Jingle Belles Cardstock Christmas challenge

 The current challenge at Jingle Belles is to use only cardstock on your project; no pattern paper allowed.  This was a perfect challenge for some stamps and stencils.

I used a stamp and stencil set from Taylored Expressions for the poinsettias and leaves, and a sentiment from Simon Says Stamp.  The poinsettia centers were embossed in gold, and the sentiment was embossed in clear over red ink.  I added a very narrow gold cardstock mat and then a larger red cardstock mat.  I love the large images on this card, and it was really very easy to put together.

Mix It Up Challenge Blog - fun fold challenge

 Here we are in September, with another challenge for the Mix It Up Challenge blog.  This time, the challenge is to create a fun fold card.  I made a variation on a z-fold card for my project.

I found a tutorial for this card on Splitcoast Stampers.   It's called a "Building Block" card and the instructions are in the tutorials section of the Splitcoast site.

The card starts out like a z-fold card, but then you cut slits into part of the card, which creates pop up folds.

I used kraft cardstock for the base, and added patterned paper panels that I matted with brown cardstock.  The images were stamped and colored to create a Fall card.  I'll add a cream cardstock panel to the far right so I can stamp a greeting and sign the card before mailing.  This creates a card that stands up well and can end up being a decorative piece, too.

We can't wait to see your fun fold cards for the challenge.   Hope you have a chance to create and share a project this month at the Mix It Up Challenge blog!

It's a Grinchy Christmas!

 The new theme challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is all about the Grinch.

This was a fun challenge for me, as the Grinch is one of my must-watch Christmas movies (the original animated one with Boris Karloff''s narration).  I had some Grinch character SVG files that I used as print & cut images to create this card.  The Christmas lights were stamped, colored & die cut.  I added some shimmer pen to parts of the printed images for some shine.

My wish is to always be more Cindy Lou Who than Grinch!

Jingle Belles Vintage Christmas challenge

 The current challenge at Jingle Belles is to create a vintage-style project.  I used some Tim Holtz ephemera, along with a very old technique, for this card.

I used the cracked ice technique on the Shiny Brite ephemera piece.  With this technique, you apply several coats of thick clear embossing powder (I used three coats of UTEE).  After the embossing is finished, you put the piece in the freezer for a few minutes.  Once you remove it from the freezer, you roll and bend the piece til the embossing starts cracking.  You can also add some ink over the top if you want to create some dark accents within the cracks.  It's fun to try a technique you haven't used in years!

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - color challenge

 Here's the current color challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown:

I used a die from Taylored Expressions and a sentiment from an old Hero Arts set for this card.  Part of the diecut was backed with blue cardstock for a sky, and the rest backed with white glitter cardstock for snow and the windows/door of the church.  The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed in white.

This ended up being a simple card to make and would be easy to mass produce if you needed several cards.  Normally I would die cut the silhouette image from black cardstock, but I like the softer look of the light brown. 

Sparkles Christmas Challenge - #175

 This month's challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenge is to include a tree on your project.  Here's my card for the challenge:

I used a stamp from Paper Artsy, and since it was a longer, narrow stamp, made it into a slimline card.  I stamped the card in black ink, then colored with some of their Mattint paints.  After everything was dry, I sprayed the stamped piece with shimmer spray and matted it onto some dark pink shimmer cardstock, and added a foiled sentiment sticker.   It's not a traditional Christmas card style, but I like it!

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #101 - Wreath it Up

 The current challenge at Christmas Kickstart Challenge is to feature a wreath on your project.

I used an old (but favorite) set from WPlus9 for the wreath on this card, and a sentiment from Hero Arts and a bow die from Picket Fence.

This is a simple, classic card - no bling or sparkle - just a subtle shimmer from the red shimmer cardstock.  Hope you get a chance to check out all the cards over at Christmas Kickstart!