Patchwork Christmas

Hi everyone.  Just a reminder that my friend Nonni is holding a challenge on her blog right now - Scrap a Happy Christmas - use scraps to create your Christmas card.  There's still lots of time to play - the challenge runs until Dec. 24th ... and there are some great prizes from Stamplorations up from grabs.

I still have bits and pieces of SU! Christmas papers from last year which are now retired (Be of Good Cheer).  I love these papers and want them to last as long as possible, so I keep every little scrap. :)

I took some of my small scraps and and cut them into 1/2" x 1" strips.  Then I glued them onto a white card stock backing in a pattern to create my own "quilted" Christmas designer paper.  I used the paper to die-cut a stocking, added two holly leaves and a rhinestone berry to the top ... and placed it on my main panel which has faux stitching.

Here's a close-up:

I was so happy with how this turned out that I made a second card the same way.  Great to be able to use lots of tiny scraps that I had kept ... :)

This card is the exact same layout and design and I made the same "quilted" paper for my tree.  I've added a little glittery star at the top to give it some shine.

Here's a close-up:

Stamps:  Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White; Be of Good Cheer DP - retired, silver glimmer (SU!)
Ink:  Real Red, Gumball Green (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Christmas Stocking die (Sizzix), Christmas Tree die (C.C. Designs), Holly Vine die (Memory Box), tiny red rhinestone, glue, adhesives and dimensionals

I hope you'll come and check out the challenge on Nonni's blog and join in the fun!!

Edited to add:  I'm going to enter this in the CAS-ology Challenge (#70) - triangle ... thanks Anita! :)

Happy Birthday Evan!!

Hi everyone.  Today is my oldest son's birthday ... and he's turning 30th!  Wow ... where did the years go??!! :)

I made him a card in August when we went to a "Surprise Birthday BBQ" that his girlfriend was throwing to celebrate.  She justified it being early as she wanted to have a BBQ (which Evan loves) ... so it all made sense.  And as some of you know that read my blog post in August ... it turned out to be a surprise wedding for all the guests! :)  So today, it's official ... and so I made him another card - a guy can never have too many birthday cards, right??!! :)

Evan is a coffee drinker ... he can't let a day go by without having his beloved Timmy's ... or several for that matter.  So I saw this fun digi at Bugaboo and knew it would be perfect for his card.  The layout is something different for me ... and I CASE'd it from my good friend Kylie (link to her card here).  I loved the DP strip and how she popped it up from her card base and then the main panel was popped up again.  I have done that also, although it's hard to tell in the photo (still need to get on the light box but I have been WAY too busy).

Here's a close-up:

I paper pieced the mug, sponged around the edges of each piece, added piercing to the "steam" and crystal effects on all three hearts.

Stamps:  Cocoa (Bugaboo); Bitty Birthday (SU!)
Paper:  White, Generations DP (Simple Stories)
Ink:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Black, Smoky Slate; Copics:  R59, W4
Accessories & Tools:  paper piecing tool and mat, crystal effects, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

This also qualifies for the SCS TLC challenge (TLC455 - paper piecing).

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I have another card ... I know, two cards in one day is not the norm for me, but I've been on a roll! :)  Today the challenge at SCS Way's to Use It (WT453) is add a wreath.  I made this very CAS Christmas card, using the felt again for the holly leaves (love playing with felt!).

I added the sentiment in the middle and some pearl "berries" and twine bow.  Fun, and easy to make.

Here's a close-up:

Stamps:  Merriment (SU!)
Paper:  White
Ink:  Real Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Holly die (C.C. Designs), Green felt, red half-pearls, Maraschino twine (The Twinery), Circle Nesties (Spellbinders), glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

Inspired Wreath

If you are looking for my Merry Monday card, please click here.

Hi everyone.  A second card for today (that doesn't happen too often!) :)  ... this is for the latest challenge at SCS - CAS (#246 - inspired by Pinterest).  Jen gave us three different photos from Pinterest and I chose this one as inspiration for my card.

I die-cut two layers of the wreath in soft suede card stock and sponged the edges for interest.  I die-cut the ornament border from both gold and silver glitter card stock and used the pieces to decorate my wreath.  A simple sentiment to finish.

Here's a close-up:

Stamps:  Christmas Greetings (SU!)
Paper:  White; Soft Suede (SU!), silver and gold glitter papers
Ink:  Soft Suede (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Breezy Wreath die (Poppy Stamps), Ornament Border die (Memory Box), sponge, glue, glue dots, and dimensionals

Very fun challenge with lots of options from the three different photos for inspiration!

Snowy Christmas

Hi everyone.  Christmas is not very many weeks away now ... still making cards, but getting close to being finished.  Won't be long before I need to start getting these in the mail!

Today's Merry Monday challenge (#83) is both a theme and color challenge ... check it out ...

Honestly, I was stumped with this one for a while.  Once I figured out that my fence is stripes, I was off and running :)

Here's a close-up:

I added snow texture to the tree and fence.  And I added dazzling diamonds to the top of the snow bank for a little added glitter.

Stamps:  Snowman Sayings (Amy R)
Paper:  White, Real Red, Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Ink:  Real Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Four Seasons Fence Die (C.C. Designs), Birch Trees die (Impression Obsession), Small Forest Tree die (Simon Says), Holiday Shapes die (Simon Says), Sparkle Texture Effect (Martha Stewart), Dazzling Diamonds (SU!), Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, adhesives and dimensionals

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out Lesley's blog (Always Playing with Paper) to see the amazing creations from the rest of the Design Team.


I'm entering this card into:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #150 - Outdoors

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra

Simon Says - Keep it Clean and Simple

... and because I used several little snippets for this card, it's also headed to the Crafty Snippets Playground (#98).