The true gift of Christmas

During this busy time of year, it is very easy to forget that celebrating Christ's birth is really what it is all about. This week's Stampin' Sister in Christ challenge is to use an image or sentiment that reflects the true meaning of Christmas. Stamps: Verve's "Richly Blessed"
Papers: DCWV
Spellbinders: labels 4, floral doily motifs
Punches: Fiskars border punch and 4-corner punch/embosser

Halfway Done

I think I am about halfway finished making Christmas cards; the remainder are in various stages of completion. I better hurry, 'cause Christmas is only a week away! This card combines the Skipping Stones Designs #106 sketch challenge with the Our Daily Bread Designs #89 "Noel" word play challenge. The requirements are to use elements that start with the letters of "NOEL". My elements are N-nestabilities, O-ovals, E-embossing, and L-layers. Papers are from DCWV, the pointsettia is from PTI's "Year of Flowers" set and the sentiment inside is from Verve's "Richly Blessed"

Christmas Flowers

This week's Timeless Tuesday Challenge #148 from Flourishes is Opposites Attract. The challenge was to use an image/stamp in two completely different ways on two different projects. The stamp I chose was this beautiful pointsettia from PTI's "Year of Flowers". On the first card, I use the stamp to create a background on the striped paper. No coloring involved and it is quite subtle.

The second card showcases the stamp as the focal image. I colored it with colored pencils and it really jumps out as the main attraction. All papers in both cards are from DCWV. The sentiment is from Verve's Richly blessed.

Warm Winter Wishes

I got this set, "Home is where the Hearth is", from Clear Dollar Stamps a while ago and have really only used it once or maybe twice. But as soon as I saw Flourishes Day & Night challenge this week during their release week festivities, I thought it would be the perfect to create a nice fireside scene. I sponged yellow around the fire for a nice warm glow and sponged the rest gray to give a nighttime vibe. I added two snowflakes from a Martha Stewart punch to finish it off. I didn't take a picture, but inside it says "Warm Winter Wishes."

Sparkle and Shine

The gold on this one is a little outside my comfort zone, but this week's Stamping Sisterhood #3 challenge (rubbernecker stamps anyone?) is inspired by Christmas lights, which to me meant red/green/yellow and sparkle and shine. And something else I don't usually do: gold embossing, but ya know, I kind of like it. Might try it out more often.

Papers: DCWV

Stamps: sentiment from Verve's "Richly Blessed", birds from PTI's "Through the Trees"

Border punch: Fiskars "Upper Crest"

Glory to God

So loving this sentiment from Verve's "Richly Blessed". It's just perfect for Christmas. And just perfect for this week's Our Daily Bread Designs #88 challenge, Pixie Cottage's "Anything Goes" challenge, and Delightful Challenge's "Anything Goes" challenge. Papers: DCWV
Stamps: sentiment from Verve's "Richly Blessed", birds from PTI's "Through the Trees"
Spellbinders: Classic ovals, large and Classic Scalloped ovals

Last minute Christmas

Oohhh . . . I tried to make Christmas cards early this year, but yet, here I am, still not even close to having them finished. But here's a start. Using the Sweet Stop #138 sketch, the Clearly Inspired Challenge #41 challenge to create a Christmas card (perfect!), and Paper Variety challenge this week of "Anything Goes", I created this fun card. Papers: DCWV
Stamps: sentiment from Verve's "Richly Blessed" and birds from PTI's "Through the Trees"
Border punch: Fiskars

Pure Elegance

For this project, I used the Skipping Stones Design #96 sketch and the Flourishes Release Week challenge "Heavy Metal": use metal on your project. This gift set is for my sister-in-law who is very stylish. When I think of stylish and elegant, I think of my absolute favorite stamp set: Damask Designs by PTI. I used two of the damask images "Celebrate" and the "Happy Birthday" on the inside of the card. The rest of the sentiment inside is from Big Birthday Wishes by PTI. These gorgeous shoes from Skipping Stones Design "Sassy Shoes" are also full of style. The "Tricky Tote" is an awesome template from My Time Made Easy and is such a great gift presentation. I used the labels 4 dies from spellbinders with aluminum tape to creat my metal tags.

Happy Fall

Isn't this picture gorgeous!? I love the decorations that come along with fall. This is the inspiration photo for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #138 challenge. I opted to go with the fall theme and along with that the colors of fall. My project also fits the Pixie Cottage #90 challenge with the theme of Fall Fun, and the Delightful Sketches challenge to "make it dimensional".

The little bag is made from the "Tricky Tote" template from My Time Made Easy. It does take a couple sheets of paper (6 or so with the decorative layer) but was really easy to put together and is just really adorable. I loved it so much, I used it in another project which you can see in my next post. For the embellishment I cut two leaf branches and cut them apart, topped them with a die cut maple leaf that I scored the veins into and inked up the center and edges with red ink to add a more realistic look, then I stamped, colored and cut out the two acorns and layered the whole bunch together.

Supplies:

Papertrey Ink: mendhi medallion stamp set, leaf die (can't remember the name of the set), turning a new leaf die, ripe avacado ribbon and cardstock

Stampin' UP!: cardstock

Verve: Tall oaks stamp set

Amazing Birthday

Birthdays just keep on coming, don't they? It seems like I am constantly making birthday cards. For this card, I used the Skipping Stones Design #95 sketch and the Delightful Sketches challenge to use pearls and swirls. I just ordered a bunch of stuff from Papertrey Ink and got to use a couple on this card. The image is from Year of the Flower Collection (I'm so glad they made this set of smaller images all together, 'cause I loved all of the larger images but couldn't afford to buy them all.), the border die is the victorian lace die, the sentiment inside is from Big Birthday Wishes and the "Happy Birthday" is from Damask Designs. (All by PTI) I also used classic circles, large and the floral doily motifs dies from spellbinders.

Stylish shoes

I LOVE shoes!!! Anyone with me? Well, luckily, my mother-in-law shares my passion, so these images from Skipping Stones Designs are perfect for a birthday card for her. And since yesterday was World Card Making Day and Skipping Stones was sponsoring a challenge to create a card using any of their stamps, they were also perfect for that. So, I stamped them and colored them with colored pencils and added some glitter pen to the feather trim which you can see better in the second picture. The cs is from Papertrey ink (can't remember what colors since I got them in a sample pack), as is the medallion stamp (Mehndi Medallion), and the sentiment (Damask Designs). The sketch is from Pixie Cottage with the optional challenge of "pop it up!" which I have done by popping up the focal image with foam dots.

Happy Pooh Bear

As yesterday was World Card Making Day, Flourishes was sponsoring a challenge to use the colors of your favorite animated character to inspire your card. Is there anybody cuter than Winnie the Pooh? This image is just so joyful and carefree. I thought it was perfect for a thank you for a gift I was really excited about. Both the image and the sentiment stamp are random singles that I have had forever. The sketch is from this week's Clearly Inspired Challenge #37 (Clear Dollar Stamps). I hope this little guy makes you happy.

Another Birthday

Last, but definitely not least, my husband's birthday is also this month. The sketch for this card is the Sweet Stop sketch #125. I am also entering the Last But Not Least challenge to use dry and/or heat embossing and the challenge from The Paper Variety to create a project using mainly products from your favorite crafts company. They are celebrating their one year anniversary this week and there are lots of challenges and chances to win great prizes. My favorite company is definitely Papertrey Ink. The two blue cardstocks, the diecut shape (matstack2), the coordinating stamp (matstack 2 set), the medallion as the focal image and on the light blue cs (guide lines 2), the happy birthday and I love you sentiments (Damask Designs) and the sentiment inside the card (Big Birthday Wishes) are all from PTI. The ribbon is SU! and I used the Tiny Mosaics embossing folder from Cuttlebug and the Classic Circles Large and Classic Scalloped Circles large from Spellbinders.

Anniversary Time

So, many happy occasions this month. This week, it is my in-laws' anniversary. The sketch for this card is Skipping Stones Design #92, I also used the Delightful Challenge to "bling it up!" and the Clearly Inspired Challenge #35 to use patterned paper. The Paper Variety is celebrating their one year anniversary this week. To celebrate they are hosting lots of challenge and giving plenty of opportunities to win great prizes; today's challene is to use your favorite embellishment. Mine is definitely ribbon! The blue cardstock, ribbon and the jeweled brad (center of the large flower) are from SU! the sentiment is from Damask Designs by PTI, and all the paper and the large flower (which is a sticker) are from a kit I bought on clearance years ago. I think it is from Colorblok. I'm just starting to discover what a great kit it is.

Emergency Hugs

Is this little bear not the cutest thing!? My sister is currently spending her weeks alone as her husband has to be out of town for work/school and comes home only on the weekends, so I figured she needed a cheering up card. I'm using the sketch from the Waltzingmouse Makes Challenge #64. They require you to use at least one of there stamps and this sentiment is from the only set I own. It is a digital set that Waltzingmouse created as part of a fund-raising package for a woman named Katie that is battling cancer. You can read her story on this blog. The sentiment belongs with a firetruck, but I thought it very fitting for the occasion. The little bear is a stamp I just got from The Pixie Cottage and I think he will get a lot of use. My card also fits the challenge from Our Daily Bread Designs #76 to use lacing, and the challenge from the Paper Variety to use your favorite color which for me is hands down: blue. The Paper Variety is celebrating their anniversary this week and are having lots of challenges and fun at the party.

Fall Birthday

September is a very full month around here, there are several birthdays and anniversaries as you will see in following posts. This card is for my brother-in-law. The sketch and the challenge to use yellow (mine is really yellow with a strong orange tint, but it is yellow) is from The Pixie Cottage #86 challenge. This week's challenge from The Paper Variety is to use stamps--digital, rubber, clear, whatever. The papers are all DCWV, the tree image is from Papertrey Ink's "Through the Trees" set. The trees are actually bare, but I wanted the fall look, so I tapped in leaves with red, orange, yellow, and green markers. The sentiment is from the same set and the little leaf overstamping the sentiment is from PTI's "Places Please". And the raffia: rescued from the trash for the "sometime I might need it" moment. It was the perfect finishing touch.

Hello Sunshine

And now for some summer fun. This week's Delightful Challenges challenge is the dog days of summer (summer or summer heat) and what says summer more than flip flops? The sketch is Our Daily Bread Designs #70 and was perfect for this little stamp to really shine. I also took on the Paper Variety tic-tac-toe challenge. The line I used was stitching (faux, hand or machine), make a card, and use pink. The flip flop stamp is a $1 stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps (just got it) and the sentiment is from Verve's "Celebrating You". I used one of the medium doilies from Floral Doily Motifs by spellbinders to create a sun around the sentiment.

Happy Anniversary to: Me!

Today, my husband and I are celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary. Boy does the time fly by! I saw this sketch by the Pixie Cottage (sketch and/or embossing) and loved it since they had hearts for the brads and I thought that was perfect for an anniversary card. But, alas the only heart brads I had were pink and just did not fit with a masculine card. I went all Verve-y on this one: the little bear and the sentiment inside are from "To the Moon" and "love" is from "Text Objects". The "Happy Anniversary" on the inside is from PTI's "Damask Designs" one of my all-time favorite stamp sets!

Hi, all! If you read my last post, you may think you are seeing the same card again, but it's different I promis. : ) I did use most of the same elements though, 'cause I thought they looked good together and gave kind of an edgy, hip vibe. This card is for my brother-in-law who lives in New York City (and thus is edgy and hip), and who also turned thirty today. Seems to be kind of a big milestone around here, so I wanted to make something really celebrating it. The sketch is from Skipping Stones Designs; I really loved the idea of bracketed numbers. The numbers were die cut using PTI's by the numbers dies and the brackets are from spellbinders' floral doily motifs which I just bought Thursday. I think I'm going to love it! The sentiment is also from PTI "Big Birthday Wishes" and the little flourishes inside the card are from their "Mat Stack 2" set.

I'm baaaaack

Hi, all. I have been missing for a while as summer seems to be an extremely busy time around here. But I was in need of a birthday card for my brother for this weekend, so I HAD to get some stuff out and play. This is my first successful attempt at an easel card and hey, I think I might like it. The challenge from Delightful Challenges this week was to use fancy folds; I think it qualifies. The sketch is from the Skipping Stones Designs challenge. Verve is running their Diva Dare for the next week or so and the dare is to use paper you have been hoarding and sentiments only (no images) to allow that paper to shine through. Now, I haven't been hoarding this paper, but I have had it for years and never used it. When I pulled it out, I realized it was perfect for the graphic look I had in mind for this card. Did you notice the picture at the top of the post? Well, it is the inspiration for the Paper Variety challenge this week. I picked up on the black and white with a pop of that lime green that shows up in one of the puzzle pieces under the book.

The numbers dies and the fabulous sentiment (Big Birhday Wishes)are both from PTI. I used two of the classic circles large dies from Spellbinders to create the frame behind the numbers.

Early thank you

I normally would NOT be making Christmas thank you cards this early, but since I had the papers all ready out on my desk (see my previous post for another card using them) and the challenge from Our Daily Bread Designs this week was to create a thank you card or gift, it was the perfect opportunity. I'm going to need them anyway, right? I am also using the sketch from this week's Clearly Inspired Challenge (sponsored by Clear Dollar Stamps). Papers are DCWV, the sentiment is a partial inking from Damask Designs by PTI and the tree is a single rubber stamp I've had forever. I used Labels 4 and 5 nesties and the lace ribbon, I just bought on clearance from Michaels being inspired by everyone that is using lace.

The Reason for the Season

Something a little different for me, a little bit of fruffiness with this gathered ribbon. It's good to break out of your comfort zone once in a while. : ) The sketch is Viva La Verve June week 3, and the card uses the Delightful Challenges "anything goes" theme, the Paper Variety's mixed alphas (use two or more different fonts) challenge, Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge to use black, white and ONE other color, and the Stampin' Sisters In Christ challenge to doodle on your project (I drew faux stitching around both red panels and a doodled line around the sentiment panel, also center lines on the flower petals).

Bookmarks

Something new I have never tried before: ribbon bookmarks--this week's Our Daily Bread Designs challenge. And I think I might be addicted, they are soooo cute! The first one is for my father for Father's Day (his favorite color is brown and I just so happened to have some nice brown grossgrain ribbon from SU!) I also tried the rock 'n roll technique for this week's Make It Monday challenge. The first side has one of the damask images from Damask Designs (PTI) and at the bottom, a sentiment from the same set. The second side has two stamps from World's Greatest by Verve and I stamped the date of Father's Day on the bottom portion. The numbers are from PTI's Fresh Alphabets set.

Since these were so fun, I made one for my Mom, too. She loves to sew and has one of these pincussions so the image from Clear Dollar stamps (part of a package to raise money for a woman named Katie) was perfect. I colored it with colored pencils, colored the pin stems with a silver pen and used black dimensional fabric paint on the pin heads. so fun! The sentiment is from the same Clear Dollar digital set and I added the stitching around the shape.

On the other side, I stamped a sentiment and image from Sweet n' Sassy stamps and added the year date on the bottome half.

One more Father's Day Card

This card is for my husband; he's a no-frills type of guy (most of them are, I guess) so I think it fits him perfectly. The sketch is this week's Viva La Verve challenge and I combined that with the JUGS challenge to use a woodgrain technique and the Stampin' Sisters In Christ challenge to create a project for Father's Day or praising our Heavenly Father (God). See my post here to see the coordinating box that I had made for a different challenge. I used Gina K's faux woodgrain technique which works perfectly since my husband is in the construction business. The blue paper, ribbon (night of navy) and sentiment (Year Round Cheer II) are from SU!, the brown is from PTI. I used the upper crest border punch from fiskars and the labels 5 die (cut from paper covered with aluminum tape and embossed with the cuttlebug dots folder) is from spellbinders.

Celebrate!

This week is release week over at Flourishes and one of their release week challenges was to create a project inspired by the American flag: red, white, and blue. The sketch is Viva La Verve June week 1. The large star stamp is from "By Ones and by Twos" by SU (paper and ink also from SU!). The small stars are from "To the Moon" by verve. The sentiment is from "Damask Designs" by PTI. I used classic oval nesties by spellbinders and a star die from sizzix.

Father's Day

The challenge from Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday challenge this week was to use tissue paper to create texture. I had never tried this before and went through several flops trying to stamp on it before I gave in and just used it as textured paper. Live and learn, I guess. So, since this sketch is the Mojo Monday #194 from Verve is was very fitting to used the brown and blue sparkle tissue paper that Verve packages their stamp sets in. The stripes are the tissue paper over white cardstock and the bottom is paper from DCWV covered with white tissue paper. The sentiment is from SU! and was overstamped with a medallion from PTI's "Guide Lines 2". I used the same image on the background. You can see the texture and the stamp better in the second photo. The card also answers the Stampin Sisters In Christ challenge to use something new (the tissue paper texture), Timeless Tuesday #121 challenge to create a Father's Day card, Paper Variety challenge to create something For The Guys, and Delightful Challenges challenge to create a Father's Day project

For unto us

yep, another Christmas card, but I have to say, I love the simplicity of this one. I used this week's sketch challenge from Our Daily Bread Designs and if I don't finish all my cards before Christmas, this just might be the sketch I use for the rest of them. The papers are all DCWV, the sentiment is from Verve's "Richly Blessed". I layered up the focal panel; starting with Labels 4 (which I cut apart to get the right placement), then the sentiment layer, green layer with standard scalloped ovals large, and ended with the polka-dotted layer with a standard oval large cut out. Doing it this way just added something a little more fun than the traditional larger to smaller layering.

O Christmas Tree

The focal image of this card is recycled from a promo Christmas card I received last year. It was way to beautiful to throw away. I'm using the sketch from Stampin' Sisters In Christ. The theme this week was the unchanging nature of God so the twist on the challenge was to follow the sketch to a "T". I'm also entering the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge to use a diecut as your focal image. I diecut mine using the labels 4 from spellbinders. I hand cut the snowflake for my circle element and I used the upper crest border punch from fiskars. The papers are all from DCWV.

Cracked Glass

This week's Make it Monday challenge (sponsored by papertreyink) was to use the cracked glass technique. My card uses the Pixie Cottage sketch challenge. I recycled a promo Christmas card from last year for the focal image. It was way too pretty to throw away! So, it was extremely low in the time factor. The papers are DCWV and the sentiment on the card front is from PTI's "Through the Trees". I embossed two lines over the sentiment using my scor-pal. The inside sentiment is from Verve's "Richly Blessed" and I added two birds from the "Through the Trees" set. I believe this makes 18 Christmas cards completed so far. Yippee!!