Silent Night Holy Night - SNSDC77

It's time for another challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is to use stitching on your card.  It can be either real or faux.  I have stitched ribbon and I did faux stitching around the edge of my card. I pierced holes all along the edge of the main panel and then drew my "stitches" with a pen. Like my real stitching, it's crooked. Oh well!  That's "art imitating life" right?

There is a snowflake embellishment up in the left corner but it's hard to see in the picture.  I used blue "pearls" to accent it to help it show up a little better.  Some of the snowflakes in the paper have star dust stickles in their centers -- of course, that's also hard to see in the picture.  On the white embossed lower panel, I used some left over bling from the flourish to accent the centers of some of the snowflakes.

I did quite a bit of interior decorating -- the camera angle makes the writing panel look huge.  It's really a 5.5" square card.  :)  I was just trying to show the whole interior but ended up with a funky angle.

Here is a close up of the interior upper panel.  I carried the stitching theme throughout the entire card.  This upper panel has reversed matting (I'm sure there's another name for it).  The Scripture verse is actually on the bottom and the kraft & snowy blue papers are layered on top.

Supplies:
Cardstock - Bazzill, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper - Bo Bunny (Snowfall)
Stamps - Sweet 'n Sassy Digi (Christmas Carol Sentiments)
Embellishments/Tools:  Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Snowflakes), Spellbinders Label 3, ribbon (The Paper Studio), Prima Say It in Crystal Flourish & rhinestones, snowflake (Michael's), blue pearls (Oriental Trading), Stickles (star dust), SU Stampin' Write pen (Night of Navy), Signo white opaque pen

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ #162 - Something that speaks calm or peace to you (snow is peaceful and calming to me -- a snowy field or sky just calms my soul)
Stamptacular Sunday #186 - No Rules (aka anything goes)
Pile It On #43 - A Holiday Card (obviously I chose Christmas)
Krafty Journal - Inside & Out
Word Art Wednesday #51 - Scripture or positive sentiment
Delightful Challenge - Use stitching-real or faux
Whimsy Challenge #51 - All Things Sparkly
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges #24 - Stitching (real or faux)
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #31 - Christmas
52 Card Pickup - Make a card
Crafty Friends Challenge #9 - Glitz & Glam

I hope you'll play along with us this week in our stitching challenge.  I do appreciate you taking the time to stop by and visit today.  Have a good weekend.

I Miss You

It's hard to believe that this is my final week as a guest designer for the 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge Blog.  What a quick month this has been.  I've had so much fun working with these ladies.  They are fantastic!!

This week's challenge is a Halloween theme.  Since I don't celebrate Halloween, they graciously allowed me to use a pumpkin/fall theme.  I love this cute little image of the kitty peeking out from behind the pumpkins.  I had to color her gray in honor of my Sasha. {In case you've noticed, most cats I color are either gray or yellow/orange.  That's just the current cat population here. *smile*}  The image is from Clear Dollar Stamps.  My version is the outline image that you color.  However, when I looked on the website, I could only find it in the pre-colored version.

I used the October sketch from The Craft's Meow for my card design.  After coloring my image with copics, I cut it out and popped it up on the embossed panel.  I matted the image panel with a SB Lacey Circle and backed that with a SB Labels 3 die cut.  I used my trusty brown Sharpie marker for the faux stitching and added my sentiment on a little tag suspended from the ribbon.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Recollections
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Picadilly)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (cat with pumpkins), Misc (I miss you)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black), ColorBox Fluid Chalk (Chestnut Roan)
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders (Circles Small, Lacey Circles, Labels 3), CuttleBug Embossing Folder (Swiss Dots), Marvey 1" Circle Punch, ribbon (Morex), eyelet (Oriental Trading), baker's twine (The Twinery - cappuccino), Sharpie Fine Marker (brown), Fiskar's Border Punch (Apron Lace), Copics (C0, N1, N3, N5, N7, G17, YG03, YG05, R81, YR07, Y35, Y38)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
The Craft's Meow October Sketch Challenge
Love to Create #38 - Pumpkins
Stamptacular Sunday #186 - No Rules
The Crafty Pad #193 - Any animal
Friends of Speedy TV #43 - Harvest
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge (PPMC62) - Fall Inspiration
Clearly Inspired Challenge #62 (CIC62) - All Tied Up (use ribbon or twine)
Word Art Wednesday #51 - positive sentiment
Divas by Design #58 - Use some orange
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges #24 - Use Stitching (real or faux)


Thanks for stopping by today. 

A Surprise I Received....

Sharon over at A Piece of Heart gave me a great compliment today by nominating my blog for the Liebster Blog Award.  This is my first blog nomination ever so I'm really excited to be able to share this news with you.  Be sure to check out Sharon's blog.  She has some cute cards and some Freebie Friday digital sentiments.  You won't want to miss them.  Thanks Sharon...you made my day!

The Liebster Blog Award is an award that is given by the blogging community to new up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers. It's designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion to share your dearest and most beloved blogs.

RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE:
Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog. Post the award onto your blog. Give the award to five bloggers who you appreciate that have less than 200 followers. Leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you have given them this awesome award!

PAY IT FORWARD:
So now comes the fun part! I am privileged to give out 5 nominations.  Here are the 5 fabulous blogs with less than 200 followers that I would like to pass the Liebster Award on to:

Jan Marie at Re-Creations

Crafty Math Chick at Canines & Card Designs

Tricia at ...Simply Staming...

Cynthia at Stampin' in Alaska

Korin at Rejoicing Every Moment

I'll be leaving a comment on each of these ladies' blogs to let them know I nominated them.  I hope they'll each accept the award with the admiration that is intended towards them.

Thanks for stopping by today and an extra "Thank You" to those that choose to follow me.  I'm truly honored.

As a PS....I couldn't let this day go by without wishing a Happy 3rd Birthday to our precious grandson.  Happy Birthday, Jack.  You have truly added so much joy to our lives.

October Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Release - SNSDC76

It's time for another challenge but we have some extra fun this week!  Along with our challenge, the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Team is having a blog hop to introduce you to the October Digi Release.  If you came here from Patricia's blog then you are at the last stop on the hop.  If you are one of my regular readers and just came straight to my blog, you may want to go back to the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog and start the hop from there so that you don't miss a thing.

While you're hopping, be sure to leave some love on each of the blog hop posts…One of the ladies below is a mystery blogger and she will be picking a random winner from the comments on her blog post!!

The winning prize will be the whole October Digi Release!! (The winner will be announced on the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog on Friday, October 26th.)

This week's challenge is to use metal somewhere on your card.  This can be a staple, brad, button, wired ribbon, charm...anything metal counts.

 I got to play with the new Christmas Greetings set.

My card design was inspired by one of our challenge participants that entered this card for challenge #74.  I thought it was such a unique design that I had to give it a try.  I used lots of sponging and pearls on this card. My bow is made with some fantastic May Arts ribbon that I just found at a scrapbook store down the street from where I work {good thing my lunch break is only 30 min.!}.  I included this metal button I found in my stash and added a red "ruby" dew drop to the center.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Christmas Greetings, Christmas Sentiments)
Ink:  Stampin' Up (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments/Tools:  ribbon (May Arts), pearls (Stampin' Up, Queen & Co.), Spellbinders (Lacey Squares, Fancy Tags 3), Dew Drop, Misc. button from stash

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #50 - Use a positive sentiment
The Crafty Pad #191 - Distress It
Kraft Outlet - Ink it up
Pile It On #42 - Shaped Card
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Favorite (Spellbinders dies & brown ink)
Scrap Creations - Leaves (holly leaves on my paper)
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC228) (sentiment as focal point)
52 Card Pick-up #42 - make a card
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long #33 - Traditional Colors
Ooh La La Creations Challenges #116 - Christmas Sentiment

Now, here is the blog hop list to see October Digi Release - Metal Challenge creations.  Don't forget to leave a comment on each blog for the best chance to win the entire October Digi Release.

Tricia Traxler

Cynthia Olheiser

Crafty Math Chick

Ceal Pritchett

Patricia Hays

Stephanie Wright

I'm the last stop on the blog hop.  Now it's your turn to inspire us with your project using a digi and a metal element.  Please link up your project at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.

Thanks for *hopping* by today.  Have a wonderful weekend!!

A Rose for You

It's time for another challenge at the 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge Blog (4CCC112).  This week, we want to see dry embossing.  Pull out those embossing folders and have fun!!

I used two different dry embossing techniques on my card.  Behind the rose, you can see simple embossing done but running my die-cut cardstock thru the Cuttlebug while inside a Swiss Dot embossing folder.  The pink background is not patterned paper.  I found a wax paper embossing technique on Stamp TV (Cuttlebugged Wax Paper).  I ran a piece of wax paper thru my Cuttlebug while inside a Victoria embossing folder. I then placed the wax paper between two pieces of white cardstock.  I placed the waxed paper sandwich under a towel and ironed for a few seconds until the wax melted onto my cardstock.  I then ran Angel Pink ink all over one of the pieces of cardstock. {The 2nd piece of cardstock can be used on another project or as a back up in case you mess up the first one.  :)  }  After inking to the coverage I wanted, I wiped off the entire piece with a paper towel.  This removed excess ink from the waxed sections. The wax paper acts as a resist and brings out the Victoria pattern.  You can see it a little better in the detail picture below.

A bling flourish and an organdy bow provide lots of femininity to this card.

I colored the rose with copics.  I cut them out before popping them up on pop dots on my embossed and matted panel.  Some Diamond stickles provide some sparkle. 

This card also has some interior decorating.  The Angel Pink ink is light enough that I could have used it as a watermark under the sentiment but I chose to let it shine in the bottom right corner.  A glitter pen gave the butterfly some sparkle.  A border punch gave the inside another feminine touch.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill, DCWV
Stamps: The Craft's Meow (rose), SU (Mini Mates), Studio G, Studio 18, Inkadinkado Expressions
Ink:  Memento (Angel Pink, Tuxedo Black)
Embellishments/Tools:  Cuttlebug Embossing Folders (Swiss Dot, Victoria), Cut-Rite wax paper, household iron, Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Large, Petite Scalloped Ovals Small), Prima Say It In Crystals Flourish & rhinestones, Ribbon Trends ribbon, Stickles (diamond), Martha Stewart border punch, Sakura Gelly Roll pen (Clear Star), Copic Markers (YG03, YG05, R81, R83, R85, Colorless Blender)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Whimsy Inspirations #52 - All Things Sparkly (bling flourish, stickles, glitter pen)
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Favorite (This has several favorites: spellbinders dies, layers and sparkle)
Word Art Wednesday #50 - Positive sentiments
52 Card Pickup #41 - make a card
Crafty Friends #8 - Dry Embossing

I hope you'll join in the fun this week and give embossing a try on your card.

Thanks for stopping by to visit today.  I hope you'll come back soon.

Your Ministry is a Blessing - SNSDC75

This week the challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog is to make a card of appreciation.  Since October is Pastor Appreciation month, I decided to make one for my pastor.  Now, it is true that my pastor is also my husband.  However, who better to appreciate all the hard work he puts into shepherding his flock than one who has a true "behind the scenes" view?  I see all the effort, sacrifice, prayer, hours of study & research, and just plain hard work that he puts into being a pastor.  Even after listening to him preach hundreds of sermons, I can still say I look forward to going to church to hear him preach.  Pastor Appreciation Month is a great excuse to let him know I do appreciate all the work he puts into being such a wonderful pastor.  If you know him personally, please don't mention this card to him as I haven't given it to him yet.  :)

Since this was a masculine card, I chose to go with muted colors, distressing, brads, and jute instead of my usual pearls, bling, ribbon & flowers.  :)  I embossed the kraft panel under the Scripture verse and then inked it to bring out the embossing.

 One of the wonders of digi stamps is being able to resize them.  I was able to use PSE to make the church a watermark and layered the verse on top. I added some brads for a finishing touch I used the sketch from Speedy TV Sketch with a Twist but forgot to add this week's twist of buttons.  :(

Supplies:
Card base:  The Paper Co.
Cardstock: Recollections/Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Oxford)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Country Church, Many Thanks)
Ink:  Stampin' Up (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments/Tools:  eyelet (Oriental Trading), brads (Making Memories Metallic Medium & Mini Circles), corner rounder (EK Success), jute (JoAnn's), Spellbinders Labels 7, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Forest Branches)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Shopping our Stash #72 - Tic-Tac-Toe (top row - brads, kraft, embossing)
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday  - Tic-Tac-Toe (right column - punch/die, kraft, digi)
Friends of Speedy TV #41 - Distressing
Sentimental Sunday #123 - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge #60 (PPMC60) - Sentiment is the main focus
Simon Says Stamp - Dies and/orPunches
Divas by Design #75 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday #49 - Scripture
4 Crafty Chicks - Tag
52 Card Pick-up #41 - Make a card

I hope you'll use this week's challenge as a motivator to express your appreciation to someone.  Cards are such a great way to brighten someone's day.

Thanks for stopping by to visit today.  I hope you'll come back soon.

Purr-fectly Sweet of You

It's time for a new challenge at the 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge Blog (CCC111).  This week...Tag, You're It!!

I chose this adorable pre-colored digi image from Carly's Cuties (the set comes with pre-colored & outline images along with the sentiment in jpg & png formats).  I *found* this adorable 6 x 6 pad from 3 Bugs in a Rug that is all about cats.  You'll be seeing more of it.  :)  I used the September sketch from The Craft's Meow for the card design.

I mounted the image panel and its mat on a double layered tag.  I embossed the yellow tag layer with an embossing folder for extra texture.  Carrying on the circle theme from the mouse paper and the embossing, I used a sheer dotted Swiss ribbon on the tag and across the card.  I used glitter pens on Kitty's collar and eyes for a little sparkle.  Faux stitching accents the image panel and the photo corners and a few pearls finish it off.

Supplies:
Cardbase:  Bazzill
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned Paper:  3 Bugs in a Rug (Frisky)
Stamps: Carly's Cuties (Sweet Kitty)
Embellishments/Tools:  ribbon (Michael's), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), pearls (SU), Skaura Pens (Blue Star, Pink Star, Clear Star, Glaze), Uniball Signo pen (white opaque), Creative Memories Fine Tip pen (black), CuttleBug embossing folder (Spots and Dots)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #49 - Encouraging sentiment
52 Card Pick-up #40 - make a card
Shopping Our Stash #72 - Tic Tac Toe (I have the bottom row and diagonally from bottom left to top right)
Sentimental Sundays #123 - Anything Goes plus a sentiment
Papertake Weekly - All Creatures Great and Small (any creature)
Divas By Design #56 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you'll play along....Tag, You're It!!!

Scarecrow's Happy Thanksgiving - SNSDC74

Since it's Friday that means it's time for another Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge.  This is sort of an extra special week for me because it's my first official week as the Digi Challenge Design Team Coordinator.  :)

This week's challenge is a Tic-Tac-Toe challenge.  We're to use 3 items from the board below that will make a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

I chose to use the far right vertical column:  button, distressing & paper piecing.

I paper pieced the scarecrow's hat and overalls. {He is a new image for me and I think he's adorable.} The rest of the image was colored with copic markers.  The yellow panel was distressed with a distressing tool and ink. 

I sewed the button to the banner with jute and, instead of knotting it at the back, I tied it with a small bow on top of the button.  I added faux stitching with a brown fine point Sharpie marker.  I honestly don't remember how that particular marker got in my collection but it is SO useful.  :)

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Crate Paper (Random)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Happy Scarecrow, Gobble Gobble Sentiments)
Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk (chestnut roan)
Embellishments/Tools:  jute (JoAnn's), button (La Mode), Copic Markers (Y17, Y38, Y35, Y11, Y000, YG03, YG05, B23, C-1, E02, E07, E11, E31, E33, E50), Spellbinders (Standard Circles Large & Small, Lacey Circles), 1/16" circle punch (used behind button), Sharpie fine point marker (brown)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
The Craft's Meow October Sketch Challenge
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Tic-Tac-Toe (Punch/Die, Kraft, Digi)
Sentimental Sunday #122 - 3-2-1 (3 layers on image & sentiment panels, 2 different patterned papers, 1 button)
Catered Crop - Halloween/Fall
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge (PPMC59) - Fall
Word Art Wednesday #48 - use sentiment
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (Option of Celebration - Thanksgiving)
52 Card Pickup #40 - make a card

I hope you'll break out your digi stamps and join us this week in our game of Tic-Tac-Toe. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a good weekend.  Sir Cuteness (aka our grandson) is coming for a visit so we're going to be kept hopping.  It's been a LONG time since we had an almost 3 yr. old running around our home. We're just a *little* excited.  :)

Thanks Be for Thee

I was so excited to be asked to be the Guest Designer for the 4 Crafty Chicks challenge blog.  This fun challenge blog was started by 4 friends who like to craft and to do challenges.

This week's challenge is to make a Thanksgiving card.  For Canadians, Thanksgiving Day is in October and for those of us in the USA it's in November.  No matter when you celebrate, a day set aside to thank the Lord for all the blessings He has given us is a very good idea!

For my card, I chose one of my favorite "fancy fold" card designs -- an easel card.  I used a retired 1998 Stampin' Up set that I was given several years ago but hadn't used yet.  I used a sketch from Mojo Monday (MOJO199) for the main panel.  This card features lots of inking on the sentiment & image panels.

I colored the brads used in the bottom sentiment panel with an E29 copic marker.  There were originally a yellow color that was too bright for my color scheme.  Due to my impatience, the color isn't smooth but in the end, I kind of like the swirly look.  My card is a standard A2 (4.25" x 5.5") when closed.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Little Yellow Bicycle (Hello, Fall)
Stamps:  Stampin' Up (Thanks Be for Thee)
Ink:  Stampin' Up (creamy caramel)
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders (Circles large & small, Lacey Circle), Copics (R27, Y17, N0, N5, N7, N9, E07, E08, E33, E37, E29), ribbon (Michael's), Bazzill Just the Edge Scallop Strip, brad on large flower (Oriental Trading), brads on 2 smaller flowers (American Crafts), flowers (Portofolia)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #48 - Use encouraging/uplifting sentiment
52 Card Pick-up #39 - make a card
Terrifically Thrilling Challenges - Tic Tac Toe (Dies, Free, Ribbon)
Sentimental Sunday #122 - 3-2-1 (3 layers on big flower, 2 colored brads, 1 ribbon)
The Crafty Pad #190 - Floral
Catered Crop - Halloween or Fall
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge (PPMC59) - Fall
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (Option of something to Celebrate - Thanksgiving)
Scrap Creations - Fall Flowers
Divas By Design - Texture
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC226) - Flowers

I hope you'll play along this week and make a Thanksgiving card.

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Because There's You

I have a quick card to share with you today.

I have had this image by Clear Dollar Stamps colored for awhile now.  I have been waiting on just the right card for him.  When I saw this week's Sketch with a Twist over at Mark's Finest Paper's Speedy TV, I knew he'd found a home.  The twist this week is to make a non-traditional (no squares or rectangles) shaped card.  I used by Grand Nestabilities for this cloud-like shape.  I had to trace outside the smaller size and hand-cut it to get a mat.


Supplies
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio (Textured Cream Sheet Music)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digi (True Friend Digital Sentiments), Clear Dollar Stamps (dog image)
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders Grand Big Scalloped Ovals, SU Corner Rounder, Copic markers, The Twinery baker's twine (cappuccino), brads (Hot Off the Press - Music Notes)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
MFP SpeedyTV Sketch with a Twist #14 - use sketch and make a non-square/rectangle card
Word Art Wednesday #48 - Use encouraging sentiment
52 Card Pick-up #39 - make a card
Sentimental Sunday #122 - 3-2-1 (3 brads, 2 colors of cardstock, 1 adorable dog image)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #159 - Use music elements (paper & brads)
Tuesday Throwdown #118 - Cute & cuddly image
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #29 - Any shape but square

Have a good day!