Join me at Laura's Loft!

Hi everyone! What?!!? You are probably thinking I am loosing my marbles! This isn't a Christmas card!!

Yeah I know, but it is cold outside and I just wanted a bit of the tropics. Altenew to the rescue. Whimsical  Flowers warmed my heart. 

I have discovered a new place to shop. It is the online version of the first stamp store that I worked and taught at. The place was called "Create an Impression" but customers always called it Heather's store. That's how I feel about Laura's Loft.  It has that independent small brick and mortar feel to it that is missing among all the mega online craft shops.

As important as I always though it was to support our physical stores, sadly there are very few left, so we need to support our small online businesses. Please check out Laura's store, and blog for tons of inspiration. She has monthly blog hops and challenges!

Today's tropical card was colored with zig clean color markers. When it was colored I went back with my wink of stella pen and the colors really popped!

Now grab a pina coloada and check out Laura's Loft!  Tell her Sue T. sent you!!

House of Cards Blog Hop

Hi everyone!  Can you believe we've are at the end of another term here at House of Cards?!  Unfortunately we are saying a fond farewell to some of our DT members and fortunately we are so happy to those staying on.  To say goodbye and thank you, we're celebrating with a blog hop!  You should have arrived here from Mynn. 

This hop will run FROM December 1ST AT 6:00 AM CST THROUGH December 15TH AT NOON CST,  ANY CARD STYLE is welcome and we've got a 
gorgeous photo inspiration for your crafting enjoyment! 

  
***PRIZE WINNERS FROM THE BLOG HOP WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE 20TH OF DECEMBER. CARD WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT MONTH ON THE 15TH, AS PER THE USUAL HERE AT HOC.  THANK YOU!***


 So, get ready and let's get hopping?!  Oh wait, hold the horses!! Before we get hoppin',  we have some fabulous sponsors to share with you!  Make sure you leave a comment at each person's blog along the way because the prizes are hidden and we'll be doing random drawings from the blogs where they are hiding! :)  After you're done, make a creation to share with us here, too, for another chance to win!

Here are all of our fabulous sponsors.

Our team will be using a variety of products

from these amazing companies!

Deedee's Digis
Prize: Digital Stamps Prize Package

The name says it all!  If you're looking for wholesome digital "stamps" and papers that will make you smile, this is the place to shop!  We have a variety of sets for any occasion and any crafter.  Stop by to check them out today!

Great Impressions
Prize: Prize Package

Here are the stamps you could win!

(Three total--ornaments and 2 sentiments)

Inspired By Stamping

Prize: Gift Card to Store

MHKDesigns

Prize: Any three products of your choice!

For the blog hop this month I used a selection of stamps from one of our sponsors- Great Impresssions.

Now get to hoppin'!  Your next stop Barbara!  Don't forget to link up a project with us after completing the hop for an extra chance to win a mystery prize from one of our fabulous sponsors, too!  HUGS and happy stamping to you all! :)

Happy Little Stampers December Sketch Challenge

Thanksgiving is behind us and we have the Christmas holiday to look forward to. I gotta say this is my favorite crafting time. 

I get all of my holiday stamps out and throw on all the holiday music on Pandora and fa la la la la.... I am in the spirit!!

The sketch this month at Happy Little Stampers just made me think shaker card! 

 

My Lawn Fawn birdies are singing along to Kylie's Happy Little Stamper set- Mixed Christmas Sentiments. This set has the best assortment of holiday saying in a variety of fun fonts!

I hope you are getting in the spirit of Christmas and creativity! I can't wait to see what all of you come up with this month at Happy Little Stampers Sketch Challenge.

The Male Room Challenge #24

I couldn't resist going for a tongue in cheek card with this week's challenge at the Male Room. 

I had this cute turkey stamp from Paper Source for a few years and never used him.  He just looked like he so didn't want to be the main attraction for Thanksgiving dinner. Well as Marie Antoinette supposedly said- "let them eat cake", but in this case it is "let them eat pie"!!

Hopefully this Tom was given a pass this year.

It's funny a year ago I discovered the Male Room challenge and entered this card   and I won that week's challenge. I few months later I was invited to be on the team.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone and please join us for this Thanksgiving/thanks challenge at the Male Room.

Reverse Confetti Challenge

There is a relatively new stamp company out there that I just recently discovered. Some of you might be saying "oh yeah, I know them. Where have you been?!!?" Clearly, I haven't been paying attention, but better late than never.

Reverse Confetti started by Jen del Muro, who I remember from blogland. After swearing she would never start a stamp company she did, and boy am I glad. Her stamps are cute and whimsical.Her dies are fun and clever and work great with the stamps. She has a monthly "quick card panels" that are a perfect adjunct to your crafting. People love them, they are always sold out. I have yet to be able to get them.

Since I now have a wee selection of stamps and dies, I felt I could join in the fun over at their sketch challenge this month.

I die cut a tag from the "tag me" set. I stamped "sending love and joy" from the "winter words coordinates" on the tag and cut it in half.  My candy cane strip was stamped from the "so stripey" set.
The snowflakes were die cut from the coolest snowflake die out there. The green polka dot strip I die cut from the "tag me" set also. Lastly Santa was stamped from the "jolly holiday" set.  I did add some embossed snow in the background for texture but other than that my card was all RC.

I hope you check out all the cool and fun products at Reverse Confetti and play along in their challenge.

The Male Room Challenge # 23

The challenge at The Male Room this week is "remembrance or sympathy". Sympathy cards, wow they are difficult in the best of times, but when you need it for a guy, well you have just ratcheted up the degree of difficulty. I wanted to avoid flowers so I went rummaging through my stamps and came across this old HA stamp. Some how I even have two!

 

I stamped it in a dark blue ink and white embossed the sentiment. What is hard to see in the photo is that I punched out many small holes to create a star field and layered glitter paper behind it, to give it a shimmer and depth to the night sky.

With the dark blue ink against the white cardstock, this card just feels peaceful and soothing to the spirit.

A very good male friend's mother just passed away unexpectedly and I was happy that this card was made and was perfect for him.

I hope you will join us at the Male Room this week.

House of Cards November Technique Challenge

Hi everyone! It's November and that means a new challenge at House of Cards!! Mynn has shared a very cool video on a stamped and cut window technique. 

I am known for always stretching- who am I kidding!!-  I mean breaking the rules a bit. So I had to come up with a bit of a twist on the challenge. So I did a double cut and stamped window. I wonder how many cut and stamped windows could you create? Could it be like looking in two mirrors? it goes on for infinity?!!?

If you read yesterday's blog posting you know that my new fav stamp company is Reverse Confetti. I used the Pumpkin Patch set again for my challenge card.

I made my card with two background, the stripes:

I just wasn't sure so I tried it with a woodgrain background:

I was torn, but the stripes just keep whispering a wee bit louder. What do you think- stripes or woodgrain?

Please join us at House of Cards this month for this way fun and cool technique!