Hot and Cold - A Birthday Card

The challenge on Wednesday at 365 Cards was hot and cold.  As I went out the day today this has been on my mind as I needed to make a card for a friends upcoming birthday.  This friend is a man and this always seems to stump me.  Making a card for a man.  Girls...easy.  Women...easy.  Boys...easy.  Men...not so easy.

I wanted the card to be festive and happy but not foofy.  Here is what I came up with using the hot and cold challenge.

 

I chose a blue that was slightly turquoise and a red that was a bit more orange so it wouldn't take on a 4 of July feel. 

 

The colors carried through on the inside too.

 

 

Busy craft day

I had an appointment with a client today that was postponed and I have taken advantage of the time today.  At present I am addressing cards.  Okay not presently, presently as I am typing this blog entry but you know what I mean. :)

Here are last couple cards and yes you guessed it challenges helped me on the way.  I used the sketch  at 365 Cards as a jumping point for this card that I made using all scraps.  Scrap paper and scrap ribbon!

 

This card used the leftovers from the toile challenge card and some left over card stock in the Vineyard from CTMH.

 

I used Tsukineko Sheer Shimmer Mist in Frost and Sparkle on the white part of the snowflake which you can see in the close up.

 

This last card for the year is this one using the opposites challenge at 365 Cards.  I chose red and green as you can probably tell from the card.  The layout allowed me to use more scraps from other cards I have made this year. 

 

The papers used in this are from Pebbles Inc., DCWV and The Girl Paperie. The tag is MME from the 12 Days of Christmas line.

 

 

And I was asked the other day if I was a neat scrapper or a messy one.  I think like most I am messy.  The following photo was taken while in the middle of the last card.  Judge for yourself. :)

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Matt Wertz - Snow Globe

It is that time of year...Christmas Music Time!

This song by singer Matt Wertz is a favorite contemporary Christmas song of mine.  Hope you enjoy it too.

Toile Card

Christmas cards are really coming along.  Which makes me SO happy.  I hope to mail them all out on Wednesday.  And since the family decided to take a trip together instead of exchange gifts, mailing out those cards will me Christmas prep will be done! 

Last night I jumped into another challenge to get another card done.  This one was to use Toile on the card.  I have been hoarding just the perfect paper for several years and knew it would be perfect for this challenge.  Yay!  Pretty certain last night as I was "yaying" to myself at my scrap-desk my husband was wondering about my sanity. ;)

Here is the card I made with that awesome paper from Bo Bunny and using the inspiration of Challenge 283 over at 365 Cards Blog.

 

The patterned paper is called Homespun Holiday Toile.  Card stock is Vineyard from CTMH.  As is the ink I used on the edges and the ribbon.  I let the toile take center stage and used it twice.  The bottom layer of the is embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder called D'vine Swirl and then sanded.  The pine cone embellishment is from K & Company.

You can see the embossing better in this picture.

Love Challenges

When I get stuck on how to design a layout or a card I look to challenges.  I find at times by limiting what can be used, or having to use a certain item, inspires creativity.  One of my favorite challenge blogs is 365 Cards.  I love it because of the whole concept...new challenges each day. 

Recently the challenge was to combine scallops and stripes.  Here is what I came up with using that challenge.

 

That ornament in the middle was cut on my new cricut.  Which I am completely in love with and has me asking why in the world I waited so dang long to get one.  The paper is from last years Christmas collection from MME called "12 day of Christmas".

 

Another challenge that really had me scratching my head was the Pick-a-Pattern challenge from Thursday.  I thought easy-peasy until I went through my stash to find that I own no paisley paper or  paisley embellishments.  What is a gal to do?   Well she is to dig through her stamp collection and hope she'll find one in there.  Lo and behold I did!!! 

 

Here is what I did with that paisley stamp.

 

The paisley stamp is part of a CTMH set called Adorable.  The "Merry Christmas..." stamp is Studio G.  The red paper is from DCWV and the stamp is on kraft cardstock then embossed with Judi Kins embossing powder in White Diamond.