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52 Christmas Card Throwdown - October Pick a Previous Theme

Oct 312015

Hello! Happy Halloween to all of my readers who celebrate it!

It may seem odd to be sharing a Christmas card on Halloween, but at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, we celebrate Christmas all year ’round! Because it’s a fifth Saturday of the month, this week we have a “Pick a Previous” challenge for you. April, our challenge hostess, is asking us to choose a previous 52CCT theme challenge for inspiration this time. You can find the previous themes in the “themes archive” tab at the 52CCT website.

I went back just a couple of months to the August 2015 theme, “For a Child.” I’m trying to build up a stash of cards for Send a Smile 4 Kids and will be sending my 52CCT cards to them. Today’s card with its punny sentiment is probably more suited for a tween or a teenager than a younger child. The layout is taken from this week’s Freshly Made Sketches challenge, but I’ve turned the sketch on its side because I didn’t want any of the little birdies to appear to be looking off the edge of the card. I stamped the tree branches on the polka dot designer paper. The birds were stamped on white cardstock, colored, and fussy cut before adhering them to the designer paper. I also stamped the bird with the earmuffs on the designer paper so I wouldn’t have to try to fussy cut around the earmuffs. (Considering the hat and the scarf on the other two birds, I do think the bird on the right is wearing earmuffs, not headphones.) I drew in the legs for the other two birds instead of cutting around them. I realize the grey isn’t the most cheery color for a child’s card, but at least it’s gender neutral. That color choice ended up as a happy accident from using dark brown ink to stamp the branches on the designer paper and progressed from there.

Addicted to Stamps and More is running their Holiday theme week, so I’m entering my card into their challenge, too.

Which theme will you pick? There are over 30 from which to choose, so have fun deciding! Then be sure to share your card with us at the 52CCT site by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Friday, November 6. Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Stamps: Winter Sparrows (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky Prints designer series paper (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Early Espresso (SU)
Other: Chocolate Chip marker (SU); markers (Copic)

CAS Colours & Sketches #148

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Oct 292015

Hello! October has given us a fifth Thursday, which means it’s Double Challenge time at CAS Colours & Sketches! This week we have a sketch and a color combination for you to use together in creating a clean and simple styled card.

The sketch was drawn up to create a square card, but I’ve stretched it out into a portrait-oriented rectangle. I’m not sure why I was compelled to use snowflakes for my card, since the colors aren’t typical snowflake-y colors, but I decided to go with it anyway. I chose the lightest two of the colors to create a polished stone piece of glossy cardstock and die cut the snowflakes from it. An embossing folder was used to give the vertical strip some more snowflake-y interest. I backed it with the third color from the challenge graphic and used that color for my card base. A kind of generic sentiment makes this a wintry any occasion card. The rhinestones were literally last minute decisions. I was all set up to take the photo of the card but felt it was missing something, so I went back to my desk with it and added the sparkle. I’m glad I did.

The current challenge at Shopping Our Stash is to not use patterned paper, so I’m entering this card there. Time Out Challenges has the theme of Christmas with a twist of using pink or purple, so I’m hoping this card is Christmassy enough to count for that. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to see what the other CAS Colours & Sketches design team members have made. Then show us what you can create with the colors and the sketch! You have until 6:00 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, November 4 to link your work to the challenge post.

Supplies:
Stamp: Sophie’s Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Glossy White (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry (SU)
Other: Rose Red and Wisteria Wonder reinkers, rhinestones (SU); Stitched Snowflakes dies (Lawn Fawn); Snowflakes embossing folder (Sizzix)

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - October technique challenge

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Oct 242015

Hello friends! It’s time for a technique challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown and this time it’s a fun one: emboss resist. Even though I don’t use this technique often, I always love the results.

I used the current CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge for the layout of my card. I heat embossed the snowflakes and the sentiment with white ink and white embossing powder. Then I brushed a wash of ink and water over the embossing, which resisted the color. I love the subtle variation in the color where the ink tended to pool! Once the ink wash had dried, I die cut my card front and then attached it to a card base. It was pretty interesting (and fortunate) that the two colors of ink I used for the wash ended up blending to match a different Stampin’ Up color. I have to admit I’m quite pleased with how it turned out.

I’m really looking forward to seeing what our challenge participants at 52CCT create this week! Be sure to link your card at the challenge post by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Friday, October 30. Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Stamps: Bows and Holly, Critters in the Snow (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: watercolor paper (Artist’s Loft); Pool Party (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: craft white (SU)
Other: white embossing powder (Stampendous); Baja Breeze and Soft Sky reinkers (SU); Stitched Rectangles die (Lawn Fawn)

CAS Colours & Sketches #147

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Oct 222015

Hello there! It’s the fourth Thursday of the month, which means it’s time for another sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.

I’ve taken a few liberties with the sketch. I’ve stretched it into a portrait-oriented rectangle and added a mat behind the focal panel. The way the sketch is drawn seems to suggest trees, but I’ve rotated it 180° and turned the triangular shapes into balloons. I wanted a little variation in the balloon strings, so I’ve trimmed down the one on the yellow balloon. The orange balloon has some cardstock shims behind it for just a little bit of dimension. The card ended up pretty simple and straightforward, but it will be a good one to send to Send a Smile 4 Kids. Since there isn’t much else to say about it, here it is:

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to see what the rest of the CC&S Design Team has done with the sketch. Then show us your own take on it by linking your card at the CC&S site by 6:00 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, October 28. We’d love to have you join us!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hats Off to You (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Naturals White, Tangerine Tango, Watercolor Wonder designer series paper (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: Party Balloons dies (Lawn Fawn)

bright, bold birthday

1 Response »

Oct 212015

Tonight I’m sharing a a really quick and easy card that I made for the Crooked Stamper Sketch Challenge that will be ending in a little while. The present was cut from one of my oldest Sizzix dies. I matched the colors to the strip of designer paper. There really isn’t much else to say about it, so here it is:

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Stamp: Year Three (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Sycamore Street designer series paper (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Island Indigo (SU)
Other: Gifts die (Sizzix)

Cards in Envy - Trick or Treat

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Oct 192015

Hello, and welcome to another Monday! Since it’s the third Monday of the month, it’s time for a new challenge at Cards in Envy. For the next couple of weeks we’re getting into a Halloween mood by focusing on a theme of “Trick or Treat”. Cards for this challenge should be A2 size (4.25″ x 5.5″) and flat enough to fit in an envelope for mailing. Your card can be scary, cute, or anything in between, so long as it conveys the idea of trick or treating.

I’ve used alphabet stamps to spell out the sentiment for my card. I didn’t have enough lower case “r”s for the whole phrase “trick or treat”, so I decided to mix upper case and lower case to make the words. The bunny in the pumpkin and the “boo” quote balloon were both stamped on scrap cardstock. I used markers to color the bunny image, then fussy cut it and the quote balloon. They are attached with dimensional adhesive so they kind of float above the stamped sentiment. The layout for this card comes from the current CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge. I’m also entering this card into the Lawnscaping “Too Cute to Spook” challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today! Now go check out what the rest of the Cards in Envy design team has made. I’m sure they’d love it if you visit their blogs and leave a comment. Then share your own trick or treating card with us at the CIE site by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Sunday, November 1. We’d love to have you play along with us!

Supplies:
Stamps: Jesse’s ABCs, Critters in Costume (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Tangelo Twist (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury Ivory (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: markers (Copic); Stitched Rectangle die (Lawn Fawn); dimensionals (SU)

CAS Colours & Sketches #146

3 Responses »

Oct 152015

Hello! It’s time for a new color challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week we have some bright, lovely autumnal colors for you to create with.

My card couldn’t get too much simpler. I created my colorful background by scribbling red and orange gel sticks on a piece of ivory cardstock and blending them with a slightly damp paper towel. I die cut the landscape scene from a scrap of black cardstock, glued it to the sunset background, and trimmed the edges. I fit the focal panel to the card base with temporary adhesive to figure out the placing of the sentiment stamp, stamped the sentiment, and then adhered the panel with permanent adhesive. Easy peasy!

Go see what the rest of the CC&S Design Team has done with these vibrant colors! Then use the colors to make a card of your own, and share it with us at the CC&S challenge post. You have until 6:00 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, October 21 to link your card. We hope you’ll join us! Thanks for stopping by today.

Supplies:
Stamp: Trendy Trees (Stampin’ Up)
Cardstock: Pure Luxury Ivory (Gina K. Designs); Basic Black (SU)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: gel sticks (Faber Castell); Wide Open Spaces die (Memory Box)

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - October color challenge

5 Responses »

Oct 102015

Hello! It’s time for a new color challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. This week our participants get to do some choosing of their own: we’re asking to create a card using either blue or purple, plus any metallic color of your choice.

Copper seems to be one of the more underused metallics, in my opinion, so I’ve decided to put it to use on my card by using some copper brads and by heat embossing the sentiment. I’ve paired my metallic with a couple of light blues. The layout for my card is from this week’s CAS(e) This Sketch! challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to check out the 52CCT blog to see what the rest of the design team has made. Then link your own card to the challenge post. You have until 7:00 Eastern time Friday, October 16 to play along with us. We can’t wait to see what you create!

Supplies:
Stamps: Happy Everything (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: copper (ColorBox)
Other: Stitched Snowflakes dies (LF); copper embossing powder (Ranger); copper brads (SU)

CAS Colours & Sketches #145

3 Responses »

Oct 082015

Well hi there! It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for a new challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week we have a sketch challenge to use to show off your CAS skills.

I’ve stretched the sketch out from a square to a landscape-oriented rectangle. The designer paper for the background tag gave me the color scheme for my card. I’ve used one of my newest stamp sets for the focal point tag. It took me a little while to figure out what I was going to do for the sketchy circular element. Finally I traced around one of my circle dies lightly with a pencil to get the basic shape and size, added a bit of glue around that, and stuck some coordinating twine into the glue. Then I used dimensional adhesive to attach the tags to the card over top the twine.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you’ll join us over at CAS Colours & Sketches with your own take on this sketch! You have until 6:00 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, October 14 to link your card at the challenge website.

Supplies:
Stamps: Skater Kids (Mama Elephant for Simon Says Stamp)
Cardstock: Old Olive, Season of Style designer series paper (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: markers (Copic); Cherry twine (Really Reasonable Ribbon); red eyelet (source unknown)

Cards in Envy - Creepy Crawlies

4 Responses »

Oct 052015

Hello! It’s challenge introduction day at Cards in Envy! We are starting to get into a Halloween mood with the theme of “Creepy Crawlies”. Cards for this challenge should feature any kind of creepy creature that crawls or slithers. Snakes, spiders, or any sort of bug would all be appropriate. Be sure to make your card A2 sized (4.25″ x 5.5″) and thin enough to be mailed at the standard first class postage rate.

I personally am not a fan of crawly creepy stuff, so I wanted to keep my card as friendly-seeming as possible. My stamp choices were pretty limited, but I pulled out a set of Halloween stamps that I bought a long time ago and used the spider from it. I stamped the spider image several times, colored them, and then drew in the threads so it looked like they are all dangling. I spelled out an encouraging sentiment with alphabet stamps, because I’m planning to include this card in my first shipment to Send a Smile 4 Kids. Finally I matted the panel and attached it to a card base.

If you need additional inspiration, please go check out the Cards in Envy site and see what the rest of the design team has made. What kind of creepy crawly card will you create? Share your work with us on the Cards in Envy site by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Sunday, October 18. We’d love to have you play along with us!

Supplies:
Stamps: Halloween Set (Purple Onion Designs); Jesse’s ABCs (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: markers, multiliner pen (Copic)

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - October sketch challenge

6 Responses »

Oct 032015

Hello there, and happy Saturday to you! It’s sketch challenge week at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. As with all of our sketches, you’re welcome to use the sketch as it’s drawn, turn it on its side, or manipulate it into a square. So long as we can see the “skeleton” of the sketch, it’s all good!

I’ve added a couple layers to the sketch but otherwise kept my card rather clean and simple in design. I opted to go for more of a wintry card than one specifically Christmasy. It’s not easy to see in the photo, but I pierced the scalloped circle for a tiny bit of additional interest. I attached the focal panel to the card with dimensional adhesive. This card will be going into the stash I’m saving up for Send a Smile 4 Kids.

And now it’s your turn to show us what you can create! We’d love it if you joined our challenge this week. You have until 7:00 pm Eastern time Friday, October 9 to link your card at the 52CCT site. Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Stamps: Warm Penguin (Lizzie Anne Designs for Gourmet Rubber Stamps)
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Pool Party (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: markers (Copic); standard circle and big scalloped circle Nestabilities dies (Spellbinders); piercing tool (Making Memories); dimensionals (SU)

CAS Colours & Sketches #144

7 Responses »

Oct 012015

Hello! It’s time for a new month of challenges at CAS Colours & Sketches! Stef is our hostess this month and she has some fun challenge ideas in store for us!

As always, we start the month with a color challenge. I’ve decided to combine the colors with the CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge that ends this morning. I used the polished stone technique with the blues from the challenge colors to create the marble-look effect on a piece of glossy cardstock. Then I die cut the hearts from it. I also die cut two small hearts from shiny gold cardstock and adhered them over the two largest polished stone hearts. I had a difficult time trying to get the colors to show true in the photo, so you’re going to have to take my word for it that the sentiment is heat embossed in gold.

How will you use these colors? Be sure to check out the CC&S blog to see what the rest of the design team has made. You’ll also get to meet our guest designer for the month of October. Once you’ve made your own card, be sure to link it at the challenge post by 6:00 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, October 7. We’d love to have you join us! Thanks for stopping by today.

Supplies:
Stamps: Happy Everything (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Gold Foil, Glossy White (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: gold (ColorBox)
Other: Soft Sky and Night of Navy reinkers, detail gold embossing powder (SU); Hearts dies (Lawn Fawn); corner rounder punch (EK Success)

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - October Pick a Previous Theme

CAS Colours & Sketches #148

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - October technique challenge

CAS Colours & Sketches #147

bright, bold birthday

Cards in Envy - Trick or Treat

CAS Colours & Sketches #146

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - October color challenge

CAS Colours & Sketches #145

Cards in Envy - Creepy Crawlies

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - October sketch challenge

CAS Colours & Sketches #144

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Really great links

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