52 Christmas Card Throwdown: Masculine

Yesterday's post was my first Easter card of the season. Then when I saw that the challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown was a masculine theme, I knew I'd also be doing my first Christmas card of the season!

For my sons, I usually do silly or snarky - but they are both in such a time of change as they are college graduates and trying to move into adulthood, I wanted a more meaningful message.  One son in particular struggles with the concept of joy and peace - he's always searching - so this sentiment just seemed perfect for him. I kept it masculine with the plaid and with that cute little snowman in his blue snow gear. 

The snowman was a freebie last year at Simon Says for buying a certain amount of Tim Holtz products - not a hard thing for me to do and I couldn't pass up that snowman.  The set is Chilly & Freezy and there are two snowmen in the die set.  I'll definitely bring them both out to play in the near future.

Thanks to the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown for inspiring me to start on my Christmas stash!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Just Sentiments: Peace, and In the Shadows

Dies: Sizzix/Tim Holtz Chilly & Freezy (free with purchase at Simon Says last December)

Paper: Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Poppy Parade and Pumpkin Pie

The Color Throwdown: He Is Risen

With extra crafting time over this three-day weekend, I started thinking about Easter cards. With a cold wind howling outside my window, I was struggling to get any ideas for a sweet spring card. When I'm stuck, I always turn to my favorite challenges for a kickstart and sure enough, it was the Color Throwdown to the rescue!

This was a surprising inspiration for me because it has three of my least-used colors.  I am so not a yellow fan and cream kind of falls into that dislike.  Our likes and dislikes always amaze/confuse me because so many other people will list yellow as a favorite color but I just can't embrace it (unless it's more of a rich golden color).  Ditto for pink. I don't dislike it quite so much.  In fact, if you glance back at my cards you'll see an awful lot of Stampin' Up's Flirty Flamingo but just like my gold vs. yellow differentiation, the flamingo color just feels richer to me.  But the challenge was specifically light pink so I tried!

This card is really all about the embossing folder. There seems to be a new passion for embossing folders across the industry.  I've been doing this card thing for a very long time and at one point, I had a huge drawer full of embossing folders and used them on every single card.  But about 4 years ago, when we were moving after 25 years in the same house - I did a major cleanout and, at that time, embossing folders just weren't the big thing so I let go of all but my favorites.  SO many regrets over that. On the other hand, it allows me to bring new folders into my stash!  AND it turns out that Spellbinders has embossing folders of the month clubs - both regular and 3D.  This is the one that convinced me.  It's February's folder from the regular embossing folder card.  

Thanks to The Color Throwdown for the inspiration to start my Easter card stash!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Simon Says Stamp He Is Risen, Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms

Paper: Stampin' Up Petal Pink and So Saffron, Taylored Expressions Granny Apple Green, Peapod and Buttercream Frosting, Recollections (Michaels) Pearl Pad

Other: Spellbinders Hydrangea Blooms EF (February EF of the month), Studio Katia Vintage Shimmer Pearls

Freshly Made Sketches: Happy Birthday Banners

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by me and here’s what I did with it! 

I love bold stripes on cards but when it came time to make a card based on my own sketch, I decided to go with banners.  It wasn't that long ago when no card was made without a banner on it somewhere. They were the shape-of-the-year.  Luckily they aren't gone, because they are still perfect for celebrations. This is for my newly 18-year old niece. I wanted it to be a bit more grown-up but still bright and cheerful so I found a paper pad full of coordinating dots and stripes. Then to give it a bit more interest I found a stamped sentiment with a die that cut it in the shape of the words.  Any card for my niece has to have gems or glitter - hopefully the three little gems on this card are enough for her now that she's a grown-up!

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  I'd love to see what you do with my sketch. I'm always by the creativity in the FMS gallery.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Waffle Flower Elegant Sentiments (and matching die)

Dies: The Greetery Sentiment Suites dies

Paper: Sunny Studio Dots & Stripes Pastel paper and Gingham Pastels pad

Freshly Made Sketches: Birthday Candles

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Linda and here’s what I did with it!

I definitely forced this sketch to be what I needed - but I like how it worked out!!  I needed a birthday card for a teenage girl.  I quickly hit on the idea of candles with a sparkly circle behind it (for the glow of the candles in case I'm the only one who sees it that way!)  I was thinking smaller candles - but then the light bulb came on to fill most of the circle with candles. It seemed more contemporary for the teenager. I found some fun paper and pulled all my colors from there.

I did this whole card watching the clock because it just had to get to the post office the day I made it or there was no chance it would get to my youngest niece in time. I normally don't mind belated cards (after all, they extend the celebration, right?!) but I try to be on time for the youngsters in my life. I tell you this because were I not rushing, I think I would have done a few things differently.  I had the stamped sentiment in my stash so I used it although I'm obsessive to wish it were a bright color vs. the deep orange.  I'm also not in love with the hearts. There's a stripe in the paper with pink and red so I thought red hearts would work but now that I look at the photo, they kind of take over.  I tell you all of that to demonstrate just how out of control my obsessiveness can be.  Don't be me!!  Because in reality - it's a perfectly nice card!!

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: The Ton Easy Expressions and dies

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Party Candle, Trinity Stamps Embossed Edge Circle and Embossed Edge Rectangle

Paper: Echo Park Splash 6x6 (old!), Memory Box Graceful Garden Glitter Pad, Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink (ret), Balmy Blue, Mango Melody and Parakeet Party 

Other: Trinity Cinnamon Red Hots Jelly Drops

Poppystamps: Hello with Teardrop Butterflies

 I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with a Hello using the new Teardrop Butterflies.

These butterflies are so cute and so cheerful - I thoroughly enjoyed working with them.  They can also be very elegant as you can see from these samples on the Poppystamps store. 

Be sure to check out the Poppystamps blog post for many more pictures and a few details as to how this came together.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps Teardrop Butterflies, Layered Pointy Petals, Double Scalloped Stitched Frames

Paper: Memory Box Graceful Garden Glitter pad and Sunny Orange 6x6 pad (available at Poppystamps)

Other: Poppystamps Birthday Wishes Poe Script Hot Foil Plate and Dies, Autumn Fairy Jewels, Autumn Fairy Crystals

The Card Concept: Floral Valentine

There's a new inspiration challenge at The Card Concept: Floral Valentine. My Clean and Layered card was inspired by the colors and the three square black heart boxes along the bottom.

 

I created this for my newly-teenage niece.  I'm finding it a hard age for making cards. She's not into cutesy anymore but it can't be too "serious".  I liked the idea of the three black stamps along the bottom but wasn't sure it was teenage-girl enough.  I'm hoping the fun font and the dsp helps!  I also added three little gems because that's a requirement for my nieces. (You should see how depleted my gem stash is when they come to craft.)  I probably should have added more!

I hope to see you playing along with us at The Card Concept.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Concord & 9th Sweet Sayings dies

Paper: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo and Parakeet Party, Taylored Expressions Cupcake, Honey Bee Stamps Hugs and Kisses 6x6 pad

Freshly Made Sketches: Iconic Hi

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Mitchell and here’s what I did with it!

 

 

I started this one with the idea of a branch - then maybe birds, pretty leaves, bees or something. As I was browsing my stash with branches, I saw this retired set by Stampin' Up and realized that I had never used it! 

I thought about sponging an ombre background but quickly realized I had ombre Stampin' Up paper (also retired!) so I didn't have to get inky. Then finally for the stripe, I found more retired Stampin' Up paper!  I have new things I haven't even used but when all out on the retired products for this card!

My husband saw his on my desk and asked why they were saying "hi" since that bird was going to eat that bee!! Ugh...men!!!

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Stampin' Up Iconic, Playful Alphabet

Paper: Stampin' Up Oh So Ombre, Brights 6x6 2020 DSP 

Other: Studio Katia Jade Crystals