This Christmas - I'll Be Ready!

Pin It Now! So, it's only 218 days til' Christmas!  It's never too early to prep.
My youngest & I go walking as often as possible around a park loop, and we have the tradition of playing Christmas music on Pandora, even in the dog days of summer.  It really got me in the mood for Christmas cards.

I went looking for a sketch challenge to start with, and noticed that Freshly Made Sketches and Sunday Stamps have similar layouts this week.  So, I thought I'd take the same elements and make one card for each sketch.

I've used new SU DSP called This Christmas, and a retired and perfectly gorgeous stamp, Prince of Peace.

I love both sketches! Circles are my favorite element. Please visit them and check out all the fantastic inspiration!

I'm just tickled to have two Christmas cards to add to my very small stash!

Ruffled Flowerfull Heart Valentine's Day Cards

Pin It Now! I sat down to make a handful of Valentines using Freshly Made Sketches #120,  a great clean & simple sketch. I loved the elements of this card, and decided to make each one just a little different.

They all use the same elements - Strawberry Slush Stretch ruffled ribbon, polka dot paper, embossing, and that pretty Flowerfull Heart that SU has introduced for Valentine's Day 2014.   But I don't like to repeat myself too many times, so to keep the creativity flowing in the snowed in craft room, I simply shifted things around on each card.  

I think this next one is my personal favorite!

No, maybe this one is...I think my mom will get this pretty one!

This one was made with hearts that were laying on my desk from this valentine card from last week.  

Here's a look at the sketch.  You should pay a visit to Freshly Made Sketches, and get ahead on your Valentine card making, too!  

Layered Butterfly {Thanks for Your Kindness}

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Hi crafty friends!  

Today I should be painting. My soon-to-be craft room.  But Oh, Lord, I hate to paint walls.

So I thought about it, and felt properly guilty, and dodged my husband who IS working hard, and made a card.

Kindness Matters!  The butterfly is die cut layers of patterned paper and punched cardstock.  I placed a Hat Pin down the center of the butterfly, and looped Organdy ribbon onto it...I think it looks like ribbon candy!  Rhinestones are doubled up along the top and bottom, back to back.

Here's a closer look at the ribbon candy body with the bling.

 ...And the inside, a simple thanks with the technique taught in the latest issue of Stampin' Success, called Tap Dancing.  You tap-tap-tap with Stampin' Write markers onto the stamp, giving it a pretty mottled look.

My color combo was from Colour Q, truly a challenge, as I had to pick from three packs of DSP and make my own Pumpkin Pie paper with a punch, a Stampin' Write Marker and a sponge!  I am all over the place with this supply list!

And the sketch is from Freshly Made.  It was a great choice, as the colors are bright and busy, and this sketch helped me to keep it simple.

 SUPPLY LIST:
STAMPS:  Kindness Matters
INK:   Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black
CARDSTOCK:  Whisper White, Lucky Limeade
DSP:  Attic Boutique (Poppy Parade pattern), Mocha Morninig (Basic Black flocked pattern), Summer Smooches (Lucky Limeade pattern)
ACCESSORIES: Beautiful Butterfly Bigz Die, Stripes embossing folder, Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Scallop Edge Border punch, Hat Pin, Basic Rhinestones, 1/8" Lucky Limeade Organdy ribbon.