Merry Monday Little Tree

Is it my imagination or does Monday come more quickly each week?  I'm glad I've got a good stash of Christmas cards already thanks to Merry Monday.  It will soon be time to mail them out.

Have you ever had one idea for a card and looked down at the remains of other cards laying on your table to see a perfect combination that you hadn't even thought of?  That's what happened here.

This little tree was sitting there all diecut and sponged.  And this is the challenge for Merry Monday Christmas Card Club this week.

photo source

Challenge Rules

1. Each week there will be a brand new challenge posted on Monday at 5am (PST).
2. Each participant must comment on 3 cards in the Gallery to be eligible to win. (Who doesn't love comments!)
3. Neutral colours and any product is welcome.
4. Have fun!
5. Follow the weekly challenge closely to complete a Christmas card

We have 2 new faces on our Design Team this week.  Welcome to Karen and Karren.  They are amazing artists and I know you will enjoy the cards they have provided for your inspiration.  So hop on over and take a look at what they and the rest of the fabulous Design Team brought to share with you this week.  Then get  your craft on and join us at Merry Monday.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Joyous Celebrations (retired)

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi

Paper:  Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Other:  Holiday Collection Framelits (retired), Extra-Large Oval Punch, Linen Thread, Gold Beads (from stash)

I sponged Wild Wasabi ink on the little tree then stamped with a little stamp from the first SU set I ever bought.  I believe the name of the set was Watercolor Minis.  It's a little, bitty stamp with lots of dots.

I zipped a piece of Whisper White through the Big Shot with my Woodgrain Embossing Folder and pulled out a sentiment already stamped and punched.  Did I mention that I have a Christmas UFO box too?  LOL, I've got several boxes of UFOs.  And popped the little tree on the card front, decorated with gold beads and was done.

Other challenges

Cuttlebug Mania - Back to Nature 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Singing Merry Little Christmas

I've really been enjoying this Merry Little Christmas stamp.  Here's another card I made with it.

Addicted to CAS has an appropriate challenge for this card

When I saw this challenge I was thinking I'd get out my dewheeled Music Notes.  But then, I kept humming "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and had an Ah Ha moment!

I had the most wonderful surprise at Addicted to CAS.  They decided to have a Wall of Fame. What is the Wall of Fame you may ask?  Here it is in their words...

We would like to acknowledge those of you who participate week in and week out. We know that you aren't in it for the prizes - they are just a bit of a bonus for you.

And wait til you see who I'm rubbing elbows with over there.  Just some of the most talented cardmakers in the world!

I'm honored!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Merry Little Christmas

Ink:  SU Markers, Garden Green, Real Red

Paper:  Real Red, Whisper White, Snippets of Garden Green and DSP

Other:  Snowburst EF, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Star Punch (

Here's  a hint.  You can ink this in red and stamp and then ink it in green and stamp again. By cutting out the Merry from each and putting it on the other, you get a two color sentiment and 2 cards.  Here's the other one I did.

Some of you asked for a tutorial on how I did the bow on this card.  LOL, I'm not sure I could do it again especially holding a camera.  (I don't have any video equipment.) But if I can manage it, I'll be sure to show you how.  I pretty much just looped like a bow twice and did a big one for the top and tied it all up.  I saw a similar one but can't remember where.  If you're the one who did it and read this, let me know so I can give you the credit.

Jack started preschool on Tuesday.  He wasn't a happy camper!  I'm hoping that he'll do better next week.  My prayers go out to preschool teachers everywhere.  What patience it takes!  Here he is with his big brother Luke.  Can you see why they hold my heart?

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!

40th Birthday Featuring Lee

I needed a 40th birthday card for one of my DSNIL and I was stumped.  Then I saw this card by the Featured Stamper Lee (LuvLee) and I knew  just what I wanted to do.

I hope he likes it.  I know he'll like whats inside!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps: You're Amazing

Ink:  Garden Green

Paper:  Garden Green, Very Vanilla, Bravo Burgundy, DSP

Other:  Timeless Type Sizzlits (retired), Square Lattice EF, Hemp Twine, Decorative Corner Punch (EK)

I die cut the numbers with my Timeless Type (retired) Sizzlits and pulled out a piece of Decorative Paper. Yeah, another piece used!  I stamped the sentiment directly onto the paper.

Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More:  Anything Goes.

Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes as long as it's birthday.

Thanks for the visit.

Enjoy!

Serene Silhouettes for Queen Trish

This week's Queen for the Day is to revisit a past Queen whose screen name begins with T-Z.  The fabtastic person that presents this challenge each week left her name off the list.  I'm thinking that, when someone was filling in, she was named Queen but I can't find it in the list. So...she's my pick for Queen this week.

Here's the gorgeous card that I CASED for Queen Trish (aka TrishG).  And here's what I did....

I hadn't had much success with the Acrylic Block technique in the past and kind of gave up on it. (You can find a tutorial here.) I used markers to ink the block.  I think I needed to spritz more water on it but I was happier with this attempt than past tries.

I did try it again without going in such straight lined and spritzed more water.  It made the prettiest background.  Then I ruined it when I stamped the image.  I couldn't salvage any of that. =(

I'll try again though.

I'm going to take this over to Simon Says Wednesday Challenge which is Anything Goes

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Serene Silhouettes, Teeny, Tiny Wishes

Ink:  SU Markers (Pear Pizzazz, Calypso Coral, Marina Mist, Basic Black), Jet Black StazOn
Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black
Other:  Acrylic Block, Woodgrain EF, Corner Rounder Punch

I'm so glad you could stop by.

Enjoy!

Merry Monday Merry Little Christmas

We have some exciting changes at Merry Monday!  First, my card for this week's challenge.

No more sketches.  At least not every week.  We never know what Lesley might throw in there.

Here's the scoop.

Welcome to the new and improved "Merry Monday Christmas Card Club"! We have decided to make this challenge into a club...here is how it will work.

1. Each week there will be a brand new challenge posted on Monday at 5am (PST).
2. Each participant must comment on 3 cards in the Gallery to be eligible to win. (Who doesn't love comments!)
3. Neutral colours and any product is welcome.
4. Have fun!
5. Follow the weekly challenge closely to complete a Christmas card.

photo source

Sadly, we're saying goodbye to Narelle and Sherry on the design team.  It's been such a pleasure working with them.  My good friend and constant source of inspiration, Loll Thompson, is joining us.  Woot!

Here's our Design Team Lineup.  Be sure to check them out for some great inspiration!

Allisa Chilton
LeAnne Pugliese
Lesley Croghan

Loll Thompson

Margaret Moody

Nina Forsyth

Sue Joyce

Wendy Aungst

Stephanie Muzzulin (FD)

Other challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays  

Christmas Card Challenges

use something new

This is a new stamp set from the Holiday Catalog

Pixies Crafty Workshop

I used snippets for my banners

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge

Anything Goes

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Merry Little Christmas

Ink:  SU Markers (Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive

Paper:  Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler

Other:  Hemp Twine (retired), EF (Cuttlebug)

I hope you'll join us at Merry Monday and get a head start on your Christmas cards.

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!