Power Poppy Power and Spark Challenge

I try to do at least one Christmas card or two a week so that I don't have so many to do when Christmas gets here. I decided that this page map by Becky Fleck was  perfect for my challenge card.

Here is the page map I used:

Check out all the fun over at Power Poppy's Blog.

The holly is a Power Poppy digital and I colored it with copic markers. 

Rubbernecker challenge #25 Grunge

I used this scripture stamp from Rubbernecker Stamps for this grunge Valentine. I had fun scrunching paper, distressing edges, tearing paper, and inking edging and stamping spots to add that grunge look to my card. I also am using up scraps of design papers from my bags of color coded pieces.  You can find the Rubbernecker challenge HERE.

CCEE1804 Show us your favorite technique

I  am ending my hosting for this month with  a fun and easy challenge to end January. The challenge is to show us your favorite technique in cardmaking. Maybe it is embossing, fancy folds, paper piecing, multilayered stamping, paper piercing, collage, etc. We will enjoy seeing what you have to offer in fun techniques.

You can join in by linking to Mr. Linky over on the CCEEStampers blogsite HERE and if you post
over on SCS please use the CCEE1804 as the keyword.

I used an old SU stamp to stamp the small squares and dots onto the side of my card. I stamped the Unity girl on the right side of the card, and then stamped the Unity girl onto printed design paper. Then I cut it out and added it to the image. Paper piecing is one of my favorite techniques and it seems like I am playing paper dolls when I paper piece with these wonderful images from Unity.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

This is for the sketch on the Atlantic Hearrs Sketch Challenge this week. I used an old Stampin' Up stamp and sentiment. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the middle panel.

Black and white

This card was made for the Cards in Envy challenge which was to use the tuxedo theme (black and white only cards). I got to use scraps from my scrap pile on this one. The stamp is an old retired Stampin' Up stamp, and the diecuts were done in black cardstock. The white paper is punched with a Martha Stewart border punch. I added small rhinestones to the centers of the diecut daisies. Black and white cards are always so fun to do. I think they make such a dramatic statement because of the drastic contrast of the two colors. 

International art and soul challenge

I did this card for the International Art and Soul Challenge going on this week to use a digital on your card. This flower image is a digital from Power Poppy, I colored it with copic markers. I stamped the verse on it. The stamp is from Stampabilities.

CCEE1803 Baby, it's cold outside.

I am again the hostess for this challenge this week to use an image showing some kind of winter garment. I live on the Texas gulf coast and I live here for a reason. I don't really like winter weather.
But I guess in honor of this particular challenge, we have been given an unusual icy couple of days.
So that winter wear became rather handy. 

So show us your best winter dressed people or animals!

Join in on the fun by adding your card to Mr. Linky over on the CCEEStampers blogsite. If you post to SCS please use the CCEE1803 as your keyword.

I used this adorable stamp from Unity for my card today. I love how the scraf and little girl's loose hairs show the movement of that northern wind. Hope wherever you are you are warm and safe.

Tuesday Morning Sketch 436

What fun I am having today exploring sites with challenges that I don't usually have the time to do!
This sketch challenge was one I found on the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge #436. I have made another card from the scraps from my design paper collection I have bagged that are full of cut papers that I just can't throw away. I actually even paper pieced the vest the girl is wearing with one of my scraps. The stamps I used are from Unity.

Try stampin' - or not -on Tuesday

This card is for the Tic Tac Toe  challenge today. I used black, hearts, and red on my card.
You can find this fun challenge on Try Stampin' - or not- on Tuesday.  I am busy trying to use up scraps from my scrap bags and every part of this card in found in my bags. The only stamping I did was the sentiment, which is from Stampin' Up. 

Purple and Monochromatic

This is a perfect day to just stay in my pajamas and stamp and play in my stamping room.  During winter, it  becomes my hybernation cave. I was checking over at Paper Playful and all the wonderful challenges they list each week. Challenges are what help me get my mojo going. And wow, today I found two that I could easily combine into one card. So this card is for the Less Is More challenge to use purple found HERE  and for the Use Your Stuff Challenge found HERE.

I used two of Tim Holtz's purple Oxide inks for the smashed bg, and used the darker on to stamp the feather and sentiment, which are stamps from Unity. Grabbed up a few purple gemstones from the stash. It is a one layered card that I ended up mounting onto a white cardstock front as to hide the ink smushes that got on the back. 

Iced in but in my Hibernating stamp cave

It's icy in Houston, Texas, and we are pretty ignorant of driving in such conditions, so here I am still in my warm pjs and loving having an excuse to just stay in and stamp and create. A real treat for me, although I am retired and do have those opportunities more than many do. In my extra time I went over to Paper Playful to check on the challenges listed over there. I found this one that is a sketch challenge over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge. I loved this sketch because my stamping resolution idea is to deplete my ever-growing design paper scrap pile. So this card was made from scraps from my already cut and left over pieces from previous projects bags. I have about 8 bags I am working through at the moment that are organized by colors (more or less). So, here is my card for the challenge:

I used an old Stampin' Up sentinent stamp, and my Creative Memories heart punches. So, it is nice using old stamps and old tools that haven't been used in awhile. That middle stripe is a solid piece of dp that is already pieced like that.  I did not cut all those little squares. LOL

Here's the sketch pattern:

White on white challenge - the DT favorite

Checking on challenges over at Paper Playful, I found my friend, Jeanette, as one of the design team members for the International Art and Soul blog. The challenge is to make a white on white card. I love the elegant look of these cards and it gives me a chance to use some of the embossing folders and dies with which I have  to create.  Since I have been keeping so many friends in my prayers lately, I decided to make this card of hope to send to one of them. Holding onto hope is the best solution to every situation, and the Lord is my hope.

Wow, I was thrilled to find my card selected as the DT favorite on International Art and Soul blog.

Crafting by designs challenge - Washi

I am checking out some new challenges for me in 2018 and found this one on Paper Playful.
The challenge can be found HERE. I love CAS and I love making Valentines, so I used some new washi tape for this little Valentine I made for this challenge. I decided to add a line of embossing just to add a little texture to it. The same is one of those cute bargain stamps from Michael's.

Paper Craft Crew Challenge #275

Trying a new challenge this week. I really liked this card sketch and I am in the process of working on my new year's stamping goals to deplete some of my design paper scrap piles in my stamping room. So I used old papers, and a new die cut I have never used before. Here is where I found this challenge.

Here is my card:

CCEE1802 Honoring Hot Tea Month

Hi, I am  hosting again this week. In honor of "Hot Tea Month",  use a teapot or teacup on your card or use a "tea stain" technique if you like.  Here's a link to how to tea stain your paper:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Age-paper-using-tea/ 

if you so choose to use.

Use the CCEE1802 as your keyword if you post over on SCS, and you can link your card to Mr. Linky over on the  CCEEstampers Blog found HERE and join in on the fun this week.

I used a Unity stamp for the image and the sentiment is from Paper Trey Inks. I am trying to use on every one of my cards this year scraps that are already cut from a sheet of design paper as not to have to cut up new ones until some of these others are used up. So far, so good.

Paper Players 375

I love Valentines. It is my favorite card making time of the year. They seem less stressful that Christmas cards, I guess because there is not so many other things going on at the same time.
Paper Players challenge today is a fun one:

My new year's resolution is to use some of my old stamps more, and deplete my paper scraps. I am proud to say this card has helped me to do both things. The  stamp is an old retired SU set. Some cuteness  just lasts forever, so  remain a  part of my massive collection of stamps. Thanks, Paper Players for making this challenge "just my type" of challenge!!

Crafters of Faith Jan. 2018

Starting my second year with the Crafter's of Faith challenge group, and I am looking forward to all the blessings waiting for us in 2018. Barb is hosting the first challenge and using the scripture:

Scripture: 1 John 4:12
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 

challenge The challenge is to make a card or another creation that describes how "we" love one another--through friendship, trying times, music, holidays, etc. 

I used a stamp from Unity that I think shows fellowship and diversity. We are the body of Christ and the priesthood of all believers, and Jesus' greatest commandment to us was to love one another. We must be a united body of love if we want to teach anyone about our Saviour and King. We are all different, have differing opinions, and offer different talents, but God sees not the differences between us, but our common ground of His love for us, and to carry that love all over the world. 

Some of my favorite songs were old folk songs of the 60's that made us question many things in our lives, and it seems like even though we made  huge strides in some areas, hate is still a part of this fallen world. The answers lie in our hearts, that very special place reserved within that makes us incomplete without knowing and showing His great love to all. 

Dear Lord, You sent your one and only Son to redeem us and to prove your great love for us. I can think of nothing that displays love any greater than this. Help me embrace every opportunity given to me this year to express that love in all the ways I can, in all the places I am,  at whatever time it is to all the people I can. I can only make the difference that I can make, but I do have to put forth the effort, and I know you will magnify my efforts. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

Mod Squad Color Challenge

I have started the new year out just like I like it, stamping every day so far. This card today is for the  Mod Squad color challenge to use kraft, black, and white, and I also used it for the WT669 challenge over on SCS. For that challenge we were to use something new. This die set, Tim Holtz's cityscape was a Christmas gift from my sister, and this is the first card I have made with it. Hope everyone has found somewhere to warm to hunker down during this miserable cold everyone seems to be having. I am hybernating in my stamproom, staying in, and getting a lot of stamping done.

CCEE1801 Waddle you do in 2018?

Happy 2018!

I am starting the year off for the CCEE Stampers' challenges for January. So, we are using a play on the word Waddle, and the question to you is "Waddle you do in 2018?"  The challenge is to use a penguin or any other animal that lives where it is cold.  

My little penguin is hoping that 2018 might include a vacation to a warmer climate for him. 

I used some fun paper from a summery pad from Bo Bunny. The stamp is an old retired stamp that someone gave me who had given up their stamping addiction. I guess it is safe to safe that this addiction is something with which  I will always be afflicted.  

I always try to make a stamping resolution for the new year, so this year is to declutter the stamp room,  use up my scrap piles, and let some old stamps see some ink this year. So this card is making use of two of those resolutions with the use of this stamp and the little punched out squares on this from scraps left over from something else. 

Maybe your resolution could me to join us in our challenges this year. Check out all the details every week over on the CCEE Stampers blog that is found HERE.  There you will also see the designs for each challenge done by me and  my fellow team members: Frances, Lois, Anne, Vicky, Lynn, Kelly, and Marianne. We all wish you a very happy 2018!

Mod Squad - SNOW

Here is my last minute entrance to the Mod Squad challenge this week. I am having so much fun with this snow pen I found at Hobby Lobby when I went shopping the after Christmas sales. This stamp is from Penny Black, and the inked background is done with Oxide Distress inks. I colored the snowman's accessories with copic markers. Hope everyone is keeping warm during this terrific freeze that is covering so much of America!! I unlike this snowman am not enjoying it so much. We just get the cold but not the snow in our part of the country, and I guess I should not complain. Except our humidity always makes it seem even colder even without the snow.

Wow, I am so honored to see that this card was selected as one of the top three last week over on the Mod Squad blog.