Black & White & a pop of color

This morning I finished up a few more Christmas cards.  

Time to get back to some design team cards and a few requested projects.

I found this penguin, a retired stamp, skating about the table along with a little pile of Bugaboo sentiments.

 What a perfect opportunity to use this fun embossing folder.

The papers came from the scrap box, of course, 

Challenges:

Crafting from the Heart Challenge #170 - Anything Goes

Ooh-la-la Challenge #234 - Anything Goes 

Use Your Stuff Challenge - Free Week

Crafty Friends Challenge #63 - Christmas in July

Polkadoodles Challenge Week #30 - Anything Goes

Brown Sugar Challenge #261 - Anything Goes

Have a great day!

  

Simple Thank You

There's not much to say about this simple thank you card using CTMH paper, ribbon, sentiment stamps, and Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge; a few aqua skittles from Double Click; and my 'go to' embossing folder from Stampin' Up.

Challenges:

Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #311 - Freestyle 

Brown Sugar Challenge #261 - Anything Goes

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #168 - Anything Goes with Ribbon

DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge #209 - Happy Birthday or Thank You

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #169 - Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations Challenge - Flowers

It was nice of you to pop in.

I hope you liked today's card.

 

Fussy Friday

With a bridal shower to attend on Sunday, I thought I better get to work on a card to accompany my gift.  Did you ever have a day when you had a difficult time getting a special card just right?  Today was one of those days for me.  

I now have an unused assortment of shower umbrellas in various combinations and shades of pink, black and white, after finally deciding on which I liked best.

Ditto for the framed sentiment.

Here's the final card:

Cricut cuts are from CTMH Art Philsophy and Artistry  cartridges.

Papers, black shimmer tape, bling and sentiment stamp are also CTMH products.

Card design is a pleated skirt fold.

Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #133 - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Week of July 25th - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Anything Goes

City Crafter Challenge Week 372 - Something beginning with an "s" (stamped sentiment)

 

Boo boo making my Bugaboo card

Last Friday I was so eager to get my card made for the Christmas in July Challenge @ The Bug that I neglected to notice that it was a recipe challenge.  I had this card all but completed when I saw the recipe and this card didn't come even close to 

black, white or kraft with a pop of color and sparkle.  

It does have the Friday Freebie, however.

Challenges:

Bugaboo Crafty Challenge # 7 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #130 - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #488 - Anything Goes 

That's all for today.

 

 

Really Amazing

 Hi!  Thanks for stopping by!

I was never one for playing with paper dolls.  Those little tabs that you had to cut around and fold back to keep the clothes on the doll were so difficult to cut around.  Well, yesterday I played with paper bears.  Dressing each in its own little outfit, a colored with markers, or watercolor pencils, and some are stamped on scraps and paper pieced.

 The scraps are from another little sandwich bag of Christmas scrap paper, which had one extra 12x12 sheet of striped patterned paper with it.  Here's what I created with the contents of baggie #2.

First I made two cards like this, 

using a digi from Bugaboo Digi Stamps.

(Challenges I am entering are at the bottom of this post.)

Then I pieced some of the scraps and used another Bugaboo Digi Stamp for these two cards.

There were still plenty of scraps in the little bag.  So I just started making card fronts.  At one point I was looking in the big scrap box for a small piece of cs and came across a few more scraps of the same paper I was working with.  Till I was finished, I had 11 card fronts and had to go back and make 2 more bears.  

This is a picture of the cards on my work table before everything was glued down.

 Three tape runners, and two foot of foam tape later, the cards were complete.

 Each bear is holding a tiny stamped candy cane.

They sure were fun to cut out!

All 15 cards are headed to the
 Cards for Little Hearts Card Drive. 
And I'm headed back to the paper stash 
to find another baggie of scraps.

Challenges for the dragon card at the top of the post:

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's July Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Goes 

Christmas Cards All Year Round July Challenge - Anything Goes

Bugaboo Crafty Challenge #7 - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge #48 - Anything Goes

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #133 - Anything Goes

Crafting by Designs Challenge - Get Ready for Christmas

Craftaholics R Us Challenge #29 - Anything Goes

Amazing

As my regular visitors may recall, I have been busy going through 4 boxes of Christmas papers.  I have separated the full paper sheets and the partial sheets and scraps.  My intention is to make my Christmas cards this year using only the scraps.  Yesterday I began working with one small sandwich bag of coordinating scraps.  

It yielded ten cards!

 Wait, that's only 9!

Here's #10.

The papers are very old CTMH papers.

The tags are stick on complements that went with the paper.

The stamps are also CTMH.  The critters were in that little baggie, too.  I just did some fussy cutting.  That's silver foil tape down the sides.  The sentiment stamp actually says "Warm Winter Wishes", but I placed a piece of tape over the 'Warm' when I inked the stamp, removed the tape, and only stamped 'Winter Wishes'.

That's 10 more cards to send to 
Cards for Little Hearts.

Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 425- Christmas in July

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #52 - Christmas/Winter

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge # 360- Blue Christmas 

Crafting with Friends Challenge #48 - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge #199 - Christmas in July 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - You've Got the Edge 

Wow!  

Are we having a thunderstorm 

and torrential rain!  

The weeds will be so happy!

 

Day # 7 of Christmas in July @ The Bug Blog

It's the last day of the 

 Christmas in July Celebration at Catch the Bug.  

Although, you'll be seeing a lot more cards on my blog using fun Bugaboo holiday digi images. I printed a bunch in anticipation of this week's event, and they are great for the cards I send to Send a Smile 4 Kids  and Cards for Little Hearts. 

Day # 7 of the Christmas in July Celebration 

is a Recipe Challenge using today's Friday Freebie, 

which is easily available to download at Bugaboo Stamps.

I printed the image twice and did some paper piecing, first time I ever gouged out the eyes and then decapitated a reindeer.

Additional challenges I am entering: 

Unicorn Challenge #23 - Christmas in July

City Crafter Challenge #371 - Kraft Crafting 

Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #174 -  Christmas in July

C. R. A. F. T. Challenge #425 - Christmas

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #52 - Christmas/Winter 

Winter Wonderland Challenge - Use a Digi Image

Polkadoodles Challenge Week #28 - Anything Goes

Have a great weekend!

A is for Austin + CTMH Card Class 7/18/17

Tuesday was our CTMH card class at Joyce's.   

One of our gals, who used to be a regular and has had some health issues preventing her from attending, asked Joyce to pass on the name and address of a very ill 6 year old boy who loves to receive cards, especially anything with an "A" on it because he knows that's the first letter of his name.

I'm certain he will enjoy this waterfall card.

 

I used a tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers, 13 stamps from 7 different CTMH stamp sets, a digi ant from Deedee's Digi set Life's a Picnic, and those cute little ant brads are from Eyelet Outlet.

Challenges I am entering: 

Crafty Creations Challenge #346 - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge July 18-24 - Anything Goes 

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #4 - Anything Goes with a critter (alligator)

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge #48 - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft July Challenge - Anything Goes 
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #168 - Anything Goes 
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #193 - Lots of Layers

 ********************

And I can't forget to post the 4 cards we made at Tuesday's class:

 That's all for now.  

Enjoy your day!

Day # 6 of Christmas in July @ The Bug Blog

The Christmas in July Celebration at Catch the Bug

continues today with a color challenge with a
bonus if you use an Oldie But Goodie Bugaboo Digi.

This Bugaboo digi isn't on the new website, so I'm guessing it falls into the Oldie category.

My cards are going to Send a Smile 4 Kids 

and Cards for Little Hearts, 

 kept the embellishments to a minimum. 

Challenges: 
Christmas in July @ The Bug Day # 6 
 

Day # 5 of Christmas in July @ The Bug Blog

Today there is a Photo Challenge for Day #5 of the 

 Christmas in July Celebration at Catch the Bug

and it's supposed to be funny. 

We are suffering from the heat and humidity of the dog days of summer here in Pennsylvania.  This fun Bugaboo puppy thinks Reindeer Training Camp is pretty ruff, too. 

Challenges:  

Christmas in July Challenge - Day #5  Photo  (I picked up on the reindeer in the photo.)

 

Unicorn Challenge #23 - Christmas in July 

Deep Ocean Challenge #159 - Christmas in July 

Create and Make Challenge #13 - Anything Goes, option create your own sentiment

The Crafty Addicts Challenge #38 - Anything Goes/Something Funny or Humorous 

Little Red Wagon Challenge #403 - Christmas in July 

The Ribbon Girls Challenge - Use any Image 

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #167 - Anything Goes with Ribbon

I really struggled coming up with something for today.

Now, I'm going to go make a pan of lasagna.

That will be much easier.

Day # 4 of Christmas in July @ The Bug Blog

Day #4 is a Bingo Challenge at the  Christmas in July Celebration at Catch the Bug.

Since I'm on a huge mission to use only scraps on this year's Christmas cards, you might recognize this paper from Day # 3's project.   It was the last little bit of this paper I have.

I used the diagonal row of the Bingo board, Sparkly, Bugaboo Image, and Ribbon.

Challenges:

Day #4 Christmas in July @ the Bug Blog

Crafting From the Heart Challenge # 168 - Always Anything Goes

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #248 - Anything Goes

Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #309 - Christmas in July

Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Christmas in July

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 28 - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Challenge #184 - Christmas in July + a Sentiment

Creative Moments Challenge #122 - Anything Goes + Christmas in July twist

Here's a bonus card using the last of the pink patterned paper.

See you tomorrow for Day #5.

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #352 with Sparkle n Sprinkle

It was so nice of Sparkle n Sprinkle to sponsor

 Tuesday Throwdown's Tic Tac Toe Challenge this week.

I hope you'll be able to play along. 

Sparkle n Sprinkle has a great selection of stamps, both rubber and digital, glitter, embossing powders, cutting files, fabulous new mouses, all those necessary supplies, and more.  You'll definitely want to visit their store, blog and fb page.

For my Tuesday Throwdown Challenge DT card this week, I am using the Snowman with Poinsettia [Digi 450] digital stamp, artwork by Beccy Muir and generously supplied by

 Sparkle n Sprinkle. 

This cute guy is also available in the digital stamp set, 

Snow One Like You, in rubber, and as a cut file.

The first thing I did was resize the digi and print four copies.  

I used one of the printed images to cut a mask.

 I laid the mask over another copy of the image, and stamped the entire image with versamark.  After lifting the mask, I sprinkled snow embossing powder on those sections with the versamark and heated it.  It has a nice shiny finish which I just couldn't capture in my photo, but you can see the difference in the parts which were covered by the mask and those that are embossed.
(I'm saving that mask so I won't ever have to cut it again!)

 The image was fussy cut and colored with markers to coordinate with the ribbon I was planning to use.  The hat, top piece of scarf, mittens and flowers were cut from the third copy of the image and colored.  These were popped onto the image for dimension.

And I still have one copy of the image in reserve for another card.

This is the tic-tac-toe board you will need to enter the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge this week.

My card  has the three items in the center column: 

Flower, Sparkle, and both Wet and Dry Embossing.

I can't wait to see what you create for this week's

 Tuesday Throwdown Tic Tac Toe Challenge !

Challenges I am entering:

Sparkle n Sprinkle Creative Challenge - anything goes with an image from SNS (on Facebook, come join the group!)

Beccy's Place July Challenge - anything goes with a Beccy's Place image 
Crafting From the Heart Challenge # 168 - Always Anything Goes 
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #248 - Anything Goes
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #309 - Christmas in July
Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Christmas in July
Polkadoodles Challenge Week 28 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge #184 - Christmas in July + a Sentiment
Creative Moments Challenge #122 - Anything Goes + Christmas in July twist

It was nice of you to visit.  If you have time, you're welcome to look around.  It would be lovely if you'd follow my blog.  I've been stuck at 133 followers forever. 

Day # 3 of Christmas in July @ The Bug Blog

Today we are wrappin' it up with a 

non-traditional Christmas colored twist for the

 Christmas in July Celebration at Catch the Bug.

How do you like this octagon gift box and tag ?

The Bugaboo digi must be retired. 

I got it in 2013 but can't find it in the store to give you a link.

The pink and black design paper scraps, neither one a full sheet, came from my stash.  I used markers to color the digi to match the candy cane paper.  The die cuts on the box are by Spellbinders and La la Land.  A friend just sent me the octagon buttons as a gift.  Another friend sent me the candy cane charm.  

My blog friends are the best!!!!

Here's another view of the box:

Well, that's my ABC entry for Day #3 of the Christmas in July Celebration at Catch the Bug Blog.

 

Additional Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas  Challenge #342 - Anything Christmas Goes + Use a Die Cut
(The die cuts on the box are by Spellbinders and La la Land.)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - July Anything Goes
Die Cut Divas Challenge - Christmas in July (The die cuts on the box are by Spellbinders and La la Land.)
Craft-dee Bowz July Challenge - Anything Goes with a handmade bow
2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #4 - Anything Goes with a critter 
The Holly and Ovy Christmas Challenge #10 - Anything Christmas Goes 
The House That Stamps Built Challenge J1217 - Tic Tac Toe (I used the first row: polka dots, sweet treats and hot pink.) 

Creative Moments Challenge #122 - Anything Goes + Christmas in July Twist
Sweet Stampin' Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes 
Go Tag Thursday Challenge #57 - Button It
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #167 - Anything Goes (I used polka dot wire ribbon, black abd white checked fabric ribbon, and baker's twine.)
Patti's Creations Challenge #136 - Something Sweet : candy cane
Cut It Up Challenge #126 - Christmas in July (The die cuts on the box are by Spellbinders and La la Land.)
Scor-pal More than One Score Challenge #39 - Die Cuts  (Multiple scores required to make the box.)

Oh, My!

I just finished typing all those challenges and my Firefox crashed!

Luckily, all I lost were my labels.  

That's it for today.  I'm not taking any more chances!

 

Day # 2 of Christmas in July @ The Bug Blog

The Christmas in July Celebration at Catch the Bug

continues today with a sketch challenge. 

Bugaboo Snowman 001 comes in black & white or colored.

This is the colored version.

My cards are going to Send a Smile 4 Kids 

and Cards for Little Hearts, so once again I've made two. 

 

The buttons on the sketch threw me off a bit, because they can be a hazard to children.  Then I remembered I had some button brads.  I attached these to the top 4 layers before adhering that to the bottom layer and card base.  They are not coming off unless the child eats the entire card!  

I'm attempting to make this year's cards with leftovers from past years.  I am not cutting another full sheet of paper until the scraps are gone.  That's why the papers used are not identical.  However, the papers, brads and sentiment stamp with stowy background are all from my CTMH stash.

This is my Day #2 entry in the 

Christmas in July @ The Bug Blog Challenge, 

 as well as my entry in these additional

challenges:

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Christmas in July 

Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #96 - Christmas in July 

Come and Get It Challenge - Use 2 or more designer papers

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Christmas in July

Come back tomorrow for Day #3.

Day #1 of Christmas in July @ The Bug Blog

The Christmas in July Celebration at Catch the Bug is starting off with a theme: Make It Sparkle and Shine.

 

I chose a piece of patterned paper with shine already in it, added the Bugaboo Snowman which has been colored with black, violet, and clear Wink of Stella, and accented the Bugaboo sentiment with a shiny silver bow.  The two digis are actually portions of two different Bugaboo block images.

Here's a closeup so you can see the sparkle in the coloring.

My cards are going to Send a Smile 4 Kids 

and Cards for Little Hearts, which is why I've made two. 

Besides entering the Christmas in July @ the Bug Blog, Day # 1 Saturday  Make It Sparkle & Shine Theme Challenge, 

I am also entering these equally fun challenges:

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Christmas in July 4 Kids

Aud Sentiments Challenge - Christmas in July

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #486 - Ribbons & Bows

Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Christmas in July

Day # 2 of  Christmas in July @ the Bug Blog is a sketch challenge, so I'll be back tomorrow,  after my grandson's baseball game, with 2 more cards.  Nick had 2 games today and hit a home run in each game.  It was so much fun watching those balls fly over the fence, and the smile on Nick's face as he ran the bases.  

Yeah, Nick!  Too bad the team lost both games.

(.  

Friday Fun

One of the partially made cards littering my craft table has become this birthday card for a dear friend.  

 The background is made up of 1/2" squares of leftover paper, glued together randomly and then embossed.

Does anyone else save the real skinny strips that are leftover when you make a punched border?  That's the origin of the 2 pink strips.  

The bordered stamp is from CTMH. 

Challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Week of July 11 - Anything Goes 
In the Pink Challenge #122 - Special Occasion (birthday)
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge # 167- Anything Goes with Ribbon

That's all I have time for today.  My grandson's baseball game for tonight was just cancelled due to rain.  So I think I can get the last few almost finished cards on my table, finished before dinner.