Lavender Flutter Fairy

What day is today? Well, it’s Wednesday so that means it’s Flutter By Wednesday. We’ve got a lot of exciting things going on at FBW. First of all, this week we have a guest designer! That means our challenge is open.

I took a photo of my card for today and it didn’t photo well so I scanned it and that didn’t turn out much better. This card is so much more beautiful in real life. I love this image, Lavender Fairy, from the flower fairy collection at Stamps Happen. There are so many beautiful fairy stamps in this collection!

Of course, my favorite stamps are the ones that lend well to water coloring. I did a background wash of dark blue and purple on everything but the fairy and the butterflies. Then I colored the adorable fairy and the butterflies with wings to match.

The DP is from Provo Craft and I tied an organza ribbon around it. I’m loving organza ribbon lately!!!

So, once again, the challenge is an open one this week. Just be sure to use a butterfly, fairy or an angel on your creation. Don’t forget to go check out Danni’s creation as well has the guest designer. I don’t know who it is but I’m sure Danni invited someone amazing!!!

If you'd like to play along, go check out all of the other lovely DT blogs by clicking on their links on the right sidebar and then going to Danni’s Dreams to link up your card.

Challenges:
Pink Elephant -- favorite coloring method

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Today is also a new challenge at Just Buggin’. The challenge this week is to use at least two Cricut die cuts and layer them together. You can make anything you'd like as long as it fits with the current challenge. The creations by the design team are being posted each day of the week so check every day for inspiration. My day is Tuesday so I’ll be posting my creation on Tuesday. It just dawned on me as I typed this, I forgot to post so I’m going to go create that post real quick. Be sure to look at the post just below!!!

Ok, I’m back!!! Just in time to sign off!

Blessings,

Christine

Just Buggin’ for Gingerbread

I forgot to post my Just Buggin’ challenge this morning. Oops!  I guess better late than never, huh?  I was even feeling really bad that I didn’t have something to post for you today.

I made a cute little gingerbread card.  I used cuts from the Stretch your Imagination cartridge.  I use Design Studio when I’m designing my cards so I’m not sure what size my cuts are.  The gingies are about 2-1/2” and I cut a couple at about 1 inch for the card base.  The house is the birdhouse cut in shadow at about 4 inches.  I like to put a non-detailed image behind smaller images to give them a sense of cohesion.   I doodled icing stitches around the gingies and added pearl eyes and ruby buttons.  I added a few cookie buttons to the corners.

That’s about it.  Sorry again that I was so late.  A new Just Buggin’ challenge starts tomorrow!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Christmas Sing-a-Long

I couldn’t sleep last night so I made one more card. What a cutie singing Christmas carols to her favorite animals and doll. This is Belle's Carols by Elisabeth Bell for Belles ‘n Whistles.

I watercolored Belle and her friends. The DP is K&Co. and I tied a big organza bow around the middle for the only embellishment.

I’m off to my crafty desk again to work on some DT projects so I might not be back today with any new cards.

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Lili of the Valley -- sketch
Cute Daisy May -- red
Roses on Paper -- sweet or romance
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge -- Christmas gifts
2 Red Bananas -- Christmas or winter
Corrosive Challenge -- red and green

Sew Vintage

I love these collage/ATC images from Tim Holtz.  Several months ago I got a few and this is the first time I’ve tried this one out.  Of course, I watercolored the image.  I did a lot of distressing on this card.  All the edges are either chalk inked, torn or both.  I added a lollipop flower with a vintage button and other accent buttons.  The DP is DCWV Crafty stack and I used a MS edge punch.

Two cards in one day.  It’s been awhile since I did that.  I have some DP projects to work on tomorrow but hopefully I’ll get some others done as well. 

I’ll be back tomorrow!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Get Sketchy -- sketch
Sophisticats -- ATC
My Time to Craft -- very vintage
Allsorts -- buttons
Saturday Spotlight -- Hats

Watching for Santa

When I was young, there was an area of Boise where almost every home was decorated with beautiful Christmas lights. Every Christmas Eve, we would all pile in the station wagon and head out to the “highlands” to see the Christmas lights. On the way home, we would stop at a drive-in on Bogus Basin road to get a hot chocolate with a small swirl of ice cream on it.

There was an open field directly in front of our house and as we passed by on the next street, I looked towards our house and saw Santa Claus in the window standing in front of the fireplace. Imagine my disappointment when we arrived home and our stockings had not been filled. I thought that he had left because he knew that I saw him. I was so happy when he came back after we went to sleep. The next morning our stockings were full of wonderful presents and yummy nuts, fruits and candy!

This image is a free digi from Simply Inger and I watercolored it. The DP is Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses. The poinsettias are cut from velvet paper using the Joys of the Season Cricut cartridge and I added some gold glitter to the center. I cut a bunch of these poinsettias so I could use them on future Christmas cards.

I hope you enjoyed my memories and my card!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Inspirational Card Sketches -- sketch
Papertake Weekly -- Christmas crackers
Charisma Cardz -- anything Christmas
Dare U 2 Digi -- glitter
Crazy 4 Challenges -- punch happy
Stamp Scrap and Doodle -- Christmas

Got Leftovers?

Happy Thanksgiving

I’ve been writing on Facebook for the last several days about what I’m thankful for.  I thought I’d share them here.  These aren’t in any particular order, just what came to  me that day.

1. I'm thankful for my brother and sil, Ron and Gayle, for having Thanksgiving dinner at there house.

2. I'm thankful for all the friends that I've met through UofU transplant group and other online transplant forums. Especially for meeting Jim and Kitty who I hope come home to Boise soon!

3. I'm thankful for my family for all the help that they give me when I'm unable!

4. I’m thankful for the doctors and nurses at the University of Utah!

5. I'm thankful for my card making hobby and all of the blogging friends that I've met!

6. I am thankful that a beautiful young lady and her family found it in there heart to donate her organs so others could live and see.

7. I'm thankful for my sister, Alice, who comes over every week to change Tuxie's litter box and always helps me with anything I ask!

8. I'm thankful for my sister, Rose, and her family for letting me live there and for taking care of me while I was getting my transplant!

9. I'm thankful for my fur babies! Chloe, my puppy and Tuxie, my kitty!

10. I'm Thankful for my warm comfortable home!

Well that ended up to be an even 10!  I know I said it above, but I’m thankful for all my blogging and cardmaking friends over the last year!!!  I will show you just how thankful with a couple of giveaways on my blogoversary in just 45 days.  Stay tuned!!!

Blessings on this Thanksgiving Day,

Christine

Fairy Moon

It’s Wednesday, so that means it’s another Flutter By Wednesday. Yay!!! Our challenge this week is to use a circle or circles on your card.

I just couldn’t resist this set from Clear Art Stamps. There are all kinds of cute fairies to believe!!!

Isn’t she just adorable? I watercolored her to match this beautiful Basic Grey Two Scoops DP. I also added a little glitter glue to the moon and stars to give them the added sparkle that a fairy always needs! The sentiment on the base card reads “Thank You.”

I’m addicted to these easel cards, can you tell? I need to get off this kick a bit! Try some different things.

If you would like to play along with the Flutter By Wednesday challenge, you can go check out all of the other lovely DT blogs by clicking on their links on the right sidebar and then going to Danni’s Dreams to link up your card. Danni has also mentioned that since the holidays are right around the corner, angels "flutter by" too so feel free to add angels to your creations for the holidays.

Challenges:
Card Patterns -- sketch
Flourishes -- thank you
Creative Card Crew -- favorite things (fairy)
Stamp Something -- thank you
2 Red Bananas -- I am thankful

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Today is also a new challenge at Just Buggin’. The challenge this week is Sew It. Use some kind of stitching (machine, hand, faux) as well as a Cricut cut. You can make anything you'd like as long as it fits with the current challenge. The creations by the design team are being posted each day of the week so check every day to be inspired. My day is Tuesday so I’ll be posting my creation on Tuesday.

Blessings,

Christine

Elizabeth Bell Santa’s Sleigh Full of Candy

This is my THIRD post today. Please scroll down to see more. My Just Buggin’ challenge post is below! Don’t forget to look for my Baby Christmas card!

The one and only Elizabeth Bell is giving away a sleigh full of candy. I’m not sure I want to tell anyone about this, but here goes anyway.

This giveaway includes 31 (yes I said thirty-one) stamps!!! They are stamps that were recently released to the four shops that she draws for (SCACD, Belles ‘n Whistles, Whiff of Joy and Lady Bug and Friends). See, the reason why I’m telling you about this is, that when I win, I will hold my own blog candy to give away some of the stamps to some of my lucky readers.

Okay, okay, you said you want all 31? Well, that means you need to go to Elizabeth Bell’s blog and enter for yourself!

I promise, if I win, I will share!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Just Buggin’ a Bird

This is my first challenge as a member of the Just Buggin’ design team and I tell you what! There are some very talented ladies on our team. They amaze me with each and every creation.

Our challenge this week was Triple Whammy! You need to use at least three die cuts on your project. I have nine and they are all from the Winter Woodland cartridge.

I love making a kind of scene when I use the Cricut cuts. I think overlapping images gives the card some cohesion.

I used all S.E.I. Winter Song patterned and solid paper. I cut out the window using the blackout feature in the dark red a little larger than the light blue cut. I then cut the three trees in the darker blue to layer under the window.

The cardinal is two cuts: one in the red floral print on the tummy and one in the light red. I hand cut a little off the tummy so the red floral would show through. To bring the cut to life, I scored, using a stylus and ruler, the lines that would make up the feathers on the birds wings. I cut the sentiment twice (once a little larger and in blackout) and added glitter to the top cut. I didn’t have gems to match so I colored some white pearls with my Copics.

I have found that the easiest way to add fine glitter to small areas is to use a glue pen. I have two sizes of tips so it is very simple to choose the right size for the job.

Thanks for stopping by to see my creation today. You still have today to join in the challenge so what are you waiting for? Go create!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Baby Christmas

Another Christmas card! I seem to really be in the groove with these Christmas cards. I think I’ll have most of my cards done without having to mass produce! Yay!!!

I think I love this image so much because she reminds me of me!!!! She reminds me of the snow suits that my mother would bundle us up in to go outside to play. We were six kids in a two bedroom trailer house so if she could get us out of the house, she did!!! Besides, there were always tons of kids to play with in the trailer park!

The little Christmas baby is from a wonderful set of vintage Christmas images from Clear Art Stamps. I cut and matted her with my nesties and cut the corner with my Cuttlebug. The DP is Basic Grey Eskimo kisses and the buttons are also Basic Grey.

You can kinda’ see the glitter on her fur in this picture.

I think I’ll be doing a non-Christmas card for Flutterby Wednesday tomorrow. I don’t remember when I last did a non-Christmas card.

That’s it for tonight. I’ve got a couple of DT cards to do so I’ll be working on that tomorrow!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
2 Sketches 4 U -- sketch
Whimsy Stamps -- Christmas
Stamping Vacation Pick 3 -- bows, buttons, glitter
Spoon Full of Sugar -- baby’s first Christmas preschooler
One Stop Crafts -- snowflakes
Bizzy Becs Creatilicious Challenge -- Christmas with snowflakes and sparkle

Joyful Wishes

I’m really a fan of the clean and simple style of card making but it doesn’t come simple for me so I’ve been practicing it a bit.

I was trying to go with the collage aspect from this post on the Cards blog. I used a Hero Arts wood stamp and heat embossed it then cut it into the shape of an ornament adding a small piece of velvet ribbon to replicate the ornament hanger. I cut a tag with the George cartridge at 2 inches and added an eyelet and some ribbon. I glued a piece of tiny pom-pom trim to a piece of lace. I added that as well as a small piece of DP. (All the DP is Basic Grey Eskimo kisses.)

I laid it out and moved it around and around again and around. Then I finally decided on this layout. It took several pictures of it and as I was editing the picture, I realized it wasn’t balanced. I then added the the pink rhinestones in the upper left corner. I like it! What do you think?

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Saturday Spotlight -- ornament or card with ornament

Gypsy Giveaway

The new Gypsy Spot Challenge blog is giving away a brand new Gypsy to one lucky follower.  If you have a Cricut, this is a great tool to add to your arsenal.  Go check it out!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Peace on Earth

I’m, once again, guest designer on the Winter Wonderland challenge blog. This weeks challenge is no Christmas stamps or Christmas paper on your creation.

I bought this Sizzix die last year to use on my Christmas cards but didn’t get around to making Christmas cards last year. That’s really changed this year, huh?

I chose to go simple with my card since I wasn’t using Christmas paper. I mounted the die cut on a circle and mat cut with my nesties. I embossed the backing paper with a CB snowflake folder and tied a bow around it. I thought about adding some jewels to the embossed snowflakes but I think that would have just detracted from the cute image! But I did add a little doodling to the cut.

You can’t see it in the picture but I rubbed Versa Mark ink on the snowflake and embossed it with iridescent embossing powder.

The Bee Crafty challenge is today and I’ve scheduled a post to go up later so be lookin’ for that!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Corrosive Challenge -- embossing
Colour Create -- red green white

We’re Gonna’ Bee Wrappin’

Our challenge this week at Bee Crafty is to use sparkle on your card! When I heard about this challenge I new that I would have to use one of her adorable fairies. I put Shimmerz on EVERY fairy wing that I color.

These cute little fairies are the Wish Fairies – Christmas. Aren’t they adorable trying to wrap their presents. I watercolored them and then added Shimmerz to their wings. I then cut out the little boy so I could have him flying above.

The DP is all DCWV and I did another easel card. These are so easy and fun to make I think I will be making more and more of them. I punched the borders with the MS doily lace punch, added a few jewels and then tied it all up with a ribbon. The sentiment is Studio G.

If you would like to play along with the Bee Crafty challenge, follow the link to see all of the other ladies beautiful cards and then make one of your own. You just need to follow the theme and use a digi image on your card.

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Sophisticat Challenge -- sketch
Tuesday Taggers -- red gold and green

Snowman Rolling By

One more Christmas card done! This stamp is from a cute set at Clear Dollar Stamps. The wagon comes with a number of accessories so you can make cards for different occasions – hearts, fireworks, birthday present/balloon, etc. Plus, when I went to find the link on their website, I found another fun accessories set that I will be ordering soon!

I watercolored the image and matted and cut it out with nesties. I added two black buttons for the tires. The DP is Cosmic Cricket Jolly By Golly. The “Rolling By with Some Holiday Cheer” sentiment is from the Clear Dollar Stamps set. The “Merry Christmas is from Studio G.” I added some buttons to hold up the easel card and a pretty bow to top it all off.

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I found out today that my sister, Rose, will be going to the hospital at the beginning of December for heart surgery. She has rheumatic valve disease and this is her 3rd valve replacement surgery. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t, each time, a very serious surgery. That being said, I will be spending most of the month of December in Utah. Rose and her family took care of me after my transplant so I’m honored to be able to return the favor.

But never fear, I will be bringing my Cricut and a good part of my crafty room with me!!! I’m going to try to get as many DT assignments done as I can before I leave, so that I won’t have to worry about bringing some specific things with me.

That means I get to spend Christmas with Rose’s family again this year. I’m really looking forward to that!

Now, off to make my card for the Bee Crafty Challenge this weekend. I’ll be sharing that with you on Saturday!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Clearly Inspired Challenge-- 5 (I chose 5 buttons)
StampARTic -- pink Christmas card

Thursday Thunks

I forgot to post my Thursday Thunks last week.  I really missed it so I’m not doing that again!!!

Welcome to the November 19th version of Thursday Thunks!

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Kimber, the color of a clown fish and the number 10595.

 

1. If you won a brand new house in a Dream House Giveaway would you move into it, sell it to pay the taxes and make a profit, rent it out or give it to a family member/friend who might need it? If it was in my town, I’d move in and borrow the  money for the taxes.  If not, I’d sell it.  Come to think of it, I’d probably sell it and buy a new house bigger than mine but not as big as this one!!!

 

2. Are you good at billiards?  No, despite growing up with a pool table in our home.  My Dad used to say, “What the heck are you shooting at, girl?”  I was playing with a guy a few years ago and he actually said the same thing!

3. Does anyone on the planet really want to see Levi Johnston naked in Playgirl (other than when Bristol Palin did)?  Definitely not!!!  I hope his 15 minutes of fame runs out SOON!!!

 

4. Is your phone ringing right now?  Huh, I can’t hear ya’ over the persistent ringing my ears!

 

 

5. Do you think man has eaten or tried to eat every type of animal on the face of the earth at one point or another? If not, what don't you think man has tried? I think if they could catch it or shoot it, they would.

6. The new movie Avatar has been showing sneak peeks and been hyped to the max. Will you see it? I haven’t heard of it but based on the name, no.  I must be living under a rock!

7. If a slightly bigger fish eats a small fish, then a bigger fish immediately eats that one, then an even bigger fish immediately eats that fish and then finally a huge fish eats the one that just ate that fish and it gets caught by you... how many meals will you have from that one fish?  Who cares, I don’t like fish!

8. If you had an appointment with the doctor and all the plants in the office were dead, would you still see the doctor?  Since I can’t grow plants either, I don’t think it I’d care.

9. Have you ever seen the number 666 in a dream? Oooo – spooky.  I have not that I remember

10. "At 20 years of age the will reigns, at 30 the wit, at 40 the judgment."~ Benjamin Franklin

So what happens at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100?  At 50 the sore body!  I don’t want to know after that!!!

 

11. Would you want your phone number to be (area code) 123-4567?  There goes that phone again!!!  I don’t think so.  I grew up with my phone number the same as my street address so I’ve tried to do the same when I can.

That’s it for this Thursday.  I couldn’t think of very many clever things to say.  Not many laughs this week I guess. 

Blessings,

Christine

Fluttering for Santa

I think this little fairy is about the cutest that I’ve seen!

She just couldn’t stay awake any longer. She’s my kind of fairy though; leaving cupcakes for Santa!!! She even left some carrots for the reindeer.

The challenge at Flutterby Wednesday this week is open. You must have a butterfly or fairy on your creation or, if your making a holiday card, you can have an angel.

This adorable fairy is from Charmed Cards and Crafts and I watercolored her. I cut the card base with the Winter Woodland cartridge and the weld feature in Design Studio. I then cut a red scallop circle to the same size and a circle out of the green. I cut and matted the fairy with my nesties. The DP is Debbie Mumm and the ribbon is Bazzil Basics.

If you would like to play along with the Flutter By Wednesday challenge, you can go check out all of the other lovely DT blogs by clicking on their links on the right sidebar and then going to Danni’s Dreams to link up your card. Danni has also mentioned that since the holidays are right around the corner, angels "flutter by" too so feel free to add angels to your creations for the holidays.

Challenges:
The Pink Elephant -- sketch
Cupcake Craft -- digi image

Today is also a new challenge at Just Buggin’. The challenge this week is to have at least three Cricut die cuts on your project. You can make anything you'd like as long as it fits with the current challenge. The creations by the design team are being posted each day of the week so check every day to be inspired. My day is Tuesday so I’ll be posting my creation on Tuesday.

Blessings,

Christine

Cozy Christmas Home

I got this beautiful stamp a couple of months ago from Auntie Amy.  I love these type of images because they are so great to watercolor but the first time out of the gate can sometimes be a little hard to paint.  This was no exception but I think it worked out ok anyway.  I love how this beautiful old Victorian home is framed with the greenery and cardinals, don’t you?  Since the image itself is intricate, I decided to put the card together very simply.  I double matted the image in green and then red and then mounted it on a green card base and added a trio of rubies.

That’s it for tonight!  I finished my card for Winter Wonderland (I’m GT on Sunday again), I’m almost finished with my FBW card and this week is another Bee Crafty week.  I’ve yet to make that card.

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Secret Crafter -- four seasons
Gingersnap Creations -- cozy home

Snowy Snow Globe

Isn’t this little guy just the cutest! He is a small Hero Arts stamp that I got at Archivers. I watercolored a little blue on his body and colored his hat blue with red stripes on the band.

I got these little acetate bubble circles at Archivers as well thinking that they would be great for snow globes. They work out great, don’t they. This is the first time I’ve used them and the first time I’ve made an easel card. I would do both of them a little differently next time but, all in all, It worked out okay. I added some sugary glitter to the bubble as well as a few seed beads in colors to match the DP.

The DP is Cosmic Cricket Jolly By Golly (love this paper). I cut some snowflakes with the Doodlebug cartridge on my Cricut and then glued some sugary glitter on them and a rhinestone in the middle.

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Cupcake Craft Challenges -- snow much fun
Crafty Creations -- snow
Creative Belli -- Christmas embellishments
Cute Card Thursday -- glitter
Crazy 4 Challenges -- acetate
Sunday Sketch and Stamp -- sketch