Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Awesome Day

I've been having a lot of fun using the Viva La Verve One-Sheet Wonder challenge this month.  The sketches are provided and they've even included the cutting measurements to create 4 cards out of one 6x6 double-sided piece of patterned paper.  I actually used two sheets of single sided paper for these and then I created 4 additional cards with the other pieces.  8 cards in one day!  And I just think they are so cute!
 I used the same embossing folder, patterned papers and sentiment on each, but they are each unique due to the different layouts.





Challenges:
Viva La Verve Challenge--one-sheet wonder

Sugar Pea Designs--anything goes
Cuttin' & Stampin' #4--winter
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. #291--anything goes
Creative Knockouts #69--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Better Together" sentiment and "Merry & Bright" snowflakes
Dies/embossing folders: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder; Sweet n' Sassy Stamps small snowflake die

Friday, December 26, 2014

Gift tags

I made a little gift of goodies to give to a friend and wanted some quick tags to label each different treat.  Since I had just bought the Mat Stack 3 stamp and die sets from PTI I knew they would make the perfect tags.  Cut, stamp, add the die cut snowflake and voila!  Done!  Actually, I used my crop-a-dile to punch holes for ribbon to go through.  I was able to label the treats in those nice black strips on the tags.  They were soooo cute!
Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesdays--anything goes
The Stamping Chef #61--anything goes
Crafter's Cafe #96--CAS gift tag
Cuttin' And Stampin' #4--winter
Sweet Stamps #201--anything but a card
Southern Girls--get your Christmas cheer flowing
Sugar Pea Designs--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Mat Stack 3"
Dies: PTI "Mat Stack 3" and "Fancy Flakes"

One-sheet wonder

Merry Christmas!  I hope you all had an awesome day celebrating with family.  This month's VLV challenge is 4 sketches with the additional challenge of using only ONE sheet of double-sided 6x6 paper.  Julee included the cutting dimensions, so you don't even have to figure it out!  Here are my 4 cards all together.  I obviously used the same paper, but I used different embossing folders on three of them.   Two use the same folder.  With different embellishments, they all coordinate, but are each unique.
 This is the card that I started off with.  I made it for a friend who's birthday was the 23rd.  I used a botanical embossing folder and gray pearls to embellish.
 Card #2 went masculine as I needed a birthday card for my cousin, too.  The only embellishment is a little silver button.  Gotta keep it simple for the guys, right?
 The 3rd card is an anniversary card for my parents.  I used the same embossing folder as on the first card, added some white pearls instead of gray and used a sheer yellow ribbon and bow to finish it off.
I didn't have a need immediately for a 4th card, but I thought a "thanks you" card would finish off the 4 card "set".  I also added white pearls to this one.

Challenges:
Crafting Musketeers #20--use bling
Cards Galore--anything goes
Craft-Dee Bow Z--anything goes with a handmade bow (card #3)
Viva La Verve December--One-sheet Wonder sketch challenge

Love to Scrap Challenge #44--When Nature Calls (I used a butterfly on card #1 and stamped flowers on card #4)
Word Art Wednesday #163--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Divas By Design--anything goes
Sugar Pea Designs--anything goes
Tuesday Morning Sketches #281--anything goes but stretch yourself (I've never made four cards using only one sheet of 6x6 paper and have never created a matching card set like this)

Supplies:
Card #1:
Stamps: Verve "Be Blessed" sentiment
Dies/punches/embossing folders: MFT small doilies; Martha Stewart butterfly punch; Sizzix "Botanical" embossing folder
Card #2:
Stamps: Verve "Better Together" sentiment
Dies/embossing folders: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; Darice woodgrain embossing folder
Card #3:
Stamps: Verve "Text Objects"
Dies/embossing folders: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; Sizzix "Botanical" embossing folder
Card #4:
Stamps: Verve "Be Blessed" sentiment and flowers
Dies/embossing folders: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; Darice paisley embossing folder

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Baby's First

My first nephew was born in July and now this is going to be his first Christmas.  I know he won't remember any of it, and he definitely won't appreciate this card (unless his parents save it for later, and they just might!), but I still needed to make him a Baby's First Christmas card.  So, here it is:

Challenges:
V's Sweet Ideas #29--Holiday theme
One Sweet Challenge--Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes as long as it is covered with patterned paper
Craft-Dee Bow Z--Anything goes with ribbon
Verve December Inspiration Challenge--O' Christmas Tree (decorations for a Christmas tree; mine is an ornament)
ABC Christmas--Y is for Your Family
Fussy & Fancy #109--snowflakes and ribbon
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps #260--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #207--urgently needed Christmas Creations
Wags n Whiskers #144--Merry Christmas
Suzy Bee's #59--snowflakes (on my ornament)
Treasured Times Challenge #31--anything goes
Sentimental Sundays #237--anything goes
Craftin' Desert Divas--Christmas
Card Mania #62--Christmas
The Paper Girls #70--ornaments
Our Daily Bread Designs #220--sketch

Loves rubberstamps Challenges #131--anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown #225--Christmas
Cuttin' and Stampin' #3--Christmas
Creative Inspiration #294--Christmas/New Year
Crafting by Designs--embossing for fun (all the silver is heat embossed)

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Ornamental Christmas"; PTI "Fresh Alphabet" numbers
Dies: Spellbinders "Charmed, I'm sure"
Papers: American Crafts

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Gift Tin

Here it is: the middle of December, so here I am with some mid-month inspiration for Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  You still have a few days to get some Christmas crafting done.  The challenge is Anything Christmas Goes and it lasts for the whole month.  I decided to alter a gift card holder tin.  I don't know why I've never thought of this before, but it's perfect!  It's one of those gift card holders that you can buy at Walmart or someplace like that; someone gave it to me a few years ago.  I adhered some ribbon around the top edge of the tin and then decorated the top.  I love how it came out; it really makes the tin extra special.  And it's even perfect for the recipient to regift.
 And here's a shot of the inside with the gift card already in it.

Now it's your turn to get crafty and play along.  We love seeing what you create.

Challenges:
V's Sweet Idea #29--Holiday Theme
Holly Jolly--anything goes (2nd project)
Word Art Wednesday #162--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
The Stamping Chef #59--anything goes
Fab n' Funky #241--Christmas
The Paper Girls #69--small gifts
DRS Designs #152--sing it to me (use music)
Winter Wonderland--Christmas Presents
Crafty Catz #259--last minute Christmas
Di's Digi Designs--Christmas
YNS #4--sketch
YNSSketch-4

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Ornamental Christmas" sentiment; Hero Arts music stamp
Dies: Spellbinders "Layered Poinsettias"; MFT "Designer Labels 4 STAX"

Friday, December 12, 2014

Snow Globe

 Here I am again.  It's getting down to crunch time--Christmas is only a week and a half away!  Yikes!!  I made this cute little tag for my oldest daughter.  I'm going to attach it to one of her presents, and then it can also be used as an ornament.  It's quite good sized; I think the globe measured around 3.5 inches tall.  I made it into a shaker and added some diamond dust glitter from SU!  I just love shaker elements.  So fun!

Challenges:
Love to Scrap Challenge #43--Shape Shift (shaped projects)
Cutie Pie Challenge #82--Lots of cute on anything BUT a card
Die Cuttin' Divas #195--non-traditional Christmas colors
ABC Christmas--"Y" is for Your Family
Delightful Challenge--bundle up (my snowman has a scarf on)
Milk Coffee Challenge--non-traditional Christmas colors
Creative Knockouts #67--Tis the Season
Tuesday Throwdown #224--Family Christmas

Supplies:
Stamps: Gina K. Designs "Winter Wishes"; Verve "Ornamental Christmas" sentiment
Dies: PTI "Shaker Shapes: Snow Globe" and "Fancy Flakes"
SU! Diamond Dust Glitter

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Holiday Cheer

Hello, all!  Thanks for stopping by.  In case you don't know, there is a Coffee Lovers Blog Hop going on right now.
For the full details and a list of all the fabulous sponsors go to Amy Tsuruta's blog.  She's the mastermind behind the whole thing.  Now, I don't drink coffee, but I am surrounded by people that do.  I think non-coffee drinkers are in the very small minority, at least around here in Southern New England.  So, I created this cute little gift card holder that will hold either a Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks gift card (it will actually hold any kind of gift card, but this is a Coffee Lovers Blog Hop)
  The holder is made out of an A2 sized envelop.  Then just decorate it to your heart's content.
 Don't you just love those paper pieced coffee cups?  I do!!  Here's a picture of the inside:
Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a Merry Christmas!!

Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes as long as it is covered with patterned paper
Art Impressions #149--Feeling Frosty
Lacy Sunshine #48--Holiday joy
Eureka #118--Let it snow
{Pin}spirational Challenge #130--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the red and brown in the photo and the Christmas theme)
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/141581982011017196/
Cuttlebug Mania--anything Christmas
Loves Rubber #130--winter or Christmas
Holly Jolly--Anything goes for Christmas (1st project)
Crafter's Cafe #94--Christmas
Crafty Creations #298--something to die for (use dies)

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Heart to Heart #2" coffee cups; Verve "Ornamental Christmas" sentiment and "Merry & Bright" snowflake and inside sentiment
Dies: PTI "Heart to Heart #2" cups and "Fancy Flakes" snowflake; Spellbinders "Scalloped Tags"

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Look on the bright side

No matter had bad things seem, they could usually be worse.  That's the encouraging message of this cute card.  Isn't this little nurse the cutest?!  Though I have to admit that she looks a little gruff.  I'm sure she's taking good care of poor teddy.

Challenges:
The Paper Nest Dolls #23--anything goes
Shopping Our Stash #179--free is good (the sentiment was a freebie with an order and two of the buttons were recycled from old clothes.  And the banner was almost a freebie as it is leftover from a banner I used on another project.  I just couldn't throw it away.)
Word Art Wednesday #168--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
The Stamping Chef #57--anything goes
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch with a twist: buttons and/or bows

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
Delightful Challenge--it's a kids world
Meljen's Designs #238--tags
Sister Act Card Challenge #85--anything goes
Crafty Catz--anything goes
Dis Digis--creations for OR with kids (I took this to mean a creation with a kid on it.  I hope that's what it meant)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge--anything goes as long as it is covered with patterned paper

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve freebie with purchase sentiment; Just Inklined "Nurse-Daisy" part of a fundraising pack a couple years ago
Dies:Spellbinders "Scalloped Tags"

Monday, December 1, 2014

Last Call

Here it is: December!  Now the Christmas card rush is on.  Unless you have been playing along with us all year long at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra where it is Anything Goes (as long as it is Christmas related) all month long.  Today begins our last challenge of the year and here is my card using one of the adorable images from Bugaboo Stamps, our sponsor for the month:
I've said it many time before this is my favorite Bugaboo image and since it was already printed out and sitting on my desk, I just had to color him up.  Since it was such a small size and I've had snow globes on the brain lately, it was a perfect match.  I even managed to use up some scraps: the white circle for the main panel and the snowflake.  I have a HUGE bits and pieces pile and I am going to have to work on using it up in the coming year.  I started this year, but the last couple months I've been adding to it instead of using it up.

Challenges:
Sugar Pea Designs #11--winter wishes
Crafty Ribbons #107--Christmas Animals
Lacy Sunshine--North Pole
Cuttlebug Mania--There's Snow place like home (use a snowflake and a sentiment)
Creative Inspirations #291--Season's Greetings
Paper Pretties #338--Snow Much Fun
Crafty Catz--anything goes
Fussy & Fancy #128--Happy Holidays
Sentimental Sundays #235--Lots of Layers
Christmas Challenge #53--anything goes
Raisin Boat #29--Christmas/Holidays

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Plush Reindeer" digi; Verve "Ornamental Christmas" sentiment; Your Next Stamp "Holiday Snow Globe"
Dies: PTI "Fancy Flakes" and the negative (main focal circle) from "Shaker Shapes: Snow Globe"; Spellbinders classic scalloped circles, large; Verve "Flag it" small banner