Holidays and Special Occasions

Love this sweet image from Di’s Digi Stamps. (His name is Patch!) Colored with chalk and Tombow markers, and mounted on scrapbook paper, he does look ready to party! 

Entered into:  

Di’s Digi Stamps- Bright Colors 

    (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Cute Card Thursday- Too Cute                                     

     (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge

    (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

                                              

More Halloween cards for the gift packs. Found the free clip art poison bottle, printed on acetate and fussy cut. The label is printed separately and attached to the front of the acetate with double stick tape. The “poison” is light green paper and the cork is a paper scrap. Couldn’t think up a sentiment that I liked, so went to [where else?!] Pinterest for ideas. This one is perfecto!
The front of the card reads, "Hello foolish mortal? If you are reading this..." [inside] "... then you are blissfully unaware of what is creeping up behind you! Happy Halloween"

Entering the card into a color challenge- green, purple and blue. (You can easily see the green, and the sky is navy blue. The dark paper in the final layer behind the sky is a rich, royal purple. My photo doesn’t show that very well. However, the photo of the paper layers for the inside sentiment shows that it is purple!)

Entered into: 

Deep Ocean Challenge- Fave Color Combo                  

     (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

My final card this posting is being entered into a few challenges. Decided to make another school themed card for the Simon Says Monday challenge- School or Study Related theme. We don’t have any children in school, but I do know many teachers that I know would appreciate a thank you for all the love and energy they pour into their work. This one is going to go to a friend who has taught Sunday School at our church for many years (I think over ten?) The inside reads, “Only God can count the apples in one seed.”

I like shape cards, so cut a template from scrap paper and laid it atop a half sheet of red cardstock. Cut around it, but didn't cut through the top sections, so that it opens like a regular A2 card. Kept the card CAS and added a stem made from a small tree branch, so that I could also enter it into the Less Is More challenge. Used my almost-forgot-that-I-had-it corrugator to make the leaves. 

Entered into: 

Less is More Challenge- A Real Object             

    (simplylessismoore.blogspot.com)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- School or Study Related                      

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

                        

Four unrelated cards!

This fluffy kitten was one of my mom’s favorite stamps. So it always makes me think of the many hours we spent stamping and gabbing. She would have loved this "Cat is out of the bag" card… as she had a sweet sense of humor. Am entering the card into a challenge that requires the use of Kraft & White. (Mine has a bit of gray thrown in… because I wanted the cat to look like mom’s favorite little fur ball, “Whatzit.” (My oldest brother named the little guy. Calling him in at night always made me giggle!) 

Entered into: 

CAS-ual Fridays- Kraft & White                    

    (CAS-ualfridays.blogspot.com)

                       

The Less Is More challenge requires the addition of something real on the card. I was happy to help “get rid of” a few Hershey’s kisses so that I could use the wrappers on this fun card.  (Note... the fingerprints were made with brown ink. If it was chocolate, I would have licked it off before touching the card!) 

Entered into:

Less is More Challenge- A Real Object             

    (simplylessismoore.blogspot.com)

                       

Wanted to use this month’s freebie from Beccy’s Place to make one more card before the end of August. I hadn’t planned on adding the vellum banner. However, I needed to cover up a few botched snowflakes (was distracted for a moment and scorched the embossed snowflake that is hidden.) A few embossed snowflakes remain, a few have some added bling from glittler. Just one reason that my cards often have several layers!

Entered into: 

Beccy’s Place Challenge- August                  

    (beccysplace.blogspot.com)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge2- Extra for August  
     (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk)

Christmas Card Throwdown- Embossing   

    (52cct.blogspot.si/)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge                                 

     (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge

    (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

Wanted to make one more card to enter into the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge. So… pulled a few embellies out of my stash (note pad and pencil) plus added a sentiment (found here- skiptomylou.org/back-to-school-teacher-gift-tags) and layered all of them on a pre-packaged card (that I picked up at our local Goodwill). The SS Monday challenge also has a school theme, so am entering it in that challenge, too. 

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Back to School                  

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- School or Study Related                      

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

                        

Final cards from the weekend

Am hosting a challenge at we craft cards this week, and decided to make it CAS. Used the funny image and sentiment from Beccy's Place digi set “Feathered Friends”. Made a post it mask from a post-it to protect my distressed birdie and then inked up a  foliage stamp from an old Stampendous floral set with Ivy Green and added the greenery. Kept lots of white space to be a true CAS, and the fun sentiment on the inside helps explain the birds pained look. (I am not a morning person so can definitely identify. Am thinking I probably have a similar look when I get up and there is no coffee waiting for me. THAT is one responsibility of my early-bird hubby. And he usually does a great job. Possibly to avoid seeing this look?!)

Entered into: 

AAA Card Challenges- Masking                    

   (aaacards.blogspot.com/)

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- CAS                      

     (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Poppy Power- Mix & Match                                          

    (powerpoppy.blogspot.com/2017/08/august-challenge-mix-and-match.html)  

Beccy’s Place Challenge- August                                 

    (beccysplace.blogspot.com)

Another entry into the Simon Says Back to School challenge. This one also fits into two challenges that require bright colors. I used a free digi image from Whimsiedoodles (whimsiedoodles.com/freebies.html) and a free teacher tag that I found here eighteen25.com/2017/08/im-tickled-pink-teacher . Note- this card is being given to the mother of a kindergartener who is so excited about school, and her new teacher, that she can hardly wait until “three more sleeps” are over so that the long awaited day will arrive.

       

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Back to School                  

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Cute Card Thursday- Bright Colors                               

     (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

Di’s Digi Stamps- Bright Colors      

    (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

     

One final CAS card for this posting. Snagged a free digi from createwithtlc-createwithtlc.blogspot.com of a grungy monster. Googled “Frankenstein sayings” and found a perfect sentiment for the front of the card. Paired it with a line similar to one from Young Frankenstein for the inside of the card. The Less Is More challenge requires the addition of something real on the card. I added a few strips of gauze, with smears of red chalk. I don't usually make gory cards, but this one if kind of fun!  

             

Entered into: 

Less is More Challenge- A Real Object          

    (simplylessismoore.blogspot.com)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge

    (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

Since I printed off several of the Frankenstein images, I colored all of them and made a few ATC’s for the Simon Says Monday Challenge. Similar to the creation for my CAS card, the main difference is a different sentiment (this one found on Pinterest) and a few gunmetal gray brads. Am thinking that these will be attached to card fronts, and be added to gift packets of cards in the near future.

           

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- ATCs             

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

On a Roll- CAS & ATCs

Used the free image from Beccy’s Place titled Silhouette again to make a few ATCs. Made a mask for the sun by punching a circle from a post it note. Put that in place, then sponged colors to create a rich sunset. Left the Helen Keller quote on one of the ATCs, cut it from the bottom of the other and added a different sentiment, in the segmented way that seems to be popular now. Since I don’t trade ATC’s am thinking I’ll save these and attach them to card fronts in the future. Easy Peasy!

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- ATCs             

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Beccy’s Place Challenge- August                                 

    (beccysplace.blogspot.com)

Rose Bloom and Rose Stem are both from Rubber Stampede. Sentiment is from an old SU set. Created a card that is CAS and included masking, to enter at AAA Card Challenges. I added shading along the left sides and bottoms of the blooms and leaves which adds a wonderful 3-D look to the roses. (And since the stamps were from two different sets, I am entering the card in the current Poppy Power challenge.)

Entered into: 

AAA Card Challenges- Masking                  

   (aaacards.blogspot.com/)

Poppy Power- Mix & Match                                          

    (powerpoppy.blogspot.com/2017/08/august-challenge-mix-and-match.html)  

              

This weekend I was working on putting together holiday card packets that I’ll be giving to a few staff member who are heading out to college in the next week. Have a few weddings coming up, so am working on card packets for those friends, too. Who doesn’t love a few dozen hand-made cards? They always seem to be appreciated. Discovered that I was low on Easter cards. The current Less Is More challenge requires a “real object” so I embossed a pretty pastel Easter egg, fussy cut and mounted it on foam squares, and tucked some sparkly Easter grass under it to stick out all around. (Sparkly Easter grass is real, isn’t it? I think in this case, it will be considered to be “real.”)

Entered into: 

Less is More Challenge- A Real Object               

    (simplylessismoore.blogspot.com)

                       

Another card for my card gift packets that has an Easter theme. Used a newly purchased Fiskars Embossing folder that my sweet hubby surprised me with a few weeks ago. Am entering this card into a Kraft & White challenge, over at CAS-ual Fridays. Was fun to dig through my stash and find items I could use in this color scheme. I really like the scrap of embossed vellum that I used as the base, and also the kraft brown photo corners which I’ve had for a few years. Both work perfectly for this challenge!

 

Entered into: 

CAS-ual Fridays- Kraft & White                  

    (CAS-ualfridays.blogspot.com)

An ATC, CAS and more

Still had the bunny stamp out, so made a fun CAS card. (My youngest sister gave me a t-shirt with this sentiment for my 40^th birthday. It still makes me chuckle!)

 

Entered into: 

AAA Card Challenges- Masking                     

   (aaacards.blogspot.com/)

I used an image and sentiment from a Beccy’s Place digi set titled “Feathered Friends” to make this fun card. The yellow feather is from a boa that I recently picked up at JoAnn’s. (It hold enough feathers to last me a few decades!)

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- ATCs                       

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge

    (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

This adorable mermaid image can be found here- www.buzzle.com/articles/free-printable-coloring-pages-for-adults.html I added little sea critter that I fussy cut from scrapbook paper to and mounted the image on foam tape, with some sparkly Easter grass added bling and texture. Love the results! Am entering the card into a few color challenges.

Entered into: 

Deep Ocean Challenge- Fave Color Combo                               

     (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

Di’s Digi Stamps- Bright Colors    

    (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Cute Card Thursday- Bright Colors                               

     (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

Another teacher thank you card. This time I used a pre-packaged card (that I picked up at our local Goodwill) as my base. Added a clip art notebook and yellow pencil, little teacher image from my stash (made years ago… I think with a Comotion stamp) and a free sentiment from www.inspirationmadesimple.com                      

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Back to School                  

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge

    (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com) 

CAS, ATCs and a Teacher Thank You

I am getting better at making CAS cards… or at least I feel like I am. Made a few CAS cards this weekend for my friends over at AAA Card Challenges and had fun making them. Here is the first!

The challenge required masking. I used a wonderful free image from Beccy’s Place titled Silhouette. I made a mask for the sun by punching a circle from a post it note. Put that in place, then sponged colors to create a rich sunset.

Entered into: 

AAA Card Challenges- Masking                   

   (aaacards.blogspot.com/)

Beccy’s Place Challenge- August                                 

    (beccysplace.blogspot.com)

Cute Card Thursday- Bright Colors                            

     (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

I’ve never made an ATC before, but had fun making several of them during my weekend fun time in my craft room. Fori this pair I used I used a favorite stamp from All Night Media and several embellishments from my scrapbooking stash.

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- ATCs                          

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

              

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is Back to School. I had fun making cards this weekend with this theme. Here is the first!

I created the sentiment on my computer (has always been one of my favorite sayings, and thought it was especially appropriate for teachers.) The apple image (from an old Stampin’ Up set of minis) and a Printworks “Thank You” were both embossed in white on black cardstock to resemble a chalkboard. (And since the stamps were from two different sets, I am entering the card in the current Poppy Power challenge.) Attached that to the card with double-stick tape, finished it off with mounting corners created from scraps of patterned paper.

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Back to School                  

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Poppy Power- Mix & Match                                  

    (powerpoppy.blogspot.com/2017/08/august-challenge-mix-and-match.html)  

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge

    (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com) 

Fun Friday Entries- Part 2

This is a go to stamp for beachy cards. And when the Less Is More DTs challenged us to focus on a Perfect Holiday image… the beach comes to mind. So… my little crab came out of hiding to adorn my card. To hold the card to its CAS requirements, I just added a circle image, punched from an upcycled calendar behind the crab, and mounted them on a light grey cardstock. Created the sentiment on my computer, with a "missing you" theme and mounted it onto a tan scrap of paper that has small flecks of white, silver and gold. (It looks a bit like sand in real life.) The inside sentiment is mounted onto another punched photo image, this one pictures two empty beach chairs. A sad sight indeed!

 

Entered into:

Less is More Challenge- The Perfect Holiday    

    (simplylessismoore.blogspot.com)

Simon Says Works It Wednesdays Challenge-Favorite Stamp   

    (simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/category/events/work-it-wednesday)
                       

Another card made with one of my favorite Bugaboo digis. This time I paired the sweet unicorn with a sentiment that I upcycled from an old greeting card (I’ve collected them since 1971… long before I started stamping so it’s fun to now put them to use!)

Am entering it into the current Bugaboo Bingo challenge, bottom row- “Bugaboo image + sparkle + sentiment”. (This time the sparkle comes from the vellum mask that has flecks of metallic (silver, gold and bronze) plus  a few rhinestones (centered on the sentiment “YOU make a difference.” However, the ‘make a difference’ part of that sentiment is a little hard to see because the vellum is raised a bit in the photo. When you hold the card, the vellum behaves a little better!!)

Entered into: 

Bugaboo Stamp- Bingo Challenge

        (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

While I had my vellum out, I drew and fussy cut flowers and leaves to frame this scripture sentiment (a digi, but don’t remember where I found it.) Punched the flower centers from patterned paper scraps. The background is a photo of a cloudy South Dakota sky just before a storm. I stamped some Stampscapes trees with black ink. A truly delightful card, don’t you think?   

Entered into:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #294-295 Anything Goes                    

     (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge

    (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

A powerful image of a stately owl. (I think it is from Northwoods Stamps, but I took it off of the wood so am not sure of that.) Just perfect for the current Victorine Challenge- On Wings. (Plus… I love owls!) Haven’t added a sentiment since I plan to keep this in my stash of masculine cards, and add the sentiment when I need it.

Oops forgot to mention how I made the card. Since I had my Stampscapes trees stamp out, decided to use it to make another card. I stamped the trees on glossy cardstock with evergreen ink, stamping three impressions before re-inking to get the shadowy depths. I stamped the owl image on the upper left corner of the card, trying to avoid the trees. (There was one bit of green on the tip of a branch but I was able to cover it with brown marker. Whew!) Masked the owl image so that I could add the Stampscapes clouds in light blue ink. (They are faint in the photo, but you can see them if you look carefully.) Then colored the image with Tombow markers, adding white gel pen to accentuate the owl's beautiful feathers.

Entered into:

Victorine Challenge- On Wings 

   (vostamps.blogspot.com)