My Christmas cards this year

Just thought I'd share a few of the cards I've made to send this year.  I love the Stardream cardstock (have since I made DD's wedding invites with it) so since I have a bunch and the holidays always 'scream' sparkle and shine (is it because of the snow?) I thought I'd use it for most of them.

 This one is a gatefold and I used a Spellbinder Label with a Tapestry Peg stamps.  I really like how this turned out.

 Again a not much stamping card but I did make the poinsettia

 This one is close to the first but I used DP for the bottom layer of the greeting.  I think I like the first one better though.

Gina K Sketch Challenge card

Here's another Gina K only a sketch one see it here.  I'm slowly whittling away at my holiday cards.  This will be a great 'manly' card.  Love this layout.

The Gina K set is Life is good, (don't know the greeting ) DP is from Paper Studio Mirabelle.  I added a few buttons, some die swirls and glitter snowflake from a mini-ornament pack. 
I stamped the deer and trees in black memento.  Punched a small circle to mask for the setting sun, then I used the sponge daubers to sponge on Cantelope, and Red memento.  I needed some burgundy so used SU Cranberry Crisp.  A little glitter on the bottom for snow and it's done.  TIP: to stick the die swirls down I ran through my Xyron sticker maker.

Belated Birthday

My nephew's wife had a birthday that I missed the other day so when I was perusing challenges I thought this would be a good opportunity to make her a belated Birthday Card.  So this card qualifies for the Gina K color spotlight challenge here using innocent pink, chocolate brown and ivory and the Crazy 4 Challenges sketch here.

 

I used Stardream ivory cardstock for the 5 X 5 inch base and ran a large cuttlebug folder on it.   I make mine 5 X 5 inches so I can mail them in a 5 X 7 envelope and not pay extra postage.  So smart of me right?  LOL

I used my new Spellbinder Lacey Circles for the brown and small one on the pink.  The Gina K set I chose was Friends are forever...I embossed the lillies in pearl white and sponged a light pink over it then colored them in with copics.  Martha Stewart supplied the border punch, Hobby Lobby the ribbon and charm.  Sorry the greeting stamp is unknown. I think Jennifer will like this, if not, she can pretend. 

Just Us Girls (JUGS) Challenge

In an effort to get the rest of my Christmas cards done, I thought I'd try the sketch from the Jugs challenge for one.  It really was pretty simple, almost to simple, I feel like I cheated since I didn't do much stamping and fudged just a little on the layout.....basically because I was doing it from memory but hey, what are they going to do, ban me from playing?  (Please don't, I'm sorry)

The base is naturals ivory, a layer of hunter green with a panel of DP from Hobby Lobby. I ran a strip of ATG and used Martha's punch to make the garland instead of a banner.  Threw on some glitter to cover the rest of the adhesive, in retrospect the ATG tape maybe wasn't the best idea.  Added a few gems, button brads and circle greeting from Just Rite.  There you have it, an I cheated card. 

Challenges

 Scroll down for the Flourishes challenge card, Winter White.

Well, the screws and wire were removed from my ankle Wednesday morning.  True to form, I was totally sick from the anesthesia.  So instead of having 2 days of stamping, I only had one, today.  So here's what I accomplished.
First I saw that CCEE stampers had a snowman challenge here.  Instead of a card, I had saved these cans from Yams I had on Thanksgiving.  What made me decide to keep them was they were white on the inside, gold on the outside and a nice size. Since I opened them with a Pampered Chef can opener there was no sharp edges and I could use the lids to reclose if I wanted.

Well, I thought for sure a 12 inch piece of designer paper would fit around it.  Well, it was really close:

Since I chose a paper that I could match easily, I figured I could piece it and match pretty well.

See, you can hardly see the seam.

The other can I decided to use some wrapping paper, which I knew would be long enough.  :)

So here are my 2 covered cans.

Now it's time to decorate.  I picked my images, both from Whiff of Joy out of Switzerland, a snowman (for the challenge) and Santa because I wanted to.  SO send the Challege police after me.  LOL

I stamped my images and cut out with Spellbinder labels.  Had I known the large one for the Santa would have covered the seam, I wouldn't have had to be so meticulous on matching.  The snowman image I layered on the next size label die (Sorry, I don't have my dies labeled as to what number they are).

And here are the close ups. I colored them with Copics and used some chunky glitter for snow on the bottom...oh and it's been snowing here all day...we have about 6 inches so far.  I dug in my stash for other Christmas stuff I had to decorate with.

 I decided to decorate the lid of the Santa can.  I can use it for fudge or even a pair of socks.  Then I decorated the rest of the can.  I used the snowflakes from Spellbinders and a HO ho Ho stamp I picked up at Michael's dollar bin embossed in gold on a die cut piece of white cardstock.  Oh I used Scorpal tape to hold everything down except the die cut snowflakes, I used homemade glue dots.

 So there is my snowman challenge.

Next Flourishes WINTER WHITE CHALLENGE.  Show off a little pop of color, but make sure the overall feeling is white.  Since almost everything outside is white with all this snow it was easy to do this!

 

I stamped the large evergreen in Ivy Brillance Ink on vellum.  That was layered on a piece of Stardream Opal cardstock that I ran through the Cuttlebug dots folder, layered on Forest cardstock on a Stardream base.  I added a bow, a few die cut flourishes and some gems to decorate the tree.  One more Christmas card done!

Autumn

This is a Gina K inspired card.  Using the Score Buddy again but this time to score the cardstock.  The image layer (tree by I Brake for Stamps) was scored around the edges and the base rust layer was stamped first (with Inkadinkado) flying leaves and then scored, each layer was sponged with Distress inks, I think Tea Dye.  I got the brads at Michael's (GASP, not Hobby Lobby?  I do get out of town once in a while and shop other places if I can, not often....and don't ask about my trip to Michael's in Midland TX when I went to pick up my DD)  I just looped the brown grossgrain along the edges 3 times.  Since I took the picture, I decided to sponge a little color (rust & yellow) over the leaves to add a little color so it didn't look so drab.

Pumpkin Gatefold card

Here is a card I made a while ago that I never got posted.  Since I got my Score Buddy it makes it SO easy to make these, the marks are on the little bugger so you just score and it's perfect!  Woo Hoo!!  The stamps are by I Brake for Stamps.  No DP on this baby, old school!  The pumpkin is colored with Copics.  I sponged the edges of almost everything.  I stamped the border in Pumpkin Spice ink and colored the leaves.  The little Memories metal embellishment is one I got at Walmart a LONG time ago.  Then I used the sewing machine to attach the panels and added an orange paperclip with some olive ribbon that has copper leaves on. Here is the inside:  I added another leaf on a matching nestie label.
I really like this one.  I hope DD does too!

Glitter Ribbons

Technique Junkie recent newsletter had a technique of glitter ribbons.  I morphed it a little using cardstock ran through my Xyron and carefully cutting the background.  If you don't get the TJ newsletter, you should.  There is a lot more info on that than most magazines.  Anyway, I used a bunch of glitter I have on hand.  I don't remember where the tree stamp is from (I have tons of tree stamps)  I used flower soft on it and some corner punched Stardream cardstock.  The glittery leaf is one I found at Hobby Lobby.  It really is a lot prettier in real life!

GUS:  In case you are wondering Hubbies Birthday dog Gus is doing great.  He is pretty much housebroke (at least no accidents for a long time) is still very affectionate and DH LOVES his dog to death.  Of course Gus loves everyone but I think realizes DH was the one that picked him, or was it the other way around?


His nickname is Frog Legs!

And he lets us know when he wants to come back in.  My son says we know how much he grows by the height of the footprints.  Do you suppose it's hint that I need to clean the windows?

TWO Challenge cards

I know, it's been forever since I've posted.  I have a good excuse though, I've been riding in the Badlands with my daughter the past 2 weekends.  It was so much fun.  So this weekend I stole a few minutes in my stamp room between loads of laundry, grocery shopping, watching football and cooking.  Oh and IT SNOWED here on Friday so I guess it made me think of Christmas. 

This is for the Crazy for you Challenge which was a sketch and the card is my interpretation.  I used a Snowman stamp from Whiff of Joy, some crocheted lace, DP paper from an old Christmas pad I got at Hobby Lobby.  I stamped the image in Black Memento, colored a little with Copics and then used some Rock Candy stickles on parts.  The little tree is a coffee shop sipper cover I saved.  They sure have some cute ones at times.  The snowflakes are from Hobby Lobby mini-ornaments and a snowflake garland.  Sorry the colors are off, I should have taken the picture earlier when it wasn't so dark.  

I also combined the Our Creative Corner sketch along with the Just Us Girls (JUGS) color challenge of Green, Red, Black and neutral Below

Again, sorry for the bad colors.  I embossed the wreath from Lindy's Stamp Gang in gold detail powder on Water color paper and colored with Twinkling H2O's.  Cut it out with the round nestie and layered it on the Blossom in green.  Again the DP is from the old Hobby Lobby pad.  The white card base is 'cuttlebugged' (is that a word)  with an old ornament Christmas folder.  The greeting is stamped in black on a piece of label nestie sponged with green Distress ink stuck under the 2nd layer.  I put a row of 3 pearls on that layer too.  Then the last step is the organdy green ribbon.


TWO Christmas cards down....a few more to go.  LOL

Stop back tomorrow, I actually have some more cards to share!  Fall this time though.  I love making fall cards...perhaps I should send them out instead of Christmas cards.....what do you think?

Meet Gus

After years of lusting after a Berneses Mountain Dog, DH finally got one.  He is so hard to buy for it was his birthday present.  So after a road trip to SD yesterday Gus, a 6 month old puppy is now in his new home and I think he's pretty happy.  We looked at the puppies but just couldn't decide and knew he needed a home.  He was from a February litter at the breeders and because he doesn't have as much white on his face as some and is a little small, he wasn't picked.  Well, we picked him and now he has a forever home.  We're pretty darn excited to have him and he is very well behaved and quite happy...both those boys are!  Gus just crawled up there and slept most of the evening.

What a summer, a new horse I love, 2 new kittens (one of our barn cats disappeared, could have been a fox or eagle.  :(    Now Gus.

I just hope this ankle heals up and I don't have to be limping around so much. With all these new critters, I don't know how much stamping and blogging time I'll get squeezed in but I think you'll understand.  The snow will fly, he will grow and I'll be back creating soon enough.  To be honest I have done quite a bit and even a couple challenges but the Sunday I was going to post our internet went out for 2 days and I was so bummed I haven't been blogging.  All that work and no way to post.