Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas 2019 - Christmas Carols, Day 1

Tag for Day 1 - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

I decided to play along with Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas 2019.

I am in a creative slump (actually, overwhelmed and don't know where to start!) and challenges help to get me motivated and to get things done.

The theme this year is Christmas Carols. Each day a different designer is sharing a tag to go with a a favorite Christmas Carol.

Day 1 is Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and the designer is Therese Calvird

So, this tag is inspired by her Day 1 creation and choice!

p.s. If you follow the links I shared, be sure to watch Therese's video. She has a great sense of humor!

 Note: I've been seeing a lot of 'white ink on craft paper' projects lately, and decided to use this as my color combo.


Supplies:
Stampin Up: Reindeer Stamp
All other stamped images: Cocoa Daisy Stamps
Stampin Up White Craft Ink
Gina K black Amalgam Ink
Red Sharpie Pen
Black Sharpie pen
Tag die: Lawn Fawn

Monochromatic Card - SSS Monday Challenge

I made this card for the September 16th  Monochromatic Challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  Obviously, I didn't make the deadline.

I chose to use 'white' as my main color.  Looking at the other cards, I am wondering how people define 'monochromatic'. I thought you had to use one color family.

Anyway, it was a great motivator to get a birthday card made for one of my sisters, and to get it in the mail along with a gift before her birthday this coming Monday. Ta da! Mission Accomplished.

Looking at it now, it could be a winter scene.

Winter? We are just now transitioning into fall, having said goodbye to our beloved summer this past weekend. Sniff.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: White, textured white: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: Stampin Up (I'm pretty sure! My stash is pretty old!)
Dies: Countryside Circle by Memory Box (2016), and Happy Birthday by Simon Says Stamp (2015)
Pop up foam to raise the top panel. There are three layers to this card (base, patterned paper, top panel). Four, if you then count the sentiment on top.  

Yes, all my supplies for this card are older!  Still love them:)

Thanks for looking.

Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge "Bling It On" and Stamping Bella

Stamping Bella 'Sposabella'

Closer look at pearlescent chalk and glitter

Another close up shot

I'm home with a cold. So, after a nice long nap, I got restless and decided to create a card for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge,'Bling it On' which is showcasing Stamping Bella.

Side note: I have a great collection of 'older' Stamping Bella stamps! Going through them put a smile on my face. They are so adorable. :)

For the 'bling' I used:
Pebbles Inc. Pearlesent chalk - a layer on top of her dress
Doodle Bug Design Inc. Sugar Coating Glitter - on her bouquet and bottom of dress
Prima Marketing sequins in upper left and lower right corner

Other Goodies:
Stamp: Stamping Bella 'Sposabella'
Dies: Simon Says Stamp SSSD111373
Patterned Paper: Carta Bella Fall Market line
Copic markers
Gina K Amalgam ink

This little card just make me happy.

September Paper Smooches Challenge - Sketch

I wanted to play with a new die from Paper Smooches and for motivation I created a card for this month's sketch challenge. I also needed a couple of thank you cards to send off to my gracious hosts for when I visited California last month. This one is heading to Millbrae:). My beautiful Aunt and Uncle hosted an unforgettable lunch at the Palace Hotel for my longtime bestie and I when we went into San Francisco to see Hamilton the Musical.  Oh my goodness.  The hotel is lovely, the meal was spectacular and my Aunt and Uncle? They are the most loving and genuine people I know. I am so lucky to have them in my life! 

Here's the sketch:

September Challenge Sketch

 And, here is my card:

Thanks Ever so much!

I love this die!  I paper pieced the flower and glued down each little piece using Gina K connect glue. 
Supplies:
Sentiment: (I cut the 'thanks so much' a part): Paper Smooches - Pretty Phrases
Die: Paper Smooches Rad Roses. Cut four times - black, polka dot blue and the greens
Patterned Paper: Honey Bee The Bee's Knees (flowers and background)
Card Stock: American Crafts (Black); DoubleMates (Greens)
Ink: Black amalgam ink: Gina K; White Craft: Stampin Up

Thanks for visiting!

August 2019 Paper Smooches challenge - Words

Paper Smooches August Challenge

Andi's August Entry - Make Today Great

Good Morning!

Last weekend I finally got to play with some of the newer Paper Smooches Dies and Stamps.
And, here I am, one week later, uploading one of my cards for the Paper Smooches August challenge 'Words'.

It takes me a while to post, due to working full-time,  managing a house on my lonesome, yard work, playing in my garden, and gosh darn it... this past Monday, taking my oldest to the airport 2 hours away so she could go back to school... 3,000 miles away. Sniff.  

OK. Back to the card....

I LOVE the PS Cuppa Sunshine dies and Sunnyville stamps! On my crafty desk right now are about six different die cut cups, all waiting to be assembled.

And, this sentiment 'Make Today Great'? As a morning person, it is my mantra, that and a good cup of joe.  

Supplies Used: 
Stamps: Sunnyville 'coffee steam' and sentiment.
Dies: Two different cups from the Cuppa Sunshine set.
Patterned Papers:  I used four different sheets from the Honey Bee 'The Bees Knees' 6x6 pad. Soooo cute!
Adhesive: Gina K Connect Glue (for the small/delicate pieces), Tombo tape runner for the bigger pieces.
Card Stock: Black: American Crafts; White: Neenah Solar 80#
Ink:  Momento Tuxedo black
Misti stamping guide


Notes:

The cup was made by cutting four different patterned paper designs, and a sold black.
Sentiment was stamped three times, to cut a nice dark image.

 Back to the sentiment:
I've been up since 4am. It's how I am wired! So far I have: washed dishes, slugged down 1 cup of coffee, tossed sheets in the dryer, and made this post. Ta Da! Just don't ask me to do these things after 8pm. Nope. Not going to happen. At night, I am a zombie and shut down..

And, now it is 5:43 am. So, off I go, to make today great!

No Stamping SSS Wednesday Challenge - Feb 20 2019

Two Cards Using Two SSS Dies

Dies Used:  SSS Woodland Tree and Happy Birthday

** Edited 4.5 hours later**  I found the dies! Pictured above:)



I know.. it's been over a year since I blogged!

With the ease of posting on Instagram and FB right from my phone this poor place has been dormant. Plus, well, last year was not one for much sharing, in terms of here.  It was a very crazy year with 'recovering' and changes.  But life is back on track now!  I guess you could say 2018 was the year of reflection.  My apologies.  However, thanks to the Wednesday card challenge over at Simon Says Stamp, I am dusting off the blog, and hopefully I will be here more often. 

The Feb. 20th Wednesday Challenge is to not use a stamp, and to use SSS products. So, here you have it.  I made two cards.  And, I set those darn dies somewhere and can't find them! 

I also tried using some ink blending with distress inks on the 2nd card, but had a 'mess' from the glue I used to put down the sentiment at top.  Hence, the black touch ups. Sigh...

Thanks for stopping by!

ps.  I think the first tree needs something, perhaps a bird added to it.  I'll work on that!  Funny what you think of when you can see your work in a photo!


If I find those dies, I'll come back and edit this post.

2017 - 12 Tags of Christmas WAFT - Day 8: Sketch

My Day 8 Tag

Here is my entry for the 12 Tags of Christmas With a Feminine Twist, Day 8, which is hosted by Ellen Hutson at The Classroom Blog.  The Day 8 challenge is to use a sketch provided by Lisa Adametz.

So, for my tag, I liked Lisa's use of snowflakes on her background, as well as the stripes at the top and bottom.

I loved the die that Jill used for the stripes at the bottom of her tag. I am going to add the set to my wish list.  It's a snowflake border!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Snowman: Paper Smooches; snowflake: Hero Arts; Sentiment & scarf: Cocoa Daisy.
Washi tape:  Cocoa Daisy
Inks: Ranger Archive inks; Copics.
Tag die:  Lawn Fawn

Phew.  I am going to call it a night after this one.  My body is telling me 'enough' and it is time to rest.

Thanks for stopping by!

2017- 12 Tags of Christmas WAFT - Day 7: Pink, Mint and Gold

Day 7: Pink, Mint and Gold

Here is my Day 7 tag for the 12 Tags of Christmas With a Feminine Touch challenge over at Ellen Hutson's The Classroom Blog.

For this one, we are to use the colors pink, mint and gold.

I was inspired by Elana's mint background, as well as how Heather tied her ribbon on her tags.

Supplies:
Stamps:  Paper Smooches (tree shaped sentiment, star and base of tree)
Ink:  Ranger Archiver Ink, and Colorbox (gold)
patterned paper:  Stampin' Up
Die: Lawn Fawn
Ribbon and cord: Stampin' Up

Only three more days to go to get caught up!

12 Tags of Christmas WAFT - Day 6: Green, Purple, Grey

Day 6 of the 2017 12 Tags of Christmas WAFT Challenge over on Ellen Hutson's The Classroom, is to use the colors green, purple and grey.

I was inspired by Kittie's technique of coloring her own tag, which is what I did for my purple background on each tag. 

I'm getting into production mode and starting to crank these babies out - somewhat the same style as the previous post, just mixing up the colors etc.

Supplies Used:  
Ranger Archiver inks
White Uniball Pen (for snow on left tag)
Stampin' Up patterned paper
Stamps:  Greeting on left tag: Paper Smooches; greeting on right: Hero Arts; tree: Lawn Fawn; garland on right: Cocoa Daisy
Dies: tag, tree and hillside:  Lawn Fawn
Washi tape: Cocoa Daisy
Ribbon: Stampin Up

OK!  On to the next challenge!  Trying to catch up to day 10.

12 Tags of Christmas WAFT 2017: Day 5 - Snow

Two 'Snow' Tags for Day 5

 
Today's tags are for the 2017, Day 5,  12 Tags of Christmas With a Feminine Touch challenge over at Ellen Hutson's Classroom.

I was inspired by both the Day 5 designers. First, Carissa Wiley made 'fake' snow on her tag, and then Eloise Blue created a white foreground with a die.

My 'fake snow' was made using a white uniball pen on the trees and for the background snow. And, for my 'snow' foreground I used a Lawn Fawn die.

Supplies:
Die and tree stamp & tree die:  Lawn Fawn
Sentiment stamp:  Hero Arts
Patterned paper, white card stock and ribbon:  Stampin' Up
Ink:  Ranger Archival Ink
White Uniball Pen
Sequins:  Cocoa Daisy November Kit
Copic marker for tree base

Have a great Sunday.  We are socked in again with a cloudy/foggy inversion. 

12 Tags of Christmas WAFT - Day 4, Watercolor

Tag with two layers

Bottom Layer

Two Part Tag - Vellum and Water-Color paper

The two layers side by side

Yes, I am on a roll!

This tag was inspired by both Laurel Beard and Sandy Allnock from the Day 4 post of the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist 2017 challenge going on over at Ellen Hutson's the Classroom.

Inspiration:  I liked Laurel's use of a 'non-tag' shape.  For mine, I used a Lawn Fawn oval die cut with water color paper, and vellum. And, I liked Sandy's use of vellum as a top layer to her water-colored image. I also used a 'house' image, which both ladies did with their tags.

Supplies:
Die: Lawn Fawn
Strathmore water color paper
Vellum, stamped images (wreath, string of lights, Santa, sentiment): Stampin' Up
Ranger Distress inks used to watercolor house
Copics for grey shading
 Ranger Archival inks used for sentiment, wreath, lights and Santa

 Thanks for visiting!

12 Tags of Christmas WAFT - Day 2 Silver and Gold

Day 2 - Silver and Gold

Here is my day #2 tag for the 12 Tags of Christmas With a Feminine Twist challenge.
This challenge is hosted by Ellen Hutson on 'The Classroom' blog. 
I was inspired by Keeway Tsao's simple and elegant designs in her two ornaments.

For this challenge, all we had to do was use silver and gold.  Ta da!

Supplies:
Tag Die:  Lawn Fawn
Gold glitter tree, patterned paper, ribbon and cord: Stampin Up
Silver and Gold Stars, sentiment sticker:  Ali Edwards (DD stash)

This tag was quick and easy!

Thanks for stopping by.

12 Tags of Christmas WAFT - Day 1

View of the Various Layers

My Dimensional Star Tag

And, listening this on Pandora while crafting the day away

There's another challenge going on - one that has me motivated to crank out Christmas Tags for gifts. I consider this a 'win-win'. You know, when you have things on your list to get done but need a little push?  The challenge is the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Femine Twist and is hosted by Ellen Hutson over at 'The Classroom'.

My tag today was inspired by Jennifer McGuire who for Day 1 shared a video on using a die to make a dimensional tag. 

And thus, the layered star tag!

Supplies Used:
Dies:  Tag from 'Tag You're It', by Lawn Fawn; Star from Stars #2, by Sizzix
Stamps:  Sentiment and little gift from Hero Arts CL343 Holiday Sayings (back from 2009!) 
Patterned Papers and ribbons: Stampin' Up

It's cold out. A snow storm is coming in and I have no motivation to go outside to put up my Christmas Decor.  Perhaps tomorrow. Right now just taking it easy and enjoying puttering around the house.

Thanks for stopping by!

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Christmas Tag

Christmas Tag - Stenciled background (click on image to see close up details)

Supplies Used For Making Tag Backgrounds

The theme for this week's  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Christmas Tags.

 Edited:  For the challenge, we are to enter into Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags, and say which day we are entering, and which tag we were inspired by.

This entry is for Day 1.
Inspired by: Gayatri's tag - I loved her vintage look.

First, I inked my kraft tag with Ranger distress ink.  Then, using  a SSS stencil (Stars & Dots) I used white craft ink to 'lay down' the stars and dots.

After that, I embellished with goodies from my Christmas stash:  A Stampin-Up tree, sequins, a sticker, and behind the tree are two strips of washi tape (Ali Edwards).  Finished it off with the silver cord.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card Concept #80 - Autumn Love

Water-Color Paper was Inked and painted - Style: Shabby Chic

Simple Card - Style: CAS

Supplies and Resulting Cards

Challenge Image

It's Sunday.  It's going to be a spectacular day so I am trying to get my entry for this week's The Card Concept Challenge posted before running off to enjoy the day. The theme for this challenge is 'Autumn Love', and to use the image for inspiration. 

I am going to use the top card as my entry.  I loved the colors in the image, and wanted to do some embossing.

Both cards were made using a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  One I left plain, the other I water-colored with several distress inks, then painted the birds and berries, and lastly, I  brushed over the raised surface with the ink pad  Distress Ink - Aged Mahogany. 

Supplies:
Ink: Aged Mahogany & Antique Linen Distress Ink.
Die:  Blessings: Paper Smooches
Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug
Watercolor paper: Strathmore
Various card stock

Thanks for visiting! 
Happy Fall!

SSS Wed. Challenge - Photo Inspiration/Paper Smooches

This week's challenge at the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is based off a photo for inspiration and the use of Paper Smooches products.

My Card (click on image for better view)

Supplies Used

The Photos & Colors to Use As Inspiration

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Little leaf from Paper Smooches Fall Sampler Set
Dies: Grateful: Paper Smooches; Tree and leaves:Paper Smooches Seasonal Tree
Cardstock and patterned Papers - My stash of goods
Inks:  Ranger Distress Inks (used with little leaf and to alter the sentiment)

Thanks for Visiting! 

Recap: September's The Daily Marker 30 Day Challenge

So.. you might have noticed a flurry of activity on my blog lately.

My 'back to creating' started back on September 1st, when I started Kathy's Daily Marker Coloring Challenge.

I tried doing this last year as well and only latest a couple-ish days.  I am NOT good at coloring! This year I just kept on trying. 

I am happy to say I participated every single day.

I uploaded my entries to a private Facebook page, and decided to try and put everything here in one post.  Some days I shared full sheets of inked or water-colored pages that were to be used in a card later.  Those I left out. 

My 'aha' moment was Kathy's advice to get in 'at least 5 minutes' each day - and that is what I did.
Each morning, I got up, got my coffee, and parked myself at my craft table before having to start my 'get to work' routine. On some days I did five minutes, others a little longer, and on the weekends, I had the luxury of an hour or two.

Below are a few of the projects I created, which also includes the cards that got sent out to friends or family members that needed a lift or a thank-you.  I will say, that was another benefit of the challenge, making cards and getting them delivered. 

Sympathy Card for the Averett Family

Thank You Card to my Bestie Erin For Hosting our CA Trip  (and for sending the cute cup in the background)

Birthday Card Sent to My Sister Avis

Card for My Son Jake on his Move In Day for College - Along with Cookies

Card for One of my On-Line friends Who Lost Her Beloved Dog

Card for a OLW Friend Who Is Battling Leukemia - and Kicking Ass!

Other Cards Made - Excluding the Top Row - Which are for October Challenges

Card Sent to Sami - With Cookies

Card Sent to my Friend Miss Mallen - Thanking her for our CA Visit

Sharing a Magazine Ad that Prompted the Inspiration for the two cards

Cards for my Cousins and Uncle Joe on the Loss of my Aunt Judy

Thanks for Stopping By!

Color Throwdown - Take 2! CTD465

The Colors to Use

My Entry (Click on Image for better view!)

Supplies Used

Well, I just couldn't stand it.  I had to make another card for the Color Throwdown #CTD465 since I wasn't real thrilled with my other entry!

Supplies Used:

Studio G stamps (hat, sentiment and star)

Memento Ink (Tuxedo Black)

Copics

Purple sparkly tape (from October Cocoa Daisy Kit)

Purple and white cardstock

Patterned Paper (spiderweb design - I think My Minds Eye)

Dark Purple Pearl: Queen & Co. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown ctd465

The color scheme for this week's Color Throwdown are purple, black and white.

I made a couple of cards but will only submit the first.

Having a little trouble getting into the groove today, but pushing through it.

We have a winter storm coming through with threats of snow.  A great day to stay inside.
Right now the wind is blowing and my trees are doing their best clinging to the last of their leaves.