Letter for Santa

This week at the Crafty Gals Corner, our thee is Anything Christmas Goes.  So you have free reign as long as it has to do with Christmas.

I used Santa's Letter from Star Stampz and colored it with Copic markers.  The image was cut out using the Silhouette Cameo.  The background paper is from the Echo Park Winter Wishes collection which is available digitally from Snap Click Supply.  The sweet letter and envelope is from the Spellbinders Card Kit from November 2017.  I went with a non-traditional color palette and I love the way it turned out.

You have a chance to win some great prizes from our sponsors.  You can click the badges below to check out each of the shops.

Prize of 2 sets

and

Prize of 3 digital images

and

Prize of 3 digital images

Card measures 5" x 5.5"

Spellbinders Decorative Labels One

Wild Orchid Crafts pearl heart

I Am Roses flower

Stampin' Up! ribbon

Smile

Welcome back to another challenge at Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends.  We are glad to have you play along with us.

For my project I used Little Miss Bitty from Fred She Said Designs.  You get so many sweet images in one pack. I decided to make a die cut flower to match the flowers on her dress.  The background paper is from Nitwit Collections' Grins & Giggles paper pack.

You have a chance to win a $10 gift Certificate to be used in the Fred She Said store.   You can click the badge below to pop over and take a look around the shop.

I hope you will play along with us.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"

Echo Park Stitched Circles dies

Spellbinders Large Scalloped Circles dies

Stampin' Up! ribbon

Michaels dollar bin wooden word

Lace, brad, and gems from my stash

Ho Ho!

Time for another crafty challenge at the Crafty Gals Corner.  Another anything goes challenge at that!

This week I used Ava and Deacon Christmas - HoHo from Bugaboo Stamps.  I think they are just the cutest!  They were colored with Copic markers and cut out using the Silhouette Cameo. I tied the double bow by wrapping it around my fingers!  You can also use a fork if you do not have a tool to help you tie bows.

Our sponsor this week is Bugaboo Stamps and you have a shot at 7 digital stamps!  What a prize!  I wish I could play in the challenge.  Click on the badge below to pop over to the shop and look at all of the other wonderful Ava and Deacon stamps along with everything else Bugaboo has to offer.

Come play in the challenge!

Holly Jolly Christmas has an Anything Christmas Goes, so Ava and Deacon are going to HoHoHo their way over to that challenge.

Color Throwdown has an Any Christmas Creation, Any Colors challenge.  Ava and Deacon would like to see all of the Christmas colors and are going to go play in the challenge.


MarkerPOP has an anything goes challenge with Copics or any other marker they carry.  Ava and Deacon were colored with Copics so they will be visiting that challenge.

Melonheadz Friends has a Christmas challenge.  Ava and Deacon are going to spread some Christmas cheer in that challenge.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Stampin' Up! Home for Christmas buttons (green stripe, poinsettia)
Stampin' Up! Candy Dots Subtles
Spellbinders Gold Labels 4
American Crafts Ribbon
Michaels Holiday Splendor flower
button from my stash (pink)

Simply Betty and My First Side Step Card

Yep...you read that right.  My first side step card.  How I  have managed to not make one before now is beyond me!  I have to admit that I thought it would be far more complicated to create than it was.  The fact that it will still fit in a normal sized envelope makes me really happy!  I found this easy tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers.  Now that I have made one, I am sure I will be making plenty more!

The reason I decided to try my first side step card is because of a challenge going on over at Simply Betty Stamps.  I have recently fallen in love with these beautiful, big-eyed ladies.  I actually won Winter Rio in a fun Facebook game that we recently played in the Simply B Stamps Fan Group.  The challenge for Winter Rio is anything but a square.  I really hope this side step card qualifies!  Winter Rio is actually part of a set called Winter Beauties. You can choose to use one or all six for the challenge!  However, each stamp has its own requirements.  If you use all six, you are eligible for a special prize!  You in digi form!  The challenge runs through December 26th, so get to work!

The stamp comes with the sentiment I used as well.  I really love the style of Betty's sentiments.  The papers I used are digital and are in the Winter Wishes Fat Quarter Bundle from Nitwit Collections.  I love that they look like fabric!

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Spellbinders Snowflake Pendants
Spellbinders Floral Ovals
Spellbinders Classic Ovals small
Stampin' Up! Large Decorative Label punch
Stampin' Up! rhinestones
Martha Stewart Lace Heart border punch
Recollections Pearls
The Twinery Cappuccino baker's twine

So Excited!

Why am I so excited you ask?  Well, DeNami Design currently has a sketch challenge on the blog.  I haven't played in a DeNami challenge in FOREVER!  DeNami Design is one of my favorite rubber stamp companies and I was so happy to play in another challenge.  Lucky for me, it was a sketch challenge.  It doesn't get any better than that!

So this was the sketch we were given.

And this is my interpretation of the sketch.  I love the way this came together!  I used the Medium Curly Christmas Tree and just colored in the ornaments.  It is hard to see in the picture, but I used Copic Spica pens to add some sparkle.  I have been hoarding saving those little cookie cutter buttons for a special project.  I think it adds a great touch.

Card Measures 4.5" x 4.25"
Stampin' Up! - Curly Cute stamp set
Stampin' Up! -  Lucky Stars textured impressions folder
Dress it Up - A Keepsake Christmas button set

Mini Fairy and a Mini Blog Hop

Christy, the artist behind the wonderful images at Tiddly Inks, had a great idea.  In the Tiddly Inks Group on Facebook is the chance to participate in a mini blog hop.  Each picture in the album has the artist's blog in the comments.  Hop around and see the great inspiration!  One of the mini hop participants will win the new fairy release at Tiddly Inks.  I decided to join in on the fun even though I don't have all of my favorite things to work with.  You can play along until August 23rd, so pop in and join us.

I used Dandylion Pixie.  When I saw this stamp, I totally fell in love with her!  I hope she counts as a fairy...she has wings!!  Because of the size of the stamp overall, she ended up being very small.  She is around  1.75 inches.  Coloring with Copics was tricky, but I love how she turned out!  I had to use a spray fixitive because my printer here bleeds.  It added some texture that took some getting used to as well.  The best part of crafting away from my primary crafty space is that I can't just reach for all of my favorites.  I am using supplies that I tend to overlook.  It has been a chance to step outside of my crafty comfort zone.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
American Crafts ribbon
Stampin' Up! Sweet & Simple stamp set
Jolee's Boutique flowers
butterfly button from my stash (could be Jesse James/Dress It Up)

Wish Big!

The current challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is to create a project with a birthday theme.  I don't have many Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps yet, but I did get Dancing Dylan in my last order as a freebie.  I combined her with a sentiment that makes a perfect birthday card!

I colored her with Copics.  I am working hard to whittle down my scrap pile, so I am pleased to say that almost every piece used was a scrap!

I am also entering this in the Wednesday Anything Goes.  Hopefully that is allowed!  I will be away from my crafty space for over a week!

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Lifestyle Crafts nesting circles
Lifestyle Crafts nesting scalloped circles
Stampin' Up! Short & Sweet stamp set

A Little Whimsical

After having a bit of luck and winning the random draw over at Mo's Challenge Blog, I created another card for the Whimsical Characters challenge.  I used one of the Five Little Fairies.  This set was the first purchase I made from Mo's shop.  You don't want to see those first attempts to color this image!  Needless to say...I am much happier with this one!

I colored this adorable fairy using Copic markers.  The tag is a freebie die cut set I got with an issue of Papercraft Essentials.  The sentiment is from one of my favorite Stampin' Up! sets, Short and Sweet.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
American Crafts self adhesive ribbon
Darice Stars Asst embossing folder
Stampin' Up! Short and Sweet stamp set
Queen & Co Chic Charms: Kissy Fit

Wow...a CAS Card!

I joined Mo Manning's Facebook group, Bella and Bronte's Clubhouse, a while ago.  It is full of inspiration and wonderful people who are always ready to encourage!  It has been a great source of inspiration and courage!  If you are a fan of her art, you should pop over and join too!  Because of the group, I am actually going to enter my first-ever Mo's challenge!  Wouldn't you know, it is to create a CAS card?!  It could have been worse...it could have been a masculine card.  No actually, I think CAS is harder for me!

I am so pleased with the way this turned out.  I used Thanks! and colored it with Copics.  I am not sure I breathed the entire time I was coloring it!  The image was printed directly on the card base and I was so afraid I was going to have to start over!  I was so happy when the last marker stroke was completed!

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Stampin' Up! Banners Framelits
Stampin' Up! Banner Blast stamp set
American Crafts ribbon

A Little Metal...Well Okay...a Lot

Hello everyone!  What a fun challenge at Meljen's Designs this week:  use metal on your project.  It can be a little or a lot!  I decided to go with a lot!

Do you know how hard it is to photograph metal?!  It took me several tries to get a picture that I was happy with.  I used Hot Air Balloon colored with Copic markers and I also used Little Stitched Cloud.  To create the background, I used a piece of craft metal.  It came in a 12 x 12 sheet and I have had it forever, so I am not sure who made it.  I printed Little Stitched Cloud several times in a couple of sizes and cut them out.  I used them as a template to pierce the metal with my Tim Holtz piercing tool.  I also used a larger sized Little Stitched Cloud for the sentiment and a smaller one for the embellishment.  All of the images are popped up with leftover stamp foam for a lot of great dimension.  I found the lace trim at a local antique mall along with some great buttons and other fun embellishments!  You never know what you will find!

I am also going to link this up in the Blitsy Linky Party!  Love that website!  So many great crafty finds!

I can't wait to see how you get creative with your metal embellishments!

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Stampin' Up! Island Indigo Baker's Twine
Stampin' Up! Send Me Soaring stamp set
Basic Grey button
Paper Studio Ribbon Scraps
lace from my stash

Candy Land Colors

Wow!  It is time for another challenge at Meljen's Designs!  This time we have a color challenge for you.  Take a look at this color swatch photo!

Such bright colors!  When I looked at that photo, I immediately though of the digital stamp, Candy Land Dreams.  So, of course, that is what I had to use for my card!

The stamp is colored with Copics.  My "candy dots" are actually melted pony beads!  It is the latest craze sweeping the crafting world.  If you don't mind a little bit of stinky odor, you can cook up a batch of these yourself.  I used mini beads and melted them at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes.  You can get glitter beads, pearl beads, translucent beads...the list goes on and on!

I am also going to enter this in the Card Makin' Mamas challenge to use Buttons, Bits and Baubles!  

I hope you will join us this week for our color challenge!

Card Measures 1.25" x 5.5"

Spellbinders Labels Nine

Cuttlebug Mini Monsters embossing folder

Stampin' Up! Goody-Goody Gumdrops Stamp set

ribbon from my stash

Happy Anniversary

We are celebrating Meljen's Designs 4th anniversary this week.  What better way to celebrate than to get a gift, only in this case, YOU get the gift!  Melissa has drawn a special digital stamp that you can get for free for this week only.  Just pop on over to the shop and download it.  (Clicking on the image below will also take you to the shop.)  To play in this week's challenge, you MUST use this image.

Isn't it just adorable!  It is called All Our Friends and you can see many of the images that have become favorites over the last four years:  Brooke, Jaycen, Cupcake Mouse, and Raggy Puppy.  The design team has used this image on their projects and I am amazed at how different they all are!  Here is mine.

I continued with spring colors because today was a gorgeous day and I was inspired by sunshine and warmth!  The image was colored with Copics and it was great practice in using a light hand!  There are a lot of wonderful details in this image.  My card is 5.5" wide so the image was about 2.5" wide!  I think I may print it just a bit larger next time. =)  I made the crocheted flower myself.  I have actually gone a bit crazy and have an entire garden of crocheted flowers!

Don't forget...to play along, you MUST use the anniversary image.  It's free, so what are you waiting for?!

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles
My Mind's Eye Collectable Notable Wonder brads
Heidi Grace printed punchboard add-ons
Stampin' Up Friendly Phrases

Celebration Blog Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to your next stop on the Meljen's Designs Celebration Blog Hop!  If you have been following along, you know that we are celebrating our 200th challenge!  Isn't that fabby?!

I am so glad you decided to celebrate with us!  All of the design team members have created a project with a celebration theme.  The best part about this celebration is you get the presents!  Each stop along the hop will give you a chance to win the image used on that blog!  Just make sure to leave a comment and an email so you can be contacted if you are the winner.  Believe me, there is nothing worse than not being able to contact a winner!  And as always, there is always the chance to win three images if you enter our challenge which of course has a celebration theme this week. =)

You should have come here from Nancy's blog.  Isn't her project wonderful?  I definitely think it is time to celebrate spring at this point in the winter!  If you just popped by and would like to start from the beginning, or if you have gotten lost along the way, just click the blog hop banner above to go back to the challenge blog.

For my project today I spruced up an old cigar tin that my husband gave me after emptying it.  I plan to use it as a gift card holder in the future.  I am not sure how I feel about cigars, but I end up with a lot of great boxes and tins to have fun with!

I really liked that the tin was gold.  Usually the tins are silver.  But those crazy pirates had to go!!

I used Little Bird's Song and colored it with Copics.  I nearly had a panic attack when I realized that I had put all of the elements on the lid upside down!  The box opened the wrong way!  Luckily, I was able to remove everything and fix it.  Those darn pirates were playing tricks on me.

The inside of the lid had the same picture as the cover so those pirates had to go too!

I left the sentiment oval blank because I am not sure what occasion this tin will be used for.  I will add the appropriate sentiment later.

Okay!  Now it is time for you to hop on to the next blog for even more tasty inspiration!  Next up on the blog tour is Robbie and I just know she has something wonderful cooked up for you!  Before you go, be sure to leave me a comment and include your email address.  You just might win your very own copy of Little Bird's Song!  All of the winners will be announced on Monday, March 17th.

Spellbinders Floral Ovals
Stampin' Up! Decorative Label Punch
Stampin' Up! Sweetly Framed hostess set
Ribbon, lace, gems from my stash
Recollections acrylic flowers (I think!)