Christmas Ornaments

Back at home and trying to get back to some normalcy. We dropped off our middle child and his fiance at the airport this morning. My other son will be leaving in two days but he's visiting with his in-laws for the rest of that time. We had the twins for a dinner visit tonight. So tomorrow I'll have to get my wrapping and Christmas things back in order and the laundry done. I thought I would share some ornaments that I made for the kids packages. 

I found these on Pinterest and thought they'd make cute ornaments. So I added them to all the kids' packages. You use a 3/4 inch piece of toilet paper tube and cut 9 inch pieces of yarn and wrap them around the tube with a Larks head knot. When you've covered the entire tube you tie another iece of yarn toward the top of all the strands. Then tuck all the strands into the tube. It forms the hat. You may have to straighten some of the strands. Then add the pom pom to the top. I used a Lawn Fawn alphabet die to add Valerie and Arthur's initials. I am entering these challenges:

• The Outlawz Thursday challenge: tree ornament
• Hiding in my Craft Room: any holiday
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

Later this week we'll be traveling back to Cincinnati to help my FIL take down his Christmas decorations and get his house back in order. I'm looking forward to next week when things really get back to normal. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Here comes 2018!

Donna

Merry Christmas

We've had a wonderful week with our kids this week. That's why I have been MIA. I've been spending as much time as possible with them all while they are visiting. Tomorrow we'll be taking our son and his fiance to the airport and then we'll be heading home too. I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

From our family to yours, we wish you all the best this holiday season. May our Lord, Jesus, bless you and yours and keep you in his care! Merry Christmas!

Donna

Fabulous Couple

My last post said that I'd be gone for a while but I was able to get another card completed tonight. I needed an anniversary card for my brother and his lovely wife who will be married 48 years on December 28th.

The image and sentiment are from Beccy's Place, a stamp set called Happy Anniversary. The rest of the card is all My Favorite Things products. The image is die cut with a die from Blue Prints 3. The sentiment is die cut with Pierced Fishtail Flags. The background stencil is Star Grid. I use the MFT Sketch for the layout. I also wanted to share the inside of my card.

More MFT products here: The All About You Stamp set for the sentiment strip. The You Trio dienamic for the negative of the die. Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips for the "Here's to". To embellish I added a few stickers that kept with my color combination. I am really happy with this card! I hope my brother and SIL like it. I am entering these challenges:

• MFT Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Beccy's Place challenge: use a Beccy's Place image
• Simon Says Wednesday: Stitch it
• Crafty Friends challenge: family and friends
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• Sweet Stampers challenge: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be back when I can. Merry Christmas to you all in case I don't get back before then. Big holiday hugs!

Donna

Christmas Cocoa

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? Mine was busy with no time to craft. At least not paper craft. But today I finally finished the tags for the cocoa we are giving the teachers at Head Start. I was going to make the tags all different but because time was getting short I decided to make them all the same.

The image is from Bugaboo and I fussy cut the cups out. The original image is with the steam and hearts so I drew them myself and then layered the hearts (4 each) to give the tag some texture. The snowflakes were also added for embellishments. The sentiment is from a Flourishes stamp set (no longer in business). I embossed the sentiment on vellum. And tied the tag with Lawn Fawn twine. The heart die and sentiment die are from MFT Blueprints 32. The tag is from MFT Blueprints 13. I added some ribbon to the jar lid. The snowflakes are from MFT Dienamics Layered Snowflakes.

This is a close up of the top of the jar. I wanted to share this because my daughter beaded these ornaments for the teachers and I think she did a great job. Something a little extra for a Merry Christmas. I am entering these challenges:

• My Favorite Things Blueprints challenge: use Blueprints; holiday tags
• Catch the Bug: Bingo challenge (texture, no designer paper, bugaboo image) tag only
  
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes 
• Simon Says Monday challenge: party
• Hiding in my Craft Room: use a digital image
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes

Hope your week is off to a great start. My oldest son and his fiance arrive tomorrow and our Christmas festivities begin so I won;t be around much for the next week and a half. I have a few projects I need to get done but they might have to be posted later. We'll see how my time goes. Our first trip to the Indianapolis airport will be 9:00 am tomorrow morning. My youngest son and his wife arrive on Wednesday. It will be a busy week. Also have them all for dinner on Tuesday night. Hope your holidays are lovely and filled with job, family and friends. (just in case I don;t get back later this week). Take care!

Donna

Comfort and Joy

Just a quick card tonight for another couple challenges. I am pretty much adding to next year's collection of Christmas cards now but that's just fine!

The poinsettia image is from Imagine That Digis by Kris. The sentiment is from the same set. I added some sequins as embellishments and used a retired corner punch from Stampin' Up! to add some decoration at the corners. Easy peasy! I am entering these challenges:

• Imagine That Creative Playground: Christmas/winter
• Creative Knockouts: Christmas delights
• Thursday Outlawz challenge: poinsettia
• Christmas Cards All Year Round: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: anything goes; option: a touch of sparkle
• Simon Says Monday challenge: Christmas/winter holiday

I had a very busy, but productive day. My daughter, Tricia and I went shopping most of the day. I got home just in time to make dinner. Then we stacked a trailer full of firewood. I hope you had a wonderful day too. Have a super Friday! Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

A Happy Birthday

Happy Thursday! OMGoodness. I have a birthday card today rather than a Christmas card. Very unusual.

The image is from Imagine That Digis by Kris and called Freda's Flower Basket. It's colored with Copic markers and die cut with Spellbinder's Tear Drop Circles. I inked the edges with Faded Jeans distress ink. The sentiment is from the same set and die cut with MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips. The designer paper is also from Imagine that Digis by Kris but it came from my scrap box so I don't know which set it came from. I added a few embellishment: some flowers that I found on my desk and a few gem pieces from Zva, I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Penny's Paper challenge: anything goes
• Inspiration Destination: anything goes
• The Outlawz Monday challenge: flowers and/or ribbon
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes

I am off this morning to shop with my daughter. I am hoping to cross a few more people off my Christmas list today. And then come home to craft this evening. Always something to do around here and I am getting a little anxious to have Christmas ready to go. Have a wonderful day!

Donna

Just Sew Thankful

Happy Wednesday! We are half way through the week and my list isn't getting any shorter. Hopefully I can do something about that tomorrow. I am working my way through progressive challenges that I need to get finished. This adorable image is from Gerda Steiner.

I had such fun with this one that I made three of them.

I think this is the first year that I won't have to scramble to make thank you cards right after Christmas to send out for Christmas gifts. I really like how these turned out. I used an MFT Chunky Herringbone stencil to create the spun sugar distress ink background. The little bunny is called Love You Sew Much. I added my own sentiment to the heart and colored the bunnies with Copic and Spectrum Noir markers. The big Thanks is from MFT Many Thanks dies (retired). I added a strip of pink paper under that and a couple of hearts from Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitch Rectangles. I used the Sketch Saturday sketch for inspiration. I am entering these challenges:

• Gerda Steiner December Stamp of the Month: use Love You Sew Much
• Sketch Saturday: sketch 
  
• The Outlawz CAS challenge: use something never used before: image and stencil are new
• Addicted to Stamps and More: make your mark 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter

I hope you've enjoyed your visit. I do appreciate your time and comments. I hope you're moving your way to the weekend and getting ready for Christmas faster than I am. I am off to work on Christmas presents right now. Take care!

Donna

Season's Greetings

Hello, my friends. Hope you had a wonderful Tuesday. It's almost come and gone. Next Tuesday the first of my sons will be arriving to celebrate Christmas. So I need to step up my game and get my crafty stuff done. Bought the rest of my yarn tonight so as soon as I get my other obligation out of the way tomorrow, I'll be moving into full craft/shopping mode. I'll try to get as much done as possible by the weekend. I did get one card done today for a progressive challenge.

This is one of several images that we could pick from at The Outlawz Progressive challenge. The image this month was drawn by Sandra VanBlaricum, one of the design team members. I picked the single ornament to use on my card. The ornament in colored with Copic markers and then covered with Wink of Stella for a nice shine on the ornament and bow. The evergreen bough is from a retired Gina K stamp set called Winter Foliage and stamped in Evergreen Bough distress ink. The four designer papers are scraps from my scrap box. The sentiment and holly are stickers from my stash. The ornament is popped off the card with Scotch foam tape. I also used gold glitter on the top of the ornament for some extra sparkle. I am entering these challenges:

• The Outlawz December Progressive challenge: use one of the ornament images by Sandra
• Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Hiding in my Craft Room: super scraps Saturday
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: anything goes; option: a touch of sparkle
• Crafty Cardmakers: Christmas
• Simon Says Monday: Christmas/ Winter Holiday
• Cupcake Inspirations: holiday 
  

Tomorrow I am off for my last day at Head Start with the twins for this year. They will have class next week but my boys will be home and I'll want to spend as much time as I can with them while they are visiting. My DH had his holiday party today and he was honored for 30 years of service at the University. Our daughter, SIL, and the twins came for the presentation and lunch. Despite it being their nap time, the kiddos were good as gold. They were the hit of the party. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful hump day!

Donna

Cocoa Tag

Hope your Monday has gone well! The days are certainly moving right along. My Christmas cards were finally mailed this afternoon. I actually had 9 left over cards this year. Usually I have to make more at the last minute. So tonight I started working on some tags for a gift I am making for the Head Start teachers. I mixed up a batch of hot chocolate and add it into Mason Jars with a package of marshmallows. Here's the first of the jars and it's tag.

The image is from DeeDee (no longer in business). I fussy cut the image and then added it to the frame from MFT Blueprints 23. The sentiment is from MFT All About You. The die cut "you" is from MFT You Trio. The die cut for the sentiment is from Blueprints 32. The tag is die cut from Blueprints 13. The sentiment was stamped with MFT Elf Green pigment ink and then clear embossed. I punched some holes and then tied the tag with Doodle Twine. I am entering these challenges:

• MFT Blueprints challenge: holiday tags
• Crafting by Designs: anything goes
• Happy Little Stampers: anything goes with dies
• Thursday Outlawz challenge: anything goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room: super scraps Saturday

Tomorrow is my husband's holiday party at work (lunchtime). It's a pitch in so I'll be cooking all morning for that. He will be honored for 30 years of service at Indiana University so my daughter and SIL are bringing the twins for the presentation and lunch, so I'll get some twin time in too. Thanks for stopping by and have a awesome week!

Donna

Tube-a Santa

I managed to get a card made today and you will very likely think this is an unusual card. I made it to join in the Holiday Chaos at Bugaboo for one last time. Didn't make the entire week but I did what I could. So in our town we have a group of people who call themselves The Tuba Santas and during Christmas time they dress up like Santa Claus and play their tubas throughout town. So the Day 5 challenge was to make a humorous card using this picture as inspiration.

So Bugaboo has a line of Santa images that are tropical oriented and I went to look at which ones I had of the Tropical Santas. I ran across Tropical Santa Tubing. Then I got to thinking about how I could make it funny. So I created the sentiment on my computer and I'll send it to one of our Tuba Santas in town because no one else will get the joke. At least I don't think so.

The sun is a stamp from Spellbinder's called Sunny Days. I stamped it with Squeezed Lemonade and then Mustard Seed distress ink. I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. I picked orange for his hat, swim suit and the base card because that's a summer color for me. Since I made his nose pink (for a bit of sunburn) I inked the sentiment with Picked Raspberry distress ink. I added some Crystal Stickles on Santa's hat. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Holiday Chaos: day 5 make it funny
• Freshly Made Sketches: sketch 
  
• The Outlawz CAS challenge: Christmas
• QKR Stampede: non-traditional Christmas colors
• Pile it On: non-traditional holiday colors
• AAA Cards: Christmas CAS 
  

That's it for me today and probably into next week. I have a busy weekend. Twins coming tomorrow and I'm having dinner for some friends on Sunday. I'd love to get my Christmas cards out by next week so that's a goal for the weekend too. Thanks for stopping by and checking out my unusual Christmas card. Snow also predicted for tomorrow and the weather has turned blustery cold here. Hope you are toasty warm wherever you are! Have an awesome weekend!

Donna

60th Birthday

As much as I love to participate in the Bugbaoo Holiday Chaos challenge, I had to concede today that I'm not going to be able to finish this year's challenge. It's okay. I don't need the extra Christmas cards (I don't think). And other things are pressing my time right now. I have a week and a half before my sons come home for the holidays. They will start arriving on the 19th so I really need to step it up and get things done. The card I have tonight was for a friend's birthday. Enjoy!

The sentiment is from Create with TLC. The cupcake image is a freebie from Beccy's Place. I colored the image with a variety of markers. Then I went through my scrap box looking for masculine scraps that would work. I added the ric rac as a little embellishment. I thought I would share the inside too.

The inside sentiment is also from Create with TLC. I added some of the same patterned paper as the front. I am entering these challenges. I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Place December challenge: use a Beccy's Place image
• Anything Goes with Create with TLC Element: use a TLC element (sentiments)
• 4 Crafty Chicks: monochrome
• Crafty Awesomeness: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Crafting by Designs: anything goes
• Sketch Saturday: sketch 
  

Well, thanks for stopping by. I am off to write out my Christmas cards. I sure hope you've had a great day and hold on cause the weekend is almost here. . My weekends are usually busier than my week days. Take care!

Donna

Holiday Chaos Day 4

I was able to finish another card for the Holiday Chaos challenge this evening. Day 4's challenge was a bingo board.

I used the middle column: traditional Christmas colors/ free (embossing)/ Bugaboo image.

This is little Arthur's Christmas card. This little elf reminded me of him. He really doesn't sit that long for anything but maybe at some point in his life he will look like this. This is Christmas Brat Boy Elf Sitter. I used the sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge.

I wasn't able to get a very good picture tonight. That red background is actually polka dot patterned paper. It really doesn't show in the photo. The patterned papers are from American Craft. The sentiment is from Altenew Halftone Holidays and stamped in MFT Elf Green pigment ink and then embossed with clear embossing powder. I backed the layers with black card stock to make the colors pop. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Holiday Chaos: Day 4 Bingo
• Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge: sketch above
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: anything goes
• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• The Outlawz Thursday challenge: anything goes
• Crafting by Designs: anything goes

That's it for me tonight. I have a bunch of stuff to catch up on tomorrow but hope to get at least one card done and maybe even catch up with the holiday chaos challenge. We'll see how it all goes. Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

Holiday Chaos Day 3

I was able to get another challenge finished last night for the Catch the Bug Holiday Chaos challenges. Day 3 is all about gifting.

We give gift cards to several family members each year so I made a gift card holder.

This is the clasped side of the gift card holder. I decorated this side with Rudolph Presents digi stamp. I colored him with Copic markers. The designer paper is from American Craft.

This is the opposite side of the gift card holder. The die cut Merry Christmas is from Paper Smooches. And last, the inside of the gift card holder.

The sentiment on the inside is from Imagine That Reindeer Carols. This was very easy to make. I followed a tutorial from the Scor-Pal site. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Holiday Chaos: Day 3 Gift Wrap
• Bugaboo Crafty: use a Bugaboo image
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: gift it
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Christmas Cards All Year Round: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by. I had a great time this morning with the twins at Head Start. Valerie took several steps while pushing a toy for the first time. They also got to finger paint with hummus. Most of the kids had a blast moving the hummus around and feeling the stickiness. Not the twins. Give them something and it's being eaten. They had a great time eating it down. It was so funny! They've never met a food they didn't like! Have a wonderful day!

Donna

Holiday Chaos Day 2

Happy Tuesday! I've been bustling around the house doing a few jobs this morning. After seeing the doctor late yesterday afternoon and getting a prescription for an antibiotic for my sinus infection, I am hoping things are looking up. But Mother Nature is sending us a drastic blast of cold air so when the temps go up and down like that I always have a tough time. I've been sneezing a lot more today but maybe that's a good thing. I managed to get a sketch challenge done last night for the Bugaboo Holiday Chaos challenge but I am falling further behind so maybe I won't be able to complete this one. I was so tired last night that I just fell into bed when I had the card finished. Asleep before 9:30 pm is not usually a normal day for me. But here's my card.

This one is for Valerie, my little Christmas fairy. I used the Bugaboo sketch and the Bugaboo image called Ava Mistletoe Fairy. The sentiment is from Altenew Halftone Holidays. The patterned paper is from American Craft. The image and frame were cut with MFT Inside and Out Stitched Rounded Squares. The little gems are from a wrap that I bought at Michael's. I am entering these challenges:

• Catch the Bug Holiday Chaos: day 2 sketch 
  
• Hiding in my Craft Room: Christmas colors
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: anything goes
• The Outlawz Friday challenge: green
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes

I am feeling a bit better today. I have more housework to do and then I have to take the twins to the library story hour this evening so I doubt I get to craft much today. I'll probably be ready for bed again tonight. If you are in the line of nasty storms rolling through please take care!

Hugs,

Donna

Holiday Chaos Day 1

I am starting the Bugaboo Holiday Chaos challenge a little behind since I was sick yesterday but I hope to catch up. For the first day for Holiday Chaos the theme was Merry & Bright.

I used the Outlawz Wednesday sketch as inspiration for this card.

B

The image is Bugaboo's Christmas Glass. I colored it with a variety of markers. And added Yellow Stickles to all the stars. All the designer paper is from American Crafts. The leaf garland at the top is from Poppy Stamps Breezy Wreath and the stars are from Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitched Rectangles. The red background paper was cut with the Stitched background die from MFT Blueprints 13. I fussy cut the image. The sentiment is from Altenew Halftone Holidays. I am entering these challenges:

• Bugaboo Holiday Chaos Day 1: merry & bright
• Simon Says Monday challenge: star light star bright
• The Outlawz Wednesday Sketch; sketch 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Christmas Card Throwdown: pick challenge from 2012-2013 (June 2013) 
• 
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: anything goes

My hubby is off having fun with the twins. I didn't want to infect them with anything so I stayed home. So maybe I'll get some more crafting done. Probably not too much more. I am wearing out fast. Have a wonderful start to your week!

Donna

A First Birthday

Happy weekend! I spent yesterday mostly in bed. Came down with some bug that I've just not been able to handle very well. I am up today but taking Tylenol more than I'd like just to keep going. I managed to get a quick card done that I need to get in the mail for my sister's granddaughter. She was born 2 months after the twins.

This is one of the sets that I won during the Beccy's Place A Month of Holiday cards challenge. It's called Quilted Numbers and has little critters and numbers on each stamp 1 - 9. I just knew that I would be able to use this for lots of different kids' birthdays. It is also on clearance right now so get it before it's gone because it's adorable! I used the Tuesday Morning Sketch for the second time this week and the background paper is just scraps from my scrap box. The sentiment is from Hero Arts It's Your Day and the border is MFT Dainty Lace border die. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Beccy's Place December challenge: use a Beccy's Place image
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Crafty Friends challenge: babies/children
• A Bit More Time to Craft Extra challenge: anything goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope your weekend has been fun and relaxing. I miss the twins since they couldn't come over this weekend. Hopefully this bug will go away so they can come and play with Grammy! Have a wonderful week.

Donna

A Cupcake Christmas

Oh my December 1st is here already. 24 days to Christmas, oh my! My cards are just about finished but they aren't addressed yet. That's on my list for this weekend. Today begins a new Christmas challenge over at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. Oh what a fun one this is. Use a cupcake on your card. Or if you prefer you can always do anything goes, as long as it's Christmas.

When I was doing the Month of Holiday Cards challenge at Beccy's Place last month, I tried out several new folds that I hadn't tried before. So this one is a double Z-fold card. I liked it so much I decided to try it again.

Our sponsor this month is Limited Runs digital stamps. They provided each of the design team the adorable cupcake images. I used the Trees on a Cupcake image. The image is colored with Copic and Spectrum Noir markers and embellished with Diamond Stickles. The papers are new from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles and part of the Sweet Confections 1 set. 

One more picture of my Z-fold card. 

I hope you'll join us this month as we all get ready for Christmas. Use a cupcake or share an anything goes card at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. Don't forget to check out the other DT cards. They are all fabulous! Looking forward to commenting on your card! I am entering these challenges:

• Christmas Cards All Year Round: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper: use patterned paper
• Scribbles Designs: tree-mendous time of the year
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes

Have a wonderful weekend! Weekends are usually busy with the twins although Valerie was sick today so we'll see how she's doing tomorrow. Take care!

Donna

The Nativity

Each year I make my FIL the Christmas cards that he sends out. This year he asked for 35 of them. I try to keep them simple since it takes a while to mass produce 35 cards. This is what I came up with this year.

The die cut of the Nativity is from Penny Black. The sentiment is from AlteNew Halftone Holidays. Half the cards were red and half were green. Very CAS! I am entering these challenges:

• Simon Says Monday: star light, star bright
• Beccy's Place A Month of Holiday Cards; N for nativity, M for manger, etc.
• AAA Cards challenge: CAS Christmas 
  
• Inspiration Destination: anything goes
• 4 Crafty Chicks: anything goes

Happy Friday! The weekend is almost here. Errands to run today. Christmas gifts to work on. And pick up the twins from Head Start this afternoon. Dinner and cards tonight with some friends. Busy day! Hope your day is productive too. Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Donna

Fa La La La La

Now that I am in the groove of making Christmas cards I can't seem to stop. LOL! so here's another one. Tis the season!

I love these cute little Caroling Bunnies from Eureka Stamps. And the new paper pad that I got from American Crafts had this adorable Falalalala paper in it that seemed perfect for this image. I die cut the bunnies with Spellbinder's Lacy Squares and then inked the die cut with Salty ocean distress ink. The background piece was punched with Martha Stewart Swirling Lace border punch and then I added some very glitzy ribbon. I am entering these challenges:

• QKR Stampede: anything goes
• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room: any holiday
• Tuesday Throwdown: ribbon and lace
• Beccy's Place A Month of Holiday Cards: B is for bunnies, R is for rabbits, ribbon, etc. 

Thanks for visiting. Hope your day is going well! 

Donna