day late, dollar short

 

Well, July has come and gone and I missed the whole Christmas in July thing, card making even the Hallmark Christmas movies!! But hey that's OK, because 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is going strong with challenges to get you prepared for the upcoming holidays.

The challenge is to use vellum on a window card. I had to search for vellum. It isn't some thing this CAS girl uses very often.  Luck would have it, that it was relatively easy to find!

I love red and brown together and that is why I stenciled this unconventional colored snowstorm. Brown flakes on the background and an overlay of red flakes on the vellum. I added the reindeer and snowmen from Clearly Besotted's "Christmas Lineup". Some always needed bling, a sentiment and there we go.

This is my first time joining the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, but it won't be my last! So what that I missed Christmas in July, when I have Christmas in August, September, October, November, and December!!

 

Reindeer friends

 

Today starts a new challenge at Christmas 24. It's a fun one for me, because it involves critters! I love my critter stamps and always am on the look out for some new ones.

Today's challenge is all about reindeer. I took a bit of poetic license along with some whimsy and pulled some wanna be reindeer critters. After all what critter wouldn't want to be a reindeer and be part of Santa's team!

My card today uses two new stamp sets. "Peace, Love and Paws" from My Favorite Things and "Meowy Catmas" from Simon Says Stamp.  I added some bold snow flakes and this CAS card was complete.

 

Of course you need some musical inspiration and who better than Burl Ives!

 

You have till the first of the month to play along with our "reindeer" challenge at Christmas 24!

Be merry

Christmas 24 is hosting a new challenge. One that is near and dear to my heart.

Cute animals!! I was laughing because of of my teamies left a post that she had to search her stamps for a cute animal. I had astruggle trying to decide which cute animal stamp I was going to use!!

These are my Christmas critter sets. This isn't even my other occasion critter sets. Critter sets are probably at least 50% of my stamps!

My card today uses Clearly Besotted set which I cannot seem to find, so it might be retired. Let me know if you come across it.

You have two weeks to show us your cute critter cards at Christmas 24!

 

Believe

Happy last weekend in 2019! It's hard to believe 2020!! Where do the years go?

I have had some time off over Christmas  and that means time in my studio. I usually end up with with a stamping block by the time the holidays are over, but I have been going strong and am sharing cards that I can save for next year.

This adorable Rudolph is from Essentials by Ellen over at Ellen Hutson. I just love the images. The wreath is from Clearly Besotted. Unfortunately, it is no longer available. the sentiment is Paper Smooches.

As I wrote yesterday CAS on Friday is having a DT call. I am throwing another card into the pool for their consideration.

Check out CAS on Friday and see the CAS cards by the DT. And wish me luck!

Just prance

Well this a first for me,  a holiday card in July! I never start them before November. AAA Cards is hosting a cool challenge to leave lots of white space with a twist for a Christmas card.

I had to dig out my holiday stamps and then find a set I wanted to play with. I decided to go with Clearly Besotted's "Let's Prance". I could just picture a reindeer flying across the top of my card.

I kept it very simple making it a one layer card. 

A little stickles later and this CAS white space dominant card was done. 

Head over to AAA Cards and play along!

Peaceful Holiday

It is getting close to the big day. It is the hump day to Christmas. Today would be a good day to relax a bit and take some time for yourself. Even if it is to pour a glass of wine or make a mug of hot chocolate and watch the twinkling lights on the tree for a bit.

Everything will still be there waiting and it will all get done.

Today's card reminds me to stop and smell the pine trees. The soft colors relax and remind me the holidays aren't all about the gifting, decorating, cooking etc etc. They are about family, friends and the joy of the holiday itself.

These two stamps- this one and this one were popular a few years back, but they are new to me.

I loved this card so much, I made a similar card, not quite so cute using "Deck the Halls" by Lila Griffith.

So relax and enjoy the last day before the excitement begins!

Holiday Blog Hop at House of Cards

Hi everyone! Where does the time go? Can you believe we have come to the end of our third term at House of Cards? We are saying a fond farewell to some of our design team members and I am so thankful to those who are staying on. To say farewell and thanks, we are celebrating with a blog hop! 

This blog hop will run FROM DECEMBER 1 AT 6:00AM CST THROUGH DECEMBER 15 AT NOON CST, ANY CARD STYLE is welcome and please check out the gorgeous photo inspiration for the crafting challenge.

You should have arrived here from our awesome leader Mynn's blog. If you haven't and you would like to hop with us, please start at Mynn's blog and continue through the whole thing for the most chances to win.

Oh yeah, how could I forget- winning! Check out our amazing sponsors!

Here are all of our fabulous sponsors. Our team has used a variety of products from these amazing companies.

$50 gift voucher to shop

$10.00 gift voucher to shop

Gift card to the online store

Prize package of 5 stamps

$20.00 to their digital store

$20.00 gift voucher to shop

While these are all great companies, I went with this great reindeer image from Great Impressions. It just so fit the inspiration photo. The design is a taken from a card by Jennifer Maguire. 

Here is a peek in the inside of the card.

The saying is from Great Impressions too.

I hope you enjoyed my take on the inspiration photo. Now get hoppin'! Your next stop is my good buddy, Cornelia and I know she is gonna have something awesome to share. Don't forget to link up a project with us at House of Cards after completing the hop for an extra chance to win a mystery prize from one of our fabulous sponsors also!

90 degrees of Christmas

Over a CASE study they are celebrating their second week of their second anniversary. The challenge is to create something outside of the box. There was a technique I have been wanting to try. Kristine Warner taught this technique during the Cut Above online card class I took. She used a plastic template to emboss with. It really works! Now I have to go out and get more plastic templates!!

Here's how you do it-

This is the plastic template I used. It is from Crafters Workshop.

The sandwich starts with a clear plate, the template, then your paper.

Place a rubber mat on top of the paper, then the second clear plate. 

Run the whole sandwich through your Big Shot.

Here are the results! Pretty cool huh?

The other technique I wanted to try was the off set circle die cut to create a window.  I saw it done on Splitcoast Stampers and wanted to try it.

I am also submitting this to the Blue and bling challenge over at Just Add Ink.

So here it is 90 degrees out and I am thinking of the icy cold snowy days of Christmas. I hope you enjoyed the card and tutorial.