155 . . . days until Christmas

... yes, you read it right,

there are only 155 days until Christmas.

This mistletoe card is a move from a traditional CAS design, as it has pearls to give luscious dimension to the berries.

This card uses the Mistletoe image from the Tied Up With String digital stamp set by Beccy's Place.  I opened the Mistletoe image in Silhouette Studio and sized it to fit on a 5" x 7" panel.  I added the sentiment, printed on X-Press It blending card, trimmed down to size, heat set, then coloured with Copic markers.  I used liquid adhesive to secure the image panel to the front of a 5" x 7" side folding card base.  The card was finished off by adding pearls in assorted sizes to replace the ones in the image.

I have made two mistletoe Christmas cards this month, this one with pearls (today) and one last week (HERE) using Copic markers with a Clear Wink Of Stella glitter brush to add shading and sparkle to the berries.  I'm still working on finding the best green blends too, so instead of the G40's from last week, I have tried some G20's (details below) today.

I think I prefer this new pearl version.

What do you think?

~~~*~~~*~~~

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Beccy's Place - digital stamp - Tied Up With String

X-Press It A4 Blending Card

Copic markers - leaves - G20-21-24-28-29
Copic markers - string/twine - R27
Copic markers - berries - E0000
Wink Of Stella - Clear Glitter Brush
5" x 7" card base

Silhouette Design Store - Design ID #145682
PN Hello Gorgeous font - MERRY - by ScrapNFonts
Lily Bloom Regular font - CHRISTMAS - The Hungry JPEG
this was part of a free font bundle
Kaisercraft pearls
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the image panel

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges:

~~~*~~~*~~~

A Perfect Time To Craft - July Challenge #7 – Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - Challenge #231 – Bingo + A Sentiment
I have used the middle row = 3D pearls + mistletoe digital image + Copic markers

Beccy's Place - July Challenge – Anything Beccy's Place Goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Challenge 522 – Christmas
CCC Digi Creations - Challenge #105 – Christmas In July
Classic Design Team Challenge Blog - Open Challenge for July #7
Colour Crazy Challenge - Week 27 – Anything Goes
Crafty Calendar Challenge - July Challenge – Christmas In July
Crafty Catz - Challenge #471 – Anything Goes – optional twist: Christmas In July
Digi Choosday Craft Challenge - Wk 29 – Anything Goes
Fab ‘n’ Funky Challenges - Challenge #449 – Add Pearls / Gems
Penny’s Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Challenge 439 – Anything Goes
The 12 Months Of Christmas Link Up - Challenge #55 – Anything Christmas Goes
optional twist: Plaids
Tuesday Throwdown - Challenge #436 – Add Some Bling

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . .

It's time for another challenge with us at the

Crafty Gals Corner

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with

Challenge #196 - Christmas In July

Crafty Gals Corner Challenges are bi-weekly.
Each crafter may only submit 3 projects per challenge.

~~~*~~~*~~~

The sponsors for this challenge are:

Crafty Sentiments Designs

Prize ~ 3 Digital Images

Bugaboo Stamps

Prize ~ $12 Gift Certificate

Digital Delights

Prize ~ $5 Gift Certificate

~~~*~~~*~~~

Today I have used the Christmas Trio Block digital stamp from Bugaboo Stamps, one of our generous sponsors this week, to make a pair of CAS Christmas cards.


This trio of images is super cute.

I sized the image to fit on a 5" x 7" panel, added a sentiment using a combination of fonts, printed two on a sheet of A4 X-Press It blending card, heat set, trimmed down to size then coloured with Copic markers.  I used a clear Wink Of Stella glitter brush to add a delicate sparkle to the snowman and the trim on Santa's hat.  I used liquid adhesive to secure the image panels to the card bases.

I confess that I couldn't decide what colour to use for the snowman's scarf, so my husband suggested purple.  I had just finished colouring a lavender image, so I used the markers I had out.  Unfortunately the purple was a little too dark and looked stark with a white stripe, so I added green shades and it looked a little better.

I tried a lighter purple combination on the second card and it looks much nicer.

~~~*~~~*~~~

NOW it's YOUR turn!

I hope that I have inspired you to get creative
and look forward to seeing your projects fill the gallery for

Challenge #196 - Christmas In July

at the Crafty Gals Corner

Crafty Gals Corner Challenges are bi-weekly.
Each crafter may only submit 3 projects per challenge.

NOTE:
We have had a glitch with the new linky, so please IGNORE the close date.
Challenge #196 CLOSES 11:59 pm CST on July 29th, 2019
[ NOT August 12th ]

~~~*~~~*~~~

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Bugaboo Stamps - digital stamp - Christmas Trio Block

sentiment - font combination used:
"we wish you" = Arial font
"M" = PN Hello Gorgeous Uppercase font
"erry Christma" = lowecase PN Hello Gorgeous font
"s" = a capital S in PN Hello Gorgeous font
X-Press It A4 Blending Card
Copic markers - background - B000-00
Copic markers - snowman
hat T3-5-7    nose - YR04-07
hatband & scarf - dark - BV02-04-08, light V12-15-17
holly - R22-24-27 + YG61-63-67

Copic markers - Santa
skin - E0000-000-00-01    beard - C0-1    cap - R21-22-24-27
Copic markers - Rudolph
nose - R22-24-27    fur - E31-33-35-37
antlers - E35-37-39    ornaments - Y15+YR23-24 
Wink Of Stella Clear Glitter Brush - added sparkle to snowman & Santa's cap
5" x 7" card base
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the image panels

~~~*~~~*~~~

Sending a big Thank You to Bugaboo Stamps for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #196 - Christmas In July at the Crafty Gals Corner.

    

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges:

~~~*~~~*~~~

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – Challenge #28 – Anything with a Critter Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge – Challenge #96 – Anything Goes
AAA Cards – CAS Game #144 – #144 - Maxi White Space
Optional Twist Christmas In July
ABC Christmas Challenge - N & O are for? N - No peeking & O – Ornament 
Rudolph has several ornaments tangled in his antlers
Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 528 – CAS
CCC Digi Creations - Challenge #105 – Christmas In July
Classic Design Team Challenge Blog - Open Challenge for July #7
Colour Crazy Challenge - Week 26 – Anything Goes
Crafting By Designs - July Anything Goes Challenge
Crafting With An Attitude - Challenge #53 – Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - CHNC 446 - Anything Christmas Goes
optional theme: Use Some Red
Creatalicious Challenges - Challenge #167 – Anything Goes
optional Bright and Fun
Cute N Crafty Challenge Blog – Challenge 29 – Christmas In July
Digi Choosday Craft Challenge – Wk 28 – Anything Goes
International Art & Soul - Challenge #62 – Christmas In July
Pile It On – Challenge #156 – Girls & Boys of Summer/Winter
Simon Says Stamp – Monday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Animal Magic
my card has animals and Christmas Magic
The 12 Months Of Christmas Link Up - Challenge #55 – Anything Christmas Goes
optional twist: Plaids
Through The Craft Room Door – TTCRD Anything Goes 16th July

. . . for a birthday that needs an "OLDOMETER"

Special birthdays often need to have the age included

and seventy is an extra special milestone.

 I remember seeing lots of different "oldometer" cards out there in cyberland over the years, so I decided to make mine ticking over from 69 to 70.

I started by opening my Silhouette Studio to design the panels for my card.  I wanted the numbers to be quite large, so with all the metallic matting layers, the card soon grew, ending up 8" tall and 7" wide, a big card for a big birthday.  I confess that I spent ages choosing the fonts for my numbers and sentiment (details below), it has made me realise that I have become a bit of a font hoarder collector.  In case you're interested, the numbers are 350 font size, making them 4" high, before being trimmed and the "OLDOMETER" is 130 font size and 1 1/4" high.

I cut the "oldometer" sentiment, numbers and panels using my Silhouette Cameo, using metallic cardstock for the gold & silver, heavy textured cardstock for the black layers and card base.  As the card is so large, I had to create the card base using two 7" x 8" panels, scoring the back panel 1" from the top and adhering to the front panel.  I used liquid adhesive to secure all the layers, alphas and numbers.  Note: I aligned the numbers on the gold panel, adhered them in place, then trimmed off the edges with my favourite scissors.

I matted the inside of the card to match the front and added a large die cut sentiment.

Here you can see how I created the top fold.

   

Instead of an envelope, I made a large flat gift box to hold the card.  I used the same heavy black cardstock, cut, scored, burnished the folds then trimmed the corners to complete the dimension.  I made the top 1/8" larger so that it wasn't too snug to put on / take off.

~~~*~~~*~~~

*** INGREDIENTS ***

age numbers - digital font - Bernard MT Condensed

"OLDOMETER" - digital font - Playbill font
gold metallic cardstock
silver metallic cardstock
American Crafts - 12x12 textured cardstock - black
Silhouette Cameo + own design
Sizzix Big Shot
Couture Creations - Intricutz Dies - Script Happy Birthday
sentiment inside the card

scoreboard and bone folder - for the top fold and gift box
Helmar Acid Free Professional Glue - to adhere the top fold
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the matting layers

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive - to adhere the sentiment

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges:

~~~*~~~*~~~

Crafting By Designs - July Anything Goes Challenge Die Cut Divas Challenge Blog - Anything Goes - Optional Twist of Patriotic
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Add A Number
Through The Craft Room Door – TTCRD Anything Goes 16th July

A Merry Mistletoe Christmas

If you saw my post from earlier today, you would know that it's only 172 days until Christmas ... I've only made a couple of Christmas cards this year, so I have a lot of catching up to do.

This card uses the Mistletoe image from the Tied Up With String digital stamp set by Beccy's Place.  I opened the Mistletoe image in Silhouette Studio and sized it to fit on a 5" x 7" panel.  I added the sentiment, printed on X-Press It blending card, trimmed down to size, heat set, then coloured with Copic markers.  I used liquid adhesive to secure the image panel to the front of a 5" x 7" side folding card base.

The berries didn't look "right" being left white, so I added a subtle touch of colour to add some dimension, then finished them off by adding a delicate sparkle using a clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush.  It was a challenge to photograph and I'm afraid that the close up makes the berries look darker than they really are.

 

~~~*~~~*~~~

I have made two CAS Christmas cards today.
Click HERE or on the image below to learn all about the berry branch.

~~~*~~~*~~~

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Beccy's Place - digital stamp - Tied Up With String

X-Press It A4 Blending Card

Copic markers - leaves - G40-43-46-29
Copic markers - string/twine - R27
Copic markers - berries - E0000
Wink Of Stella - Clear Glitter Brush
5" x 7" card base

Silhouette Design Store - Design ID #145682
PN Hello Gorgeous font - MERRY - by ScrapNFonts
Lily Bloom Regular font - CHRISTMAS - The Hungry JPEG
this was part of a free font bundle
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the image panel

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges:

~~~*~~~*~~~

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge - Challenge #95 – Anything Goes
AAA Cards - CAS Game #143 - One Corner - Optional Twist: Flowers
my mistletoe berries used to be flowers ...

Aloha Friday Challenges - Challenge #146 - Christmas in July
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - #230 – Anything Goes + A Sentiment
Beccy's Place - July Challenge – Anything Goes
Colour Crazy Challenge - Week 25 – Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart - Challenge #246 – Anything Goes
Make My Monday - Challenge #99 – Begins With The Letter B
the Bunch of mistletoe is tied with a Bow and covered with Berries
Penny’s Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Challenge 437 – Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Craft Challenge – Wk 26 – Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Challenge #355 – Anything Goes
The 12 Months Of Christmas Link Up - Challenge #55 – Anything Christmas Goes
optional twist: Plaids
The Corrosive Challenge Blog - Challenge #6 – June Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Challenge #435 – Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes - Weeks #394-#395

A Berry CAS Christmas

I've only made a couple of Christmas cards this year.

YIKES

It's only 172 days to go . . . 

It's definitely time for me to start getting ready for Christmas!

I started by taking a wander through my stash of digital stamps and chose some images that made my fingers itchy for some colouring and started with the elegant Berry Branch from Beccy's Place.  This image was a freebie and I'm sorry, but I can't find the link to share with you.  Beccy does have an alternate Berry Branch freebie available on her blog, so I will make another card using that image real soon.

I opened the Berry Branch image in Silhouette Studio and sized it to fit on a 5" x 7" panel.  I added the sentiment, printed on X-Press It blending card, trimmed down to size, heat set, then coloured with Copic markers.  I used liquid adhesive to secure the image panel to the front of a 5" x 7" top folding card base.

   

~~~*~~~*~~~

I have made two CAS Christmas cards today.
Click HERE or on the image below to learn all about the mistletoe.

~~~*~~~*~~~

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Beccy's Place - digital stamp freebie - Berry Branch

X-Press It A4 Blending Card

Copic markers - branch - E21-25-27-29
Copic markers - berries - R21-22-24-27
5" x 7" card base

Silhouette Design Store - Design ID #145682
PN Hello Gorgeous font - MERRY - by ScrapNFonts
Lily Bloom Regular font - CHRISTMAS - The Hungry JPEG
this was part of a free font bundle
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the image panel

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges:

~~~*~~~*~~~

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge - Challenge #95 – Anything Goes
AAA Cards - CAS Game #143 - One Corner - Optional Twist: Flowers
my berries used to be flowers ...

Aloha Friday Challenges - Challenge #146 - Christmas in July
Beccy's Place - July Challenge – Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart - Challenge #246 – Anything Goes
Make My Monday - Challenge #99 – Begins With The Letter B
the Branch is covered with red Berries
Penny’s Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Challenge 437 – Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Craft Challenge – Wk 26 – Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Challenge #355 – Anything Goes
The 12 Months Of Christmas Link Up - Challenge #55 – Anything Christmas Goes
optional twist: Plaids
The Corrosive Challenge Blog - Challenge #6 – June Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes - Weeks #394-#395

Summer Fun at the Crafty Gals Corner

It's time for another challenge with us at the

Crafty Gals Corner

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with

Challenge #195 - Summer Fun

Crafty Gals Corner Challenges are bi-weekly.
Each crafter may only submit 3 projects per challenge.

~~~*~~~*~~~

The sponsor for this challenge is:

The Paper Shelter

Prize: 3 Digital Stamps

~~~*~~~*~~~

Today I have used the Cutest Ice Cream Cart digital stamp from The Paper Shelter, our generous sponsor this week.  This super cute image comes with a digital stamp to colour, along with a pre-coloured image and patterned paper.  Unfortunately I haven't been able to colour this week, so I was thrilled to have the pre-coloured image to work with.

Here's a sneak peek of two of my cards.

I opened the image in Silhouette Studio and sized it with plans to make a 6x6" square card and a 5x7" top folding rectangle card.  I used the pre-coloured image in PNG format, so that I could place the image over a digital cloudy background paper.  I added a digital sentiment, matching the colour to the chocolate brown of the awning on the ice cream cart.  I printed the image panels on smooth white cardstock, trimmed to size, heat set then used my Copic markers to add some shadows to ground the image.
I matted the image panels on Merlot weave cardstock and trimmed it down to 1/16" edges using my Perfect Layers Ruler.
Next came the card bases.  I cut the scalloped square and rectangular cloud panels from Carnation weave cardstock, scored the top back panel from each pair then adhered them to the front panels to make top folding cards.  It was quick and easy to finish them off by adhering the matted image panels in place.

You can see from the image above, that I have scored along the first scallop to adhere to the front panel and create my top folding cards.  It's a great way to make folded cards from different shapes.

This Cutest Ice Cream Cart image is so cute that I ended up making four cards.

PS: it was ever-so-easy to choose the perfect
cardstock colours using my Kaisercraft rainbow.

~~~*~~~*~~~

NOW it's YOUR turn!

I hope that I have inspired you to get creative
and look forward to seeing your projects fill the gallery for

Challenge #195 - Summer Fun

at the Crafty Gals Corner

Crafty Gals Corner Challenges are bi-weekly.
Each crafter may only submit 3 projects per challenge.

~~~*~~~*~~~

*** INGREDIENTS ***
The Paper Shelter - digital stamp - Cutest Ice Cream Cart

smooth white cardstock - letter size - to print image

Copic markers - ground shadows - W0-1-3-5
Kaisercraft - 12x12 weave cardstock - Carnation + Merlot
Silhouette Cameo

Silhouette Design Store - Design ID #204358
Baby Card Clouds - cut file - by Lori Whitlock
Silhouette Design Store - Design ID #2231
Square Scallop Lg - cut file - by Silhouette
Silhouette Design Store - Design ID #145682
PN Hello Gorgeous - font - by ScrapNfonts
used for the sentiments on the rectangular cards
Lily Bloom Regular - font - used for the "birthday wishes" sentiment
this font was included in a free bundle last year from The Hungry JPEG
Silhouette Design Store - Design ID #267812
You Are So Sweet - cut file - by Silhouette
used for the sentiment on the square cards
Fred She Said Designs - cloud background - Daisies & Ladybugs
scoreboard and bone folder
Perfect Layers Ruler - 1/16" border
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the layers & top folds

~~~*~~~*~~~

Sending a big Thank You to The Paper Shelter for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #195 at the Crafty Gals Corner.

    

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges:

~~~*~~~*~~~

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge - Challenge #95 – Anything Goes
A Perfect Time To Craft - July Challenge #7 – Anything Goes
Creatalicious Challenges - Challenge #166 – Anything Goes
optional 2 or more Designer Papers
Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog - July Challenge – Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday – Challenge #588 – Birthdays
The Paper Shelter - Challenge #390 – Digital Image

CAS sparkling stripes

No stamping from me today, just CAS cards with lots of sparkle.

I have used Double Sided tape and Micro Fine Glitter from X-Press It to make the sparkling striped corners.  The tapes are 3mm, 6mm and 12mm wide and I spaced each strip 2mm apart on 5" x 7" card bases.  I smothered the tape with glitter then burnished it before brushing the excess away.  I die cut the "happy" and "birthday" sentiment.  The birthday die comes with a backing layer and the white makes the black word contrast even more against the glitter strips of the background.

First up is the vibrant Fuchsia card.

   

... and here is the elegant Silver card.

   

Here is another sparkling card that I made using the luscious 3mm, 12mm and 25mm X-Press It Glitter Tapes.  Click HERE on on the image below if you would like to learn more about it.

~~~*~~~*~~~

*** INGREDIENTS ***

smooth white cardstock - 5" x 7" card base
scoreboard and bone folder
X-Press It - 3mm Double Sided Tape
X-Press It - 6mm Double Sided Tape
X-Press It - 12mm Double Sided Tape
X-Press It - Micro Fine Glitter - Fuchsia
X-Press It - Micro Fine Glitter - Silver
Winnie & Walter - In a Word: Happy Cutaway
Sizzix - birthday - Stephanie Barnard Regal Stand-Ups Framelits Card Die Set
Sizzix Big Shot
Kaisercraft - black pearls

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive - to adhere the sentiments

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges:

~~~*~~~*~~~

AAA Cards - CAS Game #143 - One Corner - Optional Twist: Flowers

Alphabet Challenge Blog - G is for Grunge or Glitz
no grunge, lots of glitz
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - Challenge #230 – Anything Goes + A Sentiment
Cardz 4 Galz - Challenge #99 Your Favourite Colour Combo
I have lots of favourites, today it is bright pink with bold black and white
Crafting By Designs - July Anything Goes Challenge
Creations In Pink - Challenge 11 – Anything Goes with Pink as the Main Colour
Die Cut Divas Challenge Blog - Anything Goes - Optional Twist of Patriotic
Inkspirational Challenges - Challenge #190 Designer's choice - Three or Five
I have added five stripes and embellished with three pearls

International Art & Soul - Challenge #61 – Stars and /or Stripes
Simon Says Stamp – Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Anything Goes

Elegant Potted Lavender

You may have seen this card HERE from earlier today.

Well, I have to confess that I loved the image so much that I made a second card.

I have used the Potted Lavender digital stamp by A Day For Daisies to make a tall A5 CAS birthday card.  I opened the image panel on my Silhouette Studio design mat and sized it to fit on an A5 panel.  I added the sentiment then printed the image panel on a sheet of A5 X-Press It blending card.  I coloured the image with Copic markers then embellished with some score lines.  I adhered the image panel to an A5 card base using liquid adhesive.

I really like how the score lines add an elegant touch

... but they sure are difficult to photograph.

Click HERE or on the image below if you would like to learn more about my square card with striped corners or the Stripes With Team Lou challenge on the Southern Girls Challenge Blog

~~~*~~~*~~~

*** INGREDIENTS ***
A Day For Daisies - digital stamp - Potted Lavender

X-Press It A5 Blending Card

Copic markers - pot - E11-13-15-17-18
Copic markers - foliage - G40-43-46-29
Copic markers - flowers - BV02-04-08
Momday Font - The Hungry JPEG

(I was super lucky to get this font as a freebie)
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the image panel to card base

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges:

~~~*~~~*~~~

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge - Challenge #94 – Anything Goes
A Gem Of A Challenge - Wk 12 Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 525 – Soft Pastels
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - Challenge #230 Anything Goes + A Sentiment
Colouring In Scrapland - June Challenge - Anything Goes or Watercolours
Crafting From The Heart - Challenge #246 – Anything Goes
Crafting With An Attitude - Challenge #52 – Anything Goes
Creatalicious Challenges - Challenge #165 – AG optional Spots and/or Stripes
Digi Choosday Craft Challenge - Wk 26 – Anything Goes
Inkspirational Challenges - Challenge #189 – Garden

Love To Scrap Challenge Blog - LTSCB #122 – No Rulz 3
(use anything from your stash)
Penny’s Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Challenge 436 – Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Craft Challenge - Wk 25 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp – Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Challenge #434 – Keep It Simple
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes - Weeks #392-#393