It's Time for....Christmas Bingo!

Ahhh...it's been a crazy day as I finally have time to sit down here and schedule this post.

I've been in my craft room pretty much all day listening to Christmas carols and creating holiday cards! It's going to be a crazy week as I'm down to the crunch time to create last minute items for the craft sale on the weekend!

Anyhooo...

Let me quickly share with you about the new challenge starting at Holly Jolly Christmas Challenges.

We have a fun theme for you to partake in for the next two weeks...

"Christmas Bingo"

Ribbon	Texture	Glitter
Rhinestones	2 designer papers	Twine
Die cuts	Punches	Pearls

So many options for you to choose from!

For my card I decided I was going to go diagonal...I have used die cuts, 2 designer papers and glitter!

Here's a peek at my creation...

The poinsettia die cuts are a new Memory Box die that I picked up recently and just had the chance to use.  I've also used a new swirl die cut that too was waiting to be tried out.  I've added some Crystal Stickles to the tip of the flowers and have also added some soft fuzzy bits to the centers of the flowers as well.  The finishing touch is the few dabs of liquid pearls around the flower bunch!

Onto the business at hand... 

We are joined again by two wonderful sponsors for this challenge...

 

as well as...

 

Be sure to check out the Holly Jolly blog to get details on the prizes being offered to two lucky winners!

Well, it's short and sweet today as I think I hear my pillow calling me!

Now here's hoping this tiredness doesn't leave the minute I lay my head on it!

Don't you just hate it when that happens?

Until next time...

This card has been shared in the following challenges...
Through the Craft Room Door..."Anything Goes"
The Crafty Bloggers Network..."Christmas"
Crafty Cardmakers..."Die Cuts/Punches"
House of Cards...Use a Punch or Die"
The Paper Girls Challenge..."Anything Goes"
The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge..."Anything Goes"
Christmas Card Challenges..."Anything Goes"
Allsorts..."Christmas"

Lessons from a Child...

Have you ever noticed that children offer so many lessons for us adults?

It's funny that when you have your own kids...you suddenly realize how you act, talk, etc.  

And, it becomes even more apparent when they start to mimic you!  LOL

They hold such wisdom in their simplistic way of thinking and seeing the world!

That's why I fell in love with the sentiment and the digi that I've used on todays sharing. 

Welcome to another new challenge beginning over at Pile it On!

It's one that is certain to bring a smile to your face...

"Child's Play"

We are so very excited to be sponsored by Digital Delights!

They are offering one lucky winner a $5 gift certificate!

I had the pleasure of playing with the digi entitled Swinging Scottie .

He's so adorable sitting on his swing with his teddy!  

Here's what I created with this little cutie...

I decided to get the Silhouette Cameo involved in this card as well.  I've used the tree and cloud die cut cutting file.  I've colored up Scottie with my distress markers, and popped him up with 3D dots so he looks like he really is swinging on the tree. A few sequins were added for some sparkle. I came across a sentiment in my Stamp'n Up collection and thought it just sounded like a child's simple wisdom...

"Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful".  

We forget that, don't we!  Kids find joy even in situations that are less than perfect. 

I hope you'll take the time for some play in your craft room this week, and that you'll join us in our "Childs Play" challenge at Pile it On!

Can't wait to see what the inner child in you leads you to create!

Until next time...

This card has been shared in the following challenges...

Crafty Sentiments Designs..."Anything Goes"

The Crafty Bloggers Network..."Die Cuts or Embossing"

My Craft Creations..."Anything Goes"

Scrapbook Stamp Society..."Anything Goes/Sentiment"

Whoopsi Daisy..."Hand Colored Image"

613 Avenue Create..."Anything Goes"

Quirky Crafts Challenges..."Something Beginning with the letter S" (swing)
Crafty Girls Challenges..."Anything Goes"
Cute Card Thursday..."Here Comes Summer"
Delightful Challenges..."Dimension"
DL. Art Challenges..."May Linky Party - Anything Goes"
Paper Crafting Journey..."Spots and/or Stripes"
Crafts Galore Encore..."Anything Goes"
Dies R Us Challenges..."Anything Goes/Use Dies"
Doodle Pantry..."Any Digi Goes"
Stuck on U Sketches..."Die Cut Challenge...Tree"
Brown Sugar Challenge..."Patterned Paper"
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge..."May Challenge"
Hobbybook Designer Challenge..."Add a Sentiment" 
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge Blog..."Anything Goes"
A Gem of A Challenge..."Cute and Cuddly"
Crafting at the Weekend..."Anything Goes"

Time to go Christmas Caroling

Woot!  Woot!  It's Friday!

I just cannot believe how fast this month has gone!  I keep thinking life will slow down, and it seems that it just keeps speeding up!  We're gearing up for our camping season to begin, the kids only have 2 months of school left...and before you know it we'll be thinking about Christmas!

Well, let's start thinking about Christmas today...for a little while at least!  LOL

Today begins a new challenge at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long!

As always, our theme is anything Christmas goes with the twist of...

Use Ribbon as Your Only Embellishment!

See...easy!  You have time to whip up a card to join in the challenge and will still have time left to head outside and enjoy some sunshine if you're lucky enough to have some in your area!

(We've had a few gloomy days with just rain here, so I could really use a does of sun).

We have a fun sponsor today...it's Broken Box Stock!

Check out the CSAYL blog to find out what a super prize they are offering!

I was given the cute digi called "Caroling Toodles" to design with.  I decided to enlarge the digi in my Silhouette design studio, print it out and then just use a portion of the image.

Wanna see?

Don't those two gals just make you wanna run out and do some caroling?
I've colored the digi with my Spectrum Noir markers.  I've done a bunch of matting with various Christmas papers.  I really liked the "It's Christmas Time in the City" music piece and decided to use that instead of putting on a sentiment.  I've added a bow in the corner, the same ribbon behind the music "sentiment" and lastly an red and white floral and swirls ribbon to the bottom portion of the card.

I hope to see you linking up with us at CSAYL this week!  It feels so good to have a jump on getting all your Christmas cards finished before the busyness of the season!

Until next time...

This card has been shared in the following challenges...
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Extra Challenge..."April Challenge" 
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge..."April Challenge"
Sparkles Christmas Challenges..."Inspired by a Christmas Carol/Song"  (the caroling of "Silver 
Bells - see musical line sentiment)
 

A Recipe for You...

Welcome!  Grab a beverage, take a seat and get yourself comfortable.  

Today I'd like to share a recipe with you!
Don't get too excited...I mean a card recipe, not a cooking recipe!  LOL

Our current challenge at The Crafter's Cafe is a recipe challenge...
2 designer papers
ribbon
3 die cuts
4 pearls or rhinestones
Think you can do it?  Need a little encouragement?  How about the chance to win some awesome prizes from our sponsors for this challenge...



and

Treasured Times.

Now I must confess that I usually don't use card recipes as I find them absolutely challenging. However, I was kind of excited to be pushed out of my comfort zone this time.  I was so happy to be using the Squigglefly image "Cardinal Birdhouse".  I know... you're thinking why would you choose a Christmas image?  I have good reason, I need to keep preparing for the annual craft show I'm in and Christmas cards are my greatest sellers.

Here's a peek...and we'll go through the details in the next few photos...

As you can see, I managed to find two fantastic designer papers to use on this card!  I married them together with the ribbon to make nice joint where the two styles meet. 

I've colored up this gorgeous digi with my Tim Holtz Distress markers.  I added some glitter ritz around the birdhouse to give the illusion of shimmering snow...wish you could see it better.  Then I've added some liquid pearls for some dimension...and put 3 pearls on the background and one pearl for the cardinals eye.  That takes care of the 4 pearls or rhinestones portion of the recipe.  

Lastly, there were the 3 die cuts to take care of.  They are the cardinal, the pine leaves and in the very bottom corner you will see the snowflake swirl corner which I stickled in diamond Stickles to give it some shimmer.  

This came together quite quickly and I quite like the end result.  

Now, I hope I've encouraged you to tackle this recipe.  It was so much fun when I got down to it!  Don't forget to check out the projects the other DT members have created at The Crafter's Cafe.  We can hardly wait to see what you cook up!

Until next time...

This card has been shared in the following challenges...

My Perfect Life..."Softly Fell the Silent Snow..."

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra..."Christmas"

Sparkles Christmas Challenges..."Anything Goes"

Brown Sugar..."Feathers"

Delicious Doodles..."Diecuts/Punches"

Jingle Belles..."Text Me"

Winter Wonderland..."Digi Days"

Fan-Tastic Tuesday..."Anything Goes" 

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'..."Festive Foliage"

Crafting By Designs..."Anything Goes"

Crafty Creations Challenges..."For the Birds"

Divas By Design..."Die Cuts"

 Inklings and Yarns..."Anything Goes"