SPS December Hop - Tag Challenge

Good morning - and Happy December! Can't believe that it is already here! But it is time for the December Shop Pumpkin Spice Hop and new weekly challenge! You should have landed here from Saundra - if you just happened along, the entire blog hop line-up is at the bottom of this post.

The new challenge theme is "Tags" - so I put together a cut using a tag and a Paper Smooches image:

My pattern paper is from Echo Parks Very Merry Christmas Collection - the 6x6 paper pad. I used some Bazzil White cardstock to cut my tag with a Paper Smooches die. Woodgrain paper is from Avery Elle.

I used the Enchanted Elf set from Paper Smooches and stamped it off the edge of the tag, then glittered it up with my Spica Glitter pen. Stamped the sentiment with red MFT ink. Finished off with some pretty red May Arts ribbon, some jute twine, and some tiny jingle bells - LOVE those for cards!

June: http://www.simplyelegantpapercrafts.blogspot.com/
Saundra: http://luvscrappingtogether.blogspot.com/
Heather: www.housesbuiltofcards.blogspot.com
Missy: www.quickchickdesigns.blogspot.com
Denine www.pumpkinspiceblog.blogspot.com

I am also linking this up with the current Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge - one of my favorites! I'm excited to be able to play along still, even though my Design Team term is over!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

Foxy Christmas Greeting Tag

Good morning! Popping in today with a quick Christmas tag for Unity Friends with Flair, and the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist challenge at Ellen Hutson.

I used the new Foxy Christmas stamp from Unity - fell in LOVE with it the minute I saw it - and just had to get it! I have kind of been in love with foxes lately - one trend that I just adore right now! I stamped the image and sentiment with MFT inks, then added some strips of washi tape, inked the edges with distress ink, and tied the top with some chevron ribbon and jute twine. The tag was cut with my Silhouette Cameo.

For the tag challenge, you were supposed to pick a tag as inspiration - I used THIS one by Julie Ebersole. I pulled the sequins, the gold, and the glittery stripes, as well as the soft color scheme from it. Obviously I took a bit of liberty with it, but I loved that tag!

I am also linking this up with CAS-ual Friday's Out on a Limb challenge (see the log and branches?) 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous day!!!

Soft Nativity

Good morning! Whew - life here has been a WHIRLWIND!!! We were gone for two weeks visiting family for Thanksgiving (1,000 mile road trip each way!) - and came home to pick up our new puppy the next day. What was I THINKING? Fortunately life is settling into a bit more of a routine - but it has been hard to get my brain back together. Crafting has taken a back seat to unpacking and settling in again, homeschooling, and taking care of a sweet little puppy - and all of the other normal life things. I did finally have time to make a design team card - but it took me two days to complete it! I'll be sharing that soon.

I do however have a stash of cards that I have had made for a while, and just haven't had the opportunity to share, so I'm finally taking a bit of time to do that! Some of them just sat around until I had time to photograph them, or were cards I made for a publication call that weren't picked up. Right now, I am just happy to have something to share a bit! I also have a few giveaways I would love to do this month - so hopefully I can get those ready to go soon. Otherwise, it will be New Year treats for someone!

This card is made with an Amuse Studio background stamp, and a retired Market Street Stamps set. The lace trim and twine is by October Afternoon. Can't remember much else about it - it has been here for a while! 

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are having a wonderful week!

PK Celebrate Christmas Blog Hop

Good morning! I'm excited to be hopping with my alumni friends and the 2013 team over at Peachy Keen Stamps this morning! You should have arrived here from Michelle - if not, you might want to check the entire line-up at the bottom of this post...I know there will be tons of inspiration, and one pretty fabulous prize!

I pulled out my favorite Peachy Keen Christmas set - the November 2012 Kit of the Month to make my card - using a technique I was inspired by on THIS post at Paper Crafts Connection to stamp two layers of vellum, then stack them together!

Here is a small picture of this kit - I love the deer! But I also wanted to use one of the adorable sentiments, and that leafy branch stamp - there is always so much fun variety in these sets, and for such a great deal! You really just can't go wrong!

I started off by stamping the deer on one piece of vellum, as well as the branches in darker ink. I colored the sweet deer in with my Copic markers. I layered another piece of vellum over the top, and stamped the branch in a lighter green ink.

The ink I used was MFT dye ink - and the trick, I found, was to use my heat gun and thoroughly dry it before touching it! That was the only way I could find to get it not to smear! For the deer, I used black Staz-on ink.

I stamped the sentiment on the front layer, then attached them together, before adding a strip of Avery Elle woodgrain paper on each side, and attaching it to a card back. The front kind of looks like a stained glass window - love the effect it gave!

You're next stop on the hop is the amazing Gigi! 

Don't forget to leave a comment before you leave for a chance to win the giveaway! Comments will be accepted until Midnight Central December 1st! Thanks for stopping by - and have a wonderful weekend!

Blog Hop Order:

Saundra Rega

Leanne Garner

Michelle Criswell

Heather Hoffman (you are here)

Gigi McKellips

Christina Garcia

DoBea Alberts

Emma Aguilar

Jeanne Streiff

Heidi Ann Giebel

Amy Crockett

Lisa Buttafuoco

Vivienne Holden

Melissa Haas

Amber Kroening

Peachy Keen Stamps Blog

SPS Inspiration - Baby Girl Elephant card

Good morning! I'm sharing on the Shop Pumpkin Spice Blog today! I recently had a brand new baby niece born - so I had to make a sweet little welcome card for her!

I started off by creating a shape card using my Silhouette Designer Edition Software, then cutting it out with my Silhouette Cameo and some October Afternoon pattern paper.

I curved up the ear a bit when I attached my pink polka dot paper to my cardbase, then tucked a couple of flowers from an Echo Park sticker sheet next to it. The tag sticker, and alphas came from a different Echo Park sticker sheet, and I finished off with a few MME Enamel Dots.

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a wonderful day!

MCS Challenge - Christmas Shape Cards

Good Monday morning! Can you believe that it is almost Thanksgiving...and then December is right around the corner? Yeah...me neither!

But since it is Monday, it is also time for a new challenge at My Craft Spot - and this week the challenge is Shaped Cards! Here is what I made:

I used my Silhouette Cameo to weld together this snowman into a card shape, then cut a front layer of pattern paper. Next, I added a banner using Straight Ribbon Banners Dies (one of my new favorite dies!) and a sentiment from the coordinating Christmas Banner Sentiments stamp set. Finished off by tying a bow with some Cherry Red Traditional Bakers Twine and Natural Jute Twine.

Can't wait to see the shaped cards you come up with this week! Make sure and head over to My Craft Spot to check out the rest of the Design Team inspiration, and to link up your own creations!

Ribbon Carousel Holiday Blog Hop

Hey everyone! We've got such a treat in store for you this weekend! To celebrate all of those beautiful Ribbon Carousels being used around the world (yes, we've shipped Carousels to 27 countries now!) to keep ribbon, twine, washi tapes and spooled items tidy, we'll be hopping around our amazing Crewmates blogs this weekend showing you all of the beautiful and creative ways that our designers use THEIR Ribbon Carousels!

Here is mine - freshly assembled and loaded - and I still have LOTS of room on it! Still can't believe how much it will hold!

I also have some tags to share, using some jute twine right off the carousel!

I used some Webster's Pages pattern paper, a couple of Lifestyle Crafts dies for the doilies, and the main tags were cut with a My Creative Time Die. Added some lace trim, a Paper Smooches Sentiment on a hand trimmed banner, and that jute twine tied in a bow with an October Afternoon button.

Would you like to win your very own Ribbon Carousel? Here is what you need to do: Visit the Designer’s blogs that are participating in each day of the blog hop and comment on their posts as you go. One of the Crewmate’s Holiday blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Crewmate’s Holiday Blog Hop post. 

You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more Crewmate Blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning your very own Ribbon Carousel! The Blog Hop will be open until 11:59 PM Eastern Time Monday, November 25th with the winners being announced Tuesday morning on the Ribbon Carousel Blog.

Already have a Ribbon Carousel?  Share a photo of YOUR Ribbon Carousel on our FaceBook page OR email it to info@ribboncarousel.com, and we'll share it for you!  You'll be in special drawing  for your choice of a Ribbon Carousel or 4 packages of spools!

For those that want a Ribbon Carousel NOW! Mark your calendar! We'll be having our LOWEST SALE PRICE of the YEAR sale on the Ribbon Carousels and Spools beginning Wednesday, November 27 - Cyber-Monday, December 2!  No coupon code needed!  Just go to our store and enjoy some happy shopping!

Here are the participants for Day 2 of the Ribbon Carousel Holiday Blog Hop. Enjoy!