Keeping Christmas Designer Blog Hop

I have some exciting news!  The Challenge Design Team is BACK!  YAY!  After our Christmas Hop last month, Lesley asked us all if we would be interested in participating in a monthly Christmas Hop throughout the year.  

Of course we all said YES!  

The Challenge Design Team, 

along with friends, Kelly Lunceford and Julee Tillman, 

will be sharing Christmas creations 

on the 25th of each month!!!  

Every Christmas I seem to be rushing to get cards made to sell and to send myself.  I know I'm not the only card maker out there who then winds up not sending the cards they make.  I have vowed to change that this year!  Ok, so "m not off to a good start but hopefully this monthly hop will help at least in my Christmas card department! 

The whole idea is to have some Christmas cards in our stash all ready to go for December 2018!  Hopefully we will inspire you as well to keep Christmas going, at least in your crafting, all year long.

So, hop along and be sure to visit each blog and leave everyone some blog love too. 

There is a lot of inspiration and ideas to get your creative juices flowing!

Kelly Lunceford

Lesley Croghan

Anita Madden

Broni Holcombe

Claire Broadwater

Julee Tilman

Kim Heggins

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld (You are HERE!)

Nina Forsyth

Rachel Bergfeld

Vicki Finger

SUPPLIES:

Label Die (Spellbinders); Mustache die (Stampin' Up); Glasses die (Paper Smooches); Sentiment die (Lil Inker Designs); Scallop frame die (WPlus9); Diamond shaped die (Catherine Pooler). Circle die for nose is part of an angel die (Poppy Stamps).

I went simple for this card, using all die cuts, so it's pretty clear cut (no pun intended).  I made a card similar to this a couple years ago.  The beard and Santa's head are a Spellbinders label die that I cut out of white glitter cardstock and cream cardstock then, I used half of each one.  

Using all die cuts can be a quick way to make several of the same card design.  It does take some time diecutting all the pieces but once one is assembled, it goes pretty quickly.  I think my most time consuming thing was figuring out which  frame dies I wanted to use around the Santa face.  

Hope you have fun hopping and be sure to come back every month on the 25th for more Christmas inspiration to help you get a start on your Christmas cards!

Keeping Christmas Blessings!

4 Crafty Chicks #387 Watercolor Backgrounds & Anything Goes!

Good Morning, Thursday!

Boy this week has kind of flown by!  It was Monday and now it's Thursday!  Tuesday and yesterday were a bit of a blur.  LOL No alcohol has been involved! I've been mending a bit of cellulitis on my eye all week and on antibiotics for it so I feel a bit out of it.  Evidently I scratched my eyelid somehow and woke up Sunday with a swollen eye.  I thought it was pink eye but it's cellulitis due to the cut.  At least now I can close my eye without pain.  It's tough to sleep with one eye open.  lol

Anyway, since it's time for a new challenge

at

4 Crafty Chicks!

Lori is our hostess this week!  She's chosen a twist theme of Watercolor backgrounds!  

4 Crafty Chicks #387 - Watercolor Backgrounds

I love making watercolor backgrounds but I wanted to try something new with this one.  So, I used a technique with acetate to smoosh your watercolor ink around but also have a bit more control of where you want the colors.  I found a tutorial by Kristina Werner of KWernerDesigns.  It's super easy.  

I used Catherine Pooler inks and acetate to make my watercolor background.  When I was done, it resembled sunrise/sunset clouds to me.  So, I die cut the ballons from the  "Love Is In The Air" die set by Catherine Pooler in gold foil from Stampin' Up.  Next, I dry embossed the background with a diamond embossing folder by Sizzix to add more texture and interest.   The sentiment stamp is by Neat & Tangled for Catherine Pooler.  I stamped it in Versamark and embossed with WOW gold fine emboss powder and fussy cut around it. To finish it off I added three gold sequins.

So stop by the Hen House and see what the other Chicks have created, all fabulous, as always!  Leave them some blog lovin' as well.  Then, get inky, no really GET INKY this time and create a watercolor background to join the twist part of our challenge!  OR create whatever you want and join the Anything Goes Part of our challenge since our challenges now are always Anything Goes but with an added optional twist!

For Following Challenges:

Crafty Chick Watercolor Blessings!

4 Crafty Chicks #386 - Sympathy + ATG

Good Morning, Thursday!

Hope you are having a good week!  

It's cold again here in central NC with a "touch"of snow. LOL Let me start over...we have SNOW, people!  The most snow in the last 7 years for this area!  While we only have about 4-5" here in Cary and Raleigh, 20 miles west  of us where our youngest son lives, in Durham, has around 9-1/2".  Parts of Chapel Hill/Carrboro region got 6, 10, 11 inches, someone got a foot! We're the south!  Flurries shuts everything down! Go ahead northerners, laugh!  Really, it's ok.  The hubs and I are from the north so we laugh about it all the time.  They are forecasting today's morning rush hour to be the worst one in years.  That doesn't sit well with me since the Hubs worked last night (ER/hospitals don't get snow days). He's been waiting since we moved to NC 15 years ago for a REAL snow and while what we have (4.5") is really borderline, he's excited.  He is determined to come home and go sledding.  Alert: it's been at least 16 years since we have been on a sled.  I told him to put one of the EMS teams on alert for that "event".  hahaha   To be continued...  

At any rate it's time for a new challenge 

at

4 Crafty Chicks!

It's or new chick, Amy's first official time as hostess this week 

and 

she wants Sympathy cards.

So let's give her a big hearty welcome with lots of participants!

4 Crafty Chicks #386 - Sympathy Twist + ATG

They're probably our least favorite cards to make, right? However, they do serve a purpose in showing love, concern and support to someone who has lost a loved one, human or otherwise.

A friend of mine just lost her beloved 15 year old dog.  So I made this card for her.

STAMPS: Sentiment from Guiding Light Stamp Set (WPlus9);
PAPER: Neenah White cardstock; Coated white cardstock (Tim Holtz); Gold Foil (Stampin' Up).
INK: Black Onyx (Versafine); Icing on the Cake (Catherine Pooler Inks); Ultra Marine, Turquoise Crystals (Brusho).
EXTRAS: Lattice frame die (Naturally Inspired by Catherine Pooler); Dog die (Tim Holtz); Wings -Thoughtful Faerie(Poppy Stamps); halo - part of Angel die (Memory Box); Cloud dies -Let's Go To The Beach (Paper Sweeties); Clear Emboss Poweder (WOW).

I started out with my blue background.  I've been playing around with the plastic wrap technique and made the background for this card with Brushos, Magic Sizing (because I have no starch), a little water and plastic wrap.  I love how it turned out.  In fact, I created two A2 sizes of these colors.  I even cut the collar out from the background color.  

Then, I took the brown, Icing on the Cake, ink by Catherine Pooler and swiped it a couple times on white cardstock to create my own brown cardstock to cut out the dog.  This has sparked a question --- is swiping ink on cardstock considered stamping or just swiping?  I actually smushed it than swiping.

The sentiment I stamped with Midnight Archival ink by Catherine Pooler onto the background and sprinkled some clear emboss powder to help it set more on the coated background.

Be sure and stop by the Hen House and check out Leanne's, Lori's and Amy's projects for the week and leave them some blog love.  Designers love comments too!

Then, get inky and either create anything your heart desires since we are an always "anything goes" OR make a sympathy card for this week's challenge twist.

For Following Challenges:

Cling Wrap, Stamping (sentiment), Die Cuts

Crafty Chick Blessings!

Paper Sweeties January 2018 Blast from the Past Favorites!

Happy Tuesday!

Today is the 3rd and final day of Paper Sweeties Winter Blast from the Past Favorites!

Hop along the list below and check out more fun and fabulous projects from the team:

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Jinny Newlin
Karen Letchworth

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Lisa Bzibziak
Lori Turner
Mackie Robertson 

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Nancy Salkeld (You are Here)

For today's card I decided to make a winter wreath on a door.

Window Sweet Cuts - Paper Sweeties

Paper Sweeties Merry Little Christmas

Hello Spring - Paper Sweeties

Hello Spring Sweet Cuts - Paper Sweeties

Be Happy Sweet Cuts Dies - Paper Sweeties

Hello Friend Stamp Set - Paper Sweeties

Let it Snow Stamp Set - Paper Sweeties

Paper Sweeties Blessings!

Hearts N Hugs!

Good afternoon on this very freaking cold Monday!  Brrrr!  It's so cold, not even my hot flashes are keeping me warm!  It's not suppose to be this cold in central NC.  Even my poor little kitten, Bella, is too cold.  She's been curling up with Rory or Riley or even me (which is unusual because she's only affectionate when she's hungry). lol

Anyway, I made this card today for some challenges:

The hearts stamped on the background are very old and I don't remember what they are.  I don't even have their packaging anymore.  The HUGS die is from My Favorite Things and I inlaid it into the hearts, stuck the arrows and hearts on for some added texture and interest.

For Following Challenges:

City Crafter - #394 All You Need Is Love

Hugs & Blessings!

Paper Sweeties January 2018 Blast from the past favorites!

Good Morning Monday!

It's Martin Luther King, Jr Day, a national holiday in the U.S.  so a lot of people have the day off from work or school.

It's also the 2nd day of

Paper Sweeties Winter Blast of the Past!

We are sharing some winter projects using past products that we like.  Hop through the Design Team list below and see all the wonderful things everyone has created!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Jinny Newlin
Karen Letchworth

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Lisa Bzibziak
Lori Turner
Mackie Robertson 

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Nancy Salkeld (You are HERE)

I decided to do a little play on words and switch-aroo a bit by using beach themed stamps with a snowman.  Usually you see this with Christmas cards but it can be used just to send some warm greetings to someone in the cooold of January!  

You can't see it real well but I used one of the Rectangle Scallops Frame cut from vellum behind everything and in front of the sun for added texture.

Sweet Cuts Sweet Borders - Paper Sweeties

Snow Friends - Stamp Set - Paper Sweeties

Snow Friends Sweet Cuts Dies - Paper Sweeties

Island Time Stamp Set--Paper Sweeties

Island Time Sweet Cuts Dies - Paper Sweeties

At the Beach Stamp Set--Paper Sweeties

Let it Snow Stamp Set - Paper Sweeties

For Following Challenges:

Come back tomorrow for more inspiration using Paper Sweeties stamps/dies!

Paper Sweeties Blessings!

Paper Sweeties January 2018 Blast from the past favorites!

Happy Sunday!

Hope you're having a great weekend!  

It's cold again here in NC after a few days of spring like temps.  Brrrr!

Whatever your weather, sit back and relax and check out Paper Sweeties today!

This month instead of a product release, we are doing a Winter Blast of past favorite products.

Hope through the Design Team links below and see all of our Winter projects:

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Jinny Newlin
Karen Letchworth

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Lisa Bzibziak
Lori Turner
Mackie Robertson 

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Nancy Salkeld (You are HERE)

I tried a new-to-me technique at a card class by my friend, Bonnie Klass this past week using baby wipes, ink and multi-media paper.  You take a baby wipe and dab some ink from the lid of some dye ink and rub it on the paper.  You won't believe how smooth it goes on! Or maybe you will because that's my background of my card.  I also followed a technique from Jennifer McGuire to create an "in and out" card.  

I stamped the snowflakes in Versamark and embossed with white emboss powder.  Then I smoothed on the ink colors with a baby wipe.  Next I die cut the mug through the card front and affixed the mug to the inside of the card.  So now, it's part of the outside and inside of the card.

Inside of card

Paper Sweeties Merry Little Christmas

Snow Friends - Stamp Set - Paper Sweeties

but first, Coffee - Paper Sweeties

Winter Mix Sequins - Paper Sweeties

Snow Friends Sweet Cuts Dies - Paper Sweeties

Homemade With Love Sweet Cuts Dies - Paper Sweeties

For Following Challenges:

Paper Sweeties Blessings!