Classic Design Challenge : Snowman

 Aaaand, it's December already! How did we get here so fast???! I feel like we just left summer..

Anywho, I'm back with another great Classic Design Team digi. This month, our team is featuring designs from Goha Digi Stamps. I chose a cute snowman, because it reminded me of all those snowmen I made as a kid, back in the day. 

I decided not to feature "Christmasy" colors, but use fun shades with a vintage feel and color palate. 

I printed off my image and colored him in with Copics, then, I decided to outline him in a black Pigma Micron 01 archival ink pen, just to "pop" him off my paper just a bit. Then I diecut my image out with a die I found on Amazon, and sponged a few various shades of Distress Inks around my diecut edge. After sponging, I matted the back of my image with a light Kraft colored cardstock. I found a "dirty" vintage paper from Carta Bella, and adhered my image, matting one last kraft cardstock paper underneath for stiffness. I added a cheap pink lace I bought for less than a buck at a craft store, some blue Maya Arts Ribbon for .50 cents a yard at my local scrapstore, then a small slice of a Gingham paper from Daisy D's, under the ribbon for interest. I added a double bow and a tag stamped "Just for You", on it.

This card turned out so cute! I love that I chose to use different colors, despite the colors in the image. I kind of like that juxtaposition and surprise. It just stands out in that way and I like it.

Thank you for joining me this year with the Classic Design Team, I'm looking forward to Next year and a new round of cards and inspirations with you!

Happy New Year!!

Classic Design Challenge : Santa

 Welcome back again to this month's Classic Design Team Challenge! It's that time of year again where we start thinking about Christmas and making or sending out our Christmas cards. 

I have a great image from Dr. Digi featuring Santa himself, checking the naughty and nice list. Have you checked to see if your name is on his "nice" list? I'm sure it is! Here is a link to his digi store Dr. Digi and here is a link to my Santa image : Naughty or Nice. Dr. Digi has some great quality digi stamps in his store, and I hope you go check them out!

I colored my image in with Copic markers, then used MFT's Double Stitched Rectangles to cut it out with a decorative border around it. I then sponged some Distress Inks around the image to "age" it and tone down the white cardstock, as my design papers and lace panel is off white/cream. After sponging, I matted my image with a red cardstock from Bazzil. I layered a cream lace panel cut from a die by Stampin Up, then matted that under my image, over some design papers from The Paper Studio's "Old World Winter" collection. I completed the matting by adding one more cardstock layer of a reflective gold from Tim Holtz's Metallic Cardstock collection, then I added a few holly diecuts from Tim Holtz's Ideology "Christmas Botanicals" collection. My sentiment is from Fresh Pink's "Foiled Holiday Sentiments".

And there you have it. My take on Dr. Digi's Santa inspired digi stamp. I really love how it turned out. I'm not the greatest at coloring in people, but how can you mess up Santa?! LOL!

Thank you for joining us this month in our Classic Design Challenge! I'll see you here for next month's inspiration! And don't forget! Santa Claus is coming to town .... !

Classic Design Team Challenge: Surfing Santa

 Welcome back to another fun Classic Design Challenge, I'm glad you're here!

This month, we're featuring digi's from Dr. Digi, himself! Dr. Digi has many fun and quirky designs that appeal to everyone. I chose to keep it simple and use his Surfin' Santa digi. Again, like always, I chose to make it a clean and simple card,  using Christmas reds and keeping the focus on the Santa image.

I don't color Santa's in very often, or that much skin for that matter, but I thought I'd have a little fun with it. Because he's Santa, 

I kept to the Christmas theme as best as I could without being too overt, but also elegant.

I printed off the image onto Gina K paper (it's thicker) and colored it in with Copics. After coloring in the image, I sponged some sand on using Distress Inks Antique Linen and a blue sky with Tumbled Glass. Then I cut out the main image with MFT Stitched Rectangle, then cut out the bottom with another MFT that's been long since retired but I can't remember the name. Then I cut out an A2 rectangle from Spellbinders from Bazzil Ruby Slipper red cardstock, and embossed an edge around it. I finished the card with some black pearls.

I really enjoyed coloring this image in, and if you can tell, I added some subtle pink highlights in some areas to give Santa a "sunburn". I hope Santa enjoyed his vacation. He works so hard all year, so deserved it! :)

Have a great day and I'll see you next month on the next Classic Design Team Challenge! 

Peace on Earth

 Ok, I'm back again with a new card I made from a challenge I found online that I'm pretty excited about! I have never heard of this challenge, but I stumbled across it while looking for online paper craft shops. It's called Addicted to CAS. CAS means Clean And Simple. I love that!

So the theme is : BRRR!

I chose a stamp set that I found at a crafter's Garage Sale. It's a cute stamp without a name, but I think it's from a UK company called Lily of the Valley. I watercolored it in with Letraset Watercolor markers.

Then I used Spellbinders "Scalloped Symphony Notecard" die set to create the card base, with Kraft paper. I cut out a banner for my sentiment with MFT's "Skinny Strips", and stamped a sentiment from Power Poppy's "Heavenly Peace Dove" stamp set.

I kept everything CAS and though the card feels a little naked, it's nice to keep the focal point on the stamped images and the message.

I'm looking forward to their next challenge! :)

Holiday Hello

 Hello and welcome back! I'm still on a Christmas card making kick and I'm enjoying finally feeling creative again after not being able to craft for so many years! 

So while I was pondering how I wanted my next Christmas card to look like, I knew exactly what stamp set I wanted to use, though I wasn't sure if it would turn out. I'd been itching to break out this set and use it since I bought it, but I gave it a go.

I chose to use Power Poppy's "Under Glass: Christmas Keepsakes", coloring it in with Copics. After coloring it in, I cut the edge of the image with a Spellbinder border die and matted it with some patterned paper. I created the layers I wanted and sponged everything with Antique Linen and Tea Dye Distress Inks to age it and give the vintage look and feel I wanted. I used some "puffy" popdots under my image to pop my items off the card to create depth and interest, keeping everything from looking flat and uninteresting. After that, I added lace, silk ribbon and some dark blue pearls to complete the card.

I love how the card turned out, though I wished I'd remembered to stitch my card while I was creating it! I was so in the groove and excited to color in my new stamp set, and I was loving how it was all coming together so quickly, I'd completely forgot to stitch my card in! More times than I care to admit, I'm always forgetting to stitch around my card. It happens :)

Peace and Joy

 Once again, it's Christmas in July!! In only six more months it will be Christmas Day! I can't wait! All those fun, festive traditions, food, and family fun! I love it!

Until then, I'll enjoy the countdown to the festivities by creating Christmas cards, inspired by Power Poppy's Monthly Blog Challenge. Why not? :)

I chose to create a card using the Power Poppy "Simple Joys" stamp set and coloring it in simply with Copics, only emphasizing the red glass ball ornaments. I chose some fantastic cozy looking patterned paper from Brutus Monroe called "Playful Plaid", adding some simple craft store lace, a blue silk ribbon, and some bronze pearl embellishments. 

I purposely kept everything simple so that the image and sentiment shines, but cheery paper colors to keep it from looking too dull.

I really enjoyed this months' Power Poppy challenge. At times it's great to get the old inspiration gears turning and realize new ideas and creativity by accident, just by participating in a fun challenge! I'm looking forward to next month's Power Poppy Challenge!

 

Flourishes Release Week: Glory to God

Good morning, are you ready for another beautiful image from Flourishes? Here we go!

This stamp image is from the Glory To God set, and it's beautiful!

I stamped out the Glory To God image onto Flourishes Classic White paper and colored it in with Copics.Then I die cut it out into a circle shape, matting it with my Spellbinders die shape. I added some gold ribbon and lace down the side, adding a few pearls and a peach rose button to complete my card.

Doesn't that card just make you want to celebrate Christmas, now? I know I do!

In honor of Flourishes, I am offering another blog prize during this Release Week! I am offering 3 Flourishes stamp sets, 2 yards of Flourishes May Arts Silk Ribbon: Mauve and Burgundy, plus some other laces and ribbons!

All you have to do is subscribe to my blog newsletter and leave a comment on ALL four days of the Flourishes Release Week. I will announce the winner August 14th. Be sure you remember to subscribe to my blog post emails, because you don't want to miss that announcement!

Please check out the other talented ladies here on the Flourishes Design Team, and see what they have created with the Glory To God stamp set!

                        Amanda Havon - you are here

Beverly Cole

Nancy Nickel

Naomi Gong

Vicki Dutcher

I hope you are inspired and ready to come back tomorrow for another new stamp release from Flourishes!

~ Amanda

A Creative Journey With Melissa: December's New Release!

Welcome to the monthly NEW RELEASES for A Creative Journey with Melissa. Normally, we have a new release Every second Wednesday of the month however in January, we will be going to the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) Convention so we will NOT have a new stamp release in January. The Craft and Hobby Association (CHA)Convention is located in Anaheim, California and super close to Disneyland.  We are looking forward to learning some great new things! One of the BEST things about this convention is you get to see the latest and greatest of the Craft and Hobby Industry are shown BEFORE they are released to the public! Instead of new stamp releases we will be showing you the latest products BEFORE THEY ARE released to the public. It is an amazing show and we hope you will join us in our adventure. If you are creative, you are going to LOVE IT! It will feel like you are right there with us! To check out pictures from last year, go to our Photo Album. You will see some AMAZING THINGS and we can't wait to share them with you! If you are interested in finding out if you qualify to be a CHA member visit CHA.

 I am a Design Team member for A Creative Journey with Melissa and I am thrilled to be able to share these creations with you today. The new stamp releases are the Sentiments for all Occasions and the Sign Language Numbers - American Sign Language stamp sets. We are also highlighting our amazingly cute and versatile Everyday Alphabet stamp sets throughout this hop as well. I am highlighting the Sentiments For All Occasions stamp set for this blog hop.

Here are the projects I have created using the Sentiments For All Occasions stamp set.

Because Christmas is coming up, I created gifts and items quickly whipped up as gifts with the stamp sets.
My first project is a Tea Purse gift that has pockets in the inside and slipped in two tea packets for my friend's Christmas gift. I stamped the Sentiments For All Occasions stamp on the bottom of my tea carrier, under my square diecut.

My next project is a Gift Card Holder I dressed in a Shabby Chic style for my Mom, who loves anything Shabby Chic!

I stamped the Sentiments For All Occasions sentiment on a tag right where the receivers name goes. And when you pull the top up, you see this.

Please be sure to hop along to each of the Design Team Member's blog, become a follower their blog if you aren’t already and answer the question correctly that they have posted to qualify for the giveaway.

The giveaway includes:
Sentiments for all Occasions stamp set
Sign Language Numbers - American Sign Language stamp set
Sizzix Embossing Folder set
Prima Flowers

My question is: What Crafty Item Do You Want For Christmas This Year ??

The Blog Hop line-up:

Melissa
 
Sandy
 
Haidee

Alena
 
Amanda
 
Leticia

Brandie
 
Please be sure to answer every question asked of you correctly on each blog and become a follower if you aren’t already. If you qualify, you will be entered in the giveaway for the three prizes if you do so! Entries for this blog hop will end Friday at 8 PM PT. Winners will be announced on Saturday on the A Creative Journey with Melissa's blog You must contact Melissa with your shipping information via Facebook PM, comment on her blog or e-mail her within three days of the winning announcement blog post or your prize will be forfeited. US Residents only please. Thank you for your understanding.

Be sure to check back to see if you are a winner. Thanks so much for hopping along with us!

Timeless Tuesday: Deck The Tree!!

Good morning Flourishes friends!! Did you know we've reached our 200th challenge mark?! I know, I can't believe it either!! I'm thrilled that it landed on this week, the week before Christmas and when we have a great challenge, too!! This week, Maki, our hostess, has challenged us to: Deck The Tree!! All you need to do is make an ornament or any 3D project that is decorated on a Christmas tree! Sounds like fun, right?

I thought hard on making an ornament that was unique and something that you would notice on a Christmas tree. I created a lit/night light ornament for a tree that you can see both in the day light and lit at night.

I used Flourishes "Vintage Postcard" stamp set, stamped in Memento Black Tuxedo ink and colored in with Copics on vellum paper. I cut the picture down to size and placed it into a frame. I hot glued some Teal Velvet Ribbon to the frame so I could hang it, then I added a tea light flameless candle to illuminate the picture in the frame. 

Here you can see the tea light that I hot glued to the back side of my illuminated and framed ornament.

This is what it looks like illuminated without the Christmas lights on, in the dark. I wish you could see it in person, it really glows beautifully all over and not just in the one area in the photo.

Just a tip or two, if you are going to try to color in on Vellum, don't try to shade with them or the colors will smear all over and create a mess on your image. And if you do try to layer your colors, let each layer dry before adding more color and don't recolor over a color you just laid down, or it will "separate".  So for instance, I layered the B05 Copic twice on each side of the vellum paper, to achieve the deep evening sky color. So I would recommend coloring on both sides of the vellum to get some really saturated colors.

I used the following Copic Sketch Collections to color my ornament in:

Please check out all of the other Flourishes Timeless Tuesday team for more ideas and inspirations!

Allison Cope
Amanda Havon
Broni Holcombe
Cindy Haffner
Denise Marzec
Maki Jones 
Katie Sims – December’s Guest Designer

Thank you for visiting and have a very Merry Christmas!!

Timeless Tuesday: Altered Christmas

Good morning Flourishes Friends! It's inching closer and closer to Christmas, are you ready? This week we are challenging you to : An Altered Christmas!  Create Anything That Isn't a Card for Christmas (Decoration, A Treat Item, A Banner, A Gift, ect.)!

In my family we are either coffee or tea drinkers and I wanted to create a simple gift for everyone with a little variety. I made two kinds of cups, and in each of them there are two different kinds of teas, a hot cocoa packet, a Starbucks Via, a Nonni's Chocolate Turtle Biscotti and 2 or 3 Ferrero Rocher Chocolates.

For my first cup I used Flourishes "Apple of My Eye" for the cider cup image, and a sentiment from Flourishes "Vintage Postcard" set onto Classic White cardstock. I colored my image in with Copic markers, then I created a small tag and tied that on to my cup.

I used the following Copic Collections:

For my second cup, I used Flourishes "Peace and Joy" image that I cut out with my Silhouette Cameo using the Peace and Joy cut file. Then I colored it in with Letraset's "Raspberry" and "Sangria" watercolor markers. I created a tag with some dies and tied it on with some ribbon.

I really had fun creating these cups for my friends and family and I hope they like their Christmas gifts :)

Here is the rest of the Timeless Tuesday team with their best "Altered Christmas" projects and ideas!

Allison Cope

Amanda Havon

Broni Holcombe

Cindy Haffner

Denise Marzec

Katie Sims – December’s Guest Designer

Thank you for visiting and have a great day!

Amaryllis

It's been too long since I have entered Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful challenge and I missed it! 
Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful Challenge this month is: The Beauty of Winter or a Holiday Themed Creation. 
I am combining it with Color Throwdowns Color Challenge for this week: 

Why not combine the two? :)


I decided to go rouge a bit and use a flower image used that you would see at Christmas. Does that count as a "Winter" themed image? :)

I used Flourishes " Calendar Set 3: September through December" stamp set that I colored in with Tombows, and cut out with a craft knife, then added Glossy Accents to it. I used a Spellbinders Labels 20 that I sponged in with Distress Inks. The paper is from My Mind's Eye and my CS is Prism Papers "Birchtone: Medium". I stamped the month on a piece of vellum that I sponged in with Distress Inks, then tied a bow on from Flourishes.


I know what your thinking, why is the bow on the bottom, it's getting all smooshed! I was going to used a punch and punch out a border on my top & bottom matting, but when it came time to put it all together, I totally forgot, and by the time I realized it, it was already on! You can't win em all, I tell you =)


I chose this particular set not only because it's my new set, but because December is my birthday month and I think it's a gorgeous flower! I have a few other favorite flowers that are closer to my heart but this is one amazing flower! When I looked up some images of it, I was so surprised at the variety of reds and red striations that they could have. It's such a unique and pretty flower to enjoy at Christmas :)