Warm Holiday Wishes

Hi Friends! I've got my last card for the Viva la Verve November 2011 Sketch Challenge here today. This is the Week 4 sketch. I woke up feeling lousy, so I wasn't sure I would be able to get it finished in time, but...TaDa!!! I did it!

I tried something a little different on this card. I heat embossed the ornaments in a Chocolate Brown on glossy photo paper, then used small sponge daubers to color them with Distress Inks (Aged Mahogony, Forest Moss, and Crushed Olive). When I was done, I heat embossed them again to make the lines show up better. The ornaments looked good when I was finished, but I decided I wanted a little more shine on them, so I coated them with Glossy Accents. You can see just a touch of gold Stickles at the top of one of the ornaments where the hanger is. Both ornaments are from the same Flourishes stamp, but the embossing powder didn't adhere to the paper evenly so they aren't exactly alike. I popped up one of the ornaments with foam dots. You can see the dimension in the photo at the top of the post.

The "Warm Holiday Wishes" sentiment is embossed with red glitter, and "Joy" is stamped on the red panel with Versamark ink.

With all the eye candy on the outside of the card, I decided to keep the inside super simple. The sentiment on the dp strip is heat embossed in red glitter, and the "Merry Christmas" sentiment is stamped in Aged Mahogany Distress Ink on kraft cs.

And, I'm done for the day!

Thanks for all the wonderful comments you've been leaving on my blog lately! Now, I'm off to see what you've been up to and I'll be leaving some love out your way, too!

~Hugs,  

 

Stamps: Warm Holiday Wishes (Inkadinkadoo); Holiday Sparkle, Holiday Greetings (Flourishes)

Paper: Glad Tidings (K&C0)

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink; Stampabilities; Colorbox

Dies: Parisian Motifs, Labels Sixteen, Nested Lacey Pennants (Spellbinders)

Accessories: Dots, Circles & Stars embossing folder (Sizzix); embossing powder (Zing); glitter embossing powder (Ranger); seam binding-dyed with reinker (Hug Snug); rhinestones; Glossy Accents; Pearl Pen; Stickles

Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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The Life You've Imagined

Happy Tuesday, Friends! It's almost time to get in the car rider line at school, so this will be a quick post. My card is for Week 3 of the Viva la Verve November 2011 Sketch Challenge. Only one more to go after this! :)

Instead of the rectangular panel behind the sentiment, I used Spellbinders Bird Flourishes die cuts. Other than that, I pretty much stuck to the plan.

Here's the inside.

Gotta run. Thanks for stopping by, and have a good one!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Words of Wisdom (Verve)
Paper: Abrianna (K&Co); This & That (Lily Bee Designs)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Dies: Bird Flourishes, Std Circles Lg, Labels Fourteen (Spellbinders)
Accessories: D'Vine Swirls embossing folder (Cuttlebug); ribbon (Elements-American Crafts); Prima crystals; Stickles; Sewing Thread
Size: A2 (4.25" x5.5")

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Reindeer Fly

Hi Friends! I'm back. And, this time I have a Christmas card to share with you. I wish I could take credit for the fabulous layout of this card, but I can't--it's from the Week 2 Viva la Verve November 2011 Sketch Challenge. It's such a classic design. I'll definitely be using it again. :)

I've made previous unsuccessful attempts to use the Out of the Box technique, but this time I think I finally figured out my problem. The technique worked great with the reindeer, and I love how his antlers extend beyond the circle. I added Diamond Stickles to the snowflakes on his body, Lime Green Stickles to his antlers, and Xmas Red Stickles along the edge of the circle. The gold dots in the corners of the embossed bg are from a Pearl Pen. The edge of the green Labels One Spellbinders die-cut layer is paper pierced.

On the inside, I used Classic Ric Rac Edgebilities dies to cut the neutral layer and backed it with green dp. I love the sentiment, and this is the perfect day to use it--we're supposed to get our first bit of snow here tonight. :)

I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow. Stay warm!

~Hugs, 

 

Stamps: Sparkle & Cheer (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: Wonder (Authentique)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink; Memento
Dies: Labels One, Std. Circles Lg.,Classic Ric Rac Edgebilities (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Damask Embossing Folder (Sizzix); seam binding (Hug Snug); Paper Piercer; Pearl Pen; Stickles; sewing thread
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Just For You, Cupcake

Hi there, Blog Friends! How's your week starting off? Aside from the weather turning wet and cold, it was a good day for us. I did, however, realize this morning that I've been neglecting my cardmaking lately, so I'm on a mission to get at least the four Viva la Verve November sketch challenge cards made and posted by tomorrow.

My DD will be going to a birthday party this coming weekend, so my card for the Week 1 sketch is a girly birthday card. I used plenty of sparkly Stickles and Liquid Pearls.

Here's a look at the inside. Still girly, but without the flash.

Thanks for stopping by. See you in a bit, with another Viva la Verve Sketch Challenge card!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Cupcake, Happy Birthday (Quietfire); Sweet Treats (Verve); Flower (Studio G)
Paper: Summer Song (My Mind's Eye); The Basics Stack (The Paper Studio); Bright Blossom (S.E.I.); Que Sera Sera (K&Co); Floriade1 (Two Peas in a Bucket-Anita M. Richards)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Dies: Blossom Nestabilities, Standard Circles Lg, Lacy Squares (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Stickles; Liquid Pearls; Colored Pencils (Prismacolor); Sewing Thread
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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At Christmas

Hello Friends! I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful. Did you do the Black Friday thing today? I did a little Black Friday internet shopping, but all those big crowds in the stores are too much for me. We took in a movie instead--Arthur Christmas. Cute, but not my favorite movie. And, of course, I made a card.

This one is for the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge 121.

I kept the inside of this card fairly simple.

The majority of stamps on this card are Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps. Don't forget, you still have time to enter the PPRS November Sketch Challenge. The deadline is November 30, and you there are no product restrictions.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Small Snowflake 2, Holly and Berries Clear Stamps, Play and Make Good Cheer, Joys Be Many (Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps); Christmas Characters (Inkadinkadoo)
Paper: 12 Days of Christmas (My Minds Eye); Dark Blue Distressed Snowflakes (Unknown designer)
Ink: Colorbox; Tim Holtz Distress Ink; clear embossing ink
Dies: Holly and Berries Die (Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps); Curved Rectangles (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Embossing Powder (Zing); Pearl Pen; Liquid Pearls; Shimmer Spritz; Sewing Thread; Gold Opaque Paint Marker (Marvy)
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Luke 2:11

Hello Friends! Are you getting ready for a feast on Thursday? I should be cooking right now, but I just had to make oonnneee mmooorreee card. You know how that is, don't you? :)

Well, with all those recipes calling me, this will be a short post. I used the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge 150 for the design, and the colors are from the CR84FN Color Challenge #43 of Brown, Tan, and Green.

For the sentiment, I sponged Forest Moss and Walnut Stain Distress Inks around the edge of the rectangle panel, then stamped the sentiment in Forest Moss. After running it through my crimper, and swiping Tea Dye Distress Ink on the ridges, I smoothed it back out and spritzed gold Shimmer Spritz over it.

On the inside sentiment, a little Diamond Stickles on the star gives it sparkle.

Now, off to the kitchen. :)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a glorious day! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Christmas Blessings (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: The Old World Stack (DCWV); Gingerbread Fun Mini-Digital (Designs by Krista)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Dies: Floral Doily Accents, Standard Circles Lg (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Paper Lace II embossing folder (Cuttlebug); twill ribbon; Christmas Cheer metal brad (K&Co); paper crimper; Shimmer Spritz; Liquid Pearls; Stickles
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Holiday Surprise Box

Hi Friends, and Happy Monday to you! I hope you had a great weekend. We celebrated Thanksgiving early with my husband's sister and her family in northwest Georgia and had a great time. As usual, her cooking was delicious, and I ate waaayyyy too much. But, we only get to go up there a few times a year, so I don't beat myself up about it. We'll be doing it all over again here at our house in a few days with my family.

I have another secret box to share with you today. Seriously, if you haven't made one of these boxes yet, you should. It's a lot of fun and it makes a great gift.

This one is for a friend I met when our children were in kindergarten together and we were co-room mothers. She has a girl and a boy, so the new Flourishes Christmas silhouettes were perfect.

Unlike my first secret box, Birds on a Box, I decided to decorate the back sides of the box. Not too elaborate, but I wanted something to keep it from being so bare. So, I used an Ironworks Motif in a green shimmer cs.

I filled the box with Ghirardelli Squares--peppermint bark, eggnog, and pumpkin spice...yum!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful week, and if I don't see you again before Thursday, a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 

Stamps: A Season of Celebrations (Flourishes)
Paper: Gingerbread Fun Mini Digi Paper (Designs by Krista); Shimmer Stack (DCWV)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Dies: Ironwork Motifs, Std Circles Lg, Holly Accents (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Stickles; foam dots; magnets
Size: 3" cube

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Friendship with Roses

Happy Saturday to you! It's the weekend...YAAAHHH! Aren't you glad!

 

My card today is a Mojo Monday card, for sketch challenge #215.

Here's the card. I just love that dp!

And, here's the inside. 

Thanks for stopping by today, and have a great weekend!!!

~Hugs, 

Stamps: Friendship (Quietfire); Large Plaid Pattern (Hero Arts)

Paper: The Green Stack (DCWV); Sweetness (Pink Paislee); Annalee (Prima); Happily Lost (Lily Bee Design)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink; clear embossing ink
Accessories: Scallop Dot edge punch; Zing embossing powder; seam binding (Hug Snug); satin ribbon (Joann); flower (Recollections); mini round gems (Recollections); Shimmer Spritz; Liquid Pearls; sewing thread
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Happy Turkey Day!

Hi Friends! I've got a cute turkey card to share with you today, but before I do, I have to show you the blog candy I received from Melissa at Tuesday Morning Sketches for winning the Think Pink challenge in October.

Wow! What fab candy! She even sent me three of the beautiful cards she made during the month-long challenge. If you haven't played along at Tuesday Morning Sketches, mosey on over there and give it a try. You'll love her sketches! Melissa just posted the newest sketch today, so you have until this coming Sunday at 8PM to enter.

And, as a reminder, the Prickley Pear Rubber Stamp November sketch challenge is open to everyone now. You don't have to use PPRS stamps, and you have until November 30th to enter. You should see the samples the DT have for the challenge this week...AWESOME!

Now for that turkey card. The sketch is Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 143, and the Outlines Monday Challenge 26 theme is Thanksgiving or Fall.

Isn't that little guy sweet? Not too happy looking, though, is he? I guess I can't blame him, this time of year. I colored him with Copics, put Glossy Accents on his beak, and black Enamel Accents on his eyes. The dark red shiny dots in the corners of the turkey square were colored with a Copic, then covered with Glossy Accents, too. Now that they've dried, they look like little bits of cranberry sauce on the card. I used Stickles on the green border around the turkey.

For the sentiment, I cut the tag out of white cs, then sponged Peeled Paint Distress Ink on the edges, then Walnut Stain. I sponged Wild Honey over the entire tag, then sprayed it with Perfect Pearls Mist in Heirloom Gold (I just LOVE that stuff!). The sentiment is heat embossed in Chocolate Brown.

I think the stitch I used around the bg paper is called a feather stitch. I thought it was appropriate for a turkey card. The burgundy stitching along the sides of the dp layer is the same stitch I used on my Holiday Surprise card a few days ago. This time, I didn't make any sudden jags while sewing, but did end up with slight curved lines rather than straight ones. I think I need to practice using that stitch before I use it on another card. To make it, the machine has to do a lot of forward and backward movements and it makes the paper jump around. It's a cool stitch if I can learn to control it!!! :) The bottom edge of the dp is punched with a scallop punch and I distressed the top with my Distrezzer. Fantastic tool, by the way.

I went a little crazy with the Stickles, but I just love sparkle on a card, and the Fleur de Lis die cut looked a little bare without it.

And, of course, I couldn't have all that glam on the front and not have just a little bit inside, too.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! And, don't forget to play in the Prickley Pear Sketch Challenge, as well as the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge. Fab sketches, sweet prizes!

~Hugs,
 

Stamps: Turkey Square Lg, Tiny Happy Turkey Day (Outlines Rubber Stamps)
Paper: Tim Coffey Fall Nat Pad (K&Co); Shimmer Stack (DCWV)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink; Memento; Versamark; Colorbox; Copic markers
Dies: Fleur de Lis Pendants, Fancy Tags, Curved Rectangles (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Scallop Diamond Edge Punch (EK Success); embossing powder (Zing); Clair de Lune velvet ribbon (Fancy Pants Design); satin ribbon (Michaels); Stickles; Enamel Accents (Inkssentials); Pearl Pen; Glossy Accents; Perfect Pearls Mist; sewing thread; foam dots
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps: Ornamental Kitty

Hi Friends! Can you believe it's already mid-November? The days really start to run together this time of year. But, being the 15th, it's time for the November Prickley Pear Sketch Challenge! Be sure to read all the way to the end for our NEW challenge rules! :D

Isn't the November sketch fantastic! It's so full of possibilities!

Here's my take on it:

I just love that sweet Ornamental Kitty's face. I colored her with grays and tans, although it's difficult to see in the photo. For the eyes, I used white Liquid Pearls for the highlight and covered both eyes with Glossy Accents. The ornament is paper pieced and I used Stickles to highlight the design. The purple and pink ornaments hanging over Kitty's head are cut from silver duct tape that was adhered to cardstock. I colored both of them with alcohol inks, including the design on top of the pink banner, but decided to cover the round one with Stickles for extra sparkle. The bg is embossed with a Regal Flourishes embossing folder. I swiped Perfect Medium over the raised edges, then brushed Perfect pearls over that for a subtle shimmer.

Now for those NEW CHALLENGE RULES. I think you'll like them! :)

**While we love to see you use your PPRS products, that is no longer a requirement. There are NO product restrictions--the challenge is open to everyone!

**The prize is a $15 gift certificate to the PPRS web shop! You can use it for Clear Stamps, dies, and best of all Red Rubber Stamps! Anything in the PPRS shop! And, let me tell you, if you haven't use a Prickley Pear red rubber stamp before, you are in for a super treat!

So, all you have to do is make a card based on this month’s sketch, and link it up using the linking tool on the PPRS blog, no later than November 30. Easy peasy.

One winner will be chosen by random.org for a $15 gift certificate to the Prickley Pear web shop!

Now, head on over to the Prickley Pear Rubber Stamp blog and be inspired by the rest of the design team's creations. Then, create your own interpretation of this sketch and play along for a chance to win a $15 gift certificate!

Whoo Hoo!!! I can't wait to see what you create!

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you have an AMAZINGLY crafty week!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Ornamental Kitty (Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps)
Paper: 12 Days of Christmas (My Minds Eye); Gingerbread Fun Mini Digi Paper (Designs by Krista)
Ink: Copic markers; Tim Holtz Distress Ink; Adirondack Alcohol Ink; Memento
Dies: Foliage, Nested Lacey Pennants, Classic Scalloped Circles (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Regal Flourishes embossing folder (Sizzix); Paper Lace II embossing folder (Cuttlebug); ribbon (Michaels); rhinestones; duct tape; twine (The Twinery); metal snowflake brad (K&Co); Stickles; Liquid Pearls; Perfect Pearls; Glossy Accents; button; foam dots
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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