Let It Sew - Jingle Belles #23

So we meet again? Yes, another week with my pals the Jingle Belles. :)

This weeks challenge is: Let It Sew, Let It Sew, Let It Sew. And yes, the challenge is sewing..."incorporating sewing into our holiday cards; whether that be in the form of hand-stitching, via sewing machine, or even by using a pen, a stamp, or some rub-ons to add some faux stitching. anything goes!"

As much as I love the look of sewing on my cards, I don't do it very often (maybe once a year?). My sewing machine is just a teeny little thing and is quite temperamental. Most days it doesn't work. :( So I was worried about this challenge. I wound up doing a combo of hand-stitching AND machine sewing.

I also wanted to keep a kind of monochromatic look. Hope I achieved that.

The vellum puffed a little as I used the sewing machine, but I can't complain too much. At least it didn't break down on me! ;)

Thanks so much for having a look & there's still a TINY amount of time to play in this challenge, so give it a go!


{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock - Night of Navy (Stampin' Up), Patterned paper - Figgy Pudding (Basic Grey), Shimmer Vellum (Paper Temptress)
Ink: Distress Embossing Ink (Ranger)
Stamps: Wondrous Gift (Stampin' Up)
Embossing: Silver Super Fine Detail EP (Ranger)
Accessories: Ribbon (stash), Label Maker (Dymo), Thread (Coats)}

All my best,

Jingle Belles - We Three Kings (JB22)

Yay!! Time for another card for the Jingle Belles challenge!! :) I am so NOT gonna be sitting around come December stressing out over making cards. Woooo-hooo!

This week's challenge comes from another guest designer, Julie Tucker-Wolek. Please visit her on her blog at Life with the Tucker & Wolek Clan.

The challenge is Three Kings: " ... we want to see three (or more) different pieces of patterned paper in your card design this week."

THAT, I can most certainly do! :)

 

Lots of layery goodness! All the patterned paper is from My Minds' Eye and their "I Believe" collection. Love that line. So many of the papers have gorgeous, shimmery bits!  So pretty. Click on the pic above to see it larger...it's worth it.

Hope you all have been playing along with the Jingle Belles. This is such a fun challenge!! And speaking of challenges...don't forget the SOS Challenge #2! It's the post right below this one. :)

Have a great week!

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (Stampin' Up - brown), (Gina K Designs - white), Patterned Paper - I Believe Collection (My Minds' Eye)
Ink: None
Stamps: None
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Seeing Spots Cuttlebug Folder (ProvoCraft), Simply Scallops, Double Scallop Border & Faux Crochet Border Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
Accessories: Thickers Letter Stickers (American Crafts), Ribbon (Stampin' Up), Capuccino Baker's Twine (The Twinery), Button (Basic Grey).}


All my best,

Purple Haze - JB21

This weeks Jingle Belles challenge really did challenge me. WOW!!... did it ever challenge me. Seriously!

The awesomely talented Amanda Profumo of crafty paper girl is this weeks guest star and she provided us with this photo inspiration:

So pretty!! AND PURPLE!!! I guess I should say that the challenge IS  VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMS. :)

There is sooooo much purple on this card, I swear I'm channeling Jimi Hendrix! (click to hear Purple Haze HAHHA!!)

Can ya dig it?


I tried to pull out some fun elements: the snowflakes, the shimmer, the sheer lace, the fine detail (and, of course, the shades of purple) and put it together. Of course, due to my severe lack of photography skillz you can see absolutely none of the really cool stuff. You'll just have to trust me. You do, right? ;)

Hope that you're having a FABULOUS week!

xo

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (Stampin' Up), Glitter paper (American Crafts), Shimmer cardstock (Paper Temptress), Shimmer vellum (Paper Source), PP - Picket Fence (Lily Bee Design)
Ink: Concord Grape Distress Ink, Ranger Clear EP (Ranger)
Stamps: Holiday Sayings (Hero Arts)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots (ProvoCraft), Large Snowflake Die-Cut (ProvoCraft), Double Scallop Border, Simple Scallop (My Favorite Things)
Accessories: Printed Acetated (Don't remember! Ack! It's a remnant), Ribbon (Offray), Rhinestones, Silver cord, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (Stampin' Up), Small Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart)}

All my best,

Jolly Old Saint Nick, Redux ;)

Little did I know the prompt this week for the Jingle Belles was going to be SANTA related!! *shakes fist at Lauren & Steph*

"This week we're celebrating Jolly Old Saint Nicholas by creating cards that feature Santa Claus."

Especially since LAST week I had just done a Santa card. What the...? I own ZERO Santa stamps and had just cut out what I thought was my only Santa image. WAHHHHH!! Yes, please sob for me. Go ahead. I'll wait. I'll even dry your tears for you. I'm nice like that. :)

So I had to go foraging through everything I own to see what I had!! And YAY!! Tim Holtz to the rescue again!! Can I get a "WOOHOO"?! :D

Here's what I came up with this week:

Not my best work in all honesty, but I still like that instead of drawing the focus on Santa (soooo obvious!) I tried (oh, how I tried) to use Stickles & other messy stuff to get y'all to notice other nifty parts of the image, too. Lemme just say that I now I have Stickles in my hair, on my clothes & I think the kitties are now Stickles-sized, too. Ugh.

Oh, and...CORK IS FUN!! That is all. :)

Hope you're having a great week! xo

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (Stampin' Up), Patterned Paper - Seasonal Paper Stash (Tim Holtz - Ideaology), Cork (QuicKutz)
Embossing/Diecutting: Top Note Die (Stampin Up for Sizzix)
Coloring/Messy Stuff/Accessories: Stickles (Ranger), Liquid Applique (Marvy Luchida), Gelly Roll Clear Star Pen (Sakura), Linen String (PTI), Frosty Flake Brad (Doodlebug Designs), Rhinestones (Kaisercraft), Copics (.Too)}

All my best,

Christmas Blast from the Past

Hi! I'm posting my Jingle Belles card a little late, but better late than never, right? :D

The challenge from the Jingle Belles was the Spirit of Christmas Past. Here's what they said: "We're asking you to create a card celebrating all things vintage. It could mean incorporating true vintage elements ... or just a vintage style ... whatever says "vintage" to you."

Can I just say "YAY"? I love vintage. I have a lot of vintage-y type things, but I'd like to spend a long time really working on this and I was out of town for a few days...and well...I guess my whining does no good, eh? A few days should be enough time for any normal person. I'm just not normal. :D

Oh well.

Here's what I managed to pull together yesterday. Had to let him dry overnight, though:

I wish the image was true vintage, but it sure looks that way, doesn't it? Love that Santa. And that crochet is soooo soft and floppy, you'd swear it was vintage! However, there IS a true vintage item on my card. The button. I almost hated to use it, but it was a perfect match and added such balance.

Thanks for looking! Have a great week. xo

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (Stampin' Up), Seasonal Paper Stash (Tim Holtz - Ideaology)
Paint: Acrylic Paint Dabbers (Adirondack - Ranger)
Sticker: Seasonal Salvage Stickers (Tim Holtz - Ideaology)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (ProvoCraft)
Accessories: Ribbon (Stampin' Up), Crochet Lace (Wright's Creative Classics), Stickles (Ranger), FlowerSoft Polar White, Button (Vintage), Thread (PTI).}



All my best,

Cardstock Christmas - JB18

I AM SOOOO LATE FOR THIS JINGLE BELLES CHALLENGE!!! :(

My deepest apologies to Guest Star Jess Moyer who deserved to have me post on time. She had a great idea, but this week has been a bit of a challenge of its own for me. Please visit her blog, Basic Jess, and show her some love. She is super creative!

So this week Jess' challenge for us? No designer paper !! Ooookay. I love designer paper and I can't use it?! You evil woman. But even though I am late, I accepted the challenge and here's what I came up with:

Now, I *DID* use a teeny bit of Baker's Twine, an itty-bitty bit of glitter, and three puny pearls. ;) BUT, the important part? NO DESIGNER PAPER!!! YIPPEE!!!

So, I gotta get this linked up in the comments since I'm a slacker, but I hope y'all like it too.

I'm off to Vegas for 3 days tomorrow VERY early in the morning. I'm doing the Susan Komen Race for the Cure. I raised a little bit of money (thanks to my beautiful friends and family) and I am one of the Top 100 FundRacers!! Super Excited. I get a nifty sash & everything. :) I'll take pics.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend & a Happy Mother's day to all you moms. I'm a fur-mom. My kitties loooove me. ;)


{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (Stampin' Up), Core Impressions Jenni Bowlin Collection (Core'dinations)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Rolled flower, Faux crochet border Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
Accessories: Baker's Twine, Maraschino (The Twinery), Glitter - Dazzling Diamonds, Pearls (Stampin' Up), Paper Crimper (Fiskars), Corner Chomper (We-R-Memory Keepers), Stickers (Girls' Paperie), Glossy Accents (Ranger)}

All my best,

Recycled, Re-used & Getting Jingle-y

I will be the first to admit I'm not the best at re-purposing my supplies/scraps to make another card, so this week's challenge at the Jingle Belle blog had me kind of, ummm, lost?

But, I was not about to let our lovely Guest Star Kathe D. down!! She had this fabby idea for Earth Day & even though I'm cutting it close, I knew I had to participate. Please check out her Flickr gallery and see all her wonderful craftiness.

I started out by digging through my recycle bag (I live in California...we HAVE to recycle. In fact, our recycle "trash" can is 3 times larger than our regular trash can. No lie!). I dug out some "green" bubble wrap (it's recyclable), a plastic thing that formerly housed my new power cord for my laptop, and some cardboard from the 6-pack of yogurt. Score! 3 things to use for my card? Coolio! Now how would I use them? In such a short time? ACK!! Here's what I did:

I took a pic of the supplies, too! :)

So there ya have it! A thoroughly Recycled Reindeer card. Woo Hoo!

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock - Naturals White, Kraft (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Archival Ink - Coffee (Ranger)
Stamps: Bells & Boughs (Stampin' Up)
Die-cutting/Embossing: Reindeer Flight (Tim Holtz Alterations/Sizzix), Framed Greetings Die-Namic (My Favorite Things)
Accessories: Gold, Pearl, White Adirondack Acrylic Paint (Ranger), Twine, Gold Cord (Stampin' Up), Tissue Tape,Tiny Attacher (Tim Holtz Idealology).
Recycled Bits: Plastic packaging from Laptop power cord, bubble wrap, and cardboard from 6 pack of yogurt.}

All my best,

Jingle Belles - Numero 15

The challenge for us Jingle Belle'ers this week is The Ghost of Christmas Present . And the guest hostess is Clare from Miscanthus Crafts. Always fun to have a fellow Belle'er hosting the challenge.

Here's the criteria for what we are to use in our card for this week:

1. As white as a ghost
2. A present
3. A bow or knot
4. A touch of traditional Christmas colors

Here's what I came up with based on the above:

I wasn't planning to add the red, polka dot background, but I kinda had to. When I tried to take the pic it just kind of washed out since it was all white. Weird.

Anyway, the card is 3" x 6" rectangle. Kind of different for me. Just thought I'd shake things up. And all the papers except the base layer are metallic or shimmery in some fashion. I know you can't tell. Sorry. :( I couldn't find a sentiment I liked so, once again, I brought out my trusty-dusty Dymo label maker (everyone should have one of these...seriously!).

Been a rough week (having way too many of those lately). Thinking about crawling back in bed for awhile. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and a lovely week ahead. xoxo

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock - White (Gina K Designs), Specialty (Paper Temptress)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Rectangle/Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Zig-Zag Die-Namics (MFT)
Stickers: Kris Kringle Felt Element stickers (SEI)
Ribbon: Stampin Up
Accessories: Dymo Label Maker}


All my best,

Jingle Belles, Batman WHAT?!

I will admit I'm not a fan of April Fools. I think it's kind of weird to play tricks on people you "claim" to like. (Yes, I've been tricked way too many times. So, I'm not a fan.) And then I see the prompt to make a funny card for Jingle Belles this week and I thought I was doomed. I don't know how to make funny cards. I really don't. Jingle Belles, Batman Smells? Are these girls pulling my chain? Seriously?! I think they hate me.

I started thinking of what I could possibly do and I tossed an idea at my good pal, Leslie (The Crooked Stamper) and she thought it might work. Might even be humorous. So, here's my feeble attempt at humor and Christmas.

It's a bit, okay, a LOT on the silly side. What can I say? I own ZERO funny stamps so I just made something up as I went along. I actually decapitated a Santa to put that hat on Rocky I'll have you know! ;) Please note that instead of saying "Yo, Adrian" he is saying "Ho, Ho! Adrian". I thought that was quite clever of me. And I replaced his title belt with a belt made out of Hodge Podge hardware, glitter &  a sentiment. 'Cause that's how *I* roll. Oh yeah!!

(* edit - I forgot to mention that MY Rocky is sporting some shimmer body paint, but because I can't take a picture worth a beans you can't see it. Trust me, it's there. And, it's fuuuuuuny! )

(*edit again... Oh, the heck with it! Here's a close up of his shimmery bod. :D )

Anyway, hope it makes you giggle, at least a little. :)

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (Stampin' Up!), DP - Everybody Loves Christmas (Echo Park
Ink: Stampin' Up
Image: Google
Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages (PTI)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Jumbo Scallop (MFT), Die-cutting Machine: Vagabond (by Tim Holtz for Sizzix)
Accessories: Stickers (Echo Park, SEI), Glitter (Martha Stewart), Hardware, Shimmer Paint - Champagne Mist (SU!).}


All my best,

Peace - Jingle Belles Style

I have been an absentee blogger. Oh, well. Been outta town, etc, etc. You know how it goes, right? But, at least I made it back in time to play in this week's Jingle Belles challenge. YAY!!! So much fun.

This week it's a sketch challenge brought to us by Allison Fillo. Stop by her blog and see all the inspiration, but first here's her sketch:



I had a TON of fun with this sketch because, well, I spent my entire morning in chat with my good friend, Leslie - The Crooked Stamper - and we played and played and played!! She created an amaaaaazingly gorgeous card and I got a little stuck. I think after seeing her pretty card I wasn't sure where to go with mine. I had to eat and then regroup before I could finish mine. HAHHAH!! Food is so important. ;)

So after knowing how beautiful Leslie's card was and thinking, "okay, should I just make a card covered in teeny little roses, too?" I just kept at it and came up with this:



I think the Webster's Pages paper does ALL the work for me. :) Love that stuff.

Thank you, Leslie, for another "squeeeeeee-filled" day! You ROCK! :) Hope everyone else has a squeeee-filled week! :)

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock - (SU, PTI, Gina K Designs & Paper Temptress), DSP - Sweet Season Sprinkles (Webster's Pages)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Stamp: Peace, Joy, Love (by Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday)
Die-Cutting/Embossing/Punches: Petite Circ. Nestability (Spellbinders), Swiss Dots & Snowflake Cuttlebug Folders (Provocraft), Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Die-cutting Machine (Vagabond - Tim Holtz for Sizzix)
Accessories: Satin ribbon & rick-rack (SU), Pearl (Martha Stewart), Stickers (Webster's Pages), Crimper (Fiskars), Corner Rounder (We-R-Memory Keepers)}



All my best,

Yo! Cool Yule - Jingle Belles, Week 11

Weird day. My head and my heart are with the people of Japan after the massive earthquake and tsunami that just hit. And then I spent the majority of MY day glued to the tube as WE were under a tsunami warning here in the Bay Area. So weird. It just feels surreal. I had to turn off the TV and I figured the best thing to do was make something - get crafty. What better thing to do but JINGLE BELLES?! :)

I am soooooo excited that this weeks prompt is guest hosted by my uber sweet, awesomely talented, and wonderful friend, Leslie (sometimes better known as The Crooked Stamper). She is so fun AND funny!! I love her and her blog is so much fun to visit. You should definitely go!! I won't be mad if you go there first, honest!!

Here is her cool idea:



Pretty, huh?

I wish I could've interpreted the palette better. I started off at least 3 times and kind of gave in. What you see is really "meh", but it's my final card. It's not my fave. My brain is just a bit fried.



Please be good to each other this week and if you can, maybe donate to the Red Cross. I'm sure they can use it.

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (SU!), White (Gina K Designs)
Transparency: Don't remember! (Ack! - cut the name off!!)
Ink: Night of Navy (SU!), Distress Embossing Ink (Ranger)
Stamps: Framed Greetings (My Favorite Things), Holiday Sayings (Hero Arts)
EP: Iridescent Ice (SU!)
Die-Cutting: Framed Greetings Die-Namics (My Favorite Things), Die-cutting Machine - Cuttlebug (Provocraft)
Accessories: White satin ribbon (stash), Silver cord & rhinestones (SU!)}




All my best,

Home for the Holidays - Jingle Belles

So what do you think of when you think of "Home for the Holidays"? Snow? Bundling up? Maybe some kind of family tradition? Or something special your mom has always prepared for Christmas? This is our prompt for the week from the Jingle Belles and this weeks guest star, Rose.

I call Southern Nevada home. The suburbs of Las Vegas. I am, and will always proclaim myself, a desert rat. I miss seeing the first snow fall to hit the Sheep Mountains...knowing the likelihood of it getting to us in the Valley would be very slim. (No shoveling for us! Yay!) I miss the temperatures hitting the 30's at night and 60 during the day. Brrr.... Heh. Don't be a hater. :) But, seriously..I miss my family. We are a VERY small, tight-knit little group. And I miss them with all my heart. And, they are there. So, gathering with my mom and pops for any reason is always a blessing. (My sis moved to Germany when she was in the military and has stayed on. I don't get to see her often enough. Boo! )

I really wanted my card to represent what I love about Nevada. So I took a little print my mom gave me by a local artist named Mark Vranesh and I scanned it. This little piece of work shows the beautiful red rocks, mountains, blue skies, bottle brush, and petroglyphs. I added some Frosted Lace Stickles to the scanned piece and gave my mountain-tops some snow. :) And, hey! What is Las Vegas without a little glitz, right? So, my rhinestone bling on a vellum circle gives us the date of Christmas.



I hope that the next time any of you find yourselves on a trip to Vegas, please don't spend too much time on the Strip. Get out and see the beautiful desert. It's sooo amazing! And heck, let me know you're going! I'll be your tour guide!! :D


{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock, Vellum Cardstock (SU)
Print: Mark Vranesh
Accessories: Liquid Applique (Marvy), Frosted Lace Stickles (Ranger), Circle Punch, Linen Thread, Satin Ribbon (SU), "25" Rhinestone (Mark Richards) }



All my best,

Jingle Belles, Week 9 - Getting Texty!

Oooh! I am cutting it soooo close! Only about an hour left to blog and upload! ACK!!!

I love the theme this week - "Text Me" and if it weren't for VSN and card-making overload I would have gotten this made waaaaaaay sooner. :(

Anyway, I had this idea in my head already (kinda), but had to mess with it a little (as I am prone to do). I wanted to play with my MFT dies, but I just didn't have enough time to do that. Waaaah!! :( I haz a sad. Some other time I 'spose.

Hope y'all find it worthy of the prompt anyway:



There's a LOT of texty goodness going on here: I used text paper, text embossed on vellum, text tissue tape, text music background stamped on my chipboard TEXT!! ;) you get the idea.

I'll update my supplies list later, but I gotta get this baby uploaded to Jingle Belles NOW!!! :D

All my best,

Jingle Belles Gets Sketchy!

Wow...I am sooooo late getting to this challenge. Cutting it so close and I definitely didn't want to miss out on the chance to play along with Sketchy Thursdays!

Check out this sketch:




How could I NOT play? And because of the lovely Sketchy Thursday ladies we get a little extra time to Jingle Belle this week so please play if you can. Submissions close tomorrow night at 10 PM EST. So get busy!! (Don't be a slacker, like me!)

Here's what I did this week:



I think I'm making up for last weeks "No red.." with a TON of red!! :D But, even if I do say so myself...I kinda love this card. Love the colors and I love the little felty roses. I would totally go overboard adding more "fussiness" to it, but I had to show restraint.

Hope ya'll can dig it.

Now off ya go...get sketchy with your bad selves.

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (SU), DP (Basic Grey) (My Minds' Eye)
Ink: Distress Ink
Stamps: Daily Designs Sentiments (PTI)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Rolled Flower & Crochet DieNamics (MFT), Petite Circle & Scalloped Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Die-cutting/Embossing Machine - Cuttlebug (Provocraft)
Accessories: Adhesive pearls & satin ribbon (SU), Pearl stickpins (Jenni Bowlin)}

All my best,

"No Red, She Said" - Jingle Belles, Week 7

Wheeeee! I am so honored and excited to be a Guest Designer for the lovely ladies over at Jingle Belles this week! WOW!! Seriously, I am over the moon with joy and happiness. If you hear any unexplained laughing and giggling from somewhere...it's probably me.

So, the idea that I presented to Lauren & Stef (as you probably already know) was "No Red, She Said". It's soooo easy to get all caught up in the traditional "colors of Christmas". But, what if you challenge yourself to make a really un-traditional Christmas card? Using absolutely NO red...at all? Or, heck, what about no green while you're at it? And use colors that you typically wouldn't associate with Christmas...like BLACK? Shocking idea? Or insanely brilliant? MWUAHAHHAHHAH!!! Hmmm...maybe you shouldn't answer that.

I really wanted to break out of the Christmas color mold, make a really yummy card and still make it look VERY Christmas-y. Hope you think I succeeded!



I had to show a close up view because (once again) you just can't see all the shimmery goodness of the card from my lack of photography skillz. It is just so super pretty!

There's lots of technique-y stuff going on, but the chipboard letters are painted with black acrylic paint (let dry...duh!) then coated with glossy accents (let dry again!) then just certain parts are glossied again to add the glitter. Pretty! To do the background of the tag: stamp with black archival ink first, then work all your different distress inks in your coordinating colors. Then spritz the whole thing with Perfect Pearls mist (or mist of your choice. You can also mist first and let it set before stamping/inking). (I know that I was inspired by a tag that Tim Holtz did, but I totally did mine in a different way.)

I hope that you'll all play along this week...and ALL the weeks!! HAHHA!! It has been SUCH a joy for me to play along and be challenged by this wonderful group of FAB-U-LOUS-LY gifted gals. Click on the Jingle Belles banner at the top of this post or on my left side bar to be taken to their home page. *mwah*

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (SU), Manila Tag (freebie - not sure where it came from)
Ink: Archival Black, Distress Inks (Ranger)
Stamps: Music Background (Hero Arts)
Paint: Black Acrylic Paint (Adirondack - Ranger)
Color Medium: Perfect Pearls, Heirloom Gold (Ranger)
Gloss Medium: Glossy Accents (Ranger)
Accessories: Chipboard Letters, Button, Bell (Tim Holtz - Ideaology), Pearls & Rhinestones, Twine (SU), Crinkled/Hand-died Seam binding (Nicole Maki)}

All my best,

Jingle Belles Week 6 - Baby it's Cold Outside

JoWeek 6 of the Jingle Belles! Yippee!! And I'm a teensy bit late to the party. I think I may just be squeaking in under the deadline. ACK!! But, I love playing along, so I had to gather up some stuff to play this week, it's just so fun. :)

The prompt was "Baby It's Cold Outside" - "make cards or tags that include ... scarves, mittens, hats, ear muffs ... or some fuzzy warm felt (or perhaps all of the above if you are so inclined)".

Would you believe I don't have a single stamp with a scarf, mitten, ear muff, or a winter-type hat on it?!?! HOW IS THAT HUMANLY POSSIBLE?! *rolls eyes* I went out and BOUGHT some cheap-o felt today, just so I could play this week. I kid you not. I am really lacking in the winter-y supplies I have come to realize. Please don't judge me when you see Christmas cards with the Easter bunny on it, m'kay? ;)

Anyhoo...back to my card! I found some really cute Doodlebug Designs paper a few weeks ago at some little scrapbook store I happened upon, so (of course) I bought it. It's bright, & very, very UN-me. :) Also it's very, very shimmery. It kinda made me happy. I like that in a paper. I used that paper as my main focal point, if you will, then threw a bunch of other stuff together. Used a felt snowflake, and a couple of felt scalloped pieces on the sides. Ohhh! And I found an awesome sticker sentiment and the little snowman, too! He's wearing a tie. Close enough. ;)



I stink at getting all the details in a photo so here's a close-up of all the prettiness in the card:



COOL, right? :) The green scalloped piece and the white sparkly scalloped piece are both felt, as well as the snowflake. Not a ton of felt, but it's some. I could wrap it in felt, if anyone wants it. Heehee.

So, that's my card! Hope y'all like it. I promise to hit everyone's blogs & comment soon! :)

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (SU), DSP - Winter Wonderland & Goody Goody Gumdrops (Doodlebug Designs Inc.)
Stickers: Sentiment, snowman & bells (Little Yellow Bicycle)
Felt: All felt (including snowflake) Creatology
Die-cutting/Embossing: Simply Scallops Die-Namics (MFT Stamps), Petite Circle Nestability (Spellbinders), Die-cutting/Embossing Machine - Cuttlebug (Provocraft)
Accessories: Rhinestone (Recollections), Baker's Twine (from Tim Holtz event)}


All my best,

Jingles Belles Rock - Week 5 - Gettin' Sketchy!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged! But I had all that surgery mess to deal with, was out of town, etc. Now that I'm back I can get back to business. And get crafty again! Yay!

This week the phenomenally gifted Amy Tsuruta gave us a super awesome sketch challenge to do. Check out this sketch:



Cute, right?

So I just flipped it a little, used a little stitching, some ribbon, some really nifty holly leaves I found on my trip in Vegas (which works fabby with that SU Holly paper, doesn't it?), and put it all together with that cute Hero Arts sentiment.

It's really not a complicated card, but I like it.



I was a little bummed I missed the Pink & Green challenge from last weeks Jingle Belles Rock. :( <-- Me pouting. So I decided to make a card even though the submissions links are all closed. I don't like pink, so that's EXACTLY why I wanted to do the challenge. That's what a challenge is all about, right? Here's my homage' to pink & green:

How ya like my stitched "Christmas"? Neato bandito, huh? :D The DSP on that one is all Basic Grey - Sultry, NO stamps or ink were used. (CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?!) Just the stitched sentiment, the Prima bling pearls, and the little K & Co. adhesive button thingy.

Hope all of you are checking out these Jingle Belles challenges. They are waaaaaaaay too much fun!

All my best,

Jingle Belles - Week 3... PAINT

When I first heard (or read) that our prompt for the Jingle Belles this week would be paint I was so happy! I love paint and I rarely use mine, but this week has been SUCH a nightmare. So much going on and I have a TON to do before I leave tomorrow (and...ack!...oral surgery on Tuesday) that I feel like I just can't get everything done. :(

I actually started making TWO separate cards that each completely got thrown away. Completely destroyed. Beyond rescue. Ugh!! What an utter waste of time. Oh! And my little sewing machine went on the fritz. *rolls eyes* So my card today was completely not what I had planned, but after trying and failing so many times I just wanted to do SOMETHING!

Not one of my better cards, but... I STILL HAVE TO PACK! So I hope you like it anyway.



(Forget to tell ya! The snowflake is cut out of grungepaper & then painted with Pearl Acrylic Paint. While it was still wet I threw some of Rangers Holographic EP on it for some extra shimmery-ness. As for the flourish, that was cut out of grungeboard and painted first with Willow. Then I mixed some Pool & Willow together and highlighted some of the edges. Also threw a little of the Holographic EP on this (also while wet) for that extra sumthin'-sumthin'.)

I won't be around to join in on the fun next week. I'm so bummed. I may make the card after I get back anyway. (It's too much fun NOT to!) But, I'll hop along & check out all the beautiful creations.

I have an early flight and this non-morning person has a squillion things to do before then.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all send positive vibes my way, ohhh...around 8:00 am PST on Tuesday. ;) xoxo

{Supplies:
Paper: Naturals White & Vellum Cardstock (SU!), DSP - Jovial (Basic Grey)
Ink: Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paint: Acrylic Dabbers in Willow, Pool & Pearl (Ranger)
Die-cut: Cuttlebug 3x3 Snowflake, Flourish (Tim Holtz for Sizzix)
Embossing: Snowflakes A2 Embossing folder (Cuttlebug)
Accessories: "Screw" brads (Tim Holtz for Ideaology), Letters (Girls' Paperie), Pearl (Recollection), Glitter (Holographic Emb. Powder - Ranger).}


All my best,

Jingle Belles - Card Deux

So an inchie or a twinchie? Wha? These gals at Jingle Belles are CRRRRRAAAZY!! "Have Yourself a Merry LITTLE Christmas", they said. VERY funny.

I don't have small stuff. I have cat hair!! I could gather a pile of that in an inch or two and stick THAT on some Christmas paper and call it DONE. No? Okay, fine. But what do you do when you have absolutely NO SMALL STAMPS?!

Ahhh....punches! Yes!! So I start gathering up all my teeny little punches and tried to devise a plan. THEN, when I was going through my Pink Paislee Father Christmas patterned paper I let out a mini-squeal! (I swear, I did!) There were 2 6 x6" sheets of Santa all EXACTLY ONE INCH CIRCLE SIZED!! WOOOOOOO!!! (However, I cropped him to 3/4" circle for my purpose and the paper behind the Santas are all 1" circles.)

I also decided since I wasn't varying too much in color from my tried and trued red & white theme from last week, that I'd at least vary the type of card. So, I made this one an easel card (<--click for the tutorial on SCS on how to make one). Haven't made these in a while. And, I've never made one that was vertical before (I don't think). Usually they're horizontal or square. I like these. They're fun to make. I really like how this card eventually turned out. I have to admit I started out hating it.

First is the card flat (un-easel-ized):



Now here it is in its full easel glory! ;)




Now go to the Jingle Belles and check out the other cards! This is just waaaaaay too much fun. And make a card yourself while you're at it. You'll be way ahead of the game by the time December rolls around. :)



{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (SU!), DSP - Father Christmas (Pink Paislee), Wassail (Basic Grey)
Ink: Distress Ink (Ranger), Frosted Lace Stickles (Ranger)
Stamp: Mega Mixed Messages (PTI)
Punch: 3/4" & 1" circle punch (EK Success)
Accessories: Foam snowflake & pearl (Michael's), Seam binding (SU!), Thickers (American Crafts)}


All my best,

New Challenge Blog - Jingle Belles! And they ROCK!

Okay, so I was full of the Bah-Humbuggery spirit and all that. And it took EVERY ounce of energy I had to make Christmas cards this year. Once they were sent I thought, "Thank you, sweet Jesus!! I don't have to even THINK about Christmas cards until next December 15th!! YIPPEE!!!". Yes, that Scrooge was me. I admit it.

Then I heard about this blog...Jingle Belles. I kind of hate them now. But only in a totally makes sense kind of way. If you make one measly Christmas card A WEEK...you'll have 52 unique Christmas cards made by Christmas next year. Yes, it's a slap yourself in the forehead kind of thing.

And, yes, I resisted. Kind of like you resist getting the flu. You don't want it, but you get it anyway? Uh-huh. Yes, I'm getting infected. ;) *cough, cough*

So, without further ado, I present my very first Jingle Belles challenge card. Something old, something new. It's mostly old. Whatever.



(If you're blind, like me, and can't read the sentiment it says, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen")

Can ya dig it? :)

The old is the DSP - Basic Grey (Wassail) and the base layer of c/s Always Artichoke (SU), the label-maker tape is practically ancient, and the label-maker itself is semi-oldish, flowers (Petaloo), tissue tape, acrylic tag, shimmer paint...all old. *blush*

The new(ish) stuff - The first layer of paper (c/s). Got that & never really broke into it! And the Antique brad. Been hoarding those. Also the swivel clasp. Bought those & never used 'em. Super cool!

{I usually list my supplies. Since I just basically did that I'm not going into the deets. If you have questions about anything I used, just shoot me an e-mail!}

All my best,