Gift-filled sleigh

Happy weekend everyone! Ugh - I'm dangerous in a craft store - to my credit card that is!! Yesterday I visited Anchor Paper, the nearest thing to being my LSS (it's a paper warehouse with a fabulous craft section). I came away with a bag of new goodies, including several stamps. The new Taylored Expression Gifted Background and matching Cutting Plate found their way into my bag - thought they'd be perfect for the current Christmas Kickstart challenge. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

Poptone Black Licorice; Lawn Fawn Winter Plaid

Stamps - Taylored Expressions Gifted Background; 

Hero Arts Holiday Sayings (retired)

My Favorite Things Merry Everything (retired)

Dies - Taylored Expressions Gifted Cutting Plate
Sleigh by unknown
Other - Copic Markers; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

The stamped die cut sleigh came from my sister-in-law, a fellow card maker. She gave me several & I've had them for quite a while - can't remember the brand. She's really into Stampin' Up so it might be from them; she was unavailable for consultation. Anyone recognize it?? Thought a sleigh would be perfect for a pile of gifts! The TE stamp/die cuts 30 gifts so I have quite a few left to play with!! Since the sleigh is large, I went with an A7 card - the MFT Santa fit perfectly at the sleigh's front.

#20 - It's a Gift!

Hmmm - just noted that Christmas Kickstart allows 3 entries max. Well, this is my fourth card with gifts but I only linked one from my previous post. If not kosher, I'm sure Jo will let me know! I also made a few more poinsettia cards today so I'm up to 60 Christmas cards. Only 15 more to my goal so if I make 3/week I'll be there before it's time to start mailing :) Probably a first, since I'm usually mailing a batch while scurrying to make more - LOL!!

Thanks for the visit and kind comments!!

More gifts!

TGIF!! So glad the weekend has arrived! I was inspired by a Facebook Scramble (ended Wednesday) to use a grid or inchies. I made a card with this month's My Monthly Hero kit (see it here, if you missed it) for the challenge and still had the kit laying on the counter. Kit includes a die with openings to match the grid windows. I had stamped one in white just to try it and decided to make an Advent card out of it! There's a trio of gifts behind one window so I thought I might as well add it to the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge. I stamped a few of the gift images so, as a twofer, I created a CAS card. First, the grid card closed:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle red A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts retired numbers & September 2019 My Monthly Hero kit (grid)

Window Die - September 2019 My Monthly Hero kit (still available as of this post)

Ink - Distress Oxide: Fired Brick, Cracked Pistachio, Gathered Twigs & Barn Door

Other - Distress Markers: Fired Brick, Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron, Mustard Seed

I had stamped the grid first to try it and then had to blindly try to line up the windows. Not perfect but close enough to use!! I considered leaving all the windows white but then I got ink on one of them - hate when that happens! So, I inked some of the windows and also their edges to cover my boo-boo. It took quite a while to stamp all the numbers on the windows. I didn't do them in order for more interest. I popped the window panel onto a red A2 card with some thin foam.

I used a combo of die cuts, stamped images and sentiments for the spots behind the windows. This was a long process too - cutting and fussy cutting many of them. Well worth it for a special recipient! Here's the card with the windows open.

Supplies for window insides: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 

Tim Holtz kraft metallic

Stamps - Art Gone Wild Holiday Little Pics (11 of the little images); 
Lawn Fawn Demo Set Fall/Winter 2017 (gift trio)
Hero Arts Hero Greetings Christmas Messages (4 sentiments)
Stamp set, plus matching dies - Pink and Main Christmas Mugs

Dies - Lawn Fawn Mini Snowflakes; Hero Arts Nesting Infinity Hearts

Other - Copic Markers, Stickles, Glossy Accents; Memento Tuxedo Black ink

The glossy candies are leftovers from a card I made for CAS Christmas. See it here if desired. The gift trio was an image from a Lawn Fawn 2017 demo set from an LSS class. I had never used the Art Gone Wild set before (have had it for eons) and it had the perfect images for my windows! It also has 4 small sentiments but I'd already stamped some; will remember them for next time...

Finally, my twofer using the Lawn Fawn present image from above supply list:

Other supplies - Memory Box A2 card; scrap of Hero Arts packaging for the grid paper;

Hero Arts CL343 Holiday Sayings for the sentiment; Memento Tuxedo Black ink;

Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Die

Yay - two more Christmas cards done! I'm up to 57 and I'm really grateful for the CAS Christmas and Christmas Kickstart challenges for helping me get there!!

#20 - It's a Gift!

Thanks for stopping! Enjoy your weekend!!

Magical birthday

Hi all - my friend Lin (Sending Hugs) is a designer for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog and I saw her beautiful card for the current Wednesday Challenge. They're doing Anything Goes using Crafter's Companion products. I'm excited to play along as I just finished a card today using a fabulous CC kit I found at my local Tuesday Morning store. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; papers from kit;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps and dies from Crafter's Companion Monthly Craft Kit 10 Build a Scene

Other - Copic Markers, Michael's gem, stars by unknown

Here's a photo of the dies and stamps, plus a couple of the papers, contained in this kit:

Oops - just noticed I forgot to put the fairy die back with the others before I photographed them. Hmmm - will have to go looking for it as things tend to disappear around here!! The kit also includes white card bases in various sizes (plus envelopes), along with card stock, ribbons, and patterned papers.

Simon Says Stamp carries the Crafter's Companion 6x6 Paper Pad by Chloe containing these wonderful marbled patterned papers - so yummy!! I used them behind the leafy frame and on the mushrooms. As you can see in my kit photo, the leafy border is not a complete frame. CC intends it for a 5.5" square card but I used it for an A2 card. I cut it on a 4.25x5.5" panel and just trimmed out the bits that got mangled while cutting the smaller dimension. I then cut more leaves to glue in those areas; close up you can tell it's not a full frame but I still like how it turned out. I backed the frame with a marbled panel & trimmed it to show a small edge of the card base.  Stamped a sentiment using green ink. Added diecut mushrooms and flowers and the fairy (colored with Copics with Stickles on the wing) along with some gems and stars (gift from my friend Heather Stamping & Stitching). Done!

I think my fairy looks a bit like a Barbie doll - what do you think? I have a hard time hand drawing faces but I didn't want to leave her without any features. Oh well....

Anything Goes 092619

Thanks for stopping - hope you're having a great week!!

Christmas gifts at Christmas Kickstart!

I spotted the latest Christmas Kickstart challenge this morning and had fun creating a card using a gift, this one from a Silhouette file. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle red A2 card, Paper Studio glitter,

Lawn Fawn Peace Love Joy & Snow Day Remix 6x6 pads, 

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, scrap of dotted green unk

Stamps - Hero Arts CM379 Hero Greetings Christmas Messages

Silhouette file - Design ID 23864 Present 

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired stitched rectangle),

Our Daily Bread Mini Tags

Other - Distress Oxide ink; Hero Arts felt accents (retired), Joy Ultra thin foam

Challenge 20 - It's a Gift!

I started by cutting the present in green glitter paper, plus an offset mat in white. I backed the present with a square of red patterned paper from Lawn Fawn Peace Joy Love, then adhered it with foam squares to the white mat. I added two tags - one cut from a Lawn Fawn Snow Day Remix paper and one cut from white and stamped with holly and the sentiment. Finally, I added some 2010 felt embellishments (bow and holly). I cut a stitched rectangle and added a strip of dotted paper for a "table". Done!

This was a fun challenge - thanks to Jo at Christmas Kickstart for offering it! The challenge runs for two weeks if you have an urge to participate. I'm up over 50 Christmas cards in the stash so am well ahead of schedule - yay!! Thanks for stopping by!

An Autumn Scramble card - use a grid/inchie

Hey all - I've been away but got back in time to Scramble with some Hero Arts friends. A Scramble, if you're an HA fan, is a timed activity - 90 minutes to create and upload your card based on a specific theme. Cindy (Escape to Stamping) is running it on Facebook now - very fun, if you remember to check in there (I'm not very active). Anyway, this time we're doing grid/inchie cards - here's mine:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 kraft card; Basic Grey Serenade

Stamps - Hero Arts September 2019 My Monthly Hero kit,

Happy Thanksgiving (Hero Arts/SSS Stamptember 2016)

CL882 Autumn (retired from 2012 but at SSS as a combo)

CL119 Happy Thanksgiving (retired from 2008)

Inks - various Distress Oxide colors; Hero Arts gold

Other - Hero Arts gems (retired); Distress markers

I just got back from New Orleans where Sweet Adelines International held its annual convention and competition. Our chorus, City of Lakes competed last year in St Louis; this was our "off" year as you can only qualify every other year, giving more choruses a chance to participate. We qualified to go to Louisville next year. This year the chorus winners were from Sweden and the quartet winners from FL - what fun to sit in the audience and enjoy the performances! You can watch them on YouTube, if desired: Chorus - Rönninge Show Chorus /Quartet Viva

Anyway, just before I left, I received my September My Monthly Hero kit (still available for purchase as of today). One of the kit stamp images is a cabinet, suggestive of a grid so I went with it. I supplemented the kit with a few fall images from three other sets. This will be a perfect card to send to a friend's hubby who has lung cancer. Dale created some beautiful plaques over the years for Sweet Adeline of the Year recipients from our chorus - I was lucky enough to get one back in 2007.

That's it for today - I have to get a few Christmas cards made, plus some birthday cards for October. Hope you're having a wonderful day and thanks for stopping!! Thanks too to Cindy for a fun Scramble!!

Scandinavian Holiday at Christmas Kickstart

Hope you're getting a wonderful start to your weekend! I'm playing along with Christmas Kickstart Challenge 19 to make a Scandinavian holiday card - how could I not, being half Scandinavian?! Well, I went crazy last night and made three cards! Here they are in one photo:

#19 Scandinavian Holiday

Over a month ago, I bought the Hero Arts Color Layering Nordic Tree stamp set at my LSS which participated in Hero Arts' early release program. Only bad news, they didn't get the matching die. Good news, I ordered it to come with my latest My Monthly Hero kit and it arrived yesterday - yay!! Instead of using the background layering stamp, I just stamped the patterned ones directly onto white die cut trees. I die cut a stack of trees and stamped each with one of the three patterns - so pretty!

Here's a close-up of each card with supply list - first, a single tree with a JOY sentiment:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle A2 card, Paper Studio craft

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White,

scraps of checked kraft and dotted pp

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Nordic Tree with matching die,

Scandinavian Holiday by Lia Griffith (star) and 

Christmas Crystals (retired - sentiment)

 Die - Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Borders

Other - Michael's gems, Fired Brick Distress Oxide ink,

Ultra thin foam

The checked background behind the tree is part of some Hero Arts packaging - I've managed to get tags and sentiment strips before but this time I managed to salvage a nice chunk! Next, another single tree with a different star and a birdie:

Supplies: Paper - patterned A2 card (not sure of the brand), Poptone Black Licorice,

Lawn Fawn Snow Day Remix 6x6, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Nordic Tree with matching die, 

Scandinavian Holiday by Lia Griffith (bird)

Holiday Sayings (retired sentiment), Family & Friends (retired star)

Die - Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Borders, Hero Arts Rounded Rectangle Infinity Dies

Other - Michael's gems, Fired Brick Distress Oxide ink, Ultra thin foam

Finally, a trio of trees. While there are 3 Scandinavian layers in the set, I'd only stamped one of them once so I just doubled up on one of the other patterns.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle A2 card,  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Nordic Tree with matching die

Additional Die - Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Borders

Other - Michael's & Hero Arts gems, Fired Brick Distress Oxide ink, Ultra thin foam

That's it for today. Thanks to Jo for a fun challenge - I really enjoyed playing around with my new Nordic set! I appreciate your visit and kind comments - be sure to let me know which is your favorite!

A Trio of Poinsettia Christmas Cards

How many poinsettia dies does a stash need?? Well, mine found room for another one - this time from Hero Arts new holiday catalog. Love, love, love it!!! I used it to make a quick trio of Christmas cards - be sure to let me know your favorite! First up - a pink one:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle shimmer A2 card, Momenta watercolor paper,

Paper Studio glitter, Lawn Fawn Winter Plaid,

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Dies - Hero Arts Paper Layering Poinsettia, 

Impression Obsession Pinked Stitched Sentiment Banner, 

My Favorite Things Blueprints retired (for stitched rectangle)

Stamps - Hero Arts Peace & Joy (retired)

Other - foam tape, Memento London Fog & Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide inks

Thought of those unusual colors of poinsettia and decided to use scraps of a pink and white printed watercolor paper for my flower and a teal-ish color for the leaves. I adore Lawn Fawn's plaid papers and have several different 6x6 pads. Thought this white and grey piece from the Winter pad looked perfect with the pink flower. The sentiment label is one of a trio and I cut all three, using a different one for each card. Couldn't resist a purple one for card two:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle shimmer A2 card, Momenta watercolor paper,

Curious Metallics Graphite, Lawn Fawn Knit Picky,

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Dies - Hero Arts Paper Layering Poinsettia, 

Impression Obsession Pinked Stitched Sentiment Banner,

My Favorite Things Blueprints retired (for stitched rectangle)

Stamps - Hero Arts Holiday Sayings (retired)

Other - foam tape, Wilted Violet Distress Oxide ink

I love the pattern in the grey Knit Picky paper and decided to make the leaves a metallic grey. Finally, a traditional red one, using the same patterned paper but in the green:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle shimmer A2 card, 

Paper Studio holiday green and red, Lawn Fawn Knit Picky,

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Tim Holtz kraft metallics

Dies - Hero Arts Paper Layering Poinsettia, 

Impression Obsession Pinked Stitched Sentiment Banner, 

My Favorite Things Blueprints retired (for stitched rectangle)

Stamps - Hero Arts Holiday Sayings (retired)

Other - foam tape, Pine Needles Distress ink

For all the flowers, I cut two of the layers twice each for a full flower. I put ultra thin foam tape between each layer for some dimension. I already have a fourth flower die cut from more papers in the Knit Picky pack. Very quick and easy!! And my Christmas stash increased again - yay!!

How's your Christmas stash coming? I'm now working on a card for the latest Christmas Kickstart Challenge. Hope to be back with that one later this week. Thanks for stopping by today!!

Twofer Critters

Woo hoo - time for critters!! I was able to crank out a couple cards for this month's Twofer Card Challenge announced today. Hopefully my photos aren't too dark as the sun was starting to go down when I finished! I assessed my Christmas card production and decided I needed to step it up! So, I'll probably be including a Christmas card for every Twofer for a while!! I had a birthday sentiment in my pile from Taylored Expressions so I went with that theme for card two. My stamps in common are the kitty and doggy from a fun Hero Arts Stamp and Cut set.

Here's a closer look at each, plus a supply list:

Supplies: Paper DCWV Ms Sparkle green A2 card, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White,

Lawn Fawn Knit Picky, Paper Studio holiday red

Stamp, plus matching dies - Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background;
Hero Arts Fluffy Stockings Stamp and Cut and 
Playful Ampersand (an exclusive for Archiver's store - long defunct)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (stitched rectangles)

Other - Copic markers, foam tape,

Ink - Fired Brick Distress Oxide, Memento Tuxedo Black

Kitty is grey, don't know why she turned out so blue in the photo?! I found the ampersand stash during a clean up effort (yes, never-before-used) and knew it would tie the sentiments together perfectly. Have been enjoying the grey patterns in the Knit Picky pad - will have more Christmas cards including this paper.

Supplies: Paper DCWV Ms Sparkle blue A2 card, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White,

Carta Bella It's a Celebration 6x6 pad, unknown blue for pocket

Stamp, plus matching dies - Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background 

Hero Arts Fluffy Stockings Stamp and Cut 

Die - Frantic Stamper Jeans Pocket

Other - Copic markers, foam tape, Memento Tuxedo Black ink

For card two I stamped the kitty and doggy heads and carefully trimmed away any parts of the stockings. The blue jeans pocket was an item I die cut while at Heather's back in July. She had this yummy blue cardstock so I die cut a bunch of these pockets - thanks again Heather!!

Yay - another Christmas card for the stash - I'm up to 48 now!! Plus a birthday card for an animal lover; I know many :) Thanks to Darnell and crew for another fun challenge. Thanks to you for stopping by!!

Trio of good luck cards

Hope you had a great weekend! I spent part of it enjoying barbershop harmony with two quartets, Vocality and Sparkle (one men and the other women). Vocality performed at a friend's church and Sparkle had "send-off" party in preparation for their trip to the next Sweet Adeline International contest. Both groups sing extremely well and entertain too. My chorus doesn't have to compete at International this year (will go next year) but we have members in three different quartets who'll compete in the quartet contest. I made a card for each quartet with a similar theme of Mardi Gras masks, given the contest will take place in New Orleans.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 cards, Curious Metallic cardstock formed into an A7 card,

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Paper Studio glitter,

Doodlebug and Graphic 45 patterned papers

Dies - Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles & Swirl Delight (both retired),

Impression Obsession Good Luck, My Favorite Things Blueprints (various).

Hero Arts MMH (mask & starbursts)

Stamps - Momenta & Hero Arts

Other - Ranger Silver ep, Copic Markers, Stickles, 

Glossy Accents, 3M Washi tape, Papermania star gems

The masks came from the December 2016 My Monthly Hero kit. I hadn't used this image yet and wondered when I ever would. Luckily New Orleans has Mardi Gras, even though it's not taking place at the same time as the Sweet Adeline convention! Which card is your favorite? Card three may seem a bit busy but I thought it was in keeping with the theme - sorta reminds me of a  theater marque. Spice got card one, Wicked got card two and Sparkle, of course, got card three. Wishing all three the best of luck in competition!

That's it for now. Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful day!!

Holiday treats for CAS Christmas

Hey all - I'm back with a couple cards for this month's CAS Christmas challenge to use holiday treats.

Fun theme and it gave me a chance to use a Pink and Main stamp set I bought last year. I couldn't resist it then but, as usual, hadn't made time to give it a play until now. Also as usual, I started by die cutting a bunch of the items in the set, then stamping and coloring them. With a pile of stamped and die cut images, I played around until I had some designs I liked. Here's card one:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamp set, plus matching dies - Pink and Main Christmas Mugs

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black and Pine Needles Distress Ink

Other - Copic Markers, Christmas Red Stickles, Glossy Accents, 

Joy Ultra thin foam, 3M Washi tape

I used three of the four mugs in the P&M set for the first card. For the next card I used some of the peppermints and candy canes, arranging them along the bottom below a couple of score lines. The sentiment is from an old Hero Arts clear set, white embossed.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle shimmer red A2 card, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamp set, plus matching dies - Pink and Main Christmas Mugs

Sentiment - Hero Arts Holiday Wishes (retired)

Ink - Distress Embossing Ink; Fired Brick and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide,

Other - Glossy Accents, Ranger Seafoam White ep, Joy Ultra thin foam, Stickles

Finally, an anniversary card that started out as a Christmas treat card! I was playing around with an ancient QuicKutz die featuring a string of gingerbread men and women. I thought they were linked together but they turned out to be individuals. I was trying to link them along an entire card but got off in my desired placement. I ended up with just a couple on there. Piled up nearby was a stack of sentiments from Taylored Expressions - absolutely LOVE this stamp and matching die (which will be handy for other sentiments). The anniversary one was the perfect size over my couple - boom, an anniversary card! I still have a stack of gingerbread people so may try a Christmas card yet - LOL.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle shimmer red A2 card, Lawn Fawn Knit Picky,

Poptone Kraft, Paper Studio green

Stamp plus matching die - Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background

Die - Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Borders

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Gathered Twigs Distress Ink

Other - Ultra thin foam

That's it for today. It turned out to be a gorgeous, sunny day with a high of 74F - I'm glad I managed to get out in it!! Thanks for stopping and thanks to the CAS Christmas team for a fun challenge!

Couple of bday cards and another snowflake angel

Hey there - hope you had a great Labor Day weekend! Hard to believe it's September already - the weather here has been sunny but cool, perfect really! I'm here to share a couple August birthday cards and another angel Christmas card. First - a card I made for my sister Tami:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle green A2 card, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 

Poptone Black Licorice, Momenta Watercolor, Carta Bella It's a Celebration patterned
Stamps - Sunny Studios Everything's Rosy (with matching dies); Hero Arts It's Your Day 

Dies - Taylored Expressions Frame in Frame Cutting Plate & Layer it Rustic Floral (leaves),

can't remember whose label

Other - Michael's gems, Copic and Distress Markers for shading

I used the last of my roses stamped at Heather's house in July. I ran out of the leaves so used some die cut leaves from a new Taylored Expressions set I couldn't resist. I also used a fabulous TE frame set that I can see using a lot! Next a card for my Auntie Jean - Dad's baby sister.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle blue A2 card, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 

 Momenta Watercolor, Ms Sparkle Watercolor Pastel patterned

Stamps -  Hero Arts It's Your Day

Dies - Taylored Expressions Frame in Frame Cutting Plate & Layer It Rustic Floral 

Other - Distress Oxide Inks Worn Lipstick and Twisted Citron, Michael's gems

This time I used both the leaves and the flowers from my new TE die set - love it!! Also used more of the frames, this time cut from a deeper blue from the Ms Sparkle card pack. A little shading with Distress Oxide ink really added a lot, I think.

Finally I have another version of the angel card I posted here. This time I used teals and decided the sentiment needed something to make it stand out more. So I triple stacked it and then layered some circles behind it. In fact, on the purple card from the earlier post, I ended up adding a white circle underneath the vellum to pop the sentiment. Do you do that too (modify after posting)? Love to second guess myself - LOL. I also used some of the snowflake centers to embellish the angel and sentiment.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle A2 card, Paper Studio glitter, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 

Poptone Black Licorice, Hero Arts vellum, Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic 

Stamps - angel (retired) by Sizzix

Dies - Joy & angel frame (from Sizzix angel set) & Hero Arts Snowflake Pattern and Infinity Circles

Other - Copic Markers, Stickles, ultra thin foam tape

That's it for today, friends - thanks for stopping!! Enjoy the rest of your week!