Prancing through the Snow

I had this background already glued to the white card base but I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it.  Then, while going through some of my already colored and cut holiday images, I found these two adorable deer left over from another season.  Another quick card done!  Technically, this is a Christmas set, but I rarely pay attention to such small details; besides, I feel that you can prance all year long!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Lawn Fawn Snowfall Backdrop, Portrait, #LF1803 
Mama Elephant Winter Forest Cover
Light Blue Card
Clearly Besotted Let's Prance Stamp Set {already colored and cut}
Clearly Besotted Let's Prance Die Set {I was not able to find the dies}
MFT/Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips
Clear Gems

This was super easy; I already had the background done and then finding the colored and cut images was a plus!  All I had to do was stamp the sentiment, cut it out, and then adhere the deer and sentiment to the card. Can't get much easier than that in my book!  I put a few clear gems here and there to give the card some sparkle and there you have it.

I hope your holiday season was a great one and that you & yours are happy and healthy! Thanks so much for stopping by! I am going to be doing an Instagram promotion very soon so if you haven't followed me on Instagram I suggest you do that now - the giveaway is going to be AMAZING!  :) Hugs, Christi

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Crafty Creations Challenge, #416 - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Christmas Kickstart Challenge, #45 - If it is Christmasy, Link it up!
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Celebrate!
Everybody Art Challenge, #481 - Christmas Animals
Dream Valley Challenges, #238 - Christmas
Stamps & Fun = Creativity, #380 - Winter

Fa La La La Llama

This adorable set was a collaboration between Simon Says Stamp and Clearly Besotted; sadly it is no longer available so if you can find it, you should buy it!  While I was searching for information for this post, I looked for the set to see if I could find it, and if you decide to do the same, just know that some stampers are calling the set "Little Llama."  I couldn't find the set anywhere but maybe you will have better luck!  I jazzed up every llama on this card to make it extra special - I hope you like it!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink
Fa La La La Llama Stamp & Die Set {retired} 
Simon Says Stamp Fa La La La Die, #SSSD111767
DCWV Blue Noel 12" x 12" Paper Stack
Red Shimmer Paper from Stash
Gel Pens
Various Gems from Stash

As usual, I started this card by stamping, coloring, and cutting the llamas.  I used sparkle gel pens for the scarf and Santa hat, then used gems for the "bells" around one llama's neck and as earrings for the middle llama {I felt bad since there was nothing I could color in and use, so she had her ears pierced and was very brave.}  I used the Blue Noel paper, trimmed, to cover the white card, and also stamped and trimmed the sentiment.  For the Fa La La die I

Close up of the sparkle

used an old envelope made of shimmer paper I found in my stash; it was from a kit that I had gotten many years ago.  See, this is why we crafters save things!  You just never know!  I found the green snowflakes on my desk and have no idea what set or die was used.  

Right now my desk is a HUGE mess.  I like to pull out all the items pertaining to the season or holiday so I have all my winter, Christmas, and Valentine's Day stamps, dies, embellishments, and cat fur all over my desk.  This has caused me to rethink my storage method.  I have been storing my stamps and dies by company and, while that seems to be working for the companies I use all the time, it definitely causes me to forget some of the amazing products I have from the companies that I don't have as much.  So I inquired on Instagram how all of those talented stampers store their items and overwhelmingly they organize by season, holiday, or whatever other subject is important to that crafter.  So, I have decided that next month I am going to reorganize.  It isn't as big an undertaking as it sounds; I basically have all of my stamps and dies stored in plastic pouches, complete with a 5" x 7" magnet if applicable, and they all hang out in the refrigerator organizers that Jennifer McGuire uses {this link is from just one of her fabulous organizer posts; but it explains all the items she uses and has links to buy those exact items.}  However, I get all my supplies from Amazon and since she doesn't list magnets, here is where I buy mine.  I also use Dollar Tree bins {they are open bins with cut out handles; you can see the exact ones I use here} for my larger stamp sets, all of my word dies, and plastic cutting mats for my dividers.  I cut the mats into four sections and then label them.  Since you get two in each pack, a few can go a long way.  I also found them to be sturdy enough to keep everything apart but flexible enough that a cat can walk on it and not ruin it.  So, reorganizing really just means making some new dividers and, well, dividing.  

Wow, this post has turned out to be much longer than I anticipated!  I hope you and yours are happy and healthy and that your holiday plans are moving along smoothly!  I have a few gifts in the works and I am hoping to get them posted before the holiday, so why not take a second and follow me on any, or all, of the social media listed on the side bar. Thanks so much for stopping by & socially distanced hugs!  Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
2 Crafty Critter Crazies, #45 - Anything Goes with a Critter
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Celebrate!
Crafty Animals, #45 - Anything Goes with an Animal
Crafty Calendar - Christmas Time
Die Cur Divas - Anything Goes
The Paper Funday Challenge - Anything Goes, TWIST: Christmas
Country View Challenges - Anything Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Christmas Critters

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!