I'm Playing Elf with Christmas Kickstart Challenge

It's time to play at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge. 
Stretch yourself and make a card with non-traditional colors..

How do you like the title?  Not the Norm!  AND IT'S NOT.  
How do you like these non-traditional colors?  I wasn't sure if purple would work, but I was absolutely amazed how much I liked this card.  I was a little off on the placement of the deer's nose there, but otherwise, not bad at all.  

I can't believe how much I like these non-traditional colors for this card.  There are four stencils with the stencil set and I hadn't used this stencil yet, so I just went for it.  I tried to choose all the purple hues that I had. I had to make it a cohesive color set.  I just started with the softest color and went from there.  What a surprise when it all worked out.  

Supplies:
Waffle Flower Postage Collage Stamp set
Waffle Flower Postage Collage North Pole
Waffle Flower Postage Collage Die
Waffle Flower Postage Collage Christmas Stencil
Waffle Flower Essential Sentiments Stamp Set
Waffle Flower Shader +1-Double Ended (fantastic)
Distress Oxide inks: Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserve & Wilted Violet
Distress inks:  Milled Lavender & Wilted Violet
Wink of Stella
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes Unlimited #3-2025

Love To Scrap Challenge (always Anything Goes (4/8)

Classic Design - ATG w/opt "thinking of you" (Unlimited entries)

Park Hopping My Happy Place - Santa's Wonderland in Texas

The Card Chain Challenge Reveal for February

Card Chain Challenge

Time for the Big Reveal! 

Here are the options I had available to try.

As soon as I saw DIE CUTTING, I knew I'd make a card using one or more die cuts. 

I have used this Poppy Stamps die cut before, but I thought I'd just cut out the leaves from green cardstock.  I forgot that I could have cut a center from white cardstock until I had already glued all the flowers on.  Of course this was also after I found out I had glued the top flowers on thinking it was the bottom of the card and had to carefully lift the butterflies where the daisies are now placed.  

The life of a card maker.  hehehe

I found a sentiment that really fit perfectly for the center of the card.  But here's where the best surprise was, the friend die.  I love how you can use either the individual letters or an outline of the letters.  I die cut the bottom layer (in white) three times to make sure it made an adequate stop for my easel card.

Supplies:

Poppy Stamps Fern and Daisy Pop Up Easel card dies
Brass & Bliss Hugs (never used before)
Memory Box Friend Daily Script (never used before)
Nuvo  Crystal Drops - Gloss - Moroccan Red
Copic markers
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes Unlimited #3-2025

Crafts Galore Encore - "Anything goes" (3/3)

Love To Scrap Challenge (always Anything Goes (3/6)

Classic Design - ATG w/opt "thinking of you" (Unlimited entries)

Beautiful Blossoms Must have flowers (15-12 of a month) 8 projects
FarmQuestGeneralStoreChallenge  (1/3) farm projects
Park Hopping My Happy Place - Gilroy, CA Amusement Park (flowers)

March Fiesta With Morgan's Artworld

   "Anything Goes" March 1st to March 27.

You can use any image or project you have posted in March to enter Morgan's ArtWorld challenge. 

For purchasing Morgan's ArtWorld Images, please visit the website at:
Morgan's Fitzsimons Art Studio    

Join Morgan's ArtWorld Facebook 

A beautiful senorita.

Supplies:

Morgan's Artworld Fiesta
Cuttlebug embossing folder (no name on folder)  
Waffle Flower Essential Sentiments combo 
Altenew Enamel Dots - Summer Afternoon

Copic markers
Brother Scan N Cut 

I'm entering the following challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes Unlimited #3-2025

Crafts Galore Encore - "Anything goes" (2/3)

The Paper Funday - "Anything Goes" w/out the opt color twist  (2/6) ends 3/2

Love To Scrap Challenge (always Anything Goes (2/6)

Classic Design - ATG w/opt "thinking of you" (Unlimited entries)

Creatalicious - "Anything Goes" (2/3)
Fab an Funky - "Fantasy" 

Marching with Sunny Studio for March

 The challenge Theme for March at Die Cut Divas is critters, real or imaginary!
Sunny Studio will generously contribute a $30 gift Certificate to the winner. 

I didn't have enough time to use all the Winter stamp and die sets I got, so I may be on a Winter splurge.  After all, some places have snow.  I also wanted to keep thinning out my Washi tape.  I used a couple of rectangular pieces of paper, wrapped them in Washi tape with cheerful designs, and then die cut them.  I did have to glue some of the tapes as they had no "stick" to them at all.  I had cut and colored some of the darling penguins out a couple months ago and just picked 4 out to decorate this card.  The little penguins are popped up and makes this card super cute.

Supplies:

Sunny Studio Penguin Party stamps & dies
Washi Tape (die cut with Sizzix dies)

Copic markers

Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes Unlimited #3-2025

Crafts Galore Encore - "Anything goes" (1/3)

The Paper Funday - "Anything Goes" w/out the opt color twist  (1/6) ends 3/2

Love To Scrap Challenge (always Anything Goes (1/6)

Classic Design - ATG w/opt "thinking of you" (Unlimited entries)

Creatalicious - "Anything Goes" (1/3)
Fab an Funky - "Fantasy" 

The Paper Funday - "Anything Goes"  (1/6) ends 3/2

Thank You to Hero Arts

It's all about Shaker Cards 

Last Day for the monthly challenge at Die Cut Diva's and I made a lovely Shaker Card, but found that Hero Arts no longer carries this die, however there are many dies that you could choose for that perfect shaker card or any type of card you wish.

I had some 4X6 inch foam sheets that I die cut with a HA Arches Infinity die so I didn't have to cut strips of double sided tape. I then glued 2 of the foam panels together and then glued to the back of the Window on the Garden panel.   I had cut some sentiments out and put them in a baggie for future use, however, I have no idea what brand they are and picked one that fit.

See the Chunky Glitter inside ready to shake.

Supplies:
Hero Arts Window on the Garden - not on Hero Arts site now
Hero Arts Arches Infinity dies that remain hidden behind this panel
Recollections Chunky Glitter
Foam Sheets (2) between the calendar page and the HA die cut panel
I don't remember what company the sentiment is from

Calendar page
Vagabond die cut machine

Craft Roulette Easy Peasy

 This time I found time to play with the categories in Craft Roulette.

Project: A2 size card - done
Colors - Valentines - reds
Element: February - Valentines Day & both Washington & Lincoln's birthdays
Random: Metallic or Foil - Silver metallic paper under red die cut

I need to have more birthday cards on hand and how fortuitous that Colors and Element matched so well.  I went for red cardstock to cut out the Happy Birthday panel, then pulled all my metallic papers out and thought the silver fitted better than gold or copper.  I didn't want to leave the to p empty so pulled out the boxes dies as who doesn't like a present or two with their birthday card?

Supplies:
Poppy Stamps Happy Birthday Background - I couldn't find it on the site
Waffle House Layered Boxes dies
Altenew Enamel Dots Aqua Island 
Papers from stash
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:
Crafts Galore Encore Challenge - "Anything Goes" (2/3)
A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes Unlimited submissions #2-2025

Craft Roulette Strikes Again A Week Ago

 Craft Roulette Strikes Again

I had my card finished on Thursday, but kind of spazzed out about entering it, so I'm going to chow you the card I made using

Project: Book Binding Card - Binding panel
Colors: Candy - hard candies in lots of colors
Element: Rhymes with Ogg - log
Random: Letter(s) (ing) - sentiment, happy birthday

I needed a birthday card and thought I use the old Rubbernecker rubber stamp I really like.  I cut off the tabs of the MFT Snow Drifts to layer them as small hills and sponged the sky using the cloud stencil to where the top of the "hills" would come.  I colored three of those darling raccoons and the log. Thinking I needed some sun I die cut the sun and sponged it yellow.  Altogether a fun birthday card for a friend's Birthday on the 27th.  The edge of the "book binding" is from an old Xmas card.

Supplies:
My Favorite Things Snow Drifts
My Favorite Things Yuzu Little Rascals stamps and dies
My Favorite Things Cloud Stencil

Rubbernecker Birthday Balloons - not in the new Brass & Bliss website
Brass & Bliss Sun Moon die cut 

Distress Inks Broken China, Lucky Clover, Squeezed Lemonade & Twisted Citron

Copic markers

Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes Unlimited submissions #2-2025

Crafts Galore Encore - "Anything goes" (monthly (3/3) Simon Says Stamp - Cute and Cuddly (I think this is cute and cuddly)

The Creative Crafters for February

  The Creative  Crafters starts a monthly challenge every 15th of the month and I've made a Birthday Day card as inspiration for this month. 

This challenge is always "Anything Goes".  
Be sure to join The Creative  Crafters challenge! 

I made this card for my first born and it's in the mail, but should be there by now.
For some reason, I just switched from one thing to another to make and then chose what I had on my desk. I don't think he'll be unhappy with it, but if this had vegetables, it would be a no-no.  
I was obviously into using dies on this one.  The Happy Birthday is a new die that I like.

Supplies:
Poppy Stamps Happy Birthday

Poppy Stamps Pointy Lattice Plate

Poppy Stamps Evangeline Pinpoint Frame
Hero Arts Berry Basket stamps

Copic markers
Vagabond die cut machine

Brother ScanNCut

I'm entering the following challenges:
NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) #71  new Happy Birthday die
Let's Craft and Create "Anything Goes w/a sentiment"  (2/3)

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes Unlimited submissions #2-2025

Crafts Galore Encore - "Anything goes" (monthly (2/3) FarmQuestGeneralStoreChallenge  Fruits found in a farm store (1/3)farm projects

I got a new Hero Arts die

Say Hello to Hero Arts and Die Cut Diva's challenge which is to

Make A Shaker Card.

As you can see, I cut out the candles so the sequins would show through.  I die cut the circles, taping two dies together to obtain just the circles 3 or 4 times on the peach paper.  I also die cut the plastic top so I could fill it with sequins.  I looked for a sentiment that would fit the card and continued it inside.  I cut up the phrase "Sending Paper Hugs" to use on the front panel.

Supplies:
Hero Arts Holiday Candle Arrangement
Kat Scrappiness Sending Paper Hugs 
QuicKutz Nested circle dies
Nuvo Festival Gold Pure Sheen Sequins
Copic markers
Left over plastic top from a to-go plastic container
Paper from stash
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:
NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) #71  new stamp Holiday Candle Arrangement
Gem of a Challenge - "Anything Goes" (4/4)   
Lost Coast Portal To Creativity  Fruit, Flower & Foliage (1/2)
 A Cut Above  always a die, "Anything Goes" February  (1/3)

 

Time for Craft Roulette Categories

February 7, 2025 Craft Roulette Wheel gave us the following criteria:
Project: Card w/3 folds (lots of folds for snowdrifts inside the box)
Colors: Sweaters (come in all colors)
Element: Footwear (Santa's boots)
Random: Post-it (the black post-it on the front is glued on)

I have no idea where I got black post-its, but there you go.  I think this is the first time I've used one to put on a card.  I think a company sent this little batch to me in an order, but I did keep them and it actually made sense to use them. I just had to show you all that out in the world, there are black post-its.

I almost ran out of Christmas cards last year so I need to find endless ways to make more for this year.  I cut the background out of a card I received for Xmas about 4 years ago. 

Picture with the black post-it notes beside the card.

Supplies:

My Favorite Things Outside the Box
My Favorite Things Outside the Box Level Up
Rubbernecker (became Brass and Bliss, but not on that site) - Santa Needs a Hug
Brass and Bliss In Case You Get Cold stamps & dies
Black post-it notes (I couldn't believe it either)
Copic markers 
Vagabond die cut machine

January Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Card Chain Challenge

Time for the Big Reveal! 

Here are the options I had available to try.

On this card, I had to stick to Friendship for my option.  

I had just used the Hill die and couldn't get it out of my mind, so I just gave in and did a Friendship card and I'm now very much OK with that.   I got the die set from my family for Xmas and this is the first time I've put it together.  I did put together the die set on the inside first (die set does not include the trees, sun, or sentiments). . I had no idea what to put together for the outside, but as I said, I couldn't get the Wavy Hillside out of my mind, so I started with it, then thought I should put the house on the outside with a nice warm sun and that's when I added the cool sun on the inside.

Front of the card.

Inside of card which is not really hard at all to do.

Supplies:
Karen Burniston House and Fence Pop-up
Brass & Bliss Sun Moon die

Waffle Flower Hello Friend Sentiments stamps & dies
Oxide distress inks for the house and fence 
I can't remember what brand the "thinking of you" sentiment or the trees inside are from 
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:
NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) #71 House and Fence Pop-up (brand new die)

Gem of a Challenge - "Anything Goes" (3/4)                  

Cardz for Galz   Anything but square (3/3) Mix It Up Challenge Blog Anything Goes” (7/8) Creative Fingers:  "Anything Goes" (3/3) #993

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes Unlimited submissions #2-2025

Crafts Galore Encore - "Anything goes" (monthly (1/3)

February and Morgan's ArtWorld are brimming with Freshness

  "Anything Goes" February 1st to February 26.

You can use any image or project you have posted in February to enter Morgan's ArtWorld challenge. 

For purchasing Morgan's ArtWorld Images, please visit the website at:
Morgan's Fitzsimons Art Studio    

Join Morgan's ArtWorld Facebook 

It's time for Fairies to appear. Puff!
I created this card by finding my base (Tag card bought at Michael's a LONG time ago) and then choosing a background before even selecting colors for my beautiful fairy.  When I saw this background, I knew this was the ONE.  I selected the remaining colors based on what I thought would fit with this elegant background.  I am very pleased with the card, coloring and style.

Supplies:
Morgan's Artworld: Fairy 2
Altenew Enamel Dots Tropical Forest - just opened the package
Paper in stash (at least 5 years ago)
Copic markers
Brother Scan N Cut

I'm entering the following challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations Add a tag (this is a tag)

Gem of a Challenge - "Anything Goes" (2/4)                  

Cardz for Galz   Anything but square (2/3) Mix It Up Challenge Blog Anything Goes” (6/8) Creative Fingers:  "Anything Goes" (2/3)

NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) #71 Enamel dots
Fab an Funky Include a Stamped Image (chefs & sentiments)

Hello Hero Arts

Say Hello to Hero Arts and Die Cut Diva's challenge which is to
Make A Shaker Card.

There are several dies in this truck die set and it really is a cute set. I decided to make the truck window the shaker.  It was an idea, but it is rather a small window for a shaker card.  Something never tried by me, but I think I might make the bed of the truck a shaker next time. 
I stamped an owl on top of the moon and took a sentiment from that stamp & die set to make this more cohesive a design.  I used patterned paper rather than make a background from scratch.  I used several different colors of Nuvo Drops to add texture and fun.

Close-up

Supplies: 
Hero Arts Farmers Market Truck dies
Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Class November 2023 Owl & Sentiment (sold out)
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Autumn Red, Ebony Black & Midnight Blue
Nuvo Tropical Oasis Pure Sheen Sequins
Distress Oxides Black Soot, Candied Apple, Frayed Burlap & Twisted Citron
Paper Stash - Starry Sky (6" X 6") Years old
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:
Gem of a Challenge - "Anything Goes" (1/4)     
Cardz for Galz   Anything but square (1/3) 
Love to Craft Challenge ‘ “Always Anything Goes” (5/8) Mix It Up Challenge Blog Anything Goes” (5/8) Creative Fingers:  "Anything Goes" (1/3) NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) #71 Enamel dots
Fab an Funky Include a Stamped Image (chefs & sentiments)

 

Last Day of January Already

 Hurry, Hurry, Hurry, if you want to enter the  the Die Cut Divas' January Challenge.  You only have until 9:00 p.m. to enter. 



I've been a lover of Whimsy Stamps for years and couldn't wait to use some of my wonderful Whimsy products.  There are three dies in the die set, one to cut out the bus, one for the window and one for the area between the tires. This is the first time out for this set.

I don't know why I wanted to make a stand-alone bus, but I did.  It is smaller than an A2 size, but there really is plenty of room to write a little note inside.  PLUS, I think it's really cute, too cute to make just one. 

I only used two blue Copic markers (B0 & B02), lightly going over the bus.  I did use a yellow (Y04), but decided  to use Nuvo Drops instead, so the yellow was covered up.  Btw, those are supposed to be cobblestones beneath the truck.

For my second card, I did more detail work on the bus. I die cut the area between the wheels and not the windshield.  I added a sentiment on the inside (NON STOP) of the card.  

Supplies:
Whimsy Stamps Karma Bus clear stamps and matching outline die
Nuvo Drops - Gloss - Dandelion Yellow
Copic markers
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:
NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) #70 (first time out for stamps & dies)
Fab an Funky Include a Stamped Image (chefs & sentiments)

Craft Roulette Visited Again

January 24th brought these "Spin the Wheel" results at Craft Roulette.

Project: Slimline Card (mini-slimline card)
Color: Lumberjack (browns, greens, reds on leaves)
Element: Hat(s) or Cap(s)  (Chef's hats)
Random: Lace or Doily (die cut a circle out of a mandala, aka doily)

Supplies:
Waffle Flower Postage Collage Mini Slimline die
Waffle Flower Essential Sentiments Combo
Elizabeth Craft Designs Maple Leaves
Altenew Enamel Dots - Fall Harvest - just opened package
Kat Scrappiness Mandala Die - (older die)
Distress inks - Fired Brick, Fosslized Amber, Peeled Paint & Pumice Stone
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:
NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) #70

Fab an Funky Include a Stamped Image (chefs & sentiments)

Fun Card to Make for Craft Roulette

A couple weeks ago, the challenge was:
Project:: Tags - Tag is the Tag card itself.
Colors: Disney - The background is on the theme of "Frozen"
Element: January - still snow on the ground & trees in North America
Random: Branch(es)(ing)  - Trees have branches whether you can see them or not

I forgot to post this, but wanted to show what I came up with:

I had purchased these tag cards (A2 size) at Michaels YEARS ago and just didn't put them to use.
I love the way this turned out.  This is my first time putting snow on a tree, and not tooooo bad.

I took the Tag card and put a blue speckled with white card stock on top and trimmed off all sides to match the tag base with a quick hole punch on the card stock itself.  I wanted to get more use out of my purchase of the snow banks I ordered and had 5 trees already cut on my desk.  I chose a sentiment already on the strip of paper and ta-da, done.  This would be a great Christmas card with a different sentiment.

Supplies:
Tag card from a Michaels purchase years ago
Birch Press Design Wavy Hillside
Brass and Bliss Evergreen tree die

Eileen's Snow

Sentiment on table, not sure of brand

Vagabond die cut machine

Hole punch

A New Year With The Creative Crafters Challenge

 The Creative  Crafters starts a monthly challenge every 15th of the month and I've made a fun Christmas Card     as inspiration for this month. 

This challenge is always "Anything Goes".  
Be sure to join The Creative  Crafters challenge! 

I guess I'm still in Christmas Card Making Mood.  I've had a digital set for some time, but never printed them out before.  This one is Santa and he's adorable.  A gate card is not in my comfort zone to make so I'm trying to stretch out.  I thought some snow would add more depth and fun, so it snowed enough to lay on the ground.  I used Nuvo drops inside the card so it wasn't just black & white.

Several "minor" things have gotten in the way of making this card.

1. my tree cover card stock was too short, so I cut off about 1/2 inch off of the bottom of an A2 card because it wasn't long enough and I loved it with this image.

2. I put the tree card stock on UPSIDE DOWN.  You can still see the left side.

3. I think I covered enough of the upside down right side panel with what I had left.
4. I cut the "MERRY" die to add more confusion so the upside down panel disappeared.
4. It even looks good.  LOL

Santa card half open

Santa card open
I filled in the berries and leaves with Nuvo Drops and covered up a smudge spot.

Supplies:

Die-Namics Stacked Merry die
Lawn Fawn Magic Holiday Messages & dies
Whimsy Christmas is Coming Digital Stamp Set (includes sentiments & images)
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Gloss - Red Berry & Woodland Green on inside of card
Copic markers
Glossy Accents on Santa's scooter
Scan N Cut used in cutting out the digital stamp

I'm entering the following challenges.

Love to Craft Challenge ‘ “Always Anything Goes” (4/8)

Mix It Up Challenge Blog Anything Goes” w/o monochrome opt (1/8)

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes UNLimited

Christmas Cards All Year Long (Goodies on his sleigh - Xmas song) 1/5

Merry Little Christmas Challenge (always Anything Christmas Goes) 1/6

The 12 months of Christmas challenge - "Anything goes" w/opt twist

Sparkles Forum Christmas Challenge  "Warm & Cozy - Santa's smile"

FOUR SEASONS CHALLENGE BLOG!  "Anything Winter"