PagesPat's Ponderings

Friday, July 26, 2019

Last Chance to Join the Christmas in July Celebration at Bugaboo

Day 7 of the Bugaboo Stamps Christmas in July challenge is finally here, which means this is the last challenge of the celebration. I have had loads of fun this last week, been inspired to stretch my comfort zone, added to my Christmas card stash, and have a chance at winning some awesome prizes!
The challenge today is photo inspiration, shown below, AND using the Friday Freebie at the Catch the Bug challenge blog  The movie offered to inspire crafters is "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer."
I created a pop-up card, with the pop-up inside it. The Friday Freebie is called Reindeer Trio" and can be found on the main blog. I think that I used all the colors offered in the inspiration photo! LOL  The image is colored with Copics and I had my way with the embellishments. AND everything came from my stash. Besides adhesives and Copic ink refills, I haven't bought anything new this year. Oh, wait! I just placed an order with Scrapbooking Made Simple during their annual The Shop That Did Not Hop clearance sale!! Oh well, I haven't got that order in yet, and not likely to for another couple months!
Anyway, after building up my card front with patterned  papers, I colored up my image, adding a geometric background behind Rudolph and his cohorts. I cut several large Christmas light bulbs, 2 of which are on the front with a bow at their tops. I added sparkly snowflakes to the flakes already printed on my paper.
Inside my card, I created pop-ups, using the rest of my die-cut Christmas lights and (because I cut too few) a small Christmas tree. If you see a tiny pink behind the bulb on the very right, I had to stick a Copic markers behind the bulbs to keep it open so I could take a picture of the inside of my card. I gave my bulbs some dimension by drawing a curved line (of light) on each. I mention this because I re-discovered a fat white alcohol marker in my stash. I absolutely love it and am glad I found it!
Making pop-up cards are fun, but very time-consuming without a template (which I don't have). I am well on my way to reaching my Christmas card goal, thanks to Bugaboo Stamps Christmas in July Challenge. I hope you've joined in the fun. Good luck ad happy crafting!
Challenges I am Entering:
Catch the Bug - Day 7
Crafting by Designs - Getting Ready for Christmas
AS You Like It - Favorite Bird or Beast (I chose the reindeer, as it is a symbol of Christmas, and I do love Christmas!)
Cute & Crafty - Anything Christmas/Winter Goes
CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything pp  Goes
Merry Little Christmas - Anything Goes


Thursday, July 25, 2019

Bugaboo Celebrates Christmas in July with Prizes/Presents


Day 6 of the Bugaboo Stamps Week-long Christmas in July Challenge is here. That means there's only one day left to create and get all your projects linked to Catch the Bug challenge blog for your chance to win a multitude of prizes!
Today's challenge theme is the photo below and the movie "White Christmas". 
For today's card, I used a Bugaboo image called MIS Snowman Trio (just click on the link and it will take you to the Bugaboo Store). Between the hope for snow in the movie "White Christmas" and the snow in the photo, I was inspired to use my homemade "Faux Snow." It's easy to make: just rub two balls of Styrofoam together and gather the "flakes".
So besides the snow family and the border of faux snow, I couldn't resist throwing on a few sparkly snowflakes.  I really do like a white Christmas, but haven't seen one for several years.It either snows before Christmas and melts, or after Christmas when I want to get out for all the after-Christmas sales! LOL
Don't forget to check out the Christmas in July challenge over at Catch the Bug!
Challenges I am Entering:
Imagine That! - Anything Goes
Shopping our Stash - Christmas!
Always Fun- Mood Board
CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything PP Goes
Happy Craft - Anything Goes
Catch the Bug - Day 6

Christmas (Cards) in July

Have you checked out the Bugaboo Stamps week-long Christmas in July challenge? Each day for 1 week crafters are offered a different theme based on Christmas movies and sometimes other parameters. I am up to Day 5 of the challenge, whose theme is below:
I was inspired to create a card by the movie Christmas Vacation. I wonder, does Santa ever take a vacation? If he did, I think it would be 1) by his lonesome, far away from his busy little elves and calorie-counting wife, and 2) a place that would defrost his red nose and make him jolly (that would be the margaritas, I'm sure).

Well, in my mind, Santa is thoroughly enjoying his well-deserved vacation. I used a Bugaboo image called Tropical Santa Buried. For my card's background, I used a photo taken by my daughter-in-law, Cami (Camille T Photography). My greeting was created from 2 mini Holiday cards from Tim Holtz. My sentiment, shown on the inside of the card, is below:
All my papers are pieces left over from other projects. I even had a short strip of jewels to make a border on my image. For embellishments, I glued on a couple teeny tiny seashells, that strip of bling and (this should make you laugh) a holiday earring whose mate had gone missing! That's right, crafters, if I lose an earring or break a bracelet, the remainder goes into my stash.
Just look at the big guy. Doesn't he look like he's enjoying soaking up the sun? I say, if you can afford a tropical vacation, go for it! So if YOU could afford a vacation, where would you like to go? I'm actually taking a trip to Germany in the Fall to see my sister, who married a German national and is living in Berlin. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, sie zu besuchen (I can't wait to visit her, but you probably figured that one out already).
Look at all the lovely prizes up for grabs at Catch the Bug challenge blog. Good luck and happy crafting:
PRIZES:
1st Place - 7 Free per month for 6 months ($126 value) Must Participate in all Challenges
Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images
4 month Guest Designer Term
2nd Place - Must Participate in all Challenges
$50 Gift Certificate
Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images
3 month Guest Designer Term
3rd Place – Must Participate in all Challenges
$25 Gift Certificate
Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images
2 month Guest Designer Term
Daily Challenge Winners-
Our Normal 10, 7, 4 image winners daily!
Christmas in July Image Freebies—Daily Winner 
**Exclusive Christmas in July Freebie Set**
(will be in store for sale July 23rd)


Challenges I am Entering:
Catch the bug - Day 5
World Wide Open Design Team - Anything Goes
Creative Crafters - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards - Anything Goes



Christmas in July - Get a Headstart

Trying to beat the heat this month? Try challenging yourself to create a card or project for Christmas. That's right, Christmas (card-making) in July! Bugaboo Stamps is celebrating with a 7-day Christmas in July challenge, and today is Day 4 - a movie and BINGO-inspired theme.
I created my card by choosing the middle horizontal line as my inspiration, while keeping the holiday movie "Elf" in mind. I used a Bugaboo image called Christmas Girl 3, coloring her with Copics before popping it onto my 3-sided Christmas Ornament.. After putting the ornament together, I popped my elf onto one of the sides, using Stickles on her hair and her hat's white fur. With her is my handmade signpost. I don't know what Santa's elf turnover is, but I'm sure as the amount of toys needed for Christmas increases, so will his overhead, hence the Help Wanted sign!
On the second side, I popped a die-cut Christmas present, embellished with a few strands of floral decorations (lots of sparkle there). By the way, the line of gold sequins goes around all 3 sides of the ornament.
My 3rd side is of another die-cut present. I don't know if you can see it, but I popped a red jingle bell inside the ornament to add to the music from the 2 hanging jingle bells.
Here's a close-up of the Bugaboo Stamps image I used to create this sparkly handmade pyramid ornament.
Challenges I am Entering:
Catch the Bug - Day 4
Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas Goes
ABC Christmas - N is for No Peeking/O is for Ornament
Sweet Stampin' Christmas - Anything Goes/optional Christmas in the Sun

Christmas in July at Bugaboo Stamps - Day 2Another

Day 2 of Bugaboo Stamps' Christmas in July celebration offers a sketch challenge AND a holiday movie to inspire crafters to create.
The movie is called "Jingle All the Way" so my card's sentiment inside reads:
The image I used is Bugaboo Stamps' "Crabby Catmas". I colored my kitty with Copics, colored in a double oval frame and placed it to match the sketch provided. A short line of pearls on the edge at top and bottom finishes off my card.
The movie's story line is of a dad who, forgetting to pick up the toy his son wanted for Christmas, is forced to try to find it on Christmas Eve (along with hundreds of other parents). I remember the year Tickle Me Elmo was THE toy for Christmas. I was lucky to pick one up on Black Friday, before the demand for Elmo reached its peak. My daughter was thrilled!
That's it for now. I'm running behind on my cards for this special Bugaboo challenge, so good luck if you plan to enter, and happy crafting!
Challenges I am Entering
Catch the Bug - Day 3
Crafting by Designs - Ready for Christmas?
Crafty Gals Corner - Christmas in July
Show Us Your Pussycats - Furrything Goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Animal Goes
Crafty Animals - Anything Animal Goes
Craftyhazelnut's patterned paper - Anything using pp Goes
CCC Digi Creations - Christmas in July
Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
Sheepski Designs - Early Christmas/Winter
The 12 Months of Christmas - AG + Optional PLAID
My Crafting Corner - Christmas in July


Christmas in July at Bugaboo Stamps

It's Day 3 of the Christmas in July Bugaboo Stamps challenge, offering an ABC challenge (as in Anything But a Card) and the Christmas movie "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

Today I created a Holiday Card Folder for keeping track of mailing out my cards. In the folder will go my address list, with a check box for when I send out my cards. Altogether, I've made a set of four folders so that I can share them with my mom and sisters.
Do you still mail out cards, or do you give your handmade cards out in person to family and friends? Here in the US, a single stamp for an A2 sized card is 50 cents, which the Post Office is planning to increase soon. I do mail out holiday cards, but my list is much shorter, saved for family and friends living out of state (or country).
Anyway, I found a tutorial for creating my folders on YouTube. The folder uses a double-sided 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper/cardstock. I colored up a digi image from Bugaboo called Candy Cane Charlie, and printed up a Christmas sentiment as well as a heading for the folder.
Inside I've put a few cards and my mailing list. Oops, I see I forgot to add stamps and envelopes! That way they are all in one place so I can get the cards out by Thanksgiving. I've even started shopping for presents, which is easy this year. I got a new credit card that offered a ton of bonus points. I'm using them to purchase gift cards for everyone on my list!
I hope you'll join in the fun at Bugaboo Stamps' Christmas in July celebration. There are a lot of cool prizes offered:
PRIZES:
1st Place - 7 Free per month for 6 months ($126 value) Must Participate in all Challenges
Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images
4 month Guest Designer Term
2nd Place - Must Participate in all Challenges
$50 Gift Certificate
Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images
3 month Guest Designer Term
3rd Place – Must Participate in all Challenges
$25 Gift Certificate
Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images
2 month Guest Designer Term
Daily Challenge Winners-
Our Normal 10, 7, 4 image winners daily!
Christmas in July Image Freebies—Daily Winner 
**Exclusive Christmas in July Freebie Set**
(will be in store for sale July 23rd)
Good luck and happy crafting!
Challenges I am Entering:
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - Dog Days of Summer (Christmas in July)
Shopping Our Stash - Christmas in July
Animal Friends - dir Hunde (Dogs)
Christmas Crafts All Year 'round - Gifts NOT Cards (card Mail Out Folders)
Crafter's Cafe - Animal or ATC (Dog)

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

It's Christmas in July at Catch the Bug Challenge Blog

Bugaboo Stamps is celebrating Christmas in July this week. While it may be difficult to think Christmas when the temps here in Chicago topped 100 degrees for the last few days, creating with the winter holiday in mind kept cool thoughts in my head.
Bugaboo Stamps' Christmas in July  Day 1 Theme is to choose from three movies to create a project.
                                 
I chose "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to inspire me to make my card. While my tree isn't the biggest or fullest tree compared to the others, just like Charlie Brown;s tree, it is decorated with love. I used a Bugaboo image called Merry Christmas Tree. After coloring my tree with Copics, I photographed it and printed it directly onto some scenic papers from Ina Prade of Eena's Creations. I used a font called Hotline Bling for my sentiment inside the card, which reads: 
                   "May your Christmas be decorated with love"
Throughout the Bugaboo challenge, the list of prizes is below:
PRIZES:
1st Place - 7 Free per month for 6 months ($126 value) Must Participate in all Challenges
Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images
4 month Guest Designer Term
2nd Place - Must Participate in all Challenges
$50 Gift Certificate
Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images
3 month Guest Designer Term
3rd Place – Must Participate in all Challenges
$25 Gift Certificate
Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images
2 month Guest Designer Term
Daily Challenge Winners-
Our Normal 10, 7, 4 image winners daily!
Christmas in July Image Freebies—Daily Winner 
**Exclusive Christmas in July Freebie Set**

(will be in store for sale July 23rd)
Make sure to stop in at Catch the Bug Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis. And if you want more chances to win, pop over to the 12 Months of Christmas and be sure to link up your holiday card there, as well!
Challenges I am Entering:
Shopping our Stash - Christmas in July
Cute & Crafty - Christmas in July
The 12 Months of Christmas - Optional theme PLAIDS

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Clever Packaging for Excess Embellishments Gifts

 I am on a mission to make my craft room usable, which means I need to sort, organize and clean out my "stuff". All my tiny embellishments are now sorted and lying in wait in drawers that I assume would usually be for nails, screws nuts, etc. And the excess, although it really doesn't free up a lot of room, had been put into a pile. The question was, do I donate it or do I gift it?
While skimming/surfing on Pinterest, I was reintroduced to crafting with match boxes. Perfect! Big enough to alter yet small enough to fit just the right amount of embellies into. So off to spend $2 at the dollar Store and a minute to empty all the boxes of the sticks. I had 24 little boxes that I decided to craft into tiny suitcases, as summers are usually when families go on vacation. Using a brown paper bag cut into the necessary pieces for my project, one sheet of brown cardstock was more than enough to create the straps, handle and corners of my bags. I printed some very cool, very tiny travel stickers also found on Pinterest to decorate my luggage.
So here are some of my matchbox-turned suitcase creations. Soon they were on their way to a local Card Club meeting where members create 18 cards (or other projects, all according to a schedule) to swap with each other. My tiny suitcases were a hit, and the projects I brought home were amazing little bits of inspiration.
Challenges I am Entering:
Altered Eclectics - Anything mixed media/altered art Goes
ART*JOURNAL*JOURNEY - We're All Going...
(We're all having fun, on holiday, in the pink, feeling blue, blooming,crazy, to the beach, park, etc)
Fabrika Fantasy - Summer
Bleeding Art - Anything mixed media/altered art/collage Goes

Monday, July 15, 2019

Summer is Sizzlin' at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog


My DT make today highlights friendship and summer fun. The Scribbles images that I used are slightly transparent and are behind and to the side of the words.Those images are called  #54 To the Beach#848 Flip Flops. The designer paper is also from Scribbles Design, part of the collaborated effort of Scribbles and Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. The paper is from the set called DDD SD Sizzlin' Summer, Burt patterned paper. Aren't those rubber duckie flotation rings quirky?

What could be better than drifting in the cooling water than with a friend? Sizzlin' Summer happens to be the Scribbles Designs' challenge theme. In order to win any prizes, your project must feature some summer lovin' in some way. I'd love to see you at the main blog, so don't forget to link your project for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Designs Store.
Challenges I am Entering:








Sunday, July 14, 2019

Paper Shelter Sponsors Your Scrapbook Place

It's that time of the month to get crafting at Your Scrapbook Place, This month's Anything Goes challenge is at its mid-point, and I thought you might like a little inspiration. My card features a digi image from Paper Shelter, the guest sponsor.
The image, called Hippie Chick, was colored with Copics and gel pens. I used to have a guitar case just like that one, stickers included. This digi sure brings back some good memories! I dug deep into my stash and pulled out a piece of leftover paper with the iconic peace symbol.
You have until the end of the month to create ANYTHING and link it up to Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog. Good luck and happy crafting!
Challenges I am Entering:
The Cutie Pie - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes w/pp
The Creative Crafters - Anything Goes


Tuesday, July 2, 2019

It's All about the Gingham at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Tie again for a new challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog, where the optional theme this month is Gingham! I found a sweet piece of gingham patterned paper that inspired me to create a new baby girl card. My daughter is at that age where many of her friends are getting married or having babies, so I know this card won't last long in my house.
I used New Baby digi image from Ike's Art Store, coloring it with Copics. I dug into my folder of baby stickers and found this adorable clothesline sticker that frames my image perfectly. I went over the top on the theme by adding a gingham bow to my card!
Whatever you create, be sure to link it to Ike's World Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis from the store like the one with which I created!
Challenges I am Entering:
A Place to Start - Anything Goes
Crafty Friends - Beginning with B (Baby)
Creations in Pink - Anything with mostly pink Goes

Monday, July 1, 2019

A Plaid Christmas at the 12 Months of Christmas blog

Hello, crafters! My DT make today is for the 12 Months of Christmas. Their challenge twist this month (which is optional) is Christmas Plaids. I used some lovely papers from Decosse's Dynamite doodles for my card, and an paw-some, I mean awesome, digi image from this month's sponsor, Ike's Art. It's called Waiting for Santa, which I thought made the perfect sentiment for my card.
I printed the uncolored image onto a Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' paper from the set below to create an outdoor scene for my cats to look out on.
Once it was printed, I colored the image with Copics and gel pens. How do you think my carpet turned out? I used 4 different markers for that! Once I was finished coloring, I framed it with red cardstock (not really-I'm out of red! so I colored white cardstock with my red Copic marker) and popped it onto my Christmas plaid paper, also from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. This is from the set below. 
I hand lettered my sentiment since my printer decided to run out of ink, and wouldn't you know it, I bought the wrong cartridge series, so I got to practice my calligraphy. A little bit of lace, some jewels and a bow complete my card.

Although the Twist is Christmas Plaids, you don't need to follow the twist to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month, or for a chance to win a gift certificate from Ike's Art. You do, however, have to remember to link your card up with the 12 Months of Christmas blog to get your chance of winning prizes. Challenge ends the end of the month, so good luck and have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Critter Goes
Crafty Animals - Anything Animal Goes
Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
Double Trouble - Christmas in July & Make It Square
Sheepski Designs - Early Christmas

It's Cool to be Square at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Today marks the halfway point of the challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. The theme is to Make It Square. Since America's Independence Day is literally a few days away, I created this card to celebrate the holiday.
I used #a87 Peek-a-boo digi image from the Scribbles Store. After selectively coloring my kitty with gold glitter pen, I used my Copic marker to draw the red stripes on a piece of white cardstock to frame him. The sentiment is from a Stampin Up rubber stamp set I've had for almost 20 years!
Scribbles Designs has a lot of adorable images, and when you link up your card or project to the main blog, you'll have a chance at winning free digis from the store. Good luck and happy crafting!
Challenges I am Entering
Always Fun - Patriotic
Classic Design Team - Anything DT Goes
Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
Creatalicious - Anything Goes w/optional Spots or Stripes
Worldwide Open Design Team - Anything Goes
Corrosive Challenge- Anything Goes