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

Poinsettia Tag

Here is another tag inspired by Debby Yates on day 4 of the 25 days of tags challenge .  I don't like this one  as well as my first poinsettia tag but it is still pretty.  Probably anything with a poinsettia would be pretty - love them.

Impression Obsession die for the poinsettia.  Love the red pearls for projects like this.

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - anything 
Simon Wednesday - Christmas dies
All Sorts - anything Christmas
Sweet Stampin - blue
Sweet Stampin Christmas 
In My Creative Opinion - 25 days of tags
Stamplorations - tag challenge

Simple Snowflake Tag

It is always so fun to see all the wonderful tag ideas this time of year.  This tag was inspired by Jessica Frost-Ballas' tag on day 13 on the 25 Days of Tags.

I used a pre-colored digital snowflake, then used a Sakura silver star gelly roller pen to highlight parts of the snowflake.  I hope you can see some of that in the next pics.

I made the tag by using a SU corner punch and circle punch.  The ribbon is recycled from a gift.

Challenges:
All Sorts - anything Christmas
Time Out - Christmas, glitter and shimmer
In My Creative Opinion - 25 days tags
Sweet Stampin - predominately blue
Sweet Stampin Christmas
Stamploration tags

Christmas Carolers

Do people go caroling anymore?  Years ago some of us from church went to a few nursing homes and to a few homes with shut ins.  It was quite fun.

This digital image by Darla is so fun to color.  I used Copics and Sakura silver star gelly roller.
The musical paper is a digital print.
The circles are cut with Die-namic Circle Stax dies.
Sentiment is a Doodle Pantry digital. 

Challenges:
Simon Wednesday - Christmas and dies
Cuttlebug Mania -  music
Double D - traditional Christmas colors
Sweet Stampin Christmas
Joy Clair - 3 colors on inspiration board
Daily Marker - 30 days to color  
Word Art Wednesday - anything 

Happy Thanksgiving

Taking a break from the kitchen to put up a post.  Although I lucked out this year.  We are going to a son's home for dinner so I am only bringing sweet potatoes and my homemade rolls.  I'll miss the left overs but not the mess of cooking for 20!
Here is another tag.  I love how this one turned out.

My inspiration was Debby Yates tag on day 4 of the 15 day Tag Challenge.

The base of my tag is navy blue.  The poinsettia is cut with a Impression Obsession die.  NOEL is a stamp which I embossed with white.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving Day and weekend. 

Challenges:
Die Cuttin Divas - anything
Simon Wednesday - Christmas die
Dies R Us - tags
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Paper Creators - anything
Sweet Stampin - Christmas
Time Out - Chrismas
In My Creative Opinion - tags

Red Snowflakes

Originally I was going to make a white tag with a red snowflake because the wrapping paper is red with white snowflakes.  But then I saw Laura  Pryor's tag on day 13 at the In My Creative Opinion blog.  That inspired this tag  using the negative cut as a focal.

The white tag is cut with a Silhoutte. After cutting out a snowflake, I ran the red piece through the Cuttlebug using a MFT Stitched Rectangle.  It was too long so I partially cut again. That worked great.
It was good to use one of these big gems.  They are so thick, I don't like using them on cards that need to go through the postal system.   Also used a few sequins too - always a fun embellishment.

Challenges:
In My Creative Opinion 25 days of tags
Simon Monday - three (sequins)
Die Cuttin Divas - anything
Dies R Us - tags
C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
Word Art Wednesday - anything 
Sweet Stampin - Christmas 

One of Six

Just a quick post to show one of the cards in the sets of cards I made for gifts. 

I started with a piece of designer paper which is several shades of gray  (like newsprint).  I used a copic to color the butterfly wings and flower, then stamped two more flowers in red using a GKD stamp.  The rest is pretty obvious - backing in gray before mounting onto red cardbase.  The "hello" is a MFT die from a Hello set.

Challenges:
MFT color challenge
Die Cuttin Divas - anything
Paper Creators - anything
Daily Marker - 30 days to color
Crop Stop - anything

Christmas Light Tag

This next tag was inspired by a tag by Tracey on day 20 on My Creative Opinion.  It reminded me that I have a Christmas light bulb stamp by SU.

Simple one layer tag cut out with my Silhouette.  Bulbs, and "to and from" stamp are both SU.  Merry Christmas is Verve.
I cut the re-inforcer with two punches.

Challenges: 
In My Creative Opinion - tags
Simon Monday - trio (Three stamps)
Joy Clair - use three colors on inspiration board

Tag Time

Here is another tag I made for another present I wrapped.  I'm so excited that I am getting my presents purchased and/or made and also wrapped early this year.

The actual tag was cut with my Silhouette machine.  Because I still have not found a good place to take photos of my projects since I moved into a new craft area, you can't see the sponging around the edge of the tag.  I also sponged some dark green on the edges of the tree which I cut out with a Spellbinder die, Holiday Trees set).  The garland is from another Spellbinder set, a Happy Birthday set.
This tag was inspired by Lisa's Tag on day 19 at My Creative Opinion
To and From stamp is SU.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - Trio (three strands of garland)
All Sorts - Christmas tree
Dies R Us - tags
Double D - Traditional Christmas colors
Stamploration theme - three
C.R.A.F.T - Christmas 

Winter Fun

As I finish making or buying Christmas gifts, I am wrapping them right away.  (Too many chances of grandkids finding them otherwise!)  So, I am making tags too.  Here are three I made for young grandsons.  They are all the same except for the back color and twine.

The cute image is by Doodle Pantry which I colored with copics and pencils.
The image and back piece are cute with MFT stitched rectangles.
One of the reasons I went with penquins is Vickie Zimmer's tag on day 12 of the 25 days of Christmas Tags.

Challenges:
Sweet Stampin Christmas Challenge
25 Days of Christmas Tags
Simon Wednesday - Christmas Critters
Dies R Us - tags
Crafty Creations - animals
All Sorts - feature a creature
Daily Marker - 30 days color

Sing It Loud

While making Christmas cards for several card drives, I printed out this cute digital stamp by Dearie Dolls.  I love these mice singing with such gusto!

The snow globe is fussy cut and placed onto two circles cut with a Spellbinder Scallop die and a Die-namic Circle Stax.   The tree is a sticker and the papers are scraps.

Challenges:
Send a Smile 4 Kids - Happy Holidays
Crafty Creations - animals
Double D - traditional Christmas colors
Cuttlebug Mania - music
Simon Wednesday - Christmas critters
All Sorts - feature a creature
Stamploration - theme, 3 of something

Thanksgiving

Yes, I knew it was coming but, as usual, I always think time will stand still while I catch up.  So when I looked at the date today, I realized my time was up - I had to get a few Thanksgiving cards made and in the mail!
I love this Fall stamp and the sentiment stamp so I used these with the new MFT sketch.

Sketch:

Kraft card base
SU Vanilla and Really Rust card stock
Recollection border punch
Copics

Challenges:
Simon Monday - thanks
Time Out - home, sweet home
Crop Stop - anything
Crafty Calendar - Autumn colors
Words 2 Craft By - large gratitude
Daily Marker - color

Thank You Vets

To any veterans and those currently in the service - Thank You.
Here is a card in your honor.

MFT Sketch:

Challenges:
MFT sketch
Simon Wednesday - thank you
Sweet Stampin - red for remembrance
Daily Marker - 30 day color
Words 2 Craft By - large gratitude
Stamploration  Giving Thanks challenge

Thanks and Gratitude

This is the first card I have made with my new Spellbinder double embossing folder.  I love the two designs in one folder.   I inked the folder before running it through my Cuttlebug and really like the results.

 I used the sketch at MFT:

Leaves are SU, sentiment is Unity.
I tried backing the sentiment strip but ended up just sponging color on the edges.

Challenges:
MFT sketches
Simon Wednesday - thanks
Daily Marker - 30 days color
Words 2 Craft By - small heart, large gratitude
Double D Challenge - mood board and give thanks
Time Out - inspiration board
Stamploration giving thanks

Cool Birthday

Do you find it difficult to make masculine birthday cards?  I do.  Mainly because none of my guys would appreciate a beautiful nautical or nature card.  So I try to make fun or goofy cards and when possible, cards related to their occupations.   This card falls into the first category .

I love this digital image and sentiment by Eureka. Colored the cat with Copics.  Digging through the scraps of designer paper, I found these stripes - perfect. The sentiment was cut out with one of the stitched oval dies by Elizabeth Crafts.
I used the sketch at Stamploration,  turning it sideways. 

Here is the inside:

Challenges:
Pile It On - scraps
Crafty Creations - animal
Cuttlebug - tic, tac, toe ( animals, die cuts, sentiment)
Crop Stop - anything
Daily Marker - 30 days of color
Tuesday Throwdown - all about words
Stamploration - theme and/or sketch

Winter Foliage

We, in the Pacific Northwest, have so many evergreen trees around that we can have a tendency to take them for granted.  But our love of them (at least for me) is heightened during December when we cut one for inside the house or use branches for wreaths and swags.  I LOVE the smell of the pines and firs.  I have only experience one Christmas in my lifetime when I did not have a tree for Christmas. I think I missed the smell as much as the beauty of the tree.
The digital stamp I used for this card is by Paper Garden.

One great thing about making the 100 cards for the Caring Hearts Drive is I have been able to use up many scraps of Christmas/winter designer papers.  Yeah!
Ovals cut with Spellbinder Oval dies.
Tag is hand cut.
Sketch - MFT

Challenges:
Pile It On - use scraps
Daily Marker
MFT sketch
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Stamploration CAS

One of Each

Making cards for Send A Smile 4 Kids and having so much fun doing it.  Especially enjoying coloring with my Copics.  I really love the stamps in the GKD set Warm and Cozy Christmas.  I used both the girl and the boy stamps. 

Aren't they so cute?  The snowflakes come in the set.  Circles are cut with Die-namic Circle Stax.

Challenges:
Send A Smile 4 Kids - happy holidays
Daily Marker 30 days color challenge
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Joy Claire - three colors on photo board  (pink, rose, red)
Sweet Stampin - use red

Almost Finished

Just a few more Christmas cards to reach my goal of 100 for the Caring Hearts Card Drive.  For this card I used another digital image by Doodle Pantry, coloring it with Copics .

Sketch is the Tuesday Morning Sketch for this week:

 Challenges:
Daily Marker - 30 days
Tuesday Morning Sketch 376
All Sorts Challenge -Getting a Start on Christmas