Christmas Is...

I sure hope you have all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.  The weather was perfect here and we had a delicious meal.  I have decided that there is nothing for sale that requires me to go sit out in the cold in front of a store all night.  Instead I have stayed up late creating a card – much more fun.

Our Daily Bread Designs Shining Light Challenge is Baubles, Bells or Anything Hanging.  I have also been wanting to try making one of these lovely medallions that everyone has been using lately.  This combined both of these.  I started by using Spellbinders’ 2010 Heirloom Ornament die to cut through all the layers on the front of the card to create a window.  I embossed the front using a Sizzix embossing folder I bought in a 2 pack called Sugar & Starry Night Set.

For the ornament medallion I stamped and heat embossed ODBD’s doily image from their Serve The Lord set twice.  I cut then out using the Crochet Circle die and scored with my Scor Pal.  I did a fan fold and glue the ends together to create the medallion.  I layered a white circle, cut out with a Spellbinders’ die, after edging it with ink.  I added a beautiful red poinsettia, created with Spellbinders’ Layered Poinsettia die.  I hung this in the ornament window using some cording and added a triple bow.

For the inside of the card I added a red layer punched with a Martha Stewart Corner/Border set and a sentiment from ODBD’s His Gift set.  This weekend I picked up the new Winter Limited Edition Distress Inks and used the Festive Berries pad for this card (and the seam binding ribbon for the bow).  Two smaller white poinsettias and some gold pearls completed this card.

Here is the entire card opened.  

Thanks for stopping by in between all the Black Friday shopping.

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light ODBDSLC85 - Baubles, Bells, or Anything Hanging

Whoopsie Daisy Challenge – Christmas

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge 61 – More Than 1 Fold

Stamp and Create November Monthly Challenge - Easel or Center Step Card

Championing Award Medallions Challenge in the Moxie Fab World - Incorporates a three-dimensional medallion or award medallion in an innovative way.

Clearly Inspired Challenge - #40 Flowers
Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge R#47 - Christmas Decorations

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #107 - Swirly Whirly (swirls, whirls, flourishes, etc.)

Our Daily Bread Designs Stamping In Time Challenge (SNTODBD48) - Christmas Theme

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge 18 - Anything Christmas with Pearls

Paper Sundaes Challenge #96 - Beautiful Bows

Have a Blessed Thankgiving

May God bless you during this time with family and friends.  I am so grateful for each one of you that share and support my blog.   Thank you.

E. Marie

In The Meadow...

I tried to just lay low today as this has been a very stressful few weeks.  I had hoped to spend Thanksgiving with my oldest daughter, but that didn’t work out.  We just found a car for her after hers was totaled but we were not able to get all the paperwork taken care of in time to actually get the car to take to her.  We really didn’t want to make two trips so she is spending tomorrow with her boyfriend’s family and we will stay at home.  My youngest daughter’s boyfriend will join us so it will be a relaxed, fun afternoon.

Saturday a bunch of my stampin’ buddies got together at Scrapbook Creations and we spent the whole day together.  We had a wonderful time.  My friend, Cheryl, came from Charlotte, NC and since she had recently had a birthday, we decided to surprise her with a birthday cookie.  When she walked in we all started singing Happy Birthday and everyone else at the store joined in.  She was very surprised.  We had ice cream with the cookie at the great little restaurant that is attached to the store.

Several of us brought a bunch of the large 6” background stamps from Impression Obsession to play with and Bonnie showed us this awesome background technique.  I went to play in my room tonight and decided to use this technique to make my card for the Impression Obsession Challenge to use stamps only – no patterned paper.

I used the Flourishes Cover A Card Background and a white paint dauber from Ranger to add white acrylic paint to white cardstock to create a resist design.  I dried it with the heat tool and  sponged different blue distress inks over it, then took a paper towel and buffed over the image which really made the white pop.   I have to give Bonnie credit for this exact background because this is what she showed us, but it was so lovely I just had to copy it.  I cut it into rectangles and layered it on dark blue.

The snowman is from IO’s Snowman Set.  I stamped the different parts, cut them out, and popped them up on another layered piece of the paint background.  The sentiment is also from this set and I cut it out with a Spellbinders’ label die and added some cute snowflake buttons in the top corner.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Impression Obsession Challenge - Stamps Only/No Patterned Paper

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #107 – Swirly Whirly (Swirls, Whirls, Flourishes, etc.)

CES Challenge #62 – Snowflakes

CRAFTYCATZ Challenge #109 – Snowflakes

Delightful Sketches Weekly Challenge – Bingo (Buttons, Dimension, Patterned Paper – I created with stamps)

Ellephantastic Challenge #29 – Weather Related

Everybody Art Challenge #169 – Christmas

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #94 – Baby It’s Cold Outside

Random Fun Challenge In The Moxie Fab World – Create a paper crafted card that incorporates a button(s).

One Stop Craft Challenge Week #158 – Color Challenge/BLUE

Phindy's Place Challenge #82 - Christmas Cards

Totally Stampalicious Challenge – Combine Your Stamp Sets

Whoopsie Daisy Challenge – Christmas

Sketch Saturday Challenge Week #182 – Sketch

Give Thanks

Well, things sure have been crazy around here.  The biggest news is that my oldest daughter was in a bad accident.  A lady ran a red light and totaled the car.  Thank goodness that she is ok.  Sure scared the daylights out of all of us.  She is experiencing some back pain and banged up her knee but no other injuries (as far as we know).  I just have to praise the Lord for keeping her safe and give thanks!!  Guess you know what inspired my card today.

I re-made this card three times, but kept feeling the need to add to it and finally came up with what you see.  I missed most of the challenges I was making it for, but decided I would rather have a card that made me happy.  The card actually started with the Dainty Dutch Deco doily die from Cheery Lynn Designs,   The die includes the lacy looking center die cut also.  I sponged the edges with the new limited edition Fall Distress Ink, Seedless Preserves, and layered these on some decorative cardstock, that I also sponged with this ink.  I love this ink color and it really helped tie this whole card together. 

The flower image and sentiment are both from JustRite.  I stamped the flower image with the Seedless Preserves and then used distress inks and a water color brush to paint it.  I cut it out and popped it up on a green oval and layered this in the center of the card.  I stamped the JustRite fall border and sentiment, layered it on purple cardstock, and popped it up on the bottom of the card.

For embellishments I used a jeweled flourish, cut it in half, and layered across the top.  I used a few of the jewels from it to add to the bottom corners.  I added a few leaf buttons, a bow, purple pearls, and a lovely large flower with a pearl center.  The ribbon for the bow is seam binding ribbon that I stained with distress inks and the large flower was also colored with distress inks. 

Thanksgiving is just around the corner so let’s remember to thank God for all the wonderful things in our life.

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 2 – Autumn

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Thanksgiving/Thank you

Corrosive Challenge #137 – Give Thanks

Creative Card Crew Challenge – Thankful

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 49 --Be Thankful and Feature a Sentiment!

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #93 – Thanksgiving

Ooh La La Challenge #93 – BINGO (Pearls, Ribbon, Buttons)

Phindy's Place Challenge 81 – Thankful

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #81 – Thanksgiving/Thank You

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #115 – Gratitude

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #138 – Punch It

Totally Papercrafts Week 92 – Victorian

Stampin For the Weekend Challenge #20 - Sketch 

Peace and Joy

As we get closer to December and we become busier preparing for the holidays, we need cards that are quick and easy to make.  Today I want to share a very quick and easy Christmas card using one of my favorite techniques – embossing.  Thought it is very simple, I think it will still make any recipient feel special.

I used an embossing folder on a white panel that left the perfect space for a sentiment or image.  I decided to use Sparkle N Sprinkle’s Joy of Christmas sentiment.  I stamped it with Versamark Ink and used SNS’s Holiday Blue Embossing Powder.  I layered this panel on coordinating blue cardstock and a white card base.  Told you this was easy.

For my dedicated followers, I am sure you are amazed that I was able to make such a simple card.  Well, here is my second surprise – my shortest blog post!!!

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Delightful Sketches Challenge – Snowflakes

The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge – Anything Goes

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge #81 - Favorite Technique (Embossing) 

Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central – Christmas/Holidays (embossing folder)

CES Challenge #60 – Song or Film Inspired (Winter Wonderland)  

The Crafty Pad Challenge #147 – White on White  11-17

DYSU Challenge #45 – Inspired By a Song (Winter Wonderland)  11-15

Whoopsie Daisy Challenge – Colors of Winter  11-19

Craft Your Passion Challenge #84 – Let It Snow (snowflakes)

Everybody Art Challenge #167 – Advent

The Pink Elephant Challenge TPE125 – "Embossing"

Sparkle N Sprinkle's "It's A Cultural Thing" Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle's "It's A Cultural Thing" blog hop!  This is a celebration of different cultures and customs and we are glad you have joined us.  If you came here from Gerlinde Townsley’s gorgeous blog, you have arrived at the right place.  If you just happened to be visiting my blog, you might want to go back to the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog and start from the beginning of the hop.  There you will find a complete list of the participating Designers’ blogs that you will want to visit, along with all the details how you can become eligible to win the Grand Prize of a stamp set of your choice.  You may also have the chance to win one of three “surprise” mini prizes. Winners will be announded Saturday, November 12, between 11AM-3PM (Mountain Time).

My first card celebrates the Spanish culture with the use of stamps that Sparkle N Sprinkle has available in sets with sentiments in English or Spanish.  I used the Spanish – Butterfly Stamp Set and the sentiment on the front translates “I Cherish Your Friendship” in English.

This card has been a long time coming.  I actually started it over two months ago and played with a lot of variations until I ended up with what you see.  The front of the card has a window created with a Spellbinders Standard Circle Die that gives you a peak of the inside of the card.  It is surrounded by a frame covered with Green Nugget Glitter. 

When this easel card is opened, the inside is revealed showing the “Batik” design created with Floral Circle and a glittery butterfly created with Floral Butterfly and Bubble Gum, Green Nugget, and Burgandy Glitz glitter. 

The circular window now frames another Floral Butterfly at the back of the easel.  The two inside butterflies were embossed on pink cardstock and the butterfly on the front was embossed on Clear Embossable Acetate.

Full details of this card can be found in the Sparkle N Sprinkle gallery here.

With my next card I wanted to bring out the beauty of the Asian culture. 

I used a Spellbinder die to cut a window out of my top layer which has been dry embossed with a folder and distressed and inked on the edges.  I used the same die, only smaller, to cut out the embossed cream center and then added the sentiment, Have a Fantastic Day!, in black on a Spellbinder Tag die.  I had originally created the window for a fan image but happened to lay the sentiment tag across it and really liked the look.

For the fans I used the Fan 3 image and embossed with Gold Tinsel embossing powder twice on Clear Embossable Acetate.  Fire Engine Red and Black Ice glitters were added to the back with SNS Brushable Glue and these were popped up on the front.  They look so sparkly and elegant.  Full details can be found here

Just a reminder that all Design Element, Asian, Medallion and Andrea Roberts stamps are on special - 15% off!- until the end of the month.  To view all specials, including stamps, glitters, EPs, and other fine SNS products, just click here.

Thanks so much for stopping by and now you will want to hop on over to Patti White’s wonderful blog to see her cultural creation.  Don’t forget to leave a comments to be in the running for one of our great prizes. 

E. Marie

These cards have been entered in the following challenges:

Gracias

Stamp and Create November Monthly Challenge - Easel or Center Step Card

Celebrating Relationships Challenge in the Moxie Fab World - National Girlfriends Day

Craft Your Passion Challenge #83 – Anything Goes  + Brown

Dutch Dare Card Challenge #138 - Punches and dies

Flutter By Wednesday Challenge #179 – "Friendship"

Have A Fantastic Day!

Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge #114 - Dig in your stash and use one of your oldest stamp sets, one that hasn't seen any use for a long while

The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Anything Goes

Totally Stampalicious Challenge – Anything Goes

Thankful

I was doing some straightening up in my craft room tonight and came across this House Mouse image that I had been planning to use and then buried on my table.  The actual stamp belongs to my friend, Kim, and she had let me stamp a few images.  I had colored this one and set it aside and now it was just waiting to be made into a card. 

I love this time of year when you look out over the landscape and see layers of color.  I decided to use quite a few layers on this card to bring out this affect.  Most of my layers are solid colors but I threw in a layer of polkadot from Basic Grey called Porcelain.  I also used some lovely striped cardstock called Pyrus, also from Basic Grey, to cut out the colorful doily layered behind the image. 

The image is heat embossed in black and colored with Tombow markers.  I cut and embossed three leaves, sponged on a little extra color, gave them some shape, and layered them behind the image.  The sentiment is from a new stampette set called Fall Leaves from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I stamped it using one of the limited edition distress inks and added some acorn buttons around it.  I used a marker to add stitches around the rust layer and around the sentiment.

Have a wonderful week,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Basic Grey Challenge #56 – Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz Challenge #44 – Cutesy

The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge – Anything Goes

Dutch Dare Card Challenges DDCC#137 – Give Thanks

House Mouse & Friends Challenge #107 – Fall

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge Week 80~~Fall or Winter Theme

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Buttons

Totally Papercrafts Challenge #91 - Stitch it!

Anything Challenge #53 – Stitches (Real or Faux)

Catch the Bug November Challenge – Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge #107 – Anything Goes

DYSU Challenge #44 – Teal (on die cut doily)

4 Crafty Chicks Crazy Egg Challenge #62 - Die Cuts

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 49 --Be Thankful and Feature a Sentiment!

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #128 (MMSC128)