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:

Pave your Path with Happiness

This month's challenge at the Path of Positivity has the optional Twist of Happiness. Make someone smile or laugh; create a card to remind them they are special; send your mom a handcrafted layout of the two of you enjoying life together. In other words, make someone HAPPY!
My card asks for the best thing a person can give or receive that will spread happiness - a HUG. Of course, I had to put a Twist on my card by using a Cactus asking for a hug, but sometimes it can be difficult to hug a grumpy person. Give them two; they must need them!!
Of course, the Twist is just for fun. As long as your project is positive, encouraging or inspirational, it will qualify for prizes (see below).
I used a digi image from Limited Runs, one of the guest sponsors at the Path of Positivity this month.

The image is aptly named "Cactus" and can be found in the Flower section of the STORE.  Limited Runs is also on Facebook with a Freebie for every 50 Followers, AND also a Monthly Progressive Challenge Blog.  

Prizes this month include:

A $10 gift certificate from Limited Runs, our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.

ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.

One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

Don't forget to link up your project!!

It's a well-documented fact that everyone needs at least five hugs a day to stay happy. So don't be surprised if, when we meet on the Path, I stop to give you a HUG. Everyone can stand to add a little happiness to their lives, and the lives of others. See you there!

Challenges I am Entering:

Make My Monday - Something Humorous

Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Washi Tape

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Creative Crafters - Anything Goes

Limited Runs Sponsors Your Scrapbook Place Challenge Blog

This month Limited Runs is guest sponsor at Your Scrapbook Place, and it's always ANYTHING GOES. I used this sweet digi called Birdhouses. I colored it with Copics and fussy-cut it, popping it onto some leftover Christmas paper. A diecut snowflake and bird and a few jewels for some bling and mt card is complete. Oh, the sentiment was part of another piece of Christmas paper.

I have to make lots of cards quickly, as the year is coming to an end. I resolved to deplete my paper stash as much as I could this year. I think I've done a fair job. My pile o' paper is just over a half of what I started with this year, which was easier to do once I stopped buying new papers! LOL

Crafters around the world have until the end of the month to create your cards and projects for a chance to win November's prize from Limited Runs. Just don't forget to link up at Your Scrapbook Place!

Challenge I am Entering:

4 Crafty Chicks - Snowflakes

Moving along with the Times- Winter Animals

Paper Shelter - Christmas is Coming

That's Crafty - Winter Wonderland
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything w/a Critter Goes
Animal Friends - Winter (featuring an animal)

We're ALL TIED UP at the 12 Months of Christmas

I just realized my post did not publish on the 1st as it should have, so I offer apologies and roll out my DT make with little to no fanfare. This month the optional theme at the 12 Months of Christmas is All Tied Up. Your card must have some form of wrapping ribbon, raffia, twine or bows - something that would keep presents from unwrapping themselves! LOL

My card sports a bow with a digi image from Limited Runs called Girl with Bunny Slippers.

Another way to incorporate the theme in your card is to use it in your embellishments or paper, like I did with the scenic paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles paper from her "North Pole" Patterned Paper mini kit.

I hand-colored my image, then popped it onto my digital paper with sentiment. My bow and other embellishments are from my stash of Christmas supplies leftover from last year.
However you interpret the theme, if you do so, your card will be in the draw for a $10 gift certificate to the Limited Runs Store.

The theme is optional, so if you don't want to create with the theme in mind, you still win one free digital paper as long as you link up a minimum of two cards to the challenge.

So what are you waiting for?! Christmas is right around the corner!! Let's get those cards done, and DON"T forget to link them to the 12 Months of Christmas Blog.

Happy Crafting!

Challenges I  am Entering:

Cutie Pie - Winter Layers

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes w/a Critter

Animal Friends - Winter (must have animal)

Crafty Animals - Anything w/Animals Goes

Digi Doodle Studios - Christmas/Winter

Fabrika Fantasy - Christmas/Winter
Merry Little Christmas - Anything Goes
Papercraft Business - Christmas Animal
Sheepski Designs - Anything Christmas

Shades of Purple Color the Path of Positivity

The Path of Positivity has offered a series of color challenges this year. This month the focus is on SHADES OF PURPLE. This optional theme asks that most of the overall color scheme is some form of  purple. If you do follow this theme, you will have a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, a $12 gift certificate from A Day for Daisies, one of the guest sponsors this month.

My card today uses a digi image from another guest sponsor, Limited Runs. The image is called Cat in a Pumpkin. You don't need to follow the optional theme if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $10 gift certificate from Limited Runs. 

You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win an additional sponsored prize of a $12 gift certificate from A Day for Daisies for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.

My cat is very happy. He has a sweet tooth and it seems that sweet tooth will be satisfied with all that candy he's collecting! I have fun handing out candy at Halloween. I make it into a game for the trick-or-treaters. I will buy a pumpkin and stab it with an ice pick (very Jason-like) until I have a bazillion holes in the pumpkin.

I also buy a box of full-sized candy bars and a big bag of Dum Dums, or any small lollipops. I color the tips of as many lollipops as there are candy bars. And the pops go into the pumpkin, adding the colored tipped ones. When the kids come trick-or-treating, they get to pull a lollipop. If there's NO colored tip, that is their treat. If they pull one with a colored tip, you should see their eyes light up when they receive a full-sized candy bar.

Crafters have the whole month to create (using the theme or not) and linking up their projects at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog for their chance to win some awesome gift certificates from the sponsors. Anything goes as long as it is positive, encouraging or affirmative.

So let your Muse settle in and have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:
Colouring in Scrapland - Halloween
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Make My Challenge - Animals
Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Fall
Dragonfly Journeys - Happy Halloween
The Paper Players - Tic Tac Toe inspiration (2nd vertical column=patterned paper, pumpkin, orange)

Sweet Christmas at 12 Months of Christmas Challenge Blog

Everyone has a sweet tooth, and the 12 months of Christmas blog is catering to that by offering the optional theme of CUPCAKES this month! I was inspired to create cupcake toppers using a digi image called Santa Head from Limited Runs, our guest sponsor for December.

After baking the cupcakes and piping on frosting, I colored and printed my Santa Heads, printing half of them as mirror images. That way you can see the same happy face from the front and back. I used a toothpick covered by a holiday-striped straw to hold my Santa Head toppers in place. For variety, i added some jingle bells onto extra cupcakes.

I would have put put a cupcake for Santa this year, but they have mysteriously disappeared! Oh well, that's what happens when you bake for the holidays a little too early!

For my DT make, I needed to create a card, so I used a photo of my holiday-inspired sweets and came up with this:

I framed the photo with Pink glitter paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' Glitterati1 Paper Kit and used dimensional dots before adding it to my card base. The base uses patterned paper from a new paper kit from Decosse called Sweet Confections 1: Cupcakes, backed by another Decosse paper from her A Grungy Christmas Paper Kit.

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards to the challenge blog during the month of December will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set. The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post. One random winner will earn the full set of papers.

Have your say in determining which paper will be offered to those who link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll offered at the challenge blog.

Remember, CUPCAKES is an OPTIONAL theme, but in order to have a chance to win the prize from our guest sponsor, be sure to have a cupcake of some nature on your card. It can be the image itself or in the paper(s) you use but it must be featured prominently. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.

You don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $10.00 gift certificate from Limited Runs.

Limited Runs Progressive Challenge on Facebook

I just discovered the Limited Runs Progressive Challenge. Of course, this is Challenge 10, and it ends on December 13th and it's the end of the year. I hope there are more!!

Meanwhile, I used this cute digi image for a new Christmas card. I've pretty much devoured my stash of cards for the holidays, and have to build it up again for next year. I tried coloring the image with colored pencils today instead of my Copics. Not very vibrant, but it still looks good, I think. The kitten looks so cozy, I used a sentiment stamp I've had for years on the card. I also dug up an embossed white-core piece of cardstock, and one last piece of  some patterned scrapbook paper. I added the bow (Martha Stewart) and Skittles from my stash. 2017 was supposed to be the year I used up my stash,and honest, I haven't bought anything new except for adhesives (I'm dying here, people). But my stash looks just as huge as it had last Christmas. I believe I have been a scrap hoarder, and will never get a chance to buy new at the just-opened Michael's store near me. (sigh)
Back to Limited Runs

You do have a few more days to get in on the progressive challenge. If you don't have this particular image, you can buy it at the STORE for only $1. Create with it and post it on the Limited Runs Fan Page and the next challenge you'll get a new image FREE! (I love free, don't you?)

What are you waiting for? Chop, chop, crafters. Only 4 days left to join in the fun for this challenge! Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Limited Runs Progressive Challenge - Use image provided

A Gem of a Challenge - ANything Goes Christmas

Crafty Calendar challenges - Christmas

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas

Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes

Another Month, Another Trip Down the Path of Positivity

Good afternoon, crafters! Time for a new challenge at the Path of Positivity, where it's always ANYTHING GOES. This month's OPTIONAL theme is "the Birth of New Beginnings." Spring is right around the corner, which reminds us of the birth of flowers and baby animals. New beginnings can also mean creating a card for a new baby, a new home, a new job, even a new YOU.

When I think of New Beginnings, I think that every day is a new beginning. Now sometimes I wake up to a Bad Hair day. Sometimes it's a challenging day. Whatever I face as I get out of bed, shower and get dressed, I start each day with CHOCOLATE. 

"Coffee makes it possible to get out of bed.

Chocolate makes it worthwhile." 

~Author Unknown

I am not a coffee person (gasp) and I like my tea iced, so a mug of hot chocolate, especially in the winter, is a sweet way to begin a new day, which is what inspired me to create the card above. I used Mini Bird with Coffee Cups Set  (hot chocolate cup) from Limited Runs. 

Limited Runs is one of two sponsors this month, the other being Kitten Scraps.

In order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes, ALL creations must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. You don't need to follow the optional theme if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $10 gift certificate from Limited Runs. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize for Most Inspirational.
Prizes Offered:

• A $20.00 gift certificate from Kitten Scraps, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $10.00 gift certificate from Limited Runs, 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.

I'm looking forward to seeing your art at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog this month.

Challenges I am Entering:

Craft Rocket Challenges - No Patterned paper

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Lucky to Create at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

Welcome, crafters, to a new challenge at the Path of Positivity challenge blog. This month you are asked to create with the theme of LUCK. Think teens going off to college, a friend getting a new and better job, a cousin opening up their own business. Your project can be any medium, so you can create a card for someone, a scrapbook page to celebrate the triumphs of life, a canvas to remind your friend just how lucky you are to have them as a friend.
My girlfriend has a birthday coming up and I decided to give her card a wee bit o' Irish wisdom, as she is part Irish (and part Italian, an explosive combination). Last year I found a Jim Shore Irish Santa Claus ornament for Christmas. She was thrilled, and I hope she'll like her card.

Image: Limited Runs Fence with Butterfly digital image, colored with Copics.

Digital Elements from pixelscrapper.com - Sheila Reid’s Green Circle Stamp; Janet Scott’s Many Thanks Green Button; Brooke Gazarek’s Enchanted Green Paper. Font: Celtic Hand.

I used Copics to color up a digi image called Fence and Butterfly from one of this month's sponsors, Limited Runs.

Another sponsor, Imagine That! Digital Stamps, let me play with the image Christmas Horseshoe. 

Here's the card I made with Christmas Horseshoe.

Go check out the inspiration from the DT. We have a Guest Designer, whose card will also be showcased on the challenge post. Then create with the theme of luck. Got some wonderful sponsors and prizes for you at the Path of Positivity challenge blog! See you there!

Your Scrapbook Place Running with Limited Runs Sponsorship

We've reached the midway point of this month's challenge at Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog. Our sponsor, Limited Runs, is offering a prize to one lucky winner, and if you use an image from our sponsor, you will get an extra entry!

I used one of my favorite images from Limited Runs.

It's called Over a Puddle and I created a Z-fold card for her. I was commissioned to make a few personalized birthday cards for someone at work, and this is the first of them. Since April Showers bring May flowers, and the person's birthday is in May, the sentiment I used inside my card reads, "May your Birthday bloom with wonderful surprises"
Come join us at Your Scrapbook Place, where the theme is Anything Goes.

Challenges I am Entering:

                    Digitally Sweet challenges - Spring Is in the Air
Simply Papercraft challenges - Anything Goes
                

Anything Goes with Limited Runs at Your Scrapbook Place

Welcome to a new challenge over at Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog. Our sponsor is Limited Runs, and I colored up this digital image called Birdhouses 5. After fussy-cutting my bird houses, I framed it with a paper doily. I did the same for my sentiment, using bits of leftover doily. Since the patterned paper I used is a tad busy, I embellished simply with a jeweled flourish, as well as a leftover felt-and-jeweled flower. Just a simple card with a simple wish--for Spring!

What will you create this month? Whatever you make, link it up at Your Scrapbook Place for your chance to win awesome prizes from Limited Runs.

Challenges I am Entering:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Crazy 4 Challenges - Spring

May The New Year Be a Prosperous One!

My card today follows the new theme at the Path of Positivity challenge blog, which is Prosperity. Guest sponsors are The Stamping Boutique/GlitterBabe and Limited Runs.  I got to play with this fun-loving digi from Limited Runs called Juggling Snowman. It takes a great deal of balance to juggle, and he looks like he's doing a great job!
New Year greetings always seem to include a wish for a prosperous new year. Prosperity can include wealth, good fortune, easy living and success, so it can mean different things to different people depending on their needs.
And it seems that people who have need can appreciate prosperity all the better for being without for a time. After all, how can you appreciate happiness if you've never known sadness? Would a piece of rich chocolate cake be as tantalizingly delicious if you ate it every day?
So my wish to you is Balance, so that the adversity you face throughout the year is tempered with the prosperity you so deserve.
I have to admit that my "quote" really isn't an old Irish Blessing-I just made it up as I created my card, but it sounded like an Irish Blessing, so let's credit the Irish with this one, too. LOL
You have a month to create a project that projects your take on the word Prosperity. Link up with the Path of Positivity for your chance to win these great prizes!

• 2 images from The Stamping Boutique (3 if you use a TSB or Glitterbabe image), one of our guest sponsors this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• A $10.00 gift certificate from Limited Runs, 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:

• A small selection of digital designer papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on posts published during the challenge time frame.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge. 

Laughing Down the Path of Positivity

I saw a quote the other day on Pinterest and I think I'll make it my mission for the rest of the year: "If I can make at least one person smile or pee their pants a little, then my day was not wasted"
Laughter is good for the soul, and to make people smile is a valuable talent. I even smile at strangers (it makes them wonder what I'm up to). 
With this new mission in my life, I created a card for the Path of Positivity Challenge blog, whose theme this month is LAUGHTER. I found the perfect image at Limited Runs. It's called "Over a Puddle"  I'm sure it wasn't designed to be used with the sentiment I printed up in Word, but that's how I roll. I love to mix it up and come out on top of the belly laughs and guffaws.
After coloring my image with Copics, I tossed her onto some leftover patterned paper, using a paper doily to frame it. AND I am proud to say I colored the doily with some of my homemade shimmer spray. I placed my sentiment onto a tag, and added some trim and colorful and glittery pinwheels for embellishment.Here's the image from Limited Runs:

This month the Path of Positivity has two amazing sponsors. Limited Runs and Meljen's Designs. And here's how you can win:

• A prize package of 4 (non-colored) images from Meljen's Designs for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $10 gift certificate from Limited Runs 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 voter who leaves a comment.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

You can catch more inspiration at the challenge blog, as well as a project from their guest designer, Helen, at her personal blog, Crafting Helen.

Before you go, let me leave you with a few great movies that will have you holding your sides and gasping for breath:

Rat Race

Hot Tub Time Machine

Arsenic and Old Lace

Shrek

Airplane

Enjoy!

Falling for Fall Colors at the Oulawz Challenges

Today my card brings out the subtle colors of fall. I didn't go overboard with the browns and reds and ranges, but you can definitely tell it's a Fall card. And that's exactly what this week's Monday Greetings challenge is at the Outlawz Challenge Blog.
My card uses an image from this week's guest sponsor, Limited Runs, called Owl and Pumpkin. The image I used had an empty box to place your own sentiment, and since gratitude knows no season, I stamped a Thanks in it.
The image is colored with Copics. I used Creative Memories patterned paper, and embellished with a ribbon bow, a few well-placed Stickles and a spider sticker.  I fringed a strip of orange cardstock and placed a rub-on in the center. Now, I know the Jack-o-lantern looks a bit worried at that spider crawling near him, but the owl doesn't exactly look comfortable himself, does he? LOL
I am so ready for Autumn, and my Fall-themed craft supplies are close at hand. How about you? Ready to "Fall" into a new challenge? Check out the cool images at Limited Runs, and play in the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge today!