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...

Anything Goes at Catch the Bug

This month the challenge theme at Catch the Bug is ANYTHING GOES! I'm still working on my Christmas cards, so my project features two holiday-themed images from Bugaboo: FURBAC Front Steps & BUGCAT Christmas Topper.
To give my card dimension, I printed my image three times. After coloring my front door scene, I used dimensional tap to add two extra Copic-colored images of the cats. I also colored and cut out an extra door's ribbon.
Once the card had all its layers, I added papers to frame and embellish it. I added a few sparkly snowflakes and a row of jewels, with a sentiment sticker on the door to finish off my holiday card. I can't believe I'm so close to reaching my holiday card stash goal! A special thanks to Bugaboo Stamps for offering a Christmas in July daily challenge last week. I won some awesome digis from the store!

Challenges I am Entering:

 Catch the Bug - Anything Goes

12 Months of Christmas - Sparkle, Glitter & Bling

Crafter's Castle - AG w/optional Any Occasion (Christmas)

My Time  to Craft -  Christmas in July

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Critter Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything Animal Goes

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Sheepski Designs - Animal Madness

Christmas Cheers

We're down to the wire, crafters. For those of you who are still working on holiday cards, just 23 days to go; and for those of you who have your card needs covered, brava, and why not use the extra time to start building next year's stash?
Today I created a card for my granddaughter, Bella. She's in middle school now, and made the cheerleading squad. She should get a kick out of this one. I used a Bugaboo digi image called "BB Cheerleader Girl." I like using images in unusual ways, like a cheerleader for a holiday card.
Once again, my stash has supplied everything I needed for my card. I even re-discovered my Fiskars roller. It really gives my patterned paper added dimension. My card turned out so well, I think I'll use it at my next card-making workshop later this month.

Challenges I am Entering:

Bugaboo Holiday Chaos Day 2 - Sketch Challenge

Christmas Crafts All Year round - Anything Goes

CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper - AG w/patterned paper

Sheepski Designs - Celebrations

Don't forget to check out Day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas Raise the Hoof celebration at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. The game question is the easiest of them all, as Santa's reindeer only have ONE job to do on ONE day of the year. Now hoof on over there to answer the question for your chance to win Day 2's digi release!!