Merry Christmas

I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!!  I hope that you have a lovely day, celebrating with family and friends.

 

 

Let’s not forget the true reason we celebrate this season and the love that God showed by sending His son.

 

E. Marie

The Cards I Sent

Just a few more days before Christmas!!  The gifts have been bought but I am still working on the wrapping, along with cleaning and baking.  I finally finished my Christmas cards and they are in the mail.  Between the problem I had with my tooth and then coming down with a virus that laid me up for a week, I still have a lot to do before the family celebrates together.

I thought I would show you some of the cards I made this year to send to friends and family.  Because I have to make so many cards for Christmas, they are usually a little more simple than most of my cards. 

 

This first card is probably the simplest card I made all year.  It took all I had to keep it this way, though I love the look.  I used ine of Sparkle NSprinkle’s new digital images, designed by Beccy Muir, called Candy Canes.  I colored it with markers and added a simple sentiment, Season Greetings, stamped in red.  A little layering and it is finished!!

I used the Candy Canes digital image for this card, too.  It is colored with markers, die cut with a Spellbinders’ Classic Ovals die, and layered on a red Lacey Oval die.  I embossed the background with an embossing folder that coordinated with the candy cane theme.  I added the story of the candy cane inside the card.

This last card uses another new digital image, Joy, also designed by Beccy Muir.  I increased the size so it fit the length of the card.  After coloring it with markers, I layered it on green and added it to the bottom of a red layer on a white card base.  I used a glue pen to add gold velvet glitter to the ribbon and the centers of the flowers.  Along the top of the card I added a die cut holly border with just a touch of red velvet glitter added to the center of the leaves.

May you have a very Merry Christmas and experience true joy as we celebrate the birth of Christ.

E. Marie

These cards are entered in the following challenges:

Season Greetings

Anything Goes Challenge 82 - Traditional Colours

Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge R#103 – Anything Goes 

Totally Stampalicious Challenge – CASTotally Gorjuss Challenge 163 – Easy Does It

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #134: Focus on the Sentiment

CI Paints Inspired By: Merry Christmas

Delightful Challenges – Anything goes

DYSU #103 - Anything Goes

Candy Canes

Penny Black And More at Allsorts December Challenge – It's Your Choice

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #92 – Anything Christmas Goes 

Sweet Stampin’ Challenge - Seeing Double (Two Candy Canes, Two Dies)

Paper Pretties Monday Challenge PPMC70 - Create a Christmas Creation
Ladybugs Crafts Ink Challenge – Anything Goes

One Stop Craft Challenge #210 – A Christmas Carol

Joy

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Monthly Challenge #31 – Celebration

Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Merry Christmas

ABC Christmas Challenge – Y is for Your Favorite Punch/Die

Bugaboo Recipe Challenge – Use A Border

Crafts And Me Challenge 115 – Winter Wonderland Christmas Bumper Challenge
Stamp and Create December Challenge - Sparkly Christmas

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC237 – Glitter

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge – Christmas Mistletoe or Holly

A Little Smile

It has been very busy around here.  This week was my Stamp Club party, my Sunday School party, and my husband’s Car Club party.  One of my daughters also came home to visit, though we spent most of our time together in my craft room where she worked hard to complete projects for her college finals.  I finished up a sweet Christmas card, using one of my favorite products - vellum.

 

The background was created by using a poinsettia embossing folder on heavy.  The image is Snow Goddess, embossed in gold on vellum and colored with markers.  I cut her out with a die cut and layered her on white cardstock cut out with one of the new Nesting Doily Square Dies that Sparkle N Sprinkle is now carrying.  I can never have too many dies.  Make sure you check here to see more new dies.

 

 

 

 

The sentiment is A Little Smile, die cut with Spellbinders’ Heirloom Ornament die, and some lovely die cut poinsettias added.

 

 

To create the sparkly ribbon, I came up with a fun technique.    I simply covered both sides of ¼” Tear-ific” Tape with Gypsy Red Velvet Glitter

 

and actually tied it in a bow.  Head on over to my post on the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog to get all the details.

 

 

Have a wonderful week,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge Week 137 - Red & Green

Penny Black And More at Allsorts December Challenge – It's Your Choice

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #91 – Christmas (Tip: Made ribbon from double sided tape and glitter)

Charisma Cardz Challenge #48 – Christmas  

Crafts 4 Eternity R#101 – Christmas Wishes Color Recipe

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #246 – Red and Green

The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge – Seasons Greetings

Stamp and Create December Challenge: Sparkly Christmas

Everybody Art Challenge #216 – Christmas

Sparkle N Sprinkle December Challenge

Wow!! December has arrived way too soon.  I missed out on the last week of November due to a tooth problem.  I feel like I have been in a fog due to all the pain meds.  Feeling a bit better today but I sure will be happy when I can eat solids again without being very careful how I chew.  Grrrr!!

Enough about me.  With the beginning of a new month we also have a new challenge at Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenges Blog.  But first let’s reveal the winner of the November Sketch Challenge.  The winner is ……Verna Angerhofer.  Congratulations!!  Head back to the Challenge Blog for details how to collect your prize. 

This month we have another sketch challenge.  This means half the work is already done since you already have your layout!! 

This sketch is simple but has so many possibilities.  Let’s see what you can create!!  Post a link to your card at the SNS Creative Challenges Blog before December 31 at 8:00 p.m. ET  and you might be the December winner.

 

 

Here is a card to get you inspired.  I used Frosted Carmine and Black Suede Velvet Glitter on sticker paper to create this lovely background. 

 

This is enhanced with dry embossing

 

 

 

 

 and masking. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go to our Tips and Techniques here to see the Masking on Velvet Glitter Technique and here to see the new Dry Embossing on Velvet Glitter Technique.  The image is Bamboo Floral Vase, combined with the Feel Better Soon sentiment, and layered on this sparkling background.  Find the details of this card in the SNS gallery here.

Now check out what my other fellow designers have created with this sketch at the challenge blog.

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew Challenge #24 – Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Anything Goes (MS Monarch Butterfly Edge Punch)

Corrosive Challenge #163 – Anything Goes

The Crafty Pad Challenge #198 – Add Some Glitter

Delightful Sketches Challenge – Festively Floral/Add Flowers (Used Dry Embossed Flowers)

MAWTT Challenge 169 – Use 3 Elements Beginning With The Same Letter (Black, Butterflies, and Bling)

Paper Pretties Monday Challenge PPMC67 - "Anything Goes"!

One More Thanksgiving

Here is one more Thanksgiving card, using the new Cornucopia image from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I colored it with alcohol markers and cut it out.  I popped it up on top of some lovely dry embossed Luau Green Velvet Glitter, using the Life Style-Diamonds and Dots embossing folder (tutorial coming soon).  It is surrounded by a lovely doily die.  The corner embellishments are created by using corner dies and a Super Adhesive Sheet, and then adding Goldenrod VelvetGlitter.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
 

E. Marie

 

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Crafter’s Companion November Challenge - Favorite Colour Combination (I love fall color combos with all the lovely Yellows, Reds, Greens, and Browns.  I used Spectrum Noir Alcohol markers on the main image)

Creative Card Crew Challenge #24 – Anything Goes

Penny Black And More at Allsorts November Challenge – Any Die Will Do

Stampin For the Weekend Challenge #22 – Use Some Texture

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #42 –Any Card Make This Week

AllSorts Challenge Week 182 – Bring On The Bling

Corrosive Challenge #163 – Anything Goes

The Crafty Pad Challenge #198 – Add Some Glitter

Oldie But A Goodie Challenge – Anything But Christmas (Doily Die and Embossing Folder are both over 6 Months Old)

The Pink Elephant TPE175 – Giving Thanks

 

Happy Thanksgiving - Fall Tag

I am a little late with my Thanksgiving wishes.  I developed a problem with a tooth just before the holiday and have been in a lot of pain.  I did get some pain medication, but it pretty much knocked me out so that didn’t help me to be very productive.  Oh well, I figure everyone was busy with cooking turkey (my hubby did ours), running around doing early shopping, or putting up their Christmas decorations.  Now that you are done, Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

Before I dive into the Christmas holidays I wanted to share a few more Thanksgiving creations.  I had a lot of fun creating this Fall Tag.   It started out with a layered base, cut out with Spellbinders’ Grand Labels Four.  I added some homemade washi tape (tutorial coming soon) but I think I covered most of it up.  The sentiment, from the Fall Harvest Set, is stamped in Rich Cocoa Memento Ink on another Spellbinders’ die.  I colored the stamped Pumpkin Patch image with alcohol markers, cut it out, and popped it up with Sticky Thumb Dimensionals.  

 

The leaves are created by die cutting glittered sticker paper and dry embossing. They are layered with a lovely Fanciful Flourish and a bow.  I also added some cute quilled flowers, created from another die. 

In the craziness of the Thanksgiving holiday, I hope everyone had time to be with family and friends.  That is what I am most thankful for this year.

E. Marie

 

This card is entered in the following challenges:

CheeryLynn Designs Challenge 55 - Tag you're it!

Creative Card Crew Challenge #24 – Anything Goes

Penny Black And More at Allsorts November Challenge – Any Die Will Do

Stampin For the Weekend Challenge #22 – Use Some Texture

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C164 – Put a Bow On It

CI Paints Inspired By: Anything Goes

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #196 (FTTC 196)- Card That Makes You Happy

All Sorts Challenge Week 182 – Bring On The Bling

Corrosive Challenge #163 – Anything Goes

The Crafty Pad Challenge #198 – Add Some Glitter

Oldie But A Goodie Challenge – Anything But Christmas (All Dies are over 6 Months Old)

The Pink Elephant TPE175 – Giving Thanks

Toally Gorjuss Challenge 159 – Don’t Be Square
Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #42 –Any Card Make This Week

Getting Ready For Christmas

If you are looking for the Sparkle and Sprinkle Winter Wonderland Blog Hop, please click here.

I am really enjoying my weekend with my friends, but alas am not feeling the greatest.  Slept in and took it easy today.  My other friends, April and Susan, joined us.  No wild parties, tonight!!  Just fun times!!

I did manage to finish one card today.  The House Mouse and Friends Challenge is “Getting Ready for Christmas”.  I took this a literally (actually just an excuse to use my new stamps) and thought about what I do before all those Christmas parties.  I take a nice, relaxing, hot bath!! 

I colored this little guy with my Spectrum Noir Alcohol markers and then added some Twinkling Clouds Sparkle N Soft from Sparkle N Sprinkle on the marshmallows and their Cloud Nine Velvet Glitter on the rising steam.  After cutting the image out with a Spellbinders’ Circle Die, I popped it in the middle of the card with dimensionals.  The Ornament is also a Spellbinders’ die with strips of 1/8" Double Sided "Tear-ific"Tape across it, covered with Luau Green Velvet Glitter (also from SNS).  I wanted to add three tiny snowflake buttons but everything I had was too big.  Then I remembered this cute garland I had left over from last year.  I cut the snowflakes off of it and they worked perfect.  As a last touch, I added some faux stitching with a white pen.

Raise your mug of hot chocolate to having a relaxed holiday season!!

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

House Mouse and Friends Challenge #132 (#HMFMC132) - Getting ready for Christmas

Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge Week 134 – Pop It Up

Stampin For The Weekend Challenge #21 – All Stitched Up

Anything Goes Challenge 80 – Stitching

Clearly Inspired Challenge #64 (CIC64) – Clean and Simple

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 79 - More Than One Punch And/Or Die Cut (Dies – two size squares, two size circles, ornament)       15

Craft Your Passion Challenge 136 - CAS Cards

4 Crafty Chicks Crazy Egg Challenge #116 {4CCC-116} – Winter

Little Claire Monthly Challenge # 27 - 'Christmas'

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #42 - Use Recycled Material (Used snowflakes from old Garland)

The Pink Elephant Challenge TPE174 – Punches/Dies

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 158 – Plain and Simple

BunnyZoe's Crafts Monthly Challenge #30 – Winter

SpectrumNoir November 2012 Challenge - Animals

 

More Christmas Inspiration And A Birthday

If you are looking for the Sparkle and Sprinkle Winter Wonderland Blog Hop, please click here.

 

This week was Cheryl’s birthday and as you can see, we are having a great time.  We made a last minute decision to spend the weekend at the local scrapbook store, Scrapbook Creations.  If you visit my blog, I have talked about this store a lot.  Some weekends they have special deals on rooms in their cottage so we took advantage of this.  Thought I was going to miss out when I had to leave work because of a very upset stomach, but after a nap and a little soup I felt a bit better and decided to try to go.  We ended up at a Mexican restaurant for supper (I was very careful what I ate)and they surprised Cheryl with a delightful desert, along with some great singing.  What fun!!  She might not forgive me for posting this.

I did promise to post some additional Christmas projects so I have two more ornaments to share.  These aren’t quite as labor intensive as the one for the blog hop, but still using the Glitter Ornaments Part 2 technique.

 

This ornament is a little larger to work with the Large Poinsettia image.    It is heat embossed on the tissue paper with Sangria Star Embossing Powder.  You can find the directions here.

 

This second ornament uses the Holly Bunch image and the sentiment is from the Holiday Greetings Set.  I added some color using colored pencils.  The details can be found in the gallery here.

If you are still hopping through the Sparkle and Sprinkle Winter Wonderland Blog Hop, hang in there.  There are so many wonderful ideas for the upcoming holiday.  You have until Sunday, Nov. 18 to complete the hop and leave comments for each designer for a chance to win the prizes.  Head over to the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog for all the details.

Happy hopping!!

E. Marie

 

This is entered in the following challenges:

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #159 – Lets Have Sparkle

Sparkle and Sprinkle Winter Wonderland Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sparkle and Sprinkle Winter Wonderland Blog Hop!!  We have so many wonderful ideas to share with you just in time for the upcoming holidays.  This is also a debut for the 2012-2013 Design Team.  We have lots of new designers, making this a longer hop, but to make it easier for you we are hopping for four days!!  If you have come to my blog by way of Keri Brown’s creative blog, you are in the right place.  If you just stopped by for a visit, you might want to head over to the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog to get all the details. 

The hop runs Nov. 15 - 18 and you will have a chance to win one of five prizes by simply visiting each designer’s blog and leaving a comment.   Three of the prizes are “hidden” on 3 different mystery designers’ blogs so you want to make sure you visit all of them, leaving some kind thoughts. 

Are you all comfortable and cozy?  Grab a mug of hot chocolate and let’s start hoppin’.

In case you get lost, here is the hop line up:

Julie Zippel 

Shanna Shands 

Brigita Skopas

Anne Temple  

Karin Martin  

Debi Brile  

Shona Erlenborn  

Dawn Bennett 

Barbara Bruder 

Genevieve Chesky 

Karalee Ingram 

Cheryl Bennett 

Keri Brown 

Marie Berquist (you are here!!)

Charmagne Welch-Rivera 

April Williams 

Cammy Vietzke 

Jackie Smith 

Brenda Smalle  

 

I have several project to share with you.  My first project is a cute shimmery card, using an older winter set, Winter Swirl.

I used alcohol inks and holographic cardstock to create the beautiful sparkly blue circles and heat embossed with White Detail EP.  I used the Snowflakes and Every Snowflake images, along with the Kisses From Heaven sentiment.

 

The border on the right is created using ½” Tear-ific tape, Blue Lightning Glitter, and the new Cloud Nine Velvet Glitter with the Masking On Velvet Glitter Technique.   Find the complete details in our gallery here.

One of my favorite things to make at Christmas is ornaments and with the release of the new Holiday Foliage set I just had to combine the two. 

 
I started with the Merry Christmas from the Holiday Greetings, heat embossed with Gold Detail EP on tissue paper.  Using SNS Ornament Glue I placed this inside the ornament and added Bridal Glitter (see Glitter Ornaments Part 2 in our Tips and Techniques).

 

 

 

Then I used the Large Poinsettia image, along with Clear Embossable Acetate, Gold Detail EP, Alcohol Markers, a Super Adhesive Sheet, and Gypsy Red and Lator Gator Velvet Glitter to create a lovely layered top.  Make sure you check out the full tutorial on this ornament here.

 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I will share a few more holiday ideas throughout the hop, so feel free to stop back by. 


 

 

 

Now it is time to hop on over to Charmagne Welch-Rivera’s  wonderful blog for even more inspiration.  Hang in there!!  Only a few more to visit.

 

E. Marie

 

 

These are entered in the following challenges:

Kisses From Heaven Card:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Monthly Challenge #30 - Winter

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #79 – More Than One Punch And/Or Die Cut

Craft Your Passion Challenge 136 - CAS Cards

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C162 - Inspired by Favorite Christmas Carol (Winter Wonderland)

Delightful Challenges – Let It Snow

The Pink Elephant Challenge TPE174 – Punches/Dies

Poinsettia Ornament:

Spectrum Noir October Challenge - Flowers (Used Markers on Acetate Flower)

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #158 – Anything Goes

One Stop Craft Challenge #203 – Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin’ Challenge - Anything Goes

Autumn Blessings

I had a very busy time at work this week. There are so many projects for the holidays.  Friday was our Fall Feast so we made turkeys – paper bag turkeys, turkey hats, turkey books, and turkey placemats.  This gives a lot of practice counting feathers, reviewing colors, cutting, writing, sound spelling, ect.  No wonder I was thinking fall and Thanksgiving when I had a chance to get creative this week.  The fact that Christmas decorations went up on the street lights in our local town might have made me a little more determined to remember a somewhat forgotten holiday – Thanksgiving!! 
 

This card was made using the Fall Leaves Stampette Set from Sparkle N Sprinkle, along with their new Tiger Orange Velvet Glitter.  This is not your Clemson Tiger orange.  It is more of a deep, rich orange that is so soft and sparkly.  For details on this card, head on over to my post at the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog.

Remember that SNS is having a four day blog hop starting this coming Thursday, Nov. 15. so make sure you check back.

With true gratefulness for all my followers,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Penny Black And More at Allsorts November Challenge – Any Die Will Do

Anything Goes Challenge 79 - Anything Goes at Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenge #195 - No Flowers

The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge – Leaves/Fall

Dutch Dare Card Challenge #190 – Favorite Things (Jewels, Distressing, Fall Colors, Glitter, Spellbinders Dies) 

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #144 – Anything Goes

One Stop Craft Challenge 203 – Anything Goes