Q is for Quilting

When you have lots of scraps of fabric do you sometimes make a quilt square? I'm not much into sewing although I just got a new-to-me sewing machine so I might have to try my hand at making a few projects for Christmas. So when Q arrived in Beccy's Month of Holiday Card challenge, I decided to use my scraps and make quilt squares using Gina Marie Designs Quilt die #3. I actually made a gift card holder as we tend to give gifts cards to family that is out of town and we won;t be able to see them over the holidays. It makes mailing much easier.

This is actually the back of the gift card holder with Beccy's Quilted Deer (a freebie) on the belly band. I did "dress up" the deer with a google eye. I thought it might give him a different look. All the paper is from American Craft. I simply die cut several pieces of scraps to make the quilt square.

This is the front of the gift card, with belly band in place. I used more scraps on the front of the green card stock base.

And finally the inside of the gift card holder. A fairly easy gift card holder to make. Just lots of paper piecing. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards Day 19: Letter Q for quilting
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes
• Digi Choosday: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• The Outlawz Festive Friday: Christmas

Just in case you were wondering, Arthur's Q word is "queen". I don't think he has ever given me another q word but that one. I thought I might get caught up today with Beccy's challenge but I am just finishing this one as she posted the next challenge. LOL! Maybe by November 30th I'll be caught up. Have a blessed day and thanks for stopping by.

Donna

P is for Penguin and Patterned Paper

One more post for tonight. This card came together very easy and took hardly any time at all. My DIL loves penguins and Starbucks so I thought I'd send this card to my son and DIL.

The image is from Beccy's Place called Finn's Hot Chocolate. I was trying to make it look like a Polaroid Photo. The Patterned Paper that I used is from American Craft. The frame is from My Favorite Things Blueprints 32. The sentiment is from Create with TLC, die cut with Spellbinder's Labels Thirteen. I inked the sentiment while it was still in the die with MFT Elf Green ink. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards Day 18: P is for penguin, patterned paper & photo
• Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Christmas Crafting All Year 'Round: stockings/winter clothing
• Lil Patch of crafty Friends: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• Christmas Card Throwdown: sweet treats 
  

Arthur's word for "P" is "pengin". And he doesn't vary it often. I think he likes that word. Hope you have a blessed day. Thanks for stopping by. I'm off to bed!

Donna

O is for Open Border and Ornament

I got a chance to work on the letter O today. When Arthur was here yesterday he was very busy playing with shapes. He kept telling me about the octagon on our refrigerator. It amazes me that he know what all the easy shapes are in addition to an octagon and pentagon at 3 years old. Really blows my mind. So I thought about doing something with an octagon but found this fun tutorial on open border cards instead. Jennifer McGuire never disappoints me!

I found I didn't have many background dies but did find a Christmas one by Spellbinders. So the Joy and candy canes are die cut from the top folding card vase. I backed the inside of the card with red textured paper so it would show through the die cuts. The image is a freebie from Beccy's Place called Stanley's Bauble. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and fussy cut him out; popping him up with foam tape on the card. The frame idea I saw on one of Beccy's cards earlier this week and really wanted to try it. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Place Month of Holiday Cards Day 17: O is for open border card and ornament
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Cutie Pie challenge: add an animal
• Crafty Friends: Christmas
• C.R.A.F.T. challenge: Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes

Back to my desk now to try to get another card finished tonight before bed time. Seems my day never quite goes the way I expect and time gets away from me. But I'll get done what I can. Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

N is for North Pole

A quick post this morning before the twins get here. And Beccy has a race on so .... Last night I finished my Letter N card but the glitter glue was drying so I snapped my picture this morning and voila!

The North Pole image is from Bugaboo Stamps called Sign It North Pole, colored with American Craft markers and then I added glitter glue for the snow and icicles and some on the pole. The sentiment on the sign is computer generated. The designer paper is from Close to my Heart, The green paper is embossed with Cuttlebug large snowflakes, The red frilly tape was used to give it some pizzazz. The Ho ho ho sentiment is from Bird's Cards. I finished off with a little ribbon. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards Day 16: Letter N
• Catch the Bug BINGO challenge: 3 in a row (sentiment, embossing, sparkle)
  
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: add some glitter
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Sketch Saturday: sketch 
  

Arthur's "N" word has been "nose" lately. Then he has to show his nose and maybe sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." That's one of Valerie's favorite songs. When it snowed the other day we changed it to "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Boots." She got a kick out of that. Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Donna

M Is for Music

One of the things I like best about the holiday season is the music and all the carols. I love them all from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" to "Oh Holy Night". All of my immediate family plays an instrument so music has been part of our lives for a long time. While I was contemplating what to do for Day 15 of Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards I decided on music!

The photo doesn't do this card justice. The background is a stamp from Christmas Music by Flourishes (sadly no longer in business). The music is actually for Angels We Have Heard on High. I used Memento Desert Sand ink to match the card base of kraft card stock. The image is Vintage Carolers by Create with TLC. The sentiment is from Desert Diva. The designer paper is from American Craft. I layered each element with green card stock. To add a little sparkle I used self-adhesive gems. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards Day 15: letter M for music
• Outlawz Sketch Wednesday: sketch 
  
• Crafty Friends: Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes; add some glitter
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

Tomorrow the twins will be here again. Arthur's M word lately has been "mushroom". But he used to say mice for M too. 

Every time I think I'm going to get craft time something comes up. Today we had to move out of our bedroom and into another room in the house because of water damage. Tom is removing part of the ceiling where water has leaked through. So it took quite some time to move all the furniture and empty all the closets. Once the repairs are made we'll need to repaint and figure out what to do about new bedspread and curtains. Never a dull moment around here. Hope you have some crafty time this weekend. Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Donna

Whooo's Ready for Dueling Day

It's the 15th of the month (November is moving along quickly) and it's time for another duel between the Divas and the Dazzlers. Beth and Heather were our hostesses this month and our theme is Owls. I'm a Dazzler and Beth sent my kit. What a fun one it is. Her's what she wrote:
" Heather was gracious and allowed me to pick the final theme from the three we were considering, and those of you who know me, know I'm crazy for owls." And here's what she sent:

• Image is from Hero Arts 
• Sentiments from Technique Junkies
• Sequins from Craft Medley
• Brads from Creative Impressions
• Eyelets from We R Memory Keepers
• Self adhesive enamel dots from Doodlebug
• Yellow and pink ribbon (unknown)
• Buttons from Favorite Findings
• Silver Twine from Celebrate It
• Pink/Orange twine from Recollections
• One-sided paper from DCWV, The Spring Stack II
• Plaid paper from Doodlebug

And to finish things off Beth kindly sent me (and probably all the Dazzlers) a stamp with an owl on it. Mine says "Made by Donna". It's so CUTE! Thank you Beth!

When I opened the kit I fell in love with this gorgeous water color looking paper. It was actually two-sided and I like the other side too but opted to go with this side. I colored the image Spectrum Noir markers and then fussy cut it. I needed a birthday card pronto so so I used one of my sentiments from Paper Makeup Stamps (sadly out of business). I added some of the pink ribbon and some of the enamel dots. I used Dimensional Magic on the flowers and eyes. I used the sketch at Try Stampin' on Tuesday for inspiration. Here is the inside of my card:

And here's the stamp that Beth sent me. The photo is not good. So sorry!

I hope you'll check out the fun duel this month. Links are on the right side of my page. Thanks to Beth and Heather for a wonderful duel. Have a blessed day!

Donna

A Latte Layers

Almost the weekend! Yippee! I volunteered for one more shift this week tomorrow morning at Opportunity House. They are having a half price sale tomorrow so I'll go in to help with that. It's always a very busy day. So today I worked on my Day 14 card (the letter L) for Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards. I wish I had made the image smaller.

So this card started with the sentiment by Create with TLC. I've had it for a while and really thought it would be cute to use on a card. I'm nit a coffee drinker so I haven't collected a lot of image of coffee and tea cups. But I found this one in my collection. So my L card is for a latte of layers/ There are lots of layers on this card. I used black card stock to back each of the layers. The designer paper is from American Craft. The image by Stamping with Gail is paper pieced and colored with Spectrum Noir markers. I added some brads to the image piece. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards Day 14: the letter L
• Outlawz Sketch Wednesday: sketch 

  

• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes

Arthur's original L word was lion but recently it's been lollipop. He's pretty good at the L sound. That's it for me tonight. I didn't sleep well last night so I hope it is better tonight. Thanks for stopping by. Have a blessed day!

Donna

K is for Kings

One card this evening. Still playing catch up with cards. The good news is I mailed my last birthday card for this month. But I have a bunch of birthdays at the beginning of December that I should work on too. So my back log isn't quite caught up yet. Tonight I worked on K for Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards. It was a pretty easy choice for me: Kings!

This is two of Beccy's set merged together. The baby Jesus is from the Lamb of God Digital Stamp Set and the kings are from the Nativity Digital Stamps. I die cut the panel with the frame from MFT Blueprints 13. The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday Christ is Born Stamp set. I chose this sentiment because I can imagine the peace that the Kings felt after traveling so far and searching so long for this special baby. I stamped it in Versafine Onyx Black and heat embossed it with Clear embossing powder. The star is from Technique Tuesday Nativity dies. I die cut it four times and glued them together for some dimension. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards Day 13: K is for Kings
• Digi Choosday: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes

That's it for me this evening. I have to get ready for volunteering at Opportunity House tomorrow morning. I have some things to price and sort through things my daughter brought a donations. Then I'll need to pack my car. Never a dull moment. Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Donna

Happy Birthday

I needed a birthday card for a little girl who loves to strut her stuff. So I came up with this card.

I love the sunglasses on the cupcake. She will love it too. I think her favorite colors are pink and purple so I used those on the card. The image and sentiment are from Pattie's Creations. I added the sequins in the corner and covered them and the sunglasses with Mod Podge Dimensional Magic to give it a little dimension. I think she'll like this one! I am entering these challenges:

• Addicted to CAS: birthday 
  
• Pattie's Creations challenge: anything goes
• Outlawz Festive Friday: birthday
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: anything goes

That's all I finished today. I am still 2 cards behind but gaining ground. Thanks for sticking with me through it all. Have a blessed day!

Donna

J is for Jolly

I have another card for Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards. Day 12 is the letter J. I went with Jolly Ole Saint Nick. Have a Jolly Christmas!

My image and sentiment are from Beccy's The Big Guy Stamp Set. I wish this was the letter L because this card had lots of layers. The designer paper is from American Craft. I backed everything with red card stock. The card base is green card stock. I used Spellbinder's Standard Rectangles and Scalloped Rectangles. I also used a corner rounder for the image. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards Day 12: the letter J
• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Sweet Stampers challenge: Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes
• Outlawz Twisted Thursday: anything goes

Arthur has several J words that he likes. "Jackolantern" seemed to be his favorite for quite some time but he also used "jelly and jam." He has memorized so many books that it's hard telling where he gets his words. I have one more post for this evening. Tomorrow is one of our volunteer days and we have to pick up the twins from Head Start so it will be busy. Thanks for stopping by. Have a blessed day!

I is for Ice Skating

Happy Tuesday! We have bright sunshine today but very cold outside. I did venture out for a little bit to run a couple errands but glad to get home again away from icy parking lots and cold winds. I am still catching up with Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards. Today I have Day 11: I is for ice skating. Predictably, Arthur's I word is ice cream and I've never heard him give an alternative. And he knows where the ice cream is kept. If you get it out, he usually follows with whipped cream(his grandpa's doing). So here is my ice skating card.

This image is from Bugaboo stamps called Winter Bird - Skate. The image is colored with Spectrum Noir, Copic, and Bic markers and die cut with Spellbinder's Labels 35. The sentiment is from Crafty Nomad. The banners and sentiment are die cut with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags. I created the background (because I couldn't believe I had no blue snowflake paper) with Peachy Keen Stamps Chill, Baby, Chill stamp set.The banners are scraps from my scrap box. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards Day 11: I is for ice skating
• Stella Sketch: sketch 
  
• Carlin's challenge: Christmas and homemade background
• Cutie Pie challenge: add an animal
• Outlawz Monday challenge: winter wonderland

I have at least one more post today and hopefully 2. I'm working to get caught up but things just keep getting in the way. Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Donna

Non-Holiday Stamp

Day 11's challenge at Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards was to use a non-holiday stamp on your Christmas card. Since this challenge is dedicated to my grandson Arthur (who's learning his alphabet) I decided to make this one his Christmas card. One of his favorite words is "turrruck" (translated truck), and especially if it's Grandpa's turrruck.

Now this truck looks nothing like Grandpa's truck but I thought the red gave it a little Christmas feel. I was hoping to find a bow that I could load into the truck bed but so far I haven't come across anything that will work. I'll keep my eye out. So the image and part of the sentiment come from Beccy's The Long Haul Digital Stamp Set. I added the "on Christmas" in Word. The image is die cut with Spellbinder's Circles Large and backed with Spellbinder's Scalloped Circles Large. The sentiment is die cut with Clear Dollar Stamps' Designer Labels. It's a three piece die set. I used American Craft designer paper in the background and added three gems to the top right. I was really looking for hearts in my stash but everything I had was too big. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards: Day 10 use a non-holiday stamp
• Sketch Saturday: sketch 
  
• Addicted to Stamps and More: anything goes 
  
• Tuesday Throwdown: Fall/Holiday
• Imagine That challenge: anything goes

The snow continues to fall. Tom just came back from a walk looking like a snowman. He said he was watching all the people sliding off the road down the street from us. We are blessed to be able to stay home on days/nights like this. Thanks for stopping by. Have a blessed day!

Donna

H is for Holly

Oh, the weather outside is frightful; and our fire is so delightful. And since I have no place to go, let's craft! The snow is falling but not a large accumulation yet. And the polar blast is taking the temperature down. So I've been crafting this afternoon. I'm a little behind in my Month of Holiday Craft challenge. So this is for Day 9 H is for holly!

I made 5 cards for H. While the stamps were in my MISTI I thought why not make more than one. These are thank you cards for Christmas gifts. The sentiment is from AlteNew Halftone Holidays and Altenew Halftone Thanks.  I had the plaid paper on my desk that I used for an earlier card, so I cut the rest to make 5 cards. The holly leaf border die is from Memory Box. To the border I added the little red berries to complete the borders. That was quite the job punching all those tiny dots and gluing them all on the cards. LOL! I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards Day 9: His for holly
• Creative Knockouts challenge: border time
• Catch the Bug: thankful
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes
• Scrapping4Fun: Thanksgiving/thank you/gratitude
• Winter Wonderland: holly and/or ivy

Our trees are gorgeous outside right now but I'm glad I'm not out on the roads. It will likely be lovely tomorrow morning but oh so cold. Glad I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow either. Thanks for stopping by. Have a blessed day!

Donna

Birthday Again?

I did a lot of kitchen stuff today and we took the twins to the park this afternoon. The weather was very nice and the next few days we are supposed to get a blast of arctic air that will drop our temperatures quite a bit. So tomorrow and Tuesday will be great days to stay home and craft and I hope to get caught up. I need two birthday cards this week and I managed to get one done this evening.

This one is for my BIL. It was quick and simple to make. The sentiment and the bear image are both from QKR Stampede. The image is Birthday Bear and the sentiment is Birthday Again. I die cut the sentiment with Gina Marie Wine Bottle Labels die and then inked the edges with MFT Elf Green ink. The bear I colored with Spectrum Noir markers and then fussy cut him. The card base is yellow card stock and the designer paper is the Paper Studio from Hobby Lobby.  I am entering these challenges:

• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes birthday
• Outlawz Festive Friday: birthday
• Alphabet challenge: Q is for quick and easy
• Incy Wincy challenge: animals

That's it for me tonight. I have a roaring headache probably due to the incoming weather. Tomorrow we have rain and snow followed by the major cold front. So I think I'll turn in early tonight and hope for a better day tomorrow. Have a blessed day! Thanks for stopping by!

Donna

Another CAS Christmas

Just a quick post before the twins get here for the day. I have another CAS Christmas card.

This is Merle from Beccy's Place . He looks so jolly to me that I paired him with a sentiment from Create with TLC. I love Merle's shiny lights all wrapped up as if he were a present. To add a little extra I used a corner punch to give an extra pop of color. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Place Month of Holiday Cards: G is for giraffe
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Incy Wincy challenge: animals
• Outlawz Crash your Stash: corner punch
• Digi Choosday: anything goes

That's it for me today. Shortly will will be off and running after the twins. Hope you have a blessed day!

Donna