December 2013 Sketchy Challenge

Wow, how did December fly by so quick?!!! In November I felt like I had everything under control and now I feel like I'm scrambling.  But, of course, I have a list (a long list) so I feel like I'm progressing :).

I just had to make a layout for the December Sketchy Challenge at Canadian Scrapbooker, and I pulled out some pics I just took after an early November snow this year when the girls headed outside to play. 

Erica is so excited to get outside and experience snow, since, of course, she doesn't remember last winter! It is very exciting to say the least.  

The background paper is from the Heidi Swapp Believe collection, and the smaller patterned papers are from the Simon Says Stamp December card kit. I also used the stencil from this kit and sponged snowflakes with Distress Ink, as well as the really cute mitten stamps from the kit.

I stamped the mittens on striped paper, then the little heart stamps in the set on the mittens and used a white gel pen to highlight the zigzags. 

I used some snowflake die cuts from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, which I sponged with Distress Ink and added Stickles to.  The letters are by Kelly Purkey, included in the SSS December kit.

The little tags are cut out of the Heidi Swapp paper.

 



 Just love this little snowflake stencil, which came in the SSS Dec kit!

 



I think the snow is here to stay so I can foresee lots of snow pages this year!

Challenges:
Canadian Scrapbooker - December Sketch
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Bling it on (use something sparkly!)
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Use a stamp

Happy Holidays,
Karla

Holiday Sketch



I recently picked up the Believe Christmas paper by Heidi Swapp and I just love it! I used the sketch at Die Cuttin Divas to create this cute card and used this paper pack.  The gingerbread man and scalloped rectangle is a cut from Just Because Cards Cricut Cartridge. 

I added the white icing with a Gellyroll white pen and used black Enamel Accents for the eyes.  I had to have some Stickles on there, of course, and used them for his mouth and buttons.

 

Hope you are all enjoying the Holiday Season - I must start mailing out some of these cards now!

Happy Crafting,
Karla

Snowflakes and Mittens

There is a great sketch right now at Die-Cuttin Divas. I pulled out the snowflake stencil from my Simon Says December 2013 card kit and sponged with Distress Inks to create a cool background.  The so cute little mitten stamps came with the kit as well, and I stamped on some AC cardstock, which has texture on one side, creating a neat fabric effect when stamped on.

I die-cut the scalloped rectangle from the Just Because Cards cartridge and sponged a little ink around the edges before popping it up with some foam dots.

 

 

Challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - make your own background

Die Cuttin Divas - Sketch Challenge





Snowflake Stencilled Card

I am really enjoying the Simon Says December Card Kit! It is the first kit I have received from them and am so pleased with it.  I love that there are so many samples and videos from their amazing design team to get ideas from, and there are enough supplies to make a lot of cards!

For this card I used May Flaum's example - this cute snowflake stencil is amazing! I used Distress Ink to sponge over the stencil, around the sentiment (also included in the kit) to create a background.

 The pretty little sequins are perfect for adding to cards and I stuck them on with Glossy Accents. Simon Says Wednesday Challenge this week is to create a background without using patterned papers - so I think this qualifies :)

The next card I make was inspired by a video by Nichol Magouirk, using the supplies in this kit.  I used the pretty polkadot paper included in the kit and stamped the string, mittens, and hearts on white cardstock. As you can see we have started opening the Lego Friends' Advent Calendar...

 

I used a white gel pen to create dots on the hearts and scattered the sequins around, gluing with Glossy Accents. I popped up the stamped piece as well as the sentiment banner, both sponged with pink Distress Ink.



 You can check out the gallery at Simon Says Stamp to see more inspiration!

Happy crafting!
Karla

Blueprint Christmas Tags

I just love these Tim Holtz blueprint stamps! I decided to try out my new Distress Markers (Christmas gift to myself!) and thought they would make cute tag fronts.

I first stamped with Archival ink in black on watercolour paper and then used the Distress Markers to watercolour in the images.  I absolutely love how these markers blend.  I still really like my Tombows, but these are much softer colours and give a completely different look.

After colouring the images in I sponged on Distress Ink around the edges and tied on some Baker's Twine.

 



This week's challenge at Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Blog is to create a background without using patterned papers.  Check out the amazing samples the design team has put together!

Snow Globe Make 'n Take

The Make 'n Take I did this week was an amazingly cute Snow Globe card that was die-cut with Impression Obsession dies. The background was a stamp we coloured in with Tombow markers and then placed these adorable little deer onto.  We then covered the globe with acetate that had been die-cut the same size and embossed with the Swiss Dots folder.

We used Stazon to stamp JOY onto the gold metallic paper and added a couple gems.

 
A snow scene fitting for Calgary right now! We have a lot of snow and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere for a while.

Happy Crafting,
Karla

Card Gift Set

I saw the November sketch on the Scrapbooker's Paradise blog and thought it would be perfect to create a set of cards that I could give as part of a teacher gift.  I didn't quite finish quick enough to enter it into their challenge, but definitely wanted to share none the same!

I used my 6x6 paper pads - I don't know how I lived without these before! and stamped images that I had in my stash, all watercoloured with Tombow markers, waiting for me to pull them out. The zigzag stamp is one of Dyan Reaveley's and I added some rub-ons on the right corner and a Tim Holtz Chit-Chat sticker on the top left. I left the insides blank so the recipient could write her own message.

I love the look of the rounded corners!

 

 



Since we are into the countdown to Christmas, and this being one gift I can check off my list, I'm entering into Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Countdown to the Holidays and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes!