Cardabilities Sketch #16

It's time for another Cardabilities sketch. This was a totally FUN sketch to work with, and I really enjoyed creating this card. First, here is sketch #16:

Aren't those trees a fun feature on the sketch? You don't have to use trees - just use something tall and skinny. I liked the trees, though, so I created a winter scene for my card.

I went outside my normal colors and played with pink and purple and aqua trees. There is some Stardust stickles on each tree as well as along the snowbanks. To complete the frosty feel, I swiped some white ink along the edges of the Kraft cardstock. Brrrrrrrrr!

Check out what the other DT gals have created over on the Cardabilities blog. You will love all the fabulous eye candy, trust me. Maybe you will see something to inspire you to create your own card using this sketch. Add the link to your creation on the Cardabilities blog so we can all check it out. :-)


Stamps: Trees with Trimmings (PTI), Snowflakes (retired SU)
Ink: Aqua Mist (PTI), Fresh Snow (PTI), Versamark, Lavender Sachet (Palette), Toile Pink (Palette)
CS: Kraft, Aqua Mist, White
Other: sponge, Star Dust stickles

Christmas Berry Milk Carton

I got together this afternoon with a girlfriend, and we both decided to just stamp for fun. I pulled out a new stamp set, and I just happened to notice a white milk carton die cut from Creative Cuts and More on my table. Hmmm........ let's see what happens!

I ended up stamping this silhouette floral sprig all around the milk carton, and then I sponged along the edges with some Antique Linen distress ink just for a little depth. To make this Christmassy, I added some little dots of Creative Inspirations Garnet paint. To my surprise, this paint took less than five minutes to dry and the color is still bright and vivid and shimmery.

I assembled the milk carton die cut with some Killer White Tear-able Tacky Tape, punched some holes at the top, tied a red ribbon through the holes, and added the Merry Christmas tag. This is going to be a fun gift - just fill it with candies or some other small gift for a loved one.

When you place an order with Creative Cuts and More, please remember to use this coupon code - CC&M10Holly - and you will get 10% off your order. This savings will come in handy for your Christmas shopping! :-)


Die Cut: Milk Carton
Stamps: Larger than Life, Friendship Jar Holiday Fillers - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Meadow Adirondack, Pure Poppy - Papertrey Ink, Antique Linen distress
Other: linen thread, red twill ribbon - May Arts, paintbrush, sponge, Garnet Creative Inspirations paint

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is going to be a very quick note today, but I just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We woke up this morning to find messages on our cell phones from a good friend, and he is in the hospital getting his appendix out. Fun way to celebrate turkey day, huh?

So we rushed to throw some clothes on, drove to his house to pick up some things he needed, and stayed in the hospital til he made it through surgery and moved to a recovery room. Now we are showering and will go back to check on him, then we will stop by my mother's house for a quick bite to eat and head on back to the hospital.

I thought I would share a quick card with y'all - it's my Warhol Orange Note. The shades of orange seemed perfect for today, and the silhouette floral stamp and the sentiment are from I Brake for Stamps. When you shop at I Brake for Stamps, be sure to use this coupon code - SAVE10HOLLY - to save 10% off your order. There is a fantastic sale going on over there right now for Black Friday, so go check it out.

One more sales note - Creative Cuts and More has two special coupons to use for your orders this holiday weekend: One is for 20% off anything in the store and the code is cybermonday. The second coupon is for free shipping in the US with a minimum order of $25.00. That code is blackfriday. Both coupons are good through Monday. Only 1 coupon can be used per order. This is good timing for all the die cuts you need for your Christmas gift giving. :-)

Here's hoping your day is full of love, fun, laughter, and good times. Happy Thanksgiving!

Bo Bunny & Cardabilities

Today is a special post. Our very own Karan from Cardabilities was invited to create a special sketch for the Bo Bunny blog challenge! How cool is that? Karan came up with a great sketch with lots of ways to use Bo Bunny papers.

I found a sheet of Bo Bunny's Love Bandit Stripe paper, and the colors looked like they could work for Christmas as well as Valentine's cards. With that in mind, I added an ornament to my card to make it Christmassy. See the little fringe above the sentiment? That was a fun little experiment using Martha Stewart fringing scissors. :-)

Check out the Cardabilities blog to see what our other designers have created with this fun sketch, and then head on over to the Bo Bunny blog to see what they have planned today.

Stamps: Vintage Ornaments (PTI)
Ink: Basic Grey, Chartreuse, Belle Rose
CS: Basic Grey, White, Love Bandit Stripe from Bo Bunny
Other: Basic Grey ribbon, ornament die (PTI), Embossed Curve Edge Punch (EK Success), Martha Stewart Fringe Scissors

Walnut Ink Resist Joyeux Noel Collage

I used the Walnut Ink Resist technique from Technique Junkies but morphed it by using Glimmer Mist instead. The collage image is from I Brake for Stamps' new Christmas Collage sheet. The little red strips in the background are also sprayed with the same Glimmer Mist for a coordinated look. This is another card for my "mail-able" Christmas cards box. :-)

Have you been shopping at I Brake for Stamps yet? You can save 10% on your orders just by using this code - SAVE10HOLLY - in the coupon code box when you check out. Happy Shopping!!

Pyrus Pieced Pumpkins

Just a quick post as it is way past my bedtime. I paper pieced these adorable pumpkins (Pumpkin Harvest) from I Brake for Stamps, with some papers from Basic Grey's Pyrus collection. The papers just scream "fall" to me, and they work beautifully with these pumpkins. The sentiment is from the Every Day Phrases sheet at I Brake for Stamps. I colored in the leaves and stems with some Copic markers, and I added a bit of shading all around the image.

When you go shopping at I Brake for Stamps, be sure to use this code - SAVE10HOLLY - when you check out so you can save 10% on your order.

CC&M Christmas Ensemble Blog Hop

Welcome to the Creative Cuts and More CHRISTMAS BLOG HOP! Yes, we are all showcasing Christmas ideas today to get you ready for the upcoming holiday. If you have arrived here from the Die Cut Diva blog, you are on the right track. If not, please start by going to the Die Cut Diva blog to start the Christmas blog hop.

I wanted to go with the classic red and green Christmas colors, with just a touch of rustic country thrown in, so I ordered all my die cuts in Kraft cardstock. The die cuts that I am using today are: Christmas Ornament #01 - Large, A2 Card, and Square Bag #01 - Large.

I stamped snowflakes on the kraft cardstock of all three die cuts. Then I used some scraps of white cardstock and cut them so they curved slightly, and trimmed the edges so they fit each die cut. The red and green trees were stamped and cut out. I wanted some tiny red ornaments on my green trees, so I ordered some Ruby Red Rhinestones from Creative Cuts and More and adhered them to my trees. I just love these rhinestones - they are the perfect size for these tiny trees!

I also ordered some Clear Rhinestones and used them on the tree in the center of this card. Just a little ooomph to set the card apart.

One lucky hopper will win a fabulous prize from Creative Cuts and More. Leave comments on each blog along this Christmas hop, then go back to the Die Cut Diva blog and let us know that you left comments on each blog, and your name will go into the hat for the drawing. You could win this wonderful Christmas Card Kit which includes several adorable stamps that coordinate perfectly with the papers in the kit!

Are you ready to hop to the next blog? You are in for a real treat when you see what is coming up next! Time to hop on over to Dawn Lusk's blog - don't forget to leave comments on each blog for a chance to win the Christmas Card Kit!

Die Cuts: Christmas Ornament #01 - Large, A2 Card, and Square Bag #01 - Large.
Stamps: Trees with Trimmings, Holiday Spirit Sentiments, Inside & Out Holiday (PaperTreyInk)
Ink: Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado, Fresh Snow, Summer Sky Memento
CS: white, Kraft for the die cuts
Other: sponge, red twill ribbon, Ruby Red Rhinestones, Clear Rhinestones

Cardabilities Sketch #15

Are you ready for the next Cardabilities sketch? Here we go with Sketch #15:

I loved the simplicity of this sketch, and I tried to stay true to the few elements here. I didn't add a bunch of extra layers or embellishments; it's a nice CAS (clean and simple) Christmas card.

I stamped one of the ornament stamps from Just Rite and colored it with Copic markers before cutting it out. I wanted the ornament to really pop out against the background paper, so I added the pink colors to the ornament. The sentiment is from Cornish Heritage Farms (now retired), and I used the Wisped Frames technique around it. The corners just screamed out for a little extra decoration, so I added some punched corner pieces and pearls to complete this card.

Check out what the other DT gals have created over on the Cardabilities blog. You will love all the fabulous eye candy, trust me. Maybe you will see something to inspire you to create your own card using this sketch. Add the link to your creation on the Cardabilities blog so we can all check it out. :-)

Stamps: Christmas Expressions (Cornish Heritage Farms), Christmas Ornaments 3 (Just Rite)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Bashful Blue
CS: White, Olive, Eskimo Kisses dp (Basic Grey)
Other: Copic markers, Offray ribbon, pearls, corner punch (EK Success), oval die (Spellbinders), Labels 4 die (Spellbinders), sponge
Technique: Wisped Frames (Technique Junkies)

Aged Tiles Poinsettia Collage

I have some exciting news! I have been asked to join the I Brake for Stamps Design Team! How cool is that? There are so many stamps at IBFS in so many different styles that there really is something for everyone in that store.

For my very first card, I created this card with the poinsettia collage from the new Christmas Collage sheet. There are four gorgeous images on this sheet, and you'll be seeing more of my work using these collages in the weeks to come. You just saw one last week with the Torn Frames Peace Bird Bag post. :-)

I stamped the poinsettia collage with a red ink, let that dry, and then used the Aged Tiles technique (from Technique Junkies). I distressed the edges of the layers for a more rustic look, and then adhered that to a kraft card base. This is a perfect flat, mail-able card for the busy holiday season. We all need flat cards that only use one PO stamp to be mailed, right? :-) Come on back next week to see another flat and mail-able card with another Christmas Collage image.

I know you will love the gorgeous stamps over at I Brake for Stamps, so browse around and drool away. You can save 10% on your orders just by using this code - SAVE10HOLLY - in the coupon code box when you check out. Happy Shopping!!

Prince Poppycock

Here's the other clown card I promised you. Quite a different look from yesterday's Sepia Clown, huh?

I used the Bingo Blast technique from Technique Junkies on the background, and I colored the harlequin clown with Copic markers. I didn't want to add a lot of extra stuff because I really wanted the clown to take center stage here.

You can order these clowns from I Brake for Stamps by clicking on THIS link. You can also save 10% on your order by entering in code SAVE10HOLLY when you check out. Happy shopping!

Sepia Clown

There is a brand new sheet of rubber at I Brake for Stamps featuring some wonderfully drawn clowns which you can see HERE. This is just one of the clowns on the sheet, and I kept thinking how vintage and old-timey these clowns look. So I used the Sepia technique from Technique Junkies here to give my clown an old-world feel.

The colors were inspired by this week's Color Throwdown challenge #118 - Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, and Kraft. Ooooohhhhhh yeah, I like these colors together. I just added in a touch of white to complete this card. Oh, and I just had to add the little pom poms - after all, no clown is complete without his pom poms.

You can order this clown as well as four others from I Brake for Stamps by clicking on THIS link. You can also save 10% on your order by entering in code SAVE10HOLLY when you check out. I have another clown card to show you on Friday, so come on back to see what I've done with the harlequin clown. Happy shopping!

Belli Challenge #104 - Candy Cane Sleigh

Are you ready for today's Belli Challenge?  Today we have a very different kind of challenge.  The theme of our challenge today is "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue."  Sounds like a wedding, right?

You are more than welcome to create a wedding themed card/project if you choose.  Our take on this theme is more literal - use new papers, old embellishments, borrowed stamps, or even just make it all blue if you choose.  It does not have to be wedding themed.  For my project, I picked the "NEW" aspect of the Belli Challenge theme.

I ordered a NEW sleigh die cut from Creative Cuts and More, stamped on it with a NEW stamp set, and filled it with NEW mini candy canes from Walmart's Christmas section.  That adorable candy cane stamp is from Flourishes' newest stamp release called Sweets of the Season. 

Check out what the Belli Girls have created with this fun challenge over on the Belli blog.  Come play along with us and add your link to the Mr. Linky widget so we can all see what you have created!  :-)


BTW - if you want to order that awesome sleigh die cut, click HERE.  Use coupon code CC&M10Holly to save 10% off your order at Creative Cuts and More!  Happy Shopping!

Torn Frames Peace Bird Bag

Creative Cuts and More is sponsoring the Caardvarks challenge this week and I wanted to play along. The challenge is to create a holiday card/project using die cuts, so I pulled out this versatile Square Bag #01 - Large that was cut from Kraft cardstock.

I stamped the bag with Holly's Tattered Background (my favorite background!) from I Brake for Stamps and set that aside. A green paper from Basic Grey's Wassail paper collection was stamped with the "peace bird" image from the Christmas Collage sheet, also from I Brake for Stamps. The collage image was too large for the bag, so I cut the sentiment off and trimmed down the bird image just a tiny bit. I distressed the edges, and then adhered them to some Torn Frames layers. Then I adhered the sentiment below the bird.

To finish off this bag, I punched a couple of holly leaves from a darker green paper (Basic Grey Wassail collection) and added some red buttons for the "berries." Once the stamping was complete and the embellishments were adhered, I used some Killer Red Tacky Tape to assemble the bag.

I love keeping a few of these bags on hand for quick little gift bags. Kraft is such a versatile color, so these bags can be used for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and birthdays. Don't forget to use coupon code CC&M10Holly to save 10% on your order from Creative Cuts and More.

When you purchase Holly's Tattered Background and this gorgeous Christmas Collage sheet from I Brake for Stamps, use coupon code SAVE10HOLLY to save 10% on your order. There are tons of stamps at the IBFS store, so grab some hot cocoa and enjoy your visit.

Wanna be a Belli Girl??

CREATIVE BELLI CHALLENGE DESIGN TEAM CALL!

We are looking to add some talented stampers to join our team for the first 2011 term, which runs January 1-June 30, 2011. ANY stamper, scrapbooker or papercrafter is welcome to apply!

Requirements:
~ You must be able to follow instructions on time and work well with others.
~ Check out the participants blogs and comment please.
~ Post your work with the weekly code to other Forums you are participating in and comment in those areas too.
~ You may "miss" 3 challenges out of the 6 month commitment.
~ Participate in each Bi-weekly Challenge and upload your project to the Belli blog no later than the Sunday evening before the Challenge Week.
~ Post a permanent DT banner on your blog
~ Join the DT Yahoo Group (our sole means of communication)
~ You MUST have a blog and be posting regularly.

To Apply:
Please create a card for your favorite challenge in your best work and send it (100kb or less each) to chrissyd723@gmail.com by December 15th. Please use BELLI DT CALL as your subject line. You may use any stamps and supplies you have. Be sure to include your full name, address, email address, and a link to your blog.

PLEASE NOTE: previous DT experience is not necessary.

We will not be able to respond to each submission. If you are chosen, you will hear from us by December 16. We will post the NEW members of the Design Team on December 20th.

If you have any questions please email me at chrissyd723@gmail.com with BELLI DT CALL Question in the subject line. I will do my best to get back to you within a day or two.