Monday, December 19, 2016

Sunday, December 18, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 23, Joy

Hi Everyone!

So for these last few days of the 25 days of Christmas cards, I am just posting and running, I'm afraid. Lots to do and now the kiddos are out for Christmas break and I'm ready to just enjoy time with family. Have a great holiday season and I will see you all again after Christmas!


Challenges:

1. Crafting When We Can: Christmas
2. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: Anything Goes
3. Pile it On: Any Holiday
4. Come and Get it: Christmas
5. The Corrosive Challenges: Gold or Silver Christmas

Saturday, December 17, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 22 Name him Jesus

Hello everyone!

 I hope you're all doing well today. I apologize for not posting yesterday. Life jus got busy and I just didn't have the spare time in my day! I'm here now though to share this card for day 22 of 25 days of Christmas cards with you.



For this card, I used Verve Stamps "Unto us" which I stamped with Pine Needles distress ink and then
cut out free hand leaving just a small white trim around the edge. I layered it onto a piece of PTI Pine Feathers card stock, having rounded the corners of the edges of the piece to match the curved edges of the stamp.
I layered the strips of pattern paper as shown and added some Verve ribbon before adhering the image panel with some foam adhesive.

Have a great day, and I'll be back again tomorrow.

Challenges:

1. Morgan's ArtWorld: Anything Goes
2. Kitty Bee Designs:  Christmas
3. Jo's Scrap Shack: Anything Goes
4. Polkadoodles Anything Goes

Thursday, December 15, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 21 Jingle Bells

Hi Everyone!

How are you today? Well, I hope. All is great here. Just trying to get as much done before the kiddos all get out of school for Christmas break tomorrow. We are just having a nice quiet Christmas at home this year; and that is perfectly fine with me. Still, you know how it is...there's always a ton of stuff to do!



Anyhow, on to today's card. This card looked SO much different in my head! I don't know why it didn't translate the way I thought it would once I actually put it tougher. I considered not sharing it; but 25 cards is what I promised everyone; and I mean to deliver on my promise... gosh darn it!

I used "Bright Spirits" from Verve stamps for the image and sentiment. I stamped the jingle bells and the bird with ink before using a blender pen to color them in. I added some Wink of Stella clear glitter pen to the bells; but you can't see it in the picture. I also used Verve's Award Banner die create a sort of border around the image panel.

For better or worse, that is what I have for you today! Enjoy your day and I'll see you all again tomorrow!

Challenges:
1.  Crafty Girls Creations: Anything Goes
2.  C.R.A.F. T. Christmas
3. Through the Purple Haze: Anything Goes





Wednesday, December 14, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 20, Happiest Season

Hi Everyone!

We are in the home stretch! Down to the last 5 cards of the season! For today's card, I used a stamp that I bought a couple of years ago. I stamped it three times, once in red, black and green and then just cut out the various parts in the color I wanted and then I just cut and pasted it all together. I used a red prismacolor pencil and a blender pen to shade in the frame around the sentiment.
I added the pattern paper to a Neenah Solar White card base. I layered the stamped panel image onto a piece of New Leaf card stock from PTI, added some red baker's twine before adhering the panel to the front of the card with some foam adhesive.


Have a great day and I will see you all again tomorrow! 

Challenges:

1. The Crafty Addicts:  Anything Goes/Christmas Colors 
2. Creative Moments: Anything Goes 
3. Crafty Gals Corner: Anything Goes 
4,  Crafting by Design: Here Come the Holidays

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 19, Let it Snow.

Hi Everyone!

I hope you are all having a great day! Are you as busy as I am this week trying to get shopping and wrapping done; and baking and crafting, oh my! So I will not keep you long today. Today's card just features some Enchanted Evening card stock from PTI with some grey and white as well. I heat embossed the snowman and the snowflakes from Inkadinkado's "Holiday Filagree" set


I added some white snow dots with a gelly roll pen; and then some blue stickles to the snowflakes for some extra sparkle.
Have a great day and I'll see you again tomorrow!

Challenges:

1. Make My Monday Challenge: Show me a Snowman
2. The Paper Girls: Snowmen
3. Lemon Shortbread Challenges: Anything Goes
4. Sunny Day Crafting: Anything Goes
5. Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
6. Tuesday Throwdown: Anything Goes Christmas
7.  A Snowflakes Promise: Winter 

Monday, December 12, 2016

25 Days of Christmas: Day 18, Merry Christmas

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is ALL about pattern papers, as you can see! I saw a card similar to this on Pinterest and  I really liked how the turn up corners of the pattern paper made a little frame around the center of the card. The patterns make the card really busy though, so I wanted to be careful not to add too much more than just a simple sentiment in the middle. I stamped the image and sentiment which are from Simon Says Stamp "Holiday Labels" set and then added some simple white dashed lines just to break up the space between the different pattern papers.


Super easy card today! Have a great day and I will see you again tomorrow.

Challenges:

1. Artistic Inspirations: Anything Goes
2. Crafting From The Heart: Anything Goes
3. Craft Your Passion: Anything Goes
4. Dream Valley Challenges: Christmas



Sunday, December 11, 2016

25 Days of Christmas: Day 17, Santa's Delightful Wishes.


Hi Everyone!
Welcome back for Day 17 of 25 Days of Christmas Cards. Gosh, we only have about a week left and then it's all done! I hope you're having a good day. Today's card is a warm and cozy card from Santa wishing everyone a delightful and happy Christmas.
I started with a dark chocolate standard size card base and then l layered a piece of white card stock before adding the patterned paper as shown. This pattern paper is from a package I bought from Hobby Lobby. I bought 3 6x6 pads which will probably last me a good few years, so you will definitely see some of these patterns again next year, I am sure! I die cut a scalloped circle frame that I layered around the stamped Santa image. Santa is from an Inkadinkado set and is stamped with black ink onto a piece of Neenah Solar White card stock.  I colored him in. Now, here is where I have a confession to make: I don't remember if I used Copics on him or Prismacolor pencils....and I've already mailed this card, so....ummmm.... haha!

Anyhow....moving on, the sentiment at the top is from Simon Says Stamps and I added some twine and some stickles for finishing touches.


Have a great day and I will see you all again tomorrow!

Challenges:

1. Come and Get it: Christmas (2nd Entry)
2. Crafting When We Can: Christmas
3. Little Patch of Crafty Friends: Anything Goes

Saturday, December 10, 2016

25 Days of Christmas cards: Day 16, Sparkly Tree

Hello everyone!

Today's card is one that I look at and I think, 'hmmm...I'm not sure I like this." And then I look at it a while later, and I think, "actually it turned out pretty cool." This card was really simple to put together once I figured out the layou of the circle to make the tree. I just cut a bunch of random sized circles from some super sparkly paper I bought from Hobby Lobby. I layered them onto a piece of white card stock and then attached it to a Neenah Desert Storm card base.
I wrestled a bit with whether or not to put a sentiment on the front and decided that the sparkly tree was best by itself. I think that if I had to do it again, I would probably not use the white glitter paper and just kept it all red, green and gold. The white gets a little hard to see and so it looks like there are these big gaps in the tree.


I hope you all have a fabulous day. Thanks for stopping by to visit with me.

Friday, December 9, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 15, Merry Christmas

Hello everyone!

I have a simple card to share with you today for Day 15. I decided to let the focus be on the pattern papers, which are from Lilly Bean Designs.  I cut four strips and then adhered them to a piece of PTI Poppy Red card stock. The card base is a piece of Neenah Desert Storm cut to a standard card size. I layered another layer of Simon Says Stamp Sea Glass. I white embossed the sentiment at the bottom. The sentiment is from a holiday Martha Stewart set that I bought at Michael's years ago. I added a simple silver cord ribbon to finish the card!
Have a great day and I'll see you all again tomorrow

Thursday, December 8, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 14, Cup of Cheer

Good morning!

Here today with day 14 of 25 Days of Christmas cards. For this card, I used Verve's "Coffee Helps" Stamp set. I really wanted to use this sentiment on a Christmas card this year. I just think it's perfect for coffee lovers! Makes me think of warm cozy cafes on cold days! Anyhow, the card layout was designed around the sentiment, which as you can see, is rather large. I stamped four of the latte cups in black ink and then colored them in with copic markers before cutting the out with the coordinating die cut. I then layered the cups on two different pattern papers cut into four squares.
The card base is a standard size card from Neenah Solar White 80lb. I cut another layer of white card stock slightly smaller than the card front and then embossed it with the snowflakes embossing folder. Then I layered the other elements of the card as shown. Before I added the sentiment, I inked the edges in Festive Berries distress ink. I added some silver ribbon around the bottom for a final touch.

Have a great day and I will see you all again tomorrow!







Challenges:

1. Crafting with an Attitude: Anything Goes
2. Through The Purple Haze: Winter/Christmas colors
3. The Southern Girl's Challenge: Anything Goes
4. Crafty Ribbons Challenge: Christmas

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

25 Days of Christmas: Day 13 Season's Greetings

Hi Everyone!

Thanks again for joining me for another day in the Christmas Card Series. For Day 13 today, I have two pictures to share with you, because I wanted you to see the acetate I used for the card front.  Sorry about the reflection in the acetate...it was hard to take a picture and not have that though! The card base is Poppy Red from PTI. I cut off lower 3/4 of the card and then added a strip of white card stock to the top piece that was left. I stamped, die cut and assembled the trees from Verve's "Winter Tree" set.


I took another strip of red card stock and added a piece of patterned paper to it. I placed the acetate behind behind the card front to "connect" the top with the bottom and then arranged the trees across the middle front. The sentiment is from a set I bought ages ago from Michael's. I added some red stickles to the trees for some sparkle and some star stickers to attach the tops of the trees to the top panel of the card.



Have a great day and I'll see you again tomorrow!

Challenges:

1. Addicted to Stamps and More: Holiday
2.Christmas at Sweet Stampin Challenge: Anything Goes Christmas (2nd Entry)
3. Crafting By Designs: Here come the holidays
4. Crafty Gals Corner: Anything Goes

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards Day 12: Believe

Hello Everyone!

Well, we are pretty much at the half-way point for the 25 Days of Christmas cards series. I hope you are all still having a good time visiting my holiday creations! Today's card is a shaker card. I didn't want to put a lot of sequins in the shaker panel because I wanted the "'Tis the season" pattern paper to be visible from behind the window. I used my WRMK fuse tool to create the shaker panel. I Icreated the white frame panel around the shaker window by cutting multiple frames using Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangle dies and layering them on top of one another to get a nice thick layered frame.
The patterned paper is from a Paper Studio pack I picked up at Hobby Lobby. The "Believe" sentiment at the bottom is a sticker from a set called "Mirror Christmas Words" by Christmas Crafts, also purchased at Hobby Lobby. I added some white gel pen faux stitching and rounded the corners to  finish  the card.


Have a great day and I'll see you again tomorrow!

Challenges:

1. Holly Jolly Christmas: Anything Goes Christmas
2. Inky Chicks: Christmas card using traditional colors.
3.Lemon Shortbread Challenge: Anything Goes
4. Sunny Day Crafting: Anything Goes
5. Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes

Monday, December 5, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 11 Sending Christmas Joy

Hello Everyone!

I hope you're all doing well today! Thanks for visiting me today for day 11 of 25 Christmas Cards. Today's card features some bright shiny sparkly letters from Paper Studio along with some patterned papers also from Paper Studio. I decided to make the "O" a shaker window. I cut a small circle from the white card stock front panel and then adhered the shaker panel behind it. I used my We R Memory Keepers Fuse tool to create the shaker pocket. Then I cut another larger circle frame from some more patterned paper to put around the outside of the circle. I added some silver ribbon cord that I tied in a bow to the circle as well. My hope was that it would look a little like a hanging ornament and I think I accomplished that. The "sending Christmas" sentiments are from a Simon Says Stamp set and so are the little snowflake and star stamps I used on the background.



This card ended up being one of my favorites that I made this year andI I hope you like it too!

Have a great day and I will see you all again soon!

Challenges:

1. Artistic Inspirations: Anything Goes
2. Crafting From the Heart: Anything Goes
3. Craft Your Passion: Anything Goes
4. Dream Valley Challenges: Christmas
5.Incy Wincy Designs: Christmas tic-tac-toe. I chose the line straight down the middle "stars, the word Christmas and Sparkle"




Sunday, December 4, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 10 Blessed Circles

Hi Everyone

Today is Day 10 of my 25 Days of Christmas Cards series. Circles is the theme of today's card. This card actually came about a bit by accident. I had cut a bunch of random different sized circles for another project a while ago and I noticed that the negative space left over looked really cool. So, I decided to set it aside and see if I could use it on a later project. Just so happened I found such a project and an idea and here's the result!


I started with a piece of Neenah White card stock cut to a standard size card. I added a layer of New Leaf from PTI . I used papers again from Echo Park Holly Jolly 6x6 paper pad. I arranged some pieces behind the white card stock circle openings and some around as frames. I used the "Holiday labels" set again from Simon Says Stamp. I also added some stickles around the edges of some of the circles. I embossed the negative circle layover piece with swiss dots embossing folder.

That's it for me today. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you again tomorrow!

Challenges:
1. 613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes optional twist Holiday Happiness
2. Ribbon Girls: Anything Goes
3. Little Patch of Crafty Friends: Anything Goes
4. Come and Get it Challenges: Anything Goes




Saturday, December 3, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 9 Happy Christmas Gifts

Hello Everyone!

Happy to be back with you again today for Day 9 of 25 Days of Christmas Cards.  This card is a super simple card featuring pattern papers from....that I arranged to look like a stack of gifts. I added a simple tag with a sentiment from Simon Says Stamp.  I added some gold ribbon and a bow along with some final touches of stickles along the gift edges and that was it, card done! Super simple and easy!


Have a great day and I will see you again tomorrow!

Friday, December 2, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 8 Christmas Delivery

Hello Everyone!

Back again today for Day 8 of the 25 Days of Christmas cards series. Today's card features one of my favorite holiday sets from Verve Stamps: "Santa's Helper" Sadly, this set is not available any more. Still, I always find a way to use it at least once or twice in my holiday cards. I decided not to use any pattern papers on this card; but instead I used various greys from SSS and PTI as well as Sea Glass from SSS.


I stamped the little reindeer in black ink and then colored him in with Copic Markers. I added some red stickles to the flower on his hat and added some clear Wink of Stella pen to his hat for some additional glitter and shine.
That's all for me today. Thanks for visiting with me today; have a great day and I'll see you again tomorrow.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 7 Santa Claus is Coming! (PCC Challenge 7)Y

Hello Everyone!

Well, here we are at the end of our first full week for 25 days of Christmas Cards. I do hope you're all enjoying them and perhaps even being inspired to create some of your own interpretations!

Before we get into the details of today's card, let's talk about the PCC Challenge for this week! Now, I know that December is a busy time for everyone, including myself and there may not be a lot of time to do crafting.

PCC Challenge # 7 will be "Christmas Anything Goes" and will last for the entire month of December! 

You may create any Christmas themed card you want and link it up here. 3 entries per person rule still applys, however. You can link up your creations from now until Dec 29. I know I will be busy with holiday family things throughout the month, so while I plan to come around and comment as much as I can, I do know that I will not be doing a winners post for this month.
Regular bi-weekly challenges will resume in January.

I am so excited too to introduce two fabulous crafters who have agreed to be on my 1st Design Team (I'm still looking for 2 more people, so please email me if you're interested jdshelton4@gmail.com)

The first is Amy from AO Creations:  Amy created this super cute card using the Santa from the stamp set "Santa Paws" from Paper Smooches. The sentiment is also from Paper Smooches from the set called "Holiday Cheer"and that is stamped with Gina K Ink. The frame is from Paper Smooches as well "Fancy Frames Icons.  She used Paper Trey Ink Card Stock and colored up the image with Copic Markers. In addition, she also used the "Rectangles Dotted Dies" from Sizzix.




The next person I want to welcome is Valeryanne from It's An Alien Life Valeryanne created two projects for this challenge. She used the empty spools from cellotape and ds tape along with acetate to make two hanging Christmas Ornaments.The first uses Inkylicious 'Winter Cabin' to make the little snow scene and the second one uses Cardio 'Penquins' to make the artic scene.






And lastly, here is my card for the challenge. My card features a lot of patterned papers. I would really like to tell you where they came from...but I don't remember! I think I used that last of whatever it was too and threw away the covers!


Anyhow, it's pretty straightforward. The sentiment is from an old set I bought years ago from Michael's. I stamped it in black ink and then used some Prisma Color Pencils to color in his hat and beard. I added some twine and silver stickles along the edges of the center panels to finish the card.

Have a great day everyone. I will see you again tomorrow!

Challenges:

1. Aud Sentiments: Anything Goes with a Sentiment
2. Crafting with an Attitude: Anything Goes
3. Moving along with the Times: Christmas Anything Goes






Wednesday, November 30, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 6 Peaceful Wishes

Hello Everyone!

So glad to see you again for Day 6 of 25 Days of Christmas cards. I hope you're all having a great day!

Today's card began with a piece of PTI Hibiscus card stock cut and folded to a standard A2 card size. Next, I layered a piece of white card stock followed by PTI New Leaf. The patterned papers in the top right and bottom left corners are from Echo Park Holly Jolly Christmas 6x6 paper pad. The two smaller white corner panels were embossed with the Snowflakes and Swiss Dots embossing folders.


The Christmas Tree is from Inkadinkado "Holiday Filigree" stamped on Neenah Solar White card stock with SSS Green Leaf ink. I added some stickles to the tree to give it sparkle and shine. The sentiment is from SSS Christmas Sentiments set, stamped in Festive Berries Distress ink.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a great day and I will see you again tomorrow!

Challenges:

1. Christmas at Sweet Stampin Challenges: Anything Goes Christmas
2. Crafting by Designs: Anything Goes
3. Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Christmas
4. Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
5. The Crafty Addicts: Anything Goes/ optional Christmas paper



Tuesday, November 29, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 5 Joy, Peace Love

Hello Everyone!

Welcome back to 25 days of Christmas cards! Today for Day 5, you'll notice I've not used any patterned papers! Shocked weren't you? Haha! Instead I stamped a variety of snowflakes from various sets including Simon Says Stamp and Inkadinkado along the left side of a piece of Neenah Solar white 110lb card stock. I used Lake Shores, Teal, Teeny Bikini, Smoke and Slate ink pads from SSS and Festive Berries Distress ink. I added the small strip of paper and pink ribbon to the left as well. The sentiment is from Inkadinkado and is also stamped in Festive Berries. I added a little bit of red and silver stickles to the center of some of the snow flakes to add a bit of sparkle to finish the card.



Challenges:

1. Holly Jolly Christmas: Anything Goes Christmas
2. Snowflake Promise: Christmas/ Winter
3. Lemon Shortbread: Anything Goes
4. Sunny Day Crafting: Anything Goes
5. Through The Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
6. Unicorn Challenge Blog: Snow/ Snowflakes


Have a great day and I'll see you again tomorrow!

Monday, November 28, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 4 May You Be Blessed

Hello Everyone!

I hope you're all having a lovely day so far. We are all doing just great here in California. The house is all decorated for Christmas and the Christmas scentsys are all burning throughout the house, so it also smells fabulous. It's even been a little chilly here in SoCal! In the 60's the past couple of days, so you know...it finally feels like Fall! I'm pretty sure Winter isn't actually going to show up here; but I'll take what I can get. At least I can make soups and chili and not feel weird!

Anyhow, back to the business at hand! Day 4 of 25 Days of Christmas Cards. Today's card. I started with a standard size card base using Khaki card stock from Simon Says Stamp. The patterned papers are from Carta Bella Christmas Day 6x6 pad. I cut circles in various sizes from the papers and then layered and arranged them on front of a layer of PTI cream card stock. I added gold cord ribbon to make them hanging ornaments and then added the small bows as well. The sentiment in the ornament is from SSS "Holiday Labels"


Thanks for visiting me today. Have a great day and I will see you again tomorrow!

Challenges:

1. 613 Avenue Create:  Anything Goes
2. CAS on Sunday: CAS Christmas
3. Crafting From The Heart: Anything Goes
4. Craft Your Passion: Anything Goes
5. Make My Monday: CAS Christmas

Sunday, November 27, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 3 Holiday Wishes

Hello Everyone!

Welcome back to Day 3 of 25 Days of Christmas cards. I hope you're all doing fabulous today. Today's card features papers from My Mind's Eye Merry Christmas 6x6 paper pad. The sentiment is from Big Scripty Greetings from Simon Says Stamp. The card base Neenah Desert Storm and is a standard size top folding card. The next layer is Surf Blue also Simon Says Stamp and the scalloped edge red is from Bazzil. I stamped the sentiment in SSS Schoolhouse Red ink. I added the gold ribbon and white pen dots to finish the card.


Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a great day and I'll be back tomorrow!

Saturday, November 26, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 2 Be Joyful

Hi Everyone!

I hope you're all doing well. Thank you for joining me again today, I hope you are all enjoying your holiday weekend. We had a nice quiet Thanksgiving and put up our Christmas decorations yesterday. It is my daughters FAVORITE day of the year. She will tell you that she even likes it better than Christmas Day and her birthday! I love having the house all decorated and Christmas scented candles burning throughout the house!
Anyhow, I know you're here to see a card! Here is the card for Day 2 in the 25 Days of Christmas Cards series. Lots of white in this card; but I thought little bits of pattern paper were a great way to break all that white up just a little.
The base of the card is 110lb Neenah Solar White card stock and the pattern papers are all from Echo Park 6x6 paper pad "Holly Jolly Christmas" The snowman is from Inkadinkado which I stamped in Archival Jet Black ink and then colored with Copics. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp's "Big Scripty Greetings"


Have a great day and I'll be back tomorrow!

Friday, November 25, 2016

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 1 Christmas Greetings

Hello Everyone!

I'm so excited to be here for Day 1 of 25 Days of Christmas cards! I have been working hard this past month or so working on all these cards to share with you here on the blog and of course, I'll be mailing them all out to family and friends in just over a week. I always mail my cards by Dec 1st so that people can enjoy them throughout the holiday season.

Ready to get started? Ok, here we go!

This first card features cardstock from Paper Trey Ink and Simon Says Stamp. The patterned paper is from 6x6 paper pad from Lily Bee Designs called "Christmas Cheer" The sentiment is from Verve Stamps "Merry and Bright" stamped in Green Leaf ink from Simon Says Stamp


Have a great day and I'll see you again tomorrow!

Challenges:

1. Crafting With Friends: Anything Goes
2. Polkadoodles Crafting Challenge: Anything Goes
3. Simply Papercraft:  Anything Goes


Thursday, November 17, 2016

PCC Challenge #6: CAS Thank You.

Hello Everyone!

Welcome back to another challenge. Thank you so much for all the great entries for the heat embossing challenge! I really enjoyed visiting everyone's blogs and seeing all your work! Ok, so if you're like me, you are probably busy with holiday cards and don't have a lot of extra time. Don't worry....Christmas theme challenges are coming soon! For now, I want to make sure we don't just skip over Thanksgiving. So the challenge for this time is CAS Thank You. Nothing fancy, nothing time consuming, just clean and simple!

Here is a little something to inspire you. I made this card in about 5 minutes with stuff that was just sitting on my desk using You and I set from Verve along with the coordinating I heart U die set. Really is as simple as it looks!


You have until Tuesday Nov 29th at 11pm to link up your cards. Winners for top 3 etc will be posted Wednesday Nov 30th.
Have a great day!




Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Heat Embossing Challenge 5 Winners!

Hello Everyone!

I hope you have all had a fabulous couple of weeks. I am busy working on holiday cards. Thank you to all who participated in the heat embossing challenge. Here are the top three winners!

This gorgeous birthday card featuring a heat embossed shaving cream marble background from Carol over at Inky Fingers 


This beautiful Christmas card featuring lovely sparkly poinsettias by Diane over at Nellies Nest


Another Christmas card with lovely embossed sparkly holly leaves background by Desperate Housewife Craft! 

Grab your badge and display it proudly!



I will be back tomorrow with a brand new challenge! Until then, have a great day everyone!




Thursday, November 3, 2016

PCC Challenge #5: Heat Embossing and a DT call (again!)

Hi Everyone!

I hope you're having a great day. It is time for another challenge! I was so happy with all of the wonderful entries in the last challenge. Make sure and check out winners post here!

Before we get to the new challenge, let's talk one more time about the Design Team. I decided rather than trying to reach out to those who expressed interest previously, I'm going to have those who are interested reach out to me via email instead. I tried to contact a few people who expressed interest; but not everyone who did had an email address listed in their blog information, so I couldn't contact everyone. I also thought I would lay out exactly what I'm looking for, so that you'll be able to decide if you're interested.

1. I'm looking for 4 people for a 3 month commitment: December through February

2. You must have an active blog

3. You must have already participated in at least 2 of the 4 previous PCC challenges

4. You must be willing to submit 2 projects per month according to the them of the challenge and email them to me the Monday before each challenge posts and then also do a blog post of your own on the day of the challenge linking back to PCC.

5. Be willing to leave comments on participating entries. These will probably be divided up into a even/odd or number ending split scenario.

If you are interested, please email me at jdshelton3@yahoo.com with a link to your blog no later than November 16.  Your first submissions will be due Nov 28 for the challenge to post Dec 1


Ok....so that's all the information I have about the Design Team. Let's move on to the new challenge:

Let's see some heat embossing! Sometimes, I feel like heat embossing gets shoved to the side by the easier and quicker dry embossing, so break out those heat guns and that versamark and get creative! 

here is my example featuring Simon Says Stamp "Sparkle and Shine" I used silver embossing powder for the sentiment in the middle. I kept the rest of the card pretty simple in order to focus on the embossing.




You have until 11pm Tuesday Nov 15 to link your creations. This gives me time to post the winners on Wednesday.





Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Challenge Winners!

Hi Everyone!

It has been such a busy week already. Did you all have a fun Halloween? Ours was good. My kids are older so we are the downward side of trick or treat. Maybe about 2 more years and then I think we'll probably move right into the just giving out candy realm.

Ok, so now let's talk about some winners from last week's Anything Goes Challenge. I was so pleased with all the wonderful entries. SO MANY!!!

I wish I had time to put the pictures of the NINE winners I chose; but unfortunately, time isn't on my side today.  Please do visit these wonderful blogs and see these gorgeous creations. You can also go back to the original challenge post and link to them from there.

Top 3 from 1-15


Top 3 from 16-30 

2. Lin #19
3. Elizabeth #26


Top 3 from 31-54

1. Jackie C #44
2. Cicci #51
3.  Deonna B #48



Grab your badge and display it proudly!





I'll  see you tomorrow for a new challenge!

Friday, October 28, 2016

Celebrate your Birthday.


Hi Everyone!

It's time for another challenge over at Brown Sugar Challenges. This time the theme was Happy Birthday. The design team was given some awesome images from Lucy Sunshine. I chose this adorable Rory Image. I chose to color her with some Prismacolor Pencils and kept it pretty simple.


The sentiments are from Altenew.

Have a great day and I'll see you again soon!

Challenges:

1. Colour Create Challenges: Anything Goes (with a hand colored image)
2. Polkadoodles: Anything Goes
3.Simply Papercraft: Anything goes

Thursday, October 20, 2016

PCC Challenge 4: Anything Goes

Hi Everyone!

Time once again for another challenge! Thank you to those who entered the last challenge: "All About 3" Unfortunately, there weren't quite enough entries to do a Top 3. I've decided from now on, I will only pick a top 3 when we have at least 15 entries; and I'll pick 3 more for 30 etc.

So this week's challenge is super easy: Anything Goes! Let your creativity shine. 

 Please note also, that I will do my best to get around to comment on all the entries; but depending on how many there are, it might take me a little while!

Here is a little something I made to help get you inspired a bit. Have a great day and I will see you all again soon!



Also entering this card in the following challenges:

1. Addicted to Stamps and More: Anything Goes
2. Little Red Wagon: Let's Party (Birthday)
3. Craft Rocket Challenge: Anything Goes
4. Crafty Girls Anything Goes





Saturday, October 15, 2016

Spooky Nights Happy Halloween

Hi Everyone.

Just here really quickly this morning to share my last card as the Guest Designer for Great Impressions. I had so much fun creating these projects and sharing them. For my final project, I used Batty Trees and the Happy Halloween sentiment. I created the background by blending some distress inks onto a piece of Neenah solar white card stock. I forgot to write down which colors I used though! I know it's a bit of Tumbled Glass, some Seedless Preserves and Chipped sapphire. I can't remember what's at the bottom!
Anyhow, I finished the background and then stamped the trees in black ink and the sentiment in the bottom corner using Seedless Preserves.



Enjoy your weekend and I'll see you again soon!

Challenges:

1. Hiding in my Craft Room: Spooky

2. Crafty Calendar: Halloween

3. PDE Linky Party: Any Cards

4. Simply Create Too: Halloween

Friday, October 14, 2016

Friends Don't Wine Alone

Hi Everyone!

TGIF! I hope you all had a fabulous week. It's time for another challenge over at Brown Sugar! This week's theme is handmade flowers. I chose this fun digital image from Bugaboo "Friends don't let friends Wine alone" For my flowers, I used a set of die-cuts from Stampin Up that I've had for a very long time! I colored the image with Copic markers.



Challenges:

--Anything Goes:
1. Color Crazy Craft Challenges
2. Crafting with Friends: (2nd Entry)
3. Simply Papercraft: (2nd Entry)


Enjoy your Friday, and I'll see you tomorrow for my last post as Guest Designer for Great Impressions.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Nice Thoughts and Taking a Break

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for the sporadic posting this week. Just been a bit busy with other things lately. This, however, would be a great opportunity for me to let you know that I will actually be taking a bit of a creative/blogging break for a little while. A couple of reasons for this: 1. I'm running a little low on creative mojo, honestly! When that happens, I know it's time to step back and take a break for a while. Second, I need to start working on holiday cards so they will be ready to mail out by Dec 1.  The last couple of years, I have done a 25 days of Christmas Cards Series of posts here on the blog, starting the day after Thanksgiving and continuing for 25 days in a row! Well, I can't blog 25 Christmas Cards if I don't make 25 Christmas Cards!! Sometimes, it's nice to just create for while without having to worry about the blogging aspect of it as well.

So, with the exception of Design Team obligations, and PCC Challenges here on the blog, this will be  my last post until after Thanksgiving.  Speaking of the PCC Challenge, there is still plenty of time to link up your creation in the current challenge: All About 3  Quick Note: I will only choose top 3 winners if there are at least 15 entries.


Ok, let's talk about today's card. Really CAS card today. This card was created as a result of leftovers from a card that I will be posting Friday. I thought the cuttlebug embossing folder matched the flower perfectly, and was a good way to add just a little something to the base of the card without detracting from the simplicity I was trying to maintain. The sentiment is from Verve Stamps. The flower is from a set of old dies I have which, I think are from Stampin Up. (?!) (Hint...you'll see more of these flowers on Friday!)

So that is all for me today. Have a great day, and I'll be back on Friday!

Challenges:

1. Crafting by Designs: Add a Sentiment
2. Lemon Shortbread Challenge: Anything Goes
3. Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
4. Sunny Day Crafting: Anything Goes

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Kitty Kat Kaboodle Great Impressions Guest Designer


Hi Everyone!

I'm so happy to back again for another week as guest designer for Great Impressions Stamps!

For my card this week, I used Kitties in Pumpkins along with the Fall Kaboodle sentiment. I stamped the image with archival black ink by Ranger and used a variety of Copics to color it in.  I stamped the sentiment and then separated it, in order to make it work better with my design. 




Super quick post for me today. Weekends, especially during fall baseball season, tend to be rather busy, so I gotta run! Have a great weekend and I will be back again next week!


Challenges:

1. Crafting with Friends: Anything Goes 
2 Jo's Scrap Shack: Anything Goes
3. PDE Linky Party: Anything Goes
4. Polkadoodles: Anything Goes 
5. Simply Papercraft: Anything Goes 




Thursday, October 6, 2016

PCC Challenge 3: All about 3

Good Morning!

I hope you are all having a fabulous week so far. Thank you for visiting me again for another challenge! A couple of things to take care of before we get to the challenge:

1. Make sure you read this post from yesterday to and  see if you were chosen as a top 3 winner from challenges 1 & 2. Right now, I just have a cute little badge for you to display on your blog. I hope to perhaps eventually get to a point where I can offer a little more for winning.

2. I will be making contacts regarding the Design Team at the end of this challenge. If you are interested in being on a DT for me, please put DT next to your name with your submission. If you have already done this with challenges 1 & 2, then I've already made a note of it and will be in touch with you soon.

Ok! Ready for a new challenge?! Since this is challenge #3 and I happen to love the number 3 since I have 3 beautiful children, I thought we would focus on that for this challenge: Put 3 of something...anything on your creation this week: 3 flowers, 3 brads, 3 buttons, 3 patterned papers, 3 images...you get the idea. 




I decided to just be simple with my card today; and I chose to use 3 flowers along the bottom of my card and a simple sentiment from Simon Says Stamp. I don't really have a lot to say about this card. It all came together pretty much the way it looks!

A few other challenges for this card as well:

1. Addicted to Stamps and More  Clean and Simple
2. Crafting by Design: Anything Goes
3. The Crafty Addicts: Anything Goes
4. Aud Sentiments: Anything Goes (plus a sentiment)
5. Crafty Girls Creations: Anything Goes







Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Let's Announce Some Winners!

Hi Everyone!

I want to thank everyone for participating in my first two challenges! I have had so much fun looking at all the entries and I hope to see all of you again in the upcoming new challenge which will be posted tomorrow!

I wasn't sure if I was going to do a "Top 3" winners announcement for the first two challenges. It's really hard to choose 3 because I loved them all so much and it's also difficult when there aren't a lot of entries. I feel like I'm really letting people down! Still, I also think that it's important to help people shine as well. So, without further ado...here are my top picks from Challenges 1 & 2.

From Challenge 1:




From Pauline at Crafting with Cotnob



For Challenge 2:




From Autumn at Sew Paper Paint

From Patty



Congratulations! Grab your badge and display it proudly!



That is all for me today. Be sure to come back tomorrow for a new challenge!