Christmas Projects 2016

Merry Christmas everyone! I know, Christmas was yesterday, but as usual, I'm a bit late...lol! I made quite a few projects the year, unfortunately I failed to take very many pictures, but I did manage to take a few before sending them on their merry way. Here are the ones that I managed to get pictures of this year.

First up is a cross stitch project that I made for my Secret Santa at work this year, who was one of the custodians, and he is very much into the Rolling Stones. Incidentally he was my SS last year as well, and I was able to find him a key fob on Etsy with the RS logo, and such, on it. However, this year I wasn't able to find anything that really grabbed me, until I ran across this pattern of the RS logo for cross stitching while perusing Pinterest. I hunted around my stash for just the right color red, and set out on my adventure of trying to get it done in just a few days. Things where going great, until I reached the last few stitches of red, and ran out of thread. I didn't know what I was going to do, so I thought about who around my neighborhood might have embroidery thread, and I immediately thought of my next door neighbor, who is into crafts as well. I asked her if she had that same color, and sure enough, she had it....I was saved! I was able to finish the project and was able to give it to him on the day we where to reveal ourselves, and he loved it. He showed me a picture the next day of it hanging over his music room door. I thought that was so cool, and was very glad he liked it.

Here is the link to the pattern if anyone is interested in making one of these for themselves, http://www.alexstitches.com/index.php/Logos/Rolling-Stones-logo-free-small-cross-stitch-pattern

Next up is a little Christmas tree that I had made from another idea I got off a site I found on Pinterest. I also gave this to my SS, the day before I gave him the cross stitching. He said he had an idea it was me, because it looked like something someone had made, I told him I'm not the only crafty person on campus...lol!

Here is the link to this project as well, http://lacalledelaabuela.blogspot.com.es/2012/12/arbol-de-navidad-con-tricotin.html. I made another one that as well as the bells, I added some ornament buttons to it and gave it to my sister, but sadly, I forgot to take a picture of it, but if she still has it out the next time I visit I'll take a pic and post it at a later day.

Lastly, here are a couple of  quilted ornaments that I made from directions I found, again, on Pinterest. These I made for a couple of my classroom co-workers. I was really pleased at how they turned out, and I will definitely be making more of these in the future.

Here is the link to the directions on these ornaments for anyone interested in checking out how to make them, http://www.sewmccool.com/no-sew-quilted-ball-ornament/

Gotta love Pinterest for some fabulous ideas, I don't know how many times I've turned to it when in need for an idea on many different projects that I've done.

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the project that I've made this year, and I would love to hear what you think about them...:-)

My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge: Sketch 308

Hello there! Tonight I am posting a card that I made for he latest sketch challenge for My Favorite Things, using this sketch.



Here is the card that I made for the challenge.

MFT products used are, Tag Builder Blueprints #6 and BB Santa's Elves stamp set. This challenge is for a prize of up to $20.00 to spend at the MFT store, so I had to jump on it...:-)  I hope you enjoy this card as much as I did making it.

Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge #215: Pink/Silver or Grey

This week on Merry Monday the challenge is to make a Christmas card using light and dark pink, and either use silver or grey along with it. Here is what I created for the challenge.

I wanted to use some of the stamps from a stamp set I just purchased, Cute Snowflakes, from Simon Says Stamp. To make the background piece,  I randomly stamped one of the snowflakes on a piece of white card stock with Versamark, several times around the paper, added pink and silver embossing powder, and heat set them. I also wanted to try out the new ornament die that I purchased as well from SSS, Lulu Ornament,  and embossed that as well with silver embossing powder, then added pink rhinestones, and silver string tied in a bow, and attached it to the pink card. I then embossed a sentiment that I had in my stash with the same silver embossing powder, added some snowflake Dazzles, then matted it with silver card stock.

I don't use these colors very often when making Christmas cards, but I think this card turned out great, and is surely on my favorites that I've made so far this season.

My Favorite Things Superstar Card Design Contest Entry #3

Here is my third entry for the MFT Card Design Superstar contest.

For this card I decided to use the MFT Santa's Elves set, by Birdie Brown. This is another one I fell in love with, and just " had" to have! I  used one of the Inside and Out rectangle dies for the frame of the shaker, and accented the tree with Dazzles, and also used some of the new Snowflake Dazzles as well. For the inside of my shaker, I used sequins, stars, and micro beads that I had in my stash.

I really had a lot of fun with this card, and I'm sure I'll have a lot more cards made with this stamp set for my Christmas cards this year.

My Favorite Things Superstar Card Design Contest Entry #2

Here is my third entry for the MFT Superstar Card Design Contest.


For this card, I chose another set of stamps that I just recently purchased from MFT, Magical Dragons, this was also one of my " must have" stamp sets. For those who know me well, I don't think I need to tell you why I fell in love with this set, but for those who don't, I just love dragons, and I had to have these...lol!

I wanted a rainbow for my card, so I made one using the Inside and Out circle die set, I did this by cutting out each circle with a different color of the rainbow, I adhered them all to a solid circle that I cut out with the largest die, then I cut that piece in half, this left me with two rainbows that I can use, one for this card, and one to use at a later date.  I made the clouds using the smoke puff stamps that came with the stamp set, and traced the swirls with stickles, to give them some sparkle. I adhered them under the rainbow, using dimensional  tape on every other one. I stamped and colored my little dragons with Copic markers, then adhered them to the clouds. I stamped one of the sentiments that came with the set underneath my images. I added this all on top of a piece of cloud design paper, matted it with blue card stock, and added it to the card base.

I really enjoyed making this card, and think it turned out real cute. Can't wait to make more projects with this stamp set.

My Favorite Things: Super Star Contest

MFT is at it again, with another contest, and I love contests...lol! This time they are sponsoring a design contest, with a prize of 250.00 MFT store voucher. for more details, click here.

For my entry, I chose to use the Beary Special Birthday stamp set for my stamped images.

I colored my images using Copic markers, cut them out, and adhered them with dimensional tape. The heart balloon I cut using MFT Heart Balloons dies, using DCWV Glitzy Glitter card stock, attached it with dimensional tape, and I added a piece of red and white baker's twine from the balloon to the gifts down bellow. I cut out a zigzag border using the same glitter card stock and the narrowest zigzag from the MFT Chevron Stripes Die-namics die set. The party hat I stamped on red with white polka dot paper, and cut it out with scissors. For the yellow background panel, and the blue, red and green panels sticking out from the side, I used the MFT Inside/Out Stitched Rectangles. I added some silver border stickers to add a little touch to the smaller rectangles.

As always, I had a lot of fun making this card, Up to three entries are aloud in the contest, so I will surely be making more cards to enter.

MFT Camp Create: Single Layer Savvy

MFT farewell bonfire, Single Layer Bonfire.



For this bonus challenge, participants where to make a single layer creation.

This had to be my favorite challenge, because I got to use my "favorite stamp set for the moment" again...:-) I really enjoyed all the layering, even though I might have made a little mistake, can you find it?...lol!

MFT Camp Create: Stunning Shadow Stamping

   




















For this technique, we where to make a shadow effect using solid stamps and 2 different colored inks. I didn't have any stamps that where completely solid, but this stamp that I found in my stash was as close as I could get. I don't know how close to the effect I got, but I think it turned out pretty cool anyway.

 I sure had a lot of fun doing all these MFT Camp Create challenges, and I'll be sure to do it again if they have it next year...:-)

MFT Camp Create:Devine Dry Embossing

For the 4th day of camp, Devine Dry Embossing is the featured technique.

I used one of the De Lites dies from Spellbinders, and added some die cut flowers to the edge to tie in with the colors in the background paper. This technique give more possibilities to dies that ordinarily would only be used for cutting. Now on to the last day of camp!

MFT Camp Created: Remarkable Resist

This is my entry for day three of the My Favorite Things Camp Create, which is Remarkable Resist.

I just received a package of items that I ordered from MFT, and in it was included the Diamonds and Dots Border stamp set, and I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to use one of the stamps from the set. I chose to use the dotted diamond border. I stamped and embossed a piece of white card stock using Versamark embossing ink, and made a continuous pattern across the whole piece using my home made stamping tool to help me position it as I went, then embossed it with clear embossing powder.. After I heat set it, I inked all the way across the whole piece using an ink dauber and alternating green and blue ink. I then stamped an embossed images from the Paper Trey Ink's, Doodlie Do stamp set, inked them as well, cut them out, then applied them to the top of my background piece.

I really had fun making this card, I just love this technique! See you on the next challenge!

MFT Camp Create: Awesome Ombre

It's day 2 for the My Favorite Things 3rd Camp Create, well, at least this is my entry for it, the actual day was several days ago...lol! Oh well, just got to beat the deadline...lol!

I couldn't wait to use my new My Favorite Things, Heart Balloon dies, so I decided I would make my card using some cut out hearts, and coloring them with the ombre technique. I used a sponge dauber and ink, inking it lightly all over, then gradually getting darker as I got to the bottom of each balloon. I got the gift and the sentiment from the MFT Beary Special Birthday stamp set, which has become one of my favorite stamp sets at the moment. Thanks for stopping by, and now on to the next post....:-)

MFT Camp Create: Monochromatic Magic

Hi everyone, My Favorite Things are at it again with another Camp Create week, and this will be the final one for the summer. Monochrome is the technique for the first day of this week's camp.








Here is the card I created using shades of purple. I stamped these wheat sprigs onto purple paper, then added the sentiment in that same purple ink. I know it's hard to see in this picture, but I used a purple Gelly Roll pen to add sparkle to the sprigs on the image. I also used purple metallic paper to make the main piece pop out a little more. Now on to the next camp project!

Curtain Call July 15 Challenge: Unicorn

Hi everyone! I have finally decided to join in one of the inspiration challenges at Curtain Call. Twice a month they post a picture and participants are to use it for inspiration.

Here is the photo for the latest challenge.



Here is the card I made for the challenge.

I didn't have any unicorns, and I wasn't sure if I had to have one, but I decided to go on a hunt for one. I scoured the internet for just the right one, and after centuries, well, maybe not quite that long, I found this one, by Whimsie Doodles. I realized the one I found was actually one that one of the designers, Sheri Gilson, had used for her card, and if I had paid more attention, I would have saved myself a lot of time...lol!

I decided to use the Ring Frame, from Simon Says Stamp, using the colors I saw in the picture. I adhered it on a piece of white card stock that I embossed with a Sizzix Stampin Up embossing folder.  I copied two of the unicorns, flipping one the other way, so I could have them facing the opposite directions on top of the die cut. I adhered them with dimensional tape. I then printed the sentiment that came with the unicorns, cut it to size, inked the edges, the adhered it to the top of my card.

I really love this card, I love the colors, and those unicorns are just too cute. I think I can honestly say this may be one of my favorites that I have made so far. Let me know what you think.

My Favorite Things Camp Create: Coloring On Kraft

I have never colored on kraft paper before, so this challenge was a little different.

I wanted to use a stamp that I either hadn't used in a while, or never used at all, and I chose this one, that I've never used before. I stamped the image twice in different directions on a piece of kraft cardstock, then colored them with colored pencils in blue and purple. I added a sentiment using dimensional tape, then added some Jewel Dazzles as an accent.

My Favorite Things: Inlaid Maid Easy

For this challenge, participants were to make a project using the inlaid techneque.

I chose to use some Spellbinder butterfly dies that I had for this project. I cut out the butterflies on orange and white polka dot paper, then cut them out again in the yellow card stock where I wanted the butterflies to be on my card, then embossed it with my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots folder, then adhered it to my card base. I inlaid the orange butterflies into the cut spaces, and added buttons in the middle of each for their bodies. The sentiment is from a stamp set I had in my stash.

My Favorite Things Camp Create: Background Bonanza

Hi everyone! For this challenge, participants where asked to make a background using stamps.

To make my background, I chose to use the same stamp throughout, then colored the images in pale purple, then added some sparkly purple Gelly Roll to add some color and sparkle, which is hard to see in the picture. I matted that piece with silver card stock, then added it on top of a piece of blue card stock that I added to my card base. I originally made the stamped piece larger, but messed up on part of it after I had most of it colored, and I didn't want to waste it, so I cut it down. I really liked the way this piece looked how it was, and decided I would leave it as is, and not add anything on top of it, and added my sentiment underneath.

I think using stamps are a good way to make a backgrounds when you don't have exactly what you want in designer paper.

My Favorite Things Camp Create: Magnificent Masking

For this challenge, we are to use the masking technique.

I chose to make a mask using a sloped edge die, making snow drifts by placing the mask toward the top of my background piece, inking the edges by dabbing an ink dauber with ink, and rubbing across the edges, then work in my way down, alternating blue and lavender ink. I then added a heat embossed tree that I had in my Christmas stamp stash with white embossing powder, added some Jewel Dazzles to the tree, for a little bling, then adding little embossed dots scattered around to resemble falling snow. I added my sentiment to the bottom corner, then matted it with silver card stock.

Although it took me a while to make the snow drifts, I really enjoyed making this card, and thought it turned out very well, and will probably be using this technique again in the future.

MFT Camp Create: Fantastic Foiling

Hi everyone, My Favorite Things is having another Camp Create 5 day challenge, with lots of great prizes to be won. The first day's challenge is " Fantastic Foiling". Here is the card that I made for this challenge, and as usual, I'm trying to play catch up...lol!

For this challenge, participants where to use foil somewhere on their project, or some other metallic material if they didn't have foil. I chose to make a shaker using a Spellbinder's Ornament die. For my metallic element, I used metallic card stock for the top of the ornament, and the scallops along the bottom edge, and if you look real closely, you can spot some little silver stars inside the shaker.

My Favorite Things Camp Create: Spectacular Shakers

The last technique for this challenge is to make a shaker card

For this card, I used a film strip die, and my fuse tool. I used the film strip cut as a guide, I made my shakers using the page protector method. I'm still not sure which technique I like best, but if I need a card to be somewhat flat, for shipping, I think I would prefer this method over the traditional dimensional tape method.

I made a rectangle slightly smaller than the film strip with the fuse tool and a page protecter, leaving the top un fused. I cut around the outside edges of the fuse, leaving a little extra at the top where the open end was. I added little bits that I die cut from a couple different confetti dies that I have, and some seed beads, then fusing each section closed as I went using the strip as a guide, then sealed up the top end after adding the last bits in it. I used the insides of the film strip for the squares to the side of the strip that are on my card, and used some of the confetti as embellishments for them. It took a little while to do this, but I really satisfied with the results.

My Favorite Things Camp Create: Delightful Die Cutting

This challenge was to use die cuts in our project.

For this project, I used a rainbow and cloud die set that I had. I cut out the rainbow several times with different colors, and made several different rainbows to make several cards with. I positioned them together and taped them together, then added the cut out clouds, then adhered them to my cloud background piece, which I made using a cloud embossing folder, and inking it with blue ink. I then added a sentiment to the bottom of the card that I had in my stash.

It took a while to cut out all the rainbows, but I now have lots of rainbows to use for other cards.

Now on to the last challenge...:-)

My Favorite Things Camp Create: Wonderful Watercolor

For the third day of camp, the challenge was to make a project using water color.

To make my card, I first stamped the flower motifs on watercolor paper using my Versamark embossing pad, sprinkled it with white embossing powder, then heat set it. I then chose  two of my Tim Holtz Distress Ink pads, Festive Berries, and Wild Honey, blotted them on my craft sheet, spritzed them with a bit of water, and with a brush, I colored over the piece, first one color, then the next. The embossed flowers really seemed to pop out! I then embossed and colored one of the larger flowers in the set, using the same method, then cut it out, leaving a little of the white edge around it. I added a piece of ribbon across the paper, then adhered my large flower with dimensional tape. I decided my flower needed something extra, so I applied a piece of washi tape to a piece of white card stock, then cut it out with a circle die, and adhered it to the middle of my flower.

I really liked the way this one turned out, and had a lot of fun with it.

My Favorite Things Camp Create: Sensational Sliders

The second day challenge was to make a slider card.




This was a more of a challenge than some of the other challenges, because I've never made a slider card before. I really enjoyed figuring out how to put this together, and making it all work.

The star on this card slides around in between the circles, and even spins. I didn't have any of the cool slider products that MFT has, so I used the penny technique, which worked out great. I really had a lot of fun making this, and I'm sure whoever I decide to give this to will have fun playing with it.

My Favorite Things Camp Create: Glitzy Glitter

This week at the MFT blog they have been having a challenge called " Camp Create". Each day they are featuring a different technique. There are different prizes and several ways that participants can enter the contest. The first day's challenge was to make a project using glitter.

This is a birthday card that I made, that I made little gift bags for, using rectangles made out of chevron paper, each in a different color, and glued a handle on the back of each made out of bakers twine. For the tissue paper inside the bags, I gathered up pieces of tulle, adhered them to the back of the rectangles, making sure that they stuck up out of the top of the bag, giving the effect of tissue paper peeking out of the top. I then added glitter to the white part of the chevron patterns, giving them a shimmery sparkle.

I'm not sure who I will give this card to right now, but it's nice to have extra cards around for different occasions to use for the spur of the moment.