Believe In Christmas with DCWV "Christmas Made" paper stack!!!

Happy Sunday my fellow crafters.  I sure hope you have enjoyed the Holiday Hop over at Colorful Creations!!! There were lots of recipes, projects, and inspirational pieces to get you in the holiday spirit!!!

DON'T FORGET: Sketches4All also has their Jingle Bells Blog Hop coming to you on Tuesday!!!! Stay tuned for more details!!!!

Any who... I'm here today to share a few projects I've been working on for a number of different reasons.  It's been non-stop around here lately and now that we're in December, it's only going to get busier!!!!

I am entering ALL OF THESE challenges in the current Friday Challenge over at Frosted Designs!!!! The current challenge gives you the following items for which you must use at least one of them on your project:

Tags

Paper layering

Washi tape

Flags/banners

Patchwork

Circles

Stitching

Stars

Flowers

Buttons 

Arrows

I made sure to include a couple of these items on all of my projects and highlighted them in RED throughout the post to make the items I chose easily visible!!!

"Believe In Christmas" with DCWV "Christmas Made" Holiday Stack

The first project I'd like to share with you is a holiday layout I made using photos from last year's Christmas Holiday.  I recently purchased the "Christmas Made" Holiday Stack by DCWV and have had sooo much fun playing with it :-)

We are currently hosting a DT Sketch Challenge over at Sketches4all using this amazing sketch by Brenda Ragsdale:

And here is my Christmas Layout:

Aren't these paper just AMAZING?!?  I absolutely LOVE them!!!! 

This is also my Inspirational Page for my Creative Monthly Project Challenge over at Colorful Creations!!!

 I began by turning the sketch a quarter turn clockwise and then got to work!!!!

I knew when I saw the sketch that I wanted to create a "paper tear" for the triangular "break" down the center of the page.  So, that's what I did!!!  Then, I just cut out various pattern papers from the stack and layered them on to follow the sketch.  Of course, I inked all the edges of pretty much everything on this page with "Old Paper" Distress Ink.  

I matted the photos on the red peppermint paper, then layered atop a piece of chipboard and pop-dotted it atop of the page.  I cut up a glittered pinecone that I had from last year and used those pieces, along with a little hot glue, to adhere them directly under the chipboard.  

Here's a look:

I finished it with various embellishments (including a rose button by The Girl's Paperie which was coated with Gold Leafing,  a circle "Merry Christmas" Sticker by Paper House Studios which I matted with a kraft scalloped circle die-cut,  a couple of die-cuts and a "Gather Together" tag by K&Company,  Webster's Pages "Christmas at Home" sticker,  Cosmo Cricket "Love You" wood pieces,  raffia ribbon, and other embellies by Recollections.    

 Here are other close-ups:

I truly LOVE how this layout turned out!!! And, I had a lot of fun making it!!!!  

"Sparkling Holiday" Handmade Christmas Card 

Another project I wanted to share is a Holiday Card I made for Rachelle's Anniversary Party challenge over at Sketches4All.  Her challenge is to create a project using mainly red and white, with a splash of green and couple of bells.  Since I've been on a roll making Christmas Cards lately I have soooo much "stuff" out that I knew I could get this done rather quickly.  

Here's a look at my card:

I used papers by Mod Podge and Recollections.  I fussy cut the trees from pattern paper and added them to the bottom.

 

All the papers were inked using the Festive Berries Distress Ink (which is one my FAVS for this time of year!!!) and then layered on!!!  I used my 2" Circle Punch to cut the star from the paper pad and used pop-dots behind it for dimension.  I stamped the Hero Arts sentiment on Ultra Smooth Premium White cardstock by Spectrum Noir, then cut it out and matted it on red,white, and green plaid paper.  I threaded gold ribbon through it for some "sparkle"!!!!  

I finished the card by adding two K&Company chipboard candy canes which I tied a green bow on and hung the bells from.  

Here's a close-up:

This card was very quick and easy, and it came out pretty cute as well!!! I think I have more than enough cards to mail out to family and friends now... But I'm sure you'll see some more in the upcoming weeks!!!! Hahahaha!!!!

Handmade "Monster High" Birthday Card: "Clawdeen"

Okay.... And the last thing to show you is a birthday card I made for my oldest daughter.  Her actual birthday is tomorrow!!! Although her party isn't until next weekend, we are still going to do a small celebration tomorrow (she has no idea!!!) so I thought I'd make a card that totally rocks!!!!

She is IN LOVE with anything Monster High right now, so the party is a Monster High Themed birthday party.  I made Monster High invites per her request, and used left over papers to make this card!!!! 

Here's a look:

I started by layering on various papers, and matting them all with solid black cardstock.  I used a "circles" embossing folder, "circle" Happy Birthday sentiment,  and a black "belt" with "gold circles" as well.  The girl "Clawdeen" was colored in using various Spectrum Noir Markers and Glitter Gel Pens.  I finished it with matted sentiments and a gold glitter star to go with the "Rock Star" theme!!!!

 This card was also entered into Jessica's Anniversary Party Challenge at Sketches4All where the challenge is to use circles on your project.

Well, gang.... As usual... Thanks soooo much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)

Soooo Much to Do... and Say!!!!

WOW!!! So I haven;t been around much the last couple of weeks... I fell ill and was literally out of commission for a bit... but I am BACK!!!!! And I have soooo much to share with you!!! I hope you'll stay for a bit and enjoy the show :-)

Enjoy the Journey

First on the list is a layout for this week's "Journey" Challenge over at Scrap your Story.  The challenge is to create a layout of a journey, mine being a recent trip to Grand Cayman with some of my family.  This is a picture of my father and I at a local beach.  This is my first out-of-country vacation EVER with my father and a treasured one at that!!! I also used this month's first sketch and color challenge from Sketches With Color.  Here is the sketch and color combo:

And here is my layout:

We haven't had much sun this week with Tropical Storm Andrea over our shoulders so the quality isn't fantastic but it will work :-)

I flipped the sketch 180 degrees to accomodate my photo.  Papers are by Cloud9 Design, SEI, and DCWV.  I also used real seashells from a trip to Picnic Island last year to dress up the layout!!! I added a piece of burlap for the trunk of the tree and stamped the sentiment from a Tim Holtz pack.  Oh, I wish were there again :-) Hahaha!!!! 

Father's Day Card Tim Holtz Style

Speaking of my father, I also created a Father's Day card for my NEW monthly Card Challenge over at 2 Broke Girls Challenges.  My challenge this month is to create a card using metal ( We all know it's one of my all time fav embellies!!!).  My dad is an avid hunter and sportsman so this was very fitting!!! Here is what I came up with:

The papers, buckle, and brads are by Tim Holtz, as are all the inks I used to "distress" the edges!  The stamp is actually a dollar stamp I purchased from Joann's quite some time ago.  I also used this card as my entry for the "Honor a Guy in Your Life" Challenge over at Sketches4All.  You merely need to create a card, layout, altered, or any other paper craft project that honors a guy in your life!! Easy, right?!?  

Fly Tag

Another challenge I host over at Sketches4All is my monthly Tag Challenge.  This month, you need to create a tag with some sort of pocket on it.  I had some "funky" papers lying around by DCWV that I couldn't wait to play with so I put them to good use :-)

Here is my tag :

Isn't this adorable?!?!?  I used several different papers and alphas, as well as stamps, flowers, and liquid pearls.  I mailed this to a friend that I haven't seen in some time to put a smile on her face :-) I included ten "tickets" in which I stamped the backs of with a "quote" or word, then filled in the front with details from our past!!! 

And lastly, I added a quote to the back which was perfect for our "relationship"!!! 

Very sweet!!!

She Dances to the Beat of Her Own Drum

Another of my challenges is my "Technique" Challenge over at 2 Broke Girls Challenges.  This month, your challenge is to create a project using mixed alphas.  I used SEVERAL different colors and fonts to really dress this up!!! Here is my page:

These papers are from a Recollections paper pack I've had for forever and never seem to be able to use.    This is my youngest daughter on a recent trip to Sea World where she used the drums as a resting spot while the rest of the family played them!!! Just like her mother, I swear!!!! Hahahaha!!!!! 

The alphas are from various brands, including K&Company, MME, The Girls Paperie, and Thickers.  I colored some of them to match the theme.  She's just so rotten!!! Hahaha!!!!

Dream Big

I also have my monthly challenge over at Colorful Creations where this month's challenge is to create a project using shapes.  That's right... Your basic elementary shapes... Circles, squares, hexagons, etc...  And really use them!!! I chose to stick with circles, and use the first June Sketch from 2 Broke Girls Challenges to complete my layout.  Here is the sketch:

And here is my creation:

I used papers by Cloud9 Design and punched several different circles out of them using various size circle punches.  Then I added several circle stickers with words, adding liquid pearls around them so they would "stand out".  The paper was actually plain and I added all the rub-on flowers on the corners for detail.  A strand of pearls also frames the photo but it is very hard to see here.  I was also excited to use my new MS punch to create the die-cut behind the photo, for which I also added liquid pearls around the leave "stems".  This is my oldest daughter when she was three years old.  Lovely isn't she?!?!?  

Sweet Fun using Dear Lizzy Neapolitan Collection

Okay... This is one of my MOST favorite layouts of all time!!!! I mean, that I've made anyway!!! I just LOVE playing with the Dear Lizzy paper line because it's just so sweet and, well, fun!!! 

I created this for my sketch over at Colorful Creation's Sketch A Thon last month.  I used an original sketch by Tabitha Triplett.. also one of my MOST favorite sketch "makers"!!! Any who, here is her sketch:

And here is my take on it:

Isn't it just too stinkin cute?!?!  I mean, not to toot my own horn but I LOVE how this turned out!!!! 

I flipped the sketch a quarter turn clockwise, then fussy cut a picture of my daughter from our recent trip to Jamaica and "placed" her inside the jar.  

I also used my mini heart punch and punched several hearts out from different papers from the collection.  I folded them in half and adhered them to the paper.  

I cut a sunburst using various papers from the collection, added coordinating ribbon, chipboard, and Polaroids.  The "fun" chipboard is by Heidi Swapp and the burlap flower from The Little Yellow Bicycle.  Finally, I added a few 3/16ths eyelets and threaded some paper string by Tim Holtz through the holes.  Voila!!! There you have it!! All my little secrets revealed... Hahahaha!!!!   

Well gang, I want to thank you sooo very much for stopping in... Stay tuned for a follow up post with tons of inspiration for card making!!! I've been super busy lately and still have so much to share with you!!! Have a LUCKY day :-)

SYS Challenge #8~ Stitching!

Happy Friday gang!!! It's that time again for another challenge over at Scrap Your Story.  If you haven't checked them out yet, please do so!  It's a wonderful challenge blog with weekly challenges and monthly prizes!!! Stop in and say hello :-)

This week's challenge is to incorporate stitching somewhere on your project.  Hand, machine, faux, or otherwise.  Since I'm not big on any type of "sewing" I decided on some faux stitching for this page.  This is my sister's LAST PAGE in her Senior Year Album and she's totally stoked to FINALLY be getting it!!! Although I would like to make a cover for it first :-)

Any who, here is what I've come up with.  I also combined this with the Guest Designer challenge over at Colorful Creations using the following sketch by Tabitha Triplett (one of my FAV sketch designers!!!!):

I flipped the page a quarter turn clockwise to accomodate my photos.  

Doesn't it just scream "my teenage years"!!!!!  Hahahaha!!! 

I started by using papers by DCWV "Glam Gal" paper stack.  The blue paper is from an old paper stack (can't remember by whom) and already had the polaroids on it.  I simply cut out the paper inside them and added photos!!! I included some banners (of course!) I cut out from coordinating papers, rub-ons by Scenic Route, and various pearls and bling!!!  I used a purple Souffle pen to create the stitched look around the blue paper.  Hope you enjoy :-)

Well my friends, thanks for stopping in and have a LUCKY day!!!

It's Amore!

Afternoon my nifty crafters!!! I have a quick page to share with you guys :-)

I FINALLY finished my page for my Creative Monthly Project Challenge at Colorful Creations that starts TOMORROW!!!! Hahahaha!!!! And... I decided to use the February sketch over at Cest Magnifique to complete it!!! Here's a look at the sketch...

 

Isn't is BEAUTIFUL?!?!?  I was so excited to play wit this one.  There is just so much detail! 

So after choosing the sketch I wanted to work with, I had to decide on what my challenge for the month would be.  And I decided DETAIL would be the challenge.  This sketch just gave me so much inspiration to add layer, upon layer, upon layer of papers, flowers, and embellishments.  Here is my final page...

 

 

Isn't it so pretty?!?!?  I wanted to do a "love" themed page so I decided on red, black, and white (one of my FAV combos to work with!).  I chose various pattern papers from the Bella Armoire stack by DCWV to make my page.  I found a chipboard circle in my stash and added strips of various red papers around it with mod podge.  Then I used my Cricut and my Oriental Iron 2 cartridge to create the black and white die-cut in the background.  After I got that down on the paper, I just started to play!  I used my new Spellbinders Spiral Blossom 2 die to make a couple of layered flowers, adding decorative pearls and brads to the center to finish them off.  Other flowers are by Recollections, aside from two Petaloo colorable flowers that I misted with Distress Stain and Perfect Pearls.  I also added two Prima buttons that I tied twine through.  The number squares in the corner by Basic Grey spell out "I Love You" in numbers :-)  The title "Amore" is by K&Company and I heat embossed it with Garnet embossing powder to match the color scheme.  Doesn't it look "lovely"?!?!?!?

 

Well my friends, thanks for stopping in... Have a LUCKY day :-)