CAS Christmas begins again!

In case you haven't heard, my sweet friend, the fabulous Loll Thompson, has decided to start her CAS Christmas challenge up again! She also invited me back to the design team ~ YAY! The challenge launches today with Loll being our hostess with the mostess. First up: BIRD.

My card began with a pretty dove die cut.

The dove die cut (Memory Box, I think!) was sent to me by a friend. I added some Copic coloring to the bird, along with a bead for the eye, and nestled her into my stamped PTI Rustic Wreath. The sentiment, also from the wreath set, was stamped in PTI Autumn Rose ink. I added several more little dots to the wreath using this ink as well. A few Simply Graphic pine branches helped to ground the bird along with some punched dots. Simple and pretty. The hubs loved it!

Okay friend, it's your turn now. It's never too early to start working on that Christmas card stash and this challenge is a great way to get you motivated. Pop over to the blog for more inspiration from the team along with all of the challenge details. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Just Us Girls #808

Ready for a new challenge at Just Us Girls? It's CASE a design team member this week. Pop over to the blog, pick out a card and CASE it, easy peasy! I made a card for our Sweet P. Here ya go!

This was a card to celebrate her straight A report card! Yep, that's right, our granddaughter aced it this grading period. In fact she did on the last one too! I used a fun pencil and polka dot paper by Lasting Impressions. It was dolled up with some flowers and leafy sprigs by Simply Graphic and retired daisies from Poppystamps. Each A was cut from sparkly gold paper and I popped on a few gold rhinestones. 

Her card was accompanied by some celebratory chocolate covered strawberries I also made for her. They're one of her favorite treats!

*EDIT: my friend Trina suggested a new to me challenge, so I'll be adding my card to the Sisterhood of Crafters gallery. Thanks for the heads up, Trina!

Okay friends, it's your turn now. Have fun!

Guest Designing With Color Hues!

Hello and Happy New Year! I'm tickled pink to be starting the new year off as a guest designer with the team at The Color Hues Challenge! Take a look at this terrific color combo.

I pulled out a new set I treated myself to during all of those Black Friday sales and paired with a cutie little Simply Graphic image. I think they worked great together. Take a look...

Aren't the flowers from the PTI Wild Blooms stencil set a perfect match for this SG Say Cheese image? The sentiment from the stamp set was stamped several times onto gray cardstock to create the background. My focal image was colored with Copics. I used a glittery gelly roll pen on the camera lens and buttons. Everything went onto the stenciled card base and was topped off with a little sparkling clear confetti from PPP.

I'm on my way over to The Color Hues blog to see what the team has created. Why don't you join me and then you can create something to play along!

Thanks!

Brace yourselves... this one might be a little busy. Well, the hubs thinks so! Maybe it's my Robitussin buzz! But you know, I think I kind of like it. He didn't care for the patterned poinsettias, but I think they're fun! I'll let you all be the judge. I put this one together for The Flower Challenge using The Color Hues Challenge colors of teal and silver.

I couldn't let the season go by without using my favorite Waffle Flower poinsettias. I cut them from some old October Afternoon paper, layered each one up then added silver rhinestones to their centers. I used pretty silver cardstock from The Stamp Market for my Altenew sentiment as well as the little Simply Graphic pine sprigs. A postal frame borders the embossed pine in the background. 

Off this goes to both galleries. 

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the get well wishes. 

Bronchitis just doesn't know when to give up!

FMS ~ Sending a Hug

We've a had a quite weekend. Catching up on a few things at home, Saturday evening Mass, a couple of long walks and just being together! While the hubs worked on some photos this evening, I put together this card for Freshly Made Sketches.

As you can see, I flipped the sketch, hope Jen doesn't mind! I also went with an A2 card instead of a square one. Call me a rebel! I used some patterned paper by Lasting Impressions for my banner and topped it with a retired fox from Poppystamps. A few pierced sprigs by Simply Graphic and tiny Poppystamps blooms gave her a place to sit. Just a sweet way to send a paper hug!

Off this goes to the gallery.
Thanks for taking a peek!

FMS #704 ~ Deck the Halls!

When I saw Michele's sketch for Freshly Made Sketches with all of those polka dots, I knew I had to play along! Of course my first instinct was to recreate the polka dots, but then I went in a different direction. 

I used a trio of fussy cut ornaments by Lasting Impressions. Some die cut winter berry sprigs from Simply Graphic were tucked under them. Next, I stamped a few tiny ornaments from the PTI Love Lives Here set and little dots from Stamps by Judith. The sentiment is also PTI. It's from the Bells and Boughs set.

Now that I look at it, I suppose my ornaments look like big and small dots. Then I did manage to get the little polka dot trios in there too. Those berries kinda look like polka dots too, don't they? Okay... I couldn't help myself! Off we go to the gallery!

Celebrate!

Happy weekend one and all! Truth be told, it would be a bit happier if it wasn't so dreary out. But as they say, April showers bring May flowers! Speaking of flowers, I have some to add to the Freshly Made Sketches gallery. 

My sweet friend Michele is now a member of the FMS design team! I missed her first week and couldn't let another go by without celebrating with her! This little mouse is bringing on the happy by sprinkling about some of those May flowers. As you can see I flipped the sketch to create a vertical card. My two toned panel wasn't wide enough for the horizontal layout. It was made using a small 2 1/2" x 4" stamp by Simply Graphic. Hope the gals at FMS don't mind!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Peace On Earth

Since it's been snowing all day I thought I would share a Christmas card I made this year but had not yet posted. It fits in well with one of the rows on the newest Tic Tac Toe challenge ~ Kraft, Die Cut and Markers. 

I put together several images from a Reverse Confetti set that were Copic colored and die cut to create this sweet nativity scene. I popped them onto an embossed panel (Simply Graphic) and then onto a kraft card base. Simple and ever so sweet!

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit!

Tic Tac Toe Second Helpings

As my sweet friend Michele would say, I'm back with "second helpings" for the Tic Tac Toe challenge!  I had created another card with more of those pretty little Pinkfresh Winterberries that fit into their challenge. It actually works for two of the lines ~ diagonally (bottom left to right) and right down the center!

My die cuts are the winterberries and sentiment: Pinkfresh, pine sprigs: Simply Graphic, bow: The Stamp Market and the metallic frame: Pretty Pink Posh. The dry embossed snowflakes are an oldie but a goodie EF by Darice.

That's it from me this evening. 

Thanks ever so much for stopping by!

Noel

I couldn't let the year go by without inking up sweet little Birch by Purple Onion. He's just too cute sporting his stocking cap and mittens! Then I remembered the Time Out Challenges were looking for festive attire. I think Birch looks festive!

He's dressed pastel this year in a light sage green and coral combo. I popped him onto my favorite PPP tag then onto a holly embossed background. A few Simply Graphic holly sprigs were cut from plaid paper and tucked in. I picked up a few tiny Christmas sentiments by Morning Star Stamps at a local stamp convention years ago. They come in so handy! Sparkly stars pick up the gold in the holy leaves and add just the right amount of glitz!

We're headed out for a walk after lunch today. The high is only 42, but sunny. We've been averaging 2 1/2 to 3 miles a day. It won't last much longer with colder weather ahead, but we sure are enjoying it!

Just Us GIrls #750 ~ You make me happy

It's stencil week at Just Us Girls and I've pulled out one that's been in my stash for quite some time. Take a look... 

 

I think I won this Altenew stencil a few years ago. I've barely used it, so it was just begging to be inked up! I inked up half of it in rainbow colors. Next, I heat embossed a Simply Graphic sentiment in gold then mounted the panel on a watermelon mat. CAS and easy peasy.

 

What stencil will you reach for this week? It really doesn't matter which one. Just pick one and come play along!

 

Just Us Girls #745 ~ Thanks a Bunch

 

Hey there! We have a new challenge for you at Just Us Girls today. It's spring in Ina's neck of the woods so she's chosen this mood board that's chock-full of pretty flowers!

 

To be perfectly honest, I'm not thrilled with my card! The hubs and I have been under the weather this past week. It kind of made my head spin putting this together. Either that or all of the maximum strength Robitussin LOL!!  

Anyway, I pulled out my trusty old PTI Simple Sunflowers to create a background. Next, I die cut a couple of them for the pretty Simply Graphic wrap and popped on a PPP scalloped Oval frame. A lovely Pinkfresh sentiment topped it off.

I can't wait to see the abundance of flowers in our gallery this week. You'll be adding some of yours there, right?

Just Us Girls #744 ~ Hope

 

It's time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls! Sue is our hostess this week and she's looking for your take on the word HOPE. Be sure to stop by the blog to see the wonderful inspiration from my teammies and Nance, our guest designer!

I've had this Hero Arts woodblock sentiment stamp in my collection for years. Today I've framed the word HOPE using a fun flower die cut by Simply Graphic. A couple more of those whimsical blooms were added along with a sweet trio of Poppystamps butterflies. An embossed panel (SSS) for the background and a raspberry card base finished it off.

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I do HOPE you like it!

 I also HOPE to see your card in our gallery!

Just Us Girls #738 ~ Celebrating You

Hello lovelies! Are you ready for a new Just Us Girls challenge? Our sweet Carol Mc has picked two bright and happy colors for you to get crafty with. We also have a new guest designer joining us for the month of August. Please stop by to give a big warm welcome to the fabulous Bonnie Klass! We're so happy to have you joining us this month, Bonnie! 

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I went right to work with a few new to me products. 

Take a look... 

I was recently the lucky winner of a gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp. I didn't waste any time shopping either LOL! These Pinkfresh Studio goodies came home to live with me. They were out of the dies to go with the stamp set. But that just means another day of shopping, right? I used a glitter GellyRoll pen on the leaves and added a touch to some of the flowers. I am in love with this pretty frame! The sweet polka dot butterfly is from Simply Graphic.

I never think to use these two colors together. It's nice when my teammates come up with such fabulous color combos! How will you use them? I can't wait to find out!

Just Us Girls #727 ~ Enjoy the Journey

Hello and welcome! It's time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls. Carol Mc has a pretty Mood Board for us this week. I think you'll be able to pick out what inspired me pretty quickly!

 

I inked up this cutie little camera image by Simply Graphic, fussy cut it, then adhered it to the layered tag (PTI). A simple PRS sentiment topped it off. It's clean, layered and was easy peasy!

We can't wait to see how you're inspired by Carol's Mood Board. So many options!

Just Us Girls #717 ~ Thanks A Bunch

 

Hey there sweet peeps! It time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls. Tracey McNeely will be joining us for the month of March as our guest designer! Tracey and I have been blogging friends since we both started our blogs back in 2011! I'm so happy to have you joining us, Tracey!

I don't know, you might need your sunglasses for this one! My lime green is Juicy Pear by Bazzill accented with Gumball Green by SU. I picked peach as my third color. A vellum layer was added to some of my flower die cuts (MB) to give them a two toned look. I also added some vellum sprigs (TSM). I'll never grow tired of this sweet flower wrap from Simply Graphic and I had to throw in that Mama Elephant cover plate because it's just so darn pretty! Yep, it's bright but it sure looks like spring!

We would love to have you join us this week. 

Pop over to the JUGs blog for more inspiration from the team!

 

 

A Little Something For You

Snowed in? We have snow, but there was plenty of sunshine to go with it today! It was a good day to get a some crafting in. I put this little number together for the Color Hues challenge where they're looking for copper and green.

I started with a cute little PPP tag cut from copper paper. A pre-foiled sentiment went on next along with a partial circle cut from copper and white paper. All of these items were in a paper pad gifted to me long ago. Next came all of the fun little sprigs and flowers. I guess they're flowers, who knows! Everything came along with my Switch machine with the exception of the pierced leaves. They're by Simply Graphic. The pretty embossed background was a gift from sweet Michele (thanks again xo)!

Off this goes to the gallery. 

Thanks for taking the time for a visit!

Oh Holy Night

Hello lovelies! I'm popping in for a quick minute with a card for the Inkspirational challenge. Their word prompt is CELEBRATE. I'm celebrating the birth of Christ!

I don't know what it is about this sweet little manger stamp and PTI's little Holly Jolly dies, but I always pair them together! This EF that I picked up from Simply Graphic a couple of years ago had the perfect stars for my background. The sentiment was a long ago leftover from The 12 Kits of Occasions, so I'm not sure who's it is. I cut it with a PPP tag die. 

Off to the gallery this goes and then we're off to Mass in a couple of hours to celebrate Jesus! Enjoy your weekend and thanks so very much for visiting!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Hi there! I'm popping in with another Christmas card. This one was made a couple of weeks ago and is in the mail. It just so happens to fit in over at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge!

Once again, using up those bits and pieces of patterned paper! I paired it with some PTI Holly Jolly dies and sweet little mittens by Simply Graphic. Simple layers and quick to make!

I used the top and bottom horizontal lines and the right vertical one too!

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Hope all of your Christmas preparations are going well!

Warmest Wishes!

I hope those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday had a blessed and happy day! I made dinner for the two of us and my parents. I must say, it was pretty yummy!  The down side of the holiday is that our little Sweet P came down with a bug. Fever, cough, ear infection... feeling pretty rough. Thankfully not Covid. We did get to FaceTime with her and I'm thankful for that ♥

I have a couple of warm and cozy cards for you today. They both have a Piped Icing Star from Birch Press Design as their focal point. I'll be sending one over to the Inkspirational gallery for their Seasonal challenge.

I turned the stars into gingerbread cookies! More Christmas papers from my stash went onto the background for this one along with a few SG pine sprigs. A simple little Poppystmaps sentiment was all it needed.

I thought the sweet gingham paper was a good pairing for the PTI sentiment. I layered everything together with the PTI Mix & Mat Snowflake die cut.

Those cookies are making me hungry! 

Hmmm, maybe a slice of pumpkin pie will fix that!