Living Large at 4 years old.

For Mason's 4th birthday he is spending a week at Disney World with his parents and 2 sets of grandparents.  I'm sure he will be happy to find a stack of birthday cards in the mailbox upon returning home.  But they certainly won't compare to the happiness of this week's family adventure.  He's a lucky little guy.

This is the card he will find in the mailbox from my DH & me.

(I crossed out the "is" in the sentiment and wrote in "was" since he will be getting this after the fact.)

 The stamps are from CTMH.  The bow is from the CTMH Artiste Cricut cartridge.  The stitched circle die is from La La Land.  And the dino brad is from Eyelet Outlet. 

Challenges: 

Share Joy Sketch and Color Challenge #9 -

 

Aud Sentiments Challenge # 143 - Birthday Sentiment
Jo's Scrap Shack Challenge #112 - Anything Goes 
Scrapy Land Challenge #28 - Embossing and Dies
Artistic Inspirations Challenge #143 - Anything Goes w/ Birthday Twist
Ooh-la-la Creations Challenge #192 - Embossing
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #78 - Anything Goes

Gee,  I have no November birthdays (except for my own).  
Looks like I can get back to Christmas cards!

Bird Day Card!

Gee, those Bugaboo digi stamps are hard to resist!  And since I am partial to owls, this Bird Greetings digi quickly found it's way into my shopping cart and onto this card.

Challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #270 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge #143 - Birthday Sentiment
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #397 - Sparkles
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #225 - No designer paper
Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #333 - Stars

Fall Birthday with Subway Art & Fancy Fold

CTMH Fundamental Papers and Stamps, fall ribbon, and artificial leaves combine to make this special birthday card for a very special friend.

Challenges: 

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Fall is in the Air

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #33 - Anything Goes

Creative Moments Challenge #80 - Anything Goes 

Stampavie and More Challenge #248 - Autumn leaves 

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #143 - Anything Goes w/ Birthday Twist 

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Autumn Colors

Ooh-la-la Creations Challenges #192 - Embossing 

Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #78 - Anything Goes 

613 Avenue Create Challenge #147 - Anything Goes or Subway Art 

Glitter n Sparkle  Challenge #160 - Fall/Autumn

AHSC, H2H & CTMH Card Class 10/27/15

This is getting to be a habit, combining the sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge with the Heart 2 Heart Challenge.  As my friend, Gail, would say, "Suits me just fine!"  

 (Gail, we all miss hearing that at class.  Where have you been, girlfriend?)   

This week's "spine tingling" theme at Heart 2 Heart is...........   BOO!

I've used the new CTMH Artistry cricut cartridge for the 2 layer trick-or-treater, which I substituted for the rectangle layers on the Atlantic Hearts Sketch, and the BOO!

 

Additional Challenges where I've entered this card include:

City Crafter Challenge Week 285 - Creatures of the Night
Deep End of the Ocean Challenge #115 - Halloween
Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #239 - Happy Halloween
Fantastic Tuesday Challenge #109 - Anything Goes w/ Halloween Twist
Inky Chicks Challenge #58 - Halloween
Cards in Envy Challenge - Trick or Treat
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #263 - Fright Night
Use Your Stuff Challenge #197- Die Cuts and/or Punches
Come and Get It Challenge - Use Orange
Pile It On Challenge #92 - Cute and/or Spooky
Allsorts Challenge Week # 334 - Orange, Black and Purple (all or any 2)

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And I've added the 4 cards we made at Joyce's CTMH class yesterday to the Christmas pile. 

 I love this new sapphire color from CTMH.
These cards are all showcasing CTMH's October Stamp of the Month,
which is only available until the end of this week.

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge # 268

This Sleepy Time Kitty, might dream he's scary, but he's obviously way Too Cute to Spook, probably because he's a digital image from 2 Cute Ink,  this week's challenge sponsor for the Too Cute to Spook  Tuesday Throwdown Challenge.

Won't you join us for this fun challenge and a chance to win some 

2 Cute Ink digis?  

Challenges I am entering today:

Fantastic Tuesday Challenge #109 - Halloween 

Inky Chicks Challenge #58 - Halloween 

{PIN}spirational Challenge #152 - (following the cute kitty theme and color scheme of the photo) 

Crafty Boots Challenge - Autumn or Halloween 

Eureka Stamps Challenge #164 - Pets and Animals

Melonheadz Friends Challenge - Include a Pumpkin

Pile It On Challenge # 92 - Cute and/or Spooky 

Robyn's Fetish Challenge #287 - Anything for Halloween

Quirky Crafts Challenge #22 - Quirky Halloween and Autumn Colors

  

From the Heart and Mojo Monday

Cornucopia is the title of the October From the Heart Challenge digital stamp set.  The set includes this lovely cornucopia, Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday sentiments, and a wonderful verse for use inside or out.  

Hope you can see the gold shimmer mist I sprayed on the white cs. 

Challenges into which I've entered this card: 

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And here is my card for this week's Tall & Skinny Mojo Monday Sketch #421 using the colors from the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge.

(using all CTMH products)

 

 
After making this Christmas card, I thought maybe there was too much white for the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge so I made a masculine birthday card to submit there.

(Inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.)

Additional challenges:
613 Avenue Create Challenge #147 - Anything Goes or Subway Art
Amusing Challenge #23 - Anything Goes
Creative Corner Challenge - No Stamps
Brown Sugar Challenge # 169 - Anything Goes
Seize the Birthday Challenge - A Pocket Card
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Birthday Sentiment

Okay.  That's enough for today.  
Come back tomorrow to see my Design Team Card for the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge.

Gerda's October Hedgehog

It's high time I get my progressive challenge cards finished and posted.  October is almost over.
 
The free digital image (if you played last month) for the Gerda Steiner October Challenge is this cute Hedgehog with Pumpkin.  

 

I've followed the current sketch and theme at  Share Joy Challenge 8: Sketch and Clean & Simple.  I'm planning to send this to an adorable little pumpkin, my great granddaughter, Layla, for Halloween.  

I added 2 additional pumpkins to the digi image to match the sketch; one is a sticker, the other was cut on the cricut using the CTMH Artistry cartridge and then embossed.  The sentiment is also a cut using the same cartridge.  

Additional Challenges include:
A Gem of a Challenge #256 - Too Cute to Spook
Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Include a Pumpkin 
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Halloween
Inkspirational Chalenge #94 - Cute Halloween + Pumpkin/Owl
Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe # 249 - Halloween
Jo's Scrap Shack Challenge #111 - Halloween

Hope you're having a wonderful week-end!

Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.   I wish there weren't a need for this type of card but sometimes there is.  

Inside sentiment:

You've got this girlfriend!

And I'm here to help you 

in any way that I can!

The digital image, Kitty with a Ribbon, is from Sami Stamps.  There is an entire Think Pink Category of digi stamps.  My favorites are the adorable animal stamps (the new Kitty in a cup release is so sweet).  I just love the wispy quality of her designs.  
The stitched circle dies are from La La Land.

Challenges:

Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge - Pinktober 

Brown Sugar Challenge #169 - Anything Goes

Polkadoodle Challenge Week 43 - Add Sparkle, Bling or Glitter 

Sami Stamps Challenge 30 - Anything Goes

In The Pink Challenge 80 - Pink Ribbon 

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challege #30 - 

 

 Colour Q Challenge #313 - 

 

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Pink

Unicorn Challenge # 2 - Think Pink 

Cutie Pie Challenge #92 - Pretty in Pink 

Digi Galore Challenge - Think Pink 
 

Diarama Card

It took some figuring, but I managed to convert the measurements from a diarama card video I watched so that this card will fold flat and fit into an A2 card envelope.  Photographing the card took some more figuring.   But it was worth it.

Papers, glitter trim and inside stamp are CTMH; Pumpkin Die is from Sugar Pea Designs.

Challenges: 

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #269 - Happy Halloween

Time Out Challenge #42 - photo inspiration (using colors, pumpkins and black cat instead of raven)

 

Cuttlebug Mania Challenge - Black & Orange

Deep Ocean Challenge #115 - Halloween

Inky Chicks Challenge #58 - Halloween

Papertake Weekly Challenge - All about the Base

Dream Valley Challenge #117 - Halloween

Eureka Stamps Challenge #163 - Halloween

Get Creative Challenge #26 - Halloween Colors

Always Playing With Paper Challenge #47 - Inspiration Challenge (using the colors and pumpkins)

Combining Stash Items

Ever since I first saw the Paper Sweeties October Inspiration Challenge, I knew I wanted to play.  And for 3 weeks now I have been mulling it over in my head, looking at the inspiration photo and colors again and again, and collecting items from my stash to combine for a card.  Then I saw this week's My Favorite Things Sketch and the pieces started to fit. 

Tag die cut is from Paper Sweeties; sentiment stamp is CTMH

Challenges:
Paper Sweeties Inspiration Challenge - October 2015
 
MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #251 -
 
Stampin Royalty Challenge #300 - Picture Inspiration
 
House of Cards Challenge - Add Texture and/or Color Challenge
Use Your Stuff Challenge #196 - Thankful
Vintage Stamping Challenge #37 - Use a die
Card and Scrap Challenge #105 - Vintage or Shabby Chic
Sparkles Forum Challenge #73 - Pearls and Lace

How can he be 60 when I'm only 39?

Today is my younger brother's birthday.  For this most auspicious occasion,  I pulled out my new Crazy Bird stamps, more of the Sparkle and Shine paper I've been using for Christmas cards and a sheet of blue Fundamental paper; headed to the cricut for some numbers and a party hat; added a few enamel dots and a birthday candle brad; 

then came the hard part.............

I wrote a sentiment for the inside, which I wanted to print on the card base before adhering the completed card front.  This is something I've done numerous times with no problem, except this time.  It took me over half an hour to get our new wireless printer to cooperate.  Makes me wish I could give my brother a good smack, like when we were kids, for causing me so much frustration.  He's always been a bit of a pain. 

Challenges:

Digi Choosday Challenge Week 42 - Birthday Celebrations 

Through the Craft Room Door Oct 20-26 - Always Anything Goes 

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #82 - Always Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #284 - Always Anything Goes 

Love to Scrap Challenge #64 - Anything Goes 

ABC Challenge - T is for Two (I've used 2 numbers) 

Digi Stamps 4 Joy Challenge #117 - Anything Goes + option "b" (bird, birthday, blue, brad)

Hoot! Joyce had a birthday! + CTMH Class 10/20/15

This card was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest.  I really like how it turned out.  Most of the shapes were cut on the cricut.  The knot hole in the tree is the negative from cutting a Christmas ornament in 2 sizes.  The eyes are actually a stamp for the center of a flower with a layer of liquid glass for some gloss.  The lines in the tree trunk are just hand drawn.  Another time I think I would score them.  The gorgeous espresso ribbon is a prize I recently won from DL.ART in the Coffee Lovers Fall Blog Hop.  And the sentiment stamps are CTMH.

Challenges:

Digi Choosday Challenge Week 42 - Birthday Celebrations 

Through the Craft Room Door Oct 20-26 - Always Anything Goes 

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #82 - Always Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #284 - Always Anything Goes 

Love to Scrap Challenge #64 - Anything Goes 

Digi Stamps 4 Joy Challenge #117 - Anything Goes + option "b" (bird, birthday, blue, brown)

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We are missing a few class members right now for various reasons, so here is a "Hi, you are missed." to each of them, and

 the cards we made in class without you:

That's 4 more cards on the Christmas card pile!

 

AHSC Christmas Card

This CTMH Sparkle & Shine paper pack is neverending!  But the little bits and pieces I've been saving came in handy for this card.  I didn't have to do much cutting at all.  What I did cut was the white shimmer trim to place behind the dotted strip instead of using ribbon or thread.  All the pieces were distressed with either juniper or ruby ink.

Challenges: 

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge # 130 - 

 

Crafting from the Heart Challenge #82 - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #284 - Anything Goes 

Mojo Monday & Color My Heart Color Dare

Sunset, Eggplant, Black, Slate, & Whisper (Pear Optional) are the colors for the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #164, perfect colors for another Halloween card.

(Stamps, papers, embellishments are all CTMH; the corner punch is by Fiscars.)

Challenges for this card include: 

A Gem of a Challenge #155 - Spots and/or stripes 

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #102 - Halloween

Aud Sentiments Challenge #102 - Halloween + sentiment 

Moving Along with the Times Challenge - Halloween 

Color My Heart Challenge #164 -

 

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And since it is Monday, here's my take on today's Mojo Monday Sketch # ....

Check out this new embossing folder by Sizzix!  I just love it!  The papers are CTMH Sparkle and Shine; the stamps are also CTMH, The tag cut was made using the CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge.  The tree with decorative layer was made using the CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge.  The sentiment was heat embossed using Sparkle n Sprinkle Silver Lightning Embossing Powder.

Challenges:
Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 420 -
 
Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Cricut Capers
Crafty Hazelnut's October Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas
Let's Craft and Create Challenge #106 - Ribbon or Twine
Winter Wonderland Challenge - Christmas with ribbon
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #333 - Christmas
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #130 - Christmas to Die For
A Snowflake's Promise Challenge #7 - Christmas or Winter Theme
Creative Card Crew Challenge #98 - Ribbon
Sparkle n Sprinkle October Challenge - Anything Goes with glitter, embossing  powder or flock

It's a beautiful fall day here.  I might go for a walk to enjoy it!

 

 

Winter Birthday

(Doodle Pantry Image & Sentiment - Winter Birthday Set)

Do you think using a snowflake embossing folder on snowflake designer paper is overdoing it a bit?  With the precolored digi image, making this card was quick and easy.  It will be perfect to send to one of my friends up north this winter when I'm enjoying warm, sunny Florida.

Challenges:

Ants in My Pantry Digital Challenge #10 - Anything Goes 

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Celebration Cards 4 Kids

Crafty Catz Challenge #297 - Anything Goes 

Creative Corner Challenges - 3 Embellishments 
Seize the Birthday Challenge - Birthday theme, toppings option: splatter

Silhouette Halloween

All I added to this Silhouette Halloween digi image from Bugaboo Digi Stamps was some yellow to the cat's eyes.  Finding and purchasing this Halloween paper pad was my Halloween treat.  And I couldn't resist the Halloween brads.  The stitched circle dies are from La La Land.

Challenges:

Chocolate Coffee and Cards Challenge #102 - Halloween 

Creative Corner Challenge - 3 embellishments (bow, charm & brad) 

Catch the Bug October Bingo Challenge - (I used the last column-Fall (halloween) Theme, 3D Object (spider charm), Bugaboo Image
 
PDE Linky Party - Halloween Colors

Moving Along with the Times Challenge - Halloween 

Double Click Skittles Challenge - Halloween 

Crafting by Designs Challenge - Halloween

Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge - Spiders 
Cards in Envy Challenge - Creepy Crawlies
Aud Sentiments Challenge #142 - Halloween 
Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday Challenge #58 - Animals