Seasons Givings Blog Hop 2017

Welcome to the Seasons Givings Blog Hop!

As has become my tradition, I'm participating in this blog hop today
 because of you, my blog readers.
I truly appreciate each one of you.... that you take the time to come & visit my blog
& comment on my projects... it means so much to me!

And so, this blog hop is being held for you, as a way for me to say "thank you".

For those of you who are new to my blog, I welcome you to check it out.

Each stop on the hop is hosting a giveaway. 

So make sure you comment on each one to be eligible to win each prize.

My giveaway consists of nine prizes.

That's right.
Nine prizes, all comprised of Reverse Confetti stamps and dies.
There are five to six stamp sets in each prize pack, along with the coordinating dies.

Here is a photo of each one.
(If you'd like to see them bigger, just click on the photo to enlarge it.)

To be eligible to win one of these prize packs, you need to leave a comment here

on my blog by Friday, January 5th, 2018, at 7pm CST.
I will announce the winners on Saturday, the 6th.

If there is a certain prize that you would prefer, 

leave the number with your comment and I will see what I can do.

No promises, though. ;)

And here's the card I wanted to share with you....
a thank you to all of my wonderful readers!

I started by stamping my Altenew Adore You blooms and leaves in versafine black onyx ink

onto my watercolour paper and heat embossed them in clear.

Then, I coloured them in using my new Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolours that my kids

gave me for Christmas.

I also coloured in the background and spritzed on some extra ink for depth.

I stamped my sentiment (from Simon Says Stamp's Many Thanks stamp set) 

in versafine black onyx ink onto a strip of vellum and heat embossed it in black.

I layered it over my watercolored panel and adhered it to a piece of aqua mist cardstock.

Before you go, I welcome you to follow my blog & click on the link to do so on the sidebar,

but it is not necessary for you to do so to win a prize.

Next on the hop is my talented friend, Marcie Sharp.

Here's the complete list of all of the Season's Givings Blog Hop participants:

Lawn Fawn

Technique Tuesday

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Reverse Confetti

MFT Stamps

Neat & Tangled

Winnie & Walter

Hero Arts

CAS-ual Friday Stamps

My Sweet Petunia

Paper House Productions

Verve Stamps

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store

Catherine Pooler

Indigojade Art

A Jillian Vance Design

Kelly Creates

Latisha Yoast

Kimberly Crawford

Vera Yates

Nichol Spohr

Chari Moss

Audrey Tokach

Zsoka Marko 

Teri Anderson

Wanda Guess

Amy Tsuruta

Lydia Fiedler

Laurie Willison

Jenn Shurkus

Debi Adams

Cindy Lawrence

Lori Craig

Lisa Henke

Dina Kowal

Laura Bassen

Jessica Frost-Ballas 

Kelly Lunceford

Dana Joy

Tracey McNeely

Margie Higuchi

Laurel Beard

Janine Tinklenberg

Sean Fetterman

Christine Meyer

Heidi Blankenship

Debbie Seyer

Libby Hickson

Gracie Chavez

Julee Tilman

Karen Baker

Lee Murphy

Yvonne Van De Grijp

Leigh Penner (me!)

Marcie Sharp

Patti Gilliam

Barbara Anders

Bunny Vance

Kyra Sanders

Giovana Smith

Jillian Vance

Ceal Pritchett

Neva Cole

Happy New Year!

Thanks for looking!

Papertrey Ink December Blog Hop

I have a card to share for today's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop.

 

 This month's challenge was to use these photo as inspiration:

Isn't it pretty?

I was inspired to play with my new Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolours

that I got for Christmas yesterday to make my card.

I stamped the outline leaf and flowers from Floral Sketches and heat embossed them in white.

Then, I stamped the wreath from Twig Wreath overtop in versamark and added 

white embossing powder, brushing off the powder over the flowers before heat embossing it.

I coloured everything in with my new watercolours (which I love!)

and added my sentiment (from KIS: Belated Birthday) which

I adhered with dimensional adhesive.

Thanks for looking!

Merry Christmas

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My Christmas Tags

Well, I finally got all of my tags made 

and my presents wrapped for Christmas.

I think this is the latest I've ever gotten this done....

I thought I'd share them here on my blog.

As I shared earlier this month, I bought some pretty wrapping paper

from Chapter's this fall and wanted to make coordinating tags.

Because, you know, that's very important to me. ;)

Here they are:

This one is for Jonah, using Beary Merry from Neat and Tangled,

as well as a sentiment from Reverse Confetti.

This one is for Sage, using Papertrey Ink's Winter Village.

This one is for my husband, Cameron, using deer die (I can't remember the manufacturer 

-- could it be Crate Paper? Did they have dies?), a banner from MFT Stamps

and a sentiment from PTI's Songbirds, which I heat embossed in white.

Now, my mojo started to wane a little, so I made a couple of tags from some Teresa Collins

patterned paper in my stash, as well as my PTI Journaling Tag die.  

This one is for my mom, when she gets back from Montreal.

Here, I heat embossed the sentiment from MFT Stamps Handwritten Holiday.

And this one, I left as it. 

Sage thought I was really phoning it in at this point. ;)

This one is for Austin, from my mom.

Yes, my mom has me buy presents for my kids, wrap them and bring them to her

house to give to them -- a sweet deal for her, I tell ya!

I shared this one earlier this month, but I wanted to show it on the pretty paper.

It's for me from my mom. ;)

And this one is for Austin from Cameron and me, using the sentiment from Neat and Tangled's

Beary Merry and the owl from Lawn Fawn.

And this one is for Sage from my mom, using WPlus9's Winter Wonderland.

And here are the gifts, under my new Christmas tree (I picked it up

in November -- it's a display model at a store that was closing.

It's flocked and pre-lit and I love it!)

It makes me so happy when everything coordinates so well! :)

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for looking!

CAS(E) This Sketch #252

Today, I have a card to share that I made for

 CAS(E) This Sketch #252 designed by Chrissy Larson:

At first, I was a little stumped by this sketch, but then I remembered a piece
of Crate Paper patterned paper in my stash that would fit the bill.
Here's my card:

I trimmed my paper and adhered to a 4.25x5.5" piece of white cardstock.

I stamped the sentiment (from MFT) and heat embossed it in white

on a strip of coral cardstock.

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see the rest of the DT's takes on the sketch 

and to play along, if you'd like.

You have until Thursday, January 4th to link up your card.

Thanks for looking!

Essentials By Ellen December Pin-Sights Challenge -- Guest Artist

Today I am super excited to announce that I was asked to be a 

Guest Artist for one of my favourite challenges: 

 the Essentials by Ellen Pin-Sights Challenge!

The Essentials by Ellen Pin-Sights challenge is a monthly inspirational challenge based 

on a Colour Trend Inspirational Photo that is located on the CLASSroom blog. 

A random challenge participant will receive a $50 gift certificate to the Ellen Hutson store.  

To be eligible, you must use Essentials by Ellen products and 

the following photo badge as inspiration. 

There will be an inlinkz on the challenge post where you can submit your entries.

Here's the photo badge for December by which we are to be inspired:

Isn't it fun?

I was inspired by the photo in the bottom left hand corner, where all of the colours

seem to come from the middle of the design. 

I also wanted to use every colour from the strip on the right.

Here's my card:

I started off by diecutting my sentiment using MFT Stamps' Thanks die from white cardstock.

Then, I stamped images from Essentials By Ellen's Rustic Botanicals stamp set

in Altenew Moss, Mango Smoothie, Turquoise, Bamboo, Ruby Red, Sunkissed, 

Parrot, Starlight & Cotton Candy.

I hope you'll play along with this month's Essentials by Ellen Pin-Sights Challenge

-- I can't wait to see what you create!

Thanks for looking!

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12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist 2017

It's amazing to me how I am inspired by challenges!

I was wanting to wrap presents for my brothers, their significant others,

my nephew and my mom, which all needed to be mailed away.

So, I was in a hurry.

But, I wanted some cute tags to accompany my gifts (of course!)

I went on the Ellen Hutson Classroom Blog and saw their 12 Tags of Christmas 

with a Feminine Twist Challenge and was immediately inspired to make some quick tags.

The first one I made is for my nephew and is for the Day 3: Naturally Neutral Challenge:

I used a Papertrey Ink tag die, Mama Elephant Calli stamps for my nephew's name

and the little snowman from Neat & Tangled's Beary Merry.

For my next tag, I was inspired by Keeway Tsao's beautiful tags in Day 2: Silver & Gold:

I used a MFT snowflake and Reverse Confetti Flowers for Mom dies.

It's hard to tell in the photo, but the "mom" was diecut from gold cardstock.

And lastly, I used the Day 8: Challenge Sketch to make this tag:

I used a MFT circle die (& Fancy Pants patterned paper), a Reverse Confetti Branch Out

die and cork paper and the Mama Elephant Calli stamps.

I hand-lettered the ampersand.

Thanks for looking!

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge -- Pines

It's time for a new Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!

stillblog.net

Unfortunately, however, this will be the last Curtain Call Challenge,
as those running the challenge have decided to call it a wrap.
So, I hope you'll play along in our last challenge.

Please visit the Curtain Call Challenge Blog for all the challenge info and deadline.

Here's my card:

I decided to make a simple card, using some stamps from PTI's Bells & Boughs,

as well as MFT Fall Florals.

I stamped the "greetings" (from PTI Season's Greetings)

and diecut the coordinating die, onto which I blended green ink.

Make sure you visit each of the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge
 designers' blogs for more inspiration!
We have two guest designers for our last challenge and have invited past
members of the Curtain Call Design Team to play along for our Final Curtain Call.

Elizabeth Stewart, Paper Sweetness
Julie Gearinger, Stamping with Julie Gearinger

Amy Shaffer, Pickled Paper Designs

Amy Tsuruta, Tsuruta Designs

Betty Wright, Crafting With Betty
Kim Singdahlsen, Joyful Creations with Kim

Laurie Willison, Soapbox Creations
Lisa Henke, My Little Creative Escape

Lori Tecler, Inking Aloud

Lynn Mangan, My Mango Boys and Me

Marisa Ritzen, Rosemary Reflections

 Maureen Plut, buttons & bling

Melody Rupple, A Paper Melody

Monika Davis, M.A.D. Stamper

Sheri Gilson, Paper Crafty's Creations

Silke Ledlow, My Life

Tara Godfrey, Inking on the Edge

Tenia Nelson, Jazy Paper Designs
Tracey McNeely, In My Creative Opinion

Stop by the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Pines

for the challenge details and to play along with us!

Thanks for looking!

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CAS(E) This Sketch #251

Today, I have a card to share that I made for

 CAS(E) This Sketch #251 designed by Donna Mikasa:

Here's my card:

I stamped the flowers from Altenew's Floral Fantasy on my background

using Altenew inks.

I also stamped them onto their coordinating diecuts.

I created the panel using a Pretty Pink Posh Stitched die.

I stamped the sentiment in versamark (using PTI's Spring Woods)

and heat embossed it in white.

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see the rest of the DT's takes on the sketch 

and to play along, if you'd like.

You have until Thursday, December 21st to link up your card.

Thanks for looking!

Tag You're It #79 -- Guest Featured Artist

A couple of months ago, I was asked by my talented friend, Carol,

if I would be interested in being the Guest Featured Artist for the Tag You're It Challenge.

Some of you might remember that I was a member of the TYI Design Team a couple of years ago.

As this challenge holds a special place in my heart, I immediately accepted Carol's invitation.

And I'm extra glad I did, because it turns out that Tag You're It #79 will be their last challenge.

So I hope you'll play along while you still have the chance.

I bought some super pretty wrapping paper from Chapter's earlier this fall (click here, here & here),

so I decided to make a tag to coordinate with these lovely colours.

I started by diecutting my MFT snowflake from white cardstock and pressed the tips of

it into my versamark pad, so I could emboss them in gold.

I adhered it to a tag I created using PTI aqua mist cardstock and Tag Sale #5.

I stamped my sentiment (from PTI's Fillable Frames #10) in versamark and heat

embossed it in white on a strip of black cardstock.

Please visit Tag You're It #79 to see what the other designers were inspired to create

based on my tag, and to play along, if you'd like.

Thanks for looking!

Inspired By All the Little Things #76

Today, I have a card to share for 

Inspired By All the Little Things #76:

I was inspired by the blush, blue and gold colours on the dark background.

I decided to use my Wplus9 Southern Summer Florals 2 stamp set to make my card:

I stamped my flowers onto their coordinating diecuts in Altenew

Blush, Rough, Warm Sunshine and Caribbean Sky inks and layered them over a piece of 

grey cardstock that I stamped using my Concord & 9th Barnboard background stamp.

I clustered them together on my card front.

 I stamped my sentiment (from Simon Says Stamp's Big Scripty Sentiments) in versamark 

and heat embossed it in white.

Visit Inspired By All the Little Things to see the rest of the DT's takes 

on the inspiration photo and to play along, if you'd like.

You have until Friday, December 15th to link up your card.

Thanks for looking!

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Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge -- A Good Read -- Take Two

I have another card to share that I made using the current

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge -- A Good Read:

goodhousekeeping.com

Here's my card, using MFT's Our Story:

I started by stamping the stack of books (with a mask) and sentiment from Our Story onto my 

watercolour paper in versafine onyx black ink and heat embossing them in clear.

I coloured them in using my Zig Clean Colour Real Brush Markers and a water brush.

I trimmed out the side of my panel and layered it over a piece of Bazzill cardstock,

on which I stamped more books repeatedly, again using the mask.

Remember, there's still time to play along with this

 Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge.

Thanks for looking!

CAS(E) This Sketch #250

Today, I have a card to share that I made for

 CAS(E) This Sketch #250 designed by me:

I thought I had made a card for this sketch already,
but couldn't find it, so I quickly whipped up another one this week.
Here's my card:

Since I was in a hurry, I stamped the Adore You from Altenew images in Altenew Jet Black

and then, using my MISTI, rotated my card 180˚.

Then, I repeated this two more times, using leaves from Altenew's Floral Fantasy 

in Altenew Bamboo and Olive ink.

The Bamboo turned out too bright, so I stamped it a second time with 

some Altenew grey ink over top (again, the MISTI is a wonderful tool!)

I diecut the MFT thanks die from black cardstock.

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see the rest of the DT's takes on the sketch 

and to play along, if you'd like.

You have until Thursday, December 14th to link up your card.

Thanks for looking!

Inspired By All the Little Things #75

Today, I have a card to share for 

Inspired By All the Little Things #75:

I was inspired by the figure skates and the colours in the photo.

I decided to use my Papertrey Ink Winter Village stamp set to make my card,

as well as this week's Make It Monday #305: Love of Layers:

I stamped my images onto their coordinating diecuts in Altenew

Sea Breeze, Turquoise, Tide Blue, Starlight, Evening Grey & Morning Frost.

I diecut a large circle from a piece of Simon Says Stamp Woodgrain cardstock

and backed it with a piece of white cardstock, onto which I blended Sea Breeze ink

to make a skyline.

(Note: for my ice, I stamped it off first in Sea Breeze, before stamping it onto my diecut

for the lightest colour of blue.)

 I stamped my sentiment (from PTI's Winter Village) in versamark ink

onto a strip of cardstock, onto which I blended Starlight ink,

and diecut using my Get A Handle On It die.

Visit Inspired By All the Little Things to see the rest of the DT's takes 

on the inspiration photo and to play along, if you'd like.

You have until Friday, December 8th to link up your card.

Thanks for looking!

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