The Card Concept - Christmas Greetings

It's time for another challenge at The Card Concept.

Today's challenge is: Christmas Greetings

Everyone is welcome to play along using the colors, the theme, 

textures, items, or just anything from the picture as your starting point.

I was inspired by the ice skates when I created my clean and layered card.

Since I love kraft cards, I decided to go with a vintage vibe for my card today. I stamped the music notes, inked around the edges, and added splatters all in vintage photo distress ink.  I think the browns give holiday cards a warm and cozy feel, don't you? It's the LAST DAY to get 15% off your Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps order. 

Supplies and Tools:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamp (affiliate links):
  
• Wonder of Christmas
• Wonder of Christmas dies
• Christmas Pine  
• Texture Tiles 1 
• Arteza Real Brush Pens 
• Red Thread
• Verseafine Clair Fallen Leaves Ink
  
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger):
• Vintage Photo and Rustic Wilderness
  

Peace on Earth

 I'm up on the Stamp Simply blog today with this woodsy Christmas card. I had fun using the NEW Tree Rings embossing folder to create my background. After embossing I inked it up with Vintage Photo distress ink, spritzed it with water to make the ink run, dried it, and ran it through my Spellbinders Platinum again. I added just a bit more ink before adhering the wreath, lace, and sentiment. 

CYBER MONDAY SALE EXTENDED THROUGH 11/29!!

Supplies and tools from Stamp Simply: 

• God Will Take Care of You Stamps
• God Will Take Care of You Dies
• Seasonal Wreaths Fall/Winter Stamps
  
• Seasonal Wreaths Fall/Winter Dies 
• Merry Christmas Stamp Set
  
• Fishtail Banner Dies
• Tree Rings 3D Embossing Folder (Sizzix - Tim Hotlz)
• Crochet Lace
  

Other Supplies:

• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger)
• Red Thread
  

This post linked to:

• Allsorts Challenge - Wings or Tails
• Tic Tac Toe Challenge - December Holiday, Use a Die, Embellishment

  

Funky Christmas Tree

 I won this super fun stamp set from UNIKO last year, but it was too late in the season to use it. I pulled it out the other day and had so much fun stamping and assembling this funky Christmas tree using all the different patterns in this set. 

Supplies and Tools:

• Pattern Building Christmas Tree (Uniko)
• Holiday Knit stencil (Tim Holtz)
  
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• White Yeti Ink (Lawn Fawn)
  
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger):
• Salvaged Patina, Saltwater Taffy, Scattered Straw, and Shabby Shutters

 This post linked to:

• Krafty Chicks Challenge - All Occasions 

Christmas Pine

  I wanted to play along in Fusion's Christmas Chalkboard Challenge this week so I pulled out my Christmas Pine stamp set and combined it with my most used set (Texture Tiles 4) for a quick n easy holiday card. 

After stamping and coloring my branches and pine cones I added some "snow" with white acrylic paint splatter. To give the card a bit of a vintage feel, I inked around the edges of my background with vintage photo distress ink. Some faux stitching (with a white gel pen) helps to set off the sentiment

Don't forget to check out their Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sale - 15% off the entire store through the end of November.

~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~

Supplies and Tools:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
  
• Christmas Pine 
• Texture Tiles 4
• Endless Love 
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink 
• Labels 4 Nestabilities (Spellbinders)
  
•  Red Gingham Ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon)
  
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• Yeti Ink (Lawn Fawn)
• White Gel Pen
• White Acrylic Paint
  
• White Embossing Powder
• Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger)
  

 This post linked to:

• Fusion Card Challenge - Christmas Chalkboard
• Use Your Stuff Challenge - Winter/Snow
  
• Tic Tac Toe Challenge - December Holiday, Use a Die, Embellishment

Hexagon Dies

Today's card features two NEW products in the Sweet 'n Sassy Store this month - the Cheerful Hexies dies and In the Psalms stamp set. The dies were made to coordinate with the Cheerful Hexies stamp set, but as you can see they also work great alone.  I used mind to create a quilted background with pretty designer paper. 

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamp's Black Friday sale starts today with everything in the store being 15% off through the end of the month.  

~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~

Supplies and tools:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
• Cheerful Hexies Die Set
  
• In The Psalms 
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink 
• The Blue Barn Paper Pad (The Paper Studio)
  
• Victoria Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)
  
• Dotted Ovals Dies (Sizzix)
• Crochet Lace
  
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger):
• Chipped Sapphire, Weathered Wood
  

This post linked to:

• Alphabet Challenge - Q is for Quilt

Lying in a Manger

Happy Thanksgiving to my USA readers! One of the fun things about being all caught up on design team requirements is creating cards that combine products from all different companies! I just love the Lying in a Manger stamp set from Unity and I combined it with a sentiment from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and a stencil from Whimsy Stamps. 

To create my card I used three colors of blue distress ink to create an ink smooshed background on mixed media paper. I added the stars to the sky using gesso and the Twinkle stencil from Whimsy Stamps.  I love creating cards about the real meaning of Christmas.

Supplies and Tools:

• Lying in a Manger (Unity Stamp Co.)
• Twinkle Stencil (Whimsy Stamps)
• We Three Kings (SnSS affiliate link)
• Dashing Rectangles Dies (Elizabeth Craft Designs) 
  
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• White Gesso
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink 
  
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger)
  
•  Chipped Sapphire, Prize Ribbon, Uncharted Mariner
  

This post linked to:

• Shopping Our Stash Challenge - Shine Bright Like a Diamond (star light)
• Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Traditional Christmas
• Word Art Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks Challenge - All Occasions

We Three Kings

  My friend Autumn inspired me to buy the We Three Kings stamp set and create this trio of Christmas cards. I cased the card she created, but changed up the way I did the sentiment. Click here to view her card.

 I started by ink smooshing two shades of distress ink around the border of a mixed media piece of paper. I did the darker one first and the added some lighter tones over top. I used saran wrap dipped in antique linen distress ink to add the bright spot in the center. Next, I added metallic paint splatters before stamping the wise men in black ink. I used one of the silhouette stamps from Scene Silhouettes: Jesus is Born to finish off the the end since it doesn't go all the way across the card.

For the bottom of the card, I stamped one of the plaid stamps from Texture Tiles 4 in coordinating colors on mixed media paper and inked around the edges. After adhering it to my card panel, I added a strip of crochet lace and some burlap string. I finished the card off with a sentiment from Endless Love.

~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~

  Supplies and tools:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
• We Three Kings
• Endless Love 
• Texture Tiles 4  
  
• Scene Silhouettes: Jesus is Born 
• Crochet Lace
• Burlap String 
• Metallic Paint
  
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger):
• Antique Linen, Rustic Wilderness/Mowed Lawn, Aged Mahogany/Candied Apple, Uncharted Mariner/Prize Ribbon
  

This post linked to:

• Try it on Tuesday: Traditional Christmas 
• As You Like Challenge - Favorite Non-traditional Christmas color
• blue - because it's my favorite color
• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Quick n Easy Christmas Cards

This week, the Stamp Simply team is sharing quick-to-create Christmas cards that would be easy to mass produce, and it doesn't get any easier than this. I used a forest scene from the beautiful Sending Joy paper pad for my card front and only added a sentiment and a few silver sequins.  I distressed the edges of my paper for a little extra texture, but if you're in a hurry you could leave that step off. This paper pad is FULL of gorgeous papers -- you can check it out via the link below. 

 Supplies from Stamp Simply:  

• Sending Joy Paper Pad (Studio Light)
• Scripty Background Minis Set 2 
  

Other Supplies: 

• Sequins
• Rustic Wilderness Distress Ink (Ranger) 
  

 This post linked to:

• Use Your Stuff Challenge - Winter/Snow
• Inkspirational Challenge - Photo challenge (snowy scene)
• The Paper Players Challenge - CAS Christmas 

Simple Moments

 Anita Jeram stamps are some of the cutest out there, and I had fun combining a couple different sets to create the sweet scene on this card. Everything was stamped on mixed media paper and colored with Arteza Real Brush Pens. 

Supplies and Tools:

• Furever Friends (Colorado Craft Company)
• Furever Friends dies (Colorado Craft Company)
• Topiaries & Kitten (Colorado Craft Company)
• Wall Words (Colorado Craft Company)
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink 

 This post linked to:

• Allsorts Challenge - Trees and Leaves
• Word Art Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Carved Wood Background

 I had fun trying out Gina K Designs "Carved Wood" technique using a snowflake embossing folder. It went perfectly with those sweet little animals from the SnSS Winter Hugs stamp set that now has coordinating dies!! 

  It's time for another Sweet n Sassy Instagram Hop, and since they're celebrating 15 years this month it's a big one. If you'd like to enter the drawing for a $100 gift card to SnSS - visit my Instagram page and click on the photo with the hop graphic for more info. 

~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~

Supplies and tools:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
• Winter Hugs
• Scene Silhouettes: Trees
• Sparkle Snowflake Die Set
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink 
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• Snowflake Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)
  
• Circle Dies (Spellbinders)
  
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger):
• Stormy Sky, Prize Ribbon
  

This post linked to:

• Use Your Stuff - Winter/Snow
• Alphabet Challenge - P is for Precious
• As You Like Challenge - Favorite non-traditional Christmas Color Combo
• blue and white - because I love blue! 

The Card Concept - Happy Thanksgiving OR Merry Christmas

It's time for another challenge at The Card Concept.

Today's challenge is: Happy Thanksgiving OR Merry Christmas

Everyone is welcome to play along using the colors, the theme, 

textures, items, or just anything from the picture as your starting point.

There are two themes/photo boards to choose from this time, and I chose to be inspired by the colors in the Christmas one. 

To create my card I die cut a window from an old cereal box and painted over it with white and brown acrylic paint. I created a background for it by ink smooshing two shades of green distress ink on mixed media paper and generously splattering with white acrylic paint. The flower and all the greenery where cut from mixed media paper and colored with Arteza Real Brush pens.

 Supplies and Tools:

• Cathedral Window Bigz die (Tim Holtz - Sizzix)
• Funk Wreaths Dies (Tim Holtz - Sizzix)
• Festive Bouquet Dies (Tim Holtz - Sizzix)
• Brickwork 3D Embossing Folder ((Tim Holtz - Sizzix)
• Cereal Box
  
• White and Brown Acrylic Paint
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
  
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger):
• Rustic Wilderness and Shabby Shutters

 This post linked to:

• Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas
• Tic Tac Toe Challenge  - Green, Snow, Wood OR Green, Holiday Floral, Embossing
• Die Cut Divas Challenge - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Flower Power

Christmas Coffee

 I'm up on the Stamp Simply blog today with this Christmas themed coffee card. The Fall-Winter Coffee Lover's Blog Hop is in progress this week, and Stamp Simply is giving away a $25 gift code as well as having a 15% off sale on all coffee themed products. My card features their Cup of Java Dies all decked out for the holidays.

Supplies and Tools from Stamp Simply:

• A Cup of Java Coordinating Dies,
• Farmhouse Christmas
  
• Festive Bouquet (Sizzix - Tim Holtz) 
• Tartan Plaid Paper Pad (Craft Consortium) 
  
• Wood Textures Paper Pad (Craft Consortium)
  
• White Crochet Lace 
  

Other Supplies:

• A Lumberjack Christmas Paper Pack (Echo Park)
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink
  

 This post linked to:

• Coffee Loving Cardmakers  Fall-Winter Coffee Lover's Blog Hop 
• Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas
• Try it on Tuesday - Traditional Christmas (red plaid)

Blizzard of Hugs

I'm up on the Sweet 'n Sassy blog today sharing fun winter card that features the sweet Winter Hugs stamp set that now has coordinating dies! 

I had so much fun creating that night sky by blending three shades of distress ink on mixed media paper. This card was simple enough to make that a couple of my Sunday School girls created their own versions during a recent card making afternoon I had with their mom. 

~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~

Supplies and Tools:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
• Winter Hugs
• Thrill Of Hope
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink 
• White Acrylic Paint
  
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger):
•  Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio, Prize Ribbon

This post linked to:

• Little Red Wagon Challenge - Winter
• Alphabet Challenge - P is for Precious
• Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Snow, Free, Blue
• Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Thinking of You
• Use Your Stuff Challenge - Winter/Snow

SnSS Stamp-a-Thon

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is celebrating their 15th birthday this month with lots of fun things. Today is the start of their two day Stamp-a-thon on their VIP Facebook page. There will be challenges, lives, and lots of prizes so be sure to check it out. I get to kick things off with the first challenge which is to "Use a stencil" on your creation. 

To create my background I sponged three colors of distress ink through the quilt stencil. I then used a Prismacolor pencil to outline each block and added depth. The script was added with a palette knife and white gesso. 

~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~

Supplies and tools:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
• Mini Tags Sentiments
• Mini Tags Dies
• Quilt Stencil
  
• Script Stencil 
• I Like Big Cups 
• Roses for You 
• Special Blooms
• White Gesso
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink 
• Arteza Real Brush Pens 
• Prismacolor Pencils
• Crochet Threas
  
• Lisette Oval Shadowbox Frame dies (Spellbinders)
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger):
• Saltwater Taffy, Scattered Straw, Salvaged Patina
  

This post linked to:

• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Die Cut Divas Challenge - Anything Goes
• Fall Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Coffee Lover's Blog Hop

 Today kicks off the Fall-Winter Coffee Lover's Blog Hop and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is one of their sponsors giving away a $25 gift code to the store. Check out their post by clicking here. 

My card features the ever-popular Coffee Talk stamp set combined with the NEW Mini Tags Sentiments to create a fun banner across my window. 

~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~

Supplies and tools:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
• Mini Tags Sentiments
• Mini Tags Dies
  
• Sparkle Snowflake Die Set
• Coffee Talk  
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink 
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• Small Window Die (Memory Box)
• Snowflake Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug) 
• Crochet Thread
• Yeti Ink (Lawn Fawn)
  

This post linked to:

• Coffee Loving Cardmakers  Fall-Winter Coffee Lover's Blog Hop 
• Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas

Gratitute Tags 6

I'm using the month of November to document some of the promises from God's Word that I'm especially thankful for. Today I'm sharing Gratitude Tag number six that features the promise found in James 4:8 "Come near to God and he will come near to you."

 Click here to view all the tags in this series. 

Supplies and tools:

• Autumn Fussy Cuts from Screech Owl Studio
• Fall Worn Wood Papers from OohlalaScraps 
• Words of Encouragement (Stamp Simply) 
• Leaf Silhouettes Stamps (SnSS affiliate link)
• Leaf Silhouettes Dies (SnSS affiliate link)
  
• Burlap Ribbon
  
• Chevron Striped Twill Ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon) 
• These colors of Distress Oxide (Ranger):
• Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw, Candied Apple