Bah! Humbug! Challenge #46 --- Fabric

My goodness, the weeks are flying by!  Here it is Wednesday already and I just realized I haven't made a card for this week's Bah! Humbug! Challenge.  The ladies of Humbug Hall have thrown another great challenge at us.  This week they are looking for fabric! 

 Now the first thing I thought of was to stitch some lovely material onto a card base and add a stamped image, or something.  But my sewing machine has been packed away for years and is probably frozen from lack of use anyway.  It would be just as useful sitting at the bottom of the Humbug Hall moat!  But I have this gorgeous piece of fabric that I want to use sometime, somehow....  

So I cut off a chunk and wrapped it around a piece of heavy cardboard.  I didn't realize how much would be covered by the image, so I guess I will just have to keep that fabric handy and use it for another project.  Any hooooo.... The stamp is by Northwoods from 2005 and it is such a pretty wreath.  I don't know why I haven't used it before!  To keep it all pretty simple I embossed the stamp with gold embossing tinsel on red card stock. Then placed it on a piece of very glittery gold paper.  The bow is fabric trimmed with gold and wired so it stands up nicely.

Here's a close up of the stamp.  I added a just few red rhinestones. 

I don't know that this card will remain intact.  The fabric isn't taking to the adhesive well, and the glitter paper doesn't seem to want to hold the red card stock, either.  It could just fall apart on me.  Well, then I will just have to use the card parts in other ways!

Thanks for stopping by today, but for some solid inspiration and gorgeous projects hop on over to Bah! Humbug! for a look at the DT's offerings.  You won't be disappointed!

DP2 Challenge #110 --- Elves, Fairies, Santa, or Snowmen

Happy Monday, everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and much success with your shopping trips!  The countdown is on to Christmas!

This week's challenge at DP2 is much more challenging than it would appear.  Why?  Because Mo has recently created the.most.amazing digis of Elves, Fairies, Santa, and Snowmen!  The challenging part was choosing which one to use!  I finally decided on the craziest Santa I have ever seen --- Ragged Santa!  

He is just soooo jolly and cool, even in his ragamuffin clothes.  I stayed with the traditional colors here, but I have seen him colored so beautifully in a variety of hues.  True to my attempt to use up old papers and scraps before buying more, I used, well, old stuff!  Even the buttons have been in my button drawer for a couple of years. Evergreen punches (Martha Stewart) and red rhinestones finish off the cluster of buttons and twine.

The image is colored with Copics, my favorite rich reds!  A bit of gold metallic gel pen on the bell and silver on the belt and shoe buckles.  Pretty easy layout, all in all.

There are so many more gorgeous elves, fairies, Santa, and snowmen over at DP2 Challenge.  Be sure to hop on over for a look-see.  Thanks for stopping by! 

Bah! Humbug! Challenge 45 --- Bags and Boxes

Bah! Humbug! Challenge is the best friend any crafter could have for Christmas preparation!  Every week of the year the ladies at Humbug Hall challenge our creativity and by this time of year we have healthy stacks of cards and paper crafted projects.  Now what better friend is there than that?  Keeping Christmas alive all year long while giving us a head start every week we participate.  This week they are getting serious and jumping right to the gift wrapping phase of holiday preparation!  The theme is Bags and Boxes.   To be honest, cards are more my bag, but I shouldn't let myself get boxed in a rut (ugh, sorry, had to do it!).  Actually, another favorite blog gave me an idea as well as a trip down memory lane.  

For this project I made a box similar to the one featured at Whiff of Joy Tutorials and Inspiration this week. It reminded me of the little paper boxes we made in elementary school, usually out of smaller sheets of construction paper.

This project allowed me to use a 12 x 12 double-sided patterned paper that would normally go untouched for the smaller card projects.  This sheet is from the popular Christmas Cheer collection by K & Co.  I am quickly running out of this stack, but not to worry.  K & Co has beautiful new ones on the market.  I just can't get them till I use up what I have....... well, we'll see about that! ;-)

I used really glittery wired ribbon around the top edge of the box and for the handle.  It is stiff enough to stand up on it own.  Pearl brads hold the handle in place.  

The sticker on the front is a coordinating piece in the collection. This project was so easy!  Done in fifteen minutes!! It took me longer to get photos of it!

This handy little box pales in comparison to the gorgeous projects by the Bah! Humbug! DT so be sure to hop over for even more inspiration!  Thanks for stopping by!

In the Manger

Today I am posting the third card I made on Sunday.  This is "In the Manger" by Mo Manning.  Adorable, yes?  The image comes in both Caucasian and African American.  

The card stock is Virtual Pearl by Curious Iridescents, a report cover weight paper that I bought years ago at Paper Plus in Phoenix.  When I was living there I found so many gorgeous papers like this, though the store was primarily like a super store for business papers and forms.  I really miss that place and haven't found one locally yet.  Fortunately, I stocked up before I moved, but now I find myself hoarding them!  Why do we do that?  Well, I am so glad I gave up a couple of sheets because the beautiful pearl-like finish is so perfect for the sparkle of the Stickles on the image and the gold glitter paper accent. 

I colored the image with Copics and added crystal Stickles to the angels wings and blue Stickles to the swaddling clothes. The embossing is from a new folder by The Paper Studio.

I often make up the sketch as I go along and I knew I wanted this one to be simple and symmetrical.  The Nesties label at the bottom gives this the look of a glass globe.  Imagine my surprise later when I was browsing my favorite blogs and found the very same sketch at Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge!  I didn't use a Waltzing Mouse image so I'm not entering it in their challenge, but I do want to share the sketch.  I guess great minds.... and all that.  

Thank you for stopping by again today!  I appreciate it, knowing everyone is so busy preparing for Thanksgiving this week.  

DP2 Challenge #109 --- Winter

The best way to ignore the computer problems of the weekend is to get back to creating in the studio.  So yesterday I was able to get three cards made.  Tonight I am posting the second one which is for Mo's DP2 Challenge --- Winter!  It is feeling very wintry here with heavy fog up here on the ridge and more heavy rain on the way.  But the warm fire going in the fireplace keeps me toasty.

Mo has really outdone herself with her latest images. This is "Urchin with Bird" and makes me think of Charles Dickens characters. I love the muted earth colors for her and for other images you will see like her, such as Ragamuffin Angel, Drummer Boy and Carolers.  But those will come later.  Though if you explore the Digital Pencil blog and link to the store you will see these cherubs.

I used the beautiful new Christmas "Glad Tidings" die mat set by Susan Wright for K & Co.  The colors and lovely art work are perfect for the colors I like so much for this season.  I love cardinals but when I colored the Urchin I was thinking of the lovely bluebirds we have on our feeders, so I let one perch on her hand.  This pretty paper stands alone, but I added embellies of red rhinestones and Martha Stewart evergreen bough punch,  The red paper trim is translucent, a bit heavier than vellum. The tag is a Nestie and the sentiment is my own handwriting, a bit of a risk!

She is colored with Copics and I love working to add depth to the folds and getting the look of warm woolen clothing.  I added crystal Stickles to the background for snow.

With another rainy day ahead I hope to get even more cards made before Thanksgiving!  Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your visit and encourage you to check out the gorgeous DT projects at DP2. 

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge --- Anything Goes

This has not been the best of weekends.  Yesterday my laptop died, or else it is just in a coma.  Not sure, but the keyboard stopped working and it never recovered from a restart.  Will get it fixed later rather than sooner.  I have my hubby's laptop which he doesn't use, but I couldn't get it hooked up to the wireless router.  Argh! I like using the laptop in the dining room with my morning coffee and the desktop is downstairs in the studio.  I spent way too many hours last night putsing with the puters to no avail. 

I got out for awhile this morning then came home and decided to get one more Thanksgiving card done and post it to Sassy Cheryl's challenge blog. Got the card done, took some pics of it, and went to put the pics in my trusty (new) desktop computer.  Panic set in again when the USB slots on the front wouldn't take the card reader from my camera!  OMG, now what?  I thought the card reader finally bit the dust and since I use the large compact flash card in my camera --- and the new computer doesn't have a slot that large (grrr) I decided to learn how to transfer pics from the camera with the cable.  Found the cable, the instruction book, but had to search for the software disc before I could start this new operation.  Installed the software, hooked up the cable and ..... I just wanted to cry!  Still no life in the USB ports.  Only one thing left to do --- restart the computer.  So I waited.... and waited... and waited.... this took way too long.  Gran mal panic attack coming on.  Well, I got the computer restarted, files all intact, and VOILA! the USB ports sprang to life and all was good with the world again!

So, at long last, here I am with a card for Sassy Cheryl's "Anything Goes" Challenge.  

I love this image of Sally and her Thanksgiving turkey.  She's got quite a grip on that bird!  I used all sorts of autumn/Thanksgiving paper scraps for this card, along with Nesties, Martha Stewart border punch, and ribbon.  Adding the feather was an after thought.  I made up the sentiment a few days ago while I still had a sense of humor!  If computers had turkey necks I'd have a firm hold on one, too!

Here's a close up.  Lousy photos because by the time I got the card done I didn't have natural light left for a better shot.  (Boy, I am sounding whiny tonight!)  Anywhoooo, I colored her with Copics, of course.

Well, maybe I'll get one more card done tonight.  Watching some great Christmas movies on Hallmark so I am getting that ol' holiday spirit!  Thanks for stopping by and take care of yourself!

Design D.I.V.A.S. Oldies But Goodies November Blog Hop

It's the third Wednesday of November already which means it's time for the Facebook chapter of the Design D.I.V.A.S. to have our Oldies But Goodies (OBD) Blog Hop.

 This is when we use neglected and forgotten items from our stashes.  The Design D.I.V.A.S. is a private Facebook group, which is a branch of the Original Design D.I.V.A.S. on the Splitcoaststampers website. The acronym for the D.I.V.A.S is, Divine, Inspirational, Virtuous, Artistic (or annointed) Sistahs. This is a very talented and supportive group, which I'm blessed to be a part of . Thank you for stopping by and we hope you enjoy the hop!  

If you arrived here from our talented Sue's blog A Consuming Passion then you are on the right track. To start at the beginning jump back to Creating With Chrissy where you are sure to love her project! 

Now, on to my project, or actually projects, plural. I'm working on some simple note card sets and the three I did today are all made with long neglected stamps or embossing folders.

This "Merry Christmas" stamp is by Stampabilities.  I bought it years ago and inked it up for the first time today using Colorbox Chianti pigment ink.  The card is made with simple white and red card stocks.  The embossed strip is from a new embossing folder by The Paper Studio.

You can't get much easier than this card!  The Cuttlebug Christmas Tree embossing folder is a favorite and a card all by itself!  I sanded the embossing lightly to highlight the image then applied shiny glitter stickers. Easy peasy!

The trees on this card are actually two stamps, both from Northwoods, that I've had for a couple of years.  The larger image was stamped twice without re-inking.  Then the smaller grouping of trees was stamped once.  Ink for both was Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy pigment ink.  The sentiment is from Cornish Heritage Farm and embossed with red powder. Again I used white and red cardstocks for the card.  

I plan to make several more of these sets, because I have LOTS of fun holiday stamps and embellies to use. Besides, once I catch on to the clean and simple style I find it is a lot of fun!  I just have to follow one rule:  no more than three elements on the card!

 I am the last stop on the hop and I want to express my thanks on behalf of all the D.I.V.A.S. for your visits and leaving us each a bit of love.  That goes both ways, you know!

   

Catching Up!

I don't know how the days continue to fly by so quickly!  Every morning I wake up running through my "to do" list in my head.  Then my feet hit the floor and before long distractions send me in a completely different direction!  

Well, today I am going to get through all my favorites that come up on Google Reader, and probably a few sidetracks, too.  There are so many wonderful crafters and photographers that I follow and I just might have inspiration overload by the end of the day!  I will leave as many comments as I can, but if I don't get to all of them, just know that if I am one of your followers, and you have posted in the past week, I will be oooo-ing and aaahhh-ing nevertheless.

Take good care of yourself this week! 

Mo's DP2 Challenge -- Give Thanks!

Mo's DP2 Challenge this week is "Give Thanks" and since Friday is Veteran's Day I chose to make a card thanking the veterans.  Here in Branson, Veteran's week started last Friday, kicked off with a show by Tony Orlando and the display of the traveling Viet Nam Wall.  Branson is the most appreciative town I know when it comes to the veterans.  All shows include patriotic numbers and salute the veterans as well as the active military.  I'm very proud of the programs here and those who make this a memorable experience for the tens of thousands of veterans who visit during Veteran's Week each year.

Two of the first images I fell in love with at Mo's are these adorable kids in the Support the Troops set.  I have a couple of scrapbooking boxes full of military, especially Navy, papers and embellies for when I get around to catching up with my son's career.  In the meantime, those papers are great for this card.

The images just make me tear up, reminding me of all the kids I see sending their dad or mom off to a foreign country fighting for freedom.  Then more tears when they come home.  I'm a sucker for homecomings and will cry buckets every time!

Inside this card is a photo of my son in Kuwait.  It was June 2006 and he was waiting for transportation to Baghdad, Iraq, where he spent the next year. 

I will give him this card Friday when he and his wife come to visit for the weekend, but I can hear him now, "Oh, Mommmmm!"  He gets real embarrassed when I gush over how proud I am of him.  But, gush over him I will, and any other veteran and active military person I see this week!

Thank a vet, shake their hand, smile and pat your hand on your heart.... they will know what that means.  

Bah! Humbug! #43 --- Snowmen

Oh my gosh! I just noticed I haven't posted for almost a week!  Where did the days go?  I do remember spending one luxurious day coloring images..... now I'd better get busy making them into cards! I missed a couple of favorite challenges, again, but I'm able to get this one in for the Bah! Humbug! Challenge.  This week we are celebrating SNOWMEN!  Snowmen and Snowladies are some of my favorite people and they are such cheerful characters on Christmas/Winter/Holiday cards.  

It's not hard to find adorable stamps of snowpeople, but it is difficult to match the unique creations of Sassy Cheryl.  I am using one of her many characters, "Cappuccino, Anyone?"   

I kept the card quite simple.  The snowflake background is made with Martha Stewart's new snowflake "punch all over the page."  I bought one of the first ones she offered, but it was difficult to line up the pattern to make a lacy grid like this one.  The new style has the pattern engraved around the base, like on the border punches, so making this nine-snowflake pattern was easy-peasy!  Michael's had a bunch of these new punches.

Here is the new MS punch and you can see the patterns all around.

I colored the snowman with Copics.  Hmmmmm, that trademark green apron has me thirsty for a Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte!  The card base and oval die cut are made from a semi-glossy red card stock.  The image is also cut with a Nestie.  

I hope you all are having a great week and taking good care of yourselves.  Thanks for stopping by and be sure to hop over to Bah! Humbug! for more cheerful goodness in the form of snowmen!

Bah! Humbug! #43 --- Die Cuts

Here it is November making Christmas NEXT MONTH!  Yikes!  Thanks to the ladies of Humbug Hall I have many cards already made.  The weekly Bah! Humbug! challenges have provided a variety of lovely cards.  Now, who to send them to.... hmmm.  But, I digress.  We still have several weeks of challenges to look forward to, and this week's card has been very fun to make.

The die cut I used is Spellbinders poinsettias which I added veins of red glitter to and a center of micro pearls.  Each die cut is layered using 3D Dots, doubled in the centers for deeper dimension. The swirl of rhinestones adds more glitz.  The dp is actually from the same sheet that I used on my card that I posted Sunday, only this time you can see more of this beautiful paper from The Paper Studio. 

Here's more of the poinsettia.  The micro pearls in the center are piled on a dot of glue, which at the time I took the photo was still sticky.  It has now dried to clear.  I was chasing the natural lighting to catch the photo!  That's what I get for sliding in under the wire again!

The tag is also a die cut from the Cuttlebug tag folder.  I lightly sanded the embossing to make it more noticable.  The sentiment is by Cornish Heritage Farms and is embossed red glitter.

If you are working on your holiday cards and need some inspiration Bah! Humbug! is the place to go!  Play along with us, too, with your die cut cards.  Have a great week and take care of yourselves.