Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge #4 - Coffee and Rainbows With Thermoweb!

Welcome back!  Happy April!  It's a new month and a new challenge over at Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge!  This month Thermoweb is our sponsor!  Play along with us for a chance to win a $30 gift code to Thermoweb!

The challenge is Rainbows (and Coffee of course!)  Just create a Christmas card that includes Coffee and some Rainbow!  Here's how I was inspired:

Did you know that Thermoweb has Toner Card Fronts??  I foiled one of the super cute rainbow card fronts and die cut the coffee cup from it.  I decided to use a green sparkly Deco Foil for my Christmas Card.   Did you also know that if you like to use acrylic paint with your gel press to make backgrounds, you can also foil those by layering foil and running it through your Minc or laminator.  I die cut my poinsettias from a foiled gel print.  The coverage isn't complete, so you want to use it when you don't care that you get a solid transfer and these flowers were perfect for that!  I used a red gel print along with the red foil.  I created a green panel as well and cut one set of poinsettias from that.  These are my favorite poinsettia dies from Rubbernecker Stamps but used the poinsettia centers from these also very lovely poinsettia dies from A Jillian Vance Design cause I think they're cool.  I'll be playing with foil on gel prints this month quite a bit so be sure to stop by!  And if you would like to see these in full sparkle, I have a video below!

I finished this one off with the Jolly word die from Lil' Inker (still miss them) and my all time favorite steam from A Jillian Vance Design!

That's me for today!  Be sure to head on over to the Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge Blog and see what everyone else has created too!  I can't wait to see what you create!  And huge thanks to Thermoweb for being our sponsor this month!

 

Caffeine Fueled Paper Play-I.O. Let's Have Lunch!

I'm up on the blog over at the Coffee Loving Cardmakers with some more Impression Obsession inspiration (along with a few other things!).  Hope you'll hop on over there for the details!  Here's a sneak peek!

Caffeine Fueled Paper Play The Challenge-Lil' Inker Designs!

Welcome to a new Caffeine Fueled Paper Play Challenge!  I'm up on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Blog today along with a few of my teamies and we're featuring some projects using products from long time hop Super Sponsor, Lil' Inker Designs!  I've used an adorable stamp set called Good Cheer!

Laura from Lil' Inker has decided to close up shop and we thought the best way to say thank you and best wishes would be to celebrate some of the caffeinated offerings from her shop!

I never visited the LID shop without seeing bunches of stuff I needed!  Adorable and beautiful stamp sets and fun dies... those scallop clouds are from Lil' Inker also!  They were good here for clouds and for snow mounds on the bottom!

I made all of the colors coordinate with that beautiful plaid... it makes me think of when I'd dress my kids in similar colors for the best looking scrapbook pages that I knew would eventually be made from the pictures...lol!

Hope you'll head on over to the CLC blog here and check out what everyone has created!  There is a link there to Laura's farewell post and it would be awesome if you haven't already if you would leave her some love to let her know she will be missed!  There is also a link to the shop where you can still find some great deals on some LID products (all that's left is 70% off!) and help clear out the shop... you know... if there's anything you need... (there is).

Here are a couple other LID projects I've made over the years:

This Super Coffee set is one of the prizes over at the CLC this month!

Plaid... cacti... coffee... 

I think this beautiful bird is still available in the shop!

Thanks for stopping and come again soon!

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas-January 2020

Happy New Year!  So Debra and I are at it again this year!  We were so happy with ourselves in 2019 for getting all of our Christmas cards made throughout the year that we're creating a card a week again in 2020 AND we have some wonderful crafty friends joining us!  For 2020, the so talented crafty dude, Michael Trent is joining us along with the ever creative and innovative Jessica Pickeral!  That's right!  You get four Crafty Elves for the price of two!  (Which is free!)  Without further ado, here's how I was inspired:

What do you do when it's January and you work in an accounting firm and you're losing your ever loving mind???  You make some quick cards using a beautiful stencil from Newton's Nook along with some big and awesome word dies from Paper Smooches and Lil' Inker Designs!

I made two of these pretty much the same.  I started with the stencil and some Nuvo glitter paste I've had around a while.  I decided pink was the color of the month... 'cause I love it!

I cut the Peace on Earth from Lil' Inker from white glitter paper once and then two more times from white cardstock and stacked them for dimension.  I used an old die from my stash for the background and all I needed to finish it up was a few sequins!

For the background on these two, I used the same stencil to apply some Deco Foil Transfer Gel and when it was dry, I ran it through my Minc with some Opal Deco Foil.  The Opal foil on white idea came directly from Paper Smooches Kim herself... it was so beautiful I just had to use it after seeing it on one of her cards.

The Opal foil is so pretty with an ever so slight tint of pink and blue it was perfect with the colors I used.  The banner die comes from Gina K Designs and I stacked the Big Old Snowflake and Joy from Paper Smooches in the center.  I cut the Joy once from white glitter paper and once from the Lagoon cardstock and switched the insides for two different looks.  A few more sequins and done!

I did make a couple more Christmas/Winter cards this month which if you visit often you may have seen.  First, this so handsome gnome from Paper Smooches:

If you had decided you wanted him, but couldn't get him because he was out of stock, you're in luck!  There's a fresh batch of Forest Whimsy stamp sets over in the Paper Smooches shop so you can get yours right now if you want!

And then I guess I was in a pink mood because there was this one too:

I don't think you can have too many different snowflake dies, do you?  And these from A Jillian Vance Design are beautiful!

So!  we have some unfinished business to attend to!  As you know each month I draw a name from the previous month's commenter's for the Crafty Elves post and we have a winner from December to announce!

Denise!  PM me your snail mail so I can get your Happy Mail out to you!

And yes, I'm doing it again this year!  This month's prize is going to be one of those lovely Peace on Earth dies from Lil' Inker.  You may have heard that she sadly (for us) is going to be closing down the shop and in preparation for that everything that's left is 70% off.  I was able to pick up some prizes for 2020.  You can find her post here about her decision to take her life in a different direction (and maybe leave some love) and the shop here if you'd like to help her clear out her inventory.  I wish Laura all the best in what she does next and sending love and hugs for what I'm sure was not an easy decision.

Whew!  Now be sure to head on over to Debra, Michael and Jessica's places to see what they've created for you today!

Double Trouble Challenge Blog Guestie - Challenge #36

I'm guesting this month over at Double Trouble Challenge Blog and it's time for a new challenge!  The Challenge is Round and Round.  Use something round on your project or create a round card!  And the twist should you decide to give it a try is to include something related to School.  And for even more chances to win, play along with the Tic Tac Toe Board over at Joy of Sets Challenge.

I covered all the bases... and here's how I was inspired:

I started with that Gingham plaid... of course I chose plaid... are you new here??  My second layer is a cool die from Lil' Inker Designs called Sunburst.  I believe it's retired now-so happy I got it before it was!

I went with the bottom row; plaid, red and school.  I added a circle using a Cottage Kutz die.

That adorable apple is from Lil' Inker as well and that cool chalkboard (easel) is from Paper Smooches.  The stars and face for the apple and sentiment are also from Paper Smooches.  And the A B C is from MFT.

I thought this would be a cute card to give to someone on their first day of school... either a kid or a teacher!

I'm also playing along over at Paper Smooches August challenge with a theme of School or Words!  I've got both!

I'm also playing along over at Kat Scrappiness where the challenge this month is "Back to School"!  Check it out!

Be sure to head on over to the Double Trouble Blog to check out what everyone has created for your viewing pleasure!  Get inspired and play along!

Petals for the Pittmans Fundraiser and Linky Party - Card 3

I've created another card today for the Petals for the Pittmans Linky Party!  If you'd like, you can check out my introductory post here and my second card here!  

Today's card is created with another one of the images available in a special and beautiful floral digital stamp set available in the shop over at Polka Dot Orchard.  There are actually two huge sets that are a collaboration of images by several different artists and companies and are part of a fundraiser for one of our fellow makers, Larissa Collins Pittman and her family, who are going through a very difficult time and have mounting medical bills.

You can read more about Larissa and her husband Gary here: Pittmans Go Fund Me.

Today I'm using an image donated by Crystal O. Minkler and a sentiment from Angie Blom.  Here's how I was inspired:

I love this sweet image by Crystal Minkler!!  And it was so much fun to give it a rainbow twist!  I decided to just have a simple white background, but gave it some interest using this die here!  

The hardest part is picking my colors that I think will go together and blend a bit without getting muddy... and do you think I'd keep track of what colors those were???  Well, of course not!..lol!  So next time I'll experiment again and it won't turn out the same, but maybe I'll find a happy surprise!  This combo made me happy...

And again, simple sentiment... this one from Angie Blom was perfect!  And this die here was just right to frame it!

You can play along with the linky party too!  Just create a new floral card and link it up at the Polka Dot Orchard Blog here and spread the word!  There are lots of prizes!  And if you would like to help, head on over to the Polka Dot Orchard shop to get one or both of these beautiful digital stamp sets!  Or just play along and spread the word! All proceeds from the sale of these images will go directly to the Pittmans to help with their medical bills.  Take a look at these awesome sets:

So we hope you'll join us and play along!  And come back soon!

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas-June 2019 Edition!

Welcome to the June edition of Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas!  This is a monthly post where my friend Debra Davison from Meticulosity and I share the Christmas cards we make each month of the year.  We agreed to do this so that by December, all of our cards will be done and all we have to do is drop them in the mail!  And it gives me a chance to use some of the awesome stamps and dies that I purchased around the holidays, instead of making them wait a whole year!

Here's how I was inspired:

I love pink and aqua for Christmas!  So I got out some old papers and some really cute stamps I hadn't used yet and used them!

You may or may not be familiar with the artwork and stamps by Andrea Gomoll and if you're not, you should become acquainted... you can find her here!  Of course I had to have the Wintertime stamp set that had a Coffee flavor... and guess what... lots of sets including this one are on sale right now!  

I decided all she really needed was a beautiful frame and this one from Paper Smooches was perfect!  And the Merry was cut using a die from Pretty Pink Posh... you can find that one here!

And then these sweet owls from My Favorite Things Warm and Feathered Hugs stamp set.  I decided it was the perfect time to play along with the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge!

I cut the top using a border die from Lil' Inker, the Border Builders Die set is here!

I created three cards using the sketch... sometimes it's nice to have a place to start!  I decided to use the leftover top piece from the first card on this one... it was a twofer!  And that double stitched circle is from MFT...it may not be available any more.. which would be silly because it's one of my faves!  And those cool Slanted Sentiment Strips from MFT were perfect for the sentiments with the stamp set!

That pink tree paper was my favorite one from the pack... I've been hoarding it 'til now...lol!

And here is the sketch:

So thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you enjoyed my Christmas cards!  And be sure to head on over to Debra's place and see what she's got for you!

Oh!  And I have a winner from last month's post!

Denise, send me your snail mail address and I'll shoot you some Happy Mail!

We're playing again!  Next month I'll draw a name from all of the comments on this post and send that person a small gift!

Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas - May 2019

Welcome to the May edition of Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas!  Each month on the 25th, my friend Debra Davison from Meticulosity and I are sharing the Christmas cards we made for that month.  We've made a pact to keep each other going making a Christmas Card a week so that at Christmas time, we're all done and only have to mail them!  So far so good!  It's May and we've both more than stuck to our commitment!  Without further ado, here is how I was inspired:

I'm starting with these adorable deer from Your Next Stamp's Oh Deer stamp set.  It's not really a Christmas stamp set, but these two deer are easily added to a Christmas card.  I used papers from Papertrey Ink's Wonderland Paper Collection, Evergreen Dies from Impression Obsession, Holly Leaf Cluster from I.O., Scribble Snowflake Die from CDD, Mini Snowflakes from Lawn Fawn,  Jingle All The Way Die from Kat Scrappiness, and the Nested Rectangle Small Stitch Dies from Rubbernecker.

I basically used a similar layout and just moved things around a bit.  I made the white sentiment stand out just a bit against the background by stacking it over a dark gray die cut.

I love this leaping deer...lol!  So sweet!

Don't tell Debra, but I decided to use this one with the butterfly on her tail and the flower on her ear on a Summery card!  The sentiment is from the Oh Deer set.  I stamped it on one of the wonderful Bannerific Dies from Paper Smooches.  I also used the Nested Circle Scallop w/Holes Dies from Rubbernecker.  That adorable fence is from Whimsy and I believe it's retired.  The grass is from Craftin Desert Divas and those beautiful flowers I borrowed from my mother... they're from Impression Obsession and a set called Spring Branches... and I will have a set as soon as possible.

With this one I'm playing along over at Your Next Stamp's Bi-weekly Challenge #114!  It's School's Out For Summer and you can create something with a School or Summer Theme... I went with Summer!

Next I turned to this fun set from The Cat's Pajamas called Fat Cat Christmas; I also used the Nested Deckle Rectangle Dies from Rubbernecker and Stitched Scallop Dies from CDD along with some of my other favorites listed above.

Just love these adorable sassy cats with their even sassier sentiments!

And that old plaid CTMH paper was just the ticket!

I'm playing along over at Double Trouble Challenge Blog... their challenge this time around is to use Kraft!  Check it out before you start because you there are extra chances to win if you meet a couple other requirements in your project!

And last but certainly not least... a Lil' Inker... on this one I used the beautiful and adorable 'Tis the Season stamp set and that cup from the Coffee Talk 2 Die Set cut from the Papertrey Ink birch patterned paper from the same pack I used for the first few cards above.

Another month of Christmas cards in the books!

And now for the winner for some Happy Mail from my April post:

Verna Angerhofer!  Email me at bzscrapper66 at gmail dot com with your snail mail address so i can get something in the mail to you!

Thanks so much everyone for visiting and letting me know you were here!  We'll do it again this month!  Leave me some love and I'll pick another name for my post in June!

Now be sure to head on over to Debra's blog and see what she's created for you today!