Season of Wonder

 So, I made this card and then I was so excited about it I just had to post it before the stack that I have waiting to be posted. It happens, what can I tell ya?

Here's the thing...since I took a super long break from crafting, a few trends have emerged on the technique side and I am trying to learn some new things and do different stuff. Stencils are EVERYWHERE now. Like... they are huge. And hot foiling seems to be pretty big, too. Sooooo...I decided to pull out some of my new Pinkfresh Studio goodies and practice a bit of both of those things! 

I used the absolutely gorgeous Wintry Forest stencil set with some distress inks to create this scene. Now, folks, understand that I often struggle with color choices. I am not super great at brining a bunch of colors together, but I was SO HAPPY with this color combination. Seriously. I love it so much. It makes me happy. For the final stencil, I used VersaMark ink and then heat embossed the snow onto the branches to complete the look. 

The sentiment is hot foiled using the Thrill of Hope hot foil plate set along with the coordinating dies. I cut the sentiment several times and stacked them to give it depth. 

No joke. This is one of those cards that I just kept looking at and thinking... whoa! I made that! LOL! Don't you love it when that happens? Drop a link to a project you are particularly proud of in the comments and I'll come check it out!

Have a great day!

A Wintry Hello with Chickaniddy Crafts

Today is my second day on the Chickaniddy Crafts blog as Guest Designer. Can I tell you how much I am LOVING this Jolly Good Collection SO MUCH! It was great for holiday cards, perfect for New Year cards, and now, I've used it for a pretty winter Hello card! And just wait... I have another great use for this collection coming later this month! Seriously...it does it all. And that, my friends, is the mark of an awesome collection, if you ask me!

For this card I used three different patterned papers and cut them into strips to create a unique and pretty background. I added a small strip of washi tape and then the rest of the card was easy peasy! EASY PEASY, you guys! For reals, though. 

I dusted the back of a snowflake sticker with my EK Success powder tool and used foam dots to attach it to the card. I used a mini brad from the Jolly Good collection in the center. I love the finish on these brads... not too shiny, but not dull, either. They have a great texture and the colors are gorgeous! I then grabbed a stamp from the Date Night collection to stamp the sentiment and added an enamel star to finish it off. 

Be sure to head on over to the Chickaniddy Crafts Blog for TONS of inspiration, you guys! Their team is really amazing! 

Have a Happy!

Introducing Snowflake Splendor

Today is Day 2 of the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps release and we have a very pretty wintry set to share with you today!



For my card, I stamped the trees in VersaMark ink and then brushed Perfect Pearls over them. This card has SO much shimmer! For reals! I love that! These trees really have so many possibilities!



I added some metal stars from My Mind's Eye to the tops as a simple decoration that adds so much! You REALLY should check out what the rest of the team has done with this gorgeous stamp set! AND you could WIN this stamp set, too! Yup! Head on over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog to check it out!

Have a Happy!

My Door is Always Open

Cold as ICE!  Yup.  It's pretty much THAT throughout most of the United States at the moment, so, this challenge seems to be quite apropo.  We have ICE inspiration for you today!  Laura created this fabulous mood board to get us started on the ICE challenge theme.  The Design Team is playing with Glitter Ritz and Tim Holtz Distress Glitter products this week!  Woot!

 I recently got a few new sets from Paper Smooches and I have been DYING to try them, so, seeing as the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge is Anything Goes this week, I decided to combine that with our Simon Says Challenge for my fun shaker card!

For this one I used both kraft and white woodgrain cardstock from Simon Says Stamp.  I truly love that stuff!  I created a shadow box with glittery edges to add that icy, snowy feel.  The house, from Bitty Bungalows, is nesteled into the snow and I just love that!  I really wanted a chimney on my house for my little scene, but I loved this particular house and door (so I could leave it open to go with the sentiment, of course) so I simply borrowed a chimney from one of the other stamps in the set with a bit of masking!  I love it!



For the shaker element, I added a flurry of sequins to create a gently, sparkly snow inside the box.  I wish I had taken a photo from the other angle so you could see the door propped open better, but it is.  I promise. HA!

Be sure to head on over to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog to check out what the rest of the team has created and to link up YOUR NEW Ice inspired creation!

One lucky participant will win a $50 Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store!  Woot!  Woot!  What are YOU going to create?!

Have a Happy!!!

*Paper Smooches BITTY BUNGALOWS Clear Stamps Kim Hughes *Simon Says Stamp KRAFT WOODGRAIN CARDSTOCK 111 LB *Simon Says Stamp WOODGRAIN CARDSTOCK WHITE 111 LB *Sequins Cupped FULL MOONSHINE Pack of 1850 ms3k *Tim Holtz Distress Glitter CLEAR ROCK CANDY Ranger TDG39150 *Martha Stewart GLITTERING GLUE 4OZ 40-00016 *Judikins EMBOSSABLE WINDOW PLASTIC SHEETS *AP512 *Crafter's Companion REDS SPECTRUM NOIR MARKERS 404584 *Crafter's Companion TURQUOISES SPECTRUM NOIR MARKERS 404621 *Crafter's Companion BROWNS SPECTRUM NOIR MARKERS 404607 *Crafter's Companion DARKS 24 SET SPECTRUM NOIR MARKERS 751736 *Versamark WATERMARK Rubber Stamp Emboss Chalk Resist INK PAD *Tsukineko MEMENTO Full Size Ink Pad TUXEDO BLACK *Memento Luxe Ink Pad GRAY FLANNEL Tsukineko *Tsukineko Embossing Powder WHITE Emboss *Elmer's CLEAR BOND Foam Mounting Tape Permanent Adhesive *Precision Heat Embossing Emboss Tool Gun Hero Arts PW200 *Fiskars Compact STAMPING PRESS Stamp Entire Project at Once! 02958 *EK Success CUTTER BEE Scissors EKCB01 *C-Thru T SQUARE RULER JR12 *Tim Holtz Tonic CRAFT KNIFE Tool Blade Retractable w Spares

InLinkz.com

The Cutest Delivery Boy EVER!

***This is my second post of the day!  To see my CAS-ual Fridays and Ribbon Carousel post, please scroll down or click HERE!  Thanks!***

Today is day TWO of the Newton's Nook October release and we have another SUPER cute set to share with you today!  Today's set is all about the DOGS!  Yup!  It's not ONLY about the cats around here!  The set is called Canine Christmas and I think you are going to just LOVE what the design team has come up with for it!  Here is the card I created using this adorable stamp set!



I stamped the pup on a sticker border from SRM Stickers and colored him with Spectrum Noir markers.  Is he seriously not the cutest delivery boy EVER?!  He totally is.  For reals, you guys.  For.  Reals.  I also used the tiny snowflakes in the set to stamp a subtle snowy background.  I love how easy that is and how much it adds to my CAS card!

Would you like to win Canine Christmas?This set will be given away to Two lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

1. Comment on Newton's Nook Design blog.  One Winner will be randomly chosen from the comments on the Holiday release posts.

2. Comment on the Design Team Member and Guest blogs (see list below)! One winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs in the Holiday release blog hop. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, October 17th at 9 pm Central Standard Time to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, October 18th.

Make sure you check out all the blogs participating in the Launch Party below to enter:

Tessa Wise

Jocelyn Olson

Samantha Mann

Jennifer Ingle

Alice Wertz (Guest Designer)

Danielle Pandeline (Guest Designer)

Have a Happy!!!

Glitter. I like it. Just sayin'.

Yes. I'm one of those people who actually LOVES glitter! Even the kind that isn't already encased in glue! HA! When this fabulous Pine Lake StandUp Village came from Retro Cafe Art Gallery ALL I could see was glorious houses covered in GLITTER!!!! YAY!!!!! So...that's what I did. Just sayin'.


I chose three of my favorite Martha Stewart glitters and covered the houses entirely in it! LOVE!!! I used Liquid Pearls to accent the windows and doors.


I added a few drops of liquid pearls to the little bottle brush trees to give them a pretty holiday feel and glued them directly to the base in front of each home. I just love how cheerful and fun this one is!!


So...a bit of holiday decor to make everyone smile! I kinda love it. I hope you are all well! Have a Jingle-tastic day!

Jingle Out.

Challenging Gourmet Circles

Yup! That's what we are doing today. No. I'm not going to make you create a dessert with squid in under a ten minutes (although, that would likely be QUITE interesting), but rather Gourmet Rubber Stamps has a brand new sketch challenge and we are pulling out the circles for this one! Here is the sketch the Design Team is working with today!

And here is the fun card I created using this sketch and the gorgeous snowflake and sentiment from the Made of Snow Appetizer set!


I stamped the snowflakes carefully so they were in the proper direction to be tiled without overlapping. I love the pretty colors on this card! I used Tsukineko Momento inks and a bit of velvet ribbon from May Arts. I placed Eyelet Outlet brads in the center of each snowflake to add some extra punch!


To see more inspiration based on this sketch visit the other members of the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Design Team! You MUST see the cards these girls have created! They are INCREDIBLE this week! Seriously. Crafty crushes. Totally. Just sayin'.

Deb Felts
Jeni Allen
Jennifer Ingle
Kelli Palmer
Kendra Wietstock
Stephanie Lee
Taylor Usry Gourmet Rubber Stamps Blog
Have a great weekend! Happy Saturday!!!

Let it SNOW!

NO!  Not really, though.  For reals.  I don't want it.  LOL!  BUT...I DO love snowy fun stamps!!!!  I am up over on the Gourmet Rubber Stamps blog today with this fun snow person card!


I used the super cute Made of Snow Appetizer set along with some fabulous papers from the Crate Paper Peppermint collection!  The hinge is from Grapich 45.  I love the cute hinged tag on the front of the card!  As for that big beautiful silk bow?  Yup.  Totally May Arts silk ribbon!  *sigh*  Such luxury!  LOL!  Do you ever wish your wardrobe was as cool as your supply stash?  I'd not thought of that until now, but MAN, that would be fun!  HA!


To create the fun snowfall I added dots of Liquid Pearls. This is a new product for me, and I am LOVING it for snow! SO FUN!

Well, I hope you are coming down from your candy hangovers. HAHAHA! Any fun plans for the weekend? From what I understand, there will be a new iPad mini in my house by the time I go to bed tonight. LOL! So...I guess that's my plan for the evening. I have a dentist appointment in the morning for three fillings. THAT should be buckets of fun! HA! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Jingle Out!