Joy in Bethlehem

It's the last Wednesday in November!! I've got a good start on my Christmas preparations although haven't started my baking yet - and I usually go overboard in that department. 

The wonderfully crafty Chrissy is our hostess at Little Red Wagon and she wants us to "Cut It Out"! Fortunately, this doesn't mean that she wants us to quit crafting. In fact, quite the opposite! Chrissy is looking for Christmas (or winter) projects created with die-cuts.

My entire card is made with die cuts - from the mat, the arch window, the sentiment, the star and the little town of Bethlehem. I did create the background with some blended distress inks - but otherwise, just cut it all out!

After taking the photo of my finished card and looking at the photo, I realized that my cuts are in the wrong order. I seem to have the gated wall in the middle of Bethlehem instead of around it! I have actually entered Bethlehem through the gate in the wall so I have no excuse to have not realized this! I am still happy with how the card turned out though.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then use your dies to cut out words or images for your own Christmas/winter-themed projects.

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I'll be linking up my card in the latest Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes.  

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Hoppiest Birthday

How is it already mid-November? Yikes! Time is passing too quickly for me. I continue to be incredibly busy with work. Usually, things slow down a bit by this time of term but that's not the case this year. I'm heading to Toronto later today for a business meeting. It's the first in-person business meeting I've attended in about two years! I've been on the executive committee since May 2020 and have never actually met the other executive members in person. I'm looking forward to it!

Imke is our hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and she's asking for creations with no patterned paper. I actually don't use patterned paper as much as I should (given the reams I have in my craft room) so this challenge wasn't too difficult for me. I have to admit taking this idea from a card I spotted on Pinterest although can't seem to find the card now. I always try to link and give credit where credit is due so apologize that's not the case here. 

When I first made the card, the only sentiment was "Celebrate" and there was no frog. I felt the card needed just a bit more so added the sentiment underneath. It wasn't until I was finished everything that I realized the card said "Hoppiest Birthday" and not "Happiest Birthday" as I'd originally thought. The sentiment then seemed a bit ridiculous and non-sensical with the confetti only so I looked for a small stamp that might work. Fortunately, this cute and happy frog came to the rescue! I'm not-so-secretly glad for my gaffe as I am rather smitten with that little frog.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see the projects created by the other Girlfriends - and then link up your own creations. Just be sure to leave your patterned paper on the shelf this week. 

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Happy Birthday to You

It's my turn to host at Little Red Wagon this week and I'm singing along with Deniece Williams' "Let's Hear It For the Boy!". This week's challenge is all about cards for boys and men so I've taken the liberty to make a slight adjustment to the lyrics - Let's Hear It For the Boys! I often change the lyrics at home given that I've got two boys and think they're both pretty awesome. 

I used some stamps from Mama Elephant for my little guy and his dog. The sentiment, die for the sentiment and YOU letters are from MFT.  I smooshed some Distress Oxides and then used a wonky die from Lil' Inker to cut out my mat. Card complete!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then link up your own "For the Boys" project! I'm looking forward to seeing what you make!

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Q-tip Lilacs

It's Brenda's turn to host at Little Red Wagon this week and she's feeling "So Very Thankful". She's looking for projects of all kinds which show thankfulness and gratitude. 

I recently saw a YouTube video in which the crafter used Q-tips to create a scene with lilacs. I decided to give it a go myself and created a thank you card with a lilac background. It actually came together quite quickly, mostly because there were no lines to stay between! I used Q-tips for the flowers themselves but did use a brush for the leaves and splatters. The stamp is from Concord and 9th. 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see how the rest of the Girlfriends are being "So Very Thankful" - and then link up your own thankful project!

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