Happy Hanukkah!!!

Today is the first day of Hanukkah and I have a few friends who celebrate and wanted to make a few cards to share with them...

As you will see I was inspired by our first official snow day here in Ottawa :)

Card #1 I made with the sketch from Retro Sketches

Card #2 I made with the sketch from Seize the Sketch

Card #3 I made with the Merry Monday theme in mind

I am also entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge over at Inkspirational.


Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

I will be back a little later on to complete the card recipes... :)

The Kew's Advent Calendar :)

Well this is a project I really should have started a little earlier in November, but don't worry I will be done before December 1st :) Though it is not quite done I wanted to share a little sneak peek at the advent calendar I have created for our kiddos...

I love traditional Christmas colours and thus I chose to go with the combo being offered up at CAS this week! I am also entering this project in the Anything Goes challenge over at Inkspirational and the Holiday Tag-Stravaganza at Try Stampin' on a Tuesday!

My Challenge:

My Project:

Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

Project Recipe

Card Stock: Old Olive (textured), Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler (textured), Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip & Champagne Glimmer Paper
Inks: Chocolate Chip & Versamark
Stamps: Memorable Moments & Mosaic Madness
Embellishments: Basic Pearls, Cherry Cobbler 1" Grosgrain Stitched Edge Ribbon, Old Olive 1/8 Inch Taffeta Ribbon, Linen Thread & Gold Embossing Powder
Tools: Mosaic Punch, Envelop Punch Board, 1/2" Circle Punch, Hole Punch & MDS to create tags

My CASE Card at Technique Time Tuesday!

This month I am the hostess at Technique Time Tuesday which means I got to choose the technique we would experiment with and one that I had not tried which I have been wanting to test out is the Faux Frame Technique.

This technique is just PERFECT for bringing some of the focus to your stamped focal point or sentiment.

As the monthly hostess, I get to CASE a card from the linked creations.

It was a tough call with so many FABulous projects to choose from but in the end I went with the gorgeous card created by Brenda

Her frame was well executed and the floral embellishment along the left of the card was FABulous. There was so much texture and feel to this card I just had to create my own! Well done, Brenda :)

My Card: 

On the card I created I tried to mimic the texture of the background piece of card stock and of course wanted to make sure my flowers had a little bling in the centres also :)

If you have not linked up with us yet this month, don't worry you still have a few days left!!! Here is the link to our tutorial that Mynnette has created, we would LOVE to see what you have to share - PS: there is a FABulous prize up for grabs just in time for the Holidays!!! 

I am also entering this card in the colour challenge going on at Create with Connie & Mary & the Anything Goes challenge over at Inkspirational this week :)

Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

Card Recipe

Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand & Very Vanilla
Inks: Tangerine Tango, Sahara Sand & Always Artichoke
Stamps: Lots of Thanks & Secret Garden
Embellishments: Basic Pearls
Tools: Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Secret Garden Framelits Dies, Ovals Collection Framelits Dies, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Bird Builder Punch & Stampin' Sponges.

A Holiday Wish from My Kiddos!

Can you believe Christmas is officially 1 MONTH AWAY!!! 

I have come to LOVE Monday mornings because each Monday there is a fun new challenge over at MDS Monday and I am having sooo much fun learning new techniques and creating projects with these lovely ladies :) I am also entering this project in the Anything Goes challenge over at Inkspirational.

Photo credit to my lovely and talented sister in law Melissa Kew!

This week the *NEW* things I tried out were:

• making a punch from a stamp (as per the challenge this week!)
• cropping a stamp
• overlaying the cropped stamp on top of the punch I created to add a little colour!  

My Challenge:

My Project:

Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

Project created with Stampin' UP!s My Digital Studio Software

Background
     Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Joyful Times - designer series paper\Joyful Times - 11

Embellishments
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large

Stamps
    Something for Christmas\Something for Christmas - merry christmas, Color = OLD OLIVE 138,151,71
    Something for Christmas\Something for Christmas - ornament 2, Color = 0,0,0
    Something for Christmas\Something for Christmas - ornament 2

Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Joyful Times - designer series paper\Joyful Times - 11
    Borders\Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Fill Color = POOL PARTY 169,221,199
    Borders\Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Fill Color = POOL PARTY 169,221,199
    Extras\Flag Punch, Fill Color = VERY VANILLA 254,249,232
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Joyful Times - designer series paper\Joyful Times - 4
    Extras\Custom\Something for Christmas - ornament 2, Fill Color = CHERRY COBBLER 165,30,44

Photos
    C:\Users\MarkandHayley\Pictures\MelissakewPhotography-1386-2923329657-O
    C:\Users\MarkandHayley\Pictures\1 - Watermark

It's a GIRL!

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend! Besides 1 birthday party yesterday we have had a pretty quiet weekend and that is A OKAY with me :) 

I am working on a few little Christmasy projects at the moment but wanted to take a break to make a card for friends of ours who recently welcomed a sweet baby girl. 

For this card I am playing along with a few challenges... 

CAS(E) This Sketch: The Sketch

The Friday Mashup: Gingham & Crumb Cake

Seize the Birthday: Pink & 2 matching elements to help celebrate the birth of baby twin girls to a member of their design team, CONGRATULATIONS!!! :)

I am also entering this project in the Anything Goes challenge over at Inkspirational.
My Card:

Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

Card Recipe

Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Whisper White & Gingham Garden DSP
Inks: Blushing Bride & Versamark
Stamps: Papillon Potpouri & Delightful Dozen
Embellishments: Basic Pearls, Large Pearls & Melon Mambo Embossing Powder
Tools: Embossing Buddy. Heat Tool, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Floral Fusion Stampin' Up! Sizzlits Die & Little Leaves Stampin' Up! Sizzlits Die

A Snowy Birthday Card :)

Our son's little girlfriend's birthday party is this weekend and so he wanted me to make her a special card. He said she likes snow and so he wanted it to have snowflakes but he wanted it to be "girly" colours because she loves pink and purple, he said she also LOVES sparkly things...

This is what we came up with :) Some might say a bit of overkill but he loved it and so will she! 

For this card I used the sketch from Try Stampin' on a Tuesday.

My Challenge:

My Card:

Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

Card Recipe

Card Stock: Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Whisper White & Silver Glimmer Paper
Inks: Wisteria Wonder & Calypso Coral
Stamps: Festive Flurry & Wishes Your Way
Embellishments: Basic Rhinestones, Calypso Coral Bakers Twine & Frosted Finishes Embellishments
Tools: Festive Flurry Framelits Dies, Scallop Border Punch & Northern Flurry Embossing Folder

a little dash of Christmas!

WOW! I cannot believe what a nap my little lady is having today and my work is done for the day so I have been crafting up a storm :) Here is a card I created using The Freshly Made Sketches sketch & the colour combo at Dynamic Duos this week :)

This was my first experience with the Polymer stamps from Stampin' UP! and can I just say I AM IN LOVE!!! I was a little hesitant to try them as Polymer stamps I have used in the past I have not enjoyed working with but these ones are top quality and FABulous, I should have expected nothing less :)

My Challenges:

My Card:

Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

Card Recipe

Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Smokey Slate & Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink: Staz on Black & Smokey Slate
Stamps: Endless Wishes Polymer
Tools: Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder & Scallop Trim Border Punch

Stampers Club Project for November :)

We are getting there, part was through the week, half way to the weekend!

I wanted to share with you all the project we will be making this weekend at my Monthly Stampers Club. 

For this project I used the fun colour combo from The ColourQ. I came across a cute tutorial in my search for fun card folds and just HAD to test it out :)

My Challenge:

My Cards

Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

Card Recipe

Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Brights DSP Stack, Regals DSP Stack & Subtles DSP Stack
Inks: Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry & Soft Sky
Stamps: A Dozen Thoughts & Flower Shop
Embellishments: Large Pearls
Tools: Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Fancy Fan Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die, 1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch, 1-3/8 Inch Circle Punch, 2-3/8 Inch Scallop Circle Punch, 2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch & Pansy Punch

Thanksgiving Cracker Fun!!!

Popping in with a cute little project I have to share with you all today! I recently purchased the *NEW* Envelope Punch Board from Stampin' UP! and I AM IN LOVE!!! Not only can you make 60 different size envelopes which means you can make a whole bunch of fun new size cards but also there are SOOOOO many more uses for it which I am finding out :) 

I came across this tutorial on line and I knew it would be PERFECT for The Friday Mashup challenge this week and then realized it would also tie in with the challenge over at The Paper Players... 

As our American friends will be celebrating their Thanksgiving next week how fitting would it be to make a few of these to help finish off your table decor :)

My Challenges:

My Project:

Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

Project Recipe

Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Crushed Curry, Baked Brown Sugar & In Colour 1213-1215 DSP Stack
Inks: Crushed Curry & Early Espresso
Stamps: Lots of Thanks
Embellishments: Basic Pearls, Linen Thread & 7/16" Natural Trim Ribbon
Tools: Stampin' Sponge, Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Wood Grain Embossing Folder & Envelope Punch Board

Happy Hanukkah Bush!

It is a bit of a dreary day here in Ottawa so there were a few more challenges I wanted to play along with today to help brighten my day...

Merry Monday 

CASual Fridays & Curtain Call

My Card:

Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

Card Recipe

Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla & Champagne Glimmer Paper

Inks: Always Artichoke

Stamps: Mosaic Madness & Delightful Dozen

Embellishments: Basic Pearls

Tools: Mosaic Punch & Wood Grain Embossing Folder

MDS Monday ~ Holly, Jolly FUN!

Monday means more fun with MDS at MDS Monday! I was so very excited to wake up this morning to find out that I had been selected for the top honours last week at MDS Monday {big grin}! 

We had a wonderful weekend filled with Christmas Fun and so I wanted to make a page to share a few photos :)

The *NEW* technique I tried out on this page were paper ripping, using the free style tool to colour in the reindeer's noses, & adding text to line art. SOOO much to learn but SOOOOOO much fun!!!

My Challenge:

My Project:

Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

Project created with Stampin' UP!s My Digital Studio Software

Background
     Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Christmas Jingle - designer series paper\Christmas Jingle - paper 4

Embellishments
    Brads\Real Red - brad
    Naughty or Nice Bows - embellishments\Naughty or Nice Bows - gumball green dots
    Naughty or Nice Bows - embellishments\Naughty or Nice Bows - gumball green dots
    Naughty or Nice Bows - embellishments\Naughty or Nice Bows - gumball green dots
    Naughty or Nice Bows - embellishments\Naughty or Nice Bows - gumball green dots
    Naughty or Nice Bows - embellishments\Naughty or Nice Bows - gumball green dots
    Naughty or Nice Bows - embellishments\Naughty or Nice Bows - gumball green dots
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - rhinestone large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - rhinestone large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - rhinestone large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - rhinestone large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - rhinestone large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - rhinestone large

Stamps
    A Holly, Jolly Christmas\A Holly, Jolly Christmas - jolly christmas, Color = CHOCOLATE CHIP 104,73,71
    A Holly, Jolly Christmas\A Holly, Jolly Christmas - reindeer, Color = CHOCOLATE CHIP 104,73,71
    A Holly, Jolly Christmas\A Holly, Jolly Christmas - reindeer, Color = CHOCOLATE CHIP 104,73,71
    A Holly, Jolly Christmas\A Holly, Jolly Christmas - reindeer, Color = CHOCOLATE CHIP 104,73,71

Punches
    Labels & Tags\Tag Punch, Fill Color = 230,WATERMARK 255,255,255

Photos
    Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Christmas Jingle - designer series paper\Christmas Jingle - paper 2
    Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Christmas Jingle - designer series paper\Real Red Small Polka Dot
    C:\Users\MarkandHayley\Pictures\November 16, 2013 (31)
    C:\Users\MarkandHayley\Pictures\November 17, 2013 (6)
    C:\Users\MarkandHayley\Pictures\November 16, 2013 (19)
    C:\Users\MarkandHayley\Pictures\November 16, 2013 (35)
    C:\Users\MarkandHayley\Pictures\November 17, 2013 (25)
    C:\Users\MarkandHayley\Pictures\1 - Watermark (re-colored) Color = REAL RED 199,44,58

Sunday Stamps ~ Happy Hanukkah #1 of 9 :)

Back with my Sunday Stamps post for the next challenge... Heidi from RunningwScissors Stamper has joined us this week, and Lisa from The Mane Idea, as well as Sara from Simply Sara Stampin' :) Make sure you pop by and say hello!

This is card #1 of 9 that I have made for a good friend of ours. For the past several years I have meant to make special cards for him but each year he ended up with just one "holiday" card :)

We would love for you to join us! Feel free to use any brand of products you like. Please provide a link back to us in your post. We have switched to a bi weekly challenge so you will have 2 weeks to play along! The deadline to submit your creation is Friday, November 29th at 6 pm EST.

My Card:

Take the time to let your creativity bloom!

Card Recipe

Card Stock: Old Olive & Whisper White

Inks: Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise & Basic Gray

Stamps: Delightful Dozen & Mosaic Madness

Embellishments: Basic Rhinestones

Tools: Mosaic Punch

Would love for you to stop by and say hello to the rest of the Sunday Stamps Team! 

Holly (Challenge Creator) / Joan / Steph / Kathya / Brenda / Marie