Tags and more tags

In response to Papertrey's Assembly Line challenge I made two sets of Christmas tags.  I made the first set

I overlaid a kraft tag onto a white tag having cut the snowman shape from the kraft tag.  Added a little color to him and a little snow to the tag and they were done.  Super easy, super cute!  But then I had the snowman diecuts sitting there so they needed to be used and I can never have too many tags at the holidays.  And so I made these

I used sparkly watercolors to paint the snowmen white which is so pretty on the kraft paper!  And then added a little color for the holidays.  I then popped those on aqua mist tags that I stippled the same white watercolors on for "snow."  A little metallic twine and done.

I hope you are feeling a little more festive now!  I know I am.

Amanda

Sending Love

I am so happy to report that I only need three more holiday cards for the year!  Hopefully I can knock those out in the next week or so and move on to other holiday projects...namely tags.  But for today I am sharing a card for the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  This week's challenge was to dig through their sketch archive and find a sketch to use.  I found several that I liked, but the one I settled on was from January of this year.

With that I broke out my brand new Post and Parcel Kit to make this card.

I stamped the sentiment in red on white cardstock and then covered the whole thing with crystal glitter for snow.  Instead of a circle around the image I added random hearts to tie in with the sentiment, "Sending love from our house to yours."  Super cute for someone we love far away.

Thanks for stopping by and please let me know what you think.

Amanda

Happy Holidays

Today I have a card to share with you inspired by the sketch at MFT and the technique challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown (embossing).

A lot of old stamps represented here...as in before I got married and had kids old.  The snowflakes are embossed with white embossing powder and the sentiment is embossed with red embossing powder.  A little silver to add a hint of shine and we're all ready for the holiday.

Thanks for looking!  I hope you like it.

Amanda

Christmas Critters

My crafty space has been a bit empty of late.  I was greatly inspired when I saw the Christmas Critters theme at 52 {Christmas Card Throwdown} and then when I saw the latest sketch at MFT I knew the two were meant to be.  I love it when an idea comes together so perfectly!  Here is my little bit of cuteness for the day.

I love this cute little guy!

Thanks for looking!
Amanda

Santa Claus is coming to town...

Another day, another challenge, another Christmas card...I am determined to get all my Christmas cards done before I start Halloween.  The Christmas carol/song challenge at Winter Wonderland got me working and when combined with the "for the boys" challenge at Daring Cardmakers I decided to have a little more fun with Santa.

This is the kind of Christmas card DH, his brother, and a few other men I know would get excited about.

I used fake snow and fun flock to add a little texture to the card.  I also used Stardreams cardstock as the base to add a little shimmer to the night.

I hope I made you smile today!
Amanda

Supplies
Stamps: PTI (sentiment), Stash from the unmounted rubber days where I forgot to write things down (Santa and chimney)
Dies: PTI (Border)
Paper: Stardreams (blue), PTI (White, Kraft)
Other: Distress Ink, Vintage Duo Ink (PTI), Fake Snow, Fun flock, Copics, paintbrush, gold pen

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

Today I am sharing a Christmas card inspired by the Christmas song as suggested by the challenge at Winter Wonderland.  Walking in a Winter Wonderland is a favorite song around here during the holiday season and the adorable log cabin from Papertrey is perfect to go along with it.

This photo is not the best...a side effect of squeezing in picture taking and living where it's always gray.  But the snow  is glittered up and the the trees have a touch of snow as well.  It makes me want to find a cabin and head to the woods for Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by!

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps: PTI (trees, cabin, deer, banner, sentiment)

Dies: PTI (banner, trees, star background, circles, deer, cabin)

Paper: PTI (Enchanted Evening, White), Vellum

Other: Embossing Folder (Sizzix), Distress Ink, Fake Snow

How Charming...

Today I'm sharing another Christmas card.  Gotta get 'em done!  This was is to play along at the How Charming challenge at Winter Wonderland.

I pulled out a snowman charm I've had forever and worked around him.  I also love this paper I found at a local store.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Let me know what you think.  

Amanda

Supplies

Dies: Sizzix (sentiment, Stocking)

Paper: PTI (Rustic Cream, Dark Chocolate), Stash (Green, pattern paper)

Other: Glossy Accents, Charm, Twine (Twinery), PTI Vntage duo ink

CAS Christmas

I am finally getting back on track!  It's amazing how hard it is to get back in the groove after a vacation.  Two vacations later and I am finally managing to get a card done AND posted.  I am trying to get all things Christmas created early so the clean and simple challenge over at Christmas Stampin' All Year was a perfect place to get going again.  I came up with this sweet little card.

I pulled out an old fairy from Pink Cat Studios and added a sweet little sentiment from My Time Made Easy (another oldie) and simple line of candy from Papertrey Ink.  Easy peasy!

Thanks for stopping by!  Let me know what you think.

Amanda

Supplies:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studios (Fairy), Sentiment (MTME), Candy Border (PTI)

Paper: PTI (White, Pure Poppy. Candy Cane pattern)

Other: Momento Ink, Brilliance Ink, Copics, Fun Flock, Radiant Pearls

Silver and Gold

Another post today...playing catch up as the deadline for the Papertrey anniversary challenges is tomorrow.  This challenge is all about metals!  Create a card using only neutrals and metallics.  I chose to use both silver and gold.  I am also entering this in Christmas Stampin' All Year Anything Goes.  

I broke out Vintage Ornaments and the Additions to make this card.  I still love the shape and classic feel of these ornaments.

Thanks for taking a look.
Amanda

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI (Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions, Tremendous Treats: Christmas)
Dies: PTI (Vintage Ornaments)
Paper: PTI (Rustic White), Stash (gold and silver)
Other: Embossing Powder (Stampendous), Embossing Folder (Sizzix)

Sweetest Wishes

The photo inspiration at Papercraft Star this week is this pretty little pic.

When I first saw it I immediately thought polka dots and set about coming up with a project idea.  Well, I never got anywhere with it.  Polka dots is where the inspiration started and then quickly halted.  I went back and took another, closer look.  This time I wrote down cupcakes, blue, lines, and repetition.  Back to the drawing board as they say. 

I kept thinking about cupcakes.  I pulled out my one and only cupcake set and played a minute or two.  Blue cupcakes...where is that going?  My littles really like Cupcake Wars on the Food Network which brought me to the "decoration" for the cupcake.  I think that's our favorite round.  Bring in Christmas Card Challenge's Snowman Challenge - snowmen and blue work together.  And while we're at it why not stick with blue throughout thanks to the Got the Blues Challenge over at Sweet Stampin'.  It seems impossible that this little card started out with the thought of polka dots, but here we are a Christmas Card all in blue for Little Man. 

I'll also be putting it up at the Blue Christmas in September Challenge at Here Come the Boys and the Anything Goes Challenge at Papertake Weekly.

And now, here are the sweetest wishes...

The cupcake and frosting are stamped with the same ink, the frosting is just stamped off twice to get a much lighter feel.  The snowman is popped up on foam. 

Thanks for looking.

Supplies
Cardstock from PTI
Stamps from PTI and Basic Grey
Die from Sizzix
Ink from Tsukineko and Momento
Copics
Glitter from Martha Stewart
Ribbon from Stash

From our house

I was reminded last night about the Holiday challenges over at Moxie Fab World.  I had wanted to get some of my items done and ready for the holidays in time for the challenge, but there were other things to do with the littles.  I know they're only little once so they, of course, got my time.  Yet, I woke up this morning determined to get something done to submit.  I had a few ideas, but time is always the magic ingredient that seems to be missing.  In the end, I did it!  So here is my treat box that serves a dual purpose as home décor.  When I finished it I wasn't sure which category to put it in, so I'm putting it in both and perhaps some of you can offer your opinions on where it goes. 

In a perfect world we will give this to someone filled with treats and then they can leave it out on their table or counter with treats in it to grab all season long. 

This little house is made from a template from Papertrey.  I know it's been around for a few years, but it's still a winner to us. 

Once that was done, and believe me it took a long time with so many interruptions, I moved on to gift wrap.  I like to have a few cards set at the ready for those times when you are invited to a last minute party, or the hubby comes home announcing he needs a gift for tomorrow.  Knowing this, a package for one of these sets seemed the way to go. 

This box also used a template from Papertrey.  The ornaments in the wreath actually tiny ornaments that I picked up forever and a day ago and completely forgot I had.  Yet, they were perfect for this project.

Supplies
(House)
Template from Papertrey
Cardstock from Papertrey
Stamps from Papertrey and Stampendous
Ink from Tskineko
Glitter from Martha Stewart
Tombow Watercolor Pens
Vellum
(Card Box)
Cardstock from Papertrey
Garland from stash
Ornaments from Stash
Bells from Stash
Ribbon from Stash

Celebrate the Season with Snow

Another Christmas card to add to the pile.  This is another one of the ones that will go out this season.  I need four that are reproducible so I don't get too bored during the process.  Every year there is a snowman card and thanks to some prompting by a few challenges I have it done. 

I am entering this in the following challenges.
It's snow business over at Crimbo Crackers.
Anything but a Birthday Card over at Aud Sentiments
Anything Goes over at Created With Love
Christmas over at Crafty Boots
Anything Goes over at Craftin' Desert Diva's
Holiday Card over at Moxie Fab World

It seems a lot of people are thinking about the holidays, not just me.  That does make me feel less alone. 

Here are the snowmen, or is it people?

It's a really simple card.  The most time consuming part is coloring, which was done with Tombow watercolor pens. 

Thanks for looking. 

Supplies
Cardstock from Papertrey
Watercolor paper
Stamps from Northwoods Rubber Stamps and Papertrey
Ink from Ranger
Embossing Powder from Stampendous
Tombow Watercolor Pens

Stamp-A-Faire Bake and Take

The first of the challenges was a fun little color and sketch combo.  I selected the following color combo.



And this sketch.



I flipped the sketch upside down and came up with this.

Clearly I was very into this tree die yesterday. 

Thanks for looking.

Supplies
Cardstock from PTI
Die from PTI
Stamp from PTI
Rhinestones from stash
Copics

Rolled Dough Designs

This was another slightly frustrating challenge for me since I am not good at waiting.  I didn't realize the drying time on the Paperclay was so long and while I could have tried to speed it up I didn't want to mess it up and have to run to the store for more.  Luckily, things fell into place so I was busy most of the wait time.  I am sure this particular technique needs a bit more work on my part as I had trouble cutting it with the dies.  I also had a few ripping issues when I did get a good cut.  Not everything can work out as we plan the first time, or the first day for that matter. 

Here we have a super simple Holiday card.  The dimension of the Delight Paperclay was so unique and pretty (I added chunky glitter before rolling.) I didn't want to overshadow it.  I added "lights" with various colors of Stickles.

I really must find a better way to take photos...

Supplies
Cardstock from PTI
Die from PTI
Embossing Folder from Sizzix
Stickles
Delight Paperclay
Glitter from stash

Custom Accents From the Oven

I have a house with littles and we love art.  Lots of art.  My littles really don't understand that not all kids have an art room let alone one as well stocked as ours.  There are many days filled with projects around here and typically the only problem is finding a project for everyone at the same time.  One of the go-to projects that will keep then occupied for a decent chunk of time is Shrinky Dinks.  We love Shrinky Dinks.  I have packs and packs of shrink plastic on the shelves.  The next challenge was to create a custom accent using shrink plastic.  This is something I do from time to time, but while working on this project I broke out the good stuff.  Honestly, I forgot I had it until the move a couple of weeks ago.  It's amazing the things that you "remember" when you're moving it all! 

Back to the challenge...I decided to try adding glitter to the finished product, something I'm not sure I've ever done.  I made a snowflake and a tree and then realized they were the perfect size to add to tags.  Here they are.

And once again, I'll need more before I can use these, but for today this is it.  I especially love the reindeer one.  They pair with the Tiny Treats images really well.

I'm also entering this in the Tag Challenge over at Crafting For All Seasons and the Holiday Tag Challenge at Moxie Fab World.

I hope you like what I've done.

Supplies
Cardstock from PTI
Dies from PTI
Stamps from PTI
Ink from Momento
Shrink Plastic
Glitter from ART and Martha Stewart
Copics

Ho, ho, ho!

I really want to get my Christmas cards designed.  It's almost September and Halloween treats and festivities will be here before we know it.  I like to have the thought process of the Christmas cards done before then.  It makes my life easier.  Lucky for me there were a few points of inspiration this week to get another one done.  First, in case anyone doesn't know, Tim Holtz does a monthly tag on his blog with a specific technique.  And while I've wanted to participate since they began I have never been able to until now.  This month's masking technique is something I used to do back before the littles and it immediately made me think of this Santa stamp that Santa was nice enough to bring me a couple of years ago.  Of course, the Christmas card with Santa kept getting put off for this and that.  A few challenges helped get back on track.  First, there was the reminder about masking from A Creative Romance, so I had my focus back.  Then as I was trying to put it together I needed a little something different than I was doing.  The tic-tac-toe board at Jingle Belles Rock Challenges led me to die cuts.  For the last little sparkle Holly Jolly Christmas Challenges took me to the glitter drawer.  It all came together like this.

I really like the final product.  It feels very me and what I would send to the serious group on my Christmas card list.  Since I like it so much I would also like to enter it in a few Anything Goes Challenges - Craftin' Boutique Challenges, Creative Corner Challenges, and Jo's Scrap Shack Challenge.

Thanks for looking.  I hope you enjoy it.  Let me know what your thoughts are.

Supplies
Cardstock from PTI and Stampin' Up
Stamps from Stampers Annonymous and PTI
Dies from Sizzix and PTI
Ink from Ranger
Twine from The Twinery
Stickles from Ranger
Paint from Ranger
Masking film
Distress Stain

Sweet Christmas Wishes

We love Christmas around here.  It always feels good to the season started off right by having some of the work done ahead of time.  Work does not make for a festive season, cookies and fun are festive, work is not.  Thus, over the summer I try to get the designs for the Christmas cards done so they can get made long before the season actually arrives.  The first card of the year (running a bit late I may add) is this sweet little gingerbread man. 

He is being entered in four challenges.  The Christmas challenge at Craftin' Boutique Challenges, the Cute Christmas Challenge at Winter Wonderland (I'm pretty sure he qualifies as cute!), the Anything Goes Challenge at Bearly-Mine Challenges, and the Holiday Card Challenge over at Moxie Fab World.

He has me ready to get to work on other Christmas projects!  Thanks for taking a look at him.

Supplies
Cardstock from PTI
Dies from PTI
Stamps from PTI and My Time Made Easy
Ink from Tsukineko and Momento
Copics
Gelly Roll pens