September 30, 2012

2012 Christmas Card Challenge Week #44

Hola!

How has your weekend been?  Good I hope!  It has been a nice, quiet weekend here.  I haven't really done much, but I did manage to make a few things.  I've also come to the realization that I'm in need of diet and exercise.  I had a physical recently, and they threw the word "obese" at me.  That's such a harsh word, but realistically, it's true.  I've always been overweight, but never has anyone told me I was obese before.  Hearing that cuts deep.  I don't usually post too much about that kind of thing on my blog, but I think I'm going to hold my self accountable, and make my struggle with weight loss and my new journey to take control of it, public.  I won't be posting in excess, but I will be including monthly photos, starting tomorrow.  I HATE to be in front of the camera, so I'm hoping this will keep me on track this time.  I'm assuming I'll be including little tidbits here and there, but I promise not to bore anyone with a lot of negativitiy or whining, even though I'm doing it over here. lol  Maybe some of you out there are struggling with the same thing, and it will help you as well.  The bottom line is getting healthy, and that's my goal.  I want to be around to watch my daughter grow into the beautiful woman I can already see coming out in her.     

Anyway, enough rambling.  Onto why you're here today.  Looking through my files, I hadn't realized that it had been such a long time since I'd made a Christmas card.  It's time to get back into the swing of that, and start making them every week.  This week we were asked to use chipboard on our projects.  For all of the details on this weeks challenge, click HERE.


Here is my card for this challenge.


I've had the chipboard flourish in my stash for over a year.  I embossed it in my Cuttlebug and inked it with Pumice Stone distress ink.  I have to say, I totally dig these colors together, and my card did turn out quite nice.  I'm glad to have another one for my stash.  Now I'll just have to continue making them every week.  I've combined the following challenges in my card too.

Deconstructed Sketch #71 - Sketch
AI Stamps Challenge #82 - Banners & Bunting
Do You Stack Up #91 - Scallops
Fabulous Friday - Embossing
HIMCR #65 - Anything Goes (show your style - mine is clean lines, for sure)
Totally Gorjuss #151 - Punches & Dies

There are some fantastic projects posted over on the CCC blog.  I do hope you get the chance to check them out, and hopefully, join us this week. 

Have a wonderful day!
Hugs!

September 29, 2012

Unscripted Sketches Challenge #178

Greetings!!

I hope you've had a good week!  Our end of month is finally over, and I get to sleep in for two days.  I'm excited about that! lol 

I have another Unscripted Sketches project for you today.  The sketch this week is fantastic, and leaves a lot of room for interpretation.  For all of the details, click HERE.


I decided to make my card round.  I really like how it turned out.  I used more digis from THATB, and paired it with distress inks, bakers twine and some bling.  It's adorable, and I know just the person who will receive it. 

I've also included the following challenges in my card.

Crazy 4 Challenges #155 - Thank You or Thanksgiving Inspired
Stamptacular Sunday #182 - Bling It On
Kaboodle Doodles #138 - Stitching
The Pink Elephant #167 - Chevrons or Hexagons
Stampin Royalty #143 - Use Your Bigshot/Die Cuts

As always, there are some wonderful projects posted over at the US blog.  I do hope you get a chance to check them out, and maybe play along. :)

I'm off to be a bum, while watching The Avengers, and then I'm off to the grocery store.  Not sure what I'm going to do the rest of the weekend, but I hope to get my craft on. lol

Have a great day!
Hugs!

September 26, 2012

Papercraft Star Challenge #114

Hey there!

How are you doing?  I hope you're having a good week.  My week, surprisingly, has been great.  It is crazy at work, but for some reason, it's not as frustrating or trying as usual.  Thank goodness for that!  I've even been able to come home at a decent enough hour and create some crafty stuff.  Go me! lol

It is Wednesday, which allows me to share another challenge project with you.  The theme this week at Papercraft Star is:


Keys & Locks

Since a lot of my crafty supplies are still packed away, and I'm only using what I absolutely need, I was without any kind of embellishment that even resembled a lock or key.  Good thing there's a Hobby Lobby right across the freeway.  I found just what I needed!


I'm not so happy with the photo of my card, but I am happy with it in real life.  It's a lot more bold, and the colors are fabulous together.  I love this digi image from the Wax Fruit Company.  I colored it with my Copics, and then cut it out and popped it up.  I wanted to make sure I had lots of texture on this simple sketch, to give it a little something extra.  I'm happy with my results.  And, here's another card for my stash!

I was also able to incorporate the following challenges in my card.

The Craft's Meow - September Sketch
Drunken Stampers #98 - Old Loves Die Hard (use stash older than six months - lace, papers & stamps)
Speedy Fox & Friends Challenge #126 - Tags

As usual, there are some gorgeous projects posted over at Papercraft Star.  I'm sure you'll be more than excited to see what I mean.  Why not head over there and check them out?

I'm off to work, then bible study and hopefully, I'll get to see some friends for dessert before heading back to the hotel. 

I'll be back soon with another something crafty.  Have a great day!
Hugs!

September 22, 2012

Unscripted Sketches Challenge #177

Hi everyone!

I hope you've had a decent week, and are starting off with an excellent weekend.  As usual, our end of month has gotten the best of me, and I've worked quite a few hours.  Even as you read this, I'll be working my Saturday away.  Boo!

Since it is Saturday, I have a new Unscripted Sketches project for you.  For all of the details on this weeks sketch challenge, click HERE.


I LOVE my card!  It turned out exactly how I wanted it, and it's beautiful.  The sketch is awesome, and the fall colors are fantastic together.  All of the details make everything just right.  I don't think I've ever made a card I was this happy with. lol  I'm going to send this to a dear friend who's been really helpful to me the last few weeks.  I think she'll love it as much as I do.

I've also combined the following challenges in my card:

Drunken Stampers #97 - Hand Wash Cold (use washi tape)
Craft Your Passion #128 - Bingo (I chose, bling, ribbon, distress)
Love To Create #33 - Things With Wings
Use Your Stuff #52 - Fall Colors (orange/red, brown, green)

I do hope you'll head over to the US blog to see what the other lovely ladies have created for you today.  They're wonderful, as usual!

Enjoy your day!
Hugs!

September 19, 2012

Papercraft Star Challenge #113

Hi everyone!

I hope you've had a good week, so far.  It's been super, crazy busy for me, but that's usually how it goes as we near another end of month at work.  I'm happy to share another crafty project with you though.  The theme this week at Papercraft Star is:


Stars!!
 
This challenge, I was challenged, to include a star or stars on my project.  I've got tons of things I could have included, but ultimately, nothing was working.  Fortunately, I was able to pull something together. 
 
I'm the featured designer for this challenge, and I used some wonderful images from our sponsor The House Across The Bay.  Check them out!
 

 


And here's how my card turned out.


I am totally happy with it.  I printed the digi images in grayscale, so that I could use my distress inks on them.  I do hope I don't get in trouble for this.  I have to say my card is much better than expected, considering it was a last minute kind of thing. lol  My daughter's history teacher has been super helpful this school year, with tutoring, so I made this for her to give to him.  I think it's a pretty good attempt at a masculine card.  Hopefully, he'll appreciate it. 

I've included the following challenges in my card as well:

Crazy 4 Challenges #154 - Anything Goes w/A Fall Twist
Stampin Sisters in Christ #157 - Harvest/Fall projects (i used fall colors, hope that works)
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #181 - Less Is More
Papertake Weekly - A Hazy Shade of Autumn
Use It Tuesday #39 - Anything Goes (my hoarded stash is the bakers twine, the red shimmery cardstock and button that i've had in my stash forever)

I do hope you'll head over to the Papercraft Star challenge blog to see what the other designers have created for you today.  We have an amazingly talented new designer joining us, starting this week.  Why not join us for this weeks challenge, and help us wish her a warm welcome! 
 
That's all for me today, but I'll be back soon with another something crafty.  Since work is chaotic, thank goodness for creative outlets like papercrafting!  :)
 
Hugs!

September 17, 2012

Just For Fun Take 2!

Hi y'all!

I hope you had a good weekend.  The weather here was beautiful on Saturday, and then it rained Sunday.  Either way, I thought it was fantastic.  I was able to get into storage and get out more of my crafty stuff.  I'm a happy girl.  Now I can actually create with most of my stuff again.

So, my friend Rochelle and I have decided to do another just for fun challenge.  I chose the photo below, and she chose music and flowers as our elements. 


I used THIS sketch, and created the card below.


At first, I wasn't excited about my results but after looking at it more, I think I like it.  The colors are bold and bright, and it's perfect to cheer up a friend.  I'm sure Rochelle has come up with something amazing.  I do hope you'll head over to her blog and check out what she's made.  Also, if you'd like to play along with us, you're more than welcome to.  All you need to do is leave the link to your card in the comments.

I hope you have a good day.  I'll be back soon with another something crafty.
Hugs!

September 15, 2012

Unscripted Sketches Challenge #176

Greetings my friends!

I feel like I've been out of the loop for a while.  I hadn't created anything for over two weeks, before creating my US project for today.  Moving is SO exhausting, and on top of that I hit a snag in my plans, which has me temporarily in an extended stay hotel.  Needless to say, it's complicated.  I have managed to get a few of my crafty things out of storage, but I need to go through all of my boxes and grab a few more things that I use regularly. 

Anyway, onto my project for today.  This weeks sketch is nice and simple, and leaves lots of room for interpretation.  For all of the details on this weeks challenge, click HERE.


Until I find a good place to get a photo of my projects, there will be several different backgrounds, I'm pretty sure. lol  Hopefully, something will work out eventually.  I stuck very close to the sketch this week, and like the results.  It's simple, and very pretty.  I'll add a sentiment once I get my stamps out of storage.  I will be sending my card to Card Cupids, which is one of the organizations the US girls are using as our piggyback challenge for this week.  We have decided to choose an organization, and send our cards to them, hoping to put a smile on someone's face.

I do hope you'll head over to the US blog today to see what projects have been created, and also to check out which organizations will be receiving our cards. 

I'm off to grocery shop, and do laundry. 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Hugs!

September 5, 2012

Papercraft Star Challenge #111

Greetings y'all!

This is going to be short and sweet, as I have to be at work early this morning.  It's Wednesday, which brings us to our next Papercraft Star challenge.  This challenge is "something girly".  For all of the details, click HERE.


I apologize for the "interesting" photo.  I didn't get the opportunity to take my picture outside this time, so I went with what I had, to work with.  I am not a huge pink fan, but I do think it screams girly.  This time I used the debossed side for the bottom layer, instead of the embossed side.  I never think to use this side much, so I think I'm going to have to try to remember more often.  I used THIS sketch, which is older, but I love how it turned out.  Another card to add to my stash.  I've also combined the following challenges in my card.

The Pink Elephant #164 - Use Patterned Paper
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
City Crafter Challenge #125 - Monochromatic
Dawn's Crafting Challenge - Use A Lot Of Pink

I'm hoping you'll head over to see what the other amazing designers have created for you today.  As usual, they're gorgeous!

I'm going to be a bit MIA for a bit as I need to finish moving and have all of my crafty stuff packed up.  I do wish all of you a wonderful week! 

Hugs!