Crafters of Faith December Challenge!

There is a wonderful group of card makers on Split Coast Stampers called Crafters of Faith and I am fortunate to belong to this group.  Each month one of us hosts a challenge and we post our creations on the last day of the month.

Our challenge this month was to create a winter themed card, featuring snow, snowflakes, shimmer and shine.  We were also free to "bling in the New Year"!

Well, in my little corner of the world, we received fresh, powdery snow last night, then today the skies cleared and we had brilliant sunlight!  Surely a reminder of God's power and love for this world.  Of course I knew immediately that this would be my card:

This is a simple card, no layers, using only two stamps and some softly sparkling ribbon.  The main image is from an Impression Obsession's "Cover-a-Card" series, entitled "Birch Trees".  Of course you recognize the distinctive sentiment from 2004 Stampin Up.

It's inked onto plain white card stock with "Ocean" by A-Muse Studios.  I wanted to create the blowing snowdrifts outside my window, and the Cover-a-Card stamp is very large: 5.75 inches.  So, on a whim, I took a damp rag and swiped the ink off of the bottom portion of the stamp, thinking that I would use another piece of paper to create the snowdrifts.  Well, imagine my surprise when I looked at the end result!

The whole card front was sprayed with Stardust Finishing Spray by A-Muse Studios.  It creates a soft shimmery affect that I love.

I did like it just the way it was, but we were challenged to use some glitter or bling so I added small drops of Diamond Stickles.  This picture shows it somewhat, although it is hard to capture it in a photograph.

Give yourself a New Year's wintery treat and hop on over to the blogs of the other members (links are right there in my sidebar).  You won't be sorry, there's sure to be some glittery goodness to behold!

Dueling Darlings December Duel!

Yes, it's the 15th and time for another duel.  Michelle spoiled us Dazzlers with the greatest kit!  It featured "Snow is Overrated" by Whippersnappers as the image and some really wonderful papers and glittery ribbon and snowflake embellishments.

Here is what I came up with:

Isn't he just the cutest little guy? I just love how he seems to be smiling despite his little spill on skis.    He's colored with Spectrum Noir markers and a wee bit of sparkle was added to the snow and the bell on his hat.
This view shows more of his sparkle:

Michelle, you were so generous with this kit, how could anyone NOT create a wonderful card?!  Thank you!

Now, all of you reading this - get on over to the blogs of the other Divas & Dazzlers and admire their creations!  It will put you in the Christmas spirit for sure!

Thanks for stopping by and for leaving your comments.  

Wishing each of you a blessed holiday season!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Dusting off my neglected blog right now...It's been sitting idle for a while now.  Thought that I would share what I've been up to the last several weeks:

These are 5 gift boxes made from glittery DP and decorated with glitter brads and cord ribbon for the closures.
They open up and have two sleeves inside for notecards or loose stationary, etc.

The idea is most definitely not mine!  (being slightly challenged in the fold it and build it department, LOL)  I searched and tried several tutorials from others more talented than I, eventually finding a gem of a tutorial from a blog by Tresa Black: Fabulously Artsy.  Check it out, because it's great!  Thank you to Tresa.

Her tutorial is for smaller boxes, sized for 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 cards.  Scroll down on her page to view the comments if you (like me) typically make the larger sized cards.  There are instructions for re-sizing it for 5X7 sized cards.






Here is a picture of the inside.  This DP was not double sided and not quite as heavy as I would have liked, so lining the inside with heavy cardstock helped IMHO.

These boxes fit exactly into a CD mailing box that you can buy at the Post Office!  They fit as though the box was made for them.  I put each one into a large zip lock baggie, folded the extra baggie around the box and slipped it inside the CD mailing box.  Such a perfect fit that I warned the recipients to cut open the mailing box carefully so that the contents would not get damaged.
























We filled them with an assortment of Christmas cards, sympathy, get well, thinking of you and birthday cards.  Depending on the thickness of your cards and envelopes, they will hold 8-12 cards & envies.

We sent these as gifts to family members and hope that they like them!  (My Mom has already called me and was really tickled with it, so that's nice).

I'll be back later to post some of the Christmas cards from this year's production.
Wishing all of you a wonderful day and a joyous holiday season with your family and friends.  Thank you for stopping by.