Bright Bells for Christmas

 Happy December, friends! The count down til Christmas is on and I've got so many more holiday stamps to use before the 25th! It's my favorite season for creating and I have a gazillion Christmas items new and old taking up most of my crafting table. Today's card is mostly old dies and a new one.

The Sketch Challenge at FMS was on my mind and again. I don't know why these sketches simmer on the back burner of my brain for days! I had to fiddle around before deciding what I thought could work best. Here's my card. I'm entering it at the very last minute.

Here's the sketch.  My take is literal!

The bells are dies retired from SU long ago, but I thought they fit with the sketch well. I knew I wanted a detailed focal point. I like that it's also shiny cut from gold card stock! The holly, and sentiment are added to have a trio/triangle for balance. I kept the square more simple with an ornate frame and tone on tone stamping of the holly on the red panel. A white card base was embossed with a holly/berry folder for a subtle background. 

I will list the supplies below, and give you a special thanks for stopping by on this busy week. Happy hugs to you!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

The EF used is from SSS, the holly, berries and bow are from Concord & 9th Kristina Werner Festive Snow Globe Dies; the sentiment is from Kristina Werner Concord & 9th Joyful Holiday Stamp set; on the red panel I stamped in Versamark using Kristina's Easy Repeat Background stamp. The square frame is an oldie from PTI. 

Peaceful Season

 It's Thanksgiving Eve and I just finished photographing this card at my dining room table nestled among my centerpiece. Where all is beginning to be set for a family gathering tomorrow. 

I just couldn't resist putting a card together for Ann's pretty sketch at The Paper Players. I worked on it in snippets in between cooking and cleaning up, and all the other busy cozy holiday things. Also in time to wish my US friends a happy Thanksgiving!

Two vintage-y patterned papers from Scrapbook.com are paired with a sentiment and a buck from Nostalgic Christmas stamps and dies (SSS). I love the images of this set and look forward to using the tree and ornaments. It's brand new, so you know I'll be sharing it at the NBUS challenge where there are so many wonderful cards to inspire you!

Now I need to do a bit more cleaning up in the craft space. Love and holiday hugs to you! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Last Leaves of Autumn

 I don't know if it's the same with you, but seeing it on my planner really did cause a stir. Thanksgiving is a week away! How did that happen? 

I've been enjoying fall more this year as I am no longer in the North Carolina Sandhills which mainly has pine trees. Our move to the Charlotte area was good in many ways. We especially enjoy the beautiful colors in fall! The last of the leaves are hanging on. 

Today's card features a bit of watercoloring, a newly tried technique, and the Scripture verse that has been a special comfort. 

I began with stamping PB's Autumn Gala image in black onto watercolor paper. I used Distress reinkers and a damp paintbrush to color. The technique I tried was using Distress Glaze from Tim Holtz over the watercolored image, then heat embossing.  He suggests adding more detail with Distress Crayons on top. I went with adding a pale watercolor wash to the background and a few more details on the leaves with the reinkers over the slick glaze. Here's a photo so you can see the effect is like crystals. 

Putting the card together, the embossed panel is from the Variegated folder, and the verse is from Blessing: both by Penny Black. 

Blessings! That's what I'm wishing you today. I am so glad that you could come by. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 
              Make something beautiful!  

Snow Flurries

 I'm here for just a minute. Catching my breath during a fun week of creating. I'm cranking out Christmas cards that others have designed right now, and it's helping me learn some new things and stay busy trying to keep up! 

I made a shaker card that I just wanted to share today. I love shakers! 

The snow globe works well in many styles. Using some DSP I made a scene inside mine. 

Hope you are having a great day!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Challenges: 
Just Us Girls - Winter 
NBUS - the snow globe set is new from           Concord & 9
Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge

Thanks with a shot of Hugs

 Happy day, it's Monday again, I hope you had a great weekend. Last week I enjoyed wearing short sleeve tees at the beach where we spent two lovely nights! Today the fleece top is coming out and I'm liking my hot tea even more than usual with the chilly temps we're having.  I'm only a coffee person when it comes to today's card. 

I spent a bit of time re-watching an online card class and Jennifer shared a Pop up Christmas card. What makes this special is the window die cut out of the card front and the image popping to thie inside when opened.  It's so easy to do and adds a bit of fun for the recipient. 

Combining the old goodies of C9 Cup of Kindness stamps and dies and the new-to-me SSS Curvy Background stamp helped give me a fresh take for the card front. Maybe it's a tad busy but I just had to think of coffee with those swirls! I think they will work with snow scenes as well. 

I adhered the floral die cuts on the cup, then ran it through the machine to cut out the cup. It flattens the flowers to mimic an inlaid look. 

Speaking of Online Card Classes, I'm beginning the So Very Merry Class today. More Christmas cards to come!

That's all for me, thanks for taking time to visit. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Adding this to the NBUS Challenge

and the special challenge at Just Us Girls #800  

Saying Thanks with a Sunflower

 Greetings to you on a new day! I'm happy to turn the page to a new month too. That is always the case, but I love fall and November so much! 

I've made a fall thank you greeting combining a watercolored sunflower and some papers. 

This came together quickly because the image was already painted in my stash. In fact, I don't even know if I still own the stamp, and don't remember the name or company. It looks lovely and it's good I put it to use! The DSP is from SU and the frame from Penny Black. 

The theme is from The Paper Players,

the elements chosen from the grid offerings at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge  of  Thanks sentiment, FREE and Kraft cardstock  

 

and I've used for the first time a new set from Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments so I'll link this with Darnell and friends at NBUS. 

Simon Says Stamp and Word Art Wednesday say Anything Goes.

I say a big thanks to you for stopping in. Enjoy your day!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!