Is It Too Early to Start Christmas Crafting...

 Happy February, crafters! After an overlong break from creating cards, I am again pulling out papers, images, Copics and more (oh, my!). Today I'm showcasing a holiday card, because, let's face it, it's never too early to start stacking up those Christmas cards.

My image is from Vintage Christmas Sticker Sheet from Conjuror of Dreams. It's one of several beautiful winter scenes. I printed two and after framing and adhering the first onto my card face, I fussy-cut two trees from the second copy and used dimensional tape to add to my scene. Since I am trying to declutter, all my papers are leftovers from previous projects and remaining sheets from raided stacks.

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

Look at That! I Made a Card!

 

After several months of having "card block" I finally created a happy winter card using a freebie image from Scribbles Designs. It's called Penguin Pals #264 and can be found on the Scribbles Challenge Blog, where the newest challenge is to feature at least one penguin on your project.

I loved the image so much, I printed it several times, flipping it around and even changing the size slightly. Then I had to use multiple colors for my pals, whether they were realistic or not. You'll even find a few of them inside my card, which is a pop-up.

I am so happy that Sandy, the SD designer, and the DT team, inspired me to create a card after all this time!

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

Winter Fun at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Like the seasons, the challenge themes over at Scribbles Designs change, too. Today begins a new challenge, WINTER IS COMING. So I got to play with a Scribbles Designs digi image called Snowman Snapshot #840. I made a special hybrid card for my granddaughter, Bella. This is a card she can put in her scrapbook. She is about three years old in the black & white photo.

I popped a patterned paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles behind my Bella and the snowman, then framed them both with a leftover piece of paper from Creative Memories. I finished off my card with a small bow I made.  

paper from DDD

This WINTER IS COMING challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog runs from today for a whole  month, so you have plenty of time to create for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Designs Store. Just don't forget to link up your projects at the main blog! See you there!

Snowing at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Now that the northern hemisphere is shivering with the first chill of the season, it's the perfect time for an optional challenge theme of "Let It Snow" at Ike's World Challenge Blog. I used several images from Ike's Store to create the winter scene on my card: Snow Scene, Inuit Girl and Scared-y Cat. All my papers and snowflakes are from my stash. The pearls are too, and it was an unopened package. Lucky me!
Whether the weather inspires your next card or not, pop on by Ike's World Challenge blog and link it up for your chance to win free digital images from the store!!
Fun fact: Here in the USA, they say that if it snows before Thanksgiving in the States, it will be a white Christmas...

Challenges I am Entering:

Daring Cardmakers - Warm Woolen Mittens (winter clothing)

C.R.A.F.T. Challenges - Winter

Fabrika Fantasy - Winter Time

Naughty or Nice - Walking in a Winter Wonderland

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

Trying to Keep Cool

Hello, crafters! Now that we have reached the dog days of summer, I thought to create a cooling card for you. I used two digital images from Scribbles Designs: Snow Kisses and Melting for You. The papers are from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. My collection of winter and holiday cards is almost complete. I feel so good about that! And I love creating 100% digital cards, because they are completely flat and mail out with just one regular stamp! LOL

Here are the details of this card:

Digital card using:

Scribbles Designs Snow Kisses Image & Melting For sentiment

DDD Momie Dearest Textured Papers Texture 7 & August Pools Paper

DDD Tag Grab Bag 1, Staple 2

Meanwhile, don't forget to link up your card or project for this month's challenge at Scribbles Designs. The theme is the Power of Words, as in use a sentiment as your focal point on your project. Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I  am Entering:

Digitally Made Challenges - Animals/Pets

Baby, It's Cold at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Welcome to a new challenge at Scribbles Designs! It's the middle of February, and if you live in the northern hemisphere, that means cold days and colder nights - Brrr! So Scribbles would like to see your creations, inspired by the winter weather.
I created this fun step card using several digi images from Scribbles Designs: Free Snow Sign, Bunny Bum, Cat and Snow Kisses. The edge of each "step" has been sprinkled by faux snow, something you can make by rubbing two Styrofoam balls together and gathering up the "flakes". Except for my background paper, Rolling Hills patterned paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' Snow Much Fun Paper Kit, the rest is from my stash.
What's your winter weather look like? Be inspired by looking out your window and link a project up to Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles store. See you there!!

Challenges I am Entering:

Creates & Makes - Winter Blues

Show Us Your Pussies - Kitty Love

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Crafty Gals Corner - Use your Favorite Things (I love my homemade snow)

Do-AL(L) Kreatives - Winter

Ring Out the Old, Ring in the New at Scribbles Challenge Blog

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Today at Scribbles Challenge blog, we are working at "Ringing OUT the Old and Ringing in the NEW." There is a great poem by Alfred Tennyson that reads,

“Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.”

There are several key words in this poem that can help provide a starting point for your creation: ring, old, new, happy, bells, snow, year, false, true.  How you interpret them is up to you. For example, you might choose to use something old or something new in your project; or be literal and include bells or snow; maybe you'll focus on the word happy and take your creation in that direction; or maybe you will design a card that reflects something new like new year's or a new baby, a new home, etc.
My card is inspired by SNOW, so I used two images from Scribbles Designs: "Melting for You Sentiment" and "Snowflake." I made the sentiment the focal point of my card, placing it onto Pixel Scrapper Brooke Gazarek" Enchanted Dark Teal Patterned Paper decorated with a few Scribbles' Snowflakes.  I took a strip of Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Snowfest patterned paper to create a ribbon effect and that finishes the card.
My husband's birthday is later this month, so I made this card for him. Every year I tease him that from his birthday until mine, April 15th, he is TWO years older than I. So I guess that uses the "OLD" part of this month's theme LOL (but don't tell him I said that!)
Come join us at Scribbles as we Ring out the Old Year and Ring in the New. If you use a Scribbles image your chances of winning free digis doubles!!

Show Off Those Ribbons & Bows at the Outlawz Greetings This Week

Today brings a new challenge from the Outlawz Greetings challenges: make a card with Ribbons & Bows (and as always, a sentiment must be on the front). I colored up an image from All Dressed Up, our sponsor this week. She's called Sweetie Pie, so I had to make a sweet card with which to showcase her.
Now, I don't know about your neck of the woods, but here in Chicago, we still have lumpy hills of snow and ice in our yards. So when I saw this little sweetie, I thought she looked like I have been looking for the last week, thinking that Spring would never come!

My card is actually a gate fold card, and the photo above shows off one of the "gates." Here's a photo of the card open. The quote is from a poem/song by Gertrude Tooley Buckingham and reads, "Gentle Spring's around the corner, Waiting just to show her face
And to bring us flowers and sunshine; Winter's almost run its race!"
Like her, I have hope that Winter will soon disappear until next year, and Spring is already working its magic under that frozen blanket.
Got some time to create a card this week? Come play in the Outlawz Greetings challenge, where all you need is a sentiment and some ribbon & bows!
Don't forget to check out all the lovely images over at All Dressed Up! There are some freebies as well, which you can use on their challenge blog.

Brand New Challenge at the Outlawz Starts Today - Freebie Progressive!

Today I made a card for the grand opening of a new challenge at the Outlawz. It's the new monthly Freebie Progressive Challenge, running from December 1st through the last day of the month, and repeating each month of 2015.
Their first sponsor is Simply Betty Stamps, and does she have a lot of great images to choose from. We all got to use the image above, called Tangled Wednesday, to kick off the new challenge. And guess what? You can too!
The rules are very simple: join the challenge, send them an email to outlawzprogressivechallenge@gmx.com and then enter a project made with the image supplied before 6:00pm Outlawz Time on the last day of the month and you will automatically get the next image free. Now, who doesn't like FREE?!
So, on to my card. The image is, as I wrote, called Tangled Wednesday. I colored her with my trusty Copics, adding a little shine to her image. As she's tangled with Christmas tree lights, I added an over-sized Christmas bulb to the end of her card. My colors didn't photograph well, but they really are all shades of teal.

Watercolors Wednesday Bluebird in Winter

After a few weeks of hectic family and work stress, during which I had NO time to play with my watercolors, I finally carved out some me time. I have really been interested in paintings of birds lately, so I thought I'd start an art journal of water-colored birds. My first is this bluebird in winter. He's a fat bird, so it must be early in the winter.
I had to control the paint more o I used less water. It almost doesn't seem like watercolors to me. I think I'd rather have more chaos in my art. I guess I'm just an abstract kind of girl. LOL
I do like the way the needles of the pine tree turned out, though.
I've got my eye on hummingbirds next. See you next Wednesday!

Warming Up to Spring with a QKD Image

Today I'm trying to "think Spring."  The birds are slowly making their way back to the area, so I thought this pretty treat holder using Laura Macy's "Love Birds" was a good way to hurry the season along (especially when the treat is a packet of hot chocolate to warm up my insides).

I cut a piece of cardstock 8.5x5.75" and scored and folded at 2-1/2" and 6-1/2".  I popped my colored image onto a piece of patterned paper after punching the corners.  I did a little distressing with my blender tool and some distress ink.  I added lace on the top and bottom and placed it on the center part of my folded cardstock.'Then I adhered the back flaps together and punched a hole at the top through it all.

If you thread a piece of lace from the front to the back, you can then add a treat, like a pack of gum, a candy bar, or a packet of hot cocoa on top of the ribbon inside the card.  Push it down until it meets the bottom edge of the card, then tie it at the top.

When you pull on the bow at the top, the treat comes up out of its card:
So my treat card with the Love Birds stamped image (as well as the hot cocoa) will warm someone special this week as temps are supposed to drop to below zero yet again!!

Discover all the warm images QKD offers at the SHOP!!

Behold Wonder

I have been following a wonderful journaling blog by Lisa Sonora.  She offers 30 Day journaling prompts, and I have been posting my thoughts on my facebook page.  Since the beginning, I have been journaling through words, but one of the newest prompts caused me to switch to canvas.

The prompt that inspired this canvas is "Overcome fear, behold wonder" by Richard Bach.  There is no wonder (in my mind) than that a child.  As we mature, it is harder and harder to experience wonder, that first sight or touch or smell of something amazing.
In order to guide yourself to the opportunity for wonder, you must overcome fear and experience new and amazing adventures.  Travel, experiment, look up at the skies, look down at the growing things, look toward what the children see.  Wonder is everywhere, if only you open your eyes and your heart to it.
I started my canvas with a base of different shades of tissue papers and matte medium.  After stamping some contrat onto my base, I adhered a Squigglefly colored digi image from artist Inger Harding from her Winter Wonderland collection.  The words Behold Wonder are cardstock stickers from Basic Grey which I outlined in white gel pen.  I embellished the canvas with lines of pearls, some trim and snowflakes.
I joined a mixed media group on Paper Digital Art called Get Your Art On.  It's relatively new and the first challenge slowly eases artists into the mixed media genre.  It requires a canvas, tissue paper, ModPodge or other sticky medium, a stamped (or digi) image and embellishments of your choice.  I plan to experience new techniques and adventure out into the creative unknown in this group.  I plan to expand my opportunities to feel wonder.  I plan to create with wonder and behold wonder!
Want to join me?

Happy House Mouse Holidays!

I belong to a group on .Ning that posted a challenge to use a House Mouse image on a commercial Christmas card.  We could use any HM image and embellishments of our choice.  Here is the card I made.  I used a card I received this year (thanks, cousin Art) and an image called "Silent Night."

After coloring my image with Copics, I cut out two of the four mice on the stamp, singing in front of one of the snowmen.  I placed them where I think the snowman on my commercial card is looking.  These merry mice are singing sweet carols to their snowy friend, and he seems very happy with their songs.

I kept the embellishments simple--some jewels and a holly leaf on the snowman's hat, a few jeweled notes to carry their tune, and a sentiment sticker.

Hmm, I wonder if I can get away with sending it back to cousin Art next year with my artistic changes.  Do you think they'll remember that they sent it to me this year???  Maybe I better send it out to somebody else.

Do you re-gift your cards and/or presents?  I do.  I cherish the people who send me cards, but some of them are too cute to just throw away at the end of the season.  I like to re-fashion these cards for others, like the one I did today.  This one might just go out in the mail today!!

A Squigglefly Christmas Showcase

Last summer I paid three dollars for this 18x18 inch piece of wall art.  It originally had eight 3x3 colorful panels (one of them was missing).  I've kept it in the dark recesses of my craft closet, knowing I wanted to do a montage of images for a special occasion.

Inspiration finally struck today and I printed out several Squigglefly digital images in a Christmas theme.  I love the diversity of the many artists who design for Squigglefly.  While I have my favorites, I can't name one whose images I don't like to play with.

I played with thoughts of painting the base of my wall art, but my daughter (an artist in her own right) told me she liked the dark brown background, so I chose a color palette with blues and yellows and greens, and let my Copics provide the tone.  I used blue cardstock to frame each image.

Let me introduce you to the many "faces" of Christmas that Squigglefly offers.  The first two are colored images by artist Inger Harding.  They are part of a "Print, Cut & Paste" collection called Winter Wonderland Papers.




Next up meet artist Lynne Stansbery through her awesome sketches-turned-digi images.  The one below is called "Three Stockings Waiting."

On to a couple of images by Marla Shega.

Both Marla and Lynne make coloring their images easy with the way they sketch in shading, making them more realistic.

This first is called Kris Kringle.  He's one of my favorites when making Christmas cards.  I changed him out by coloring his hat blue!  I know, Santa is probably putting me on his naughty list as I write. But he looks good in Blue, don't you think?

The second image is called Holiday Bells.  They are so pretty!  I placed a jewel where the bell's clapper hangs for some extra sparkle.  By the way, I used Distress inks around the edges of all my images.

Another favorite artist in the Squigglefly family is Cheryl Grant Alger. She has so many cute and awesome images, and I especially like her line of Snowman images.  The one below is called "Family Snow Day." There are quite a few snowman images she offers through Squigglefly, and each one of them is on my Christmas Wish List (are you listening, Santa?).

Pamela Lehto is a crafting friend of mine, and I am thrilled she has joined the Squigglefly team as an artist.  I love the images she has drawn, including this one.  It's called "Christmas Tree with Candles and Holly."  I chose to top her tree with a snowflake.

To finish off my rundown of images I used on my project, I colored a fantasy-themed one by Rachel Goble.  He's called "Christmas Dragon" and he certainly looks happy knowing Santa remembered him this year!

I hope you like my wall art.  I am happy with how it turned out, and since I am my own worst critic, that is saying a lot.  I hope you have time to craft before Christmas, and I hope you enjoy what you do!

Holly Jolly House Mouse Triptych

I love trying new techniques and using new products.  Sometimes I love one so much it becomes a passion for me.  While I enjoyed making this triptych ornament, I don't think I'd do a lot more.  It was fun, but I would need more practice, especially when it comes time to hang things from inside the ornament, like my snowflakes here.  How to tie the strings together, and then where to hang the ribbon holding the snowflakes-ugh!  Too much thinking! LOL 

But it seems to have worked out okay.  I stamped and colored 3 stamped images of "Silent Night" House Mouse, Stickling here and there for some shine.  I cut them to ATC size and used a Martha Stewart punch to decorate the edges before adhering them together to form a 3D triangle.  I tied the hanger with baker's twine, and attached a snowflake to each end of organza ribbon and hung this from the inside of my ornament.  A little Stickle on the frames of each "panel" gave it a little more shine.  I want those Christmas lights to reflect off the ornaments when it is hung on the tree.  Can you see the miniature pine cone attached to the baker's twine just below the knot?

Hope you like my project. I made it for a swap in my House Mouse group on Paper Craft Planet, as well as for the Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode, where this week's challenge is to make a project using Stars and/or Snowflakes (mine are hanging from the ornament).

Make a Wish!

Tomorrow the Queen releases new images, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek of one of them.

The digi image is called "Swirl Deer" and due to its fabulous antlers, I decided to use it for a birthday card.

My card showcases the image with patterned paper, fiber, a ribbon bow, inked edges and an embellishment I found on clearance in the wedding aisle of Hobby Lobby.

I like to cruise through Hobby Lobby without a specific item in mind, so that I am open to discovery.  Most times when I have an objective in mind, like replacing my adhesive, or a certain color of card stock, I miss out on little surprises.

That's why I also like to cruise through the rubber stamps and digi images at the QKD store.  If I keep myself open to surprises I find an image that I might have missed previously, and fall in love with it!

Whatever your "plan of attack" is when it comes to craft shopping, I hope you find something that inspires you.  Speaking of inspiration, check out the QKD Facebook page!!

Cool Bookmark for a Summer Read

Hello, crafters!  I have been trying to take time out to make this awesome bookmark, and I finally decided to skip the dishes and lock myself in my craft room until I finished it.  I found my inspiration while flipping through the yellowed pages of a cast off book from a rummage sale.  There was a receipt card in its pages that was dated 1985 (that was the year my son was born).

It had a semi-circular cut at the top that a reader could slip the top edge of the page into that she wanted to save.  I thought what a clean, simple design for a bookmark, and so I inked up my Queen Kat Designs "Snowball" stamp, designed by artist Terra Bidlespacher.  After coloring her with Copics (the image, not Terra), I tore it to create a natural frame.
Being a bookmark, I had to keep my project flat, so I used a winter-themed patterned paper, a coordinating blue patterned paper and a strip of leftover white cardstock to bring my snowflake border to life.  I colored another leftover strip of the white cardstock to place behind my image as a sort of ribbon embellishment, coloring it with the pink-shaded Copic with which I colored her outfit.
The tiny snowflakes that were punched out with the punch I used for the border were rescued and adhered to my "scene".  For the semi-circular cut that holds the bookmark in place, I used the medium-sized circle template from the Creative Memories Circle Cutting System.
Now I can keep my cool when my reading is interrupted, and know that I can get back to my summer read without losing my place!
I have a girls' day out coming up soon with my mom and sisters, and they are all avid readers.  I think a little handmade goody is in order, don't you?!  I just picked up a few Christmas romances from my local Goodwill store, and I can slip the bookmarks into them for a little "Christmas in July" giftie!
If you like what you see, leave me some love.  If you like the image, check it out HERE along with Terra's other offerings.