Year of Cards in Review--and Blog Candy!

Happy 2013!  OK--I know I am a day late, but the wish is still genuine!

Last year, well actually 12/31/11, I posted a year in review of the cards I made that year.  I am here to post the 12 favorites for 2012-one from each month.  I hope you enjoy looking back at the ones I chose as the best of the bunch!

Oh Yeah--the mention of blog candy.......................  read the note at the end of the post today.

January

 

 

February

 

 

March

 

 

April

 

 

May

 

 

June

July

 

 

 

August

 

 

 

September

 

 

 

October

 

 

November

 

 

 

December

 

 

Thanks for joining me in my look back at the year of cards 2012!  They sure are different--right? 

 

 

So--Blog Candy!   Please leave a comment and tell me which of the cards is your favorite of the 12 rhat I posted.  I will randomly chose a winner and send them a package of stamping goodies.  I will pick the winner on Monday morning, January 7th so please post your comment by the end of this week.  Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to tell others of my Blog Candy Post!



Crafters Of Faith ~ Snow

Today is the last day of the month and I am here to welcome you to my Crafters of Faith card! I am blessed to have you stop by and celebrate New Year’s Eve with us! The Crafters of Faith blogging group is a joyous blending of Christian friends ~ joined together to fellowship, share our faith, build friendships and craft together!

Kelly provided us with our December Challenge--

For December, we wish to "SNOW" you our winter inspired Crafter of Faith cards!  We are to create a card/project using a snowy-winter theme and "ring in the new year with glitter and bling!" Your winter/snow card creation should reflect the beauty of the gift of the season - snow, winter, snowflakes, etc and include bling and glitter to ring in the joy of what will be!

I realize I am posting a Christmas type card—however I knew I wanted to use my most favorite of all time Stampin’ Up set—Lovely as a Tree.  And, I found this perfect saying as a part some DSP I considered using.  The colors all came together rather well I think…………………..   The glitter is on the trees-Iridescent Ice embossing powder and the blink is the silver brads and snowflake! 

Here is the inside of my card.

Image/Sentiment—Stampin’ Up Lovely as a Tree

Cardstock—SU Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Deck the Halls Designer Paper

Ink—SU White Craft Ink

Accessories—Silver Round and Snowflake Brads; Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin Ribbon; Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder;


Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you do check out the other Snowy Creations from the wonderful ladies in the Crafters of Faith group! The blog list on the left side--please check out all of the cards.

Calendar Girls ~ Winter Wonderland

 

It is the 28^th, so I am here to welcome you to another round with the Calendar Girls!

Who are the Calendar Girls? We are a group of bloggers who want to have a place where friendships blossom, creativity abounds, and encouragement prevails! In keeping with that dream, this blog group has been created so we will have a place to interact and enjoy being fellow bloggers. 

This is the challenge this month, brought to us by Kelly.

This is what she wrote:  Since we post the 28th of the month, Santa will have returned to the North Pole by then and it will be a wee bit shy for the New Year.   Growing up in Europe where winters where filled with the beauty of snow and all the splendors of ice, I am filled with joy when I see all things snow. While some of you may long for sunshine and warmth, here in Miami I miss all of that during the holiday season.   So for this month, let's live vicariously in your creations of a WINTER WONDERLAND! 

Picture snow-filled winter trees, snow nestled on park benches, fountains and tree branches ... ponds frozen over, icicles in the pine forests ... there is snow-filled glory all around us in the winter.   I would love for you to use blue and silver on your cards and a snowflake(s) somewhere on your card via paper, design, brad, etc! Here is a lovely photo for your inspiration piece!

I hope you have snow much fun creating!

I thought this was a great challenge—I have quite a few Northwoods Stamps and many have great snowy images.  I bought this stamp last year at a stamp show and had not inked it up yet.  I thought this was the perfect window into the snowy winter wonderland!  I have the blue and the silver in the paper and cardstock and with the snowflake brads!

I added some “snow” on the pine trees with a white gel pen.  I also used a clear Copic Spica pen over the snowman to give him some shimmer and added some over the snow on the trees.

Image/Sentiment—Northwood Stamps—no name listed

Cardstock—Gina K White; Stampin’ Up Brushed Silver; Navy Shimmer Cardstock (unknown company); Paper Pizazz Blue Snowflakes and Swirls Designer Paper

Ink—Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories—Copic Markers; White Twine; White Button with Blue floss; White, Blue and Silver Snowflake Brads; White Gel Pen, Clear Copic Spica Pen


Please check out the blogs of all of the Calendar Girls—there are 9 of us, so it might take you a bit.   I am sure you will enjoy all of the winter wonderland creations! All of the blogs are listed on my left sidebar. Thanks for joining us!!!!!!!

The Sounding Joy!

Merry Christmas!

Last month, at Camp Stamp-in-Oga, there was a card contest.  Sarah, the head counselor, proposed two challenges—a sketch one and a color one.  This is one of my two entries for the sketch challenge—SCS406.  It also was chosen by attendees of the camp as the winner and I received a pack of SU glitter paper! The other card I made for sketch challenge was posted 3 days ago.  I also made two cards for the color challenge—they were posted on 12/13. 

Image/Sentiment—Stampin’ Up The Sounding Joy

Cardstock—SU Very Vanilla, Old Olive, River Rock, Holiday Harmony DSP

Ink—SU Old Olive

Accessories—Olive Button with Olive Bakers Twine

I hope you have a Blessed Day!

Christmas Eve Blessing

 Rebecca was playing with her sketchbook this morning, while looking out of our window.  Enjoy...........

Welcome Christmas

 

Last month, at Camp Stamp-in-Oga, there was a card contest.  Sarah, the head counselor, proposed two challenges—a sketch one and a color one.  This card was for the sketch challenge—SCS406.  I also made two cards for the color challenge—they were posted on 12/13.  I have one more sketch card to post on Christmas Day and that one was a winner!


Image/Sentiment—Stampin’ Up Welcome Christmas

Cardstock—SU Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze Whisper White, Snow Festival DSP

Ink—SU Cherry Cobbler

Accessories—Red Button with Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine

I have entered this card in the following challenges:
Card Crafters Circle ~ Christmas
Craft Us Crazy.blogspot ~ Merry Christmas
Milk Coffee Challenge ~ Winter

SOTC ~ Birthday Swap Card

This is a card that I made for our monthly SOTC—Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards--Swap on SCS. Linda is our hostess for December and we were to make birthday cards for any age.  I think this card is perfect for a man or a woman—anyone who acts a bit immature at times……………………………..

Image/Sentiment—Outlines Rubber Stamp Company-Maturity Is……

Cardstock—Gina K White; Stampin’ Up Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, So Saffron; Imaginisce Patterned Paper

Ink-- SU Island Indigo

Accessories—Blue brads; Island Indigo Ruffle Ribbon

Monthly Swap ~ Merry Christmas

 

This card is for the new monthly swap that I recently joined.  It is 100% copied from a card we made at my wonderful demo Sarah’s studio.  It is quick and easy, but so pretty.  I hope you like it!

Image/Sentiment—Stampin’ Up More Merry Messages

Cardstock—Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Midnight Muse; Champagne Glitter Paper

Ink—SU Midnight Muse

Accessories—SU Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon, Snow Flurry Bigz Die, Lacy Brocade Embossing folder

Dueling Darlings ~ Winter Travel

 

It is the 15^th of the month and that means another Dueling Darlings challenge.  This month, I am the hostess for the Divas and Michelle is the hostess for the Dazzlers.  We decided the theme is Winter Travel.

And in addition to creating the card, we requested that each person tell if they have a story related to winter travels—like a sledding story, or skiing or skating or anything else like that.  I am sure all of the Darlings have some cute or funny stories to share!

Here is mine----when I was in college, I played on the women’s basketball team for all four years.  During my freshman or sophomore year—not sure which one—we were told by the coach to NOT go skiing over the Christmas Break.  There is a ski hill in the town where I went to high school and I was not about to stay away as I skied quite often in the winter.  Well—you can probably guess the rest—I fell and thought I was fine—but an hour or so later, my hand/thumb was still throbbing.  So, I went to the hospital for x-rays and I found out I broke my thumb.  It was not put in a cast—just wrapped.  By the time I got back to college, a week or so later, the stories were wildly exaggerated—like I broke my arm, etc.  I did not miss any games or practices—the training staff did a good job of taping it up and I sure was not about to say it hurt!

I also used a clear Spica Pen over the snowman  to give him some dazzle and there is Stickles on the ball on his hat.

Here is the inside of my card with the sentiment.

 

Image/Sentiment— Whipper Snapper—Downhill Snowman-Chase Snowflakes

Paper—Gina K White; Stampin’ Up Midnight Muse, Early Espresso; Little Yellow bicycle Winter Words-Snowy Window DSP

Ink—Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin’ Up Early Espresso

Accessories—Copics; Blue Brads; Blue and Brown dotted ribbon; Brown and Blue buttons; Silver Snowflake brad; Clear Copic Spica Pen; Stardust Stickles

Please be sure to stop in to see what all of the Divas as well the Dazzlers have created this month.  All of the blogs are on the left sidebar of my blog.  I am sure you will enjoy all of the Winter Travel Creations and there will probably be some funny stories that are told! 

I hope you enjoy looking at our creations!  Thanks for joining us!!!!!!

I am joining the following challenges:
Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges ~ Snow
QKR Stampede ~ Snowmen
Raise The Bar Challenge ~ Snow
Stampin for the Weekend ~ Let it Snow
Third Coast Challenges ~ Baby It's Cold Outside

Pennants and Butterflies

Last month, at Camp Stamp-in-Oga, there was a card contest.  Sarah, the head counselor, proposed two challenges—a sketch one and a color one.  These two cards were for the color challenge—use Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry and Pumpkin Pie.  I also made two cards for the sketch challenge and those are coming later this month—one was a winner too!

Image/Sentiment—Stampin' Up Butterfly Prints, Pennant Parade

Cardstock—SU Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Welcome Neighbor DSP

Ink—SU Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry and Pumpkin Pie

Accessories—SU Butterfly, Pennant and Oval Punches; Old Olive and Razzleberry  Ribbon, Razzleberry Brads, Rhinestones, Ribbon Slide, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder

Happy Freezin' Season ~ Unidentified Image Swap

This is the card for the 5^th round an Unidentified Image swap on SCS.  It is a group of ladies who are a part of a bi-monthly swap where we all use the same image, sent to us by the hostess.  The unidentified part is that we to not discuss the image at all until the day they are to be posted--today!   The images for this round were provided Jeanette.  She will swap the cards and include the next image that Linda, our next hostess, provides in our return envie.  And then we get to do it all again!!!!

The image the Jeanette sent was so cute—she thought we might be tired of making Christmas cards, so she provided us with a winter image.  I think this card turned out pretty nice—and I hope Jeanette as well as the others in the swap like it also. 

Image/Sentiment—Darcies Stamps Peekin' Snowman

Cardstock— SU Riding Cherry Cobbler, Pink Pirouette; Theresa Collins Christmas Collage Red Snowflakes/Music Designer Paper

Ink—Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories— SU Button and Pink Bakers Twine; Cherry Cobbler Satin Ribbon

I have entered this card in the following challenges:
ABC Challenges ~ Let It Snow
2 Sisters Challenge ~ Snowflakes
Stampin for the Weekend ~ Let it Snow
Third Coast Challenges ~ Baby It's Cold Outside
4 Crafty Chicks ~ Snowmen
Craft Us Crazy ~ Being to Look a lot Like......
Christmas at Sweet Stampin Challenge ~ Winter Holiday
Crafty Creations ~ Winter Scene
Dream ]Valley Challenges ~ Christmas

Christmas Cheer

This cute card was used for an invite for our annual Holiday Cocktail Party tomorrow night.  I did CASE this sweet card from Dawn.  I thought it was perfect for the invite-right down to the sentiment used.  All of the directions and measurements are on Dawn’s blog.  It does take a bit of time to make—lots of punching, embossing and layers--but I think it is well worth it!  I hope you think it is cute too!


Image/Sentiment—Stampin’ Up Sweet Essentials, Make a Mitten

Cardstock—Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Snow Festival DSP

Ink—SU Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze

Accessories—Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, Square Lattice embossing folder, Sweet Mitten Builder Punch

Crafty Gals ~ Who did I CASE?

It is the 5^thof the month, so I am back with another challenge of the Crafty Gals! We are a group of bloggers who have monthly challenges, caring comments & fun chit chat on SCS—our favorite stamping site to visit.

This month, the challenge was posted by Melina. Here are the details of her challenge:

Guess Who I'm CASEing?!

We were to go back to the month of March on one of the Crafty Gals blogs—it did not matter which one we chose. We then were to find a project from that month on their blog and CASE it. We are not to list whose blog we visited—everyone is to guess. This will also be kind of like a scavenger hunt. We'll want to go look at the original "artwork" CASED so we'll be visiting all of the March blogs all over again.

There were so many awesome cards that I loved in March—I even copied a bunch of their creations and printed out a sheet of them to use for inspiration in the future. I had fun making this fall card and I hope Melina thinks I met the challenge as well as the mystery lady I CASE’d!  I am going to post a link to the original card at the end of this post, so if you want to see the original card, you can check it out there.

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
Ribbon Carousel ~ Use ribbon or twine
Shopping Our Stash ~ Winter Holiday
The Stamping Boutique ~ Holiday Cards
Craft Spot By Kimberly ~ Merry Christmas
Paper Pretties ~ Use Ribbon

Image/Sentiment—Rubber Stampede Santa Collage/Stampin’ Up Short& Sweet

Cardstock—SU Riding Cherry Cobbler; Gina K Ivory, Theresa Collins Christmas Collage Red Snowflakes/Music Designer Paper

Ink— SU Riding Cherry Cobbler

Accessories—SU Buttons and Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine; Punches; Ivory Brads; Cherry Cobbler Satin Ribbon

Please check out the blogs of all of the Crafty Gals. All of the blogs are listed on my left sidebar and I hope you will enjoy all of our CASE’d creations this month. Thanks for joining us!

Here is a link to the original card--no name listed, just the link to the sweet card

Celebrate the Season

Here is the third card I made for LJ’s recent swap on SCS.  This swap was for PTI cards and I took one spot in three different categories.  This card is for the Christmas Category. 


Image/Sentiment—PTI Think Big Favorites #9

Cardstock—Stampin’ Up Lucky Limeade, Riding Hood Red, White; SEI Kris Kringle Designer Paper

Ink—SU Riding Hood Red

Accessories—Riding Hood Red 5/8 Striped Ribbon; Santa Hat Brad

Crafters of Faith ~ November Challenge

Today is the last day of the month and I am here to welcome you to my Crafters of Faith card! I am blessed to have you stop by and celebrate an early Thanksgiving with all of us! The Crafters of Faith blogging group is a joyous blending of Christian friends ~ joined together to fellowship, share our faith, build friendships and craft together! If you want to see all of the creations, there is a blog list on the left side--please check out all of the cards.

Mary Rose provided us with our November Challenge:

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Hello, Crafty sisters! Can you believe the holidays are here? I LOVE this time of year! Peppermint Mocha Lattes, twinkling lights, Hallmark Christmas movies...every good and perfect gift pointing to our Savior. My favorite part of the season? Christmas carols. I LOVE Christmas music, and I have so many CDs that I have to start listening to them in October just to fit them all in! LOL I have a few favorites that make it into heavy rotation (Amy Grant, Kathy Mattea, Point of Grace, Sara Groves), and others that are strictly instrumental and fill the house with the ambient sounds of the season (Jim Brickman, Windham Hill's Celtic Christmas, and more). This month's challenge: Make a card based on one of your favorite Christmas songs or carols. (The Bible verse I chose is often associated with Handel's Messiah, another favorite!) Make sure your card has a little twinkle to represent the light of the world. Bonus points to anyone who includes kraft and gingham in their design (just because I LOVE kraft and gingham!)

So there's your challenge! Plug in that Christmas music and get inspired! I'm even learning some Christmas carols to play on my dulcimer.

Here is the card I created for you:

I love pretty much all Christmas music, but O Holy Night is one of my favorites.  I also love when the lights are lowered, individual candles are lit and we sing Silent Night on Christmas Eve—that brings shivers even as I think about it now.   I have some colors of kraft in the background paper on my card and I do have twinkle in the embossing of the sentiment.  Hope you like it Mary Rose.

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you do check out the other Christmas Creations from the wonderful ladies in the Crafters of Faith group!

Image/Sentiment—Stampabilities O Holy Night

Cardstock—Stampin’ Up Cranberry Crisp and Brushed Gold; Déjà Views Open Windows Holiday Joy—Peace & Joy, Red Swirl Designer Paper

Ink—Versamark Dazzle Frost

Accessories—Gold Star Brad; Gold Shiny Ribbon; Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder