Sparkly Christmas

 

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out. For Challenge #253, we challenge you to be SPARKLY. This is our final challenge of 2023. We will be taking the rest of December off, then we will return with a new challenge on January 4th, 2024. Wishing you a beautiful holiday season, however you celebrate it, and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

I used my new Gina K. Holiday Tapestry stamp set to create my card. I love everything about this beautiful and versatile set. Christmas and Hanukkah sentiments are included.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Gina K Designs Holiday Tapestry
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Night of Navy
Ink	VersaMark
Embellishments	A Colorful Life Designs Flat Sequins
Other	Ranger Queen's Gold Embossing Powder Brutus Monroe Alabaster Sparkling Embossing Powder  Spellbinders Platinum Plus Die Cutting & Embossing Machine Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool Bearly Art Precision Glue WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool

I'm also playing at:

The Flower Challenge #87 - Use Gold

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #583 - Navy, White & Gold

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #81 - AG Christmas

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Winter Blues

Together

 

It's time for a new and very special challenge at Time Out. October is typically Breast Cancer awareness month, at least here in the US, where there are pink ribbons everywhere... and pink everything else from socks to pasta to blenders and dishes... you name it. While as a breast cancer survivor myself I am very grateful for the fundraising for research, there are so many other cancers and illnesses that need attention, awareness and research as well. Our challenge is to create cards of encouragement, friendship and support for those we know and love who are dealing with any illness.

We are sponsored by Jane Beljo of Jane's Doodles who created a digital image for our Design Team and our challenge participants to use for their projects if they so wish. This is not mandatory by any means. 

To use Jane's digi, all you have to do is click, save and resize as you wish for your creation. It would be wonderful to see how our players use Jane's wonderful image. Please feel free to share your story as it relates to our challenge as well.

Challenge winner will have a choice of 3 digital images from Jane's website.

We are so pleased to welcome Jaydee of Stampin! with Jaydee as our Guest Designer. Like most of us, Jaydee has several loved ones who have been affected by cancer, and her card for this challenge reflects them. Please stop by Jaydee's blog and see the wonderful card she created with Jane's digi for this challenge. Her story is so beautifully expressed as well.

My card is in honor and memory of my mother, father, two sisters, a niece three aunts and several close friends, and in support of another sister and friends who are still here. Together, we have endured breast, ovarian, lung, pancreatic, colon, brain cancer and lymphoma in addition to fibromyalgia, epilepsy and mental illness.  There are not enough colors in the rainbow for all the health issues that people struggle with. For me and for those I have walked beside, cards of friendship, encouragement, love and support are welcome - not words of advice, or assurances like "everything will be OK" because it isn't always. Less is more when it comes to that.

I hope you will consider playing with Jane's digi, and if not, that you will take Time Out to play with us and help to fill our gallery with love.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Jane's Beljo's Custom Digi Image for Time Out Essentials By Ellen You Should Know stamp set Simon Says Stamp Chunky A2 Scalloped Rectangles
Cardstock	80# Neenah Solar Crest Gina K Ocean Mist base weight card stock
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black Mowed Lawn and Salty Ocean DO Inks Copic markers
Embellishments
Other	A  Colorful Life Design Cloud Edger Stencil My Favorite Things Drifts & Hills Stencil Spellbinders Platinum Plus Die Cutting & Embossing Machine Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool Bearly Art Precision Glue Adhesive-backed Fun Foam

I'm also playing at:

Krafty Chicks #683 - All Occasions

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Stencil Fun Challenge - Optional Theme of Fall

MIUCB #67 - AG + Optional Make Your Own Background

Hello From My Happy Place - Take 2

On 6/15/23 (2 posts down), I posted a card made with Spellbinders Day At The Beach die set that I had not used before. You can see that card HERE.  That was my first time using the set, and there were 3 bothersome flaws in the card I made: the polka dot paper that I used camouflaged the "hello" inlaid in the hat brim; the loose ribbons were glued on backwards, and the sea foam was wonky because I embossed it twice, and somehow the cardstock moved with the second inking.

These things bothered me, so I deconstructed the first one and remade it reversing the papers on the hat (you can now see the "hello" clearly), gluing the gold ribbons on the hat correctly, and heat embossing the sea foam without the wonkiness! I also moved the beach bag to the right side.

I really love this card.  I am happy with it now and will be making lots of others with this wonderful set.

I am playing at:

Make My Monday #203 - On The Water

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Vacation

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Vacation

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Gina K - Ocean Minded stamp ser Spellbinders - Day At The Beach die set
Cardstock	110# Neenah Solar Crest 80# Neenah Solar White Various Gina K, SU, Mirror Cardstock and Patterned Papers
Ink	VersaMark, DOX Peacock Feathers & Antique Linen
Embellishments
Other	Sizzix Sidekick Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool Bearly Art Precision Glue Scor-Pal Score Tape-1/4" 3M foam tape

Happiness Is A Walk On The Beach

As I was perusing the challenge blogs, I saw this one from As You See It, and decided to play.

As You See It #301 - Swift Seashells, is a speed stamping challenge with the theme of seashells. Create your project in under 10 minutes. I also wanted to participate in Color Throwdown #748 where the colors are red, blue and brown.

Color Throwdown #748

My card is very simple with a white heat embossed image of a row of seashells on Kraft cardstock, with a sentiment that has a sandy font stamped in blue, and some red and white twine around the top tied in a bow. It was done in 8 minutes and 27 seconds.

I'm also playing at:

AAA Cards #242 - Everything Beach

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Chocolate Baroque - Seaside Dreams Gina K - Ocean Minded
Cardstock	Gina K Base Weight Kraft
Ink	VersaMark Versafine Majestic Blue
Embellishments	Twine - source unknown
Other	Spellbinders Platinum Plus Die Cutting & Embossing Machine Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool

Hello From My Happy Place

 

I finally got a chance to break out this fabulous Spellbinders Day At The Beach die set that I have had for quite a while. Recently I ran across Gina K's Ocean Minded set and had to have it, so I broke my "no new stuff" pledge (this is becoming more and more common) LOL. I could not wait to put them together. There are 2 things I would change - the brim of the hat should be solid so that the "hello" would be more easily visible, and the second is that I had to heat emboss twice because I didn't wait long enough for the DOX ink to dry. The second stamping was off a little, but that is how the ocean looks, right?? I still love it and I can't wait to give this one a second go. I now know all the tricks of putting it together.

I'm playing at:

Just Us Girls #683 - HELLO

Color Throwdownc #747 - aqua, red, yellow

NBUS #51

All Stamps/Dies

The Four Seasons - Anything Goes Summer

Color Dare #552

Turquoise, red & yellow

Double Trouble #140 with Flip Flop Twist

Turquoise, red & yellow

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Lots of Layers

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Spellbinders Day At The Beach Die Set Gina K Ocean Minded Stamp Set
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar White 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest Various Gina K, SU, Mirror Cardstock and Patterned Papers
Ink	VersaMark, DOX inks
Embellishments
Other	Brutus Monroe Alabaster Spellbinders Platinum Plus Die Cutting & Embossing Machine Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool Bearly Art Precision Glue Scor-Pal Score Tape-1" 3M foam tape

Color Hues Happy Birthday

I love these colors and am so happy I had a little time to play in my craft room today. I smooshed 3 orange Distress Oxide inks on to a piece of watercolor paper, then sprayed it with Color Shine. When dry, I die cut it with Concord & 9th's Potpourri Die. I cut it a second time from SU Basic Gray and glued the two together slightly askew. I glued the die cuts to  Basic Gray card base and added a foiled, die cut sentiment from my snippet box. To finish I glued some bling from Gina K and my card was complete.

I'm also playing at:

Inkspirational #290

Inspired by top left shades of orange and gray

Double D Challenge - Flowers

Triple B May Challenge

Blooms

Little Read Wagon #706 - Flora or Fauna

Flora

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Concord & 9th Potpourri Dies Pinkfresh Studio Fancy Script Words Hot Foil Plate & Die
Cardstock	SU Basic Gray Neenah Solar White 80 lb. Cardstock Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock
Ink	Carved Pumpkin, Dried Marigold and Wild Honey DO Inks Heidi Swapp Peach Color Shine
Embellishments	Gina K Angel Aura Rhinestones
Other	Spellbinders Platinum Plus Die Cutting & Embossing Machine Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool Bearly Art Precision Glue SSS 3D Foam Squares

Merry Warm & Cozy Christmas

 

Today I kept going back and forth between decorating (in a minimalist way) and card making. I was fishing in my Christmas stash and spending way too much time looking at things and putting things away, when I found this awesome snippet - the heat embossed, inked and die cut "merry" above, and the juices started flowing. The simplest card took me forever, but that's OK. I really like the way it turned out. The current Alphabet Challenge is "Q is for Quilt", and that inspired me to take out my NBUS Sparkling Diamonds Cutting Die which is so reminiscent of a quilt pattern. Topped it with my wonderful snippet, foiled a sentiment and popped that up, added some bling and my card was complete.

The Alphabet Challenge - Q is for Quilt

Supplies Used:

Ink - None

Paper - Gina K Pure Luxury Red Velvet Heavy Base Weight card stock;  Hammermill 100# Premium Copy Cover card stock

Other - PinkFresh Studio Sparkling Diamonds Stand Alone Cuts; Concord & 9th Merry Die; Kaiser adhesive backed Rhinestones; Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System; Spellbinders Glitter Wishes Hot Foil Plates and cutting die; Glimmer Red hot foil; foam tape.

I'm also playing at:

Tic Tac Toe #189

Top row across - December Holiday, Use a Die, Embellishment

Krafty Chicks Challenge #639 - All Occasions

Sunday Stamps #297 - Holiday Greetings

NBUS #44 - November

My NBUS is the PinkFresh Studio Sparkling Diamonds Cover Plate

Time Out #223

 

Time Out Challenge #223 begins today. This time we have a Photo Inspiration.

Here's an enlargement of the photo.

We are generously sponsored by Newton's Nook Designs. Winner will receive a $25.00 Gift voucher to the Newton's Nook Store.

I created my card with a few of elements in the photo - the Christmas tree topped with a sparkly star, the small pillow all the way to the right on the couch, and the black background in the fireplace. The design is a bit of a departure for me. When I showed it to DH, he said "I hate the silver polkadots". His reaction cracked me up. I knew I had succeeded in getting out of my comfort zone!

Supplies used:

Hero Arts Color Layering Snowy Tree

Ranger white EP
Pinkfresh Studio Folk Edge Circles
Pink & Main Sentiment Strip Dies
SSS CZ Designs Sentiment Strips Christmas
SSS Simple Patterns Trio Stencils
Dreamweaver Metallic silver embossing paste
Gina K Foil
Glitter card stock

ON ANOTHER NOTE, TIME OUT IS HAVING A DT CALL. DETAILS ARE ON THE CHALLENGE BLOG TODAY, AND THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL POST TOMORROW (9/23) WITH A LINKY FOR INTERESTED CRAFTERS!

 

Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog to see the wonderful creations that the Design Team came up with to inspire you. Come play with us!

I'm also playing at:

Krafty Chicks #630 - All Occasions

The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge #124 - AG Christmas

Peace On Earth #24 - AG Christmas 

CAS Christmas Challenge - Sparkle and/or Shine

Global Tiger Day

It's time for a new challenge at Festive Friday where every challenge is an inspiration list based on a selected holiday/festivity from the traditional to the unusual. Challenge projects must include at least three items from the festivity inspiration list. Your project does not have to go with the challenge theme. You can just use 3 or more items from the inspo list for your creation.

Today's festivities are inspired by Global Tiger Day which takes place on July 29th. Wild tiger numbers have dropped by more than 95% since the beginning of the 20th century. Tigers can be found in isolated forests and grasslands throughout Asia. Their habitat is wide ranging – from evergreen and monsoon forests, to mixed coniferous-deciduous woodlands, and mangrove swamps. There are estimated to be around 3,900 tigers in the wild.

The challenge runs from July 8th - July 18th.

I like to create a card for our challenge that goes with the theme. I had the purr-fect supplies in my stash for this. All products that I used in creating this card are from Hero Arts. I punched a circle from masking paper to ink the sun. I then masked the sun with that circle so that I could ink blend the rest of the background with various Distress Oxide Inks. I used embossing paste with the Hero Arts Tribal Shapes Stencil on Kraft card stock for some texture and interest, added that panel to the left side of my card and glued the distress ink panel to the right of it. I die cut the grass and tree with the Hero Arts Thorn Tree and Grasses Fancy Dies and glued them onto my blended panel. I then stamped and die cut my tigers using Hero Arts Color Layering Bengal Tigers. I stamped the sentiment from Hero Arts Safari Huge Thanks stamp set with VersaFine Onyx Black and heat embossed it with clear EP. I glued the inked and stenciled panels on to a piece of black Gina K black card stock, and my card was complete.

  

I used tigers, stripes, orange, black & fur from the Inspo list.

For more inspiration, be sure to visit the rest of the  Festive Friday Challenge Design team.

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Jaydee

Diane Evans 

Joanne James

I'm also playing at:

Tic Tac Toe Challenge #169

 Top row - Something round, Outdoors, Stencil.

Krafty Chicks #619 - Stamp Act