Another Snowflake SUNDAY STAMPS TOP CUPS

 Hi all,

I'm trying to take advantage of my time out in the studio today.  With all my brain power going to Christmas prep, I utilized the blog-o-sphere for some inspiration.  This time, Sunday Stamps helped me work out a layout using the same supplies I used to make this card.

Starting with the same Waffle Flower Happy Gnomes patterned paper as the base of the card.  It's adorable... 

The tilted panel was cut with Pink Fresh's Snowflake cover die.  The snowflake embellies on the side are from Pink Fresh as well, Large Snowflakes.

The sentiment is Altenew's Joy die cut from Silver brushed cardstock with the added stamp sentiment from their Joyful Greetings stamp set.

Its finished off with matching blue sequins for some added sparkle!

Have a colorful day!

Snowflakes bring me Joy - FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES PRINCESS - PEACE ON EARTH TOP 3!

 Hi all!

Is there anything more perfect than a snowflake?  They are one of my favorite icons of the winter season.  I use them all the time, especially in my decorating for the holidays.  They are elegant and can be simple or ornate.  Just perfection!

   

 

I was able to squeeze in some 'me' time during this crazy week...and when I mean me time, I mean I'm making the final Christmas cards for our hand delivered gifts to neighbors and friends.  I used the Freshly Made Sketches sketch and the colors from the first photo of the Peace on Earth and the TGIF White Christmas challenges for the inspiration for this card.

I very rarely used patterned papers anymore, but I have a plethora of them because I love them!  I don't think I used them because I don't want to use them up...I'm working on that thought process.  For my 'therapy', I have made a commitment to use my Christmas papers this year for my tags and cards.  The blue snowflake pattered paper is from Waffle Flower Happy Gnomes

The Snowflake cover die and Large Snowflakes are from Pink Fresh, while the Joy die and Joyful Greetings stamps are from Altenew. 

I just picked up a ton of new sparkly bits from Cartwrights sequins which I am enjoying immensely!

Have a colorful day!

Happy Holidays! - CAS COLOURS & SKETCHES WINNER!

 Hi all!

Are you ready for the holidays?  I'm getting there...still have more cards to create for local people to go with their handmade gifts.  I'll share those soon...they're so fun!!!

   

CAS Colors and Sketches is hosting an end of the year challenge, use any challenge from 2023, or even combine a couple, which is what I chose to do for this card.  I'm using the sketch...not the colors...from the double challenge #503 along with the color challenge from #520.

With my recent publication, I received an adorable Hero Arts stamp set Holiday Borders and Icons and coordinating stencil Snowflake.  Since snowflakes are the theme for the packaging for today, I thought this would be a great set to incorporate.  

I also love this color combo it goes well with summer or winter themes!  The color combo reminds me a bit of my very first big win when card making.  Green, yellow/gold, and blue.  I just love that combo!

The sketch was modified a little, instead of the sentiment repeating vertically, I chose to do it horizontal because of the length of the sentiment.  I like how it worked.  It's all finished off with a lovely die cut snowflake from Pink Fresh Large Snowflake die with some glitter glue all over it for some sparkle!

That's it for today, I hope you're getting your holiday plans and gifts in order...I'm trying to keep up!

Have a colorful day!

Crafty Sisters!

 Hi all!

It's another Sisterhood of Crafters post today!  This time we are focusing on CHRISTMAS and we are sadly saying goodbye to our dear DT member Ina.  She has been an amazing inspiration to our group and we are sad to see her go, but happy she is on to more fun things in her future!  Please participate this time around and help us give her a BIG sisterly send off!

This card was made with Altenew's Nordic Vines foil and die set.  If you love anything Scandinavian...which I do...then this is an amazing foil set for you.  Since this set is incredibly versatile, the graphic nature of the image can be used ANY time of the year!  

Scandinavian art reminds me of Walt Disney World's 'It's a Small World' ride.  I know the song is annoying, but it's one of my most favorite rides at the park, and I always made my family go on it with me every time we were there.  I especially love the main entrance area, the white sparkly with glitter and gold accents inspired this card...can you tell?

The background was a bit fiddly, the Circle Quilt cover plate die was cut twice, then pieced together to fill the entire space with the pattern.  It was a labor of love, and I really do love how it came out!

Both the foil plates from the Nordic Vines set were used for this card, after foiling and die cutting the images, they were stacked one on top of the other down the left side of the slimline card.  It's finished off with the Joyful Greetings die and stamp set.

That's it for today, I hope you have a colorful, sing-along-song kind of day!

December Joy - TIME OUT CHALLENGES HONORABLE MENTION - INKSPIRATIONAL TOP PICK!

 Hi all!

I'm glad the year is winding down...It's been a difficult 2023!  Despite the challenges this year, I am grateful I have been able to face all those challenges with grace and joy...mostly due to my fantastic hubby.  What are you happy to say goodbye to in 2023?

  

For today's card I was inspired by the Tic Tac Toe challenge board , the Time Out and the Inkspirational challenges.  I am all about sparkle and since I'm still making holiday cards, the these challenges helped send me on a great direction.

 

This card has Altenew's fabulous Vintage Tile embossing folder...it makes for a great background, subtle yet impactful.  Also included are the Nordic Vines foil plates and the Joyful Greetings stamp and die set.

The top part of the card has the embossing folder, the soft lines do not distract from the beautiful silver foiled vining on the forefront of the card.  Next, the sentiment was heat embossed with silver and colored with blue markers...I'm still working on my technique...  

This holiday card is finished off with the gorgeous glitter paper in a pale shade of blue.  I adore glitter paper, it makes me happy we are now able to find them in so many different colors to match our creations!

That's it for today, I hope your have a joyful, colorful rest of your 2023!

Winter Wishes

 Hi all!

Welcome to another challenge with AAA Cards!  This time we have a sketch to inspire you.  I know it’s a busy time of year, but take some time out of your day to be crafty!

Although the sketch is simple, I decided to bump it up a bit by making it a shaker card.

The background paper is made with layers of embossing and ink blending. Starting with the snowflakes from Altenew’s Snowy Delight, the image was stamped on white paper, and embossed with clear embossing powder. The paper was then ink blended with a light blue.  The process with the heat embossing, ink blending and stamping was repeated 2 more times with darker shades of blue ink.

The acetate was stamped And heat embossed with white embossing powder with the sentiments included in the stamp set.  They were heat embossed with white embossing powder with the sentiments included in the stamp set.

Finally, the shaker card was assembled with ice crystal type gems to keep with the winter theme.

It's Friday!

 Hi all!

Welcome to another edition of CAS on Friday!  This time around we are challenging you by limiting your color choices.  Black and white and only one other color.  What color will you choose?

I choose to add coral... Altenew's Coral Berry to be exact, it's one of my favorite colors! 

This card uses Joy from Altenew, along with their Poinsettia and Berries combo.  The 'Joy' die cut sentiment is the only part with any color...can you tell?  The spotlight techinque didn't photograph well, but I promise you it's really pretty in person!

The background was stamped first with ony the outline.  Then the sentiment was stamped with both the outline and the layered stamps to fill it in.  Altenew's layered stamp sets are what attracted this former florist to their company...I'm obsessed with them, and now even more so with all their floral die cuts and stencils!!  SWOON!!!

Now be sure to visit the other DT's creations and spend some time in your crafty space...it's a great place to unwind during the stresses of the holiday!

Have a colorful day!!

OMG - Guest Designer!!! I FORGOT TO PUSH PUBLISH!!!!!

 Hi all!

AAACCCKKK!!!  I FORGOT TO PUSH PUBLISH!!!  Sorry this is late in it's post...

OMG!!  I have the honor to be asked to be a guest designer on the Color Throwdown this week!  It's such a thrill to be invited to be a part of their post...it's like high school and being accepted!  I'm 30+ years away from high school, but the thrill is still there...

This week our colors are cobalt blue, aqua and gold...such a great combination!  Blue is an underrated color for the holidays, so I decided to create a holiday card using my new die sets from Concord on 9th, Over the Rooftops.  

I didn't opt to make the card interactive...not sure why...it's a great feature of this die set!  I'll be sure to do it next time.  The background was inked with Altenew Glacier Caves  and Cool Summer Nights color stories then splattered with metallic gold watercolor paint.

The houses were ink blended in the colors to match, but the litte windows have brushed gold metallic paper for some shimmer.  The sentiment and the moon were also done with the gold paper.  

***Since I'm a SLACKER and forgot to push publish, I thought I'd add another card I made at the some time for my guest post...I'm so bad!!!  

My uncle passed away the day before Thanksgiving this year and I felt the sentiment was perfect for my cousin.  He had a long battle with colon cancer and while I grieve, I am happy he is at peace with my aunt in heaven.

Have a colorful week everyone...I'll try to be better!!

Tag-a-Polooza! - INKSPIRATIONAL WINNER!

 Hi all!

Do you make your own gift tags for the holidays?  I always have the good intentions of getting them made, but life always seems to get in the way of those intentions...UNTIL today!!  I spend the entire day making elaborate tags for some homemade items I will be giving to loved ones. SO much fun...and I used up a very small amount of my enormous scrap paper stash.

  

I unfortunately do no have a live tree in my home...I love the smell of them, but not the mess.  Homemade simmering potpourri to the rescue!  I made from dried oranges and apples, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, cranberries and rosemary.  Pop the contents of the jar into a pot and simmer on your stove for a beautiful and non-chemical smelling Christmas!  These are winter and holiday themed so I'm throwing my hat in the ring for the Time Out Challenge DT call.  They aren't your typical colors or themes for this challenge, hopefully it will make me stand out ;)!

These tags coordinate with the natural look of the potpourri, not my normal aesthetic, but I do love to coordinate gifts with their wrapping.  I pulled out all the stops for these, using nearly every vendor of crafty goodness I have in my stash!  The oranges are from The Greetery, they're so beautiful and natural looking.  The sentiments are from Simon Says Stamp, Elegant Modern Christmas which I love,.  I even made a few with 'Feliz Navidad' for our Spanish speaking friends...they'll love that touch.  I can't forget to mention the Wood Cookie from Altenew, it's a great size for a tag base!   

Since I decided to use up my crafting supplies for this project, I had to add some glitter from my ginormous stash on half of these.  It's perfect for the Inkspirational challenge for this week...subtle glitter...not in your face, but effective?  I think the chunky glitter lends its self to ice on the branching?  Either way, you can never go wrong with a little sparkle, am I right?  

I made over a dozen of these today, and to keep this post from getting too long, I'm going to share them on a reel over on my Instagram if you're into that sort of thing and want to see them all!  

Thanks for stopping by today, have a colorful day!

Winter Wishes

 Hi all!

Well, my goal of not leaving the studio for the entire day was kiboshed...darn responsibilities...  Are you able to stay in your crafting space for a full day without interruption? I'm so jealous of those that can...*sigh*...I will try again later in the week.  Also, any suggestions on how to take better photos of cards?  I generally just use daylight, but with the weather changing, the lighting is terrible...I hate to invest in a ton of equipment, but what choice do I have?  Suggestions?

  

I was able to finish one last card, it wasn't my favorite of the day, but I do love a solid color card...or non-colored card in this case!  I used the sketch...although turned on its side....provided by the Try Stampin' on Tuesday challenge blog, and the seasonal theme of 'Winter' for the Inkspirational challenge.  These photos were taken at 3 o'clock today...it's very overcast in Ohio in the winter...sigh.

In keeping with my monochromatic theme of the day...not on purpose mind you...this card is all one color.  I'm not really sure if it has the full effect desired, but a card with lots of texture is always a fun one.  Snowflake dies from Pinkfresh were used for the circles in the sketch, one smaller than the other.  Then a leftover strip cut from the Dashed Snowflake die by Waffle Flower from this creation earlier today.

The delicate sentiment dies are from an old Spellbinders Christmas Mix and Match Sentiments...it's retired, but available on Amazon!  They are so beautiful and feminine.  The combination had to be place on a vellum panel to stand out against the busy snowflakes in the background.  The 3rd snowflake was needed to ground the sentiment, and you can't have too many snowflakes...unless it's real snow...

The card front was finished with a bunch of sequin sparkles...winter isn't complete without some sparkle, right? 

 That's all I have for now, I hope you all have a non-monochromatic, colorful, non-cloudy day!