Guest Designer at the Four Seasons Challenge

 I am so excited to be the Guest Designer at the Four Seasons Challenge for this month.  

Here is the Mood Board for this challenge.  I can't wait to see what you create with this! This is my card - hope it feels Fall to you!

I had made this background of leftover glitter paper quite a while ago but have been saving it since the colors speak fall to me; the glitter is crisp and the colors are so pretty! I stuck strips of the various glitter card to a piece of plain white card then cut it out with a stitched scalloped slimline die.  That was attached to a white slimline card. The sentiment is cut from 2 different dies; happy is from Elizabeth Dies (the die is discontinued, but if you do a search you can find it - item number is 1161, Happy Birthday 2) and the fall is from this Pinkfresh Studio's Alphabet, both are cut from Curious Metallic's Ice Silver card.  Once I attached the words, I decorated the card with various gems from Picket Fence Studio (they have the BEST gems; they are a bit pricey but SO pretty and sparkly in person!).  

I am so looking forward to the start of fall weather! I've had enough of the heat and am SO ready to snuggle under some quilts and break out my flannel shirts! 

Thank you so much for stopping by and please be sure to check out the Four Seasons Challenges! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Dragonfly Dreams, M - Halloween/Autumn
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Fall Colors
Dream Valley Challenges, #281 - Dies and/or Punches
Try it on Tuesday - Sparkle and Shine
Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes
Inspiration Station, #40 - Harvest (honestly, the word inspired me more than the picture!)

Brrrr. . .

I had so much fun making this card!  I love it when I can use items I already have in a new way! And I promise, only a few more winter cards :)

What I Used to Make my Card:
Square White Card Base
Premade Background Paper {made with Oxide Inks}
Simon Says Stamp Sparkling Snowflake Breeze die, #S528
Elizabeth Craft Designs Brrrr die, #1228 {not on the site but available}
Stickles in Star Dust

I began this card by using the snowflakes die and cutting a piece of white card with it.  At the time I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do, but I liked the look of the die as a background.  I found a background I had already made with Distress Oxide Inks and I trimmed that down to fit behind the panel I had cut.  I wanted a sentiment that was wintery but not pertaining to a holiday and while searching through my dies I came across this one.  I cut it out of the same premade background card, added the stickles, and attached that to the card.

Easy and impressive, at least I think so.  I am going to use this technique on more cards,  I think it is another way to stretch the supplies I have and, while it isn't really innovative, it is something I hadn't done in ages. 

Very soon I will be having a giveaway on my Instagram account so if you are a part of that social media, I urge you to begin following me; don't worry, I will happily follow you back!  If you aren't yet on Instagram, well, you don't know what you are missing!  There is more content, crafters, ideas, and things to inspire you than anywhere else I have seen.  And you can use your computer!  Just go to Instagram.com and make an account.  

I hope this has inspired you to take out some of those neglected dies {and trust me, it's difficult when there are SO many cool designs coming out each quarter!} and give them another try.  Thank you so much, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Dream Valley Challenges, #239 - Winter/Snow
Stamps & Fun, #380 - Winter
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Layer it Up!
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Die Cuts and/or Embossing Folders
Crafty Gals Corner - Snow Much Fun!
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Cuttlebug Mania - Winter

Let it Snow

Hello and welcome to my incredibly late post for the Not Just Cards November challenge.  I completely forgot that my post was due today! Oh well, better late than never!  I have some fabulous friends up north and a good friend of mine is involved with designing dies for various companies.  She sent me a HUGE goodies package a while back and this tree die was included.  I think I can find out where to get one if you'd like.  Just drop me a note by using the contact form on the right side of the blog or message me on Facebook.  This is the card I made with that die; it looks very peaceful to me.

What I Used to Make my Card:
5 x 7 white card
Trees Die {unbranded}
Stickles in Diamond and Stardust
Elizabeth Craft Dies, Let it Snow, #1234
Silver and White Shimmer Paper

The first step in this card was to cut out the trees and go to town with my Stickles.  I just used all the white glittery bottles I had and, in hindsight, I could have used some silver as well.  I let the trees dry overnight; this is a MUST otherwise you will get Stickles, glitter, and/or glue everywhere.  

Another Peek

The next day I mounted the glittered trees onto a 5" x 7" card.  While it was drying, I found some scraps of silver and white shimmer paper.  After die cutting the sentiment twice, I glued the white onto the silver, with just a peek of the silver paper showing.

Lastly, I adhered the sentiment onto the trees.  That's it!  I really love the glittery trees; I think I've figured out a way to cut the die cut paper to fit on an A2 card.  If my idea works, I'll be making more of this type of card to send out to my friends.  Don't worry, I promise to let you know how I accomplished getting the trees sized down to A2 size!  Why not enter your projects in the challenge? The theme is always Anything Goes and you can enter anything you'd like - remember it's Not Just Cards! I hope this post finds you and yours happy, healthy and joyful. ~ fondly, Christi

I am entering my Let it Snow card in the following challenges:
Daisy Chain Challenge - M, Christmas/Winter
Friendship Challenge - #35, M, Anything Goes w/ Option of Mostly White
HLS Anything Goes With Dies - Anything Goes
Monochrome Magic - M, #16, Anything Monochrome Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack - Anything Goes
Crafters Castle - M, #11, Anything Goes w/ Option of Holidays
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes w/ Option of Getting Ready for Christmas
Cardz TV - #73, Anything Goes
Cut it Up Challenge - #160, Clean & Simple
That's Crafty! - Winter Wonderland
Craft Rocket Challenge - M, #54, Christmas is Coming!
Little Red Wagon - #471, Just a Sentiment
Creative Moments -#156, Anything Goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - #79, Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies

Jo's Scrap Shack

A Vampire You Could Love!

If you are looking for my Black & White Halloween Card click HERE

When I saw this adorable little vampire die I scooped him up SO fast.  While I completely enjoy all of Halloween's traditional trappings -- the blood, goodies, being terrified out of your wits, the neighbor who seemed so normal and suddenly wants to eat your brains, and screaming at the girl to NOT go down the stairs, this little guy was just so cute; he seemed like a reluctant vampire.  He may appear complicated, but he was easy to piece together.  Here he is, Vlad the Vampire:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Additional Orange, Purple, Vanilla, Black, Grey and Red Card
Frantic Stamper Vampire Die, #FRA-DIE-09944
Tutti Designs Stitched Nesting Rectangles, #TUTTI-217
Elizabeth Craft Designs, Words 3, Happy Holidays, #1467
Patterned Paper from American Crafts BOOtiful Nights 6" x 6" pad, {retired, but available in many places, and there is a Digital Pack you can get here}
Red Gems {stash}

The longest part of making this card was cutting all the different colors of paper

Pieces of Vlad

to piece together little Vlad.  I used one full cut of the entire vampire out of vanilla card, then glued all the pieces to that.  I used vanilla Vlad as a template.  I purposely made him vanilla so that the white of his shirt would show up and it turns out I was successful with cutting and piecing  every part of him except his shirt.  I tried quiet a few times to get that little triangle to fit where it belonged but I just couldn't coax it.  Perhaps if I had placed his shirt first, instead of last, it would have worked better.   I ended up coloring the shirt a very light beige and when you look at him, you can tell he has a shirt on and isn't trying to be a gigolo for Halloween.  I was actually nervous about trying to use this die; I was convinced I wasn't going to be able to get it right and poor Vlad would have a crooked suit or the wrong shoes on his feet.  Finally, one day I just went for it and I'm glad I did.  He looks wonderful to me.  

For the card background, I used the stitched rectangle die to give it some interest.  I didn't want to make a scene or do anything to take the spotlight off

His Selfie

of Vlad so I chose the plaid paper and the orange paper.  On the orange paper, I used a light purple card for the Happy Halloween words.  I put the background panels on first, then stuck good ole Vlad at an angle; he looks like he is introducing himself along with the sentiment.  He's a good spokesperson, but those fangs. . .   Anyway, the card was done quicker than I expected and I had to fight off the urge to put some sparkle on it - then I saw his eyes {which were literally holes, the plaid paper was peeking through} and I knew I had the best thing for a wanna-be-spooky vampire.  I adhered the red gems to his eyes and, while they aren't as dark as I would have liked, he's grateful he has eyes.

I hope you find him adorable as well and maybe he can give you a giggle.  This

Another Peek

time of year ushers in the stress of all the upcoming festivities and I know that I can forget just the joy of crafting.  I stress myself out about the cards I make.  My mind goes like this: are they good enough?  ...but that one has bled a bit out of line! ...did I make NanaConnie a nice enough card?  ...what on earth do I do for my mother?  On and on and on.  Then I can't sleep and that's it - everything is a horrible chaos.  So, this year, let's try to find the joy of crafting.  I hope you can find yours.  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Vampire card in the following challenges:
Scrapy Land - 100th Challenge, Anything Goes w/ a Die Brand they Sell
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Halloween/Spooky
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Halloween/Spooky
Cut it Up - #159, CASE a card & Use Die cuts (The card I CASED is on the Frantic Stamper site; it was the card that inspired me to get the die - see 
below}
Moving Along with the Times - M, #83, Halloween
My Time to Craft - #382, Halloween
The Fairy & The Unicorn -M, Halloween/Use a Mythical Creature
Emerald Creek Dares - All the Things in the Night, #ECOCT2018
Fussy and Fancy - #223, Things with Wings
Crop Stop Linky Party - #44, Anything Goes with Plaid

Cut it Up CASED Card

This is a Design Team Project for Frantic Stamper - if you go to this link and scroll down, you'll see the examples that the DT used for this die

Pansy Petals

I am so glad spring is on the way; we had a relatively mild winter here in Colorado but there is nothing more relaxing to me than to watch the birds at the feeder doing their thing.  Not so much watching the cats watch the birds but I digress.  This card is inspired by the pansy die {actually, this set is Pansy 2} from Elizabeth Craft Dies.  Be gentle as it is one of my first tries at these 3D flowers; mine don't look quite as good as most, but it was fun to try!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Yellow Card
Watercolor Paper
Distress Oxides
Distress Markers in Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves and Blueprint Sketch
Die-Versions Whispers, Fence Background, #DVW-314
Elizabeth Craft Designs, Garden Notes - Pansy 2, #1488
Hero Art Fancy Word Dies, Thank You, from My Monthly Hero Kit for March 2018
Shimmery Dark Pink Card
Light Green Card
Distress Sprayer

I know I should have written down what Distress Oxide Inks I used but I've got

so many now I just grab and go.  I wanted the flowers to be a bit whimsical, color wise {and mostly since I know there is no way I could color my pansies to look like real ones!} so I just smooshed all the pink, blue and purple Oxides I had onto a piece of watercolor paper, spritzed them with the sprayer, and kept it fairly easy.  I did color certain parts of the paper with certain colors but, as you can see, some of the colors blended together.  All the colors are pretty and I used all of the paper I'd made.  After all, when you're the designer, your flowers can be any color {or shape} you want them to be!

Once the colored paper was dry and all the pieces were cut, I began assembling the flowers.  I did find a video on YouTube that shows the first pansy set being

made, so I did try to emulate the true style of the flower a little bit.  I put the flowers together by what colors worked together and then used Distress Markers to add little "veins" on the petals.  Honestly, I'm wasn't overly thrilled with them and I almost scrapped the whole thing, but I muted the lines down with a few washes of water and that helped me to like them more.  I cut the leaves out of a pretty, light green, card and then proceeded to fuss and fool with them and the flowers.  I think watercolor card is a bit too thick to properly shape but, if you look closely, you can see where I did bend the flowers.  I only had one stylus {and I've promptly bought a "flower kit" and made my own rubber pad out of two mouse pads glued together, so watch out - I'm ready now!} and actually did most of the shaping with my hands.  

Meanwhile, I cut out the background and attached that to a white card.  After a few days of fussing with the flowers and leaves, I decided they were the best

they were going to be and glued them around the perimeter of the card.  This led me to the dilemma of what to put into the middle.  I had chosen the dark pink shimmer card from my stash already but had no idea what I wanted the card to say.  Then I remembered that Hero Arts My Monthly Hero was sending out some fancy dies, so I rushed to the website, caught a glimpse of the word dies and decided this card would be a thank you card.  The kit didn't arrive until a few days ago and, as soon as I got a chance, I cut the dark pink shimmer card with the pretty Hero Arts dies.  I attached the 'thank you' to the middle of the card and I had my finished card!

I'm not thrilled with the flowers but, for a first time effort {I'm sure I've tried to shape flowers before, but who knows when!}, I think I did OK.  I've since talked to an Instagram friend who has basically told me practice makes perfect; I hate that!  I want to be an expert at shaping flowers, at coloring, at coloring with Copics, and at any other crafty thing I try!  I'm sure you feel the same way.  I want everything to come out like it looks in my head! I think the key is not to expect anything, that way you will like whatever you create.  Thanks for visiting, Christi

I am entering my Pansy Petals card in the following challenges:
ModSquad Challenge - Ready for Spring
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Floral Frenzy
Create a Smile - Springtime
a2z Scrapbooking -M, Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers Dies Challenge - M, Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination - #146, Anything Goes, Twist: Use Pastel Colors
Die Cuttin' Divas - #361, Flowers
Cuttlebug Mania - Springtime
My Time to Craft - Easter/Spring

Die Cuttin Divas

Stinkin' Inkers September Challenge ~ Fav Color Combo!

Hey everyone! I thought I was late with this post, only to realize I was early! Gosh, time can really be confusing sometimes <grin>.  I hope this post finds you happy and healthy, especially those down in Texas.  My thoughts are with ALL of you! I decided to beat the heat here in Colorado (it's supposed to be 95 tomorrow!) and start making some holiday cards.  When I saw this month's challenge at Stinkin' Inkers, I immediately knew I'd be using blue and white as my favorite color combination and what better way to showcase those colors than a holiday card?

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Square Card, 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"
White Shimmer Cardstock
Blue Shimmer Cardstock
Elizabeth Craft Dies, Brrrrr, #1228
Tutti Designs, Fir Tree Arch Scene, #TUTTI-130
Navy Blue Card

I made the square card and covered the whole thing with the blue shimmer paper.  I think it's from Bravissimo. which hasn't been around for about 11 years now (I have a TON of this type of paper. Points to me for using some stash!)  It's a thinner paper so it didn't add any bulk to the card.  

I then cut the Fir Tree Arch out of this other shimmer paper I found.  I can't describe it, so I took a picture.  I've had this paper for longer than I care to admit, too.  It's so pretty! I also used this paper on the bottom of the card to showcase the blue Brrrrr I cut out of the same paper that I used to cover the card.  I cut out a portion of the white paper, covered the bottom and adhered the sentiment.


I die cut the sentiment out of the shimmery blue paper and then added some dimension using navy blue card, also die cut, and glued together.  I didn't want to waste the shimmer paper, plus, it's so thin I would of never been able to die cut enough.  

This was a really quick and easy card, perfect if you are going to be making a bunch of the same holiday card to send out.  I saved all the little snowflakes from the Fir Tree Arch die cuts so I will be using them on some other wintry cards. It was a pleasure to use my favorite color combination and I think the two dies compliment each other wonderfully!  I would LOVE to see some of your favorite color combo's in the Stinkin' Inker Challenge; you have a whole month to play, so why not join in? Thanks SO much for stopping by ~ Christi

I would like to enter my Brrrrrrr Card in the following challenges:
CraftyHazelnuts Christmas Challenge - #349, Anything Christmas Goes, Add Sparkle
The Merry Christmas Challenge - #39, Anything Goes & Christmas
CropStop - #31, August Challenge
The Holly & Ivy Challenge - #14, Anything Goes Christmas