A Few Challenges and Welcoming New Followers

I've managed to get a card made that wasn't going to a submissions call in between all the crafty painting I've been doing.  I decided to play along with a few challenges, two were the same theme and one had a great sketch.  First up is Addicted to CAS's current challenge where the code word is Autumn/Fall.  Then CAS-ual Fridays challenge is Fall colours and at least one leaf.  I decided to play along with Less Is More for the first time and the challenge was to use the sketch provided.  And so my card was born!

**Update**. I'm linking this up to Moxie Fab World's Colour Media Challenge.

You know, I love this time of year!  The weather can still be beautiful during the day but the nights are cooler for sleeping.  Plus, all the beautiful fall colours of the leaves!  I never take those colours for granted since I lived in Calgary, AB for several years and the only fall colour there is yellow.  And brown.  Boring!  They have no maples there.  Just a whole lotta poplars.  Anyway, back to the card.  I needed a birthday card for my SIL so I thought I could make a fall-ish one since her birthday is in October.  I've had this stamp for a while but I think I've only ever used it once.  It comes from a lovely set by Inkadinkdo.  I believe it's still available too.  Pretty sure Simon Says Stamp sells it.

You know it's funny.  I used to have such trouble making CAS cards and now I find it hard not to!  LOL.  Anyway, first I sponged my red (StazOn) and yellow (Marvey) inks on white cardstock.  I added a bit of soft suede (SU!) after.  I cut my circle out and then stamp my leaves with timber brown (StazOn).  I ran a piece of white cardstock through my embossing machine (Sissix Texture Impressions) using a wood grain folder (Darice).  Made a little banner and stamped my sentiment (Fiskars) in timber brown.  Then assembled it all together.  I think my SIL will like it.  :-)

Now, it's that time of the month when I welcome any new followers.  I've got two to introduce today. First up is newbie to the blogging world, Susanne Vargas of Keep in Touch!  Please, show her what a wonderful blogging community we are and pay her a visit.  :-).  Next is Kirsty Vittetoe of Handmade Little Things.  Now she's an experience blogger with a whole lot to share.  A fabulous card artist!  Definitely check her out.  Welcome to both of you!

Well that's all for me right now.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Snowman and Penguin Spoons

Hello everyone!  Sorry it's been a while since I last posted.  As I've mentioned in other posts its a busy time for me right now getting my stock ready for the upcoming Christmas crafts fairs.  My first one is the end of October and it'll be here before you know it!  I have been working on some cards when I can but they are for the current submissions call over at Paper Crafts Magazine.  So, I can't share them with you yet.  :-). I will, however, share with some of what I've been working on.  I've been painting my spoon ornaments.  I take old spoons (sometimes I use new yet inexpensive ones) and paint little Christmas scenes on them.  The ones I've been working on are my snow man and penguin spoons.  I also have a couple of cheese knives that I got from my Mom that I painted like snowmen.  Here, let me just show you.  :-)

So, there they are.  They are super fun to do.  I paint little scenes on them too.  Like a moose in the snow or a cardinal or chickadee on a tree branch.  I'm doing some new ones this year since I had some inquiries last year for snowy owls and bluejays.  :-)  Right now though, I'm working on my Santa brushes.  I'll post a picture of those when they are done.  I've been working on the rest of my 2x4 snowmen too.  I've also got Santa forks and reindeer forks to do.  So much to do!  It's a good thing I love this stuff!  :-)

I just want to quickly mention something that happened earlier this week.  I was very honoured to have received a Liebster award for my blog!

My wonderful fellow blogger friend Cornelia from Stempel Spass, gave it to me.  It was super nice of her.  :-). You should check out her blog.  She's quite the talented card maker and super nice!  Anyway, as I understand it I am now required to give this award to 5 other blogs of my choosing.  I'm still working on my choices but I will post them as soon as I can.  :-)

Anyway, thanks for visiting and I hope you all have a fantastic day!

Let it Snow card

Now let me make it clear that I definitely DO NOT want it to snow!  I'd be happy with snow for Christmas and then bye bye!  :-). LOL.  Unfortunately, we get LOTS of snow here in Jemseg but the worst of it usually holds off until late December or early January.

Anyway, I digress.  Again.  :-). I've got a card to share today that comes about because of my favourite Christmas card challenge blog, yep you guessed it, Festive Friday!  They've got a great colour challenge this time around.

Navy, white and silver.  Love this combo.  I've had this idea for a card for a while and good thing I sketched it out to remember it.  So, I got out my trusty sketch book and voila!  Here's my card.

I've used an old tree stamp I've had almost from the beginning of this obsession I refer to as a hobby.  First I masked off my hills and moon and sponged my blue ink for the sky and then used another mask to create the second hill.  Then I stamped the tree in black masking off the hill area.  I used my white gel pen for the snow.  I matted this panel in silver and blue.  I adhered my strips of ribbon then stamped the sentiment in blue.  Then I attached my image panel with some foam dots.

I really like how this turned out.  I'm also going to link up to the current Holly Jolly Christmas challenge which is to make a Non-traditional colours Christmas card.  Meaning no red or green.  I believe this qualifies.  :-)

Well, that's it for now.  Have a lovely day and thanks for stopping by!

Crazy For CAS Challenge #26: Waves

So when I saw what the challenge over at Crazy For CAS was I immediately knew what I wanted to do.  They want you to use waves on your card somehow.  I've had this stamp for a while and hadn't inked it up yet.  I thought, oh I have the perfect stamp for this!  So here it is...

I love this sandcastle stamp (Studio 112, $1.00 bin at Joanne's).  So, I stamped it with timber brown StazOn on watercolour paper and used my watercolour pencils to colour it in.  The waves are freehand and didn't turn out too badly, I think.  The sentiment is an old one from Scrappy Cat and actually has a gift box image but I masked that off.  I love the wave effect of the sentiment too.  I layered it on some metallic blue paper (Colorbok) then cream card stock.  Viola!

That's all for now.  Just trying to get over a nasty cold at the moment.  Today the first day that I'm feeling somewhat human.  :-). Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Peace, Love, Joy

So, I got another card made the other day.  This time I kept three different challenges in mind.  It's been a while since I played along at Jingle Belles and I really wanted to join in this time round.  They have an awesome sketch challenge going on now.

Awesome right?  I'm also joining in on the fun at Festive Friday.  They've got a trigger challenge this time.  It's the word "peace".

Now you didn't have to use the word but I liked it.  I always think of doves when I see that word.  I just so happened to have these little dove embellies hanging around my desk so....  Anyway, I used my Slice to cut out my words (Words and Expressions - Holidays design card).

I'm also going to link up at Addicted to CAS as well.  The code word is "music".  I've had this music patterned paper (Dear Lizzy Neapolitan collection) for a while and I've really wanted to use it.  I think it works quite well.

I have a hard time believing that I didn't stamp a thing on this card!  I usually stamp something.  :-).

Well, that's all I've got today.  Thanks for looking and have a wonderful day!

10 Minute Craft Dash #25

I'm going to try to make this a quick post as I'll probably be heading to bed early.  One thing about my son starting school means I have to get up early too.  Blah.  I'm not much of a morning person.  :-)
Anyway, I made this card for my FIL for his birthday and decided to use the opportunity to play along at the current 10 Minute Craft Dash over at Pretty Pink Posh.  It certainly is a challenge to create a card in 10 minutes but very doable.  Here's the colours for the challenge.

**Update**. I'm linking this up to Moxie Fab World's Stickers and Tape challenge.

And here's my card...

I used some scraps up which is always nice.  Cut some banners from them and embossed the brown with a wood grain pattern.  I splattered the card base with watered down blue ink.  I cut a strip of white card stock, sponged it with brown and stamped the sentiment (Stampin' Up!).  I adhered everything and then added the watch sticker (K & Company) with some foam dots.  I almost ran out of time at 9 minutes and 52 seconds but managed to finish in time.  :-)

Well, that's all for today.  Thanks for stooping by and have a good evening! (Or day, depending where you live!)   :-)

Sorry I've been MIA.

I haven't been posting lately or visiting and commenting at other blogs either due to craziness!  Between the regular everyday chaos, there was the yard sales which went okay.  Then my little boy started Kindergarten this week.  He's been soooo excited.  It's so quiet around the house now and it's going to take some time getting used to it.  :-)

While I don't have any cards to share at this time (I'm working on a couple though so I'll get them posted soon), I do have one of the new Christmas crafts I'm going to be selling this year.

It's snowmen made from a two by four!  I love these snowmen.  The scarves and hats are made from scraps of actual scarves and leg warmers!  The one with its own sweater is actually a piece of a real sweater.  My Mom was cleaning out the craft stuff from her volunteer group and she thought I could use these scraps.  So I did.  :-). Here's a closer look at the green one.

They are pretty easy to make.  You could do Santa too but I'm sticking to snowmen for now.

Anyway, that's all for now.  Have a fabulous day and thanks for stopping by!