Happy Halloween, Happy Autumn!!

Happy Halloween or Happy Autumn, whichever you're celebrating today!! Remember, it's the final day to add your Halloween or Autumn card to the current Die Cut Diva Challenge. You have until 9pm Pacific time to link up to our gallery. Bugaboo, our fabulous sponsor this month, has donated a $12 prize; the winner will be randomly selected and announced at DCD on October 3rd. 

Here's my last-of-the-month Die Cut Diva inspiration card using the darling Bugaboo Fall Fence Element. I absolutely love this sweet owl atop the fence! You can see more team inspiration HERE.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio brown & ivory;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Digi image - Bugaboo Fall Fence Element

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Fall Trees (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; white gel pen; black pencil;

Memento Rich Cocoa ink

I resized the fence image to fit an A2 card and printed it on Neenah. Colored with Copics and die cut with a stitched rectangle. The ivory layer was die cut with a plain rectangle. Layered it up, stamped a sentiment and done; fairly quick and easy. Thanks to Bugaboo for this wonderful image!

I had printed out the Fall Fence in a bigger size too, not knowing which I'd use for my Diva card. I had some extra time so decided to made something with the bigger print. Here's that card:

Similar supplies except my sentiment is from the September 2020 My Monthly Hero kit. When I cut the image in portrait, I had a few leaves and some fence left over. I used the leaves on a third card, this one for an autumn birthday.

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 card; Paper Studio ivory;

American Crafts patterned

Digi - leaves from Bugaboo's Fall Fence Element

Dies - Spellbinders Renaissance Jubilee (retired);

Simon Says Stamp Detail Ringlet Plate

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Stamp - Divinity Designs Mini Tag Sentiments

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check back at Die Cut Divas tomorrow for a new challenge & on the 3rd for the October winner and Design Team faves!

PS - don't eat too much Halloween candy!!

Slimline poinsettia

Hey crafty friends! We celebrated a fun birthday with my dad yesterday - sorry he didn't win Phase 10 (a card game). My sister-in-law won which was ok as she'll be a birthday girl next week! They both loved the cards I made!

Today I had a chance to play along at the current Stay Crafty with Hero Challenge - #19 already - where they have a slimline theme. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Holiday & Brights;

Tim Holtz kraft metallic; Momenta watercolors;

ephemera from 10/2019 Spellbinders card kit

Stamps - Hero Arts CL620 Jolly (retired) and

CG815 Christmas Rose Bold Print

Dies - Hero Arts Paper Layering Poinsettia &

DC195 Christmas Trimmings Stamp and Cut

Frantic Stamper Slimline Frames

Other - Hero Arts and Memento inks, white gel pen

I love the jumbo sentiments in a 2012 Hero Arts stamp set, sadly retired. Any one of the three (Jolly, Merry, Peace) would be perfect on a slimline card! I chose Merry and then added a die cut Christmas from another Hero set. I had a maroon slimline frame already die cut from the other day when I was trying my new set from FS. Thought it would be perfect with a bright green backing, stamped tone on tone with the Christmas Rose. I cut another pink poinsettia (see a previous one here), then added some ephemera - done!

That's it for today. Thanks to Hero Arts for the fun challenge and thanks to you for stopping by! Not enough pink, despite the pink poinsettia, to add to Pink Christmas at Christmas Kickstart but check it out - there are a couple more days to play there!!

Celebrating Masculine and Feminine Birthdays

Hey everyone - hope you're having a great week!! I shared a card earlier in the week for my dad's birthday which is today. Had to laugh - Wednesday night Mom asked me "where's my card?" I said, "huh?" Turns out she wanted me to make a card for her to give to my dad! We're celebrating with my brother and his wife (who's birthday is later in October) tomorrow so Mom wanted a card for Donna too! Guess what I was doing yesterday! Here are my cards with a masculine and a feminine twist:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio kraft A2 card

and black cardstock;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired)

Stamps - Hero Arts It's Your Day & 

Past Times (both retired);

Stampin' Up In the Pines

Other - Stampin' Up Subtle 3D embossing folder;

Copic Markers; Distress Inks

Simple card - stamped the train & the trees, colored with Copics. I hand drew the train smoke and the railroad tracks and filled in the ground. Blended tumbled glass for the sky & stamped a sentiment. Die cut with a stitched rectangle, matted with black and added to an embossed kraft card. Finally used my Subtle embossing folder - love the soft texture it provided!!

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle & Co A2 pink card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio maroon & glitter

Dies - Poppystamps Spectacular Happy Birthday (retired);

Frantic Stamper Slimline Frames

My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired)

Stamps - Hero Arts Dictionary Greeting & 

Elegant Weeds (both retired);

Other - Memento inks; Crystal Stickles

I was digging through my stamp stash and found two Hero Arts stamp sets - thought they'd be fun together. I just got the FS slimline dies and had tested them all by cutting from maroon cardstock. Decided the littlest frame would look nice behind the sentiment. Added some stickles - done!

I'm sharing the train card at Watercolor Wednesday where Marsha's hosting with the theme of masculine. The sister-in-law card will go to Darnell's NBUS challenge since the little scalloped frame is being used for the first time. The train card would work too since Subtle ef gets first play here.

Thanks for the fun challenges and thanks for stopping!! Off to eat bday cupcakes!!

A Mini Christmas Tree

Hey all - I'm taking a break from cards and sharing a 3D project I made using Concord & 9th's Take a Bough Encore die set. Here's my mini Christmas tree:

Supplies: Paper - Concord & 9th;

Spellbinders gold foil; Paper Studio Glitter;

Neenah White

Dies - Concord and 9th Take a Bough Encore Bundle;

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Other - dowel and wood slice from Concord & 9th;

Jolee's Holiday Lights; Duck Tape brand glitter dots

In these days of pandemic, I look for fun things to do online. Concord & 9th offered a class on their mini Christmas trees last night and I signed up. Rec'd my kit in plenty of time and had die cut everything I needed for the largest (finished height about 8.75") of three trees using their Clover cardstock. The other two trees use Evergreen and Sea Glass cardstock - both gorgeous colors. I've only started die cutting the elements for those two. The class lasted 90 minutes, taught by Greg Cottrell with guests Erica AB & Jeff Lindberg. I have several fab Concord & 9th items in my stash but this was my first experience with these Concord and 9th VIPs - very enjoyable! Didn't win any prizes though, oh well.... An extra thing I did for my tree was to use the garland die to diecut an extra garland in white that I inlaid into my red negative and popped onto a green circle diecut to create a little tree skirt. I also added some Jolee lights and a few ornaments I made gluing glitter dots together. The class was done on YouTube live and carried a fee. They have other videos showing how to construct the trees, though - very easy to do (see one here if desired).

I'm adding this to Darnell's October NBUS challenge since my tree & accessory dies are new. There's also a 3D challenge out there that I spotted but couldn't find again to link up. If anyone knows where it is, can you let me know? Thanks! And thanks for stopping!!

Bugaboo Halloween Kitty

 Hi friends - I'm posting at Die Cut Divas today for the October theme of Halloween or Autumn. Our fabulous sponsor this month is Bugaboo Digi Stamps. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle & Co orange A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb;

French Press Poptone Black Licorice;

Doodlebug Pumpkin Party

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)

Digi stamp - Bugaboo Halloween Kitty

Other - Copic Markers; Wink of Stella; 

Distress Inks for edging - Wilted Violet & Black Soot

How could I resist this sweet Halloween kitty dressed as a witch for trick-or-treating?! I resized and printed the image, then colored with Copics. Do you see my little boo-boo? I colored the kitty's ear as part of the witchy hat, oh well... Added bits of Wink of Stella here and there. Matted in black and added to a diecut stitched rectangle with a diecut scalloped border (from different MFT Blueprint sets, both retired unfortunately). The sentiment strips were part of the Doodlebug patterned paper collection - very handy! 

You'd think I'd use more printed digis since I own a Silhouette but I tend to use that more for cutting. Bugaboo has so many fabulous images, though, that I can see myself coloring more of them!! In fact, I will be for the end of month post at the Divas - be sure to stop back!!

You have until 10/31 at 9pm Pacific to enter your Halloween or Autumn card into our gallery. Just remember to use a die cut; you don't have to use a Bugaboo image but we'd love to see one if you have any that fit the theme.

Thanks again to Bugaboo for sponsoring this month and thanks to you for visiting!!

Happy Birthday Truck

Hey there - I'm popping in with a card for dear ol' Dad's 89th birthday coming up later this week! I thought he'd get a kick out of Spellbinders truck die cut - he likes to tell stories of the trouble he and his cousins used to get into with trucks, back in the day.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Sunshine A2 card (retired); 

Paper Studio & DCWV cardstock; Tim Holtz kraft metallic;

Ms Sparkle & Co neutral woodgrain; acetate

Stamps - Divinity Designs Mini Tag Sentiments

Dies - Spellbinders Truckin Through the Seasons & Sunday Drive;

Divinity Designs Mini Tags; Xcut Serif Numbers;

My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired)

Other - Hero Arts clear lacquer; recycled wired string

Originally I had thought of making Dad's card using the convertible die set I used for Darnell's hubby's card (see it here if you missed it). Then I spotted the truck set on sale at Spellbinders and ordered it with plenty of time to spare. Guess most of the guys in my life are more into trucks than convertibles!! The truck was no problem to assemble given my experience with the convertible. I liked the presents in the latter set better for a guy so used those; also used the balloon from that set. The truck didn't come with a steering wheel - say what?? - so I used the one from the convertible set. Acetate went in between a couple layers of the truck for the window.

I'm adding this to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since my truck is getting its first play today. I think I'm heading for a record number of entries over there this month - gotta get that mountain of NBUS down!! Thanks for the fun, Darnell! Also adding to Tristan's challenge at Watercooler Wednesday All Occasions. Thanks Tristan!

Thanks for visiting - hope you have a crafty day!! Also hope you'll stop back on Wednesday when I'll be sharing a card for Die Cut Divas Autumn and Halloween Challenge!

 

Autumn bird

Hi everyone - hope you're enjoying the weekend! Today I had some time, while attending a virtual convention, to color another Penny Black birdie using the colors for the current Color Hues Challenge. 

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts A2 card; Paper Studio glitter;

DCWV orange; Neenah white

Stamps - Penny Black Peaceful Time;

Whimsy Stamps Autumn Blessings (retired)

Dies - Frantic Stamper Stitched Fall Leaves

Other - Memento inks; Copic Markers (blues and oranges only)

I stamped two bird images yesterday when I made a Christmas birdie card. I spotted the colors at Color Hues - blue and orange . I thought the extra birdie would be great in those colors atop some orange leaves. Stamped the sentiment in blue in directly on the card but didn't like it so I stamped it on a white strip to overlay it.  I will also add this card to Darnell's NBUS challenge since my leaf dies are getting their first play.

I was "attending" my Sweet Adelines International Convention these past three days - first ever virtual one! We're celebrating 75 years of Life on a High Note, even if we can't be together in person. Our worldwide choruses haven't been able to be together since March and our in-person rehearsals, shows, conventions and educational events were all canceled - very sad!!! But we've been sticking together via Zoom and other platforms, continuing to rehearse for the day we can sing together in person. My chorus, City of Lakes, would've been competing in Louisville KY this week had we been able to hold an in-person convention. Instead, hopefully, we'll be competing next year around this time.

I'll also share a card for my friends Heather (Stamping and Stitching) and Philip who had an anniversary last week. Heather emailed me that they rec'd my card:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts A2 card; patterns by unk;

ephemera by Spellbinders'; Paper Studio ivory and glitter

Dies - Spellbinders label (retired);

Creative Expressions Happy Anniversary

I die cut and embossed the label and layered two more behind it (unembossed). Also die cut multiples of the sentiment to layer, the topmost one being the glitter cardstock. Butterflies and sheet music ephemera came from a Spellbinders kit. Heather said they really liked the combo of patterns. Happy anniversary, my friends!!

Thanks to you for stopping by and thanks to TCH & to Darnell for fun challenges!!

Another Christmas Bird

Hey there - I'm fitting in another birdie card for the current CAS Christmas Challenge with Christine's theme of Christmas Birds.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card & glitter cardstock;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

Stamps - Penny Black Peaceful Time;

Hero Arts Collage Music Background (retired) &

Hero Greetings Christmas Messages

Other - Hero Arts Soft Pool & Intense Black Ink;

Copic Markers

Now, this PB stamp set doesn't seem to have anything to do with Christmas, given sentiments of "happy birthday" and "with love". When I saw the birdie, though, I felt it would be gorgeous on a Christmas card. Die cut, stamped and colored it with Copics then added a couple leafy sprigs from another die in the set. Added it to an A2 card and stamped bits from a music background stamp (after masking the birdie) & then stamped a sentiment. Done!

I'm also adding my card to the October Merry Little Christmas Challenge where Anything Goes and to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since my birdie stamp is getting first play here.

Thanks for stopping & I wish you a crafty weekend!!

Girl? or Boy?

Hey friends - I'm sharing a card made for a sister chorus member, Kristin, who's expecting a baby. We're holding a virtual shower for her and her hubby next Monday on our chorus Zoom rehearsal. Each voice section (tenor, lead, baritone & bass in barbershop harmony) sent the couple a box of gifts to open during the shower. While I contributed to my section gift, I wanted to send them a special card.

Supplies: Paper - Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes Petite and

Hello Sunshine Remix Petite; Neenah White

Stamps - Hero Arts - Umbrella, Little One, and Events & Every Day Planner Icons (retired)

and Kelly's Outline Letters

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired);

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Other - Foam tape, Copic Markers, Memento inks

Kristin and Dex have chosen not to find out the child's sex so I thought it would be fun to do two umbrellas - one in girly pink, one in boy blue (stamped and fussy cut). Then I spotted the little baby faces in a planner set and my two circles developed from there. "Little girl" and "little boy" came from the Little One set and the question marks came from the Kelly's Outline Letters alphabet set. After stamping, I die cut into circles and colored with Copics. The sentiment came in the Umbrella set which was developed by Hero Arts for the former Archivers store in 2013 to introduce Stamp & Cut sets (I have oodles).

I'm adding this to Virginia's October Show and Share where anything goes - thanks Virginia! That's it for today - thanks for visiting!!

Pink Christmas

It's hump day & a gloomy one in MN! Time to brighten things up with a pink card for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge.

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle & Co A2 card;

Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes;

BoBunny Winter Wishes

Stamps - Hero Arts Hero Greetings Christmas Messages

Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug Diamonds in the Rough (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Paper Layering Poinsettia;

My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired)

Other - Aluminum foil over cardstock;

Black Soot Distress Ink; Memento Rose Bud ink;

Michael's gems

I adore the Hero Arts poinsettia die and use it often. I cut the pieces from Lawn Fawn pink Watercolor paper and layered them; the center was die cut from a scrap of aluminum foil. I tried Gail's technique of embossing household aluminum foil (first glued to cardstock). Since I used an embossing folder with diamonds, I'm also adding my card to the current Let's Squash It! Challenge for geometric metallics. And also adding to Watercooler Wednesday Challenge All Occasions with Tristan! **Update** also adding at Jingle Belles where they're dreaming of a pink Christmas too!! Thanks for the referral, Trina!

Thanks to Jo & elf Pops, Gail & Jo, the WWC team, and Stef & Lauren for the fun challenges. That's it for today - thanks for visiting!!

 

Silhouette Lilacs

Hey everyone - another Twofer Challenge started October 10th and I've been eager to play along with the theme of Silhouettes! For Twofer you make two cards - distinctly different designs, for two separate occasions and using a stamp, die or stencil in common. My cards today feature a lilac stamp; here's my twofer:

Funny how I've been wishing for a lilac stamp when I've had one in a Unity Stamp cling set purchased ages ago. Tried to remember when but think it's been close to 10 years. The package was still sealed and the red rubber stamps all connected - had to break them apart to use!! Since I had cream and gold supplies out from Sunday's card, I made one of my twofers using that color scheme to also fit at the Color Hues Challenge. Here's a closer look with supply list:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle & Co A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Unity Stamps Moments in Bloom;

Lawn Fawn Sophie's Sentiments (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 13 (retired)

Other - Hero Arts ink; Dusty Concord & Spun Sugar Distress Inks;

May Arts ribbon; Crystal Stickles

I stamped the lilacs repeatedly across a panel of Neenah, then die cut it with a stitched rectangle. Shaded with Spun Sugar (the applicator has some residual lavender which was fine with me) and stamped the sentiment. Tied ribbon around it and adhered to card. Added Stickles to the lilacs in little dots which don't show up in the photo very well. Done!

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Ivory;

Spellbinders gold metallic

Stamps - Unity Stamps Moments in Bloom;

Paper Smooches Salutations (NLIB)

Dies - Spellbinders Petite Labels One (retired);

Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies

Other - Distress Embossing Ink; Princess Gold ep

For this one I stamped the lilac cluster once and embossed with gold. Then I die cut it with an oval & layered with an offset oval of gold metallic. Adhered to A2 card. Stamped and gold embossed the sentiment then die cut with a label and adhered below the oval - done!

I'll also add this to Darnell's NBUS challenge since my poor lilacs are finally seeing the light of day here!! What would I do without this challenge?? Thanks for the fun challenges to all hosts and thanks to you for visiting!! Happy crafting!!

 

Robot Valentine

Happy Monday everyone! I was playing around with some dies that arrived last week from Frantic Stamper, including a darling robot. Thought I'd incorporate Mr. Robot with a metallic embossed panel for the inaugural Let's Squash It Challenge.

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders gold metallic;

Paper Studio A2 card & glitter; DCWV colors

Embossing folder - Tim Holtz Riveted Metal (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies;

Frantic Stamper Robot

Stamps with Dies - Taylored Expressions Filled with Love

Other - Black Soot Distress Ink; foam tape

Playing around with my robot die, I made one in silver glitter card and one in a soft textured kraft card. As I was flipping through my embossing folders for Gail & Jo's new Let's Squash It Challenge, I found the Tim Holtz riveted metal folder. Thought it might be perfect behind a robot! I embossed a panel of gold metallic paper from the September Spellbinders kit, then distressed it with Black Soot ink. Thinking this would be a fun Valentine card for Cards for Hospitalized Kids, I added various heart diecuts. Most of the candy hearts from TE have more lovey-dovey sentiments but I found the hello would work for a kid. The inside will contain the Valentine's Day greeting. The little off kilter hearts actually cut with an emboss and cut folder I got from my friend Heather (Stamping and Stitching) but I can't find the name of it. Thanks again Heather!!

I'll also add this to Darnell's NBUS Challenge since Mr. Robot got his first play here, and to Virginia's October Show and Share. Thanks to all for the fun challenges!! Special good wishes to Gail and Jo on their new challenge blog Let's Squash It! to use those neglected embossing folders! I really pulled out an old one for my robot card - this'll be a great challenge to keep playing in!!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a crafty week!!

 

Scramble with Gold and Cream

Hey crafty friends - hope you're having or had a great weekend!! Over on the Hero Arts Scramble Facebook group we're using background stamps - yay! For a Scramble you have 90 minutes to create, photograph and upload your project - mine took 47 minutes this afternoon.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio cream & gold glitter

Stamps - Hero Arts Christmas Rose Bold Print

Dies - Hero Arts Joy Stamp and Cut;

Spellbinders Labels Thirty Six (retired)

Other - Distress Embossing Ink; Ranger Princess Gold ep;

gold enamel dot from a My Monthly Hero kit

I picked gold and cream - inspired by Kristie (Kreative Kristie) & by Marcia's (Marcia's Stampin' Pad) post here. Kristie's on the DT for a new challenge called Color Hues and Marcia made a gorgeous leafy card for it. I hadn't checked the challenge out yet (I had spotted Kristie's card at Watercooler Wednesday) and didn't even know if the gold/cream challenge was still running. Just used these colors anyway since I thought them beautiful. 

I stamped the background directly onto a cream A2 card using embossing ink, then gold embossed. I diecut a cream label three times and layered for dimension. Added to the card with a gold glitter strip behind. Diecut JOY twice from ivory and once from glitter paper and layered. Used a gold enamel dot for the J instead of the little dot the die cuts. I considered putting a gold embossed outline to the label, but - hey - it was a Scramble so I didn't want to take the time... I already had had an embossing powder mishap - spilling some of my gold ep onto my craft table! It's still there - will have to clean up the Scramble mess later...

Uploaded my card to the Scramble and then came to blog it. First, though, I checked the current Color Hues Challenge to see if the Gold/Cream is still open - yes!! I briefly scrolled the DT cards & the entered cards to see that the linky was still active. Lo & behold I spotted that Coni (Which Craft?) used the same background stamp with a Joy sentiment. Great minds think alike, Coni - I hadn't seen your beautiful card until after mine was made. Oh well...I'll still add mine there, even though Coni's looks amazing!!

I'm also adding this to Darnell's NBUS challenge since my Christmas Rose background stamp is new - just got it last week and it got first play today.

Thanks for visiting and thanks to the hosts for fun challenges!!

A Feminine Twist

Hey everyone - my friend Dawn (Dawn's World) hosts this week at the current Watercooler Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist. Here's my take:

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill red; 

Authentique Latest & Greatest;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired)

Stamps - Hero Arts CM351 Hero Greetings Mini Messages

Other - Hero Arts Red Royal ink

I often use the stitched rectangle or the scalloped mat from this MFT Blueprints set but rarely the rest of the set's layers together. Definitely feminine with the quilt element - even changing the patterns, I wouldn't use this for a guy. You can see a couple other versions I've made over the years, if desired, HERE & HERE. Sadly, MFT doesn't have many Blueprints left - I have a stack of them which I love, love love!!

Very simple card - just die cut the elements and adhered to an A2 card, stamped the sentiment - done!

Be sure to pop over to Dawn's blog and to WWC for more inspiration - thanks to them for the fun challenge! Thanks for visiting & have a crafty day!!

Treats for Santa

Hey crafty friends - popping in with another card for Christmas Kickstart where the current challenge theme is Festive Sweet Treats. What could be more festive than cookies and milk left out for Santa?!

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio red A2 card & green paper;

Authentique Wintery 6x6; Ms Sparkle & Co woodgrain;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Stamps - Hero Arts CL908 Sparkle Borders (retired)

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Winter Hearth;

My Favorite Things Merry Everything (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired);

Spellbinders Truckin Through the Seasons (pines)

Other - Copic Markers; black pencil; Hero Arts Lacquer

While looking through my stash for treat images I came across this Hero Arts set I'd never used. It has a cute plate of cookies and glass of milk, several stockings and a fireplace die. I first thought of putting the cookies and milk on a table beside a chair - problem: the set with table and chair is with my sister. Then I noticed the fireplace - ok, I'll put the cookies and milk on the mantle. Light bulb - Santa should be popping out of the chimney for his treats. And off I went.

Created a little room with striped wallpaper and a wood floor for the fireplace. My mantle seemed bare with just the cookies and milk so I added some pines and a string of Christmas lights coated with lacquer. I was going to add a sentiment on the wall above the mantle but the Authentique paper pad had these little pictures and sayings so I added one as wall art.

I'm also adding this to Darnell's NBUS challenge because my fireplace set is getting its first play here. I can't believe it was released five years ago and I'm finally using it! Maybe because I have several other fireplace sets? Hmmm - wonder why so many? It's a mystery...

Also adding this to a new-to-me challenge called Merry Little Christmas which I found through the talented Rachelle (Red Cre8s) who had a gorgeous poinsettia card at Watercooler Wednesday last challenge.

Thanks to the hosts for the fun challenges and thanks to you for visiting!!