Here But Confused

 Oh, my goodness!!!  It has been almost two weeks since my last post.  Not only did it get busy and crazy because of the season but I got a new computer the 21st.  Most of you are probably more computer savvy than I am.  I am having a terrible time downloading files from the previous computer and also setting things up in the new one the way I want them. But it is getting there.
 During this time, I realized how many digital images I use as opposed to stamps. When I did not have access to my digital files, I pulled out some stamps and really enjoyed using them for a change.   But crazy me, I did not take photos of the cards I made, I was in such a hurry to mail them off to OWH.
So here is a card with an adorable digital image by Paper Makeup Stamps.  I had her colored and paper pieced weeks ago so I finally finished this past weekend.

I used a "thank you" stamp by Verve.  This card will go to one of our deployed heroes expressing thanks for service.
I used a sketch at Seems A Little Sketchy

There is a new Digi Makeover Challenge beginning today at the Paper Makeup blog.  Come on over and play.  The challenge is Anything Goes - great for the busy time of year.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Pile It On - "p"  Paper Makeup digital image
Tuesday Morning Sketch - any sketch
Party Time Tuesday - anything
Bearly Mine - anything
Paper Shelter - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything

Sister Act - anything
Pink Gem - anything

An Illuminating Project

It was time to try something new.  This time was to try making a luminaria.  I saw so many cute ones on blogs and internet sites.  Some day when I have more time, I will try this again, but this was okay for my first attempt. I took a ton of pictures trying to capture what it looks like.

I used a Doodle Pantry image from the set Winter Wishes, printing four in a line on the white cardstock so I could fold it in four places before attaching.

I cut out stars with a Verve die so I could glue a few on the Vellum inside the luminaria.

Challenges:
Our Daily Bread Design - Nestabilities, Oval, Edges, Luminaria
Love to Create - anything
Craft Your Passion - Christmas but no card
Die Cut Divas - Happy Holiday
Timeless Tuesday - vellum
Bearly Mine - anything
Simon Wednesday Challenge - snow
Thursday Creative Knockout - Tis the Season
Brown Sugar - Christmas
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - any holiday idea
What if Wednesday - Christmas, include a tree
Pink Gem - anything

Blog Hop at Created With Love

It is time for the annual Christmas Blog Hop at Created With Love.

 Our sponsors are Broken Box 

 

and Stamp n Doodle

If you came from Maria's blog, you are on the right path. If you would like to start at the beginning or get lost along the way, head over to Created With Love for the list of DT bloggers.

So with all those details out of the way, here is my card.  The image is by Stamp n Doodle.

What fun I have making cookies or bread with my grandchildren.  I hope they will remember these special times when they are older.
I colored the image with pencils.  The sentiment is by Unity.
The BG paper is old Christmas paper scraps.  I was glad I still had a little bit of it because it ties in so well with the whole baking idea.  The border on the left side is a piece of the coordinating paper.

Thanks for stopping by.  Make sure you comment and continue on with the hop. Your next stop is the very talented Pam at Stamper At Heart

Challenges:
Twist of Faith - traditions for Christmas
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Brown Sugar - Christmas
Sister Act - anything
Crafty Catz - anything
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - holiday related
Pink Gem - anything
Ribbon Carousel - anything
Cards Galore - Christmas
Pile It On - "p"  rolling pin, peppermints

Swirls for Paper MakeUp Challenge

Today begins a new challenge at Paper Makeup - use swirls.

This digital image by Paper Makeup has those cute little swirls on his head, arms, and body (looks like he wearing a sweater).  So I took that idea and embossed the background cardstock with swirls too.  I have  a drawer of fibers - these were just the right colors of yellow, orange, and maroon.  And amazingly enough, I found matching buttons in the same color families.
The sketch you will find at What If Wednesday:

Got any swirly ideas?  Come on over to the Digi Makeover Challenge at Paper MakeUp Stamps and play along with us.

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crafter's Cafe - monochromatic
Crafty Catz - anything
Pink Gem - anything
Ribbon Carousel - anything
Stamp and Create - anything

Feeling the Pressure

Christmas is almost here and I am not ready.  Would you believe I have only one decoration in the house?  Having jury duty this week and next is not helping me get ready either!!!  I will have time this week to (hopefully) finish the shopping and decorate.  Our family Christmas is the 21st so the pressure is on.
I am glad I made some Christmas cards back in October and November.  Here are some cards I made with the card kit from Doodle Pantry.

It was fun to print all these images and papers out and then go to it.  As you see, each is a different layout and I did not even use all the pieces from the kit.  Here is a pic of some of the ideas in the kit.

You can find this and other wonderful kits at the Doodle Pantry Store.

Some of the challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crafter's Cafe - monochromatic
Cards Galore - Christmas
Brown Sugar - Christmas
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - any holiday
Sister Act - anything
Crafty Catz - anything
Wags and Whiskers - Christmas
Pink Gem - anything
Ribbon Carousel - anything
Stamp and Create - anything
Get Inky - Christmas
Twist of Faith - Christmas traditions (always Christ centered)

Sparkle Challenge at Paper Makeup

The new challenge for this week at Paper Makeup is Sparkle.  Some people love bling.   I'm not one of them.  I have to force myself to add any to cards.  But I do love Sakura Clear Star pen which gives a sparkle to anything you use it on.

 

Can you see all the sparkle on the fins?  And I did add 4 gems for more sparkle! LOL!
You can find this digital image and other wonderful images at Paper Makeup Stamps.  Play the challenge this week and you might win some free images.

Challenges:

Sister Act - anything
Pink Gem - anything
Clear It Out - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything 

Sending Some Hogs and Kisses

Who is ready for Valentine's Day?  No, I'm not crazy - just trying to stay up with the OWH schedule.  Valentine Cards must be in to the shipper by December 31.  I am going to have to make Valentine cards every chance I get between now and then because I sure don't have many done.   Here is a card that can be used for Valentines Day or just as an "I love you" card.

This funny pig (hog) is by Bugaboo.  The Created With Love challenge this week is Anything Goes and Bugaboo is the sponsor.  Bugaboo has such a variety of digital stamps.  I chose this pig and sentiment because I thought I could make up a few cute, quick cards with him.
The BG paper was actually not supposed to be orange and brown but I was having a terrible time with some ink cartridges in my printer.  Waste not, want not.
Card base is Kraft.  Next layer is Tomato Red by GKD.

Come on over to Created With Love and play the challenge.

Hogs and Kisses,
Marsha

Challenges:
Crafty Creations - no Christmas
Pink Gem - anything
Sister Act - anything
Ribbon Carousel - anything
Pile It On - "p" pig

Have Some Fun Today

When we were kids, we loved the snow, didn't we?  Now as adults, we don't look forward to it as much because it usually means more work = shoveling,  harder driving conditions, etc.  I still love to see the snow come down (if it is not in the form of a blizzard!) But being out in it has lost its appeal.  Here is a cute digi by Doodle Pantry that shows how much fun the snow and ice can be (if you're not me)

I used a pre-colored digi and the sentiment that comes with the set Igloo Fun

I have been trying to make some shaker cards but none of them were turning out well because of the "snow" I was using.  It kept sticking to the inside of the acrylic sheet.  I finally go the brainy idea (I'm sure many others thought of this first) to use laundry detergent for the snow.  It slides around really well and is not bothered by static cling.  I should have put in a little more but I didn't want to cover up the cute walrus.
The sketch is at the Kraft Journal 

The cardstock is GKD Raspberry.  The BG paper is Doodle Pantry.  I used Natural Hemp twine from the Kraft Outlet and a burgandy twine from SU.

Even if it isn't in the snow, I hope you have some fun today.
Challenges:
Kraft Outlet - sketch
Pile It On - "p" penguins
Crafty Creations - no Christmas
Sister Act - anything
Pink Gem - anything
Clear It Out - anything
Wags and Whiskers - wings
Word Art Wednesday - anything 

Gold Embossing

Gold embossing, poinsettias, and Christmas cards just go together. For this card I used a poinsettia from the GKD set  "A Year of Flowers"and sentiment from the "Warm and Cozy" set

and Mojo Monday sketch

The card base is SU Artichoke.  The patterened papers are from the DCWV Stack 8.
After embossing the poinsettia and sentiment onto the front CS piece, I drew a line around the outer edge with Versamark pen and embossed that in gold too.
Here is another card - same sketch, same papers, but The sentiment is by Sweet and Sassy Stamps.

Challenges:
Sentimental Sundays - traditional Christmas colors
Pile It On - "p" poinsettia
Party Time Tuesday - Merry Christmas
Bearly Mine - Christmas sentiment
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Ribbon Carousel - anything
Cards Galore - Christmas
Stamp and Create - anything

Another Canine Card

I had so much fun with these Doodle Pantry Images.  Here is the last of the three thank you cards I made. (You can see the other two on the previous post).  I love all three but this might be my favorite.

Image and papers are Doodle Pantry.  The puppy is a pre-colored image from the "Doggies and Things" set.  The papers are from "Mr. Spike" which was originally sold at Clearly Digital Stamps.
Card base is Kraft. Red layer is SU Real Red. While  I was wrapping the first two gifts, I used   strands of Raffia instead of ribbon so I  decided to use a piece on the card instead of ribbon or twine. 
Sentiment is Verve.
Here are pics of both sets:

And here is the sketch I used - Mojo Monday:

Now I will probably get back to some Christmas cards.

Challenges:
Pile It On - "p" = puppy
Frosted Designs - use something on list = paper layering
Brown Sugar - thank you
2 Sisters - anything
Sister Act - anything
Ribbon Carousel - anything

Thank you Cards From the Dogs

Last week while we were on vacation, several daughters took turns driving to our place and taking care of our dogs.  I wanted to thank them with a gift and card.  Doodle Pantry has some adorable images of dogs and I used a few of those for the cards.

 This is one of the many images in the Doodle Pantry Set, Doggies and Things. You can see more in the pic below.  I used a lined version and coloring it with Prismas pencils.

The BG paper and the bone strip are from other Doodle Pantry sets. The sentiment is Verve. The paw prints are Unity.
Sketch is MFT

 Here is the inside - images are Doodle Pantry.  Words are computer generated.

Here is another card I made with an old sketch I have on file.

Check out some of the wonderful sets at the Doodle Pantry Store   And play along with the challenge at Doodle Pantry Challenge Blog.

Challenges:
Pile It On - "p" puppy
Crafty Creations - Thank you
Simon Wednesday - anything
Brown Sugar - anything
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - gratitude
MFT - sketch
What if Wednesday - thanks

Snow Fun At Paper Makeup

Do you remember cutting out snowflakes when you were little?  Mine never turned out very well - usually square!  But look at this little gal's ?

Isn't she so cute?  She is a digital image by Paper Makeup Stamps.  There is a new Digi Makeover challenge at Paper Makeup  - snow fun.  Come play the challenge and maybe you will win some digital images.
I made this card a bit bigger than the usual A2. I wanted to have lots of room for this gorgeous ribbon and bow (recycled from a gift). The base card is GKD Dark Chocolate.
The sweater is paper-pieced.  The rest is colored with Prisma Pencils.  Yes, another red head because this is going to my granddaughter who has bright red hair and loves to color, cut, and paste.  Isn't this a perfect card for her?
Don't forget to play along at Paper Makeup Stamps.

Challenges:
Twist of Faith - use 3 colors
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crafters Cafe - anything
Simon Wednesday - anything
Clear It Out - use a snowflake
Sister Act - anything
Ribbon Carousel - holidays
Craft 4 Eternity - non-traditional colors
Pile It On - "p" paper piecing

Snow Is In The Forecast

Snow flurries are in the forecast for today but not supposed to amount to much.  Most of the time when we have a lot of snow, it accompanied by a Northeastern wind so it is a blizzard.  Definitely not like this beautiful scene on this card.

Isn't it a beautiful, peaceful scene?  The digital image is by Delicious Doodles.  Because there is already shading, all that was necessary was a little bit of pencil for color.  Kraft, Forest green card stocks and matching twines.  How easy is that?
If you play along at the Created With Love Challenge, you could win this image or any 4 images of your choice by Delicious Doodles.  Make a Christmas card then  pop over to CWLC to enter the challenge. 

Challenges:
Bearly Mine - anything
Totally Papercrafts - holidays
Sister Act - anything
Pink Gem - winter wonderland
Frosted Designs - paper layering
Simon Wednesday - anything
Cards Galore - Christmas

Continue To Be Thankful

Now that Thanksgiving Day is over and we are all gearing up for Christmas, don't forget to remain thankful.  I made one more card that will be saved until next November but I wanted to play with a few things - feathers, wreath image, and sketch.

I wanted the wreath to stand out so I put only a little color on it.  The BG paper is an old scrap that I thought would go well with the acorns in the wreath.  The feathers I have had for awhile and was itching to use them.
Here is the sketch at House that Stamps Built

Challenges:
Kraft Journal - so thankful
Craft Your Passion - giving thanks
Crafty Cardmaker - CAS
Twist of Faith - use 3 colors
Simon Wednesday - anything
Crafters Cafe - anything
Sister Act - anything
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - so grateful
Digidesign - thanks, thanksgiving
Stamp and Create -  feathers or leaves
Your Next Stamp - photo inspiration
Word Art Wednesday - anything