Sweet Sparkle and Shine

Hello Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 fans. It's New Year's Eve and we have a sketch for you. Actually, it's a blast from the past and there's an added twist...sparkle and shine. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Our sponsor this week is the love Sami Stamps. Be sure and check out her shop, I know you'll love what you see. She recently released some ADORABLE snowmen called Frosty Cuties that I've put on my must have list!! 

Here's my card, using the wonderful Christmas Lights Mermaid. No, I am not done making Christmas cards!!! They've become an addiction for me I think!! The mermaid is covered in Wink of Stella shimmer...so fabulous in real life. Sure hope you can join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 and bring in the new year with a bang...or at least a new card!!!!!

Distressed Letterpress

I hope you're not sick of seeing Christmas cards 'cause I lots to share. I'm going to be out of town the next few days so I'll have cards to show from the 12 Days of Christmas over at Stamp TV. Warning, they're all Christmas!!! This one uses the technique Distressed Letterpress. Fun and something different, never knowing how it's gonna come out! This is actually my second attempt, I didn't like the color combination on my first one. The stamps are from Gina K's Stamp TV kit, Winter Cheer. I heat embossed the trees then highlighted the left side of the branches with a blue marker. A fairly flat card too, ready for the Christmas 2015 pile of cards.
 

Glitter it Up

I can't seem to stop making Christmas cards!!!! It helps having 12 days of challenges over at Stamp TV. Now mind you, you're allowed to make any theme of card you want, but when I saw 12 Days of Christmas challenges, I knew I would be sticking with Christmas cards!! This challenge called for glitter...Stickles for a a non-glitter lover!! I couldn't wait to put these cuties from the Gina K Designs stamp set Fleece Navi-Baa to use. Love the punny sentiments!! A clean and simple, quick and easy card. A definite must being on a time crunch to get all 12 challenges done before the end of the month!!!

Cheers to the New Year

It's Sunday, and that means football (Go Steelers!!) and the latest CAS challenge over at The Outlawz. This week, to help ring in the new year, we're asking for a card showing fireworks. I had to dig for my one and only fireworks type of stamp. I heat embossed with silver and gold the sparkler stamp, a circle and a star onto a scrap piece of ivory. Then I punched out circles from that embossed scrap. I remember seeing this layout somewhere in blogville, just don't remember where. I added the vellum banner, also heat embossed, using a sentiment from the Twenty Fifteen set by Wplus9. Lots of embossing, a fun technique that I don't do often enough! That may have to change!!

Challenges I'd like to enter by card in include:
Brown Sugar - Happy New Year

Check This Out!!!

You've gotta check this out!!! I was honored to have a card featured for the sketch over at OWH!!!! This is the card, using products from Gina K Designs. 

And here is the sketch, from the OWH Blog, complete with dimensions!! I was busting at the seams, wanting to tell someone!! Somehow my hubby just didn't understand my excitement!! You know how that goes, it didn't involve a power tool!!

Merry Christmas

Another card done for the 12 Days of Christmas challenges going on at Stamp TV. The technique is heat embossed Cuttlebug background. I started with a piece of Christmas pine cardstock. I covered it in versamark ink, heat embossed with gold embossing powder, then ran it thru my Big Shot with a snow flake folder. Then you sand over the raised portion for a fabulous result. I wasn't paying attention when I put my paper inside the embossing folder because my snowflakes ended up being de-bossed which meant they stayed gold. Oh well, still a fun technique, one I'm sure to do again. My image comes from Gina K Designs, Joyful Holiday and the sentiment is from Sentimental Holiday. A little piece of ribbon and some Stickle berries and my card is complete. Back to my stamp room to get more cards made!!
 

Gift Card Holder

Stamp TV is holding a fun round of challenges called 12 Days of Christmas. Yes, there's 12 challenges and we have until the end of December to finish them. Getting sick and traveling for Christmas and a funeral has really cut into my stamping time. I felt a bit better tonight (after taking some Motrin first!) and completed Day 2 - gift card holder. Perfect for all the gift cards I still have to hand out. I used a stamp set from Gina K Designs called Holiday Tags. I got busy with my Cameo and cut out lots of tags and shapes for later use. This actually went together quicker than I expected. Now on to Day 3.

Sweet Snowman

Welcome to Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 and our latest sketch. If you find some alone time this week amongst all the Christmas celebrations, join us. We have a wonderfully fun and quick sketch for you this week. 

Our sponsor this week is Dearie Dolls. You can find LOTS of free images, both color and outline, here. Take a moment and take a look! 

Here's my card, using the color version of Birdies Welcome Snowman. I also flipped the sketch to go with my image. My die cut was too long for my card, so I simply snipped off a bit to make it fit! A little sewing was my only embellishment...perfect. Sure hope you can join us for some Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 fun this Christmas.

Anything Goes Christmas

Imagine my surprise when I came to my blog and realized I never posted today's project!!! Vacation has started for everyone else in my house which has totally thrown me off! We at Holly Jolly Christmas are holding a month long challenge with a theme of Anything Goes Christmas. I actually made something other than a card (shocking I know!!!)...it's a treat bag filled with M & M's that I stole from my son (don't worry, I'll give 'em back!!). My image is from one of our sponsors, Bugaboo, and it's called Snowman Topper. Can you believe I also cut him out after coloring him with copic markers?!! The sentiment is from a Paper Smooches set, Swanky Snowdudes. We sure hope you can find some free time to get crafty and join us at Holly Jolly Christmas.

Other challenges I'd like to submit my project to include:
The Cutie Pie Challenges - Anything but a card
Brown Sugar - Christmas

     

You're an Angel

Welcome to The Outlawz latest clean and simple challenge - angels or angel wings. I can't believe it, I don't have any angel rubber stamps!! Shocking I know. I'll have to fix that problem soon!!! I went with a digital image I have from Doodle Pantry called Angel Birdie. Yes, I used the color version along with two of the digital papers from the set. That's what I absolutely adore about Doodle Pantry, the sweet images in outline and color as well as coordinating digital papers. And the price is unbeatable!!! You still have time to pick up Milk & Cookies free with purchase.

I hope you have time this week to join us for some angel fun, clean and simple style, at The Outlawz.
  

Merry

I'm involved in another progressive challenge, this one over at The Outlawz. We received this image from Simply B Stamps...isn't it fabulous?!!! I colored the image with copics then used a simple layout with an embossing folder and scrap dp. My die cut is by Penny Black. I used a scrap piece of glitter paper as well as two additional cuts from white cardstock for some bulk. The purple brads didn't photograph well, not that purple in real life! Now I can't wait to see what next month's freebie will be!!

Christmas Birdbrain

Isn't this image fabulous?!!! It's the stamp of the month at From the Heart. He's called Christmas Spirit Birdbrain and you can find him HERE. He's part of the progressive challenge going on at the From the Heart Blog. That sentiment is an absolute must too, it made me snicker. Now I'm off to get the rest of my Christmas cards addressed, I'm kinda running out of time!!
  

Simple Joy

It was after 1am this morning when I finished my card and it hit me, boy is this a simple one! Then I started reflecting on this holiday season and the true meaning of it. I so often allow myself to get caught up is all the stress of it all that I lose the joy that is Christmas. I don't have many gifts bought, but that's okay. I still need to mail out cards and bake a few more cookies, but if it doesn't get done, that's okay. I have my boys (yes, hubby is one of the boys!) and that's all that matters to me. Thank you Lord for entrusting them to me, I sure hope I don't mess up!!!!!

My card uses a Fresh Brewed Designs image, Pretty Little Christmas Tree. It happens to be today's featured image too and on sale for only $1!!! Be sure and get yours today! This card is also a reminder of the Anything Goes Christmas challenge going on over at the Fresh Brewed Blog this month. Be sure and check out all the details HERE.

I followed the sketch, or at least my interpretation of it, from The House That Stamps Built.
 

Sweet Merry Christmas

Shouting out a happy "HELLO" because it's hump day and time to check out what's new at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. Yep, it's another fabulous sketch...sure hope you can join us amidst all the holiday happenings! 

We have a wonderful sponsor this week, it's Sally Ann from Digi Stamp Boutique. She has quite the array of adorable images. Be sure and head over to Digi Stamp Boutique and check 'em all out!  

Here's my card, using an image from the sweet Christmas Florence set. This was a must have for me because of that darling little snowman next to adorable Florence!! I was able to pull out some scraps from my pile of pattern papers...always a good thing!! Looking forward to all your wonderful creations.

I'd like to submit my card to the Digi Stamp Boutqiue Blog customer competition - use a DSB image. 

The Marble Technique

My list of things to do does not leave me much time to stamp!! I snuck a few minutes in last night, playing along with the 12 Days of Christmas challenge over at Stamp TV. Day 1 wanted us to use the marble technique. I forgot how fun this is!!! Here's a quick video that made it so easy. I used red and olive re-inkers and found some marbles in a game the boys used to play with. While I was at it, I made a second background but with teal and turquoise ink. It was hard to decide which one to use!! The snowflakes and sentiment came from the stamp sets included in the Winter Cheer Stamp TV Kit as did the gold shimmer ribbon and wood snowflake. Of course I'm behind on the challenges, but I have until the 31st to get them done. Fingers crossed.

It's Doodle Time

We're doing a little doodling over at The Outlawz this week. That's right, our clean and simple challenge is to show some doodles on your project. Now I'm not much of a doodler, in fact it stresses me out a bit to know there are no exact rules to follow!! I started by stamping this Inspiration Mosaic by Gina K Designs in black ink. Then I came in with a black pen and started just drawing whatever came to mind. I stamped the sentiment in one block then, feeling stressed to the max doodling, added the piece of pattern paper, embellishing with sewing and gold brads. Silly I know to be stressed with simply playing with pen and paper but that's how my world operates!!!!!! Hope you can join us for some stress-free doodling fun at The Outlawz.

Happy Holidays

Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the sketch challenge over at Operation Write Home. I love their sketches! They're the only ones that post dimensions which helps take the guess work out.

Here's my card using the newly released Holiday Partridge. This is one beautiful set and a definite must have. I used the color version along with some of the digital papers included in the set. I love the golds, greens and burgundies in this image. I had to add a little something into the upper right corner, it just looked too empty, so gold brads it was. A great sketch and an even greater sponsor. Play along for your chance at some Doodle Pantry goodies.
 

CAS Christmas

The final challenge for the Christmas Chaos event happenin' over at Catch the Bug is Clean & Simple!! Hooray, that's right up my alley!! I made this card late last night (or was it early this morning, not sure!!). Now it hit me that it's freebie Friday at Bugaboo so I'm not sure if I HAD to use the freebie or not. I'm gonna take the chance and post this one!! I love snowmen (I know I've said that like a hundred times!!) so I had to make at least one card for these challenges with a snowman on it! This guy is Snowman Bells and can be found HERE. To me, CAS also means quick and easy, and that's exactly what this card was!!

Noel Birdies

Day 6 of the Christmas Chaos challenge over at Catch the Bug was Christmas Critters. I recently got this sweet image from Bugaboo, Noel Birds, and simply had to put it to use. This paper was actually in a holiday themed paper pack but it certainly doesn't scream Christmas...love it! I added a hint of sparkle to the lights with my Wink of Stella pen as well as the glitter brads. One more to go!!

A Hot Chocolate Holiday

I'm trying with all my might to finish up all the Christmas Chaos challenges over at Catch the Bug. After all, they have some fabulous prizes if you do!! This is for yesterday's challenge, humorous. I love this sentiment and figured Poppi Xmas Cocoa would be perfect. Hope to get another one done tonight after work!
 

Ho Ho Ho

I'm still pluggin' away at the Christmas Chaos challenges over at Catch the Bug. This was a recipe challenge - 1 image, 2 of something, 3 of something. My one image is from Bugaboo, Chimney Santa, I used 2 brads, and my 3 panels made use of 3 different embossing folders. Now I need to buckle down and get the rest of these cards made!!!
 

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas

Sending out sweet Christmas wishes too! Welcome back to another installment at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. We are always so happy to see you!! 

This week our fabulous sponsor is Meljen's Designs. Talk about adorable images!! And some of them are the color version I absolutely love!! May I suggest a look at the Meljen's Designs shop, there's a 50% off sale going on, but only thru Dec. 15th.

  I mentioned the color images but this one, Happy Holiday Wreath, I actually colored myself! This is a fabulous sketch, quick and easy to use. I went to my sewing machine to add a bit of embellishment along with the gold brads. So much fun that I hope you can join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

Christmas Chaos Color Challenge

Yes, this is my third post for today, but yesterday was simply one of those days that I didn't even turn my computer on!!! Over at Catch the Bug, yesterday's challenge was a color challenge.  

Here's my card, using a Bugaboo image, AKV Elf Ornament. Did you ever have one of those cards that everything went wrong while you were making it?! Well that's what happened here. I'm still not happy with the way it turned out but I wanted to just get it over with, take a picture, and move on!! I put glossy accents on the ornament and wish I hadn't, it altered the colors slightly and I lost the vibrant pink of the stripes (so use your imagination!!). My pink embossed pieces simply gave me grief in more ways than one. Okay, enough complaining. Time to pick yourself up and get on with today's challenge! Hope you have a great Tuesday!!

Jingle Ants

Doodle Pantry is sponsoring Tuesday Morning Sketches this week. First up is the sketch, it sure is a fun one.  

Secondly, they've added a twist, Bingo!! Now that just doubled the fun!!!

Here's my card, using from Doodle Pantry the color version and digital paper from Jingle Ants. My bingo twist is Jingle Bells, Felt (the two little button die cuts over the twine is felt), and brads. Join them this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches for some twisted sketchy fun! And you could be the winner of some Doodle Pantry goodies!!

Believe in the Magic

Since it's December and we're all crazy with the holiday madness, we're having a month long Christmas challenge over at Holly Jolly Christmas. Here's a card I made using a Bugaboo image called  AKV Christmas - Peeking. That used to be me as a kid, always the first one up EARLY Christmas morning wondering why no one else was awake!!! I love this image, especially Santa looking in thru the window.

I hope you can join us this month at Holly Jolly Christmas. We have some really wonderful sponsors that you could win some prizes from. Besides, who doesn't need just one more Christmas card made?!!
 

For Santa

Smile, it's Monday!!! I wanted to share with you this awesome sketch over at the Digi Sketch Challenge. The fun part about it is Doodle Pantry is the sponsor!!!They also have a theme of "Waiting for Christmas."

Here's my card using the newly released set Milk & Cookies. Did you notice, this set is free with purchase until December 24th! I merged my two images together (I used the color versions of course!!) and used two of the digital papers also included. That's what I love most about Doodle Pantry sets. First of all, they are priced so ridiculously low and include sentiments galore, quite a few come in the color version AND these also include coordinating papers. Talk about fabulous. Play along in the challenge at Digi Sketch and you could win yourself some of your very own Doodle Pantry fabulocity!

Christmas Bells

It's Christmas Chaos day 2 at Catch the Bug, and it's this awesome sketch. A fun one for sure...and I do love a good sketch!!

Here's my card, using a Bugaboo image, Christmas Bells.Thought I would go with a very different color palette for this one. Lovin' these blues, grey and black. I decided not to use my new go to snowflake embossing folder, gotta change it up once in awhile! Now off to start planning on day 3's challenge.

JOY

There's nothing more striking than a white on white card for the holidays. And that's our CAS challenge this week over at The Outlawz. Now we were allowed to use black or brown for the sentiment, I sure hope I didn't push my luck by using a die cut from Paper Trey Ink (you can find it HERE). I cut it out three times then glued them together for some added thickness. Then I cut some tiny pieces of mounting tape to pop it up over my snowflake die from My Favorite Things. My bottom layer makes use of embossing paste and a snowflake stencil from Simon Says Stamp (you can find it HERE). That last layer is then popped up onto the card base. Sure hope you can join us at The Outlawz...and bring your CAS groove with ya!

Other challenges I'd like to submit my card to include:
Brown Sugar - Winter
Crafts for Eternity - Winter
Just Inspirational Challenges - Snowflakes


 

Merry Wishes

A fun week of challenges are being posted at Catch the Bug. It's called Christmas Chaos and I hope to play in each and every challenge. After all, I have a few (being sarcastic here!!) Bugaboo images!! 

The first challenge is Sparkle & Shine...simply create a card that has glitter, sparkle, gems, pearls, etc. I used the image Little Penguin Winter, coloring him with copics and glittering up his hat and the snow. I even added some rhinestones along the side, not a usual embellishment for me! Raided my scrap pile too for the paper as well as used my new embossing folder yet again. Now on to color up a few images in preparation of the rest of the week of challenges. How fun!!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It was bitter cold this morning. Everything was covered in frost. I'm finding out I am so NOT a cold weather person!! I like to be warm. Brian has been teasing me that when he retires, we're moving somewhere warm. Unfortunately that won't be for 10+ years. So on go the sweaters, winter coats and mittens.

This little sweetie reminded me of that. She is a digi from Fresh Brewed Designs called All Bundled Up Kid. I've been stuck on this color palette of red, green and turquoise because I have several paper packs that use this combo. I added some Stickles to her coat, hat and pants trim. A little sparkle is always good for a girl. This card fits the challenge over at the Fresh Brewed Blog, Anything Goes Christmas. Other challenges I'd like to submit my card to include:

A Song in Your He{ART} - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes for Christmas
Nutcrafters - Glitter
Digi Choosday Challenge - Christmas

A Sweet Stella Christmas

It's Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 time, and do we have a wonderful sketch for you this week!! I love a sketch that lets me use pattern papers!! 

And here's something else I like, our sponsor, Bugaboo Stamps. You're gonna want to check it out because the entire store is 50% off through to the end of the year. I've already done some shopping!!  

If you're familiar with Bugaboo, then you know sweet Stella. Perhaps I should rephrase that...Sarcastic Stella!!! Here she is giving some sound advice (you can find this image HERE). My how she cracks me up!! Sure hope you can join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

Let's Be Merry Moose!!

I've been wanting to make a card using the sunburst technique and I FINALLY did!!! It was the perfect card to make for this week's challenge over at Catch the Bug - use left over paper! As for the sunburst, all I did was search it on You Tube and found lots of fun and helpful videos. My image is from Bugaboo, Moose Present. This was one quick and easy card...I definitely see more of these in my future!!