Easy card

Two weeks with no Mojo Monday!  If I hadn't had a hair appointment, I might still be in bed.
 
This card didn't require a lot of mojo, but it does require being mailed by the end of the week.
The paper pad I used has some beautiful designs for quick and easy, yet, lovely cards. 

inside stamps by Sweet & Sassy and CTMH

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday Challenge Week 214/215 - Anything Goes
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #92 - Always Anything Goes
Use Your Stuff Challenge #204 - Metallics (charm)
Amusing Challenges - Anything Goes

Birthday Card for a Beer Collector

I refuse to mess up the dining room (aka craft) table, which is so very easy to do.  This card (cased from one on pinterest) just took a bit of cutting, distressing, a sticker at the top right, and the stamp on the mug and another inside which simply says "its your birthday".  

Tell me, fellow stampers, did I stamp the 'celebrate' correctly or should the word face down?  Too late now!

This card would certainly work for New Year's, or any other event worth celebrating with a cold one.

Challenges: 

Allsorts Challenge Week 342/343 - Anything but Christmas

Sweet Stampin Challenge #26 - Food & Drink 

The Male Room Challenge #25 - Christmas or Seasonal

The Crafty Addicts  Challenge #5 - Celebration

 That's it for today.  

I have a 'To Do' list a mile long to get through today!

 

Owl post this one today

My craft (aka dining room) table is totally lacking in card making supplies right now.  Everything was put away in preparation for Christmas.  That's why this card was primarily made using cuts from the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, since the cricut resides in the guest room upstairs.  Luckily, I got this finished before the mailman arrived today.  Now it is on it's way to California.

I did pull out just a few CTMH stamps for the inside.

By only gluing the back to the inside along the edges, a small pocket is created.  The center heart is attached to the $ with removable tape to pull out the cash.

(I didn't want it to slip down into the pocket and go unnoticed.)

Challenges:

Just Add Ink Challenge #293 - Gift Card

Allsorts Challenge 342/343 - Anything but Christmas 

Inkspirational Challenge #98 - Bah Humbug! Anything but Christmas

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #405 - Anything Goes

 

Christmas Nativity

Christmas Joy to you and yours!

While the floor is drying....

I thought I could fire off a quick Christmas Eve post.   I found this digi image on the table when I started to clean up yesterday.  Immediately, I knew it would be perfect for a pop-up card for a certain friend's upcoming birthday.  I am pleased with how the card turned out, but not so happy with the photos.  It was a  warm but dreary day, with no sun whatsoever.  I tried to adjust the photo as best I could.  The card front is a nice red with silver snowflake dazzles, a turquoise border strip from the inside designer paper, and turquoise glitter gems.

card front

inside with pop up snowman digi

close up of sentiments - Sweet & Sassy and CTMH stamps

closeup of precolored digi and stick on snowflake

Challenges:

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #405 - Anything Goes

Doodle Pantry Ants in My Pants Digital Challenge #12 - Anything Goes

 

Before I turn on the oven....

to make just a few batches of Christmas cookies,  

I'll post these CAS birthday cards for Red Hat friends.

There was a time when I made a couple dozen different kinds of Christmas cookies, but there also comes a time when you smack yourself in the head and ask, Why?  My DH has to watch his sugar now and I don't need to eat all that sugar either.  I no longer need cookie trays for everyone at work.  Thankfully, I'm retired.  Anyone who misses a certain type of cookie is welcome to my recipe.

But, a few of my favorites are still on today's agenda.

Here are the cards I promised, super simple, one embossed and the other debossed (I goofed up the stamping and just flipped it over.):

Birthday sentiment stamp is CTMH.

Challenges: 

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #51 - Anything Goes

Double Click Challenge - Something New (The embossing folder is new.)

Happy Little Stampers December CAS Challenge - Favorite Technique (embossing) 

Seize the Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes; Toppings Red & White (Hope you don't mind a bit of purple, too.) 

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #51 - Always Anything Goes 

And now, to the mixer............ 

Can't a girl catch a break?

The mailman picked up the last of my Christmas cards yesterday.  I took a quick count of the birthday cards I need for January, February, and early March (while we are taking a winter vacation in Florida).  The total came to 23.  I like to get them all done, addressed and stamped before we leave.  Then I just have to remember to put them in the mail.  I will have to make 3 a day to have them ready by then. Oh my!
I think making CAS cards is the way to go....

Challenges:

Creative Card Crew Challenge #103 - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #5 - Always Anything Goes

Paperminutes Challenge #414 - Snow

Through the Craft Room Door Week of Dec 22nd - Always Anything Goes

Cards in Envy Challenge - Let It Snow

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #91 - Always Anything Goes

Crafty Boots Challenge - Snow and Sparkle

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #154 - Snow

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Winter Wonderland

Thanks for visiting.

East Wind Kitty Ornament

The first thing I do on a Monday morning is check the Mojo Monday Sketch.  I was shocked to see they are on vacation!  (Not quite as shocked as I was when, after 3 and a half years of playing, I won the December Mojo Contest!)  

Fear not, my friends, I still have a card to share with you.  It features the free monthly digi from East Wind Digital Stamps and my favorite Christmas sentiment stamp from Sparkle n Sprinkle.

If you'd like to receive the monthly freebie from East Wind, add your name to their mailing list and watch your inbox the 1st of every month.

I am entering this card in the CAS Challenge #45 at East Wind Designs and these additional challenges: 

613 Avenue Creat Challenge #155 - Anything Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #24 - Anything Goes 

Crafty Friends Challenge # 21 - Anything Goes 

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #260 - Anything Christmas Goes

Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Anything Christmas Challenge

QKR Stampede Challenge #170 - Christmas 

I wonder if I can get my shoe fly cookies baked before we go play cards at 1pm.  That's all folks....

Winter Birthday

Wow! Do I have a list of winter birthdays!  

This card was super simple.  

Maybe, I should make a few more.

I used a CTMH stamp and the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge for the cuts on this card.

Challenges I am entering include:

Allsorts Challenge #342/343 - Anything but Christmas

Inkspirational Challenge #98 - Bah Humbug! Anything but Christmas

Cut It Up Challenge #86 - Brrrr! Winter 

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Snow

Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes; Stash Item: Anything Goes (It's all from the Stash!)

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Winter Birthdays

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #231 - Let It Snow!

TTFN

Christmas chores await....

 

Oops!

This card almost went in the Christmas card box for next year (Yes, I have extra!) without being entered in the Gerda Steiner Designs December Challenge.  Come to think of it, I think the kids across the street would like this cute Santa Peace image from GDS.  And since I'll need a card to go with their cookie box,  this one won't be going in next year's box anyway.

Additional Challenges:

Crafty Friends Challenge #21 - Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge # 260 - Anything Goes

Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Anything Christmas 

My Time to Craft Challenge #311 - Last Minute Christmas Makes

Suzy Bee's Bloomin December Challenge # 111- Anything Goes + Add pearls

Brown Sugar Challenge #177 - Anything Goes

QKR Stampede Challenge #170 - Christmas

Winter Wonderland Challenge - Christmas Bingo (I've used the last line down: ribbon, Santa, pearls)

Working on this blog post has been very difficult for me today.  Besides the fact that I have a monumental list of things I should be doing,  my laptop is on the kitchen table next to a freshly baked apple cake that smells delicious.  

Time to go wrap some gifts, or something....

A Cup of Thanks

I believe I have enough time, before I start dinner, eat and then head off to our grandson's basketball game, to post a CAS Thank You card.

These are SU stamps.  I love this tea cup.  Here I stamped it twice, fussy cut both and then used foam tape in between for dimension before adding it to the card.

Challenges:  

Brown Sugar Challenge #177 - Anything Goes 

Polkadoodles Challenge Week #51 - Anything Goes 

Simply Papercraft Challenge #20 - Anything Goes

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #342 - Thank You 

D.L.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #170 - Blue & White or Red & Green

Fantastic Tuesday Challenge #116 - Anything Goes but Make it Sparkle

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Dec 15th - Always Anything Goes  

 

 

3 Quick Christmas Cards

The Merry Christmas digi by Beccy Muir makes a wonderful, quick and easy card. 

Here are 3 cards I made using the same Merry Christmas digi:

(That's gold foil tape on top and bottom, but the bottom strip reflected the color of my shirt when I photographed the card.)

Challenges I am entering today include:

Beccy's Place December Challenge #94 - Anything Goes

As You Like It Challenge - Favorite Christmas Colors & Why (Red & Green because they are the traditional colors of the season.)

Cards 4 Galz Challenge #12 - Christmas 

Color Throwdown Challenge #373 - Any Colors & Christmas 

Okay.  That's It.  I give up!

My computer is acting strangely.  Every time I highlight something to copy and paste, it sends me back to the previous page, which make entering challenges pretty tedious.  

I need to finish signing my Christmas cards, anyway, so they get out in the mail.  

And the clothes dryer should be buzzing any minute now, too.

Then there's the pile of presents that refuse to wrap themselves....

I nearly forgot...I didn't get the tree out, yet!

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

Something Different + CTMH Class 12/15/15

Today I thought I'd show you something other than a Christmas card.  This headband was perfect to wear to the Red Hat card class I taught during my birthday month.

I started out with a plain silver CTMH headband and followed 2 tutorials, one to make the flower and one to cover the headband.   In the center of that purple satin ribbon flower is a glittery red button and white pearl.  

Challenges: 

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Dec 15th - Always Anything Goes

2 Creative Chicks Showcase #5 - Anything Goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #131 - Shimmer & Sparkle

**************

Yesterday's class was the last one for this year.  

Here are 3 of the 4 cards our little group made:

I had a little problem with the 4th card and decided I would finish it when I got home.  We stamped the tree image on a 5.25 x 4 " piece of white cs at Joyce's and then added the background color with daubers and sponges.  I just didn't like how mine turned out and, without going any further with the card, decided to bring it home and die cut the center section with the tree and make my card altogether different...

I still need a few Christmas cards for guys and this one will be perfect.
Challenges:
2 Crafty Girls Challenge #8 - Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #154 - Snow 
Vintage Stamping Challenge #39 - Winter Trees
A Snowflakes Promise Challenge #12 - Anything Christmas/Winter 
Paperminutes Challenge #413 - Winter Greetings
 

Ringing the bell

Here's a Christmas card that I haven't had a chance to post.  

Isn't Edna, by A La Art, a cutie?  She's colored with markers and pencils.  I popped the packages, bell and her hat for dimension; used my Craft-Dee Bowz maker for the triple loop bow; and added a few sequins with bling in the center.

Edna will be making an appearance in the following challenges: 
Blessings Ink Amusing Challenge - Happy Holidays 
The Ribbon Girls December Challenge - Christmas
Allsorts Challenge Week 341 - Golden Days
The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #49 - X is for Xmas
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #131 - Shimmer and Sparkle
Through the Purple Haze December Challenge - Christmas
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #341 - Christmas

Have a great day!

Monday Mojo Christmas Card

Today I turned the Mojo Monday Sketch #428 on its side to make this card.

 

The nativity (an inexpensive stamp I picked up at Michaels craft store) was stamped in Versamark and then embossed with SNS Antiquities ep.  The sentiment is a CTMH stamp.

Additional challenges:

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #167 - Traditional or Non-Traditional Colored Christmas Cards
One Stitch at a Time Challenge #252 - Anything Goes with Red
Stamping Sensations December Challenge - Anything goes with a stamp and ribbon
The Glory of Christmas Challenge #74 - Anything Goes

 

Gift Stack Teddy Bear

inside sentiment

The From the Heart December Challenge features this adorable digital Teddy with his stack of packages and 3 great sentiments.  I wish my guest room bed was piled with wrapped presents instead of shopping bags.  

Challenges: 

Kraftyhands December Challenge - One die Christmas 

Sweet Stampin Challenge - Christmas Presents 

Crafty Ctaz Challenge #305 - Sparkle n Shine 

The Stamping Boutique Challenge - Add Sparkle

ABC Challenge - W is for Wishes 

Animal Friends Challenge #33 - Christmas/New Year's 

ABC Christmas Challenge - Y is for Youngsters

 Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Shoes

Yesterday I decided to play with the Shoes in Bloom CD from Ooh La La Creations and make a set of cards for my mother's Foot Doctor, although I doubt she would ever recommend wearing the fabulous high heels on the CD.  This was my first experience using a CD for card images.  There are so many images and papers from which to choose.  And, I was surprised at how easy it was to size and print up the fancy heels.

Above is the Christmas Card I made for the doctor, herself, featuring a poinsettia heel from the CD, some great lace from Crafty Ribbons, a bit of baker's twine, and embossing using a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  The inside sentiment, below, is a CTMH stamp.

Challenges:

Fussy & Fancy Challenge #154 - Happy Holidays 

Jo's Scrap Shack Fun Friday Challenge #118 - Anything Goes

Southern Girls Challenge - A Bit of What You Fancy (I love shoes & I also love embossing.)

Fresh Brewed Designs December Challenge - Christmas

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #89 - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #291 - Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge # 259 - Anything Goes

Our grandson has an early basketball game this morning.  Gotta run!

My new favorite stamp

The last time I used this Harvest Owl stamp by Stampendous, I made a Thank You Card. Today I've made an Anniversary card and a Birthday card using the same stamp.

For this card, I removed the burgundy cs from the circle, glued a piece of white cs underneath, and stamped the sentiment on it.

 And here I placed a piece of tape over the words "Harvest Wishes" before inking the stamp; then removed the tape before stamping so the circle would be empty.  Then I stamped Happy Birthday there instead.

The set of Taylored Expressions tiny sentiments that I purchased last year has certainly come in handy!

Challenges: 

Naughty or Nice Challenge #22 - Show some Wing 

Seize the Birthday Challenge - Birthday + topping: Use a Holiday Stamp (I used a Harvest/Thanksgiving stamp)

Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes + Stash: AG (It's all from the stash.) 

Use Your Stuff Challenge #202 - Stamping 

Stamping Sensations December Challenge - Stamp + Ribbon

Now I must pop these 2 cards in the mail box.  TTFN

Winter 5th Birthday

My grand-niece keeps the cards from Aunt Silly (that would be moi) under her pillow, so I don't make them too lumpy.  Hopefully this telescoping card will bring her sweet and playful dreams!

I am sending her a box of colored pencils so she can color these little CTMH stamped critters herself.

Watch out!  

The beaver has a snowball aimed right at you!

Challenges:

The Paper Shelter Challenge - Special Birthday 

City Crafter Challenge #291 - Winter

Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes w/Stash Item Anything Goes  (Everything came from the stash.)

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Fun!Fun!Fun!

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #230 - UFO's (I made this card a few weeks ago, but with an owl in the center.  Actually it wasn't right in the center, which was a problem for me - and it wasn't closing right.  So I sat it aside.  With a few adjustments, it is now ready for the mailbox with UFO's waiting to be colored by the recipient.)

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Dec 9 - Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time Challenge #251 - Winter

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Winter Fun 4 Kids

Sweet Stampin Challenge - Snow Time

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper December Challenge

More than 1 Score Scorepal Challenge #22 - Winter (The inside "lens" pieces were each scored 1/2" inch from the end, folded back and adhered to the sides of the card; the front is a normal gate fold, scored 2 1/8" from each side.)

Have a great day, everyone!  

I promised Aunt Bess some ham and bean soup, so I better get that ham bone cooking!

 

Snow Angel

Beccy Muir has created a set of digital Snow Angels that are absolutely adorable.  The biggest problem I have with this cute little guy is deciding who's name to put on the envelope!

 The digital image is precolored.  I did add some liquid glass to the snow angel's buttons for shine and dimension.   Usually I don't make Christmas cards in peachy colors, but I really like how this one turned out.

Here is a closeup of the Tattered Lace die cut bow.  I mounted it on adhesive paper, burnished super fine glitter onto it with my fingertip, shook off the excess and fussy cut around it.  After being printed, the image was cut with a stitched circle die from La La Land.  The card is also embellished with skittles, sequins, and glitter gel on the snowflakes, which doesn't show on the photo.  The sentiment was included in the digi set.

Challenges I am entering include:

Beccy's Place December Challenge - Anything Goes 

DoubleClickSkittles Challenge - Use a Snowman

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge # 49- Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenge #304 - Happy Holiday

Crafting by Designs Challenge - Here Come the Holidays

Fab n Funky Challenge #285 - Snowflakes

Fresh Brewed designs Challenge - Anything Goes

Mod Squad Challenge - All That Glitters

ScrapyLand Challenge #31 - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #213 - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Christmas

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Dec 09 - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #34 - Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?

 

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #273 - Snowflakes

We haven't seen any real snowflakes in this part of Pennsylvania...yet.  But, I've used high gloss snowflake paper, a glitter paper snowflake corner die cut and a snowflake charm for this week's Tuesday Throwdown Snowflake Challenge card.  Our wonderful sponsor is Sami Stamps, which has fabulous digi stamps available in their shop here or the Etsy shop here.

For my Tuesday Throwdown DT card I've used the digital stamp, Snowflake Feathers.

 The sentiment is a CTMH stamp.

The owl was colored with a combination of markers and colored pencils and has a coating of Wink of Stella clear glitter for extra shine.  

My fabulous teamies have done their best to provide you with additional inspiration, hoping you'll come out and play in the snow with all of us at Tuesday Throwdown Challenge.

Bundle up!

Challenges:
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #23 - Anything Goes 
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #89 - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #291 - Anything Goes 
Crafty Boots Challenge - Christmas 
 

Wrapping Packages on Mojo Monday

A while ago I won a blog challenge and the prize was a gift certificate for Crafty Ribbons.  They have fabulous ribbons.  Even though it cost me more to ship it to the US than the prize value itself, I carefully chose some wonderful ribbons and laces.  One of the items I selected was a grab bag of all sorts of ribbon ends, a bit of everything.  When the package arrived, I was thrilled with all the bits and pieces.  The tree image on my card today is actually a piece of stamped grosgrain ribbon from that grab bag.

 Following today's Mojo Monday Contest Sketch, 

I decided to use some of the colors and the gift theme from the ribbon to make packages on the card.  The patterns on three of the packages are stamped, while the lower right package is a piece of scrap dp.  

I am also entering these current challenges:

Come and Get It Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas 

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #266 - Anything Goes

Great Impressions December Challenge - Anything Goes 

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #23 - Anything Goes

Pile It On Challenge #98 - Anything Goes with Christmas/Winter 

The Ribbon Girls December Card Challenge - Anything Goes 

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge # 131 - Shimmer & Sparkle (Hope you can see the glittery white shimmer trim and sparkle of the foil die cut frame.)

 

 

What was I thinking?

Fussy cutting is one of my favorite card techniques.  But there are times when I just don't think it through.  That would be the case with fussy cutting this digital image by East Wind.  The ribbons and streamers were quite a challenge!

This card is my entry in the annual Meowy Christmas Challenge at The East Wind.  And I am also entering it in the new Show Us Your Pussies Cats Only Challenge #1 with Cats and Christmas.

 

Other challenges include: A Gem of a Challenge #159 - Christmas Anything Goes; Just Us Girls Challenge #322 - Word Week:Merry;

Animal Friends Challenge #33 - Christmas/New Year's; 

Well, the cookies I just baked should be cool enough by now to put away.  Then I'm off to do some Christmas shopping!

Have a wonderful day!

Basketball Time

From April into October my DH and I faithfully attend our grandsons baseball and soccer games.  Last evening Matthew surprised everyone, including himself, by scoring 6 points in his first basketball game of the season.  His team won 12-8.  And this morning, very early this morning, Nick rang up 2 baskets before the refs called the game because of all the water on the court, dripping from the roof as the morning frost melted.  His team also won 22-8.  What wonderful confidence boosters to start their seasons!

You might be thinking I have a 

great basketball card to show you today. 

Nope!

Just thought I'd share.

 

 Today I have a Christmas card using this month's DOTM set, Happy Howlidays, from Imagine That! digis by Kris. 

I used the precolored images. 

I am entering the December SOTM Challenge at Imagine That! and a few additional challenges:

Crafty Catz Challenge #304 - Let it Snow

Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday Challenge #62 - Christmas

Patti's Creations Challenge #117 - Christmas

Fresh Brewed Designs December Challenge - AG Christmas

Melonheadz Friends Challenge - Use a Digi 

Oh my!  I just remembered I have a DT card to make for this coming Tuesday.  Back to the craft table!