What Is Normal ?

Now that Christmas is over, back to normal. Right?  And what does that look like?
It seems that our norm always has an element of chaos.  Okay, maybe not chaos.  But definitely not boredom or predictability.  Deep inside I am somewhat glad for that.  My hubby has often said, "Well, at least we have not lived a boring life."  So true.
So now that Christmas is over, it is back to all occasion, birthday, anniversary cards,  etc.  Although I have a few more thank you cards to make for gifts received.

Here is a birthday card I made for my granddaughter:

Digital Stamp is Bugaboo which I colored with Copics.  The sentiment is a stamp in a Birthday set.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - party time
Tuesday Morning Sketch - anything
Sugar Pea - challenge 26 anything
All Sorts - something new (new digital image)
Word Art Wednesday - anything
DigiDesign - celebration
7 Kids College Fund - anything 
Stamploration - CAS optional red

Inside Joke

There is such satisfaction (and joy) in making cards that are personal and unique for the recipient.  As you look at this card, there are probably questions such as: Why would she make such an ugly card?  Why did she use popcorn and that sentiment together? and so on.
Well, that is for me and the recipient to know and sorry, I am not going to explain!!  LOL
You will just have to believe me when I say that it makes perfect sense to my recipient and the note inside will tie it together.
So on to my ugly card, although I do love the sketch (found at Stamploration)

Sentiment is from Ginger's House and of course the popcorn is designer paper.  Yellow twine is glued on with Tombow Multi liquid glue.  Love that stuff!

Challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketch - anything goes
Sugar Pea - # 26 anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Stamploration - theme and/or sketch

Thanks Snow Much

Here is a really easy card made with a Darice embossing folder, and a touch of  Copic color.

I like to write thank you notes for Christmas presents received.  This one will be great (easy and fast) with a sentiment inside of "Thanks Snow Much" .

Challenges:

Joy Clair - photo inspiration (red and grey)
Tuesday Morning Sketch - anything
Sugar Pea - anything
Send A Smile 4 Kids - winter fun
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Stamploration CAS - optional red and green 

More Lattes Please

 This will be my last card for awhile.  Now that the cupboards are back in place in my kitchen, it is time to clean (constructions dust on EVERYTHING), and bake, and get ready for company Saturday and our family Christmas on Sunday.  No pressure.  Oh, and maybe I should get a tree and decorations up~!
Here is another coffee card using the same sentiment as my last card but with a Verve digital stamp. The BG paper is by Diane's Designs.  Love the beautiful blue.

I hadn't planned on using the swirl as "steam"  but fun it turned out that way when I cut the paper to the size needed.

Challenges:
Coffee Lovers bloghop
Simon Monday - snow
Tuesday Throwdown - anything
Sugar Pea #26 - anything
Stamploration CAS  

Don't Forget Coffee

Here is a fun digital image by Doodle Pantry and a sentiment by Stamploration that goes perfectly.

Image is colored with Copics.  Sketch is at  Sketch Saturday.

Challenges:
Coffee Lovers winter hop
Sugar Pea - mix it up #26
Paper Creators - Christmas
Doodle Pantry - Ants in my Pantry challenge

Christmas Cups of Cheer

There is white dust on everything in my house, I am washing dishes in the bathtub, icy roads and the flu have slowed down the kitchen project.  But the silver lining - I have been able to escape some of the noise and mess by hiding in my craft room. 
An added bonus to lift my spirits - the Coffee Lovers Bloghop and a few new digital stamps to play with.
This beauty is by Verve:

I really like that the cups are already on the background.  The image is cut out with a Die-namics stitched rectangle.  Holly on the corner is fussy cut.  Cups are colored with Copics.
The sketch I used is at Sketch Saturday:

Challenges:
Sugar Pea - anything
Coffee Lovers - winter
Dies R Us - Christmas
Die Cut Divas - layers
Work It Wednesday - use dies
Joy Clair - photo inspiration

Santa's Coffee Cart

Don't ever remodel in December!!!  My kitchen has been torn apart all week.  Snow and the flu has slowed down the repairs.  Our meals consist of whatever can be made in a toaster oven or cold items.  Thank goodness I can use the coffee maker!!!  Which brings me to this card.  After seeing this cute digi at Stamploration I made this card with that and a sentiment stamp by Stamplorations.  I need some levity right now (and I wouldn't mind this latte either).

Sketch MFT 310:  Turning it sideways

The image is cut with Die-namic stitched rectangles.  Top border is MFT scallop border die.

Challenges:
Coffee Lovers Bloghop
MFT sketch
Sugar Pea -challenge 26 anything
Dies R Us - Christmas
Die Cut Divas - layers

Stamploration Never Ending challenge

Stamploration Cutploration challenge - colors and dots

Work It Wednesday - use dies
Simon Wednesday - ice

Oh Christmas Tree

Many years ago a friend of mine sent me a Christmas card which I have kept it all these years so I could CASE it.  Finally doing that.

I started with a forest green base, tearing off part of the front.  The vanilla piece is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 which I adhered to the inside of the torn part.  The tree and sentiment (SU) are stamped and then embossed with gold. 

Challenges:
Paper Creators - Christmas
Stamploration CAS - optional red and green
Simon Monday - Christmas Tree
Word Art Wednesday - anything