Halloween Fusion

I love the Fusion Challenge blog...I haven't played along for a long time but I think I need to start.  The current sketch is so adaptable that it took me no time at all to come up with my card design. Yay me!

Here's the challenge: 

And here's my take using just the sketch. The papers are Graphic 45 Happy Haunting and Rare Oddities. The witch that I cut using the Cricut Happy Hauntings cartridge.

I also decided to jazz up the back of the card, just for fun. And to get rid of old scrapbook paper. 

Oh Little Town...

Joining the fun at Jingle Belles, just under the wire! The challenge is to make a card featuring at least one building. Here's my card, using Pink Paislee Snow Village papers. I fussy cut the snow covered homes and used foam tape to create some depth.  Stitched around the edges and made a little tag.

"Clearly" this technique needs a little work

I decided to make a card using vellum for the Jingle Belles "It came upon a Midnight Clear" challenge, to make a Christmas card using a clear element. This one was, ahem, "challenging" (snort!).

I stamped the snowy scene on white cardstock and inked around the edges, then attached it to kraft cardstock. I laid vellum on top and liked the fuzzy ethereal effect. The problem I wrestled with is how to affix the vellum to the image without using adhesive. Stitching seemed like the perfect solution, added bonus, I love sewing on cards. But what I didn't figure out until AFTER sewing...it's virtually impossible to make the vellum lay flat when it's been stitched to the cardstock. So it came out even more fuzzy/ethereal than I intended. So I wasn't going to post it but it started to grow on me. So I added a couple stickers from My Mind's Eye and decided it will do.

Frosty gets his Mojo!

Today I'm using Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #451 to create a Christmas card for the Jingle Belles Frosty the Snowman challenge, to make a card featuring a snowman or snowflakes.

Here is the Mojo Monday sketch:



In my shoe box of Christmas shtuff I found a snowman gift tag on the top of the pile...coincidence?? I think not. That little dude was meant to be on this card! I went with traditional colors, red and green, layering a remnant of patterned snowflake paper and Very Merry paper by American Crafts with black cardstock. I stitched around the edges and added some baker's twine. I stamped my sentiment using white embossing powder. It left some shpritzels on the black paper but I decided it had a nice frosty effect.

Here's my Frosty card:

One more card to add to the inventory!

I'm also submitting my card to:

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge #73 Traditional Colors

CHNC Challenge #284 Vintage or Anything goes as long as it's Christmas

CHNC Challenge Extra It's always Anything goes as long as it's Christmas

My first tri-fold shutter card...

I wanted to make a tri-fold shutter card for the current Jingle Belles challenge, Shake, Rattle and Roll, which asks you to make a card that is interactive in some way. The tutorial I found on Pinterest looked pretty simple, and simple is definitely up my alley. Added bonus..a great use of scraps. So I gave it go. Here's the folded version, although not folded flat.

And here it is opened up:

And from a different angle:

I had a lot of fun with this and plan to make some more. The hardest part was making the pinwheel on the front, it didn't want to stayed glued. The next hardest part was photographing it!

I'm way behind on Christmas cards, so I need to get going!

I'm also submitting this to Craft Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra, where it's always Anything Goes (as long as it's Christmas).

The Ghost of Christmas Past

A couple days ago I made a birthday card using some papers that I really love that make me think of old wallpaper.So when I saw the Jingle Belles Spirit of Christmas Past challenge, I wanted to use the scraps even though they are not Christmas themed papers. I stitched around the edges and even across the middle. Then I added a die cut poinsettia and ephemera that I bought last Christmas and inked all the edges.  I kind of think it needs a Christmas sentiment but I couldn't work it in. Anyway, I'm happy I got to use some more of the paper!

Layers of Christmas papers!

Layering papers is probably my favorite thing to do when it comes to making cards, so I just had to get a few cards made for the current Jingle Belles Challenge All Layered Up, to make a card with at least three layers. This one has at least 8 and possibly 11 depending on how you count them.

I made several and they're all different, but using the same papers, American Crafts Very Merry collection. Easy peasy, die cut some Hero Arts trees and a Tim Holtz sentiment, no stamping just lots of glue!

Thanks to a tip from Ms. Bergold, I found using a black outline made it easy to coordinate papers. It was a piece of cake to make several cards pretty fast.

Bling on the Holidays!

Today's card is based on the Jingle Belles Bling on the Holidays challenge, to create a card featuring something sparkly. I have been in the mood to use water color effects and wasn't sure if I could successfully combine that with bling. First I colored my paper using 3 green Distress Inks, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn and Crushed Olive. After die-cutting the tree I went through my stash of stray sequins and rhinestones and settled on the red sequins.

I think it works. And it's always a good feeling to add one more card to my Christmas card inventory!

I'm also submitting to the following challenges:

Weekly Christmas Card Challenges Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra Anything Goes

Sending smiles 4 kids

A couple days ago I stumbled across the SAS4K blog and decided I had to give it a go. The current challenge is to create a valentine or love card for hospitalized children. It looks a great cause and the cards that have been submitted are really fun. You can check it out here: Send A Smile 4 Kids

Here's my card, using the Cricut Create-a-Critter cartridge and some valentine DP.

I'm planning to make several more and then box them up to send in later today.

First Christmas Card of 2016!

I'm a stalker. I know what you've been up to because, chances are, I've read your blog. I read blogs voraciously and find them inspirational, clever, often humorous and sometimes touching. I steal your ideas, or at the very least borrow from them, learn new techniques and find little gems of wisdom about life, from the everyday to the sublime, all because creative bloggers take the time to record and share amazing journals. But when it comes to writing my own...yawn. I'd rather read yours.

This year, I resolve to blog a bit more. I might even update my picture. We'll see. But to all the crafty bloggers out there, whether it's a personal or challenge blog, thank you and Happy New Year!

And here is my first Christmas card of 2016. I started with the current Jingle Belles challenge, Something Old and Something New. The patterned paper is new, although I didn't intend to use the papers for a card. I picked them up at Michael's after Christmas to make Christmas card envelopes next year. I just love sending cards in an envelope made from patterned paper.

The tag is made from Graphic 45 Christmas Carol ephemera, also new. The lace, ribbon and baker's twine are old.

I'm also submitting to the following challenges:

Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge Use plaid in a card
Sparkles Christmas Challenge Vintage tags
ABC Christmas Challenge A is for Anything Goes
Christmas Card Challenges Anything Goes
CHNC Challenge Extra Anything Goes Every Month
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge Use Red in a card