Santa is Sensational at the 12 Months of Christmas

Christmas is getting awfully close now, crafters! Do you have enough handmade cards for this year? There's still time at the 12 Months of Christmas to create your holiday cards AND have a chance to win prizes.
This month the guest sponsor is Limited Runs, and I chose to create this spin card using a digi image called Santa Cup. I printed my image twice, coloring one cup empty and the other cup with coffee. So when the card comes out of its envelope, the recipient will see it as it is above - empty.

When the card is opened, you'll see the cup has coffee - lucky for you because it puts you back on the NICE list. As the front of the card says, "NO COFFEE = CRANKY SANTA".

After creating the spin card base, I covered it with patterned paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.

Have I inspired you to create a couple more holiday cards? The theme is Anything Goes, with an optional twist of "Sensational Santa". Prizes for this newest challenge at the 12 Months of Christmas are:

More Than One Fold at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Today I decided to try my hand at a swing card. I haven't made one in forever, and while I was cleaning out my craft area (again) I found a template for this kind of card, so I took a swing at it. Since the theme over at Ike's World Challenge blog is "more than 1 Fold, this was the perfect time to try it out.
I used a digi image of an elephant silhouette, from the African Animal Silhouettes Set. I changed the black silhouette to a rusty dark orange, then used Photoshop to print the first part of my sentiment onto the image itself.

I cut and folded my card base according to the template, then cut the patterned paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles to fit. My elephant image was adhered to the front piece, and I printed, cut out and adhered the second part of the sentiment to the back.

Then I added the bling around the image and sentiment as well as the front of the card. And it works! It swings! Yay me! LOL

When you create something this month, don't forget to  link up with Ike's World Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift certificate to the Store. Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers - Masculine

Make My Monday - Kinetic

613 Avenue Create - More than one Fold

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
Classic Design Team - Anything Goes
Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
Fabrika Fantasy - For the Men/Boys
World Wide Open Design Team - Anything Goes

Opposites Attract at Ike's World Challenges blog

 

I swear, sometimes I wonder how my husband and I figured out we were "made for each other." While there are many things we both like, we are more like "ebony & ivory" in our personalities. For instance, he likes to plan things out in advance, while I can hop in the car at even the suggestion of an adventure. He loves to soak up the sun and sweat, while I take my Girl Scouts winter camping!
But there is the old saying that Opposites Attract, and it must be true, because we are celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary this Fall!
Which brings me to my DT card today for Ike's World Challenges Blog. The theme this fortnight is in fact Opposites Attract, and we have reached the midway point of the challenge. I got to play with two digital images, Sexy Cowgirl and Singer, and I created a Swing card to showcase these images.

If you're as old as I am (bless you), then you might remember the Donny & Marie Show on TV. The opening theme song was with Marie Osmond singing a duet with her brother, Donny Osmond. She would claim she was "a little bit country," while Donny would sing that he was "a little bt rock & roll." That song inspired my Opposites Attract" card today. Above you see the front of my swing card, with some lace and pearls for embellishment. Below, you can see my rock & roll side.

A funny coincidence: My hubby is from a very small country town called Kennett, which is i "bootheel" of Missouri. I am Chicago-born and bred. How did the innocent country boy and the wicked city woman meet up? On the beach at the Santa Cruz Amusement Park in California!!  LOL
Got an interesting Opposites Attract story? I'd love to hear it! And I would love to see you share your crafty creations at Ike's World Challenges Blog this week. Happy crafting!

The Outlawz Challenges Are Out of this World

Today is the last Monday of the month---do you know what that means at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenges?? It's ANYTHING GOES, my favorite kind of challenge.
One of this week's sponsors is Creative Hands and I created my boy's birthday card with one of their digi images called Spaceship Boy.
To exaggerate my outer space look, I used a punch on the corners. My image is colored with Copics and embellished with stars and alien-looking buttons (I even cut the Earth from a map and pasted it on the card). My greeting is Photo-shopped.

Challenges I am entering:

Crafting when We Can - Add Stars
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Challenge #34 Anything Goes
Digi Designs Challenge blog - For the Boys

My next card uses an image from our other sponsor, Crafty Sentiments. The image is called "Tess Summer Fun," and I think it's safe to (pretend to) feel secure in Mother Nature, in that she won't go all bipolar on us for the rest of the Spring season - heat on at night and air conditioner on during the day! LOL

I created a swing card using leftover papers and my circle cutter from Creative Memories.

Challenges I am Entering:

A Gem of a Challenge - Weather (I chose Summer with flowers blooming everywhere)
Crafty Challenges - Summer Time
Avenue 613 Create - Anything Goes
Alphabet Challenge blog - G is for Girlie
Simply Papercraft challenges - Anything Goes

What do you think of when someone says Anything Goes? Create it and link up with us this week for your chance to win some awesome prizes. Happy crafting!

Take the Opportunity to Check Out the Path of Positivity

Another month means another awesome and thought-provoking challenge theme from the Path of Positivity challenge blog. This time the Path asks you to be inspired to show us your projects, thoughts and photos about Opportunity. I believe that each day is full of hidden opportunities; you just have to keep your eyes open and be aware. And remember that whether you take advantage of an opportunity or not, there is a lesson to be learned. You can grow with each encounter.

 The guest sponsors for this month are Deedee's Digis and Oddball Art Co. 
Today I created a Swing card to highlight the changes that this little creature goes through to get where he should be all along. The image sheet is from DeeDee's Digis and is called Caity Caterpillar and comes with  2 outline images, 2 pre-colored images, 2 white-filled layering images, and 5 sentiments, in JPG and PNG file formats.
I colored my caterpillar and butterfly with Copics before popping them onto the "swing" section of my swing card. I cut one of the sentiments in half and placed them apart. My card is covered with patterned paper from the DCWV All Boys paper pad, and I embellished it all with jeweled flowers and butterflies. Here's a topside view of the swing card-it makes a pretty presentation when open.

This month's challenge at the Path of Positivity offers several ways to win prizes:

• 3 images from Oddball Art Co., one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $25 gift certificate from Deedee's Digis, one of our guest sponsors this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:

One digital designer paper (made to order in a couple different ways) from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on posts published during the challenge timeframe.
One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

Challenges I am Entering:
Crafting with Dragonflies - Butterflies
Daring Cardmakers - New Beginnings
Fussy & Fancy Challenge 144 - Things with Wings
Sister Act challenges (cards only) - Anything Goes

A New Year Brings a New Challenge from the Outlawz

Today starts another challenge from the Outlawz Freebie/Progressive Challenges. It's their second month of this new challenge, and there are 100 players who registered last month. Those crafters who uploaded their projects throughout December will receive this image from All Dressed Up.
I used mine on a swing card I made using an Elizabeth Craft Designs #768 - Katie Label Pivot Card Die.

Here's an inside view. I printed my image twice, using just the face for the second frame. The sentiment reads: There is no greater treasure than a good friend."
As I look back over the previous year, I am so very grateful for the friends I have. They are my support system, my comedic relief, my therapists and my security blanket. I hope I am as valuable to them as they are to me.
Check out the inspiration cards and projects at the Outlawz Freebie/Progressive Challenges. If you would like to play along throughout the year, but missed your chance when it initially started, you can go to All Dressed Up and purchase this image. Create with it and upload it onto our challenge string and you will be automatically added to the list of players receiving next month's freebie!!

Other challenges I am entering:
SBP Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
As You Like It Challenge Blog - Favorite Shape or Fold  (I have always loved swing cards but found them a little time consuming. One of my Christmas presents was a new die from Elizabeth Designs, making this type of swing card super easy, and from now on, super popular on my blog!)
Frilly & Funky CHallenge Blog - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination Challenge Blog - Always Anything Goes
Mod Squad Challenge Blog - Special Fold
Corrosive Challenge Blog - Shiny & New (I used my brand spanking new die from Elizabeth Designs)

Sentimental-ly Yours

Time for a new challenge at Squigglefly Challenge Blog.  This week calls for a Squigglefly Sentiment as the focus on your card.

I chose to make a Swing Card with my sentiment swinging in to show off a feathery butterfly on the back.

I first discovered swing cards while attending a Stampin Up workshop, but I hadn't made another one since that day back in 2001!!

So although this isn't a NEW technique for me, it's one that I have re-discovered.  I like the way it turned out, and will have given it to my hubby this valentine's Day.

Now it's your turn to showcase a Squigglefly sentiment.  There are hundreds of cute, sassy, funny, loving, witty, thoughtful sentiments at Squigglefly Designs, so check them out and play for a chance to win free digi's this week!!