Christmas Cocoa

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  If you celebrated the Thanksgiving Holiday, I hope your day and weekend was fabulous.  We had a lovely holiday and football weekend - our 2 teams won and we had an enjoyable time snacking, celebrating and watching the games.

Today I have a quick share featuring the Christmas Cocoa digital stamp from Whimsy Stamps.  It's a fun stamp and an easy color.

I've colored the image using my Prismacolor Pencils, the patterned papers are snippets from Echo Park and Carta Bella 6x6 paper pads.  The focal image has been matted with blue glitter card.

The focal panel and mat have been popped on craft foam, the sentiment is a pre-printed strip from a Simon Says Stamp pack, and lastly I've added blue gems to complete the holiday sparkle.

We are now in full Holiday mode here, I hope you've made a good dent in your holiday card making.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Dream Valley

A Place to Start

Creative Moments

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - "C" is for Cocoa

CD Sunday +

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Peace on Earth

Dragonfly Dreams - inspired by the color Blue

All Sorts

Polkadoodles

Gem of a Challenge

Send A Smile 4 Kids

Santa Knows!

Happy Tuesday Friends!  I have a quick share for you today featuring a die cut Santa Claus from Spellbinders.  I picked this set up during their clearance sale a few months ago and couldn't wait to put him on a Christmas Card.

After die cutting and adhering Santa together, I've added bits of shading with a cool gray colored pencil to give him a bit of dimension.

The patterned papers are from a Holiday paper pad by Recollections, the sentiment is from a pre-made sentiment pack by Simon Says Stamp and has been popped on foam pads.  

I've used a card sketch from Cardz TV and embossed the background with a wintery scene folder from Darice.  Santa's hat is glittery and I've added small red gems to complete the design. 

That's all for today friends.  Remember - he knows if you've been bad or good.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna 

**Challenges Entered:

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday

Holly and Ivy Christmas

Unicorn Challenge

A Place to Start

Cutie Pie Challenge

Christmas Bingo - Top Line straight across

Merry Little Christmas Challenge

Scrapping 4 Fun

Challenge Up Your Life

Peace On Earth

Die Cut Divas

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - "S" is for Santa

Magic of the Season at Jan's Digi Stamps

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Monday!  It's mid-month inspiration time at the Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge and it's all about Christmas Time.  Before I get to my card, I want to announce that sadly, this is the last mid-month inspiration post and last challenge at the Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge Blog.  Jan is retiring and closing shop, her on-line shop will remain open until the end of April 2024, the current challenge runs through the 31st of December 2023.

My card today features an older set - Magic of the Season.  I like the simplicity of the set and it makes a quick holiday card.  The sentiment is part of the set also.

I've colored the image using Prismacolor Pencils, the patterned paper is from the "Tis the Season" 6x6 paper pad by Bo Bunny.  I used a corner punch for a bit of visual interest on the panels and added Crystal Stickles on the stars and berries, along with Wink of Stella on the hat band and bell.  Hopefully all the sparkle shows in the picture below.

For a finishing touch, I've added 3 tiny red gems.  I invite you to please join in this last challenge.  The team and I are so appreciative of the support we've received over the years.  We are honored to have inspired you with our designs, and of course, the biggest "Thank You" goes to Jan Mahew for allowing us to create with her designs.  Happy Retirement Jan and Dick!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Dream Valley

Use Your Stuff

Creative Moments

CD Sunday +

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Peace on Earth

613 Avenue Create

All Sorts

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Catz

My Time to Craft

Most Magical Time of Year

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - 'H" is for Hat

Winter Snowbird

Happy Thursday Friends!  I have a quick share for you today featuring another older red rubber cling stamp.  This one is the Winter Snowbird from Stampendous and it's from the year 2015.  It still stamps beautifully and I love using it every Christmas and Winter Season.

I've colored the winter scene using Prismacolor Pencils.  The focal image has been die cut using a fancy edge stitched oval die and the patterned paper is from Alina Crafts.

The focal panel has been adhered flat to the patterned mat, the sentiment strip, which is from a pre-packaged set of holiday strips from Simon Says Stamp, has been popped on craft foam.  Lastly, I've added Alene's True Snow to the branch and berries for an even more festive vibe.

I hope your day will go as planned and you're getting into the holiday spirit.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Sparkles Monthly Challenge

CRAFT Challenge

AYLI - I love birds and at holiday time, birds hunting for mistletoe berries against a snowy background is the essence of Christmas

Creative Inspiration

Through the Purple Haze

Fab 'n Funky

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspirations

The Male Room

Cardz 4 Guyz

Crafty Animals

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - "B" for Bird

Triple B

2 Crafty Critter Crazies

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #11

Hello Crafty Friends and Welcome to Wednesday!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  The challenge theme is Always Anything Flowers/Florals Goes with an Optional Mood Board for Inspiration.  The mood board this month is:

I was inspired by the gorgeous shades of blue in this board and took the opportunity to make an unexpected style of holiday card.  I've used the Craft-a-Flower Fashion Monger Dahlia Stamp and Coordinating Die Set from Altenew.

This is a layering stamp set and I've used various shades of blue Catherine Pooler inks to stamp out each floral layer, the leaves used 2 shades of green and the flower centers used 2 shades of orange.  All pieces were cut with the coordinating die set.

I've popped the center flower on foam pads, the embossed white panel was sent to me by a swap buddy, the glitter and light blue panels are card stocks from Recollections, and lastly, the sentiment is a die cut from Simon Says Stamp that has been cut 3 times and layered to create a shadow and height.  No other bells or whistles have been added, expect for a bit of Wink of Stella on the florals.

Please join us at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge this month.  We love visiting everyone and admiring the creativity!  Until next time, Happy Crafting.

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Calendar

Triple B

Little Patch of Crafty Friends

Your Scrapbook Place

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Classic Design Challenge

WW Crafters and Colorists

Creative Crafters

Crafter's Cafe

Fab n Funky

Dream Valley

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - "B" for Blooms

Die Cut Divas

A Snowman with His Tree

Happy Monday Crafty Friends!  I trust your weekend was great and you found time for some crafty fun.  I have a quick share today featuring a Snowman and his Tree.  And yes, I'm now in full holiday mode...and you probably are too!

The Snowman is an older (from 2015) stamp set from Stampendous.  He's a cling stamp and I still love using him every Christmas Season.  The older red rubber and cling stamps are so well made, even though this stamp is 13 years old, it still stamps beautifully.  Snowman are also my favorite Holiday and Winter images/home decor items.  

I've colored him using Prismacolor Pencils, the patterned papers are snippets from 3 different Echo Park 6x6 paper pads and instead of stamping a sentiment, I've went with a mini journaling card that was also part of a paper pad.  Gotta use what we have on hand eh?  I've also fussy cut him and popped him on craft foam for dimension.  

I've used a card sketch from Cardz TV (she has over 50 free card sketches to choose from) and embellished with faux pearls.

That's all for today.  I wish you a great day and week ahead, until next time - Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Ally's Angels

Star Stampz

Crafting from the Heart

Path of Positivity

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

Sweet Stampin'

Send A Smile 4 Kids

Most Magical Time of the Year

Outlawz Festive Friday

Krafty Chicks

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - "S" for Snowman

Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge - Silver Bells

Hello Friends and Welcome Back!  Today begins a new challenge month at the Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge Blog.  This month, Jan has released 4 new sets and has some fabulous FREEBIES for you.  And if that wasn't enough, the Christmas Wish Sale has 15 holiday themed sets on offer at reduced prices for the month of November!

For my project this month, I've colored up the new Silver Bells digital image.  The sentiment is also included in this digital set, which I've printed and hand cut into a banner.

I've colored the image using my Prismacolor Pencils.  I've die cut the focal image using a stitched Tag die and popped on foam pads.  The patterned papers are snippets from an Old World Vintage 6x6 paper pad.

I've accented the Tag using strips of silver mirror card that have been punched down one side with a fancy punch.  I often forget I have these "old school" fancy punches; it's nice to get them out and show them some love.  

Lastly, I've tied silver thread through the tag hole and added Wink of Stella on the bows, berries and gold stripe of the bells.  Please visit us at the challenge this month, we would love to have you join us!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge

Colorful Options

Daisy Chain Challenge

Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round:  Song is Silver Bells

Pearly Sparkles

Park Hopping My Happy Place - inspired by North Pole Colorado Santa's Workshop

Merry Little Christmas Challenge

Crafts Galore Encore

12 Months of Christmas

Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - "B" is for Bells

Inspiration Station Challenge - Inspiration Prompt #54

Hello and Happy 1st Monday of November!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  Our inspiration prompt this month is:

I've been inspired lately to use up stash items, to go shopping my stash if you will.  In searching for something with loads of Autumn vibes, I've come across a package of adorable Gnome Stickers I picked up at the Dollar Tree Discount store.  

The patterned papers are snippets from an Echo Park 6x6 paper pad, and of course the stickers make the perfect focal image and accents.

To complete this easy to make card, I've added sparkly orange enamel dots.  I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the leaf stickers and leaf accents in the Gnomie's hat.  

Please visit us at the challenge and enter your inspired makes.  We always love seeing everyone's creativity and visiting your posts.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Double Trouble

4 Season Challenge

Crafting From the Heart

Outlawz Monday Greetings

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

The Four Seasons

Love to Craft

A Perfect Time to Craft

The Crafting Challenge

Paper Funday Challenge #59

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  Our themes are Always Anything Goes with an Optional Twist.  The Twist this month is Grateful, Thankful, Thank You.  We have 2 great sponsors also, Newton's Nook and Laurie Furnell Designs.

For my project this month, I've created a festive Holiday card in true Florida Style - Festive Flamingos from Newton's Nook.  I couldn't find this set on their site, it may be retired, I'm not certain. I've had this set for a few holiday seasons now.

I've kept the design CAS and highlighted the Pink theme with a bit of ink blending using a circle mask from Lavinia Stamps.  I've colored this pair using my Prismacolor Pencils.

I've added Wink of Stella to their Hats, a few enamel dots and black/white Baker's Twine.  I like how the Baker's Twine and black mat breaks up the "pinkness" of the card.

Please join us at the challenge!  We hope you'll be inspired by our designs, so until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Word Art Wednesday

Creative Inspirations

The Male Room

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday

2 Crafty Critter Crazies

Holly and Ivy Christmas

Crafts Galore Encore

Beccy's Place A Month of Holiday Cards

Moving Along with the Times

Pearly Sparkles

Crafty Animals