The Holidays Are Here

It's a beautiful day today.  All blue sky with a touch of white clouds.  Yesterday, it was pouring down rain.  It was windy and just not a day to go out and do things.  

So I stayed inside and worked on FMS #717.  In fact, I create two cards for this challenge.

The first one features candy canes. These are dies by Hero Arts just called Candy Cane.  They come in two different sizes, small and large.  I used one of each.  I die cut the bow out in gold paper and popped it up onto the two candy canes.  The sentiment is from Honey Bee Stamps called Holiday Sentiments.

My second card features various shades and designs of green paper and a single Christmas tree.  The tree is from a die set called Three Trees by Hero Arts.  I used the one with the star.  I added gold Wink of Stella onto the star.  The sentiment is from Colorado Craft called Holiday Wishes.  I die cut the sentiment out with one of the Nesting Landscape Arches by Waffle Flower.

Jingle Bells

 Christmas is right around the corner.  I finally mailed out my Christmas cards this morning.  Whew!  That is a relief!  But I'm still making them.

This is a card for TSOT #685.  I went with bells for this one.

The paper is from Kaisercraft - First Noel.  The bells are from a die set by Paper Rose called Bell with Bow.  I cut it out twice with two different papers and used the negative pieces from each to fill them in. The sketch showed a little tied bow so I went with a die set by Waffle Flower called Layered Boxes and used the die that is for the tied bow.  The sentiment is from a Honey Bee Stamps stamp set called and Jingle All The Way (and I used that very sentiment).

Christmas Gift

 

Today is cold and windy in Hartford.  I think the temperature is 32 degrees and on the way down.

I haven't stepped outside, instead I decided to create a card for The Paper Players Theme Challenge PP767: Gifting.

On this card I used paper from two different paper pads, Santa Clause Lane by Echo Park and Home For Christmas by Violet Studio Designs. The gift is a die by Tutti Designs called Birthday Present, but in this case it is a Christmas present. 😄

I die cut it out in two different patterned designs and layered them.

The sentiment is from Colorado Craft called Holiday Wishes.  I stamped the sentiment and cut it out with Nesting Landscape Arches die by Waffle Flower.

Holiday Birds and Snowflake

It's just about two weeks before Christmas and here's another Christmas Card to go into my stash to mail out.

This is my card for Splitcoast Stampers Challenge SC1092.  

 I used the same die cut set that I used for an earlier card that I posted. Holiday Birds by Pretty Pink Posh.  This time I cut them out in white cardstock and then colored them with Catherine Pooler inks.  The single snowflake is from a die set called Mini Snowflakes by Scrapbook.com.  Sentiment is a Picket Fence Studios stamp set called Fancy Christmas Sentiments.  I stamped it in Lady Bug red ink by Memento and used the coordinating die to cut it out.

The paper I used is from Reminisce called Santa Squad.

Holiday Birds

 Here is my card for FMS #715.  I think it turned out pretty good.  

I used the die set from Pretty Pink Posh called Holiday Birds.  Working with putting them together was both fun and challenging.  The circle is Layering Foliage Window by Paper Rose.  Sentiment is by Sunny Studio called Holiday Greetings.  The paper I used is from a paper pad by Carta Bella called Christmas.

Christmas Ornaments

 Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and I got through it.  

    Family, Food and Fun.  This seems like such a long weekend.

Now, I'm getting down to business with FMS #714 challenge.  I missed the last two challenges, so I told myself, I got to do this one for sure.

For this card, I used a stamp I've had for a while by Penny Black called Togetherness.  There are three focal images in the set and I chose the hanging ornaments.  I colored the image with colored pencils and used the coordinating die to cut it out.

The sentiment is Holiday Greetings by Sunny Studio.

Christmas Bell

Happy Veterans Day!

 Here's another Christmas/Holiday card for my stash.  

I used the Splitcoast Stampers Challenge 1086 to create this card.  

The paper is from the Santa Claus Lane collection by Echo Park.  This particular paper is called Tree Toppings.  This paper is double-sided, and for this sketch I needed contrasting colors, so it worked out well.  For the squares, I used the die set from Sizzix called Square Frames.  The bell die is Bell with Bow by Paper Rose.  Sentiment is from the stamp set by Honey Bee Stamps called Inside Holiday Sentiments.

Holiday Gifts

Posting my card for FMS #711.  I went with holiday gifts since its getting to be that time of year.

The dies I used are from Sunny Studio: Stitched Semi-Circle and Perfect Gift Boxes.  The sentiment is from stamp set Inside Holiday Sentiments by Honey Bee Stamps.

One more card to add to my Christmas Card stash.

Snowman Kisses

 Sharing my card for this week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.  
This is FMS #710

I went with snowmen for this one.  These little guys are from a Sunny Studio stamp set called Snowman Kisses.  I needed a snowdrift, so I used the stamp set, also from Sunny Studio, called Oceans of Joy.  This is supposed to represent sand, but it worked well for the snow drift.  I stamped it on some light gray cardstock and die cut it out.  (You can just barely see the little dots that are supposed to represent sand, but it this case, snow.)  I placed that onto a snowy background from a paper pad by Echo Park called Warm & Cozy.  I added a few snowflakes and sentiment from the Snowman Kisses stamp set and the card is complete.

Merry & Bright

 I'm working on my Christmas cards now.  Here is one I made for the Paper Players Sketch Challenge 761.

I inked blended with Distress Inks a piece of white cardstock with three colors of blues: Stormy Sky, Salty Ocean and Tumbled Glass.  I used Sparkly Flakes Cover die by Alex Syberia on the inked cardstock and backed it with a piece of dark blue cardstock.  The snowflake is from a die set by Echo Park called Chilly Snowflakes.  Sentiment is from stamp set Merry & Bright Holidays by Hero Arts.

I added some silver metallic dots on the front and a blue enamel dot in the center of the snowflake.

Favorite Color is Autumn

 

Posting my card for the latest Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.  I went with another Autumn theme for this card.  Instead of a square base, I used an A6 card base.  The background paper is from Homestead Harvest by Honey Bee Stamps.  The tag die cut is Tag Trio Die by Woodware.  I used the largest one.

On top of the tag, I placed the large word "Autumn" and the smaller words to complete the sentence. This is a die set from Picket Fence Studios, Autumn is my favorite color.  The leaves on the bottom of the tag are also from Picket Fence Studios: Layering Flora: Fall Foliage.

Foliage Frame

 It's a beautiful Autumn Day here on this Tuesday in Hartford.  Slight breeze, warm sun and beautiful fall colors.  It actually goes along with this foliage challenge by The Paper Players.  PP760 Foliage lets you be creative with leaves and colors.  I used a die by Poppystamps called Adriana Oval Frame.  It is surrounded by leaves, berries and branches.  I die cut it out in white cardstock then colored it with a variety of colors and adhered it to green cardstock.  The sentiment is from a stamp set by Penny Black called Always Thankful.

Fall Tree Stump

I'm finally getting around to using this die set by Honey Bee Stamps.  Lovely Layers: Slice & Stump.

I thought this would be a good die to use for FMS #708.

I embossed a piece of light green cardstock with Ringadings embossing folder by Memory Box.  I inked it lightly with Shabby Shutters Distress Ink, attached that to a piece of brown cardstock and then to a lighter green piece of cardstock.  The leaves and mushroom are both lovely layers die sets by Honey Bee Stamps.  Sentiment is again from Honey Bee Stamps: Blessings Of Fall.

Feel Better Flowers

 Happy Monday!

It's a very rainy day here in Hartford.  Windy and rainy.  So I decided to play along with the color challenge by The Paper Players: PP759.

Purple and green were the colors to use.  I started with Circle Texture Cover Plate die by Waffle Flower die cut in white cardstock and layered that onto some swirly purple paper I had around.  Another die I used is for the flowers.  Sweet Poppy.  This is also by Waffle Flower.  I die cut them out in two different colors of purple or lavender.  The pitcher I used to place them in is a die by Impression Obsession: Small Porcelain Pitcher.  I popped that up using some foam squares.  Sentiment is also from Waffle Flower:  Sweet Lattice Sentiment stamp set.

Grateful Grapevine Wreath

 Brrr! It is cold today in Hartford, Connecticut! I had to put on a sweatshirt and a hoodie!

So today is a great day for cardmaking!

I'm playing along with FMS #707.  Very nice sketch.  I'm also posting this onto another challenge hosted by The Sisterhood of Crafters.  The challenge is Anything FALL.  I think this qualifies.

I used a die by Honey Bee Stamps called Grapevine Wreath.  I cut this out in brown cardstock and placed some foliage onto it by Alex Syberia.  The die set is called Classic Foliage Set.  I used the smallest one.

The sentiment is from a stamp set by Picket Fence Studios called Autumn Bountiful Beauty.  I topped it off with an enamel dot onto the little wreath bow.

Sweater Weather

 Here's a card that I made for Spitcoast Stampers Challenge #1082.  I went with an autumn theme.

For the background, I ink blended with Altenew inks, Perfect Peach and Orange Cream.  Then I used a stencil by Carta Bella called "Fall Breeze Sky".  I used Autumn Blaze by Altenew on the stencil.

The sweater is from the stamp set "Sweater Weather" by Waffle Flower.  I colored the sweater with colored pencils.  I added my own leaves onto the sweater from the stamp set "Little Leaves" by Trinity Stamps.  The sentiment is from the same Waffle Flower stamp set.  A few enamel dots by Doodlebug Design and the card is complete!

A Mushroom Among The Leaves

 Hello All!  Another lovely Sunday!

Today I'm playing along with TSOT #680.

I had to make a template for myself of the little crossing piece in order to get this sketch right.  After that, everything sailed along quite smoothly.

The paper is from Scrapbook.com called "Cozy".  The dies I used for the leaves is "Tender Leaves" by Simon Says Stamp.  Sentiment is from a Picket Fence stamp set called "Leaves Falling For You".

I layered the leaves onto a piece of tan scalloped oval die cut to make them stand out more.  Then I added a little mushroom.  It kind of catches your eye, I think.

Souper Cool

This is a cute little sketch and here is my card for FMS #706.  The stamp set I used is from My Favorite Things called Recipe For Happiness.  I picked the guy with a bowl of soup (or something hot).  I colored the images with colored pencils and die cut them out.

The paper used is from a paper pad by Carta Bella called Roll With It.

Happy Fall Basket

 I made this card because it is Autumn, plus I really wanted to use the different dies for this card.

All the leaves and gourds in the barrel are from a die set by Honey Bee Stamps called Lovely Layers: Fall Bounty.  The leaves and acorn on the bottom of the barrel I cut from a die set by Sunny Studio called Autumn Greenery.

I cut them from different designer papers and then inked them.  The basket is from Sunny Studio called Wood Barrel and the sentiment is from a die called Giant Happy Fall from Lawn Fawn.

For the background I embossed a piece of brown cardstock with Wood Planks 3D embossing folder by Honey Bee Stamps. I attached that to a piece of black cardstock.

I really like the way this card turned out.

Birthday Sundae

 My grandson's birthday is coming up this weekend, so this card is for him.  I used the sketch challenge from Splitcoast Stampers #1081.  The sundae is from the stamp set by Concord & 9th called "Here's The Scoop".  I stamped the sundae and colored it with colored pencils.  The paper I used is from American Crafts called "Farmstead Harvest".

Autumn Greetings

 It is officially Autumn!  So my card for FMS #705 is reflecting this season.  I just love fall!

For my three panels, I used autumn leaves.  They are cut from a die set by Pretty Pink Posh called Stitched Leafy Borders.  The paper pad I used to cut out the leafy borders is from Authentique called Natural.  

The greeting is also from Pretty Pink Posh.  It is a stamp set called Autumn Pumpkins.

Love Grows

 Here is my card for FMS #704.

The flowers are from a die set by Memory Box called Ruffled Blooms.  (I used them on a previous card sketch challenge).  I colored them with a variety of Catherine Pooler inks.  I placed them onto a piece of cardstock from a pack called Minuet by Memory Box.  I first cut it out with one of the dies by Paper Rose called Stitched Rectangles A6 and layered that onto a teal colored piece of cardstock that I cut out with one of the same but larger stitched rectangles.

The sentiment is from a Pinkfresh Studio stamp set called Always Uplifting.

Special Flowers

 I decided to try my hand at a color challenge with The Paper Players.  This is color challenge PP755.

I had to look for some older cardstock that I had in my stash to come up with the colors. The floral/feathery background is from a paper pad set by Authentique called Renew.  The sketch I used for this challenge came from Splitcoast Stampers Sketch #1079.

The four flowers are from a die set by Memory Box called Ruffled Flowers.  The sentiment is by a stamp set by Penguin Palace called Unity & Friendship Quotes.

Blooms For You

Happy Sunday!  

Here is my card for FMS #703.

To create the arch design, I used a die set by Pinkfresh Studio called Terrarium.  I adhered the cutout negative to some glittery paper to make it look like a glass dome and cut the base out of gold cardstock.  The flowers are from two different die sets that are both by Cottage Cutz.  One is Springtime Bluebell Flowers and the other is Spring Foliage.  The sentiment is from a Waffle Flower stamp set called Full Bloom Sentiments. 

Busy Bee

 I thought that I would try using one of my StampingBella stamps that I got a while back for this sketch challenge by Try A Sketch On Tuesday.  This is TSOT #678.  

The stamp set I used is Tiny Townie Busy Bee by StampingBella.  I colored the images and fussy cut them out.  I used an older embossing folder by Cuttlebug (remember them) called Honeycomb.  I adhered that to a piece of Altenew card stock from "Blushing Blooms" that happened to be a honeycomb design.  I popped my Tiny Townie Busy Bee onto the embossed part, along with a couple of little bees.