Purples and Blues for Christmas

One of the fun things about all the blog challenges out there is that they sometimes push you to create something you would never have thought of doing on your own.  Case in point is the card I'm sharing today.

I was inspired to use holly by this weeks Merry Monday challenge

I knew I wanted to use the holly from Festive Foliage and the coordinating die for it  - both from Waltzingmouse - but assumed I would go with some greens and reds!

But then my thoughts switched to non-traditional colors when I saw the Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge

 We had to use at least 3 of the colors and at least 1 Waltzingmouse stamp -  and I actually got in 5 of the colors -  two blues, tan (cardstock), dark purple and light purple!  If you have Waltzingmouse stamps be sure and check out Deborah and Tara's challenges on Fridays!

I'm so pleased with how this came out -  who knew you didn't have to use green for holly?!?!  Of course, my husband's comment was 'but it just doesn't look like Christmas to me in those colors!"  Ugh.........

Stamps:  Festive Foliage (holly), Merry Christmas from Nordic Winter -  Waltzingmouse
Paper:  white, Vintage Cream - PTI
Ink: Archival Jet Black, Ranger Distress Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, Victorian Velvet, Seedless Preserves.
Accessories:  foam dots, circle Nestability, winter blend sequins - Avery Elle, Holly Die set - Waltzingmouse.

Festive Ornaments

I have a Christmas Card to share today that I made using some new things and some old things! 

The old things are the stamps - Candy Jar Christmas Fillers, and the Grand Flower Box die from Poppy stamps - which I've had for a few years (just had to have!) but this is the first time I've used it!  The new thing is the chevron embossing folder from Provo Craft.

My design was inspired by the latest Festive Friday challenge

Here's a close up of the 'ornaments'.  I used Galaxy Gold ink on the little round balls and the bow that sparkle IRL!

Stamps:  Candy Jar Christmas Fillers - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Festive Berries, Galaxy Gold - Brilliance
Accessories:  Grand Flower Box die - Poppy Stamps, foam dots, Charles (chevron) Embossing Folder - Provo Craft, gold half pearls - Michaels

STAMPlorations Challenge #6 Sketch

Hi all -  I'm thrilled to be a guest designer today for the STAMPlorations Challenge #6 Sketch!   My entry was chosen the winner for Sketch #3 on this post and I won 3 digital products from All About Scrapping as well as being asked to be guest designer for this new sketch!   It's a fun one don't you think?

I got some digital papers as part of my 'winnings' and used a piece of a Splash of Grunge sheet for my card background.   I added die cut arrows from MFT and a simple sentiment from Waltzingmouse.  I thought the paper was perfect with the circles already printed on it!

I haven't stamped anything inside my card yet -   I might use it as a graduation card - or a new job card - or for someone making a big decision in their life.

I hope you'll join us in the sketch challenge this week.  STAMPlorations has monthly challenges (with prizes) posted on the 1st Friday of the month, as well as bi-weekly sketch challenges posted on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month.   Maybe you'll win a prize and be a guest designer too!!

I'm also entering this in the CAS on Sunday Challenge - Make it Masculine!

Stamps:  Words of Wisdom - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White, true black - PTI, DP - Digi Splash of Grunge - All About Scrapping Etsy Shop
Ink:  Archival Jet Black
Accessories - color printer, foam dots, Lead the Way (arrow dies) - My Favorite Things.

A Splatter Birthday

I have a birthday card to share today -  that I think will work well for the guys we need cards for - given the green/blue colors and lack of layers and bling!

The splatter stamp is from Splat That by Waltzingmouse and the bold sentiment is from  a sentiment set by Studio Calico that I've had for years and hadn't inked up yet -  it was kind of lost in my sentiment drawer - and I love the boldness of it! (I think it may be retired)  The bow die is from Lil' Inker Designs.  I let the ribbon from PTI hang off the edges which I think makes it feel a little more masculine as well. 

My design was inspired by this week's Freshly Made Sketches

I'm also entering this in the Less is More Challenge - make it masculine

And before I go -  thought I'd share a photo looking out of our back door into the yard last night around 5 pm -  we're expecting about 5" of  new snow tonight - after just having 6" on Thursday!  There's a male and female cardinal on our feeders - one on the feeder and one on the feeder hanger (plus a metal bird that's part of the feeder stand!)  I zoomed in to get this picture as the feeder is about 10 feet from the door - and the trees are about 20 feet from the door!

Stamps:  Splat That - Waltzingmouse, sentiment from Studio Calico
Paper:  white, new leaf - PTI, Pacific Point - SU
Ink:  Archival Jet Black, Ranger Distress Salty Ocean and Mowed Lawn
Accessories:  small bow die - Lil'Inker Designs, new leaf ribbon - PTI, Scor tape.

Fusion Card Challenge - February 13th

It's Thursday again - and time for a new Fusion Challenge.  Let's take a look!  We've gone all springy with the butterflies in the inspiration photo!

I was inspired to create my birthday card using both the photo and the sketch this week.  I'm trying to use 'stuff' I already have in my craft room - and this butterfly paper by Basic Grey needed to come off the shelf!

The 'birthday' die is from PTI and I was able to manipulate it into a fun curve since some of the letters are only connected by a small piece.  The butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch that I covered with Glossy Accents to give it a nice shine.   I wasn't sure what color to pull from the DP for my butterfly - so I also punched a grey and a black one.  Since I chose the Terrecotta Tile color for the front - I used the other two butterflies on the inside of my card.

Here are links to the rest of the Design Team - please visit them to see their Fusion Inspired cards!

Betty J
Cathy Weber 
Dannielle Robeson
Deepti
Geri Freeman
Julia Aston - Me!
Katie Brooks
Kelly Griglione
Kimberly Wiener 

Lyndal Higgins

Lynn Mangan 

Michelle Williams

Michelle Lupton

Sindhu
Stephanie Severin

We hope you will join us by making an inspired card and linking it over at Fusion!

Stamps: Happy - partial stamping of Happy Birthday stamp - Amuse,  inside Birthday Centers - Cornish Heritage Farms.

Paper:  Vintage Cream, Terrecotta Tile - PTI, Basic Grey - SU, DP Basic Grey Ambrosia

Ink:  Archival Jet Black

Accessories:  Wonderful Words - Birthday die - PTI, winter blend sequins - Avery Elle, Glossy Accents - Ranger, Herringbone Embossing Folder - Provo Craft. Butterfly punch - Martha Stewart. 

Get Your Party On - In Blue!

I've got a birthday card - in blue - to share today - made for two different Cas-ual Fridays Challenges. The stamps are from the set Woot Woot.  I used three different textured blue cardstocks for the fun heart balloons from MFT.  I tied them with twine that hangs loose.  The balloons are up on foam dots.

Cas-ual Fridays - over the edge (my twine goes over the edge)

Cas-ual Fridays Stamps Blog - the Blue Challenge

Stamps:  Woot Woot - Cas-ual Fridays Stamps
Paper:  White, enchanted evening - PTI, blue Bazzill, blue Prismatics, blue - Coredinations
Ink:  Archival Cobalt
Accessories:  ocean twine - the Twinery, foam tape, heat balloon dies - MFT

Creations by AR - February Release DT Blog Hop - Baby Bag, Horse and Cradle

I'm excited to be participating in the Creations by AR February Design Team Baby Love Blog Hop - Adela has given us 3 wonderful baby templates this month - a cradle (one with slatted sides and one with solid sides, I used the slatted version today), a sweet rocking horse card and a delightful baby gift bag.  Here's a quick peek at all of them together.

And here they are individually close up.  After cutting all the cradle pieces out of pink cardstock with my Silhouette Cameo - I white embossed each piece with a wood grain stamp from Waltzingmouse .  I decorated the sides with some cute dimensional stickers from Jolee's Boutique.

Here's the other side

and here you can see the sweet heart cut out on the end pieces.  I embossed the heart pieces and used them on my horse and bag - see if you can spot them!

Here's a close up of the Rockin' Horse Card.  I used the same technique -  white embossing each piece with the woodgrain background stamp.

I layered the heart (from the cradle) onto the saddle - you almost can't see it in the picture!

And here is the wonderful Dress Up Baby Bag - I used more of the Jolee Dimensional stickers across the bodice of the dress - front and back.  I sponged all the edges with Ranger Distress Victorian Lace ink to give a little depth to the pieces. And see where I used another white embossed heart?!

Here's the other side:

And once again - here's the full group!

Here are the links to the templates in the Creations by AR shop.  

Dress Up Baby Bag

Rockin' Horse Card

Rockin' Cradle

Adela is offering a special price if you buy all three in the Baby Bundle for $12.00, a savings of $3.00.

While you're at the store - check out the fun Photobooth Party Props Adela just added!!

As always on our blog hops - you can win!  
PRIZE:

Winner can choose any one of the three new sets

HOW TO QUALIFY TO WIN:

Leave comments 

• On each DT blog

• Creations by AR Face Book: 

Comments are accepted until Friday, February 14, 12:00 noon Eastern

One random winner will be announced on February 15 here:

Creations by AR Face Book: 

Creations by AR Website: 

Here are the links to all of the Design Team participating in the Blog Hop.

Adela: 

Doris Molina:

Jak Heath: 

Julia Aston: Me!

Lisa Eisner: 

Lisa Somerville: 

Lori Brown: 

Lyn Bernatovich: 

Monica Soto: 

Patti J Gilliam:  

Sue Kment:

Tina Milbourn:

Cradle
Stamps:  Woodgrain Backgrounder - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  Pink - Prismatics
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  Heat gun, white embossing powder, It's a  Girl Dimensional Stickers - Jolee's Boutique, Silhouette Cameo, Rockin' Cradle template - Creations by AR

Rockin' Horse
Stamps:  Woodgrain Backgrounder - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  Pink - Prismatics
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  White embossing powder, heat gun, foam dots, rhinestone - Kaiser, Silhouette Cameo, Rockin' Horse template - Creations by AR.

Dress Up Baby Bag
Paper:  light and dark pink - Prismatics, DP Pink and white stars - Michaels
Ink:  Ranger Distress Victorian Lace
Accessories:  It's a Girl Dimensional Stickers - Jolee's Boutique, foam tape, ScorTape, Silhouette Cameo, Dress Up Baby Bag template - Creations by AR.