will remind you of the inspiration photo.

So many ideas so little time. I could have made more in fact one more on my desk in pieces but I know I won't have it for the challenge but maybe it will fit one of the upcoming Christmas challenges.

It is not often you see such a CAS card from me although three layers, 6 sequins and the die was cut twice from heavy white cardstock and once from a patterned brushed metallic cardstock, who knows how long I have had that 12 X 12 paper pad. This is another mini slimline card, you will be seeing lots of these as I have a couple of friends that have asked me for some for money giving at Christmas.

Inside of the card using a favourite Hero Arts sentiment some of the same patterned paper and a strip of the metallic green cardstock. 

I am adding this to:

The Jingle Belles Rock Challenge ~~ Cookie Inspired Christmas

Thanks for looking again today and even though this challenge will end today another fantastic prompt will be posted on Friday. 

Winter Wonderland

 Hello friends welcome to a NEW challenge at Shopping Our Stash!! For the next 2 weeks we are looking forward to seeing lots of Winter Wonderland cards, you can make a winter scene or an all White card.  Even being in Canada our winter wonderland is dull, drab and grey, we do have some lingering snow but to me it's just damp and drab. So I have dug deep into my stash and everything on my card is 2 years old or older. 

Sorry for the terrible picture, windows updated and changed my photo program and now I can't see how bright the card is.  So I decided I wanted to make a wreath card with my favourite die from Gina Marie, I cut it twice and added some dimensionals between the two layers, added some white enamel dots from the Eyelet outlet  when I did a DT spot in 2017. I flat attached the wreath to the brick wall embossing folder layer which is on a scalloped square layer (EC designs). I cut 3 of each of the word dies 3 times and layered them these are the newest item at approximately 2-3 years young. Then it was added to a     5 1/2 inch square card base. 

Close up of the wreath and winter words.

Finished the inside of the card with a favourite sentiment from Hero Arts. 

I'm entering this in:

Rudolph Days ~~ January 

ABC Christmas ~~ A is for Anything Christmas

Thanks for stopping by and it's time to get your Holiday cards started and I'm looking forward to seeing yours in the gallery.

It's Rudolph Days!!!

 I am unusually early with a card for Rudolph Days but there is a reason......I decided to try a new technique with a new product, well it really wasn't going well when I finished  "playing" I was covered in mica spray all three colours that I have and I really was disappointed in the purple as it didn't have a lot of shine, and I shook it well too. Now I never trow my fails out (unless they are really bad) and when I saw a post what do you have on your craft table the "fail" was there including the silver die cut I had planned on using and when I looked at it the green "fail" didn't look too bad so I finished it and I like how it came together. I am sure I just need practice using sprays. So there is my story about why I'm early to Rudolph Days.

I used the more textured side of the  paper, it does shine nicely too but sparkle never shows well in photos. The Snowflake die is the largest of three from Elizabeth Craft Designs and was flat attached.  Debating on adding some bling to the center of the snowflake. 

Finished the inside with the smallest snowflake in the Elizabeth Craft Designs snowflake set and a vertical Hero Arts sentiment.

I'm adding this to:

Rudolph Days ~~ Novembeer

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are getting your Holiday cards done almost panic time.

It's Jingle Belle Time!!!

 Well slipping in with 1 1/2 hours to spare I finally got my card done for the Jingle Belles Rock challenge to use Stripes and/or Stars on your project. I had this card planned for almost the whole time the challenge was live, it just seemed everything was out to delay me, being retired I should have oodles of time to craft but between June 30 and July 10th I have 6 birthday cards to make along with two Grad cards, that being said I'm happy to get a Holiday card done, so here is my striped non-traditional coloured card.

Let me introduce you to "Winter Dragon" isn't he just the cutest thing, he is running a close second to my darling Narwal. After 4 years I finally had a chance to go to Scrapfest in Kitchener and found this Lawn Fawn set on for half price I bought both the stamp set and die set. The glitter cardstock is from the dollar store and I have no idea where the striped paper is from. 

Closer look at the "frostyville wreath" from Memory box  dated 2013 and the super sweet dragon.

Finished the inside of the 5 1/2 inch square card with a piece of patterned paper and a Hero Arts Sentiment. (my fav.)

I am adding this to:

Jingle Belles Rock Challenge ~~ Stars or Stripes forever. plus a Double Trouble Challenge.

Double Trouble Paper Crafting ~ Christmas in July

Thanks for checking in today now I'd better get it on the Challenges. 

She's a Lady

 The new challenge at Shopping Our Stash is "She's a Lady" we want to see a lady on your project, It should have been very easy to make a card with a Lady on it, but I struggled with picking our colours, now that's a new one.  Here is what I finally decided on. 

I shopped my stash with this 2017 Occasions catalogue from Stampin'up, the images on the 2 box set are just meant to be paper pieced. I used the sweet pea 3D embossing folder for my background and the cardstock has been in my stash for years, the Happy Birthday (hero arts) is also very dated but a favourite. 

Closer look a the paper piecing.

Finished the inside with a scrap of patterned paper and an Impression Obsession sentiment.

Thanks for visiting today and head over to the Main Blog and check out what the rest of the Design Team have made. 

Jingle All The Way!!!

 It's a new month and a new challenge at Happy Little Stampers Christmas, we aim to keep you on track making holiday cards. The challenge is always Anything Goes but Jingle Bells is the option this month.

Of course I went with the option of Jingle Belles and used  a House Mouse Stamp with Jingle Bells.

I made the sky background with a couple of shades of distress oxide ink on watercolour paper, the image was stamped, coloured with markers and fussy cut (half of it), I flat attached the snow but popped the bells up. Added the sentiment which I also fussy cut so it fit in the space. 

A different angle to see the elevation of the bells. 

Finished the inside with as Hero Arts sentiment and a few glittery dots.

I'm adding this to:

House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge ~~ Anything Goes.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you will add a Christmas creation to our challenge. 

Y is for YUCK

 Another 2 weeks has flown by and there is a new challenge at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers.

I struggled with the theme but obviously Lee had it all figured out, great job again Lee!!

I have no idea how this stamp set popped into my mind, maybe in my dreams, but it was all I had that was remotely a YUCK idea. The Llama Drama set is from Kraftin' Kimmie stamps and I've had it since 2019 and it's never been inked. I paired the image with some cacti patterned paper I found at Dollarama last week and the super cute flowers are a die cut strip from Crafter's Square I got for $1.25 at Dollar Tree. The sentiment was cut with SU speech bubble die set.

Just a closer look at the Llama and sentiment.

Finished the inside with a couple of scraps left from the front and the rest of the flower strip die, which I cut in white and coloured with markers 

Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to check the MAIN BLOG to see the rest of he design team projects,  I hope you join in the fun for this challenge. 

Flowers, Flowers Everywhere

Flowers Flowers Everywhere is the new Challenge at Shopping Our Stash, it will be so nice seeing all the flowers in the gallery as right now I'm looking at piles of snow/ice with more to come. I had a plan as always and I usually try to have a plan "B" for those times that I have put plan "A" in that safe place, I was positive I knew where the Hero Arts Poppy stamp was, but it wasn't there so with no plan "B" I had to put my thinking cap on. I'm sure you have been where I was not able to get by the fact I WANTED to use the Poppy Stamp so I was having trouble thinking past it, finally I remembered a 3D folder I bought early last year and had never used it, in my defense I needed to google how to make a sandwich for it, so checked Mr. Google and you don't need any special plates so I'm now in love with the folder and want more.  Enough gabbing and let's get on with the challenge. 

As you see I'm back in my "pink" stage but that was only because when I saw that the folder was Sweet Peas I remembered I had an already coloured sweet pea image that was a stamped image from a friend. I used my original spellbinders ovals and the Happy Birthday die cut is layered three times. as well as the oval with the flower. 

Close up so you can see how beautiful the folder is.

Finished the inside with scraps of pink and a very ancient Hero Arts sentiment must be at least 20 years old. I used a Brilliance ink pad that must be a bit dry as it didn't stamp dark enough, there is no "re-do" with a wood mound stamp. 

I'm going to add this to:

Seize the Birthday ~~ Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you will dig out your Floral stamps and send us a bouquet.

Time for a New Challenge at Shopping Our Stash!!

 It's Snow Much Fun at Shopping Our Stash for the next fortnight, the theme is Winter Fun and what is more fun than a "Gruffie" sledding in a bathtub? 

This challenge I fell into a trap that I'm sure a few design team members have fallen in...designing and blogging the wrong challenge, good thing is I have the next one prepared but that left me scrambling to make a card for the current challenge. That in itself is traumatic but in the wee hours of the morning I woke with a back spasm, pain cream, magic bag and muscle relaxers but it wasn't enough to calm it down. I struggled with sitting, so in spurts I stood at the desk and got it done but took most of the day.  Well as I said it's a Gruffie stamp from House mouse designs, watercoloured background, I fussy cut the image and popped up his hat.

I finished the inside with a Hero Arts sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by today and this is holiday card #5, I'm on  a roll.

Christmas Bells Those Christmas Bells

 I'm starting this one early, hoping to get one more done in the next 10 days and keeping my mind on my New Year's list. It sure does take me  along time to make one card, I did have the assistant helping (not). I have a plan devised, I will leet you know if it works.

Impression Obsession jingle bells and sentiment they work so well for a slimline card, I used distress inks for te background, and the montage of die cuts were from the off cuts bin. 

Close up at my collage attempt.

Finished the inside with a Hero Arts sentiment and a couple of extra bells and more  from the off cuts bin.

I am adding this to:

The Jingle Belles Rock Challenge ~~ Christmas Bells Those Christmas Bells

Thanks for visiting today, have a crafty day.

Thank You, Santa....

 As I said on my last post I want to try to make a card a week for each of the Jingle Belles challenges which will give me 48 Holiday cards, I'm hoping to spread it to one a week and not entering in the last 2 hours. 

I used the second of my large focal point dies I (Santa) bought for me before Christmas, my recent purchase is still in transit or might be at the community mail box but it's way too cold to venture for a walk. As you see the red mirror paper was out and used for the second card, I did cut two more to glue to it to elevate it. the holly was for a project last year but surfaced just for this card I did do a bit of snip, snip on it, The paper is again from Dollarama (I bought 2 of each of 3 pads) 

The inside was finished with the Hero Arts Vertical sentiment, a scrap of patterned paper and the last little snip of the holly. 

I'm adding this to:

The Jingle Belles Rock Challenge ~~ What did Santa Bring You

Thanks for stopping by today and a NEW Jingle Belles Challenge starts on Friday, so stay tuned to see if I am fulfilling my New Year's item 1 on the list. 

What did Santa Bring You?

 Hello there and welcome to my first Jingle Belles Rock Challenge card!! I don't make New Year Resolutions but I do have a list of things I would like to work on for 2023 and first on the list is "make more Christmas/Holiday cards" so first up is for the Jingle Belles. I was really at a disadvantage today as I had to clear my table from the Pajama card and as always a clear table requires my helper (picture on the right) to inspect the area, many, many times as I was getting all parts together. I found no pawprints on the cardstock.

Very simple card, the plaid paper is from Dollarama (last year) the Santa hats were already stamped and coloured I just had to fussy cut them and they are popped up. The plaid is layered  on black and then on a white base. The metallic Ho Ho Ho was layered on a second die cut. I love plaid have trouble not to use it on every card. 

Finished the inside with a couple of banners made from left over paper, the paper size is 6 1/2 X 4 1/2 so there is very few scraps. I added the Hero Arts vertical sentiment that I stamped in Memento red.

Of course I'm adding this to:

The Jingle Belles Rock ~~ What did Santa Bring You

Check out the new Header!!

There are a few more items that "Santa" (I'm my own best one) brought me and some that are still in transit, if I can I'm going to try to get another one done, as per my "New Year's" list of making 2 Jingle Belles cards every challenge thus giving me 48 cards. So if it is your goal to make your holiday cards early this is the way to do it.

Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned there might be another one tomorrow. 

It's Pajama Day!!!

 Hello friends it's time for a new challenge at Shopping Our Stash and it's Pajama Day, we want to see a project inspired by your Pajamas. It was a tall order for me, I have one pair of very ancient (well it is shopping our stash) pajamas, being from Canada I only wear them on a "snow" day that we have been advised to stay home.  So here is a picture of my very well loved 'jammies. 

These were my inspiration, it was a long process as I have skating mice, skating bunnies, skating penguins but do I have a skating bear? Nope so found a free digital image to use and this is my card.

Talk about shopping my stash, I don't usually emboss a lot but since my white ink wasn't "inky" enough I had to go etehe versamark watermark route using 2002 snowman/snowflake 6 piece set from Hero Arts, and my embossing  powder was from PSX.  The bear was coloured and fussy cut and popped up.

Closer look at the happy skater.

Finally the inside which I decided to heat emboss the sentiment which is years old and from High Hopes Stamps and  since there is no packaging I'm thinking somewhere between 10 and 15 years old..

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you will use your pajamas as inspiration and enter the challenge, be sure to include a picture of your pajamas. Don't forget to head over to the Main Blog and check out the jammie cards the rest of the design team have made.

 

Time for Presents!!

 Almost time for Christmas but I still have a birthday left for the year (not mine) so I decided to take time out from making my "new year" cards or "winter" cards for some I still need to send and make a birthday card with present on it for Challenge #486 at Shopping Our Stash is Time for Presents. 

I decided to use one of my "dual" images, it can be used for many occasions and I have made it for both birthday and Christmas. This is a Stampedous image of Happy Hoppers I have a few of the bunnies and also the Gruffies (bears) The image was stamped in a pile of "waiting to be coloured" images. The image and layers were cut with Elizabeth Craft Designs stitched and scalloped die sets.  Hero Arts happy birthday was cut with the original spellbinders circle dies.

Finished the inside with a Stampendous "Fran's" Sentiment, that no matter how I work with it I never get it perfectly straight.

Thanks for stopping by today and head over to the Main Blog and check out the rest of the Design Team's projects, then dig in your stash and make a "present" card.