Still have ONE DAY to enter Twofers Holiday Challenge #10

There has to be some more people who have made holiday cards that will fit our Challenge #10 at TWOFERS!!

Come on now and join in the fun -

you still have 24 hours to link up and have a chance to win a

$20 gift certificate to

https://www.alleystamp.com/

where you can buy real, hold in your hand stamps, inks, or just about anything else - and if you don't see what you want, just ask! Chances are Janine can get it for you and in less time than you think!!

Yes, we have a few rules, you can find them here - but honestly

we aren't that hard to get along with, honest.

So please, spread the word far & wide - you never know, you might win! Tell your crafty friends and please help us spread the word.

We have some really fun challenges coming up & they are all sponsored by the fabulous

Come get inky with us! New challenge every other Saturday!

Fondly, 

Christi

PS: Please?

Peace Card

Close up of the embossed Peace

I hope that you and yours had a very happy holiday and please be safe celebrating the New Year - I'll be hanging home with the Fabulous Feline Five and hopefully getting my butt in gear after a lazy holiday with my mom and my cousin. 

I bought this Peace stamp from the store I used to frequent when I lived in Connecticut, it's a PSX stamps from 1998, it is one of my oldest stamps.  I loved how ornate it was and that it really could just stand on it's own.  Unfortunately, the little store closed a few years before I moved, but I have many fond memories of the classes I took and the artists I met.  

Being the stressful time of year that it always is, I felt that a peace card was needed, plus, I needed a card to send to my sister (tee hee). Without further ado, here is my Peace card:

Might look a bit wonky in the photo, but it is straight :)

Did you know that Through the Craft Room Door has an online magazine?!? Each issue features over 150 pages of inspiration - tutorials, cards, mixed media, tips - it's fabulous!! Please stop by and check it out - you won't be sorry!!

If you'd like to know what I used to make this luscious card, please pop over to Through the Craft Room Door, who is sponsoring this fortnightly "Anything Goes" challenge on their site.  I hope to see you there!! Christi 

I would like to enter my Peace Card in the following challenges:
Come & Get It Challenges - (M) Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes as Long as It's Christmas
Penny Black & More - (M) Anything Goes with a Stamp
Brown Sugar Challenge - #178, Christmas
A Bit More Time to Craft - #10, Anything Goes
The Artistic Stamper - (M) Christmas
One Crazy Stamper - (M) Christmas/Winter
Cute Card Thursday - #405, Anything Goes

Let it Snow!

This card was born out of an experiment.  I have TONS of vellum (I even have some left from when I was a Stampin' Up! <SU!> demonstrator and that was over 17 years ago!) and I really want to try to use some of it up, so as I was brainstorming ways to use it, I thought about a window, then snow, and the rest is history!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Black Card Base
Black Cardstock
White Cardstock
SU! Set, Trees Three (Discontinued, sorry, I don't have the part number)
Embossing Fluid
Black Embossing Powder
Simon Says Stamp White Embossing Powder, fine
Vellum (regular weight)
Let it Snow sentiment was cut using Silhouette Cameo
White Card Window panel was cut using Silhouette Cameo

First. using one of those swipey pads to control the embossing powder, I swiped a sheet of vellum. On one side of the 8 1/2 x 11" (top) sheet I stamped the trees and embossed them with black powder; on the other side (bottom) I used the snow stamp to make a flurry of snowflakes and embossed them in white. I am not the best with white embossing powder - it typically ends up all over what ever I am making, mostly in spots I don't want it to. After seeing how beautifully it came out on the vellum you can be I'll be doing this much more! I then measured the trees and decided to cut out a 3" x 3" window for the trees and snow to show through. Using my Silhouette Cameo I cut the window out of white cardstock and cut the lettering out of black cardstock.

I chose the snowiest part of the vellum that I had embossed with the snow and trimmed it down.  I glued it onto the trees, and then when that was dry, trimmed the 2 vellum pieces down to fit in the window.  I glued the vellum trees and snow onto the window, and then glued the window onto the black card base, attaching the words finished the card off.  I constructed the card this way on purpose as I have yet to find an adhesive that truly doesn't show through vellum - if you have a good one I'd be grateful if you'd share it with me!

This card could easily been made without the Silhouette, after all, we used to hand cut before the invention of these cutting machines.  I remember wrestling with the Exacto knife in many a class - thank goodness these machines make creating so much easier! Making this card has brought back my muse and I am already thinking of other color and shape combinations to use to make this type of card again.  Maybe a circle window instead of a square? Some spring flowers behind a gauzy curtain? Regardless, I hope you enjoyed my little how to and that perhaps my creation inspired you to get out some of your old supplies and play ~ Christi

Another Look

I would like to enter my "Let it Snow" card in the following challenges:
QKR Stampede - #171, Snowmen or Snowflakes
DRS Designs - #206, Tis the Season
Crafty Creations - #305, Anything Goes
Paperminutes - Snow
A Snowflakes Promise - #12, Anything Christmas/Winter
Creative Card Crew - #103, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Winter Wonderland
Crafty Cardmakers - #154, Snow
Classy Cards n Such - #117, Let it Snow

A Snow Globe Shaker Card

And I was supposed to publish this yesterday - but better late than never, right? 

I created this Shaker Card for a tutorial that is being published in Through the Craft Room Door magazine - if you want to see exactly how I made this and my supply list, I urge you to go to TTCRD and subscribe to the fabulous magazine - it's only $18 for 6 issues (and these aren't tiny little bi-monthly issues, most times you will have over 150 pages of eye candy!) and is chock full of inspiration, tutorials and informative articles.  Now, honestly, I am not a huge fan of digital publications, but, since I have been exposed to this fabulous magazine my view has changed! I promise you won't be disappointed!

I have been a fan of shaker cards since I began stamping and they are one of my favorite cards to make and receive. I would love it if you'd become a follower of mine, I've been begging all year and I am trying to hit the 100 new subscribers in 2015, the clock is ticking (I can hear it!). Thanks for stopping by and I would like to enter my Snow Globe Shaker Card in the following challenges:

Use Your Stuff - #204, Metallics
Glitter 'n Sparkle -#168, Glittery, Sparkly Christmas
That Craft Place - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Winter Wonderland
Crafting with an Attitude (December) - #10, Anything Goes
Jingle Belles - Christmas Cards (entry #2)
Left of Centre - #109/110, Anything Goes
A Bit More Time to Craft (M) - #10, Anything Goes
Card Mania (M) - Christmas
Bastel-Traum (M) - #36, Winter
Crafty Girlz Challenge (M) - #10, Anything Goes

It's Holiday Time at Twofers ~ Challenge #10

Hi all! Welcome to the Tenth Twofers Challenge! It was my theme choice for this challenge and it being so close to the holiday season, I chose Holiday as my challenge.  Little did I know that across the pond holiday is also used to refer to a vacation. So, whichever way you choose to interpret the challenge is fine.  Just remember to follow the rules: There must be rubber stamping, you need only one project, and follow the challenge prompt - there are a few more rules here, so please take a peek.

The background paper isn't as purple as this picture makes it out to be.

How I Made my Card:
White Card Base
Happy Holidays sentiment came from a 3 pack of stamps by Hero Arts (I have NO idea about this stamp)
Memory Box Die - Frostyville Corner, #98637 (disc? Available on the web)
White Glitter Paper
Bluish Silver Background Paper (I think it is Bravissimo Paper, which is discontinued)
Stickles in Stardust
Silver Ink from Color Box Petal Point Alchemy

The very first thing I did for this card was die cut the Frostyville Corner out of white glitter paper. I had actually done it about a month ago, when I first got the die, because I was dying to see how it would look.  So I built my card around the die cut.  I attached it to the bluish silver background paper using an adhesive I have been reluctant to buy but I am SO glad I did! I got the Quickie Glue Pen by Sakura and it is perfect for those little places where I always, ALWAYS, put too much adhesive.  I used it to attach the die cut to the paper and was tickled to see not a stray glue mark anywhere! I

didn't glue the entire die cut down, so you may see some parts that aren't stuck to the paper; I did this so there would be some fluidity in the design.

After my die cut dried, I trimmed the paper a bit and added Stickles to the mix.  I just randomly dotted  the glitter glue around the die cut, almost like snowflakes.  I stamped the sentiment, using the silver ink, on a piece of white card, trimmed it down and used Stickles again on the 3 little stars included in the Happy Holidays.  It's hard to see in the photo but they are there.  Once all the Stickles dried, I glued the sentiment onto the card and I was done.

I really like the textures of this card - the background paper has a texture of light lines, and the die cut has texture due to being cut from white glitter paper and of course the Stickles ad texture as well.  The card looks pretty striking in person.

Thank you so much for stopping by to see my creation and I would love it if you became a follower - I am striving for 100 new followers in 2015 and I need about 15 more people and only have about 5 weeks to do it - I promise there will be many goodies if I reach my goal so please share with your friends.

Also, don't forget to enter your Holiday creations at Twofers for our 10th challenge.  The winner will get a whopping $20 Gift Certificate to Alleystamp - and trust me when I tell you, the prices are often better than those daily deals.  If you have a moment, please stop by my teamies blogs, both Jane & Zoe adore getting comments! Thanks!! Christi

This shows closer to the true color of the background paper

I would like to enter my Happy Holidays card in the following challenges:
Cut it Up! - #86, Brrrrr! Winter
Fussy & Fancy - #154, Happy Holidays! (runs til 01/14/16)
Jingle Belles - Happy Holidays
Little Miss Muffet - #127, Holiday Cheer
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Die Crazy!
Inky Chicks - Merry Christmas
Scrappy Land - #32, Holidays
Die Cuttin Divas - #246, Christmas Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday - #116, Anything Goes TWIST Make it Sparkle!
Try it out Tuesday - Snow, Snowflakes or Winter Whites
Crafty Cardmakers - #154, Snow
Dies R Us - #39, Winter, Use Snowflakes
Virginia's View Challenge - All About Glitter (runs until 12/14/15)

Christmas Door Hanging at Through the Craft Room Door

This week at Through the Craft Room Door we are sponsored by the wonderful Anne Fenton. Her art can be found at Anne's Digital Art .

I chose the image Christmas Grapevine Wreath to make my wall hanging.

Here is a close up of the digi

If your curious on what I used to make my wall hanging please take a look at the TTCRD website. As always, the challenge is Anything Goes, so you can enter any of your creations! After you enter your piece of art, please take a look at my teammates' blog's - we all appreciate nice comments :) And be sure to check out the online magazine - it is chock full of inspiration and goodies that you won't see anywhere else - there is a small preview on the TTCRD website, at the top, under the title.

I plan on giving this to my Mom to hang on her apartment door - she lives in a high rise, so the piece won't get exposed to any inclement weather (in fact, as I write this, snow is once again on it's way to Denver, probably today! ~ edit: we got over 18" of snow and I couldn't get online ALL day!!) as it's really nothing but cardstock.

I hope your holiday preparations are going smoothly and I invite you to become a follower of mine and to help me reach my goal of 100 new followers in 2015. I only need a few more people and the clock is ticking! Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my Christmas Door Hanging in the following challenges:
Paperminutes -#413, Winter Greetings
A Snowflakes Promise - #12, Winter/Christmas Theme
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - (month of December) Anything Goes Christmas
Unicorn Challenge - (M) #4, Winter Time
Use Your Stuff - #203, It's Christmas Time
The Paper Girls - #93, It's Christmas
Not Just Cards - (M) December
Come & Get It Challenge - (M) Anything Goes Christmas
Glitter 'n Sparkle - #167, Traditional or Non-Traditional Christmas Colors
That Craft Place - Christmas
Just Us Girls - #323, Sequins (there are little star sequins around the holly)

Serene Christmas Scene

When I received my card from Asha, via the Card Chain Challenge, I fell in love with the stamp set she used. She told me that it was manufactured by Clearly Besotted, called Christmas Cheer, but, sadly, had been discontinued. Well, I went on the hunt - I found the stamp set at one store and the dies at another, and I won't even tell you how much I spent to get the set, a gift to me from me.  This is my first card with the new set and you'll notice there are no decorations on the tree.  If there were, the cat would be sure to turn this serene scene into a mess!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Vanilla Card Base
Clearly Besotted "Christmas Cheer" stamp & die (discontinued)
Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous "Scribbly Christmas" #CMS249
Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Tea Dye, Mowed Lawn, Fired Brick, Pumice Stone and Brushed Corduroy
Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink in Red Geranium
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Vanilla, White, Black, Gold Glitter Cardstock
Stickles in Gold
The Art Institute Glitter in True Red
McGill Cat Punch
Pop Dots

First thing I did was stamp all of the Clearly Besotted Christmas Cheer stamps and then die cut them. I die cut the candelabra twice, once out of black cardstock and once out of gold glitter card, layered them together and adhered.

Once I had all my pieces, I stamped the string across the fireplace to hold the round banner.  I assembled all the die cuts and set them aside to dry, including the flames, which I also put gold Stickles on and loose red glitter from the Art Institute.  I took a vanilla card panel and stamped one of the trees out of the Scribbly Christmas set on it, being sure to leave enough room for the fireplace.  I have a very old McGill cat punch (ok, I have  a few many, many cat punches) and I punched the cat out of black cardstock.  I assembled everything, adhered it all to the vanilla panel and edged the panel with Pumice Stone ink. I saw the strip of gold glitter card on my desk, so I grabbed it, glued it to my base card and then pop dotted the panel to the base.

Another look

I adore the Christmas Cheer set and I am so glad I found both the stamp set and the matching dies. Not a one could be found, not even on eBay!  I am already thinking of other ways to use these stamps and to me, that makes it a good investment worth the money I spent (I can justify almost anything).

Please consider following me as I have a goal of getting 100 new subscribers to my blog before 2016 and I think I only need about 7 more to make it - I would greatly appreciate it and will follow you back if you mention that you are following me in your comment.  

I am entering my Serene Christmas Scene in the following challenges:
The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - #49, X is for Xmas
Cut it Up - #86. Brrrrr! Winter!
Frilly & Funkie - 'Tis the Season
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Holly Jolly Stamping
Dream Valley Challenges - #121, Die Cuts & Punches
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - #259, Anything Goes, as long as it's Christmas
Show Us Your Pussies Challenge - (M) #1, CatMouse is Coming!

 

Twofers Challenge #9 ~ Flowers!

I think Zoe picked a perfect theme for Twofers 9th challenge.  Winter is settling in and I know that I could use the colorful boost of some flowers!  Bringing out the old style Adirondack ink pads brings back so many memories for me - I literally learned to stamp with these inks and I still have the very same ink pads years later.

 

How I Made My Card:
White Card Base
Magenta Stamp 9 Square Roses, #30.011.N
Sentiment from SU! Set Sincere Salutations (discontinued but plenty to be found)
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Ranger Adirondack Ink in Meadow
Derwent Intense Water Color Pencils
SU! Blender Pen
Green Card
White Card

I began the card by stamping the Magenta stamp on a piece of scrap white card, then colored it in using Derwent Pencils and an SU! Blender Pen.  Once that was done, I set the image aside to completely dry.

I decided the image needed a mat, so I chose the green card - I cut the image and the green card down to layer size, and mounted them onto the white card base.

Lastly, I looked for a green that I thought complimented the green layer, stamped the sentiment in the Adirondack Meadow color, layered that on another piece of trimmed green and glued that to the card. I didn't even realize that my card incorporates traditional Christmas colors! Tis the season!

Just another view

If you need a bit more inspiration take a peek at my teamies blogs, Zoe & Jane.  Now it's your turn! All you have to do is enter one project, follow the rules (you MUST rubber stamp on your creation!), and you will be eligible to win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamp!  Come play with us at Twofers (you have 2 whole weeks!) and you just might win ~ Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Flowers card in the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Inspiration Station - #62, Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - #318, Traditional Christmas Colors
Creative Fingers - #99, Anything Goes
Just Add Ink - #291, Just add C - so I used C for color!
Simply Papercraft - #19, Anything Goes
Sisters of Craft (M) - Anything Goes
Allsorts - #340, Clean & Simple
Crafty Gals - #48, Anything Goes

Christmas Bird Crazy

In case you haven't noticed, I am addicted to coloring the Bird Crazy birds from Tim Holtz.  I resisted coloring for a very long time, I never learned how and I just was not into it.  Now I am frantically looking through my stamps for more images to color! I am really enjoying it and I suspect that is because I don't know how to do it correctly - I have had a few Copic markers for years and I finally took them out for the very first time (you can see the results here). I have succumbed to peer pressure and I am glad!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Kraft Card Base
Watercolor Paper
Silver Paper
Glitter Paper in Red & Green
Distress Markers in Brushed Corduroy, Tea Dye, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso & Squeezed Lemonade
Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Bird Crazy Stamps, #CMS212
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Bird Crazy Die Set, #660954
Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Crazy Things Stamps, #CMS237
 Tim Holtz/Sizzix Crazy Things Die Set, #660953
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Embossing Folder, Beaded Garland, #660041
Stickles in Diamond
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mini Wreath & Bow, #658267
Pop Dots
Dove Blender Pen
White Cardstock Scrap
Red Cardstock Scrap

It seems like I used SO much to make this card, but it truly wasn't that complicated.  I started, as always, stamping the bird on watercolor paper and used a Dove Blender Pen to blend all those Distress Markers. Then I used another stamped bird to cut out just the wing and pop dotted that to the bird's body. I was trying to make the bird look like a robin, what do you think? Once the bird was colored and dry, I used the die cut set to cut him out.  Setting the bird aside, I had already run a piece of silver paper through the Beaded Garland Embossing Folder and used the Stickles to sparkle every bead on the garland. Honestly, this was already made as I knew I'd be able to use it somewhere and I got this embossing folder last year and was dying to use it.

I glued my silver paper, after cutting it down to size, to a Kraft card base (the typical size I use is A2, 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 - if I use another size, I note it in my supplies list) and put it under the large floor tile I have on my desk for heat embossing - double duty is a wonderful thing (I do wrap whatever I am putting under the tile with wax paper so the glue doesn't stick to it and nothing that is on the back marks the card - learned THAT the hard way).  I then stamped the Santa Hat on a scrap of white cardstock and did the same to a scrap of red - then I die cut both  stampings, using the red as the hat's base and layering the white ball and trim onto the hat.

I just got the Mini Wreath & Bow die - I got a great deal and rumor has it that the set is going to be

discontinued, so if you want one, better get one now - and I die cut the wreath out of green glitter paper and the bow out of red glitter paper, glued the bow onto the wreath. All I had left was gluing the bird to the card, and then I pop dotted the wreath.  Done!

Thank you for stopping by! I am trying to get 100 new subscribers by the end of the year and I only need 10 more - please, help my holidays to be less stressful and join! I've got candy to giveaway <wink> - enough bribes.  I sincerely hope your holiday season is going smoothly and that you & yours have a wonderful time! ~ Fondly, Christi

Another look

I am entering my Christmas Bird Crazy Card in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More - #173, Holiday
Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday (M) - Holiday Card
Paperminutes - Holiday Card w/ a Bird on It
Tuesday Throwdown - #272, Cute & Cuddly
A Snowflake's Promise - #11, Anything Goes Holiday Themed
Holly Jolly Christmas - Embossing (dry embossed background paper)
Merry Monday Challenge - #182, Christmas Card w/ a Bird
Emerald Creek Dares - Bringing Bits of Cheer

Thankful ~ November Reveal at Card Chain Challenge

**If you are looking for the Through the Craft Room Door post, click here. Thanks!

Hi everyone! This is the last reveal for the year as Deborah has decided to give us a break for the holidays and the link to enter for January will be up and ready to enter on December 7, 2015. Why not join us for the New Year? For this reveal I got to send my card to Mrs. A, all the way across the pond to England! She honestly makes some of the most beautiful cards so I hope this one meets with her approval.  I received the card from Asha, who shares my love of cats.  I loved it SO much I hunted down the retired Clearly Besotted stamp & die set and I hope to get it soon.  Here is her spectacular card:

Asha's lovely card

It's it fabulous!?! And now here is my card, I used the theme of Friendship - I think the card can be used to show someone how grateful you are for their friendship.

How I Made my Card:
Alcohol Inks (various brands)
Glossy Paper
Kraft card base
Soft Swirls Background SU! (discontinued) there are many available
VersaMark Ink
Silhouette Cameo & Cut File
Darice Die Symmetrical Swirl 2014-65 - not sure status, but can be found in many places
Red Cardstock

it's a bit hard to see on the card

I had made the alcohol ink sheet before I made this card with the thought of using the sheet with the Silhouette and some cut files of words.  I found the thankful cut file and loved how it cut so I set it aside to use as the focal point for my card (I realize it is a bit difficult to read on the card, so if you look to the right side you'll see the same cutout in white).

Since my planned card needed something a little bit "more", I decided to look through my stash and I pulled out an old background stamp from Stampin' Up! that has got to be 15 or 20 years old.  I inked up the Soft Swirls background with VersaMark ink (I didn't want the background to overwhelm the already busy sentiment) and stamped.  I think the subtle design helps to bring the entire card together.

The last step was die cutting the swirls - I chose some nice red paper that matched the alcohol ink in the sentiment and cut two of them.  I placed them on the card, along with the sentiment, spaced them out and attached.  I really like this card (and so did Mrs. A!) and I hope you are all having a holiday season of gratitude! I would be grateful if you'd consider becoming a follower of mine as I am trying to meet a goal of 100 new followers in 2015 and I am only about 20 shy - Have a great day ~ Christi

Another look

I would like to enter my Thankful card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Stamp Society - #80, Anything Goes w/ the Option of Thanksgiving/Fall
Creative Ladybirds Creations - M, #10, Anything Goes
Silhouette Challenge - M, #32, Anything Goes
AAA Cards - #52, Thanks/Thanksgiving
Addicted to Stamps Challenge - #114, Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamp Challenge - #88, Anything Goes - Holidays
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (entry 2)

My first post as a member of the Through the Craft Room Door design team!

I was surprised to see an email from Through the Craft Room Door inviting ME to be on their Design Team - this was the first time I have ever been flat out asked with no previous knowledge and where I didn't apply.  After getting over the shock, I had to say yes.  Now, I need my readers and faithful followers to bear with me - this Design Team does things a bit differently than I am used to and while I am confident I will eventually get the hang of things, it may take a bit.

Every challenge at Through the Craft Room Door is Anything Goes and I hope you will link up a creation here for the chance to win some fabulous prizes.  In addition to the challenge, there is an online magazine that is awesome - there are tutorials, examples and all sorts of crafting goodness so please do consider checking it out!

This challenge we are sponsored by Deedee's Digi's, who supplied me with my very first digital images.  I used Open Window to create my card:

A close up of the digi and my coloring

I have never used a digital stamp before. I am definitely an inky, messy, stamps scattered everywhere kind of crafter, so this is brand new to me.  But, I am willing to learn and expand my abilities, learn to color (hopefully!) and create some smashing projects.  This first card was made by using one of Deedee's Digi's and you can get all the details by popping over to the TTCRD (cause, yeah, typing Through the Craft Room Door can get kinda long) blog.

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you like my very first attempt at using digital stamps. I didn't find it as hard as I originally thought it would be and I hope my coloring skills improve! ~ Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my Open Window card in the following challenges:
Come & Get It Challenge - Anything Goes w/a Sentiment
The Crazy Challenge - #211 Everything Goes
Simply Papercraft - #18, Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - #145, Anything Goes w/a Sentiment
CRAFT Challenge - #339, Winter

Fall Flowers

I recently purchased some of the Zig Clean Color Brush Markers. I knew that they were going to be delivered while I was away, so I had them delivered to where I was.  Anticipating that, I had stamped a whole bunch of images to color in and I also brought my colored pencils and blender pens with me.  I colored and colored and colored and had a fabulous time! These flowers were born due to my coloring:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Vanilla Card Base
Various Distress Markers, Zig Clean Color Brush Markers & Various Water Color Pencils
Dove Blender Pen
Watercolor paper
Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Mowed Lawn
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Flower Garden set, # CMS215
Quietfire Designs Ten Tiny Tag Sentiments, #6382
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Wink of Stella in Clear

Like I said, I colored these flowers before I even knew what I wanted to do with them, but once I saw how well the three of them went together, I knew I'd be using them for a card.  I had previously stamped them with the Jet Black ink on watercolor paper.  Once I was done coloring, after I got home, I fussy cut each flower.

I decided I wanted to use the stems that come with the Flower Garden set, so I placed the flowers where I thought they should go and then used them as a guide so I knew where to stamp the stems.  I stamped the stems and then glued the flowers in place.  I kind of curled up some of the petals to give the design a bit of texture.  I also dotted the insides of the flowers with Clear Wink of Stella for a subtle bit of glitz.

Lastly, I stamped the sentiment right on the card.  I truly enjoyed working with this set and I can see so many other colored flowers in my future.  I hope you consider becoming a follower of mine as I am trying to reach 100 new followers in 2015 and I only need about 14 more people and only have about 5 weeks to get them.  If I accomplish my goal there will be goodies, so please, subscribe and tell your friends to as well.  I hope your holiday season is going smoothly ~ Fondly, Christi

Another look :)

I would like to enter my Fall Flowers card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Thanks/Thanksgiving (my colors are "Thanksgivingish" & the Just a Note card could say Thanks inside)
The Crazy Challenge - #211, Anything Goes
Where the HeART is Challenge - (M), #3, Anything Goes
Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog - #291, Cards with Autumn Colors
AAA Cards - #53, Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps - #114, Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge - #145, Anything Goes w/ a Sentiment

Music ~ Twofers Challenge #8

Twofers Challenge #8 is music ~ can't believe we are on #8 already!! Anyway, I don't have many music stamps but I found this card in my stash that I made a while ago. So without further ado, here is my musically inspired card, lyrics by the phenomenal Mr. John Lennon:

How I Made my Card:
Yellow Card Base
Big Shot
Nellie Snellen Eastern Round Frame #MFD010
Artistic Outpost Chalkboard Wisdom Set #A067H (now at Our Daily Bread Designs)
SU! White Craft Ink
White Sharpie, water based ink, x-tra fine point
White Card
Black Card
DCWV Chalk Art Stack

I had the card base, it was pre-made - I got it in a kit and I was pleased to see the DCWV Chalk Art paper matched it perfectly.  So off I went!

I first cut the panel of the Chalk Art paper and sized it to fit on the card base.  I then stamped the sentiment with the SU! ink on black cardstock.  It didn't come out as bold as I wanted so I went over the sentiment with my white Sharpie pen.  I have issues with white ink and white embossing powder - it never seems to come out as "clean" as I expect it to.

Next, I cut the panels out of the stamped black card and the white card, layered them and pop dotted the black layer onto the white.   I attached the patterned paper to the card base and finished off by gluing the sentiment layers onto the card.

I have to confess, I no longer have this card, so the pictures aren't as good as normal - not that I'm a photographer or anything, but I would have taken some different pics of the card.  Oh well.  Please do stop by my teamies blogs, Zoe & Jane and get inspired by their work! I thank you for popping by and I hope you have some of your dreams come true ~ fondly, Christi

PS: Don't forget when you enter your musically inspired card in the Twofers Challenge you will get the chance to win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamps!!

You can see the pop dotted black panel in this pic.

I would like to enter my Music card in the following challenges:
Brown Sugar Challenge - #173, Anything Goes
Just Add Ink - #289, Just Add Music
Cut it Up - #84, Inspired by a Book, Movie or Song
Glitter 'n Sparkle - #163, Add a Die Cut/Punch Shape
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends - #22, Anything Goes

I wouldn't have missed being your friend. . .

I am SO excited to have been chosen as a Guest Designer for Quietfire Designs! I have been buying Suzanne's beautiful calligraphy stamps for years and now they offer dies and cutting files - could they get ANY better?

Fall is so colorful and I thought the colors would work well with the Silhouette cut file I used.  What do you think?  While this card is larger than I normally make, the 5" x 7" format is needed so all the crafty qualities can be properly embodied.

Please click here to see how I made my creation and visit the inspiring blog of Quietfire Designs. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you get some fall inspiration ~ Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my "I wouldn't have missed being your friend" card in the following challenges:
Path of Positivity - #32, Gratefulness
Not Just Cards (M) - Anything Goes
The Cat's Pajama's - #303, Anything Goes
The House That Stamps Built - #1111, Focus on Sentiment
Create & Inspire - #33, Anything Goes
Paper Sweeties (M) - #37 Picture Inspiration
Stamping Sensations (M) - Festive Flowers & Foliage
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Thinking of you

~*~ Before I get into this next post, why not take some time and enter a creation for the current Twofers challenge, Things with Wings? You could win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamps!~*~

I was playing with some older Tim Holtz stamps when this card came to life.  Nothing makes me happier than using the stuff I already have, well, except buying more stuff.  Anyway, I've had this set for quite a while now and this is the card I made with it:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Vanilla Card Base
Vanilla Cardstock
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous "Flights of Fancy" set, #CSS25856*
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous "Crazy Talk" set, #CMS236
Kaleidacolor Pad in Cappuccino Delight, #KA-000-019 
Die-Namics Pierced Oval Stax, #MFT-521
Memories Ink in Artprint Brown
Pop Dots

The first step to making this card was stamping the floral sprays in the corners of a vanilla cardstock panel. I inked the stamp using the Cappuccino ink, using a different portion of the ink pad each time to get different colors for each image.  After I stamped the panel I trimmed it down to fit on the card base.

Then, using the Artprint Brown (which is a very cool color and was popular back in the heyday of stamping) I stamped Thinking of You from the Crazy Talk set.  I centered the Oval Stax over the sentiment and cut it out.  I pop dotted the stamped panel onto the card base and then pop dotted the sentiment in the center of the card.

I like the simplicity of this card and how easily it came together.  I love working with the colors of fall! I hope my little tutorial inspired you to dig out some older stamps and inks - some things never go out of style ~ Fondly, Christi

* You can still get the original Flight of Fancy set from many places online,  I also found that the flowers flourish I used is available in a set called Nature's Discovery (Stampers Anonymous #CMS049)

Another look at the card.

 I also want to enter my Thinking of You card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Thinking of You
Fab 'n Funky Challenges - Clean & Simple
Everybody Art Challenge - Shades of Brown
Retro Rubber - #27, Fall Colors
Eureka Stamps - #166, The Colors of Fall
The Paper Girls Challenge (M) - #91, Stamps (2nd Entry)
Stampinback Challenge (M) - Autumn

Golden Butterflies, Twofers Challenge #7

I have quite the collection of decorative papers from back in the day when I first started paper crafting.  It's not easy to take the stash from its hiding space, so when I do, I typically take pieces of a few different patterns I think I may like to work with. When I saw that my next challenge on Twofers was Things with Wings (yes, I try to work ahead, but, you know what making plans means) I decided to remake a card I had already designed. When I spied this stunning green & gold paper I knew exactly how I wanted to use it. So introducing my Golden Butterfly card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Vanilla Card Base
Vanilla Scrap
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Crazy Talk Set, SCMS236
Die-Namites Butterfly Wreath, #DN-1005
Quickutz Butterfly Die, KS-0799 (2 part die) (do a Google search for the part number)
Gold Cardstock
Green Cardstock
Green & Gold Designer Paper
Distress Ink in Forest Moss
SU! Corner Rounder Punch

I had actually had another card made with similar elements that I wasn't too thrilled with so I sort of CASE'd (CASE stands for Copy & Share Everything) myself.  I tore the other card apart, hoping to save some of the pieces, but no such luck. However, here is a picture of the first card:

First Card

As you can see I changed a bit, but the overall design is similar. The designer gold & green paper isn't as large, but that is because I didn't have a larger piece hanging around and I didn't want to pull the whole stash out to get more, and I actually like the vanilla card base showing through a bit more.  I cut the Butterfly Wreath and the butterfly wings out of gold card.  I set the gold wings aside and glued my wreath on a scrap of complimentary green cardstock; one of the things I didn't like about the old card was the green panel appeared so severe to me, so this time I rounded the corners of it.

I then die cut the butterfly body out of the same green card as the green square & set them aside.  I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of vanilla card using Forest Moss Distress Ink, and then edged the panel with it as well.  I positioned the sentiment panel behind some of the elements of the Butterfly Wreath and glued it on.

Lastly,  I attached the green and gold designer paper onto the card base,  centered the green square on the designer paper strip, glued it, then attached the green butterfly body to the gold wings and "fluffed" the wings up a bit to add some dimension.  Attached the butterflies onto the card and there you have it!

I would love to know which design you prefer, so if you could, just leave me a comment.  Thanks so much for popping by and I do hope you will consider playing with us at Twofers. You have 2 whole weeks to add a creation to our linky and that gives you a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to our wonderful sponsor, Alleystamps.  I would also be grateful if you'd consider becoming a follower. I am about 20 shy of reaching my goal of 100 new followers for 2015.  Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my Golden Butterflies Card into the following challenges:

Lawnscaping Challenges - #117, Thinking of You 
Use Your Stuff - #198, Use Your Old Stash (the background paper is over 10 years old)
The Paper Girls - November - #91, Stamps
Addicted to Stamps - #112, Things with Wings
Left of Centre Challenges - #103, Things with Wings
Incy Wincy - Anything Goes

October Card Chain Challenge Reveal! Christmas Cat

This month I am writing this post on October 15th so that while I am away I'll just be able to click a button and it will post for me - the internet is a wonderful thing (as long as it works the way I want it to <grin>) - And I am still late posting this LOL!  I was given the opportunity to send to the lovely Dawn, who I had sent to in August, but said she really didn't mind and would love to get another card by me ~ she's so sweet! My sending partner is Helen; unfortunately I won't be getting the card in time to post here, but, please feel free to check out her inspirational blog!

Now Deborah gives us plenty of themes to choose from - 

One of the following themes: – Thanksgiving  or  Cats  or  Friendship

So, of course I chose CATS! Now I had sent a cat card out last month and I was tempted for a hot second to do something else, but, I just so happened to become the new owner to a stamp/die set that I HAD to use. So, here is my card: 

What I Used to Make my Card:

Red Cardstock Base

Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Crazy Things Stamp Set, #CMS237

Newton's Nook "Newton's Antics" stamp set and die set

Derwent Inktense Pencils, 12 pack 

Inkadinkadoo Sentiment, #9726-LL (discontinued but available)

Star Sequins (gold, green & red)

White Cardstock

Red Cardstock

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

140lb Watercolor Paper

SU! Blender Pen

Pop Dots

Pity the Hat covers most of him!

First thing I did was stamp the kitty from Newton's Nook a few times on watercolor paper and I sat and colored in all the cats using different colors - expect to see them popping up soon.  I choose one for this card and decided he needed a Santa Hat.  So I stamped the Santa Hat from the Crazy Things stamp set, once on red card and once on white card.  I fussy cut the red hat out, and then the ball at the end of the hat and the fur trim out of white card.  I attached the trims to the hat and set it aside.

  

I colored my kitty using Derwent Inktense Pencils, my absolute FAVORITE 

pencils (I have to get the 24 pack - on my wishlist!) used an SU! Blender Pen to

color him in, and then die cut him out using the coordinating set, he was ready to go.  I stamped the sentiment on white cardstock using the Jet Black ink and trimmed it down. I think it's cute that he looks like he is holding the sentiment (or stalking it).  Next, I took the Santa hat and used pop dots to attach it to the cat's head.  For the finale, I had taken some old sequin stars from the stash and interspersed them through out the card.  I hope Dawn likes it!

Now, if this sounds like fun, getting a card in the mail every month, then please consider signing up for the Card Chain Challenge - you can do so here - November is the last one of 2015, but they will return January of 2016.  Thank you so much for stopping by and please consider becoming a follower of mine - I am trying to get 100 followers in 2015 and I am only a few shy - thank you! Christi

I am entering my Christmas Cat card in the following challenges:
Her Peaceful Garden - Cat Lover's Blog Hop
Winter Wonderland Challenge Blog - Anything Goes as Long as it's Christmas
Fab 'n Funky Challenge - #279, Anything Goes as Long as it's Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (#2)
ABC Christmas Challenge - V for Very Cute
Allsorts - #335, Christmas