Colorful Seasons Greetings

I have a card to share today that uses rather non-traditional images and colors for a holiday card.

The stamps are Waltzingmouse - Funky Flowers and Simple Sprig. Sentiment from Nutcracker Sweet.   The design and colors used came from several challenges.

It's a one layer card for the WMS Forum September Christmas card Challenge (which I'm a little late for!)

The colors chosen are for the Waltzingmouse Fanatics challenge 

 The design is the Freshly Made Sketch 

 So - very non-traditional -  but I like it!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - bloom from Funky Flowers, leaf stem from Simple Sprig, Seasons Greeting from Nutcracker Sweet.

Paper:  White - PTI

Ink:  Memento - Danube Blue, Bahama Blue, Gray Flannel, London Fog, Archival Jet Black

Take Joy in Today!

Wow - did I get a lot done today in my craft room!  I had several challenges laid out on my work table that I wanted to get done - and here they are!

First up is my card for this week's Cas(e) This Sketch

I had this wonderful picture taken by my niece - of her husband Nate and their son, 2 year old James.  They took a boat out to one of the islands in Boston Harbor last month and one of the things they did there was fly a kite!  I thought the sketch would work perfect with this photo.  I die cut the sentiment balloon from Jillian Vance, stamped the sentiment from PTI on it and popped it up on the photo with foam tape.  Then I just layered the photo to a black and then green panel.   The finished size is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".

I actually made this as just a card front and attached a die cut easel from Tim Holtz to the back so it can stand up and be displayed on a shelf.  

My next 2 cards are for Christmas challenges.

I used the Merry Monday sketch for this one

 

 and here is my card

and I used a star which is the July Christmas Card Challenge in the Waltzingmouse Forum.  I stamped the star and sentiment with Archival Jet Black ink on brushed silver card stock.  I punched the circles out of the same silver.  The star is popped up over the circles and I added some clear rhinestones.  The blue panel is embossed with Square Lattice.

And my final creation was made for the Addicted to CAS - Code Word Holiday challenge

 

and the August Christmas Card Challenge in the Waltzingmouse Forum - to use the non-traditional colors of lime green, raspberry and tangerine! 

 

I wasn't sure what I was going to do with these funky colors but once I decided what stamps I would use, it all worked out nicely! Who would have thought these colors would make a pretty Christmas Card?!!  That's why we have challenges - right?!  The wreath and berries are from Around Christmas Time and the Noel is from Compliments of the Season - Two all from Waltzingmouse.

I'm entering both of these Christmas cards into the Moxie Fab World Holiday Card Challenge

Phew!  that's it from me today!

Take Joy in Today
Stamps:  Beautiful Blessings - PTI
Paper:  White, True Black, Kraft - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black
Accessories:  message balloon die - Jillian Vance Designs, foam dots, small easel die - Tim Holtz Alterations, photo

Follow Yonder Star
Stamps:  Yonder Star - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  Enchanted Evening, True Black - PTI, Brushed Silver - SU
Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet black
Accessories:  Square Lattice Embossing Folder - SU, rhinestones - Creative Charms, 3/4" and 5/8" circle punches - EK Success

Noel
Stamps:  wreath and berries - Around Christmas Time, Noel from Compliments of the Season TWO - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  white - PTI, certainly celery - SU
Ink:  Memento Pear Tart, Tangelo, Ranger Distress Picked Strawberry, Ranger Archival Jet Black
Accessories: circle nestabilities, foam tape

Festive Glittery Greetings!

Well - here we are - back to work after a lovely long weekend here in the US.  Today I have two Christmas cards to share with you - I made them for the May WMS Forum Christmas Card Challenge - Charmaine's challenge this month for us is to make it glittery!

I made my panels by rubbing Dazzling Diamonds onto one side of a double sided sticky paper after adhering the sticky paper to a white cardstock panel of the same size.  Then I stamped directly on the glittered panel using a pigment ink.  I found a great tutorial for this technique here.   

Here's a close up of the panel where you can hopefully see the wonderful glittery shimmer better.  I colored the centers of the poinsettia's with yellow and green Copics.  You really just dab the color on so you don't ruin the tips of the pens on the glitter.

And here is a pic of each card separately -  both cards are 4 1/4" x 4 1/4"

Have you been seeing the sneak peeks for the Waltzingmouse May Release?  Today is Day 3 and you'll find all the links on Claire's blog here.   We have such a large Design Team now - several of us were asked to sit out the sneaks this month- but we'll be participating in the release blog waltz on May 29th AND we'll be posting during June using the new sets to give you all more inspiration -  I'll be posting May 29th, June 6th and June 27th!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse -  Big Bloom Poinsettias, Compliments of the Season Two
Paper:  White, Pure Poppy - PTI, Peel N Stick - Therm O Web.
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black and Crimson Red
Accessories:  Dazzling Diamongs - SU, foam tape, Copics - Y17, YG03, Rhinestones - Kaiser Craft.

A Glittery Lacey Christmas

Well - it's been a busy week - I'm working on all kinds of projects for the April WMS Sneak Peeks and release that start Monday 4/15 (which is also the tax due deadline here in the US, and the Boston Marathon is run in MA!)  and I've been feeling kinda lousy with a spring cold -

But.......   I just had to get a card done and posted for some of my FAV challenges -  so here it is:

I silver embossed the lacey doily and Noel sentiment on the blue panel - then simply added a clear rhinestone to the center.

And here are the challenges:

The April Waltzingmouse Christmas challenge in the Playroom of the WMS Forum - to use at least one non-holiday stamp on your card.
Little Red Wagon Challenge -  to use lace, real or stamped
CAS-ual Fridays -  all that glitters.

I hope you all have a great weekend -  Spring is finally arriving in New England! 

Please remember to stop by beginning on Monday to see what I have to show you for the WMS April Release.

And on Tuesday I'll also be posting a project using a wonderful new template from Creations by AR!

It's going to be a fun filled week!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Dainty Doilies Large, Compliments of the Season - Two
Paper:  White, Spring Rain - PTI
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  silver embossing powder, heat gun, rhinestone - from stash, glue dot.

WMS March Christmas Card Challenge

On the 10th of each month -  there is a Christmas Card Challenge posted in the Playroom of the Waltzingmouse Forum that I participate in.

For March - Cassie Jones was our hostess and her challenge was to use Pear Green and Navy Blue -  a very unlikely color combination for Christmas don't you think!   I NEVER in a life time would have picked those colors up -  but I am thrilled with how my cards came out!

I recently downloaded the cut files Claire has for this wonderful set called Festive Foliage (they are free in the WMS shop!) so I thought I'd try using them on my cards.

I used Memento Pear Tart ink on the Mistletoe, the holly and the pine bough - then used Memento Danube Blue for the berries and the pinecones layering them on top with foam dots.  I used the same sentiment from A Cottage Christmas on each card.

I'm going to have so many cards ready by December - I might have enough for 2013 AND 2014!! LOL!!!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage, A Cottage Christmas
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  Memento Pear Tart and Danube Blue
Accessories:  Festive Foliage Cut Files (free!) - Waltzingmouse, foam dots.

Red Hearts for Christmas

Hello blogging friends!  I finally have a card to post on the old blog!  I've been having fun making things to post - but they'll be coming here on Sunday and next Thursday!

This card is for two challenges -  CASology Cue Card -  Red  and the WMS  February Christmas card challenge in the Playroom of the Waltzingmouse forum  is to use hearts.  This design was so CAS that I quickly made 5 of them for my box of Christmas Cards!

The stamps are from Nordic Winter by Waltzingmouse.

I know it's kind of weird making Christmas cards EVERY month - but it is really helpful when December rolls around and you don't have to make them then!  Check out the Playroom in the WMS forum and join along!  You can read about it on the WMS blog

I'll be back on Sunday with my card for the WMS Feb Blog Party - the theme this month is doilies.  Are you playing along this month?   check out all the details here.

AND -  I'll have a really fun post on Thursday using a brand new template from Creations by AR - something really cute for spring!

I may even have some fun posts in between!   Be sure to check back!!

We had 2 feet of snow last weekend (this is a picture through my front door - which I couldn't open because the snow was blocking it!-  and we're supposed to get 3" tonight and maybe again on Sunday!  Winter has finally arrived in New England!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter

Paper:  white, pure poppy - PTI

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Festive Berries

Scandinavian Christmas

Well, yes, I have a Christmas card to share today (!)  I'm participating in several year long Christmas challenges so I'll have plenty of cards when December rolls around.  And so that also means - you will be seeing a few Christmas cards on my blog each month!

This card was inspired by the inspiration picture over at this weeks Jingle Belles Challenge -  a box of lovely Scandinavian Christmas Ornaments.  I was inspired by the heart shapes, the red and white, the silver in the metallic heart and the Scandinavian or Nordic designs!

and my sketch is from the Waltzingmouse Christmas Challenge for January held in the Playroom of the WMS Forum.  Here's the sketch:

For my card I used, appropriately enough, stamps from the Nordic Winter set by Waltzingmouse.  I stamped the background stamp on a white panel, cut it with a Nestability heart die and sponged the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink.  I made the banner with Brushed Silver card stock from SU and a Ribbon Banner die from Spellbinders.  The smaller heart is a Marvy Uchida punch and the Good Jul is also from the Nordic Winter set. (it looks like this set is out of stock at the moment - you can also check out Claire's Nordic Spring)

And there you go -  a fairly clean and simple Christmas card.  I didn't layer anything up with foam dots to keep it flat for easy mailing that wouldn't require extra postage!

Kent and I will be couch potatoes Sunday afternoon and evening -  watching the two football games.  We live in Patriot's country so we're excited that they will be playing in one of the games!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Stamps:  Nordic Winter - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White, Pure Poppy - PTI, Brushed Silver - Stampin'Up
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black and Lady Bug, Ranger Distress Antique Linen
Accessories:  Heart Nestabilities, ribbon banner Spellbinders, heart punch - Marvy Uchida

Peace to the World - WMS Forum Nov Christmas Challenge

Hi Stamping friends!  I have a Christmas Card for you today -  and I'm happy to say I now have enough cards made for my Christmas Card List!  

Yes siree - I've been making Christmas cards every month since January with the Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge in the Playroom of the WMS forum. I usually make 3 or 4 of the card I make each month but this time I just made one since I'm at the finish line!

This month Lynn's theme for us was to use a source of light on our cards (candles, moon, lights etc)

For my source of light I used this pretty lantern from Little Lanterns.  The sentiments are from Say It Loud -Winter Holiday and the background is stamped with the beautiful Yonder Star Backgrounder.  I sponged the edges with Ranger Distress Shabby Shutters.

After I did my stamping -  I applied Crackle Accents by Ranger to the glass part of the lantern and on the Peace sentiment banner.

It creates a lovely crackled look but it did 'blurr' the ink on the candle and flame a little bit.

I was going to use the big word JOY from Say It Loud with the smaller words "TO THE WORLD"  but decided to go with the Peace instead.

Are you done with your holiday cards yet??!!

Come join us in the WMS Forum every month and you will be! (well, next year anyway!)

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Say It Loud Winter Holiday, Little Lanterns, Yonder Star Backgrounder.

Paper:  White, Simply Chartreuse - PTI

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Bamboo Leaves, Teal Zeal, Tangelo, Dandelion, Ranger Distress Shabby Shutters.

Accessories:  Rhinestones - Kaiser, Nested Pennants - Nestabilities, foam tape, Crackles Accents - Ranger.

Think Pink - WMS Forum October Christmas Challenge

It's the 10th of the month and that means Lynn has the October Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge up in the Playroom of the WMS Forum.  Her challenge for us this month is to 'THINK PINK" -  a color you might not automatically choose for a Christmas card! (Lynn always gets us thinking outside the box!)

After a little pondering - here's what I came up with:

I used Raspberry Fizz for my pink - along with stamps from Nordic Winter - I love the cross stitched look of this pretty set.

These were so easy to stamp - I made 4 of them for my Christmas stash - quick as a wink!

On the inside -  I stamped the tree from the Nordic set and a sentiment from A Cottage Christmas.

How many Christmas cards have you made so far????    Come along and join us in the Playroom of the WMS Forum and get some done!

At the suggestion of my stamping friend Stef, I'm also entering this in the October Jingle Belles challenge -  Pink!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter, A Cottage Christmas
Paper:  WHite, True Black, Raspberry Fizz - PTI
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Raspberry Fizz - PTI
Accessories: Rhinestone - Kaiser Craft.

WMS Forum August Christmas Challenge - Are You Listening?

Well stampers, it's the 10th of the month - and that means that Lynn has posted the Christmas Card Theme for August in the Playroom of the Waltzingmouse Forum!!

And that theme is to be inspired by a favorite Christmas/holiday song!   Well -  I have SO many favorites - that I decided to go with a song that I had a stamp for!

The sentiment and snow flakes are from Compliments of the Season.  The window frame is from Twas the Night Before Christmas.  The bells and ferns are Martha Stewart punches.  I thought this felt alpine ribbon from SU (that I've had for ages and am finally using!) looked like the leather strapping they use for bells on horses!

Have you been making your Christmas cards ahead of time??!!  Come join us in the WMS forum!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - sentiment and snow flakes from Compliments of the Season, window frame from Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Paper:  Simply Chartreuse, Vintage Cream - PTI,  Gold - unknown

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Brushed Corduroy and Antique Linen.

Accessories:  Bell punch and fern punch - Martha Stewart, ribbon originals Alpine - SU, rhinestones - Michaels, ScorTape.

WMS July Forum Christmas Card Challenge

The Waltzingmouse Forum has a monthly Christmas Card Challenge posted in the Playroom  - the new challenge is posted on the 10th of each month - so July's was just put up -  and it's to use ORANGE on your card!  Certainly a very non-traditional color for Christmas!

I thought it was going to be really hard to create with this color -  but I found once I picked out the stamps I wanted to use and what shades of orange - it was easy and actually came out looking like Christmas!!  Don't you think??  I used Terrecotta Tile card stock with white - and for inks I used Memento Tangelo and Bamboo Leaves.  I added an orange rhinestone to the tree and green rhinestones to the poinsettia style flowers.  It all went together so quickly - I made 5 of them this month (I now have 40 cards in my Christmas box!)

I used the Waltzingmouse Nordic Winter stamp set for my cards this month - a set with some wonderful single stamps as well as several background/border stamps - all in the pretty cross stitch style!

So how about joining us each month??!!   Check it out in the Playroom of the WMS forum!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter

Paper:  White, Terrecotta Tile - PTI

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tangelo & Bamboo Leaves

Accessories:  Rhinestones - Kaiser Craft

June WMS Blog Party - An Inspiration!

 Today I'm participating in the Waltzingmouse Blog Hop which happens the 17th of each month. The challenge is announced on the WMS Blog on the 1st of every month so we have plenty of time to create something!   This month the challenge is an inspiration photo:

I made 3 Christmas cards because I'm also using this for my June Christmas Card Challenge over in the WMS Forum.  This month we had to use stitches -  real or faux.  I used the colors from the inspiration photo but switched them up on each card to see how they would look.

The stitches stamp, from Off Beat Backgrounds, is one of my favorite stamps, don't they look like real lines of stitching?  I white embossed them on the gray card and silver embossed them on the blue card.  I stamped them in Bahama Blue Ink on the white card.

The tree is from Asian Gardens, the ornaments are from 2011 Holiday Ornaments.  I embossed a rectangle Nestability in the center of each card then layered the stamped tree panel inside the frame popped up on foam tape.

The Merry & Bright sentiment is from Around Christmastime.  I punched it with an oval punch layering the sentiment and ornaments on foam tape and adding silver sticky pearls.  I sponged all the edges with Ranger Distress Broken China.

You have 24 hours to link your card on the WMS Blog where you will find all the details as well!  Come along and party!!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Off Beat Backgrounds, Around Christmastime, Asian Gardens, 2011 Holiday Ornaments.

Paper:  White - PTI, Basic Grey & Tempting Turquoise - SU

Ink:  Archival Coffee,  Memento Tangelo & Bahama Blue, Ranger Distress Broken China.

Accessories:  Foam Tape, Rectangle Nestability, Silver pearls - Michaels, large oval punch - SU.

From Our House to Yours - WMS Forum May Christmas Card Challenge

The May Christmas Card Challenge is up in the Playroom of the Waltzingmouse Forum -  and this month the challenge is to use chipboard.  I made 4 to add to my ever growing stash of Christmas cards.

I remembered I had some Maya Road Chipboard houses in my drawer - and they worked perfectly here.  I got my design inspiration from the Split Coast Stampers Inspiration challenge today - with this decorative plate from the Australian Web store - Hard to Find.

I sponged the house, the die cut circle and the edges of the card with Tea Dye Distress Ink. I stamped the little heart, from WMS stamp set Sweethearts (I placed the house on the circle so I knew where to stamp the heart!), before embossing the circle with Swiss Dots and I taped a piece of Summer Sunrise card stock behind the open window to be the light inside the home!  The sentiment is from A Cottage Christmas.  I stamped "A Merry Christmas to You" from Compliments of the Season inside (not shown) -  but you could also make this a Thank You card -  a Welcome to Your New Home card,  an invitation or even just a note!

We'd love to have you join us in the WMS Forum Christmas Card Challenges - a new challenge is posted the 10th of each month -  you'll be SO glad you did when November rolls around and you have all your Christmas cards ready to mail!

Don't forget to check and see if you were the winner on our WMS May Release day blog hop!  It's posted on Claire's Blog.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - heart from Sweet Hearts Set, Sentiment from A Cottage Christmas  

Paper: kraft, Vintage Cream, Summer Sunrise - PTI  

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Tea Dye, Memento Lady Bug 

Accessories: Foam tape, Swiss Dots Embossing folder - Provo Craft, Chipboard House - Maya Road Houses Mini

WMS Christmas Card Challenge for April - Birds and Trees

Lynn has the Waltzingmouse April Christmas Card Challenge up in the WMS Forum.  Her challenge for us this month is Birds and Trees.

And I used the April 7th WMS Sketch for my card -  turning the sketch upside down - using trees instead of banners!

For those of you who sometimes ask how I did one thing or another - I thought I'd show step by step pictures on how I created my card.  First I traced around one side of an oval Nestability with a light pencil line on the bottom of my card to guide where I'd stamp the trees from the WMS set Teeny Trees.  (be sure to use a good artist eraser when you erase the pencil mark so you don't leave any marks)

Then I die cut the oval out of a piece of Eclipse Tape to use as a mask.

I placed the mask over the area I wanted to keep white and then sponged over the rest of the card starting at the outside edges and moving in towards the center in a circular motion using the Inkssentials blending tool and Ranger Distress Ink.

When you remove the mask - you have a snowy white hillside!

I placed the panel inside my Swiss Dots Embossing Folder and ran it through my Cuttlebug.

And now we have 'snow' in the sky!

For the final steps -  I stamped the sentiment on white, die cut it with a Spellbinders Ribbon Banner sponging the edges before taking it out of the die.

Here's how it looks all sponged - leaving it lighter in the center.

And when you remove it from the die - you  have a lovely white edge!

I adhered the image panel directly to the white card base and layered the sentiment banner above it using foam tape.

I was really  happy with how this came out -  it went from vision to card exactly how I thought it would  - sometimes it doesn't work out that way!

I hope you'll join us in the WMS forum for the Christmas challenge each month!  You'll be glad you did when November rolls around and you have all your cards made!!

Thanks for coming by today!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Teeny Trees

Paper:  white - Papertrey Ink

Ink:  Archival Ink - Coffee, Memento Lady Bug, Cottage Ivy and Bamboo Leaves, Ranger Distress Weathered Wood.

Accessories:  Oval Nestabilities, Eclipse Tape, blending tool & non-stick craft mat - Inkssentials, foam tape, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder - Provo Craft,  ribbon banners - Spellbinders.