Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Paper Funday Challenges and the Big 6-0!

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge!  In addition to that, it's our 60th challenge - The Paper Funday Challenge turns 5 years old this month and the team is partying..but more on that a bit later.

The challenge theme is Always Anything Goes with an Optional Twist.  The Option this month is Snowman and/or Birds.  I chose to go with the Twist and used the Stampendous Cling Fox Friend Stamp Set for my project.  This set is an oldie but goodie, from 2015 and still going strong, truly a timeless image and still stamps beautifully.


I've kept the design simple, only using layering mats, one of which is glitter card.  I've colored the image using Prismacolor Pencils and the sentiment is from a Cardz TV stamp set.

As previously mentioned, it's The Paper Funday's 5th Birthday and the team is hosting an additional challenge this month.  The theme of this special challenge is Birthday and/or Anniversary.  There are 5 prizes to be won, and will be awarded to 5 randomly drawn winners from the entries, so you'll want to link up for your chance to win.  You are allowed to play along in BOTH challenges at The Paper Funday this month - Yahoo!

Using the Birthday Wishing stamp and coordinating die sets from Colorado Craft Company, featuring adorable images from Anita Jeram, I've created a Birthday Card to mark this 5th Birthday milestone.


I've also kept this design fairly simple, allowing these adorable little critters to take center stage, look at that sweet hamster jumping for joy at the thought of a Party.

Please join us at The Paper Funday Challenge this month, there are so many prizes up for grabs and it's a huge "Thanks" to everyone who support our challenge.  You can find the Birthday Bash Challenge HERE.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered - The Snowman and Fox Christmas Card:


**Challenges Entered - Birthday Card:
Stamping Sensations - Fav colors of this card are Red, White and Yellow








Monday, December 4, 2023

Inspiration Station Challenge #56 - Jolly Elf

Hello and Happy 1st Monday of December!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and the inspiration prompt for this month, is naturally, a festive one:


When my children were small, we never missed at least 1 visit to the Magic Kingdom at Christmas time.  It truly is a magical place to go at Christmas Time and the Holiday Parade is fantastic.  This photo inspired me to create a Christmas card using the Jolly Elf digital stamp from Sweet November Stamps.


Isn't this little nugget the cutest Elf ever?  I've colored him using my Prismacolor pencils and hand drew the lines on his hat to create stripes.  The patterned papers are from the Echo Park "My Favorite Christmas" 6x6 paper pad.


I've die cut the focal panel using a nesting rectangle postage die and the sentiment strip is from a Simon Says Stamp premade pack.  Lastly, red sequins were added for a bit of holiday bling.

Please join us for the last challenge of 2023.  The team and I wish you a very Happy Christmas and Joyous New Year! 

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Holiday Bells

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Sunday!  I hope your weekend has been enjoyable.  Our Florida State Seminoles College Football team won the ACC Championship last night so this morning, after a late night watching the game and celebrating, I'm nursing my coffee!

Today, it's a quick share featuring the Honey Bee Layering Holiday Bells Die Set.  I've paper pieced the bells together with parts of mirror and glitter card.


The bell in front has been popped on craft foam for dimension, the patterned papers are from a 6x6 paper stack by Recollections and the sentiment strip is from a pack by Simon Says Stamp.


It won't be long now before the Jolly Man shows up bearing gifts, I hope you've been extra good this year!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:
Dragonfly Dreams

Monday, November 27, 2023

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:
Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - "C" is for Cocoa
Peace on Earth
Dragonfly Dreams - inspired by the color Blue

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

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:
Christmas Bingo - Top Line straight across
Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - "S" is for Santa



Monday, November 20, 2023

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:
Most Magical Time of Year

Thursday, November 16, 2023

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






Wednesday, November 15, 2023

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:









Monday, November 13, 2023

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:



Monday, November 6, 2023

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:
Christmas Cards All Year 'Round:  Song is Silver Bells
Park Hopping My Happy Place - inspired by North Pole Colorado Santa's Workshop
Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - "B" is for Bells