Get Ready For A New Year

This post comes with sad news.  It is time to close the Kraft Journal Challenge.  Yes, it is true.  And as we close, we leave you with New Year wishes.
Using the beautiful Verve digital image and sentiment again, this time I colored it a bit differently and changed the layout. The holly is Doodle Pantry.  The dots are made with a stamp. Base cardstock is Brown Kraft. The challenge may be closing but the Kraft Outlet Store is still open.

Here is the sketch I used, found at Stamplorations:

Not sure what my week will be like.  If I don't get back here, Happy New Year.



Challenges:
Stamplorations theme and sketch
Pile It On - winter
DLArt - anything
Tuesday Morning Sketch - anything
Inspiration Destination - anything
Papertakes Weekly - anything

This Year Is Almost Over

Like so many of you, I can't believe we only have a few more days of 2015.
Here is a card that is a New Year's Wish. 

This is a case of Cornelia's card at Stamplorations - love her added tea bag.

My card is made with a Verve digital image and sentiment.  Copics were used for coloring.

Challenges:
Pile It On - winter
DLArt - anything
Stamploration - case
Tuesday Morning Sketch - anything
Crafty Sentiment - happy new year
Inspiration Destination - anything
Papertakes - anything
Stamping Boutique - anything 

Merry Christmas

"C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S"

"C" is for the Christ Child born upon this day;
"H" for herald angels in the night.
"R" means our Redeemer;
"I" means Israel;
"S" is for the star that shone so bright.
"T" is for the three wise men,
They who travelled far.
"M" is for the manger where He lay.
"A" is for all He stands for;
"S" means shepherds came,
And that's why there's a Christmas Day.

"T" is for the three wise men,
They who travelled far.
"M" is for the manger where He lay.
"A" is for all He stands for;
"S" means shepherds came,
And that's why there's a Christmas Day.

And that's why there's a Christmas Day...

Life Is Full Of Changes

It is always sad to read of challenge blogs, like Papertakes, ending.  But I totally understand.  I gave up all my DT positions this past year because of life changes and a need for less deadlines.
Speaking of deadlines, how are you all doing with the last minute Christmas pressures?
Easy week for me because we already celebrated last weekend so now this week, we are having some of the grands stay one at a time.  They love to have special time and be pampered by Grandpa and Gramma.  I thought maybe I could clean up my craft room but we mess it up each day with a new project.
Here is another Thank You Card with the same cute snowman image by From the Heart which I used on the previously posted card.  This time I used the sketch at Stamplorations.

Sketch:

Coloring done with copics.  The snowflake border is made up of snowflakes by DeeDee.   Sentiment is Stampin Up. I always love using this one for thanks this time of year.

Challenges:
Papertakes - anything goes - Last Challenge
Simon Monday - winter wonderland
Pile It On - anything
Tuesday Morning Sketch - anything
Inspiration Destination - anything
Di's Digis - anything Christmas
DLArt - anything
Stamplorations - theme and sketch

Christmas Thank You

Because we have already had our family Christmas, this is a relaxing week for me.  Not the case for most of you.  But because we have already done the gift-giving and receiving,  it is time for some Thank You cards.

This is one of the cute snowmen at From the Heart cut out with MFT Circle Stax.  The sentiment is stamped (Verve, I think).  Snowflake eyelet.
Sketch is From the Heart

Challenges
DLArt - anything
DLArt Thankful Thursday
Simon Monday - winter wonderland
Crop Stop - cuttlebug machine, memento ink, scorepal
From the Heart Sketch
Pile It On - anything winter
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Tuesday Morning Sketch - anything 
Simon Wednesday - dies

Just a Few More Hours

The presents are made and wrapped, the Chex mix is made, the Julekaga is baking, the vacuuming and dusting are done.  All that is left to do is bake few cookies this morning and then...let the Christmas celebrating begin!  (We start ours this evening through Sunday evening).

This is the last tag I made.  I've been trying to make the tags appropriate to the wrapping or the gift inside.  This tag was inspired by the gift bag.

The background on the tag is some old designer paper.  Snowflakes are Silhouette and Cuttlebug.
Sentiment is Verve.
See you Monday.

Challenges:
DLArt - anything
Pile It On - Christmas
Die Cuttin Divas - anything Christmas
Simon Wednesday - dies
Dies R Us - use snowflakes
Sweet Stampin - Christmas
Little Scrap Pieces 

So Many Presents

This looks like our stash under the tree.  Six children, their spouses, 12 grandchildren, and my mom makes for a lot of presents.

I thought about using this image (From the Heart) for a tag but went with a card using the sketch at From the Heart.

The image is colored with copics.  The Christmas lights are part of a Elizabeth Craft die set for the Holiday House, touched up with Stickles.

Challenges:
From the Heart - sketch
From the Heart - digital stamp of the month
MFT - colors lavender, green, baby blue, white
Simon Wednesday - dies
Die Cuttin Divas - Christmas
Simon Monday - just a pinch of Stickles
Pile It On - Christmas
DLArt - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crop Stop - anything

Stress Reliever

While battling bronchitis, I have been madly trying to finish Christmas presents.  I finally finished the last one last night. So glad, so relieved.  Now I must bundle up and brave the crowds in order to buy some groceries for this weekend (our Christmas).  But first I took a bit of time to make a card just for the enjoyment of it.  Isn't it fun just to sit down and make a card just because you want to?  I don't even have any recipient in mind.  That is when it is really relaxing and it does lift my spirits.
It is very gloomy today so I had to use a flash but it is a simple card without a lot of detail or dimension so this photo will have to do.

I used the simple sketch at Sketch Saturday, turned sideways, and a cute pre-colored digital stamp by Doodle Pantry, Snowmen Scenes, which I have never used before.   The double snowflake was cut out with a Cuttlebug die - one of my very first purchased and used many times.  The designer paper is Echo Park.

I hope you all are getting everything done in time for Christmas and that you, too, will be able to make a card or two just for the fun of it.
Now, off to town - uggh!

Challenges:
Sketch Saturday
Doodle Pantry - AIMPDC
Pile It On - Winter
Simon Monday - just a pinch ( one gem )
Simon Wednesday - dies
Dies R Us - snowflakes
Crafty Calendar - let it snow
Word Art Wednesday - anything
DLArt - anything

And The Winner Is

So out of the four prototypes, this is the one that I was asked to make. (21cards)

After cutting out all the pieces and embossing the pine branch, the assembling went pretty fast.  The bow is a My Craft Spot die cut.  I love the Certainly Celery cardstock with this designer paper.  I ran out of the designer paper so used a plaid with the same colors and then I made a few cards with other colors.  I like them as well.

 Challenges:
DLArt - anything
Pile It On - Christmas
Simon Monday - just a pinch (of embossing)
C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
Die Cutting Divas - anything Christmas
Simon Wednesday - dies
Word Art Wednesday - anything

December Take Your Pick

It is time to take your pick at the Kraft Journal.  Here is what I chose: ribbon, green, tags.

More tags but this time on a card.  I used the Grungy Prim Shipping Tags at the Kraft Outlet.  I love the staining and vintage look.  The designer paper behind the tags is muted colors and is closer to the tag colors IRL .  Two of the Great Impression ornaments are stamped right onto the tags.  The Love ornament is stamped, fussy cut, and attached to the tag. Not sure why that stamp is a bit bigger than the other two but works okay in the middle.

The challenge at the Kraft Journal ends Sunday.

Challenges:
Crafty Creations -  happy holidays
Di's Digis - winter holidays
DLArt - December challenge
Paper Sweeties - joy and colors
Simon Says Wednesday - tags
C.R.A.F.T.- Christmas

Prototype #2

Here is another card that I offered (see last post for explanation ) that was not chosen.  It is a CASE.  The original card is shown under mine.

I just love how this card turned out.  The EF is Cuttlebug, sentiment is Verve.  This is a great ribbon because it is sparkly but the sparkles do not flake off.
I loved the card I CASED too, obviously because that is why I cased it!

Challenges:
Pile It On - Christmas
DLArt - anything
Simon Monday - Christmas
Crafty Sentiments = Christmas cards
C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
Pink Gem - anything Christmas
Creative Creations - happy holidays
Di's Digis - winter holidays
CASual Fridays - snowflakes
Simon Says Work It Wednesday - holiday card
Crafty Calendar - let it snow

Christmas Card Prototype 1

Last week someone asked me to make 21 Christmas cards for them.  Not feeling well and not having much time, I knew they had to be simple.  This is one of the prototypes that I made ( which was not chosen but I liked it.)

 
This is a Darice embossing folder.  Just added a bit of copic and some gems, backed it with a light blue cardstock.

Challenges:
Pile It On - Christmas or winter
Simon Monday - Christmas
Crafty Sentiments - Christmas cards
C.R.A.F.T.. -Christmas
Pink Gem - Christmas
CASual Friday - snowflakes
Crafty Calendar - let it snow
Simon Work It Wednesday - holiday card
Crop Stop - anything

Most Wonderful Time of the Year - NOT

Usually I love Christmas time but this year it is a different story but mostly because I have been sick since Thanksgiving Day.  From a cold to a full blown case of bronchitis.  I try to get in the mood but I'm too exhausted and miserable to do much.  I am trying to finish making Christmas gifts.  I hope I will be able to go out for some shopping next week.  What really makes matters worse is that we have our Christmas the week before Christmas day so I have to be ready by Friday, the 18th.  Would you believe we just put up our tree today?  Maybe I will decorate it tomorrow.
Anyway, I was able to make a gift for coffee packets and happy to enter it in the Coffee Lover's Bloghop.

Fun and fast - right now very important factors.  Love this sentiment - always makes me smile.

Challenges:
PaperTakes - fun
Simon Wednesday - tag
Little Scrap Pieces - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything

Frosty

Lately I have been doing a lot of experimenting and pushing myself out of my normal, predictable way of making cards.  Some results have been good, some have needed some tweaking, and some went right into the trash can.  Earlier in the year I bought some new embossing folders.  So cute.  But now they are a challenge for me because I am having a hard time knowing how to use them except for white on white CAS.  So here is one of my experiments.  (You can comment and tell me if it a keeper, needs tweaking, or should be filed in the circular file.)

I love Kraft and Blue together so I started with a Light Kraft Cardstock base then added a pale blue layer (SU's Bashful Blue).  With a Copic B0000, I added a bit of color to the face, scarf, and buttons.  The snowflakes are cut out with a Cuttlebug die with an added bit of Stickles for sparkle.
You probably get tired of my mentioning my love of twine but I really do love the  Hemp Cord at the Kraft Journal.
So there it is.  What do you think?  And if you are up to making a project with a snowman as your theme, we would love to see it for the Kraft Journal challenge this week.

Challenges:
Pink Gem - anything Christmas
Di's Digis - winter holidays
Dies R Us - Christmas
Casual Friday - snowflakes
Simon Says Work It Wednesday - holiday card
Crafty Calendar - let it snow
Pile it on - Christmas or winter
Simon Wednesday -let it snow
Little Scrap Pieces - anything Christmas
Crop Stop - snowman E.F.