The Tree

     As a youngster, my family celebrated Christmas every year. If you walked into my home a couple of days before Christmas, you might have thought otherwise. There was no tree, no lights, no decorations hanging anywhere. My dad was adamant that "that is not what Christmas is about." I do remember lots of homemade cookies and other special treats, Christmassy school art projects, and a display of the Christmas cards received. We always received a fun gift. It wasn't from Santa and wasn't found under a tree.
     There were 6 children. Today we range in age from 58 - 76. Each of us has a Christmas tree in our homes for the holidays. I have to say that I set the record among us though. I had 6 trees inside my home and 4 outside this year. I love trees. I find them the most beautiful of all of the decorations.
     I decided to capture some of the beauty with this layout. It accommodates 2 pictures of the tree(s) and 4 mats for your favorite ornaments. When I placed the pics on mine, I even sneaked in an extra ornament snapshot just to the left of the 5 x 7.
    The patterned paper is "Alpine" from Authentique. I used shiny silver card stock for some of the mats (as you can see by the glare on the picture frame.

          I will also show you an option to turn the 5 x 7, if that is a better fit for your picture.

 

Here I show you how to cut the trees. Since you want this paper to be right size up, you can use the pattern on the back for plaid trees. Start with a sheet of 6" x 12" paper.

Sneak in one more tree like this.

Cut the trees and trunk from this plaid paper ( 5" x 12" ).

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Authentique - Alpine 2, 4, 6

     Card Stock: My Colors - Soft Blue

                                        Velvet Night

                                        Silver

     Embellies:Crystal Snowflakes

                   

    

Challenges

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas - #28 - *

Crafty Addicts - Winter Blues - #165 - *
Creative Friday - It's Snowing - #10 - *
Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Christmas - #67 - *
Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas - #21 - *
That's Crafty - Feeling Blue - #82 - *

Dueling Lovebirds

     I see Darnell has a new challenge site called Twofer Card Challenge. The task is to make two different cards using the same stamp. I seem to remember doing a very similar challenge a couple of years ago. You can see those cards here. 
     The theme is feathers and I wanted to get in on the maiden challenge. I have chosen this cute lovebird stamp from Gina K's "Better With You" stamp set. I am entering a Valentine and a Birthday card.

     For the first card, I started with a Sketch N Scrap sketch from this month's Facebook New Beginnings Crop.

Sketch #41

     I initially planned to make the card completely black and white. I was intrigued at the possibility of coloring the entire image with Copics C markers. Something came over me when I got to the hearts. For some reason I reached for R24. I then made a dash for a scrap of Gina K's Red Hot card stock and just like that; it became a black, white and one more color card. 

     I joined the RRR (Really Reasonable Ribbon) club in October - as well as purchasing a Bow-It-All. I am in the process of perfecting my double looped bow. If you check my previous posting you will see an EXTREMELY similar pink one. 

     As you can see in the sketch, there are a flurry of embellishments required. I had my heels dug in on this one. I thought the card looked done and didn't want it to get too busy. I tried scribbles (too big). I tried gems (too small). I tried Stamps of Life diecut hearts (just right). Oh, and don't you love it when something falls on just the right spot on the page and well, it turns into a happy surprise. That would be the moment the heart fell on the word "you".

Inside of Card

     Moving on to card #2. For this card I color matched my paper with Copics for the image. I wanted a short rectangle across the top and that pesky birdhouse was getting in the way. I decided to cut it off and dangle it from the branch. Upon centering the rest of the stamp on the card there appeared to be too much card for too little stamp. I decided to cut the top portion of the stamp into inchies. I then matted the inchies, then matted that, then matted that, then matted that, then placed it on the card base. There are a couple of tricks in there, but you can see those.

Card and Envelope

     The stamp on the inside of the card is the result of a scouring of my stamp drawer. This one is from Penny Black. As usual the inside of both of these cards is based on elements from the front and whatever scraps are left on the craft table.

Inside of Card

Materials List: Black White Lovebirds

     Patterned Paper: Gina K - Petite Papers

     Card Stock: Gina K - Red Hot

                                    Black and White

     Stamps: Gina K - Better With You

                  Beth Salaika - Lovely Ladybug

     Ink: Momento - Tuxedo Black

     Die: Stamps of Life - Hearts 2 Die For

     Copics: R24.   C1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

     Embellies: Really Reasonable Ribbon - Delicate Stitched Satin (Black)

                    Brad - Sparkly Heart - (Black)

Materials List: Dangling Birdhouse

     Patterned Paper: Gina K - Made With Love

     Card Stock: Gina K - Peach Bellini

                                   White

     Stamps: Gina K - Better With You

                  Penny Black - Nature's Wishes

     Die: Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large

                                Petite Scalloped Circles Large

            Elizabeth Craft Designs - Tags & More 5 (Sunburst)

            Impression Obsession - Circle Baby Cutout Set

     Punch: ek - Dotted Wave Small

     Copics: YG41. RV42. BG45.

     Embellies: Ivory Twine stained with Gina K's Blue Lagoon

    

Challenges

Twofer Card Challenge - Feathers - #101 - *

 Challenges for Black White Lovebirds

C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Love/Valentines - #33 - *

Daring Cardmakers - Black, White, Pop - #6 - ?

Inspire. Create. Challenges - Love - #24 - *
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - #317-318 - Snippets - #13 -*

Challenges for Dangling Birdhouse

Seize the Birthday - Birthday - #28 - *

You Are My Sunshine

     It is my Granddaughter, Brooklyn's, first birthday next week. The theme of her party is "You Are My Sunshine". The party is going to be a brunch next Saturday. I'm going to be pretty busy making a few things for the party. I said that I would make mini muffins and star-shaped Rice Krispie bars. I have a couple of paper craft items to finish this week as well. 

     This sweet birthday girl stamp was a freeby from Elizabeth Bell Designs a few weeks ago - excellent timing. I chose Echo Park's "Birthday Wishes" paper collection because it had the pink and yellow being used as party colors.

The Birthday Girl

     I offset the sun on the inside of the card, so there would be room to sign in the lower right corner.

Inside of Card

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Echo Park - Birthday Wishes - Girl Birthday Hats

                                                                          Girl Stripes

                                                                          Girl Birthday Party

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Stormy Medium

                                   White 

     Ink: Gina K - Moonlit Fog

     Stamps: Elizabeth Bell Designs - Party Pose

                  Gina K - All About You

                  Impression Obsession - On Your Birthday

     Silhouette File: Miss Kate's Cuttables - Sunshine

     Embellies: Really Reasonable Ribbon - Delicate Stitched Satin 5/8" (Pearl Pink)

                     Gems - 4mm pink

     Copics: Skin - E000, 04, 11, R20

                 Hair - E31, 33, 35

                 Dress/Hat - RV11, 13, 14, 17

                                   Y11, 13, 15

                 Shoes - C1, 3, 5

                 Ground - W1, 3, 5

                 Shadow - B000

    

Challenges

Brown Sugar Challenge - Birthday - #136 - *
Creative Knockouts - In Stitches - #12 - *
Send a Smile 4 Kids - Anything Goes - #3 - *

Southern Girls Challenge - Stitch Me Up - #34 - *
Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Pink*Ribbon*Square - #11 - Winner!!!

Vintage Cars

     I put this card together yesterday for a friend from our dinner group that is celebrating a birthday. 
     I started with one of Lili of the Valley's trio stamp sets. The car on the front flap is part of an older Lili of the Valley stamp called "Toot Toot". I colored the front of the card from that one and placed it on a vintage map mat.

Card and Envelope

     Previously, I have always made cube-shaped box cards and I have cut them on the trimmer and scored them myself. I purchased this box card die from Stamps of Life. I believe it is fairly new. I particularly liked working with it, because it makes larger mats on the front flap and back of card. There is also more room to spread out the goodies that are going in the box. Usually the side flaps (which are now smaller) are secondary anyway.

     Clocks and gears are always good filler for masculine cards so I added a few of those. I also used these on the side flaps.

Back of Card

     I always decorate the back of my box cards with scraps that are left on the table.

Envelope

     I die cut Tim Holtz's "Jalopy" for the envelope. The stamp giving it motion is a flourish from a floral stamp set. 

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Echo Park - For the Record (Borders & Fancy)

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Sugar Wafer

                                   White

                                   Black

                       Neenah - Metallic Gold

     Ink: Momento - Tuxedo Black

            Distress - Hickory Smoke

            Gina K - Moonlit Fog

     Copics: BG 72, 75, 78

                Y21, 23, 26, 28

                W1, 2, 3, 5, 7

                C1, 2, 3, 5, 6

     Punches: EK - 1/2" corner

                   Stampin Up - Word Window

     Stamps: Gina K - Dahlia

                  Lili of the Vally - Toot Toot

                                          Vintage Motor Trio

     Dies: Burniston - Clock and Gears

                               Snowman Twist Circle

             Tim Holtz - Jalopy

             Stamps of Life - Box Card

     Embellies: 2 Gold Brads

                     Acetate

    

Challenges

Alphabet Challenge - U is for Use 3 of something - #57 - *
Cute Card Thursday - Something New (Box Card Die) - #58 - *
Frilly and Funkie - 3 is Not a Crowd - #30 - *
Little Red Wagon - Boy Oh Boy - #26 - *
Paper Minutes - Vehicles - #9 - ?
Stamps & Fun - Use Stamps - #24 - ?
Vintage Journey - Think Inside of the Box - #4 - *

Sweet Tea

     It's time for another sketch for January. This one is for a card.

Sketch #65

      For this sketch I saw a see-thru card, so I started with acetate. I decided to make an easel card. A friend of mine is moving and I have her punches for safe keeping, until she is ready to set up her craft room. I guess the perk in this is that I can play in them. She has 300+ punches. I enjoyed using the Mini Lucky 8 Doily punch for a tablecloth. It has a coordinating edge punch that I used across the top. I stamped "HEY, SWEET-TEA" using black Stazon ink. The tea components and hearts are from Stamps of Life "Tea4Two".The patterned paper is Authentique's new Alpine 8.

     The cup acts as a stand for the card at the same time that it catches the hearts falling from the teapot. This would make a perfect Valentines' card.

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Authentique - Alpine 8

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Mystique.

                       My Colors - Soft Blue

                                        Velvet Night

     Ink: Stazon - Black

            Gina K - In the Navy 

     Stamps and Coordinating Dies: Stamps of Life - Tea4Two

     Punch: We R Memory Keepers - Mini Lucky 8 (Doily)

                                                   Edge Punch (Doily)

     Embellies: Button - Silver with pearl heart

    

Challenges

CCEE Stampers - Fits Me to a "Tea" - #3 - ?
Creative Craft Cottage - Winter Blues - #11 - *
Get Creative Challenges - Pearls & Lace - #17 - *
House That Stamps Built - Pearls, Silver, Off the Page - #4 - *
Make My Monday - Blue & White - #19 - *
Path of Positivity - Shades of Blue - #3 - *
Pixie's Crafty Workshop Challenge - #315-16 - Snippets - #25 - Winner!!!
Di wrote: This is a super card, made by Sharon F over at Higgledy-Piggledy ( I love that blog name and it's much like my craft room right now, which is well overdue for a really good blitz and clean). The scalloped doily effect lends itself perfectly to our 'English tea time' and the idea of the hearts being poured from the teapot is just so clever! Great split sentiment as well.

Christmas Train

     We are starting a New Year and Sketch N Scrap is starting a new month-long challenge. The first sketch of 2018 is a layout.

Sketch #144

     Our HOA sponsored a Christmas Train on December 9. The grandchildren came over dressed in their Christmas finery. I rode the train with them telling them that we were going to the North Pole to see Santa. When we walked into the clubhouse we jumped in line to tell Santa our Christmas wishes. Lucas ran right over to talk to Santa, but Elena wasn't interested in talking to him until he held out a candy cane. 

 

For the layout, I needed to slant the photos on the first page in order to accommodate the train. The train and tracks are from a Stamps of Life die set from 2013.

Subtitle

I used the Silhouette to create a transition from train ride to our chat with Santa. This is "North Pole" by Kate's Cuttables.

     For the journaling tags, I cut two red circles with words on the Silhouette. I placed a smaller brown circle mat behind each.

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Doodlebug Designs - Santa Express (Evergreens)

                              Pebbles - Birthday Wish (Yellow and Blue Polka)

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Maltball

                       Gina K - Red Hot

                       Shiny Silver

                       Scraps   

     Dies: Stamps of Life - Train 2 Stamp

             Elizabeth Craft Designs (Burniston) - Jolly the Mouse (candy cane)

     Silhouette: Miss Kate's Cuttables - North Pole Sign

                    Font: Bubble and Brew

     Embellies: White Felt Snowflakes

                    Red Pearls

    

Challenges

Brown Sugar Challenge - Not a Card - #140 - *
ITD's Creative Playground - Anything Crafty - #35 - *
Pixie's Crafty Workshop Challenge - #313-14 - Snippets - #55 - *