Christmas Candles

I finally am getting a head start on my Christmas cards. Christmas is my favorite time for card making. So, I dug through my stash of Christmas stamps and this is one of the cards I came up with.

Dies are from Spellbinders. Stamps are from Fun Stampers Journey and Papers are from Close to my Heart. Stamps and papers are retired. 

Image colored in with Copic markers.

Card Challenges:
Sparkle Creations - Christmas
Merry Monday  - Christmas Card Challenge
Challenge Up Your Life - Christmas
Crafty Calendar - Punches or Dies
Hiding in my Craft Room - Christmas
My Time to Craft - Christmas
One Crazy Stamper - Christmas
Just for Fun - Christmas

Blue Pansies Mother's Day Card

I was playing around again with some Fred She Said digi images. This one is Blue Pansies in a Tea Cup. I also used the butterflies from "Butterflies Doodle Dallions"

I used some of my retired CTMH cardstock, Sky and Star Spangled Blue.

My friend Crystal got me hooked on We R Memory Keepers Next Level Embossing Folders. The one I used, I think, Is the Basket Weave. 

Santa with Lantern

I can't believe it's November 1st already. I'm still working on Fall cards for my classes. 
However, I just purchased some Christmas Images from Craftsuprint.com and had to use one today. It's officially the start of my Christmas Card Extravaganza. This first one will probably go to one of my small Grandsons. I love the way it turned out.

I usually turn to sketch challenges for my starting inspiration. When I saw the sketch on Taylored Expressions Share the Joy Challenge, I knew it was the right one for this image. 

I cut a piece of CTMH Ruby Cardstock and then dry embossed it with the new CTMH Confetti Embossing Folder. I then sanded it so it looked like snow.

I used some scraps of red and white striped paper and border punched one of them.

I used a Spellbinders die to mat the image. and tied it all up with a dark green satin bow.

The Merry Christmas is from the stamp set included in with the CTMH exclusive Cricut Artfully Sent Cartridge bundle.

Other Challenges for this card:
Southern Girls Challenge - Rocking the Stripes
ABC Christmas Challenge - "V" is for Very Cute
Addicted to Stamps - Holiday
Fab 'n' Funky - Christmas
Scrapy Land - Embossing and a Die
Allsorts - Christmas

Love Themed Card

My card today started out to be a Valentine but then as I put it together, it looked perfect for a Wedding card also. Or, An Anniversary card. For this reason, I decided not to put a sentiment on the front. The Digi Paper is from Bearly Mine. I positioned the paper so that the word LOVE was not covered up.

The banner stips & Scalloped Heart are Cardstock from Close to my Heart, as is the Heart Embossing Folder I used on them.

The Heart image with the Doves and the rose in the bottom corner are from The Grafic Fairy.

The actuall inspiration for this card started with a sketch from Freshly Made.

Other Challenges for this Card:

Cards in Envy - 2 or more Hearts

Craft-Dee Bowz - Use a hand made bow

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Crafty Boots - Hearts and Valentines

Dream Valley- Valentine

Make My Monday - Hearts and Flowers

Melon Headz Friends - Hearts/Love

Ooh La La - Love

Scrapbook Stamp Society - Valentine

The Crazy Challenge - Love

Whoopsi Daisy - Pretty in Pink

FSS - Snow Lady - Light Up Your Holidays #2

Here is the last card of my series. It's the Pre-Colored Fred She Said Snow Lady - Light Up Your Holidays.

The background paper was dry embossed. The sentiment if from a new CTMH stamp set called Christmas Village. This set will be released on August 1st. The dark blue circle mat was cut out with the CTMH Exclusive Cricut Artiste Collection.
The scalloped border going down the right side is done using the new border scallop punch from Close to my Heart. Available August 1st.

Other Challenges for this card:
I Did It! - Christmas in July
All Beautiful Cards - Doubly Embossed
Digi Darlas - Christmas in July
Lexi's Creations - Christmas
Merry Mondays - Christmas Anything Goes
Christmas Card - Snowflakes
Sentimental Sunday - Christmas w/Sentiment
Crafty Hazelnut - Christmas Challenge Extra

FSS - Snow Lady - Light Up Your Holidays #1

Continuing on with designing Christmas Cards, here is a card using the pre-colored  Fed She Said SnowLady -  Light Up Your Holidays. I added a touch of MS Colored Glitter to the light bulbs. It's a shame that I only remember this glitter at Christmas Time.

All other products are retired from CTMH except for the red bakers twine and the Twilight Cardstock.

Other Challenges for the card:
Loves Rubber Stamps - Christmas in July
Creative Card Crew - The Great Outdoors
Crealive Belli - Christmas
Crafty Creations - Sparkle
Fab n' Funky - Christmas

FSS - Hat Tipping Snowman #2

Here is card # 2 of my FSS Christmas cards. I figure that if I make at least 5 of each of these different cards, I will have all I need by the time Christmas comes around. I LOVE my Close to my Heart stamps, but they will come later. For right now, while my shoulder is still healing, I will take the easy way of making them. These pre-colored images are colored so beautifully, that they have me spoiled. This card, as the first one, also used the Hat Tipping Snowman , but this time he is wearing a red scarf.

The papers are all old retired papers and colors but I promised my self to use up some of my stash.

FSS - Hat Tipping Snowman #1

I'm trying to keep myself cool today by making Christmas Cards. The temperature is in the high 90's and has been for two weeks now. Well, let me tell you, It doesn't work. 

Actually I'm starting my Christmas cards early this year. Since these will be made in quantities, I'm keeping them rather simple, yet elegant.

My card uses two new stamps from the New Fall/Winter catalog from Close to my Heart. These stamps will be available August 1, 2013. The first one is called Classy Doily, which is behind the snowman. I first cut it out with the Close to my Heart Exclusive Cricut cartridge Artiste. The other is called Single Snowflake, which I used for the background stamped with Juniper Ink on Juniper Cardstock.

The Beautiful Pre-colored image is called Hat Tipping Snowman from Fred She Said. I added dots of liquid Applique and glitter to the dots around the snowman and then to the area under the snowman and heated slightly.

Other challenges with this card:
One Stitch at a time - Use a Digi
Patties Creations - Monochromatic
Card Makin Mamas - Monochromatic
Paper Crafting Journey - Christmas
Southern Girls - No Spoolin
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday  - Christmas

Parrot Tulips and Humingbird

Here is my first card I've been able to make after the surgery on my shoulder a week ago. Got some bad news today that I would have to wear the sling and not use the arm for much for the next five weeks. I seemed to have lost my creativity with the pain and pain meds so this card seemed to take me forever to make. Typing this post with one hand will probably take even longer.

The design inspiration started with a sketch challenge over at Hanna and Friends.

For this card, I used the new Barely Mine Designed Digi papers for Fred She Said, called Floral Surprise.
I then printed out a Hummingbird from the Wee Hummingbird and Petunia. There is a whole sheet of Hummingbirds in different colors in this set. Then two of the Dark Pink and one cream colored Parrot Tulips. These I fussy cut and mounted then around the left side of a spellbinders die.

The stamp set I used in the center is called Scrapbook Statements from Close to My Heart.

It's been killing me not to be able to hand stitch my cards but I did manage some here on this card. I just kept it very simple. 

The dark pink gems are are the Pink Glitter gems from CTMH.

I'd also like to submit this card for the following challenges:
Sweet Stampin - Anything but a Birthday 
Pile It On - April Showers Brings May Flowers
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday - Distressing
Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Well Read
Created With Love - Spring

FSS - Easter Chick

Here are my latest cards using the Easter Chick pre-colored image from Fred She Said. I think this is just such a cute image and one I fall back on for Easter or a Baby Card. I am showing you two cards here. Both the same except for the sentiment.

The paper is from Close to my Heart, from the retired  Dotty for You Collection. The flowers were cut from the CTMH exclusive Cricut cartridge "Art Philosophy" and the leaves are from the CTMH exclusive Cricut cartridge, "Artiste". The center of all the flowers are dotted with the Pink Glitz Glitter Gel from CTMH.
The Bakers Twine is from the CTMH Paradise Assortment

Other Challenge Blogs for this card:
Crafty Catz - Dies/Punches
Jelly Park Friends - Lots of different shapes

FSS - Little Fat Santa

Welcome to my Christmas Stress Blog! I can't remember the last time I was this far behind for Christmas. Oh, yes I can.....it was last year! 

I only today got my first batch of Christmas cards in the mail. I used to make my cards with snowmen so if I didn't get them out before Christmas, I would put Happy New Year inside instead. But this year I used the Fred She Said Little Fat Snowman for most of my cards. 

The Ho Ho Ho is from a CTMH stamp set called Perfect Fit - Holidays. 
I used Martha Stewart glitter glue around the frame. I was going to add some liquid applique and flower soft on Santa's fur, but that would have taken more time than I had available. 

I still have about 10 cards to make for tomorrow's mail. That is, if no new ones come in today's mail that I missed.

Kiss Me Scottie

Here is my card for today. I got the inspiration from a Viva La Verve sketch challenge week 4.

I used the NEW pre-printed image from Fred She Said called "Kiss Me Scottie". Isn't this just the cutest Christmas Card.
I printed the Scottie three times, fancy cut then and layered portions with foam tape. Same with the mistletoe. Only two layers of them. too tiny!!!

The card is done in Black & White with a touch of Red. I love this combination and don't use it often enough

I hand Stitched the running stitch around the card with Red Embroidery Floss. I LOVE hand stitching. It adds more dimension.

Other Challenges for this card:
Anything Goes - Anything Goes
Die Cuttin Divas - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday - Fibers (Bakers Twine)
Party Time Tuesday - Anything
Scrap Creations - Pop it up
Ooh La La - Christmas
One Stitch at a Time - Christmas
I Did It! - Use and embossing folder
The Crafty Pad - Christmas
Paper Crafting Journey - Ribbon/Twine
Southern Girls - Animal

Fred She Said Surprise Blog Hop

Welcome to the Fred, She Said Surprise Blog Hop! Summer is coming to a close, and maybe we can find a few moments to spend in our crafty spaces!  The FSS team wants to surprise you with the wide variety of great images there are to be found in the store!  We have no idea what anyone has selected to work with....so we’ll be surprised right along with you!

If you have arrived from Michelle's blog, you are right on track. If you are just happening by, you will want to start on the FSS Blog.

Collect a secret word on each blog along the way, leave us some love on our posts and follow the directions at the end of the hop for your chance to win this FABULOUS PRIZE!

One winner will receive ALL of this:

$25 GC to CropStop (provided by Fred She Said)
$25 GC to Fred She Said Store

...and a Surprise Goody Bag (photo and list of contents on the first and last stops on the hop!)

We’re hopping for 2 weeks!  Hop ends Friday, September 14, midnight EST.

Fred She Said is having a SURPRISE 2 week SALE ( August 31st - September 14th)
20% off any purchase $10 or over
25% off any purchase $ 20 or over

My card today is an Easel Card made using the FSS Pumpkins and Sunflower pre-colored image, and the Sunflower and Thankfulness pre-colored set. The images were all fussy cut and layered multiple times with foam tape.

The inspiration for my card started out with the Sketch and Stash sketch challenge.It may be hard to see in the photo, but the background papers were made using the water stamping technique.

The Hand Stitching was done with matching Embroidery Floss.Your secret word on my blog is heart

Your next stop on the hop is Carolyn's blog. 

Merry Monday Sketch Challenge

I am so thrilled to be asked to be the Guest Designer over at Always Playing with Paper, home of the Merry Monday Christmas Sketch Challenge. I love makiing Christmas Cards so this Challenge Blog is perfect for me.

My card uses this weeks sketch along with the Fred She Said pre-colored English Robins, from the Christmas Birds Series.

The cardstock, bakers twine and pearls are all from Close to my Heart.

The Hand Stitching around the card was done with matching green Embroidery Floss.

Other Challenges for this card:
I did it! - Use a Digi.
My Time to Craft - Christmas
Crafty Ann's - Christmas in August

FSS Hat Tipping Snowman

I almost forgot to post this card in time. It was made for the Merry Monday weekly Christmas Card
Challenge ovedr at Always Playing with Paper. This week is challenge along with the sketch is Clean and Simple. This is not my style of card making but I had some gorgeous papers in my stash for so long and thought they woulkd be just perfect for this challenge. I had to turn the sketch 90° to make it work.
There are shimmery swirls in the paper that show up on the photo but are only seen on the card depending on which angle you are looking at it.

The Hat Tipping Snowman and Flying Winter Birds images are from Fred She Said. They are both the pre-colored images. The Winter Wonderland is from Close to my Heart.

The hand stitching was done with white embroidery floss. Yes, I even sew straight stitching by hand. I like the look of it much better then done by a sewing machine.

I added some white Liquid Applique to the base of the snowman to tie him into the scene. The I added some chunky Glass Glitter to add more texture and sparkle.

FSS - Tipping Hap Snowman

All of a sudden I really got in the mood for making Christmas Cards. No, I'm not rushing the season since I don't like winter. But, if I don't get started now, I'll never get done what I need.

I'm so grateful for the different Christmas card making blogs that run all year long. I just found one called Merry Monday and used this weeks sketch for my card. 

For this card, I used the FSS Hat Tipping Snowman, pre-colored Image. I printed it twice so I could fancy cut the hat, and scarf from the second image. I cut the other one out using a spelbinders ornament die. I then added white Liquid Applique to the snow under the snowman and added chunky glass glitter to it. The added the Liquid Applique to the snowflakes in the sky and added ultra fine clear glitter to them. After it dried a few hours, I heated it with a heat gun and just puffed it slightly.

The papers are retired papers from Close to my Heart. All stitching is done by hand with white embroidery floss in a design to resemble snow flakes.

Daisies & Lady Bugs 3

Here is my third and last card with the Fred She Said pre-colored Daisies and Lady Bugs for a while. These images are just so darn cute I had to make several. I don't know if you can tell, but there are MANY layers to the image itself. Each is cut smaller then the other then layered with foam tape. The daisy and lady bugs were all fussy cut and also layered with foam tape.

The sketch that inspired this card was from Clean & Simple Fall to Sketches. I loved the sketch for this image. But, as you can see, it is far from being clean and simple. It really did start out that way but it's just not my style.
The DP is retired Close to my Heart papers. The crystal flourishes and ribbon is also CTMH.
The Hand Stitching was done with a light blue embroidery floss to match the blue cardstock.

FSS Daisies and Lady Bugs - 2

Here is another card using the Fred She Said Daisies and Lady Bugs. This time I used the pre-colored row of daisies.

The design for my card came from Sketch 67 at My Time Made Easy. This sketch was just perfect for the image I wanted to use.
I haven't use gingham ribbon in years and thought it went very nice with these daisies for a country look.

The Daisies, centers and lady bugs are fussy cut and layered with foam tape for ;lots of dimension. I thought the MS Picket Fence punch added a little charm to the overall look.

The Sentiment is in a NEW Close to my Heart Stamp Set called A Friend Like You.

FSS - Daisies and Lady Bugs

Today I played with one of the new pre-colored images from Fred She Said called Daisies and LadyBugs. Oh my gosh! I had so much fun with this, that I have two more cards in the works with this set. I decided to make an Easel Card with this one.  All of the Dasies and Lady Bugs were fussy cut and mounted with foam tape.

I got the inspirational sketch for this card from the Terrifically Thrilling Thursday Challenge Blog. I completely changed the card though becasue I made the mistake of finding a FSS pre-colored image I wanted to use and designing the card before printing the image. I'm trying to use up some older papers. Well, when I printed out the image I wanted, it really didn't go with the paper. Since I had the card all Hand Stitched already, I laid some of the daisies, which I also printed out at the same time, on the paper and liked it. I probably wouldn't have used this paper with the daisies, but now that it's finished, I really like it together. Amazing how accidents have a way of working out.

The papers are from a retired paper pack from Close to my Heart. All the pearls are also from CTMH.

The "Thinking of you" is from a NEW CTMH stamp set called Casual Expressions.

The Hand Stitching was all done with matching Embroidery Floss to match the Smoothie Cardstock.

Mojo Monday Challenge

Here is my card for the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge.

All product is just random items I had lying around.

Hand stitching done with matching embroidery floss.