The Holiday Season is upon us!

It's hard to believe the last weekend of November has passed and December is just around the corner!  I have been super busy creating gifts for the upcoming holidays and crafts for my son's Winter party, needless to say the paper has been flying and my crafting area looks like a bomb went off! LOL!!!

Monday brings challenge day over at Kaboodle Doodles where our theme this week is 

"bundle up for winter"  and we are sponsored by Stamp 'n Doodle. Make sure to come over and check out what the rest of team has been up too!

Now this week at Lollipop Crafts is all about "B is for...." so the skies the limit on what you can create. We are sponsored this week by Karber Stamps and I have used this adorable image called "Christmas Millie."

Make sure to check out what the rest of the LC team has done and come back on Thursday as we spotlight our fabulous sponsor!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Karber Challenge- anything goes

"Tis the Season" is our theme this week over at Craft Your Passion Challenge and we are sponsored by Simply Betty Stamps, since I just joined the CYP team I didn't get to work with a SBS image.  However you must go check out their store because they have some FANTASTIC images perfect for your holiday projects! I have created this CAS card using the sketch from Clean & Simple Stamping and Unity stamps.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Get Hippity with Ippity- embossing

Last but certainly not least you must stop over by The Crazy Challenge and join this week's challenge.  It's all about "snowflakes and/or stars" and we are sponsored by Ellephantastic.  I chose to work with

"sketchy snowman" and added this fun sentiment. I wanted to make it look like he was catching snowflakes in his mitten.  Come over and see what the rest of team has created, you won't be disappointed!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Ellephantastic- weather related

Sunday Sketch & Stamp #83

It's our fearless leader Maggie's turn to host the challenge this week at Sunday Sketch & Stamp

and she has come up with a great sketch that I decided to use for a layout. I dove into my CTMH papers in Holiday Red, Topiary, and White Daisy.  That fun pennants and letters are from the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge.  I chose tradition as we will be starting a new one this year- I picked up Elf on a Shelf this weekend while shopping and he will be making his arrival for my Lucas this week.  I am going to wrap it up like it came from Santa just like in the movie that was on this weekend, we watched it last night and he loved it!

Make sure to play along this week as we have a new sponsor, Crimson Cloud and the winner will receive 3 die-cut packs of your choice.  Here is a little about Crimson Cloud:   Crimson Cloud is a mother/daughter venture - a way to indulge our joint passion of cardmaking and crafting. We only sell products that we have tried, tested and love using. We have developed our own exclusive range of dies cuts, digital stamps, svg files and "Make Your Own Card" kits which reflect our styles of card making - and hopefully yours too!

A Piece of Pie

With Thanksgiving tomorrow I know many of you are counting your blessings and so am I.  There is something that has been near and dear to my heart for many years and that is our soldiers who are serving our country. When I saw this image from Meljen's called "pink ribbon teddy" the ideas started running through my head on how to use this cutie. I found this sentiment in my stamps and immediately knew I was pairing these to together, the sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Service & Sacrifice set.

Now the challenge this week at Cooking It Up With Katie is "a piece of the pie"- no we don't mean projects using pies so what is that you may ask?  Our recipe is as follows: "Use a punch, add some ink, and finish with some embossing." I used my Nesties for my punch to feature sentiment, inked all my edges, and used my Cuttlebug hearts embossing folder on my yellow paper.  Come one over and our challenge HERE for your chance to win the prize from our sponsor Meljen's Designs.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Meljen's- fall
Crafty Purple Frog- orange
Forever Friends-something old, something new (old embossing folder, new image)
Rainbow Lady's-Thanksgiving
Sassy Studios- thank you card
Shelly's Images- anything goes
Southern Girls- bingo (ribbon, gems, die cuts)

Craft Your Passion #85- Inspiration

If you are looking for Lollipop Crafts or Kaboodle Doodles post, please scroll down.

Mondays have become just a little bit busier for me as I have been asked to join the

Craft Your Passion design team!  I am super excited to join this wonderful group and have dove in to the challenges immediately. 

Our challenge this week was to use the above photo as our inspiration whether it be the colors, pumpkins, leaves, etc.- the possibilities are endless!  We are sponsored by Doodle Pantry and one lucky person will win a $10 voucher to their store.

This card had been sitting on my craft desk just waiting for something, so when I saw this sentiment I knew it was a perfect match! I have embossed the orange using my Cuttlebug embossing folder, then I punched circles using scraps and inked edges.  This has become one of my face a card designs to use up all those tiny scraps you save. The sentiment is from "Falling Ants Set" and a lil' ribbon to tie it all together!

Come on over and play along with us this week and check out the rest of team's projects and welcome  Doreen & Cathy who are joining the team also!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Lollipop Crafts #58-Anything Goes

If you are looking for Kaboodle Doodles post, please scroll down!

I have been so excited to share this creation with you all, so I am glad the Lollipop Crafts #58-Anything Goes challenge is finally here! I cannot take credit for this idea, it came from Mandy Leahy of 

My Passion for Scrapbooking and you can see her tree HERE.

I have been asked numerous times "Is that paper?"  YES IT IS!!! This is completely made out of CTMH paper using the new CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.  I started with a styrofoam cone and created all my flowers and then attached them using pearlilized pins from Joann's. There are 300 flowers total including pink roses in garland and star topper. This took me approximately 15-16 hours to create, but I love the final result and call me crazy but I'm thinking about making another one.

If you would like to pick up this cartridge, contact my CTMH Rep & friend Sue Masoner-contact info HERE!

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Bunny Zoe Crafts- Anything Christmas w/ pearls (pearl pins in centers of all my flowers)
Hooked on Crafts- die cut or punches
Make it Monday- anything goes
Paper Creations Ink- Christmas
Pollycraft- Christmas Fun
Stamps R Us- Bling it on (blingy brad in topper)
Unstampabelles-trees+ bonus die/punches
Whoopsi Daisy-anything goes at Christmas
Catered Crop- follow the recipe: die cuts, green, pearls, layers
OSAAT-anything goes
Pile It On- anything with P (pearl pins & pine)
Crafty Ribbons- anything but a card
Inspire Me Fridays-anything goes
C.R.A.F.T..- stars in your eyes

Kaboodle Doodles #94-Baby It's Cold Outside

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and got all those last minute preparations done for the big Turkey day! Temperatures are cooling off every day here is MO, so the "Baby It's Cold Outside Challenge" this week at Kaboodle Doodles is perfect! This week we are once again sponsored by The Stamping Boutique and I have created this adorable door hanger using "Snowman Sign." I have used some chalkboard paper in the sign, so his works perfect as a countdown to Christmas break or many other things!

Lollipop Crafts Spotlight: Just Some Lines

It's time to spotlight another wonderful sponsor over at Lollipop Crafts this week.  We are so excited to be sponsored by Just Some Lines and here is a little more about them:

Just Some Lines is a relatively new digital shop where lines bring characters to life. It has approximately 200 digital stamps which were drawn by Jehanne, the owner.  Jehanne is a self taught artist and a stay at home mum who enjoys drawing whimsical characters.

This week Jehanne has graciously offered a $15 gift certificate to the Just Some Lines store! Make sure you check out the challenge post to find out how you can win this great prize. 

As soon as I saw this cute image called "Emo Snowflake" I was in love and knew I wanted to use her on my card.  It's hard to see , but I added some sparkly fluff to pink on her hat and the snow.  The snowflakes has also been highlighted with my black Spica pen and then a little glitter!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Crimbo Crackers-make it sparkle
Moving Along With the Times-let it snow
Delightful Challenges- bingo (glitter, ribbon, add dimension-snowflake is popped up)

Tag It

Quick post as I am running late and heading out to help at school today, so I will be back later with all the details.  It's Wednesday so that means another recipe challenge ovet Cooking It Up With Katie and this week we are sponsored by Digital Delights.  Our recipe is as follows:

"Die cut a tag and make it Christmas!"

I started with the sketch over at Sketchbook Saturday, which I thought was from this week but Feline Playful has wrong sketch posted (oh well, still love the sketch). The sentiment is from our fabulous sponsor and is called "A touch of Christmas set" which I have printed on a tag I cut from the Cricut. I have added some stitching and inked the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Antique Linen. The pp is from Lost & Found Christmas 6 x 6 stack I picked up at Archiver's and the green is Olive from CTMH. The flourish from an Inkadinkado set.

Check out what the rest of team has created and hope you have a great day!

Let's Hop with The Stamping Boutique

Welcome to your first stop on our "Freestyle Blog Hop" with The Stamping Boutique!  We have a wonderful new design team and we thought it would be fun to show of our own style with this hop, so you will see lots of different images and projects along the way! 

This hop starts today, November 11th (12:01 am CST) and will run all weekend ending on Sunday, November 13th (11:59 pm CST) to allow you plenty of time to hop. Now with any hop there has to be some prizes along the way right? Well this hop is no exception!! You will want to make sure to visit each design team member's blog and leave a comment as each one will be giving away one TSB image!

If that isn't enough to entice you to hop with us, well maybe this will- 1 random person (who comments on all DT blogs and leaves a final comment on this blog) will be selected to win the entire set of our newest line of images called the Smoochies.  HOLY MOLY, now that is a great prize as there are 11 images in the line currently!!! You can see the Smoochies HERE!

I decided to create something a little different than the typical card, I made an altered frame.  I have picked my wooden frame up at Walmart for $1, painted it pink, and then added a cardstock base.  Next I cut lots of wonderful roses using my CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge in Baby Pink and HollyHock papers.  The roses are cut at 3 & 5 inches.  Finally I added this adorable
"Smoochie Blowing Kisses" image and cut her out.( I will probably do another image and use some different pink copics as this doesn't quite match the way I want it too!)  A little ribbon as a final touch and I have a perfect gift for someone with a tiny dancer!

So are you ready to hop along? Well your next stop is Jessica and I hear she has been a busy lady with several projects to share!

Below is your hop order in case you get lost along the way:


Christy D- http://www.christyszaneycreations.blogspot.com/ <----You are Here
Jessica- http://canyoupixelthis.com/

Sandy- http://scribblesbysandy.blogspot.com/

Ali (Dragonlady)- http://craftydragons.blogspot.com/

Lawren- http://ahobby-holic.blogspot.com/

Rhonda- http://bluepoohbear753.blogspot.com/

Miranda- http://mirandascardcreations.blogspot.com/

Stacie- http://hestiashelper.blogspot.com/

Melissa- http://www.smudgetime.com/

April- http://allaboutthelowers.blogspot.com/

Julia- http://paperandscrapscreations.blogspot.com/

Ali (Aqualeiga)- http://aqualeigasescape.blogspot.com/

Rene'- http://www.stampinginsunnysa.blogspot.com/

Jerusha- http://ilovepapercrafting.blogspot.com/

Tracey- http://epiphanyartgallery.blogspot.com/

Arielle- http://soccermom5982.blogspot.com/

Sue- http://confessionsofapaperhoarder.blogspot.com/

TSB Challenge Blog- http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.com/ <---- Final Stop


Thank you in advance for hopping and Good Luck, we hope to inspire you along the way!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Inspire Me Fridays-anything goes
CRAFT- cute
Craftty Ribbons- anything but a card
Dutch Dare Card Challenge-Dies or punches
Rainbow Lady's-pink

Fancy, Fold, & Flowers Oh My!

Can you tell I am in love with the new CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge? This pillow box, doily shape, and rolled roses were all created using it.  The challenge this week at Cooking It Up With Katie is 

"Add some flowers, use a different fold, and make it fancy!" We are sponsored this week by Robyn's Fetish and our lucky winner of this challenge will get either 5 digital stamps or 4 digital stamps and 1 digital paper set of their choice.

Believe

 You know sometimes you just make a project you fall in love with, well this is one of those projects for me! I fell in love with this butterfly image from Unity stamp set "All Things Are Possible" by Tracey Malnofski. You can pick up this set from my Ippity Gal Pal Aletha HERE and check out her blog HERE. The words on my circle are also a Unity stamp and are from the October KOM. I have embossed the white background with my Sizzix texture plate from the Think Pink set.

Here is a close-up of my butterfly, which I have added lots of glitter and popped up the wing.  A little pink ribbon and some bling make this special card complete!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Chick Challenges- Sketch

All Things Unity- Get buggy

4 Crafty Chicks- Die cuts
Digital Tuesday- Anything goes
Party Time Tuesday- Bling it on
Daisy Doodles- Anything goes with a digi
Forever Friends- something old (sizzix plate for embossing), something new (Unity stamps)
Forever Friends-Bling, Bling

TCC #92-Something With Wings

If you are looking for Kaboodle Doodles & Lollipop Crafts post, please scroll down below.

Alright time to pull out all your fave images with wings for this week's challenge #92 at The Crazy Challenge.   Fresh Brewed Designs is our great sponsor and has provided us with lovely images to work with on our projects! 

 I chose this adorable image called "cutie pie sitting pretty" which I have colored with copics and then added a little sparkly to her wings with glitter.  Papers are from my scraps and I have embossed using Cuttlebug Textile Texture folder. The sentiment is from CTMH Butterfly Wings stamp set. 

Come on over to The Crazy Challenge and play along, we have so outstanding inspiration this week by team and our guest designer Claudia.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Sweet Shop-sketch
Inspire Me Fridays-anything goes

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree

Fall is here and Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, man this year is flying!!!  My Lil' man is enjoying these nice cool days and spent the entire day playing outside yesterday, while I got a little crafting  and cleaning done. 

Lollipop Crafts #56 has the perfect challenge this week, we want to see those "Fall/Thanksgiving" projects.  We are once again sponsored by Meljen's Designs and I have used this image called "Apple Beary Fairy."  I have done something a little different with my image, printing it on kraft paper and then coloring with copics.  I have to say I like the look!!! The sentiment is from Unity's "Apple Cheddar Soup" set.  Make sure to come on over to Lollipop Crafts and check out what rest of team has done and we are welcoming a new guest designer this week.  Ashley has created a wonderful project, check out her blog here.

Now that you have created your Fall/Thanksgiving project, head on over to Kaboodle Doodles and enter their challenge too! Kaboodle Doodles #92 is all about "Colors of Fall"- show use oranges, yellows, browns, and reds.  We are sponsored this week by Robyn's Fetish and the team has created gorgeous projects!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Meljen's- brads

Stamptacular Sunday- sketch
Catered Crop- recipe: I used following items from example- Fall theme & colors, Kraft paper, Copic Markers, Meljen's Stamp.  I have added brads/ribbon/SEI paper/Unity sentiment/Spica pen/Inked Edges to my card.
Creative Inspirations Paint-anything goes
Dream Valley Challenges- anything goes
OSAAT-use a digi
Sparkles Forum-Autumn
2 Sisters-ribbon
Catch the Bug-anything goes
Craft Your Days Away-Fall/Autumn
Mark's Finest Papers-Fall
Craft Your Passion- anything goes+brown
Creative Stamp Friends- orange & brown
Heart Song Inspirations- anything goes
Inspire Me Fridays-anything goes

Sunday Sketch & Stamp #80

Sunday Sketch & Stamp has another wonderful challenge and this week our sketch was created by Mira.  We are being sponsored this week by one of my fave stores, The Stamping Boutique and up for grabs is FREE digis.  You will want to check out the TSB store as Tracey has drawn a brand new line called "Smoochies" and they are the cutest!!!  Make sure to join in TSB Monthly challenge on their challenge blog for additional chances to win images and maybe a Guest Designer position!

For my card today I have once again worked with my new fave Cricut cartridge, CTMH's Art Philosophy. I have used it to create these fabulous flowers as well a scalloped frame.  My white springs are actually from a snowflake and I have used CTMH papers in Lilac Mist and Indian Corn Blue.  I have embossed the white with my hearts folder and the border is using a SU' border punch.  The sentiment is from my Unity October KOM, which you can find HERE!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Inspire Me Fridays- anything goes

Happy Holidays

A little snow is being predicted here in Missouri tonight, so far no SNOW which I am happy about!  I am not ready for winter just yet, however I thought why not make a snow themed card tonight!  I just got this great set from Unity called "Winter Greetings" drawn by none other than my friend, Tracey Malnofski.

I decided to start with the sketch at Eat Sleep Stamp and grabbed papers from Bo Bunny Snowfall Collection 6x6 pad.  I have colored the image with copics and then added a little glitter to Mr. Snowman's hat/coat.  I also added a little sparkly fluff to the snow he is standing in, everything is inked in CTMH Cocoa ink.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Eat Sleep Stamp-sketch

 Here is another simple card design using Inkadinkado Winter Trails stamp set (which I have never used).  I created this for the "pearls and swirls" challenge at Dutch Dare Card Challenges being sponsored by
The Stamping Boutique. I have used CTMH Indian Corn Blue ink and carsdstock and added lots of pearls to both my sentiment and flourish.

ABC...Anything But a Card

I am excited to finally share with you all the fun things I made for Lucas' 1st grade Fall Party as I have been very busy over past couple weeks getting it all together. The challenge this week at Cooking It Up With Katie was perfect to showcase my items! Our challenge this week is "A+B+C= Anything But a Card" and we are sponsored by Gingerloft.  You won't want to miss the amazing projects the DT gals came up with for thsi challenge.

First up are my little Frankie and Dracula treat sacks that were created using my Cricut and
CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge. I inked everything and added the mouths and stitches.  These were a huge hit with the kiddos, I hid them around the classroom and they had to find my Halloween friends!

Next meet my cute new Halloween gal pal Candy Corn, LOL!!!  I created this sweet thing using my Cricut and Mini Monsters cartridge.  I then added her to a small plastic container, cut a hole in the front, and she was perfect for a little candy corn relay race.  The kids used pancake spatuals/turners to scoop the candy corn up and run down to put in the container.  This was a riot as they thought race and took off, candy corn went flying everywhere, then they caught on this was a race of skill!  

 Also in the photo I created some bookmarks the kids could color by stamping Halloween images and adding a little ribbon.  Each of the treat sacks also had cute little kraft tags stamped with same images I used on bookmarks and Happy Halloween sentiment from Lucas on backs!

I am entering these projects in the following challenges:
Stamp Insanity-Tricked out Treats
Pixie Dust Studio- spooky

Lots of Challenge Cards

So while I was watching the St. Louis Cardinals bring home the World Series trophy, I was busy creating cards for various challenges. With a busy weekend and start to this week I haven't had a chance to post them yet, so I figured I would lump them all in one post. I found a couple new simple card designs that I love, I hope to inspire you with these creations!

With Halloween behind us and Thanksgiving quickly approaching, that means Christmas will be here in no time so it's time to get a jump start on all those cards/projects. I pulled out this super cute embossing folder to be focus of my car with a few added embellishments!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Colour Create- Burgandy/Gold/Green/Cream + optional dimension

Crimbo Crakers- Anything Goes as long as Christmas themed

Meljen's Designs- Christmas

I just love all the beautiful colors on the trees right now, but not sure I am ready for cooler temperatures.

I have had this wonderful stamp set for quite some time and never inked it up that I can remember, well there was no better time than present to change that! 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.- Colour Combo

I have had a lot of fun this year creating Halloween projects, which I do not normally do.  This is another great image from The Stamping Boutique called "Witches Laundry Line"- I have added some clouds to image with CTMH inks and scalloped circle. I LOVE that spider web embossing folder, which I have inked with CTMH white daisy ink before I embossed my paper.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Delightful Challenges- Black/Orange/Green/Purple

DYSU- inspiration photo/Halloween

Little Miss Muffet- clouds

Paper Play-Hallowen/Witches

Rainbow Lady's-Spooks/Witches

Is this not the funniest image? It's called "puff " and is from Stamping Dragon Designs, I added a computer generated sentiment to my Kraft card base (sorry printer pulled through a little crooked).  I grabbed my "tiny bubbles" embossing folder and inked everything with CTMH Ocean ink.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

CCEE-Make a funny get well card

I did the same thing as above for this card, just changed the sentiment. I love how versatile this

image can be!!!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Art Impressions- Card for a Yong Boy

Aud Sentiments- Make Us Laugh

I usually love lots of layers, but I am quickly finding that I love the CAS style too! I started with a Kraft card base, inking the edges with CTMH white daisy ink, and dded my snowflakes.  A little bling and this simple sentiment complete this CAS beauty!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Clean & Simple- sketch #163

Shelley's Images- Bingo (Kraft/Free/Bling)
Winter Wonderland- CAS (must be Christmas)
Crafty Ann's- CAS

I'm on a Roll!!!

I was so excited to learn that my last card (above) that I made for my guest designer spot at 4 Crafty Chicks has been featured on The Outlawz!  You can see all the details on this card HERE!

Now I get to put this cute button on my sidebar, Hooray!!

Also this super cute monster card I created for a Lollipop Crafts #52- Critter challenge using Little Miss Muffet stamps was chosen to be spotlighted over at Little Miss Muffet!  How cool is that, this was my first time using one of their adorable images. You can see all the details on my card HERE!

Another super cute badge for my blog's sidebar-YIPPEE!!!

Last but certainly not least, my adorable "Lil' Vampire card" I created for Lollipop Crafts #51 Halloween challenge was selected by Meljen's Designs as one of the design teams's Top 5-WOO HOO!!! You can check out the details of my card on my blog HERE!

Look at this cutie, my sidebar is getting some new bling!!!