Muse: Christmas Visions - Challenge #109

The current challenge @ Muse: Christmas Visions, is to use this card by Chriss Blagrave as the inspiration piece:

I loved the bear peeking up from the bottom, and the blue background with the touch of green in the holly.  Those were the inspiration for my card:

Image: Kim Byers "Oh What Fun" digital Cricut cartridge, sentiment stamp: Avery Elle, patterned paper: Doodlebug

The bear with the blue snowflake background and the banner were all part of a print & cut image from Cricut.  I stamped a sentiment on the banner and attached it with foam tape for dimension, then added some tiny crystal stickers to the snowflakes and a holly button to the bear's Santa hat.  Isn't that bear too cute?  You have until the end of the month to join in the Muse: Christmas Visions challenge.

Harvest of Blessing - MFT Stamp contest

One more card for the My Favorite Things card design contest, this time in the coloring category.

All the images are from the MFT "Harvest Mouse" set, colored with Copic markers.  I used the MFT Diagonal Stitched Rectangle die set for the white piece and inked around the edges lightly.  The card base is kraft cardstock, and I stamped it with kraft ink, using the small pumpkin and leaves from the same stamp set, then added a few ink splatters.  This stamp set was on my wishlist for awhile, and I finally caved and ordered it.  The images are just so cute!

Halloween shaker card - My Favorite Things stamps

I made this shaker card for the My Favorite Things 2018 Card Designer contest, in the Innovative category (fun folders, movement, shaker cards, etc.)  Shaker cards are fun, and my grandkids love to get them, so this will go to one of them on Halloween, I'm sure.

The stamps are from the MFT Spooky Sweets stamp set.  The white frame was diecut with the MFT Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle die set.  I stamped around the die cut frame with the little star trio stamp from the Spooky Sweets stamp set, and added some multicolored tiny sequins for the shaker part of the card.  Thanks for looking!

My Favorite Things Card Design Superstar Contest

My Favorite Things Stamps is holding their 2018 Card Design contest.  There are three categories:  Clean & Simple, Coloring, and Innovation.  Since I had some new MFT Halloween stamps, I decided to enter the clean & simple category.

The background was made with Distress Oxide inks on white cardstock.  The images are from the MFT Grave Situation (tombstones) and Frightful Friends (bats, grass, fence) stamp sets.  The tombstones and bird were all colored with Copic markers.  

You can check out the contest rules and all the entries here!

https://www.mftstamps.com/blog/will-you-be-one-of-our-2018-card-design-superstars-enter-soon/

Time for the September challenge @ Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog!

Time for our second challenge at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog!

 My project for this month is an altered clipboard that can be used to display favorite Christmas photos or Christmas cards.

I started with a small kraft-colored clipboard. (This has been in my stash for quite a while, but it originally came from Walmart.)  I stamped some small Christmas images around the sides and at the bottom, using black Amalgam ink from Gina K Designs, but I think a good black archival ink would also work well.  These images were colored with Copic markers, and then I stamped a few snowflakes in white pigment ink to fill in some of the empty spaces.  The white portions of the images were colored with a Signa Uniball white gel pen.  After everything was dry, I thinned some white ink and used it for splatters over the clipboard.  I added some twine, bells, and a bow along with a photo of my son and Santa, way back in 1983.  :)

You could also use background stamps or stencils on the clipboard.  I think this would also be a cute kitchen decoration, with a copy of a favorite Christmas cookie recipe instead of a photo.

Remember, you have all month to join in the Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog.   Hope to see you there!

Jingle Belles Sketch challenge

Jingle Belles is hosting a sketch challenge.  Here's the great sketch from DT member Stephanie:



Here's my card from the sketch:

The snowflakes are Cricut cuts.  The snowmen were stamped and colored with Tombow markers and then sprinkled with a tiny bit of glitter.  Snowman images are from Northwoods and the sentiment is from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I really like making this size card (4" x 9.25") because it's a larger design area and it fits into a standard business size envelope.

Check out the sketch and all the cards over at Jingle Belles!

Our first challenge is up! - Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog

Our very first challenge at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge blog is posted - yay!  We will post a challenge the first of every month and you have until 6pm on the last day of the month to enter your  project.  It's always an "anything goes" challenge, as long as it is Christmas themed

For my first project, I experimented with stamping on book pages.  This is a page from an old songbook that I received in a scrapbooking kit a year or two ago.   I distressed the edges, then stamped the image with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Distress Embossing powder in Vintage Photo.

I added just a touch of color to the halo and baby blanket with markers, added a tiny gem sticker to the star and added the die cut "joy" from copper shimmer paper.  I love the vintage look on this!  This technique would also work on bookprint or other subtle patterned paper.

Please check out the Merry Little Christmas challenge blog.  We'd love to have you join us in our Christmas challenges!