Cuttlebug Baubles & Bows Card

The Cuttlebug blog challenge is to add glitter/bling! After embossing with my Baubles & Bows folder, I used my Quickie Glue pen, Martha Stewart glitters and Copic-colored Hero Arts gems to add some sparkle. My stamped sentiment is mounted on a second Fancy Tag to finish it off -- fun pr0ject!

Paper: PTI's Shimmer & Pure Poppy CS; Bazzill CS

Stamp: PTI's 2009 Holiday Tag Collection

Ink: PTI's Pure Poppy

Embellishments: MS Garnet & Turquoise Glitter; Hero Arts gems

Tools: Cuttlebug Baubles & Bows Embossing Folder; Spellbinders' Wizard, Fancy Tags & Curved Rectangles Dies; Copics BG000 & R29

Just Us Girls Week 8 Color & 2S4U Kazan's Sketch 40 Challenges

Tonight I had a bit of time to play, so I'm posting a combination of 2 challenges: JUGs Week 8 Color Challenge and 2 Sketches 4 U (Kazan's Sketch 40) Challenge, pictured above. When I first saw these colors (SU's Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust & Bashful Blue) used here I was skeptical, but just look at their fabulous DT samples -- awesome! I used the exact SU colors, though since it's after 6 PM & dark, my blue looks a bit grayer than it really is. What a fun sketch & fabulous color combo! The little corner detail are pieces die cut from the Spellbinder's Lattice Pendant for my original idea for this card -- never throw anything away!!!

Paper: All SU CS

Stamp: Technique Tuesday's Whirly Gigs

Ink: PTI's True Black Palette

Embellishments: Michaels Gems (colored w/Copics: YR07 & B21

Tools: Paper Shapers Scalloped Punches & Spellbinder's Wizard & Lattice Pendant Die

PTI November Blog Hop: Quick & Inexpensive Tags

This month's PTI Blog Hop Challenge: create a quick & inexpensive wrap or tag that can be the perfect solution for "grab & go" gifts! Since most of our family live in far-away states, my main "wrapping" is baskets of fruits/nuts/candy with cellophane & a fun tag for friends or neighbors. Sooooo fun, quick & simple to create tags using Nesties and PTI's 2009 Holiday Tag Collection. I used a package of large tags I'd picked up years ago on clearance for $.50 and placed my circle Nestie just above the "hole" in the tag, cut & embossed. I inked up "Joyeux Noel" with Ripe Avocado & Dark Chocolate Palette cubes (so easy with the cubes). Stamped that & the "to/from" dotted line stamp, added a little ribbon & done! For my next two tags I used my Labels 1 Nesties. Cut/embossed a tag from the left-over bottom portion of the purchased tag. Left the die on after embossing and stamped the Spring Rain snowflakes just inside the embossed frame on the right & added "to/from" in Dark Chocolate @ lower left! Next, cut my Labels 1 in PTI's Shimmer CS, inked & stamped my "to/from", holly & dotted border Vintage Labels stamps in Dark Avocado & added Xmas Red Stickles to the berries. I could punch a hole in these tags too. Lastly used Labels 4, PTI's Shimmer CS and the new Flurries Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Let It Snow sentiment & PSX Diamond Sparkles. That's my quick/inexpensive Christmas tags ready to add to my last-minute gift baskets and it's not even December -- now that's planning ahead!

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #92

Now that my Wizard die cutting machine is repaired, I need to concentrate on cranking out Christmas and birthday cards for family and friends. I decided to do this fun TESC challenge today to kick start the creating frenzy that hopefully will follow. Our friends who bought a winter home here will arrive in just 3 short weeks, so I need to get my act together pronto! My simple little card really requires no explanation.

Paper: PTI's Spring Moss CS & Holiday Vintage Prints DP; Bazzill CS

Stamps: 2009 Holiday Tag Collection

Ink: PTI's Dark Avocado

Embellishments: Amuse Twinkle Sticker (star) Copic Colored Lipstick Red (R29); PTI button; ribbon from stash

Tools: Spellbinders Wizard & Labels 4 & Round Dies

"Just Us Girls" Week 7 Technique Challenge: Dry Embossing

ETA: I've tried every conceivable lighting possibility available to me (considering my extremely limited photographic abilities), but have come to the conclusion that the large black center of this card is causing all the light on the beautiful pink/white BG to be washed out. So, I've added a close-up photo of one edge of it, along with a close-up of the sentiment (where the bright pink ink was absorbed by the black paper, but I really liked the distressed look of that, since the BG paper is distressed too!)

My die cut/embossing machine crashed Saturday and I just received my replacement handle from Spellbinders this afternoon. I'm hoping to beat the JUGs challenge deadline, but my CFL lighting will not allow me to take a decent picture, so I'll have to reload my photo in the morning! The background paper here is actually a beautiful shade of pink on a white background. I need several birthday cards this next couple of months, so this was the perfect chance to get one ready.
Paper: Making Memories Sabrina DP; black CS from stash
Stamps: PTI's Heartfelt Basics & Vintage Labels
Ink: VersaColor Pink
Embellishments: Making Memories Sabrina Ribbon; Hero Arts Gemstones
Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard & Sizzix Botanical Frame Embossing Folder

In Memory of Layton and Copic Colour Challenge 39

My dear friend Jak's 16-mo.-old Great Nephew passed away on Oct. 27th from Meningitis. Two exceptionally-talented artists have given their time to create Digi Stamps: Jim Harker made the Little Soldier Stamp I've used here and Mo Manning made the Out There Stamp, both available on Jak's blog for a single £4.00 (about $6.65 USD) donation and immediate download. All proceeds go to Meningitis search 4 a vaccine campaign. I'm fairly new to digis & Copics, but trust me when I tell you that these are exceptionally well-drawn images for an exceptional price!!! In addition, on Jak's blog you'll be able to link your card made with either of these digis for another fabulous giveaway she's sponsoring until next Sunday -- a wonderful deal for such a small amount and such a HUGE cause! Go check it out!!! Since I wanted my Little Soldier to be for Christmas, I used two new Copics (thanks to Hobby Lobby's 30% off sale 3 weeks in a row!) purchased specifically for the Copic Colour Challenge 39 and will have my Little Soldier do double duty -- I don't think he'll mind!!!

Paper: PTI's White CS

Digi Stamp: See link above to Jak's blog

Copics: R29, R59, G07, Y08, Y17, BG000, C1

Embellishments: Gold Pearls (Michaels); ribbon (from stash)

Spellbinders' Eyelet Pendant Pumpkin

When I saw this adorable pumpkin on Kimberly's blog (right after I bought the Eyelet Pendant with a coupon from our new Hobby Lobby), I just had to CASE it. Finally got around to doing it today using some lightly textured paper from Bazzill's Warehouse Sale. Full directions are on Kimberly's blog, along with a smaller one made with the next smaller die in the Eyelet Pendant set, so I won't repeat them here. The smaller one is totally cute too, but my beloved Wizard is "acting up", so I haven't made a small one.

Paper: Bazzill CS; PTI's Dark Chocolate

Embellishments: PTI's Leaf Ribbon

Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard & Eyelet Pendant & Tags Trio dies

PTI: 2009 Holiday Tags: Christmas Tree

Got my Christmas present from Hubby today (even though we really don't exchange gifts), but it can't go under the tree, as I need it to make cards for our Holiday card giving! Lucky me!!! We have four children between us with 3 December birthdays (both boys on the same day even) and our youngest in mid-January, so between their birthdays & Christmas for them & his 2 grandchildren, we rarely "do" Christmas gifts for each other. Honestly, we just get the things we "need" throughout the year & concentrate on them at this time! So, here's my very first little card from Papertrey's Holiday Tags -- I LOVE this set! Everything here is PTI except the ribbon from my stash.

Paper: PTI's White & Pure Poppy CS, Holiday Vintage Prints DP
Stamps: PTI's 2009 Holiday Tag Collection
Ink: PTI's Pure Poppy & Ripe Avocado
Embellishments: Amuse Stickers: Star & Rhinestones (Copic Colored w/R29 Lipstick Red); ribbon from stash

Tools: Spellbinders Wizard & Double-Ended Tag Dies

Cuttlebug "Lace Tree" Christmas Card

Another borrowed item from my friend, Ilene (what WOULD I do without her?)! Had seen a card done on the amazing Becca Feeken's blog awhile back, so decided to see what I could come up with using this embossing folder. It was a struggle, but finally embossed it on the green suede paper, added Stickles, a star and sentiment on a Fancy Tag all glittered up! Are you feeling the Christmas spirit yet?

Paper: Georgia Pacific CS; Green Suede DP

Stamp: PTI's Everyday Classics (Anniversay set - not for sale)

Ink: PTI's Pure Poppy

Embellishments: Xmas Red Stickles; MS Garnet glitter; star (source unknown)

Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard & Fancy Tags Die; ProvoCraft Lace Tree Emb. Folder; WeRMemoryKeepers Corner Rounder

"Just Us Girls" Week 6 Sketch Challenge/Cuttlebug Challenges University Basics: Let It Snow

Pulled out some stamps and my Copics for the Cuttlebug Challenges University Basics Class featuring basic Copic techniques. I then realized the pieces would fit Just Us Girls Week 6 Sketch well too. Just needed to give this little snowman a bit of color for his hat, hatband & nose, plus a hint of accent on his face and a bit of B21, B24 and Crystal Stickles really made the mittens come alive! I accented some of the dots on the snowflakes with Copic B21 underneath the transparent Stickles, a small effort that really made a difference! Just received my HSN Cuttlebug Winter Folders today (woo-hoo) so I used a few of the small snowflakes from the Cardinal folder on my sentiment strip!

Paper: Bazzill CS; Georgia-Pacific White CS; Bella Press DP
Stamps: Hero Art's Snowflake; DeNami Design's Trifles; Our Craft Lounge's Snowy Sayings

Ink: VersaColor Sky Blue & Royal Blue

Embellishments: Crystal Stickles

Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard & Circle/Scalloped Circle Dies

"Just Us Girls" Week 6 - Sketch Challenge

Here's my Christmas card for the JUGs sketch challenge this week, taking advantage of the loaned Nested Poinsettias dies from my friend, Ilene, before she "needs" them back! Remembered this Bazzill scalloped paper when I got out some of my Christmas stuff and thought the green was a nice compliment to the large red suede paper poinsettia I made a couple days ago. Cut three of the smallest poinsettia dies and used a small flower center from another Nestie on those. Quite simple! Can't wait to see all the other challenge entries!

Paper: Bazzill Scalloped Edge Dotted Swiss CS; Red Suede Paper

Stamps: NONE -- what a shock!

Ink: Didn't need any since I didn't do any stamping - LOL!

Embellishments: Gold Rhinestone Stickers (Michaels); gold braid trim (stash)
Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard, Poinsettia and Flower Creations Three (for smallest flower centers)

Give Thanks Card

EDITED to add: After my card stared @ me for a couple days (LOL!), I decided that at the very least it needed 3 little brown buttons -- there, that's better!!!

Just a simple Thanksgiving card today, as I'm struggling to find my mojo -- seems to have gone missing AGAIN--hate when that happens & I have no good reason for it! My friend Ilene loaned me her Holiday Limited Edition Nesties to try to jumpstart my creativity. I got a bit carried away with my sponge & distress inks on the edges of my pumpkin here and then was at a loss as to what else to do. Do you ever have that problem? I didn't want to waste any more of this lovely Basic Grey Mellow DP, so I finally just stopped after adding the sentiment, leaving the inside blank so I could write a message on it IF I decide to use this card. I'm taking a break & hope to try another card later today--wish me luck, as I obviously NEED it!!!
Paper: Bazzill scalloped CS; Basic Grey Mellow DP
Stamps: Fiskars Turkey Lurkey
Ink: PTI's Dark Chocolate; Rangers' Old Paper & Vintage Photo Distress Inks
Embellishments: Brown Ric Rac & waxed floss (colored with Copic E57; buttons from stash
Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard & Pumpkin Dies