Fun with coloring

I continue to catch up with Christmas cards and I finally broke open the stamps and dies from Lawn Fawn to make this cute little card:

Don't you just love the birdies?  As a coloring novice these images are perfect for me to practice - they have just enough real estate for me to color but not too big an area so even if I mess up it is not noticeable.  :P  To tell you the truth one of the birdies was messed up.  Can you tell which one?

I colored them with distress markers, one of my current favorite go-to coloring medium.  I had my big set for perhaps a year and a half but I didn't really start using it until a month ago.  I tried to use them, I really did but the results were an epic failure and I hated to continue wasting paper.  After watching a couple of tutorials online had I slowly learned some basics of coloring.

The sketch of this card came from Sketchbook Saturday Challenge.  I always love Iwona's sketches and love to be inspired by her cards.  She has presented two totally different cards based on this sketch - one is feminine with shabby chic details, the other has bright colors with an encouraging sentiment.  Go to her blog and check them out.

My card is entering the following challenges:
Crafting with Dragonflies - Card with nature/tree/leaves
Fab n Funky challenges - Distress
Lady Anne's Challenges - Anything Goes
Timeless Tuesday - Fussy Cutting Fun
Craft-Room Challenge - Our Feathered Friends
Merry Monday - Use music or carol inspired theme

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas bird

There are a couple of bird stamps that I reach out a lot.  For a Christmas card, this one from Close to My Heart To You and Yours stamp set is by far the most popular one.  I like to play coloring with it.  I usually color it with watercolor pencils, or sometimes just color pencils.  I have yet mastered coloring with markers, but I secretly play with them often to practice.

Today's card is based on the sketch from Mojo Monday:

I set my heart on making a Christmas card then I saw this requirement from Merry Monday:

So I added the bird to the sketch:

I like this card and I just had a lot of fun coloring the bird. 

I'm afraid it's time to treat my eyes again so I have to stop here.  Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Adding colors to die cuts

I am trying a new way to use washi tapes with dies.  I have had this idea for a while but have not tried it out.  Sometimes I wonder how I can involve more colors in a die cut and after today's experiment I think I have at least one answer to that question!

I first put washi tape across a piece of cardstock, then I run the die through a die cutting machine.  The negative does not look too bad and perhaps I could use it on another project:

Thanks to Friday Mashup's challenge I got to think about how to use my washi tapes:

In addition to washi tape, I've also used my forgotten hemp baker's twine.  I got it perhaps early this year (about January) but it somehow fell through the cracks to the very bottom of my supply drawer.  Had I not dug deep enough it would never see light again.  I should really use it more often as this hemp baker's twine has more texture than traditional baker's twine and its neutral color will match with almost every project!

My card is based on the sketch at 52 {Christmas} card challenge:

and I used the materials specified at Merry Monday Challenge:

My card is also entering the following challenges:
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Layers
Crafty Hazel Nut Challenge - layer it out
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Christmas
Our Creative Corner - Forgotten things

Thanks for stopping by!

Snowflakes

I took a craft class this weekend but I was rather slow in the class so I got to spend some time at home finishing them up.  I have never used those metal stencils and was amazed by how much you could do with them.  We made three fun summer cards and we all enjoyed playing with the sand castle, palm trees and beach chair.

When I finally got time to play on my own, I thought I have had enough summer this weekend so I moved on to Christmas cards, one of my faves.  Woohoo~

I just love those beautiful colors - Frosted Grey and Frosted Turquoise in the new Frosted paper, so special and unique and great for Christmas cards. 

The sketch came from my all time favorite challenge - Sketchbook Saturday Challenge  hosted by Iwona. 

Her cards are always sources of inspiration and her challenges often help me expand my comfort zone.  I encourage you to get inspired there!

My card is also entering the challenge at Merry Monday Challenge - Anything Goes!  I'm having so much fun with creating Christmas cards this month!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Christmas in July

As July is approaching to its end, I feel stronger and stronger that I need to start my Christmas card stash.  I just got the beautiful Frosted paper and can't wait to play with it!

The card is based on the sketch from Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge:

This is a kind of sketch that I normally would not want to try - the three panels intimate me!  I somehow managed to conquer it, but I am not used to the lighting in my new craft corner, so the picture does not really do justice here.  Nevertheless it looks pretty neat - simple with the die cut sentiment Merry Christmas and the snowflakes were filled with silver glitz.

My card is also entering the challenge at Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge - Anything goes and Merry Monday challenge.

I always look forward to Christmas and making Christmas cards appears to help me get to Christmas sooner.  Do you think I'm too crazily in love with Christmas?

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas again

Just a quick post today as the bloating in my stomach persists and GasX does not appear to be working hard enough. 

I'm sharing another Christmas card today, based on the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches:

I've used the upcoming Stamp of the Month for my card.  Instead of having a diagonal stripe I've divided it into three:

My card is also entering the challenge at Paper Crafting Journey - Christmas in July and Merry Monday Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas

The rearrangement of my craft area is still going on thus it has been an absolute pain to craft.  My supplies are packed, boxes are here and there.  I'm afraid the unboxing will take just as long as the rearrangement takes.  I am hoping that everything goes smooth and I'll be able to craft at full speed again!

Based on the limited supplies that I have, making a Christmas cards appear to be a good idea because many of those unpacked items are Christmas-themed.  I've based on the sketch from Monday Lunchtime Sketch challenge for my card:

My Christmas card has replaced the three squares with three poinsettias:

I love this card! 

My card is also entering the challenge at Paper Crafting Journey - Christmas in July and Merry Monday Challenge - any new Christmas creation.

Thanks for stopping by!

Winter Wishes

The Christmas in July challenges remind me that I should start making my Christmas cards early!  Last year I started in the summer and it absolutely helped during the crazily chaotic holiday season.  I like that I was able to grab a card from my stash whenever I needed one.  It was so convenient.  In addition, I love Christmas and starting making the cards early appears to be extending the celebration. 

I've made a simple one-layer Christmas card for today's post:

I like that this card gave me an opportunity to color!  How fun!  I went with the most "childish" way of coloring - using color pencils.  There is a long way before I can master coloring with markers or otherwise, but that does not deter me from coloring.  I've played safe with color pencils and I think it's not bad!

This card is entering the following challenges:

1.  Heart 2 Heart challenges - masking (I've used both the positive and the negative from the cut to create the border, fun technique and I'll be using it more often!

2.  OLW - Christmas sparkles

3.  Addicted to Stamps and More - Make your mark

4.  Merry Monday - Anything Goes



Let it snow

Perhaps it is too early for us in the Northern Hemisphere to feel the Chrismas spirits but that is not going to stop me from making Christmas cards!  They are definitely one of the kinds that I enjoy making the most.  Last year I started making them in the summer and when the busy holiday season came, it was such a relief to realize that I have a stash of cards. 

Did you see the cute sketch from Merry Monday challenge?  I like the clean lines of it and the curve seems to suggest a snowy scene.

 I just bought this Memory Box die yesterday and thought I could play with it.  Let's give it a try!

I've used some old buddies here - Grey Flannel cardstock, Wonderland paper pack and the Snow Flurries stamp set.  It turns out pretty much like what I expected and I like it.

Are you going to start making Christmas cards early?  Be sure to check out Merry Monday Challenge for inspirations!

Thanks for stopping by!

Starting my big project

Woohoo~  It is finally Saturday!  I hope everyone is having a good weekend.  It is the time that I always long for as it is my craft time!

I'm starting my crafty weekend with a Christmas card, where the sketch came from Merry Monday:

I'm using last year's Pear and Partridge paper for this card:

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Merry Christmas in May

While we are all celebrating Mother's Day in pink and red and purple, I can't resist to make a Christmas card using the sketch at Merry Monday:

I used a variety of products that have been sitting in my stash on this card: the Impression Obsession Cover-a Card (Music) background stamp, bracket die from Tim Holtz and deer die from Time Holtz. Wait, the pine cone stamp finally saw some ink after a year of waiting in my box.  Shhhhh........

It is quite a simple card but I like how it turns out and it was definitely fun to make.  I am so happy that my "collection" is now used!

Thanks for stopping by!

At a crop

What do you usually do at a crop?  I tend to make cards and sometimes, make a bulk of the same one.  For me, I find it challenging to come up with a new project or idea at a crop.  I guess I am "product-inspired" and so when I don't have all the supplies with me I feel inadequate. 

Since I started going to this crop last year, I have been making some Christmas cards every time I go.  This practice reduced a lot of my stress last year so I tend to start Christmas cards early this year.  Last night we had great fun at the crop.  I was actually playing with some Father's Day cards but I happened to have some Christmas supplies so I whipped up this card:

Quick and easy and I like it!

This card is based on the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches (love this sketch!):

and the color scheme is based on Merry Monday Challenge:

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Holiday Cheer

I've made a Christmas card to enter two challenges: Merry Monday Christmas card challenge and Tuesday Morning sketches.

My card is a CAS one using up some old supplies (which always makes me happy, because it becomes justified to buy new goodies!):

The sketch came from Tuesday Morning Sketches:

And I've used the right column for the tic-tac-toe challenge at Merry Monday Christmas card challenge:

Yuletide Greetings

Merry Monday asks that we make a Christmas card with a focus on birds. 

I immediately thought of using the stamp set To You and Yours as I have barely used it.  I love that the bird gives me an opportunity to color:

The red panel is just a piece of red cardstock that I added random tone-on-tone stamping on it.  Making my own patterned paper is one of my faves indeed.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Christmas card that takes no time

I am quite a big fan of making CAS cards.  I'd love to make sophisticated ones, of course, but only occasionally because between my job and my other committments, crafting is quite a luxurious activity for me and I do not want to put myself under pressure!

I saw the sketch at Merry Monday and I know I could make a Christmas time at no time.  The sketch is of course, CAS:

I stayed true to the sketch and finished this card in about 10 minutes:

I like to whip up cards quickly.  Do you?

Thanks for stopping by!

Ho Ho Ho

I'm participating the challenge at Merry Monday Challenge.  Its sketch looks like this:

As much as I like it as is, I'd like to rotate it for my 5"x7" card:

Ho Ho Ho~~

Have a wonderful weekend!

Noel

I hope you have not got bored with my background stamping, because today's card uses this technique again!

I've based the sketch on Always Player with Paper:

And I added some glitter and bling for Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge:

With the help of Cricut Artiste cartridge, this card came together quickly and easily.

Thanks for stopping by!