On the 23rd Day of Christmas Crafting...

 

I think I've finally pulled myself of my card-making rut. I've made seven cards this month alone. There were two last month, and I made a wedding card in May. I haven't been making cards for quite a while now, but Pat got her groove back (mostly because she recovered all her hundreds of digital images that were backed up in the Cloud but couldn't access until recently).

This holiday card uses designer paper, two die cuts and a few snowflake stickers on dimensional dots.  I just reached my hand into my magic bag of die cuts for the holidays (eyes closed) and pulled him out. This time I matched the papers and embellishments to the snowman die cut...

Do you draw out or plan your cards ahead of time?  Do you base them on the images, the papers, the embellishments, or does it just come together as you're playing with your crafting supplies? I have to admit when I make a card I have no plan, no diagram, no sample to work off of. Often, an image will inspire a greeting or quote (usually funny or punny). Other times, I will search for the right image for a particular quote. Unless  I'm challenged to create something with specific parameters, it's like trying to catch a fish in your hands at the local creek. Whatever I catch shows me how to cook it.

Now that the craft fairs are a thing of the past (month), I'm tapering off new crafts so that I can pack away items to sell at next year's fairs. I'm also planning on decluttering my stash, in order reclaim my basement as a family area (mostly for entertainment). Once it's clean, organized and uncluttered, I plan on hosting a brunch for neighbors and friends. Maybe make the theme a "Board Meeting", as in everybody bring their favorite Charcuterie board to share. There are plenty of Pinterest posts to inspire a few friends to try something new...

On the 16th Day of Christmas Crafting...

 

Welcome back, crafters! Today I have a Christmas wreath for you. The wreath base is made of faux tree branches on which I adhered several stars, snowflakes and white pinecones. I added some colorful mini gifts as well as a reindeer. To fill in the center I "parked" my trailer between two snow-covered trees, with the brightest star shining above it.

I sold this at the last craft fair, as well as a few other wreaths and holiday decor items. I didn't sell out my table, but I did leave with two empty storage bins and some cash, so I'm happy!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas Crafting...

 

I found a burlap-wrapped cork board in need of a lot of TLC at a thrift store last year. After taking off the frame, I made pockets and covered them with designer papers that were in my stash. I put last year's handmade cards in the pockets to show how it worked after attaching a Santa head and bow to the front. I added snowflake stickers to the frame. 

I think it's time to pull last year's cards out and start slipping this year's cards in...

24 Days of Christmas - Day 23 - Who Let the Dogs Out

 

The presents are wrapped, the tree is trimmed, the bathroom is clean, the craft supplies are all put away, and here is today's project. It's another wall decor. I used an embroidery hoop as the frame. I dug through my scarp material pieces and found this cute puppy pattern so on it went.

I added the felt Christmas wiener dog to the bottom, and a wooden ornament to the top right. It reads, "Dear Santa I really tried". LOL I think that fits my terrier to a "T". I added a small pine branch and a snowflake for decoration and my wall decor is up and looking good!

Challenges I am Entering:

The Crafting Challenge - Christmas

Morgan's Artworld - Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Crafters - Christmas

AS You Like It - Anything Goes

Moving along with the Times - Winter Animals

Christmas Craft Creations - Christmas Decorations

24 Days of Christmas - Day 22 - Snowball Christmas Tree

 

We're down to the wire, crafters! I still need to clean my house, set up the table, finish decorating the tree, wrap presents, and the list goes on. If you don't see me here before Christmas, I am in the last-minute throes of preparing for a house full of guests.

My make today is a snowball-covered Christmas tree decoration. I used a Styrofoam tree, plastic snowflakes off an old garland, tons of different-sized snowballs and the bottom of an antique lamp from my gram's house. The lighting doesn't pick up the glitter on the snowballs, but it is a bright and shiny decoration, joining the others I've created this month and throughout the years. 

I use my glue gun to adhere everything, and the tree stands about eight inches high. The star is made from one whole and two half snowflakes. It is sitting on my kitchen chair, which is cover by two holiday seat pads. Very festive!  

24 Days of Christmas - Day 14 - Santa Wreath

 

You know I can't pass up a bargain. I bought 2 skeins of that thick fluffy yarn that seems to be the rage for 2023 during the summer. After finding the Dollar Tree metal wreath, I watched You Tube and looped my yarn through the spaces between the metal rings. I fell in love with its fluffiness!! I mean, it looks and feels like freshly-fallen snow (well, looks at least).

Then I trooped downstairs to be an over-sized ornament shaped like Santa's head and attached it with clear fishing line to hang in the center of the wreath.  I pulled miscellaneous items from my holiday crafting supplies and decided on various snowflakes, as well as a few pinecones, poinsettia flowers and a bird.

I like the white wreath against my mahogany door. It really pulls the eyes to it. I hope you like it too!!

Christmas Craft Creations - Christmas crafts (obviously)

Crafty Gals Corner - tis the season

Fab & Funky - Christmas

Sisterhood of Crafters - Christmas

The Holly & Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Try It in Tuesdays - Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Christmas Crafts All Year 'round - ANYTHING GOES CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY 

24 Days of Christmas - Day 11 - Shadow Boxing the Holidays

 I have finally climbed out of the pit of crafting despair. I haven't been inspired to create a shadow box for almost a year!! I love making shadow boxes, esp. for Christmas and Halloween. My cabinets are full of empty boxes waiting on me to bring them the holiday spirit.

Today I crafted a whimsical scene of the inside of a house getting ready for December 25. Throughout the year, I have hunted and gathered tiny ornaments and after-Halloween and -Christmas craft supplies for my shadow boxes. Salvation Army has a thrift store where I found a whole box of figures. Michaels was good for pkgs of tiny gifts, pets, stockings, etc. And of course my mom's crafting supplies and Christmas deco's helped my cause. If you look at the bottom shelf of my shadow box, you'll see some vintage children I've paired up with a Michaels holiday figurine and a tiny ornament of grandma baking cookies..

I'm always on the hunt for bottle brush trees, and found one that fit onto the 2nd shelf. Stickers where I didn't need a lot of depth, and paper doilies mimicking a snowy roof. When my closest Michaels closed with deep discounts (90% off) about 20 years ago (!), I bought up all the shaped buttons. I couldn't resist, They were 10 cents each for multiple buttons on a backing.

Anyway, I worked all morning on this, spending some time looking for the right pieces to add to my design. And I really like the final make. I hope you do too!

Christmas Crafts All Year 'round - Anything Christmas 

613 Avenue - AG w/optional twist winter holiday

Peace on Earth - Anything Christmas

We Love 2 Create - Anything mixed media

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas

Morgan's Art World - Anything Goes

Oddball Art Sponsors the 12 Months of Christmas

Hello, crafters! It's time for more inspiration for your growing Christmas card stash. My DT make for the 12 Months of Christmas uses a digi image from Oddball Art Stamps by Lizzie Love. It's called #392 Whimsical Christmas Wendy from Oddball Art Stamps by Lizzie Love, the guest sponsor for the month.
After coloring the image with Copics, I framed her with coordinating squares of Decosse's Dynamite Doodles papers from A Touch of Frost Paper Kit and  An Eclectic Christmas - Gold & Silver Paper Kit. I popped it all onto a piece of Kraft paper and started adding bling - rows of jewels, glittery snowflakes and Stickles here, there and everywhere.
The optional twist at the 12 Months of Christmas is Sparkle, Glitter & Bling. The twist is optional, so 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 $10.00 gift certificate to the Oddball Art Stamps Store. However, if you would  like to win the Christmas Paper Kit offered at the main blog, you need to follow the theme.
So, whether you pour on the glitter, Sparkle or Bling, or create without them, don't forget to join in the fun at the 12 Months of Christmas Blog. Challenge runs until the end of the month.

Challenges I am Entering:

Classic Design Team Open - Anything Goes

Country View - Textures 

Fabrika Fantasy - Anything Goes

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Sparkles Christmas Forum - It's Snow time!

Christmas Time at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Nowadays we say Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas, but I bet in Victorian times, it wasn't all that merry. Look at poor Mr.Poe, wearing a stiff collar and heavy clothing, all dressed up with nowhere to go. His writings certainly don't paint him as a jolly fellow.

And yet even with his somber expression, he does look pretty dapper on my Christmas card. I think the greeting "Silent Night" is perfectly fitted for him, whether he spends his night in his cups, or stays up til all hours writing lost love and tell-tale hearts.I have a couple friends who love r.Poe's writings and would appreciate this card. One of them will get a nice little surprise in the mail this holiday.

Poe with Candle is the name of this Ike's Art digi image.I colored him in traditional Christmas colors to jolly him up. Speaking of jolly, the theme at Ike's World Challenge Blog is CHRISTMAS TIME. Any project qualifies for a chance to win free digis from Ike's Shop.Just remember to link up before the end of the month.

Now wouldn't that be a great way to end the year?  Free digis from Ike's Art!! My kind of Christmas present!! Good luck, and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Alphabet challenges - S is for Season's Greetings

Pattie's Creations - Winter/Christmas

Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything w/patterned paper goes

The Holly & Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

It's Winter at Scribbles Challenge Blog

Here is my DT make for the November 1 challenge at Scribbles Designs. The theme is Winter is Coming, and you have until the 14th to create and link up your projects for a chance to win a gift certificate to the Scribbles Store.
My card uses a sweet digi called "Frosty's Christmas Trees." Do you buy a real tree or have an artificial one? I had to buy an artificial one due to allergies. I suffered for a long time as a kid, one year having problems sleeping so took the couch and ended up with a serious sinus infection over the holidays!
However you interpret Winter Is Coming, create with love, and don't forget to link up with Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for your chance to win some goodies!!

Challenges I am Entering:

Die Cut Divas - Anything with a die-cut Goes

Digi Doodle Studios - Winter/Christmas

Fabrika Fantasy- Winter/Christmas

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Sheepski Designs - Anything Christmas

A Tree-mendous Time of the Year at Scribbles Designs

 I love this time of year. Music is playing in all the stores, people are smiling more, drivers are more courteous, stores have more sales. And it's also that time of year to pull out the tree (artificial) and start putting it together-which makes this the doubly perfect time to have a challenge showcasing TREES.
 Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog asks crafters to use a tree or trees as your focal point on your project this month. While you can use any digital image or paper or even your own rendering of a tree, there are tons of digi images of TREES at the Scribbles Store. I used one called "Frosty's Trees 1."
 I colored my image with Copics, shimmering it up a bit with metallic gel pens before popping it up against a patterned paper background from my stash. I created my own sentiment using two fonts: Dymaxiom Script and Logger. Some sparkly snowflakes and a few jewels finish off my tree-mendous Christmas card.
 You have until the end of the 14th of December to create and link your project up with Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Store.

And don't forget to check out the 

Merry Christmas Carol Celebration 

going on NOW for the next FIVE DAYS at Scribbles, where each day crafters are asked to fulfill a task or answer a holiday-themed question for prizes galore!!  

Let the celebration begin 

Challenges I am Entering:

Aud Sentiments - Christmas & a Sentiment

Merry Christmas Challenge - Christmas

It's White on White at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Sometimes, not always, colors can be highly over-rated. Sometimes, it's nice to surround yourself with an absence of color. That's why this fortnight, the optional theme at Ike's World Challenge Blog is to create "white on White."

For my DT make, I used Ike's Igloo from her World Series Tour  Inuit Set. You can't get whiter than snow and ice, right? I used Stickles and glitter for the snow, and used Glossy Accents for the ice. My card background is embossed white cardstock. I embellished with adhesive and die-cut snowflakes.

I created my card to give to my hubby. It looks to be a long, cold winter for the two of us. I want him to keep in mind that we will always be together to weather whatever weather comes our way, metaphorically speaking. I used a little Glossy Accents to create icicles dripping from the top of my sentiment and then bordered it with more glitter. As Mal would say. "Shiny." (Firefly/Serenity quote)

What inspires you to create without color? Remember, this is an optional theme, so you can always create anything you wish, but are you up for a little challenge? Don't forget to link up with Ike's World Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis from her store!!

Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am entering:

International Art & Soul - Monochromatic 

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Anything Goes at the Ourlawz Monday Greetings Challenge Blog

Time for another challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings group. This week's theme is ANYTHING GOES. I decided to continue creating pages for my desk calendar, using a digi image from this week's sponsor, Di's Digi Stamps. The image is called Snowbabes Sleigh Ride, and my sentiment wishes everyone who comes into my office some :Winter Wishes."
Because each page of my four-sided calendar is nestled in between two pieces of clear acrylic, they must be CAS, but just because something isn't chunky doesn't mean it has to be plain. I embellished with die-cut snowflakes and tiny jewels to give it some shimmer.
Now that I think of it, I should be making 2016 calendar pages, but then I couldn't show it off at work yet! I also need to put some pens and pencils in the open center, so it's not only pretty but useful.
Anyway, the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge is open through next Sunday evening, so stop by for some inspiration and don't forget to link up your ANYTHING GOES project for a chance to win prizes from or sponsor.
  

Figure Eight Style Skates into Town

Roses are red,
and so is my card.
If you like the same color
Squigglefly's challenge is not hard...

Not my best rhyme, but the sentiment is true!  If you love to create with RED, then this is your lucky week.  At Squigglefly, their newest challenge is to use RED on your card-with paper, embellishments or coloring-and a Squigglefly digi image.

I got to play with a new Squigglefly release from the always amazing Cheryl Alger.  This cutie pie is called "Figure Eight Style."  I started my path down REDville by framing my Copic-colored image with RED cardstock.  I finished off my tiny "canvas" with a few RED sequins.

My card base is RED cardstock whose bottom border I punched with tiny snowflakes.  I added a piece of white cardstock on the inside of the card so that the "flakes" would show up nicely.   Speaking of snowflakes, a sprinkled a few beside my image, and finished off my card with a metal word charm.

Now glide on over to the Squigglefly Challenge Blog so you can enter your card in this week's contest.  One random winner will win a free digi!!