Long time no see ...

Hi all, in case you think I dropped off the edge of the world, nope.  I just dropped out of blogland for awhile.  I still have been busy crafting and hope to post what I have been up to for the last 3 months.  Here is a start, I teach cardmaking classes in and around where I live and these are the Christmas cards we made.  Hope you like them!

 

Christmas Doves

This beautiful image is part of a set called Christmas Doves sold at Prairie Fairy Designs.  I have chosen this image for the Use Kraft Paper challenge at Fairy Fun Fridays and love it.  What a beautiful image, the Fairy Queen has outdone herself yet again! 

Other challenges I am entering are:

Sparkles Challenge - Christmas

One Stitch At a Time - anything goes

Getting Crafty with Ann - anything goes, Christmas style

Order of the Opus Gluei - anything goes

The Crafty Pad - anything goes

I Did It Creations - anything goes

Aly's Sundy Challenge - anything goes

The Pink Elephant - Winter Wonderland

Craft Your Passion - Christmas

Paper Playtime - Christmas

Poinsettia Princess

Wow, it is really difficult to come up with names for the cards.  Elisabeth Bell's creations are so beautiful, I love working with them.  I am entering this square 5.5 x 5.5 card in the Whiff of Joy challenge 72 and Color Throwdown Challenge 85. 

Stamps:  Festive Winter Willow - Whiff of Joy
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Tsukineko Graphite Black
Paper:  Whisper White, unknown DSP
Accessories:  fabric ribbon tape, oval cutter, half pearls, Prisma flowers and leaves, copics, coloring pencils, blending stump and baby oil

Sparkle tonight

This card fulfills the requirements for entries at Susie and Vikki's Christmas Card Challenge 9 - Christmas Baubles, the ABC Christmas Card Challenge - G is for Glitz with optional extra silver, The Pink Elephant sketch challenge 59.  The ribbon is silver, I dragged the main image in silver ink and added EP for extra sparkle as well as the ornaments in the background are stamped and embossed with silver.

Stamps:  Ivy Christmas Tree - Greeting Farm, Tree Trimmings - SU
Ink:  Silver
Paper:  Brilliant Blue, Garden Green, Rose Red, More Mustard and Whisper White
Accessories:  heat tool, EP, ribbon, liquid applique and copics

Copics:
Tree G05, G07
Star Y15, Y17
Candy Canes R29
Decorations Y15, Y17, BG01, B32, B24, BV00, BV02, R27, B29, YR23, BV08, V17, R22
Trunk E29, E47
Skunk C5, C7, RV10, RV000, C1
Dress R29, R59, B29, B39, C1
Bows R29, R59

Christmas Blessings

Well I just discovered I am late on this sketch challenge as it was last week's sketch for Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge 103.  Oooh, I can't wait to be done my course so that I can focus on other things.  I finished this card just to get away from the books as I couldn't find what I was looking for as a quote for my essay.  Argghhh!!

Oh well I am not too late for the Copic Color Challenge 56, Simon Says Stamp Challenge - splash of green (my card doesn't really follow the St. Patrick's Day part but it is green) and   Susie & Vikki's Christmas Card Challenge 8 - presents and gifts, which I really had to scramble through my stamp stuff to find.  I used stamps images and present eyelets to complete this challenge.

Stamps:  Holiday Warmth and Ms. Holiday Cheer - CTMH
Paper:  Real Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White and CTMH DSP
Ink:  Tsukineko Graphite Black
Accessories:  eyelets, Waterfall Stickles, chit chat rub ons, star punch, mat pack (to measure out distance for eyelets) and copics

Copics:
Flesh E51, E53, RV10
Dress 100
Hat R29
Tree G05, G07, E37
Star Y15
Ornaments B12, BV02, RV02
Tree Skirt G02
Top Gift R29, B12
Middle Gift G02, BV02
Bottom Gift Y17, B24
Solo Gift G02, BG05, B29

My sense of humor

Well I am sure I will have some explaining to do (I Love Lucy Show) with this card.  I merged two digi images to get the effect I wanted.  The little girl is First Fallen Snow without snowflakes from Karen's Doodles and the lamp post is from a free digi image with a Dragon Caroler created by Dustin Pike.  A few adjustments in photoshop and wha-la this little girl has her tongue stuck to the lamp post.    I used crystal effects to make the lamp post shiny and figured that freezing her tongue to the pole would serve for the ABC Christmas Challenge - frosty.  I also dipped all of the snowflakes layered into a versamark pad and then sprinkled them with Iridescent Ice EP and heated it up for the frosted look. If that isn't enough frost I used Frosted Lace and Waterfall Stickles for the accents along the outside of the card.  I used liquid applique for the snow, then heated it up with a heat tool for the raised effect.  The fat white ribbon is recycled from a gift I received, the glitter is already explained with the frost and the image from Karen's Doodles was purchased this week so I consider that new stash.  All combined it works for the Bah Humbug Challenge 9 - Cool Combos.  I used the sketch from Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge 44 and the colors from Color Dare 59.  I hope you all can enjoy my warped sense of humor, as I don't relish this act on anyone, but we all know someone silly enough to try it.

Stamps:  First Fallen Snow (without snowflakes) - Karen's Doodles and Dragon Caroler - Dustin Pike
Ink:  Versamark
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Whisper White and unknown DSP
Accessories:  ribbon, 3 different snowflake punches, lots of glue dots, Waterfall and Frosted Lace stickles, crystal effects, liquid applique, Iridescent Ice EP and copics

Copics:
Flesh E51, E53, RV10
Hair E31, E33
Ear Muffs & Mitts BG01, BG05
Boots and Lamp post C5, C7
Coat BG15, BG23, E37, E47, E31
Candle Y17, YR23
Wreath G05, G07, R27

Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child

I used the sketch from Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge 23 but I didn't have room for 4 squares down the left side like the sketch showed as I really wanted to use these freebie digi images I got from Cuddly Buddly Crafts, I hope that is acceptable.  I even made the card 5.5 x 5.5 instead of my normal smaller card.  I used Kai in the Snow by Mo's Digital Pencil Too for the Mo's DP2 Challenge 21 - to use the following colors: blue; brown and neutral.  I embossed the background paper, use liquid applique and a heat tool for the snow and used Flower Soft for the pompoms of the snowsuit.

Stamps:  Kai in the Snow - Mo's Digital Pencil Too, Snowman - Cuddly Buddly Crafts
Paper:  Whisper White, Close to Cocoa and Brocade Blue
Accessories:  rhinestone brads, Swiss Dots EF - Cuttlebug, chit chat rub on, circle cutter, ribbon, liquid applique, heat tool, flower soft and copics

Copics:
Kai in the Snow
Flesh E51, E53, RV10
Toque, Scarf and Mitts B32, E31, E33
Snowsuit B23, B32, B24
Shoes E33, E37

Snowmen
Hat B23, B32, E33, E35
Scarf B23, B32
Nose and Buttons E53, E35
Snowflakes B32
Background B00
Border E37

Monochromatic Christmas

This card is my entry for Whiff of Joy Challenge 69 - Coffee and Cream for colors; Sketch Saturday Challenge 93 and Susie and Vikki's Christmas Card Challenge 7 - Hot Chocolate.  We will imagine that Herb is carrying hot chocolate in his teacup.  I used my Versamarker and colored in the designer paper and then put white embossing powder on it so that it would look more wintery as opposed to fall.

Stamps:  Herb with Teacup - Whiff of Joy
Paper:  Close to Cocoa, Whisper White and unknown patterned paper
Ink:  Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa and Tsukineko Graphite Black
Accessories:  sponge, circle cutter, white EP, Versamarker, ribbon, rhinestones and copics

Copics:
Towel E21, E29
Hat, Scarf and Mittens E33, E3, E37, E53
Cup E35, E47
Body and Head E53, E35

Covering all my bases with this entry

Well with this card I am eligible to entry many challenges, thankfully as my time seems at a premium lately.  The sketch is from Friday Sketchers Challenge 91, which worked beautifully with Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge of make a vintage angel Christmas card with a round focal point.  I hope oval works too.  I used Ranger Broken China distress ink and softened it with my aquapainter for the angel and added glitter and pearls for the Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge 92.  Topped it off by making it monochromatic for the Winter Wonderland Challenge 40 and tell me this isn't best suited to be given to a girl for Christmas so I am submitting this to Susie and Vikki's Christmas Card Challenge 6.

Stamps:  Angels - Inkadinkado, Many Merry Messages - SU
Ink:  Brocade Blue, Ranger Broken China Distress Ink
Paper:  Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue and unknown DSP
Accessories:  Flourish EF - SU, metallic rub ons, sponge, nestabilities, Iridescent Ice EP, half pearls and aquapainter

Winter Soft

Well this card is a little softer in colors as I used Splitcoast's Color Challenge 258 to use Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Soft Suede and a Neutral.  I was scant on the Soft Suede but I used it in her hair, the brads, a little in the ribbon and the shadow of the snowflake.  This little cutie from Sugar Nellie is called Snowflake.  I am not entirely happy with the final outcome especially the punched corners on the back layer but the sketch at Winter Wonderland 39 called for something and I was stuck.  I also qualify for Cute Card Thursday 101 - Ribbon-tastic.

Stamps:  Snowflake - Sugar Nellie
Paper:  Pale Plum, Soft Suede, Whisper White, SU DSP
Ink:  Tsukineko Graphite Black
Accessories:  ribbon, MS corner punch, snowflake punch, flower soft, brads, Snowflake EF - Cuttlebug, metallic rub ons and copics

Copics:
Dotted Areas V000, V12, BV04
Coat and Hat BV02, BV04
Flesh E51, E53, RV10
Hair E71, E47
Boots C3, C5
Pants C3, C5, C7

Christmas Morning

This little cutie enters me for 3 challenges:  Sketch Saturday 91; Fab's Big Christmas Cards 7 - poinsettia; and Susie and Vikki's Christmas Club Challenge 5 - holly.  I flipped the image, hope that is okay. Sorry I haven't posted for a little bit this is a very busy week for me, it is like spirit week at my kids school and the families are very involved.  I fed 14 for lunch and provided all of the afternoon activities today.

Stamps:  Christmas Honey - Sugar Nellie, Christmas Time - Itzie Inkies Stamp set
Paper:  Glorious Green, Whisper White, unknown DSP
Ink:  Crushed Curry, Glorious Green and Tsukineko Graphite Black
Accessories:  corner rounder, poinsettias and leave - Prima, brads, modern label punch, sponge, copics

Copics:
Flesh E51, E53, RV10
Hair E37, E47
Nightgown and Bow G000, G00, G02
Holly G07, G17
Berries R29
Bell Y17, YR23, E31, E33
Bear E33, E35, E31, Y17, YR23
Shadow C1

Sweet Kisses

This card enters me in the Friday Sketchers Challenge 89, Susie and Vikki's Christmas Card Challenge - Digital Christmas and the Pink Elephant Challenge 54 - ribbon.  I used the coloring pencil tutorial for the skunk couple and colored the outfits et al with copics.

Stamps:  Laurie Bertie Mistletoe - Greeting Farm, my first digi from them
Paper:  Bashful Blue, Whisper White and unknown DSP
Ink:  Bashful Blue
Accessories:  sponge, ribbon, coloring pencils, blending stump, baby oil and copics

Copics: 

Bows, Berries, Hearts & Shirt R29, R59
Scarf B23, B32
Hat E11, E21, B23
Ears RV000
Leaves G05, G07
Shadow E33

1 card 4 challenges

I cover a lot of bases with this one card, the sketch is from Paper Craft Planet Sketch Challenge Feb. 6, this card qualifies for Digitial Tuesday Challenge 45 - All About Animals, the ABC Christmas Challenge - D is for Decorations, Susie and Vikki's Christmas Card Challenge 4 - Christmas Trees.  I used the fur coloring technique that I learned on Crissy's blog.

Stamps - Decorating the Tree - Prairie Fairy, Holiday Warmth - CTMH
Paper:  Real Red, Whisper White, unknown DSP, Bazzill metallic paper
Ink - Whisper White
Accessories:  MS ornament border punch, Gold, Xmas Red and Frosted Lace Stickles, Iridescent Ice EP, heat tool and copics

Copics:
Cat Fur C1, C3, C5, C7
Tree G05, G07
Cat Ears and Nose RV13, RV21, C5
Hat R29, R59
Star Y08
Shadow C3

MOJO 124 & CCC3 Challenge Entry

The theme for Susie & Vikki's Christmas Card Challenge 3 this week was non-traditional. Well I can't tell you how many different things I considered for this but I agreed with Corry and thought it was best that I should use a Prairie Fairy Digital Stamp image for this as she is hosting the prize for this week's entry and she is an awesome friend. In looking through all of her fantastic images I was befuddled and just couldn't wrap my head around the non-traditional Christmas card, other than colors and that didn't seem to be the way I was headed in my thought process (you don't want to go down that scary road).

I decided to mix two non Christmas images into a non-traditional card, I used Sorry Roo and Blooms. Roberta gave us a great photoshop tutorial not that long ago and I used it over and over again for this card. I believe she would be very proud of me, because let me tell you when she first tried to show this method to me, it didn't compute. I took the blooms flower and layered it to look like a poinsettia and then surrounded Roo with it. I then printed 4 other layered blooms of varying sizes to use on the card. I cut a line under Roo's paw to hold the one flower; pop dotted the other little one to look like it fell from the pot by our bad kitty using the pot for a litter box; and the two larger blooms were cut along one side of the petal, bent up toward the center and then the petals were curved under to give it extra dimension. I used pop dots between the flowers as well. I also colored my poinsettias in a non-traditional white with pink highlights.

When I saw the sketch at Mojo Monday 124 this week it lent itself to my plan and wha-la, here is my entry.

Stamps: Sorry Roo and Blooms - Prairie Fairy Digital Stamps

Paper: Glorious Green, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White and unknown DSP

Accessories: ribbons, pop dots, half pearls, distressing tool and copics

Copics:

Poinsettias RV10, RV13

Pot G05, G17

Roo E08, E37, RV2, C5

Shadow C1, B00

CCC2 Entry

I deliberately over how to do this card several times, as the theme at Susie and Vikki's Christmas Card Challenge 2 is gingerbread. Well I don't have a gingerbread stamp of any kind and was unprepared to buy one.

Then Lori smartly requested Prairie Fairy to create one. Well Prairie Fairy created not one but two digi images and I thought I was set. As I was too impatient to wait and get the images from Roberta myself as I was on a roll yesterday and wanted to complete my card challenges I googled gingerbread and found this image. Once I found the picture I liked I then had to decide how I was going to make it.

I should probably do a tutorial on this as most of it was done with punches. Anyone sincerely interested in the details please let me know and I will think about doing a tutorial as it would be my first online one.

Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Garden Green, Real Red, Crushed Curry, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery and Welcome Neighbour DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: white gel pen, Real Red marker, Crystal Effects, sponge, 5 petal flower punch - EK Success, small heart punch - Marvy Uchida, something goo border punch - Martha Stewart, 1/8" circle hand punch - EK Success, 1/4" circle hand punch, Modern Label punch, Double Rectangle punch, Full Heart punch, Jumbo Snowflake punch, Corner Rounder - all SU, metallic rub ons, Distress EF - SU

FS85 Challenge & Christmas Card Challenge 1

Well definitely not a traditional Christmas card but great for those snow birds that like to fly south for the winter. The colors went with the Mexican theme as opposed to a Christmas theme. This card follows the sketch at Fridays Sketchers Challenge 85 and is my first Christmas card for the 2010 year qualifying for the snow theme at Christmas Card Challenge #1

Stamps: Feliz - Dustin Pike, Artsy Edges - Hampton Art

Ink: Basic Black and Bermuda Bay

Paper: Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and Whisper White

Accessories: 1 3/4" circle punch, scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1" circle punch, 3/4" circle punch and 1/4" circle punch, pop dots, crystal effects, copics, stickles, yellow, orange and turquoise half pearls, sponge, SU Dusty Durango and Bermuda Bay markers and ribbon

Copics:

Snow B32

Cactus YG63, G99

Pot E08, E37

Lights RV29, G05, B29, Y17

Maracas YR04, YR07, E35, E37

Hat YR04, YR07, E35, E37, Y15, BG15

Nose YR04, YR07

Star Y15

Poncho BG15, BG23

Tongue RV29

Shadow B00

New Friend MM120, CBC24, CCT94 & CCC46 Challenges

This card is to be for my entries in the Mojo Monday 120 Sketch Challenge, Copic Buzz Challenge 24, Cute Card Thursday 94 and the Copic Color Challenge 46.

This card is nothing close to my norm, I really stretched outside the box. I have difficulty using much patterned paper although I love to see it on other people's cards, I struggle in putting it together myself. On this card, there are 4 different types of patterned paper.

Secondly, anyone who has seen much of my work knows that I love working with bold, bright, rich colors while this card is soft and demure. I hope everyone likes this attempt.

This cutie is from a new digital stamp company called Prairie Fairy that should be up and running by the end of this week. Stamp: Little Birdie by Prairie Fairy
Paper: Bashful Blue, Handsome Hunter, Whisper White and unknown DSP
Accessories: ribbon, pearls, nestabilities, scallop border punch, copics

Copics:
Snow B32
Toque G02, G14, G07
Nose YR04
Arms E37
Bird R29, 100
Buttons 100
Shadow B02

Happy New Years

A closer view to see the Flower Soft.

We don't leave until the middle of the night tonight and my creative juices were flowing. I colored this stamped image awhile back and just put it together for a card, the sketch 119 at Mojo Monday seemed to lend itself to this image.

Stamps: Bearly Swooshin' - High Hopes, Beautiful Things - CTMH

Ink: Baja Breeze, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac and Basic Black

Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst and SU DSP

Accessories: Flower Soft, Rhinestone, sponges, Nestabilites Labels 5, circle cutters, 2 snowflake punches, satin ribbon, pop dots, copics

Copics Used:

Scarf and Toque R29, R59, BV04, BV13

Mitts BV04, BV13

Poles C3, C5, E33, E35

Nose C5, 100

Skis and Goggles B24, B63

Shadows C3, C1, B12

Cheeks RV02

Last of my Christmas Cards

Well as I needed to start fresh, I made 55 Christmas cards this year to get delivered. I felt rushed as I normally have my cards out by the first week of December, but oh well, they are done and I am pleased with them.

This card was a work in progress, I didn't have a pine branch stamp so hand drew the branches in after sponging with Mellow Moss and Garden Green. Then the stamp needed some work as it looked really plain in just the Basic Black ink so I dressed it up with coloring in the "J" border with a marker and then outlining the scrolls with a metallic blue gel pen. I wanted my ornaments to stand out so I ran them through the EF, but didn't decide until after that I needed silver tops. If I did it again, I would use my sponge daubers before I ran them through the EF.

Stamps: Illuminations - SU
Inks: Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss and Garden Green
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, I used a variety of colors for the ornaments as I used up scraps, in this pic I used Real Red and Almost Amethyst
Accessories: pop dots, Bashful Blue marker, Garden Green marker, sponges, metallic blue gel pen, metallic silver gel pen, ruler, a variety of Cuttlebug EFs and Adirondack Silver Metallic Sponge Dabber

I chose to show you two pics this time as I wanted you to see the variety in the melted crayon background I had. I tried to make the backgrounds look like northern lights, I was fairly pleased with the outcome, 4 crayons later as I made ten cards of this type.

Stamps: A Hug for Ike - Whipper Snapper

Paper: Whisper White and Ballet Blue

Inks: Tsukineko Brilliance Graphite Black

Accessories: Night of Navy marker, copics, wax crayons, heat tool, ribbon, icicle border punch

Copics:

Beak YR07, YR16

Penquin C7, 100

Nose C7, 100

Feet Pads RV000, BV23

Shading of Bear C1

Snow B32

Shadow B00

Newest Christmas cards

This card is for the Scottish members in our family. The colors are as close to the family tartan as I could get.

Paper: Brilliant Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Glorious Green, Bashful Blue and Tsukineko Brilliance Graphite Black
Stamps: CTMH - Holiday Warmth, Ms. Holiday Cheer & Just for the Holidays, Greeting Farm - Ian Laddie
Accessories: copics, pop dots, Stickles for the holly berries, silver gel pen, gold gel pen, sponge

Copics:
Tree
Ornaments YR23, B29, R29
Trunk E08, E37
Foliage G05, G17

Swag
Greenery G05, G17
Bow R29, R59

Ian Laddie
Flesh E51, E53
Hair E37, E47
Tam and Sporn B29, B39
Shadow C1
Kilt, Sash and Hat Band B29, B39, R29, R59
Tie R29, R59

This is a gate card.

Stamps: CTMH - Just for the Holidays, Whipper Snapper - Baby Jesus and Mary
Ink: Basic Black, Almost Amethyst Tsukineko Brilliance Graphite Black
Paper: Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant, unknown DSP and Whisper White
Accessories: copics, sponge, pop dots, circle punch and scallop circle punch

Copics:
Flesh E51, E53
Hair E37, E47
Lips RV000, R02
Baby Jesus' Clothes B60, B63
Mary's Robes E29, E71, BV04, BV08
Shadow BV00

My die cut card.

Stamps: CTMH - Just for the Holidays
Paper: Crushed Curry, Garden Green, Real Red and Whisper White
Ink: Bravo Burgundy and Basic Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug Textile EF, circle punch, scallop circle punch, Liquid Pearls, sponge, ribbon

Hope you enjoy my newest additions!!