Christmas in (almost) July

I try to make Christmas cards all year so I am not even more crazy come December.  Here is one of my latest.  

The Momenta dies are not the easiest ones to line up.  The berries didn't work out so well, so I topped them off with some Stickles.  No mistakes, just an opportunity for Embellishment!  I based the card off of the CAS(e) this Sketch:

I was particularly inspired by Jen Mitchell's card!

Stand Tall, Darling!

I spent WAY too much time on this card!!  It too me forever to figure out the colors to layer for the flamingo, then the layout gave me fits.  But I love the result!

I based the card on this sketch from Try Stampin On Tuesday:

Be sure to check out their challenge, there are some fabulous inspiration cards!

Pastel Happiness

Playing around with Distress Inks this week.  They blend so nicely!!  

I inked a stripy background, then cut it into one inch diagonal squares.  Love how it looks layered on the grey base.  I tried die cutting the happy in the same grey, but it blended in too much.  The black pops nicely!  Sharing with The Color Throwdown #599:

Thanks - Clean and Simple

Making one layer card is a real stretch for me.  The more layers, the better!  The Paper Players has a CAS thank you card. 

Kaleidoscope Caribbean Sea ink array for the color column, but I am clueless as to the stamps. Any ideas? 

Gift Tags

I make gift tags to give to family and friends.  I use up my scraps and they get something useful.  Plus, they need more every year!!  Everyone wins!

Merry Tags dies from SU!  Scarps of black and white glitter paper, organza ribbon.   Sharing with The Jingle Belles shaped card challenge.  Hey!  No one said that it had to be a greeting card!!!!

SOS - UFOs

Shopping Our Stash is a challenge meant to encourage using up what is in our stockpile.  The prompt to create something out of a UFO (Unfinished Object).  Great push to thin out an overflowing basket.  

I included a picture of what I pulled out of the basket.  I think I set it aside because I could see a few glue spots.  I need to be less critical of my work - no one looks as closely as I do!!!  Amy Butler paper, Simon Says sentiment, SU ribbons.  I made another 6 cards using UFOs I found in my basket!!  

A Sketch Challenge

I am terrible are mixing prints unless I take them from the same paper set.  Check out these papers from Love Nicole:

Love the patterns, too bad the subtle texture on the background didn't show well in the picture.  I really like this sketch from Try Stampin' On Tuesday.  Great for making multiples for Cards for Soldiers.  

Hello, Beautiful!

I love this fun sentiment from Simon Says:

I used the color combination of turquoise, kraft, and white suggested by Just Us Girls, and applied them to Mojo Sketch #539:

The background paper is from Love Nicole.  I had to back the mulberry paper with a strip of white, and the background pattern showed through too much.  I embossed the banner with a Darice falling now folder to add a little texture.  

Mirrored Circles

I was gifted a bag of circles die cut from silver metallic paper.  Perfect to use for The Paper Girls Circles Challenge.  

Quite a challenge to photograph!  Came out looking like the circles are white :(.  I added a medallion stamped with an old Just Rite stamp and die dut with the coordinating Spellbinder die.  

Frame It!

Just Us Girls has a challenge to use a frame.  I decided to use 2!

SU! sentiment, Paper Studio Mint to be Fab paper, Sizzix dies, stash ribbon.  Love this!!  Check out the JUGS challenge this week:

Put A Ribbon On It

The Jingle Belles have a Tie a Holiday Ribbon on the Christmas Tree challenge.  I have more ribbon than I could use in a lifetime, and I love using it as a background like this:

I used a Spellbinder tree die, and textured the top layer with an old Fiskars texture plate.  I like playing along with the Christmas challenges - helps me stay ahead of the Christmas rush!

Sunshine or Sunburst?!?

The Paper Players has a Sunshine & Rainbows challenge.  Maybe not sunshine, but a sunburst:

Bazzill paper scraps, Simon Says and old Fiskars sentiments. 

Not exactly sunshine, but will a sunburst work?!?

Fun Fold Card

I haven't used my Triple Circle Card Making Die in a long time, and thought it was perfect for the Try Stampin On Tuesday challenge:

Older Bazzill patterned paper, some smaller die cuts, and a pretty pink, grey and cream color palette make for a great love card.  I think it answers the sketch nicely:

Tic Tac Toe

Needing way too many sympathy cards lately.  Cheery Lynn die cut, old Fiskars plate for the subtle background embossing, Unity sentiment, matte silver paper, stash ribbon.  

Sympathy, Die Cut, and Silver, straight across and in the middle, Tic, Tac, Toe!

Mixing Patterns

I’m not very confident when it comes to mixing patterns. My projects generally look like a toddler tried to dress themself. In the dark. So the challenge this week from Just Is Girls to include 2 or more different patterned papers made me break out in a sweat. But I tried anyway.

I die cut the letters from a doodlebug rainbow petite print pad, embossed the background, and heat embossed an old SU sentiment. Not sweating any more, but not sure I’m happy with the placement.

Trick or Treat (a bit early!)

A lot of my projects are donated to Cards for Soldiers, and must be shipped out months in advance.  I am working on fall cards now that summer is here!

I inked the background with Distress Oxides, and layered the die cut over the inking.  Anyone recognize the die cut?  I bought it as part of a lot, and it wasn't labeled.  Sharing with The Male Room's Landscapes Challenge.