Christmas Crunch cards!

Hi friends!

What do you call 4 caroling mice in the snow?

Cold.

They're called COLD!

:)

How's your Monday going?

Only 4 more sleeps until Santa!

My cards today are last minute ideas for Christmas Crunch Cards!

If you're just getting started or need extras or cards for neighbors,

make them simple, make them quick! 

 I used the adorable Waffle Flower Crafts Fa-La-La combo 

stamps and dies to create these snowy and festive cards.

First, using Ranger Ink distress oxide inks in a variety of blues,

I blended a quick background.

Using white acrylic paint, I used a new toothbrush (dollar tree!)

and flicked the paint on in a random splatters.

With some Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam, I popped up the images

and just love the look to these. 

They would look great with different colored backgrounds!

I'm super excited this year - 

being done with shopping, wrapping, and decor so early.

It's nice to sit in the still of the night watching 

the twinkling colorful christmas lights!

And ... 

that's about the only time my house is actually ever quiet :)

I have another {different} set of cards to show you tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings :)

~Kelly

Entered into:  Simon Says Stamp Monday

One Plus Twelve ~ Peppermint flower!

 

Hi friends!

It's almost time for Christmas 

and I'm sending you winter hugs and peppermint dreams!

This year, I chose Beautiful Bloom for my One Plus Twelve

card challenge that I started as a way to stretch my stamps.

It's a wonderful challenge indeed trying to take ONE stamp

 - and just one -

and make 12 different cards each month :)

For December, I watercolored the bloom and placed it into 

a frame with irredescent sequins for a shaker card.

When the flower was still wet, I sprinkled it with extra fine

irriedecent glitter to match so it doesn't show it - 

but it's super sparkly!

And that's it from me today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings :)

~Kelly

Ready, Set, Go ~ The winter blues!

Hi friends!

It's snowing again on my blog :)

Snow is on my wish list every year!

Although the only way I'll see it is probably in paper form :)

Today's snowflake card is for the Ready, Set, Go card group

where we have challenges that are a little outside the box!

This month, Barb wonderful challenge:

 

My challenge this month is pretty simple.  Please make a winter card, using various shades of blue.

  Be sure to add some sparkle or shine to your card.  Extra credit if you use a stamp that has not been inked up or one that has been neglected for a few years. 

 .  Ready?  Set. Go!

I wanted to make the snowflakes really unique and different

so I tried the die cut duo technique.

It's a unique way to use smaller pieces of designer paper in a creative way

but laying them out, connected side by side, and then die cut.

For these snowflakes, I used the snowflake die trio from My Favorite Things ~

now retired and quite neglected!

Once those were cut out, I popped them up on foam for height.

The paper is SO CUTE and from Doodlebugs Winter Wonderland collection 

and I had just enough bits and pieces to make 4 x4 pieces to use.

For the shimmer, I used silver embossing powder from Simon Says Stamp

and glittery enamel dots.

This was such a fun card to make 

and I'll definitely try this again ~ thanks to the winter blue's challenge!

You can see Barb's card here and Jeanette's card here  and

we will continue next  year in January with another extreme challenge!

And that's it from me today!

Big hugs, bigger blessings :)

~Kelly

 

Mission Impossible ~ Take 4!

 Hi friends!

Welcome to another edition of a hot mess card making,

where glue misbehaves and glitter flies all over!

These cards are actually last Mission Possible card

of the year but not THE LAST.

 We had a lot of fun this year and I think we're planning to continue 

in 2021 because my friends are crazy like me really creative!  

Jeanette sent us a gorgeous stencil from Taylored Expressions,

one I've eyed many a time but only drooled!

I didn't do this stencil justice - let me just toss that out there ...

but I had so. much. fun!

First, I thought it would be a creative idea to use

distress oxide inks, pixie-ish type spray and glitter

to make a sparkly, glittery snowflake.

My plan:

 use the colors on a woodland scene I stenciled this summer :)

For this card, I used Ranger's distress oxide inks in Tumbled Glass,

Blueprint Sketch and Mermaid Lagoon and blended randomly.

For my first try, I thought I'd use pixie spray on top of the oxide ink

but it ended up feathering a little bit.

It actually kinda grew on me and reminded me 'snowflakes are unique.'

This stencil is larger than an A2 frame so I die cut a portion of it

and added a simple sentiment strip from C Z Designs.

For the second card, I wanted to make one in pink/purple tones 

AND try the stencil/glitter WITHOUT pixie spray -

success!

This one is using Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry and Spun Sugar

and the difference is I spritzed it with a light mist of water 

and then added the glitter.

This was a super fun Mission Possible this time around,

and although my cards underwhelm, I had a lot of fun playing!

You can see Barb's card here and Jeanette's card here on their blogs.

And if you head over to my Instagram, I added these to my reels.

I'm still learning and having a blast :)

And that's it from me today!

Thanks for stopping by ~

Big hugs, bigger blessings :)

~Kelly

BLOOMing in 2020 ....

 Hi friends!

In just a couple of weeks, a brand new year will soon be here, 

along with the chance to start fresh and new.

Looking back at the Word of the Year I chose last year,

 I remember how much I reflected on if it was the one.

It was!

I have loved my word ❤

My word for 2020 is BLOOM!

And I can't say that 2020 was really a year in which that lended the ability.

So many changes, a crazy pandemic, restrictions and sheltering in place ...

But!

  In order to bloom, one must be firmly planted.  

And that was a definite for me, steadfast and still standing!

So I did bloom ....  

Just a bit differently :)

So today's card is naturally a floral one ~

a quick watercolor card I made with Altenew's half pans,

gold embossing powder and lots and lots of coffee!

And peep this!

This is one of the picture out outakes that didn't make the cut but

 LOOK AT THIS BLUE SKY!

God is as wonderful with His paintbrush!

The sentiment is also from Altenew

 and both of these words are amazing ~

but they won't be mine :)

I already know what it will be for next year ...

it already found me ❤

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big hugs, bigger blessings :)

~Kelly

Hot Mess ~ Success: Acrylic Pour!

 Hi friends!

Today's cards are part of an acrylic pour I did last weekend.

I did some Christmas crafting with my 2 y/o granddaughter, Alice, 

making several handmade gifts with the acrylic pour technique.

Oh ...  is it ever messy!

"We" made several different gifts from planter pots to wooden 

frames and there was a TON of leftover paint.

Like a scandelous amount!

For this month's "Hot Mess Success," 

I decided to simply swipe up the gobs of leftover paint onto cardstock.

Heavy acrylic paint + cardstock?

I was worried!

But ... it held up to the #110 paper BEAUTIFULLY!    

Although they were dry in just a couple of hours, 

I waited 48 hours and then made several cards, 

playing around with different styles.

             

               Sorry this photo is really washed out and grainy - they are SUPER vibrant and bright!

For these cards, I'm using Gerda Steiner Design's Sportsy Santa

and used my Scan N Cut to cut out the images and then colored them.

I used a stitched frame die and stitched circle die to get

the front panel, added snow 'mounds' with another die to set the scene.

This background is crazy busy

so I left the rest of the card pretty simple. 

 Here is Santa snowboarding, in case you ever wondered

what he does in his off time!

The effect is amazing!

I see now it looks similiar to the simple shaving cream technique.

It's not! 

Do. not. be. fooled! :)

There's no shaving cream, no food coloring, and no swipie card thingie!

This was CRAZY messy and a product of "I dont wanna waste that!"

Exhibit A:

I decided to try another one of the paint puddles for a second card.

For card #2, I used only the INNER circle and tucked it behind.

I also had to stamp it first directly to the paper because the scan n cut 

wouldn't recognize his motion of the blades.

So stamping, popping it up did the trick. 

Here is Santa iceskating:

The Hot Mess chicks made cards this month

and you can see their cards here:

Barb, Carol, Darlene, Jeanette and Terry and then lil 'ol me!

A quick recap ....

This was literally just cast off acrylic paint and boxes that were 

heading to the recycling and I ended up with unique backgrounds!

Was this month a Hot Mess = Success? Yes!

Would I make this again?  Absolutely!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big hugs, bigger blessings :)

~Kelly

I'll enter this to: SYD Gerda Steiner December Challenge

CCEE2050 and Stamp What?!

 

Hi all!

Today's card is pulling DOUBLE DUTY 

because I have been absolutely swamped.

Crafty time has been SUPER limited so this is a twofer!

First up, the CCEE Stampers are hosting the last challenge of the year.

We're taking the time off until 2021 to be with our families 

and enjoy the holidays!

Lynn, our hostess with the mostess, has asked us to celebrate 

"The Glow of Christmas."

That can be a lighted tree, a candle, the star of Bethlehem - be creative!

And for the Stamp What?! December edition,

 a CAH-UTE idea my son came up with,

I got lucky - it worked!

Stamp What?! is a challenge that I'm doing to use my "OLD DUSTIES" ..

really, REALLY super old wooden stamps from days gone by!

I did ask him to chose for the hoildays 

(and, lucky me, with his sense of humor,

he didn't show up with Easter saying ... "YOU said the holidays!!")

Mmmmm kay.

This month he chose The Gift of Love, circa 2003!

I did a lot of blending with oxide inks and blender brushes

and left the star as the focal point 

The REAL meaning of the season!

\

My card is bad ... bad ... BAD!!

I'm super not happy with it and promise to redeem myself!

time.  

That persnickety thing.

Be sure to stop by the CCEE Stampers to see the rest of the DT cards

this week

and we will see you next year!

Big hugs, bigger blessings :)
~Kelly

3M: 3 Tiny Wisemen!

 Hi friends!

If the 3 wisemen were visiting my house,

 they'd each have venti Starbucks in their hands!

They would just KNOW :)

Seriously ~ I can't get over that last Wiseman in purple 

- his face! LOL!

This image is part of the 3 Musketeers group with Jeanette, Barb and I.

We take turns sending a image to each other when it's our turn to host ~

this month, Jeanette chose C C Designs Tiny Wisemen.

It's SO CUTE!

I hadn't seen this one before and just love the whimsical side of it.

So for my coloring .......... 

According to wikipedia Pinterest the experts, I looked up 

the colors of the clothing for the 3 Wisemen.

Gaspar has brown hair, a beard and wears a green cloak

and is the King of Sheba.

Melchoir has white hair, beard and wears a gold cloak

and is the King of Arabia and

Balthazar has black skin, a beard and wears a purple cloak

and is the King of Tarse and Egypt.

I was aiming for a sand in the desert background

and did a quick watercolor panel.

It dried more orange/peach than biege/sand that I was going for

but you know what they said ....

when it Rome! 

Or ...  Bethlehem :)

I chose a purple background card color because it always 

reminds me of Advent and Lent and royalty.

Barb and Jeanette's cards are on their blogs today

with this same image.

I forgot - I added a star that they followed because it happened 

to be on my desk from my last card!

Perfect!

Have a great evening!

Big hugs, bigger blessings :)

~Kelly

COF: Stars in the Night Sky!

Hello friends!

Wishing (upon a star) that you a great start to the new week!

My card today is for the Crafters of Faith card group

that I started a few years ago.

It was such a wonderful way to connect to cardmakers 

on a christian, faith-filled level!

But - all good things often come to an end - and this will be my last card.

I have a few things on the horizon and am REALLY excited about it!

As they say, one door closes because another one opens :)

First, here is my card:

Our hostess this month is Jeanette and this is her challenge:

Scripture: Matthew 2:10 When they [the Wise Men] saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure.

Challenge: For this month’s challenge let’s add a star (or stars) to our cards/projects. 

For my card, I used Lawn Fawn's Super Star stamp and dies

and used the cute mice looking up into the night sky.

The big stars are from another set 

My sweet granddaughter loves to go out with me every night

to look at the 'Moon and 'tars!'

It's like our special moment each evening :)

And that's my card for December!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big hugs, bigger blessings :)

~Kelly

SumMore Fun ~ Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

 

Hi friends!

Happy Sunday!

I have a couple of cards to share from SumMore Fun stamps 

from the Tangled Tinsel stamp set.

These are the final 3 cards I've made from this fun set!

Here is card #2:

And card #3:

You can find this stamp set here in the shop at SumMore Fun!

Thanks for stopping by ~

Happy Christmas card creating!

Big hugs, bigger blessings :)

~Kelly

Tangled Tinsel by SumMore Fun Stamps!

 

Hi friends! 

 I'm super excited to be a guest designer for SumMore Fun Stamps

(Victorine Originals/Raisin Boat Stamps)

and I'll be showcasing Tangled Tinsel this weekend :)

This is my first card using Tangled Tinsel - 

a delightful stamp set with an ornament, holly berryies

 and more as well as gorgeous sentiments!

For this card, I started with a flat wash of watercolor 

using Altenew's pans and let it dry.

Next, I used WOW white embossing powder and Versamark

to create the snowflakes and stamp the sentiment.

For the final touch, I added a bit of sheer ribbon

and popped the panel up on foam to a base of snowflake dsp!

I love how vibrant and blue it is!

To see this stamp set and many more, please visit

SumMore Fun stamps here as well as the blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Big hugs, bigger blessings :)

~Kelly

Happy BEAR-thday!

 Happy Friday!

We made it to the weekend -

 although it's been hard knowing WHAT day of the week it really is! :)

Today's card is super quick - 

I used a watercolor panel that was leftover

and ran it through my Gemini Jr with the MFT Mountain dies that have been in my stash forever - just like this Polar Bear Pals set!

 I think I'll keep it forever!

I'm out the door again but tonight is MY night to prop my feet up and get crafty!  

At least that's the plan :)

Big hugs, bigger blessings!

~Kelly