Crafty Creations 100th Blog Hop and give away!

Hey there!  It's Crafty Creations  100th challenge BLOG HOP filled with lots of  prizes and of course a challenge! We've been planning this celebration for a while; we wanted a special way to say THANK YOU to our weekly players!

We've had many fabulous sponsors along the way, and we know we couldn't have done it without them too. We invited them to join in our celebration and they have generously offered amazing prizes for our blog hop and challenge winners!! If you pop over to the Crafty Creation Blog you will find a list of all the fantastic prizes.

You should have arrived from Crafty Creations blog. If you did, great!   Please be sure to stop by each members blog and leave a comment for a chance to win.   You will then finish at Crafty Creations where you should leave a final comment.  You can always go back to Crafty Creations if you get lost or would like to see the entire list of participants. 

Our challenge to you is to combine 3 elements:

1. the sketch

     2. these colours below:

                         3. a recycled element: ribbon for my card

I used a recycled ribbon from a Christmas gift paired with two great digital sites that offer fabulous images for your paper and digital crafts.  

Black Leaf Studios generously donated the Christmasy set for me to make my card and is offering the entire set of 7 images as one of the grand prizes we are offering.  I colored in the reindeer with ink and then used brown flocking powder for the body.  I added silver horns with fine glitter.

The sentiment is from The Cutting Cafe  and Regina has graciously offered 3 sets of the winner's choice by simply leaving me a comment here.  Yeah!  What an awesome prize!  The winner will be selected on January 11th and announced on the Crafty Creations blog.  **The challenge lasts for two weeks. *

 You will find full details of the challenge requirements, all the sponsors and the fabulous prizes on offer at Crafty Creations blog! But for now, your next step on the BLOG HOP IS..

BERNIE

don't forget to leave a comment on all the blogs for a chance to win!  :-) Winner announced on Jan.11th at Crafty Creations blog.

Sentimental Sundays and winner announced!

Happy Boxing day!  Living with a Brit has taught me about this event.  I don't think we have ever had a proper celebration but at least I am aware of it.  :-)  It's really quiet in the house and I am watching the snow fall.  It's very peaceful and beautiful.  Until I have to go out and shovel it that is.  I am going to make crawfish Monica for dinner so that will be a treat.  I so love NOLA food, it's spicy!  It's basically pasta in a creamy sauce with lots of green onions and Cajun seasoning and of course crawfish.  Read lots of calories.    The recipe is at the bottom of this post.
So did those celebrating Christmas have a joyous day?  I was grateful to slow down and relax.  Always like the chance to catch up on events and just sit.  Christmas Eve is spent with my family and a huge feast that is always delicious.  The kids head down to the basement and play while the adults mix and mingle getting dinner preparations ready.  There is more food than 18 of us could ever eat.  I think my Mom and Dad try to have something for everyone.  My DD does not eat red meat (like her Mama) so they prepared a turkey for her.  It was brined and cooked on the grill.  I did not eat any because not a huge meat eater but dove into the veggies and bread.  They also fixed  prime rib and had southern salted ham.  I think Simon was in red meat heaven. 
Today sets a new challenge at Sentimental Sundays for cards with the theme, "Baby."  I used the Bundle of Joy sentiment and image.  I think this baby is just the cutest with his curly cue. 

Once again, I pulled some paper tidbits out to create this.  It's Sass Lass pattern papers paired with Recollections cardstock.  The card base is a textured card from Jo Ann's that I bought too long ago to remember.  The cardstock sticker is Sass Lass and  I used my Crop a dile to punch holes in the scallops.  The white grosgrain ribbon was recycled from a gift and then I used some Dress It Up buttons and Martha Stewart baker's twine to tie together.  That's it.  Pretty easy and simple.  Please stop by the blog and visit the other DT's to leave some love. 
I used Card Patterns sketch #96.

I have a winner of the huge priority mail box give away as promised!  The random number selected was.... #5
Creativedawn with this comment:


You make such fabulously beautiful art! I would love some papers and such...maybe I'll spend some time with paper, eh...lol! Count me in! Thanks for the chance.



MERRY CHRISTMAS!



hugz

Pam

Thanks Pam!  Please send me an email with your mailing address so I get that box out to you.  :-)  Thanks to everyone who commented.  I will have another give away this week for the Crafty Creations 100th blog celebration so please check back on Wednesday for details!



Crawfish Monica
1 1/2 lbs. rotelle pasta cooked al dente
8 oz. butter
1 1/2 quarts of heavy cream
3 tbs. of Cajun seasoning
1 cup chopped green onions
1 1/2 lbs. crawfish tails (can use shrimp also)

Heat butter in skillet until bubbly hot.  Add seasoning and sitr.  Add heavy cream and cook until reduced by half.  Add green onions, pasta, and crawfish.  Heat through.

Are you ready for Christmas?

I'm not quite ready. I managed to snag a cold (?) which kept me down yesterday.  But today I have to get out.   Especially after reading the latest forecast which predicts we are going to have a very white Christmas.  Like maybe 15 inches of white fluffy stuff?  I bet the stores are bare.  I will take my chances.  I am awaiting the arrival of my DD to ask how her last day of school went and then heading out.  I actually have to mail some Christmas cards. 

Today I would like to share a non Christmas card.  It was nice to take a break. 

This is for Crafty Creations latest challenge: Angels.  We are sponsored  by Wink Wink Ink, the maker of super cute digital images.  Please be sure to join us for your chance to win the $15 gift certificate to their store. 
I used lots of PTI products on this.  I adore the vintage distressing inks.  You have to buy these if you like the aged look. 
Challenges I would like to apply this card to:
All Sorts: #83 Free and Easy
Card Patterns:#95 sketch
Crafty Creations: #99 Angels
Sugar Sweet Paper Treats: Anything Goes
The Crafty Pad: Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday: Get Embellishing
Not sure if I will get back on here prior to Christmas so want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and don't forget that there is still time to enter my give away!  Check it out here!

Silver holiday highlights

Hello and hope you are having a blessed Sunday!
I am back with my latest card for Sentimental Sundays.  This week's theme is "Inspired by a Song."  I have the Irving Berlin song, "Happy Holidays" stuck in my head and find myself singing it as I work around the house, run errands, and even in the shower.  Anyone else sing in the shower? Another confession from me.  ;-)
Anyhow, I printed the Raindrop Echo  sentiment which was surrounded by a frame and cut it out.  You can find the sentiment here.   Next I matted a black piece of cardstock behind it and then add some glitter for sparkle. 

I stamped the background with a grey snowflake and then added Stickles in the centers which you can't see too well here.  I cut a piece of my flocked  wrapping paper and tried twine around it with a single bell.  Which leads up to the large felt piece I hand cut and stitched to resemble a snowflake.  I added pearls and buttons for accents. I love the elegance of this card with a touch of whimsy.  It was fun to create!
Challenges for this card:
Digital Tuesday: #89 digi image and Christmas
Ellephantastic: #21 Christmas
Fussy and Fancy: Show Us Some Snow
MSW: Lisa's Wrap It Up
Paper Sundaes: #49  Cut It Out-hand cut the snowflake
Raise the Bar: #19  SNOW=silver, no ribbon, one designer paper, and wording
S2G: #86 Holiday Season and flocking (wrapping paper is black flocking)  I so want to win the adorable hippo image seen here. 
Top Tip Tuesday: Christmas Inspired
TSTR: #40 Use felt

Don't forget about my  huge Priority Mail box give away filled with all things related to scrapping and paper crafting!  You have until the 25th to enter.  Just leave me a comment here.

Full of Wonder and delight!

Hey there!  I hope you are staying warm or cool in your part of the woods.  We are freezing here in VA with temps in the 20's.  We had a light snow dusting Sunday evening which was pretty and awoke to it covering the ground but it melted by 11 AM on Monday.  A nice snow for me.  :-)
I have my Crafty Creations card for today.  This week was an inspirational photo found here.  I started using pink as the main color but somehow the green took over.  I used a darker pink to make it pop. 

I used OCC's sketch for this week which you can find here.   I combined it with a few more challenges from the Crazy Challenge #45  which was to use 3 pattern papers, Lexi's Creations is glitter and pearls, and Crafty Your Days Away is use your punches.

I participated in Georgie's Secret Santa Swap and this year she did the coolest thing!  She asked us to blog what we sent our partners and they have to visit every one's blog to find out whom their Secret Santa is.  Below are my pictures from the swap.

My  recipient loves Victoria Secret and rarely buys anything for herself there.  I opted to make this the main gift for her and included a gift card so she could go pick out something she likes. 

 I also included some lotions with yummy scents like gumdrop and lollipop.  These are thick body creams.  The "Bling In the Holidays" is a cozy to keep that drink warm (or cool) for the season.

I shared this Victorian themed card I made a while back on my blog.  Inside holds a Victoria Secret's discount card  which she can use with her gift card.  I sent her some candy which you can't see but it's wrapped up , chocolate mint candy canes, and a candy cane pen.  I hope she likes!  It was fun getting it together for her.  Wishing  a blessed holiday season to my Secret Santa partner!  

Finally I have my advent matchboxes to share.  I think I left off at 12 so
#13 comes from Angela with this Victorian inspired box.  Love the stick pin number and the pearl for the handle.

 My daughter loves this snowflake bracelet she made.   I do too because red is my favorite color and silver is my jewelry preference.  Much appreciation Angela!
#14 is by Angela

 another Victorian inspired box with an adorable "Noel" bottle cap magnet inside.  Isn't the tiny candy cane sweet?  Thank you!
#15 is a Saint Nick themed box with Dresden accents by Bonnie  Ohhh! 

 Inside she placed a small square felt ornament she hand stitched.  Lovely Bonnie!

Don't forget about my "give away" which you can find here.  Just leave a comment and I will draw a name after Christmas.  Thanks for stopping by!

Let It Snow and please help me dehoard by entering my giveaway!

So we had really cold weather for a week straight with zippy precipitation.  Now the temp has risen and we have rain.  It did snow last night which was a pretty sight even if it didn't stick and was barely visible to the naked eye. 
At Sentimental Sundays our challenge this week is "Let It Snow" and we designers have whipped up some snowy creations to share with you. 

I think I mentioned my "dehoarding" attempt a few posts back?  I am really striving to use my paper stash and  I packaged up lots of stuff I am not using and was wondering if anyone would like a chance to own it?  I would love to "gift" it to someone whom doesn't mind a bit of older product.  I have almost filled a large priority mail box with paper and all kinds of embellishments and plan on adding more over the next week.If you are interested, please leave me a comment stating so and I will draw a random name December 26th.  One day after Christmas because I am going to be crazy busy until that time.  Just to let you know there are all kinds of designer papers in the lot. 

Supplies:

cardstock: Bazzill

pattern paper: Basic Grey Olivia

border die cut: Bazzill

chipboard snowflake: Melissa Frances

sticker: SRM

pearls: Queen & Co.

ribbon and bells: craft supply

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:

Card Patterns: #94 Sketch

Cupcake Inspirations: #89 Photo inspiration

Daring Cardmakers: Snow Much Fun

Paper Players: #28 Use your favorite colors

Sentimental Sundays: #33 Let It Snow

Now for my advent swap update!

#10 comes from Kathy:

She covered the matchbox in fabric and then dyed/distressed to age it.  The bow is beautiful seam binding.   She tied a tiny tag with a snowflake on to the bow and tucked some sparkly filler underneath that you can see peeking out at the top of the bow.  Inside she packed it full of goodies.  Where did she find these itty bitty patterns to make this ornament?  Adorable!  She made a Santa bottle cap magnet and added a little treat!  Thank you Kathy!
#11 is this delightful matchbox with this scene inside by Nancy:

Look at all the detail!  Imagine all that hand coloring and fussy cutting!  Absolutely amazing how she created this fun scene inside the matchbox.  Such a joy to open it and see.  My daughter literally said, "wow!"

 #12 was made by Valery

For her matchbox she covered it in this embossed and glittered paper.  See the cardinal in the upper right hand corner?  It's beautiful!  She added a silver snowflake and tag with the number on the front and on the back a 3-d snow flower with a red glitter center.  Her gift inside was this incredible red ornament with a floral beaded center.  How amazing it is!  Much thanks!

Thanks for coming by.  I hope you have a blessed Sunday!

Yeah it's the weekend!

Hey there!  I know I have been missing this week with posts but life calls.      ;-)  I am really starting to fret over this holiday coming upon me too fast!  I am such a procrastinator with shopping.  I keep thinking, well I'll get it later.  But it's later and I have not one person checked off my list.  I have sent exactly 5 Christmas cards.  That's it.  Pathetic huh?  I make them and yet I have not sent nearly enough out.  This weekend I am booked with Christmas engagements so it might be New Year's cards I will send.  I am still waiting to get the "perfect" shot of my daughter for a card.  She has the Pageant of Peace next week where the National Tree is and will be singing with her choir which means ideal picture opportunity. 
Two cards to share today.
First is my Penny's [Paper-Craft creation using a really cute penguin from Fairy Dust Crafts.  I just started working with the design team at Penny's and let me tell you these ladies are fantastic!  Super fun and talented!  Courtney is so organized (a 2012 goal for me)and has all of challenges for the next year laid out.  Wow!  Pop over here to see the cutest and loveliest designs created using these images here.

I kept this really simple and sweet because I think the image is just too cute to distract from.  I actually used some paper scraps for this one which made me happy because the tiniest of pieces are being used and not wasted.  I colored the image with a grey marker and highlighted with white gel pen.  I used Martha Stewart fine glitter for the ice accents.  His ear muffs are covered in blue flocking but you can't see it too well.  Lots of texture on my snowy friend.  I cut him out and popped him up with pop dots to give a shadow effect. 
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
A Spoonful of Sugar: #144 A Christmas Card
Creative Card Crew: Anything Goes
Daring Cardmakers: Snow Much
Digital Tuesday: #88 Tis the Season
Lollipop Crafts: #19 Welcome Winter
Penny's: #44 Merry Christmas
Pixie Dust: #52 Let It Snow
Tuesday Throwdown: CAS

My last card I did with lots of color so be forewarned.  I was feeling a little daring and thought it would be great to mix prints and colors.  This week at Crafty Creations, Purple Panda Designs offered the design team really cute teddy bear images to work with.  The designer of PPD is Kayla, a 16 year old with lots of ambition!  You can find her amazing artwork here. I chose this one because it reminds me of Garfield's Pooky with a mix of Alfa from Little Rascals. :-)  You should see the rest of the design team's designs.   Go here to view.

So I decided to print my little fella on red and pink polka dot paper and cardstock and paper piece.  I used Creative Imaginations papers mixed with some cardstock pieces I had in my spare draw (again) and then stitched around the edges for some texture.  I added an orange bow for because everything looks better with a bow right?  He's all wrapped up and ready to go. 

The challenges for this card are:

Card Patterns:#93 Sketch

Craft Your Passion: #35 Anything Goes

Crafty Creations:  #97 Bear

Digi Doodles: #37 Animals

Stamp Something: Digi

Totally Papercrafts: #46 Paper Piecing

I almost forgot my advent swap pix!

#6 is a clever box indeed!  It comes from Marcia. 

This was inside Marcia's box:

 isn't this beautiful?  She hand stamped repeatedly the sentiment and brackets on this linen fabric!  Love it!

Number 7 is gorgeous with it's silver and gold details!  Kelly made this beauty with a resin pin as the gift inside. 

The fabulous #8 came from Jan and she altered the tiny puzzle piece for the inside.  It will make a great pendant on a necklace. 

#9 is from Pam at with these two cute ornaments (which my daughter thinks are the sooooooooo cute!)  and a really cool bead at the bottom. 

and that's it.  Yep, I am done for the night.  I so need to get caught up on my house and decorating.  Take care!

My "Odd" Christmas card and advent boxes

Hey, I am back with a card to share and some advent matchboxes.

I won over at Raise the Bar a few weeks back and was asked to design a card for this week's challenge which was "trees".  I pulled out some odd papers to use because I refuse to buy more Christmas papers and seriously need to make a dent in my paper collection.  I also decided to use an older stamp set from last year.  I used 2S4Y sketch this week and went to town creating this.  I was a little unsure about how the card would turn out. The bright green cardstock was too harsh so I used my PTI distressing inks to tone it down.  I cut some circles with my pinking shears and then layered for a dimensional effect. 

My card is for the following challenges:

2S4Y: #67 "Sketch"

Artful Inkables: #34 "Punches"  I used my circle punches

Challenge Up Your Life: "Christmas"

Paper Cutz: #70 "2 pattern papers"

Raise the Bar: #46 "Trees"

The Paper Players: #27 "Christmas"

Totally Stampalicious: "Anything Goes"

 The 3rd box is from Jenna at Corgi Pants

I like these little Christmas stamps she included.  The fabric is really sweet with wooden toy soldiers on it.  She also included the resin star ornament.

#4 is from Michelle and Ashley:

Is that snowman ornament not the cutest?  I love the silver leaves they used to adorn the box.  Inside the box they lined the box with gold glitter.  So sparkly!

#5 is from Sherry:

Now this little stocking just made me smile to the nil degree!  I love miniature items. I can't imagine sewing these!  Wow!  The outside mimics the inside gift perfectly! 

That's it for now.  Off to do some shopping.  Ugh.  Why can't I stay home and shop online like everyone else?  Because I am total tactile person and need to touch the item and be sure it is of sound quality.  :-)  I know, I am an odd one.  ;-)

Holly Joy and Advent Swap matchboxes

Okay the week has really gone by faster than imagined! We are knee deep in Christmas at school and at my home...well not so much. I think I honestly get overloaded with it at work and then when it comes to home I am like, "eh." I know, how terrible is that? DD has been promised this weekend the tree will go up so I will be doing that and changing out some Fall decorations before she returns. She's on the Disney Cruise right now enjoying some sun. I just spoke with her and she said she had been swimming and was heading to the Golden Mickey's show. I miss her and it's only been a day. Whatever will I do when she leaves for college? I am reminded of the book "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch with the Mom climbing in the boy's window to rock him at night and sing her song. I think most people have read the book and if you haven't then please do but bring a few tissues if you are the sentimental type.
My card for MSW's card challenge this month is one of joy. Literally entitled, "Joy" and I used lots of different companies to compose it. I like when I do this because it makes me think a little more. I remember when there weren't collections of paper, just a single sheet for and they weren't distressed or two sided. Anyone been scrapping that long to remember those days?

Okay so this card uses craft cardstock, Martha Stewart and Hero Arts stamps, a Uni Ball white pen, Queen & Co. rhinestones, and AC buttons.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Christmas Stampin': #72 "Anything Goes"
Crafty Sentiments: #45 "Christmas"
MSW: Sketch
Paper Playtime: #27 "Christmas Carol" (Joy to the World)
Stamp and Create: #7 "Tis the Season"
Stamps R Us: #10 "Christmas"

I participated in a Advent matchbook swap hostessed by Linda at A Swap For All Seasons which was lots of fun.  Thanks to Linda for organizing this huge swap and including some goodies!  Here is day 1 made by Wendy:

Not pictured is the cute little rocking horse ornament found inside. The box is covered in fabric and then pleated gold lame ribbon on ends accent with a gold wire hanger Very cute! Thank you Wendy!

Day #2 is made by Jan:

How elegant is this? I love the little violin on the front. Inside she padded with fabric and included these angel ear rings. Just beautiful! Jan you truly make beautiful pieces!

I am going to do my best to post all 25. I know I won't everyday but will try and do multiple posts like this. :-) What a fun swap this was!

Season's Greetings

Happy Wednesday!  Or should I say Happy 1st day of December!  Are you ready for Christmas?  I'm not!  I will admit it gleefully.  Okay maybe not so happily because I do have tons to do before it arrives.  I promised DD that I would set the tree up and she could decorate it this weekend.  I just couldn't muster the energy last weekend.  Instead, I procrastinate by spending time designing cards and altered items.  In my mind, I have been on Christmas for months now.  I am trying to remember the reason for the season so to speak and focus on family.
This is a gift card I made for a Not So Secret Santa swap I am in.  My partner loves vintage and I knew the Melissa Frances papers would be perfect.  I used craft cardstock as my base and then piled on some MF goodies.  Of course I needed some shimmer!  The blue star is AC cardstock.  I put a ribbon of Martha Stewart glitter around the journal tag and then cut down a MF ticket sentiment for the center. 

Here is the inside of the card laying flat:

I made a pocket which you kinda see better in this picture but it's turned on it's side so be forewarned.

My card is for the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.: "Christmas Presents"

Card Patterns: #92 "Sketch"

City Crafter:#33 "Blue Christmas"

Crafty Creations: #96 "Gift Card Holder"

Paper Play: #47 "Stars"

Pollycraft: "Chipboard" Journaling tag

Tuesday Throwdown: "Embellish"