Another month closer to Christmas 2016!

Here we are again, another month closer to the BIG DAY!  How is your Christmas card stash coming along?  If you are in need of some inspiration, come on over to Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Extra, where the DT has some fabulous samples for you!  Here is what I created for the beginning of the month of AUGUST:

 

 

I was super inspired by Monica's yummy pink-iced cupcake for July's mid-month post, that I made one of my own!  I used a specific sketch for this card, but darned if I remember where to find it!  If anybody out there knows, please help me out!  The sentiment comes from the Martha Stewart Sweet Holiday set, and the cupcakes stamped in Versamark on the card base are from Hampton Art.  The holly embossing folder on the light pink diagonal piece is from The Paper Studio.

 

Now don't forget to join us at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Extra, where if your card is randomly picked, you'll win $21 worth of Bugaboo stamps!

 

Thanks for stopping by, and God bless!

 

~Marie~

 

Warmest Winter Wishes

Stopping by very quickly with this card I just finished:

 

 

I wanted to join in with the Jingle Belles, Stef and Lauren this week, for Stef's fabulous sketch:

 

I turned it on it's side to fit my rectangular piece of dp from the Snow Village 12 x 12 pack from Pink Paislee better.  There are 2 whole sheets of pieces like this, showcasing different patterns from the paper pad, and I thought they would be perfect for this sketch!

 

Gotta run, so I'll link this up, as their challenge ends in a few hours!

Other Challenges:

12 Months of Christmas Link Up:  ATG or optional Christmas blooms
Jingle Belles:  We 3 Kings (things in three's) 3 word sentiment, 3 W's
Holly Jolly #77:  Show us some sparkle
Christmas at Sweet Stampin':  ATG
Crimbo Crackers #112:  ATG Christmas
Christmas Card Challenges#34:  ATG Christmas
Simon Wednesday:  ATG
July Rudolph Days:  ATG Christmas
Digi Choosday #30:  ATG
Penny's Paper-Crafty #288:  ATG





 

 

Thanks for stopping by, and God Bless!

 

~Marie ~

 

 

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

I'm loving all the Christmas in July festivities going on!  I really wish I could have participated in some of them...especially the Bugaboo one.  That one is always jam-packed full of fun activities!  Oh well, maybe next year. 

In the meantime, how about a Christmas card?

Here's another pre-colored version of Emma the Caroler, from Fred, She Said.  I did do a bit of sponging around the image on this one.  Super simple layout so that Tracey's beautiful image is in the spotlight.  IRL, her dress is all kinds of shimmery, thanks to the always camera-shy Wink of Stella.  Sentiment from Signature Christmas from Papertrey Ink.

Challenges:

Winter Wonderland:  Carol singers/Make a scene

12 Months of Christmas Link Up #19:  Ag or optional Christmas blooms theme

CHNC #290:  Cute or AG Christmas

Holly Jolly #76:  Inspired by a song (We Wish You a Merry Christmas)

ABC Christmas:  "N" for NO RULES

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' :  AG

Crimbo Crackers #111:  AG

Christmas Card Challenges #33:  AG or optional color inspiration

Crafty Calendar:  Punches/Dies

Animal Friends #40:  Animal + Dies/Punches

Create and Inspire #49:  AG

Crafting with Friends #25:  AG

Word Art Wednesday #238-#239:  AG

Crafty Sentiments:  AG

Fussy and Fancy #168:  Christmas in July

Broken Fairy #6:  AG w/ twist of Christmas in July

Penny's Paper-Crafty #286:  AG

Crafting from the Heart #121:  AG

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

God Bless!

~Marie~

 

ETA:  This card was picked as a DT favorite at Crafting from the Heart, and also was picked to be in the TOP 3 at Broken Fairy Designs! 

Thank you!  :)  :)

 

Hidey Ho Bloggers!

What's up, my peeps in  blogland??  I see lots of Christmas in July things going on almost everywhere, so there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for getting the ball rolling, if you haven't already!  Speaking of Christmas, how about a card?

 

This is the card I made for my design team post on the Christmas Cards All Year Round blog...yes you read that correctly!  Here is the post where you can see my card, plus the stunners from the other Christmas Belles; here is where the July challenge is located, and the gorgeous creations from the Gingerbread Gals!  Thanks for including me in the fun Deanne!  All this DT stuff is so exciting to me, plus it helps me get my Christmas cards made!  I just wish my camera took better pictures...or maybe I need help editing them!  This one looks more "washed out" than what it really is.  The digi is Snowmen Trio from IMAGINE THAT! Digis By Kris.  Don't they just look like a happy little family ready for Christmas?  :)  I played it "safe" and used the pre-colored version, and then focused on the pink coat and hat of the snow-lady to make the rest of my card.  And yes, it's another shaker.  Surprised?  You shouldn't be...lol!

 

Challenges:

 

12 Months of Christmas Link Up #19:  AG or optional Christmas blooms theme

The Glory of Christmas #88:  2 or more patterned paper, or optional AG

Merry Monday:  Lori's Christmas in Summer link up...use a previous challenge you may have missed out on...I'm going with #210 (peace, joy and/or love).

Holly Jolly #76:  Inspired by a song  (Frosty the snowman)

ABC Christmas:  "N" is for NO RULES!!

Christmas at Sweet Stampin':  AG

Crimbo Crackers #111:  AG

Christmas Card Challenges #32:  Snowman

Create and Inspire #49:  AG

Crafting with Friends #25:  AG

Word Art Wednesday #238-#239:  AG

Crafty Sentiments:  AG

Fussy and Fancy #168:  Christmas in July

Craft Your Passion #320:  AG

613 Avenue Create #184:  AG or optional use birds, feathers, or both

Broken Fairy #6:  AG with a twist, Christmas in July

DIGI Chooseday #28:  For the girls

Penny's Paper Crafty #286:  AG

 

WHEW!  Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope you enjoy your weekend! 

 

God Bless,

 

~Marie~

 

 

 

HOLY CRAP, It's JULY!!

I can't believe it's true!  Where is the year disappearing to?  While ya'll ponder on that, I'll share with you my July DT card for CHNC Extra!

 

I didn't have a whole lot of time to get this one done...I've just started a second shift job last week that has me working 4 10 hour days.  So, I'm in bed until 9:30-10:00, which doesn't leave a whole lot of time to get things done before heading out.  The perk for the moment is having Fridays off, but that will be ending after Labor Day.  Hopefully a 1st shift position will open up that I can bid on that will get me out of that mess! 

Back to my card; I used the adorable Bugaboo image Turtles - Christmas.  As always, Bugaboo is our wonderful sponsor:

 

And the randomly drawn winner at the end of the month will win $21 worth of digi goodness!  :)

 

I also used the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches:

 

 

Other challenges:

 

Animal Friends #40:  Animals with dies/punches

CHNC #287:  Use a Sentiment

Christmas Card Challenges #30:  Anything goes

 

Well, that's it from me today.  I am really looking forward to this long weekend here in the US!  HAPPY 4TH of JULY to all my American friends and family, and HAPPY CANADA DAY to all my Canadian family and friends. 

 

Take care and God Bless!

 

~Marie~

 

 

 

Happy Sweet 16!

I'm back on this beautiful Sunday to share with you the card I made for my younger daughter's 16th birthday, which was on Friday.

 

Here's the birthday girl!

 

She just had her hair colored purple, (yes, purple!) as part of her birthday present, and today we are going to see Finding Dory at our local theater.  Her party was yesterday at the state park where my husband works.  I hope she had fun this weekend!

 

Now, here's the card:

 

 

Of course, it's a shaker!  Her favorite color is blue, hence the color choices.  The owl and the card base are both Silhouette cut files.  You can find the owl here, and the card here.  Now that I'm looking, there are some other cute owls I should get...lol!  I added a generous amount of Wink of Stella to the owl and to the words on the card.  If you look at "happy," you can see glimpses of it on the first "p" and the "y."  She enjoyed her card!  *whew!*

 

Challenges:

 

Simon Wednesday:  Animal Magic

Crafting with Friends #23:  Anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #234-235:  Anything goes

Crafty Sentiments:  Summer colors

Seize the Birthday:  Anything goes

Great Impressions June:  Anything goes

Glitter and Sparkle #193:  Anything goes

613 Avenue Create #181:  Anything goes w/optional twist to create a tag

Broken Fairy #4:  Anything goes with a twist, Celebrations

Silhouette Challenges #38:  Anything goes

 

 

I did some searching and found some new challenges to add to my favorites!  Thanks for joining me today, and God Bless!

 

~Marie~

 

 

 

 

 

It's the middle of the month again!

You know what that means, right?  We're even CLOSER to Christmas!  *BIG SMILE*  :)  It also means that the DT at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Extra have some mid-month cards to help you keep your mojo flowin'.  Here's mine!

 

 

This cutie patootie image is from the talented Tracey over at Fred, She Said.  She comes from the set called Emma The Caroler Pre-Coloured Set.  I love Emma!  So pretty!  This set comes in 8 different colored versions, which are all perfect!  I really need to print more of these out and make a set of cards!  I kept the layout really simple, to keep all eyes on Emma.  The white panel beneath the image layer is embossed with a Darice snowflake folder, but I forget which one.  The sentiment comes from Papertrey Ink's Signature Christmas set. 

 

Challenges:

 

12 Months of Christmas Link Up #18:  Anything goes or optional silver/gold theme

The Glory of Christmas #86:  Anything goes or optional no patterned paper theme

Sparkles Christmas #65:  Use 2 (or more) dies

Jingle Belles:  Frosty the Snowman (I went with the pre-Frosty version)

ABC Christmas:  Anything beginning with "L" (layers, lyrics in her songbook)

Christmas at Sweet Stampin':  Warm winter clothing

A Snowflake's Promise #24:  Anything goes

Crimbo Crackers #108:  Anything goes

Christmas Card Challenges #28:  Anything goes or optional religious theme

Sweet Stampin':  Lotsa layers

Crafting with Friends #22:  Anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #234-235:  Anything goes

Craft your Passion #316:  Anything goes

ETA:  This card made the Top 3 at Christmas Card Challenges!  Thank you!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  God Bless!

~Marie~