Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of my blog readers! 

Today (on the Cropstop blog) I'm sharing one last Christmas card. This one is a larger card made with a 5 x 7 embossing folder from Couture Creations.
To be honest I was a bit "stumped" when I first got this folder as I wasn't sure how to fill the white space adequately.  After accidentally embossing crooked, I decided to cut out the white space and mat it (so as to not entirely waste my messed-up piece) - it was just what this card needed, and I love how it turned out in the end!

 Supplies and tools:
Cabaret Embossing Folder (Couture Creations), Jumbo Poinsettia (Stampendous), Phrase Set 2 (Sizzix), Touch Five Markers, Gold Glitter, Christmas Blessing (Stampendous), Distress Ink (Fired Brick/Pine Needles), Tuxedo Black Ink (Memento), Petite Striplet - Jubilee (Creative Expressions)

This post linked to:
Pinspirational - Inspiration photo (Christmas - colors)
Power Poppy - Hues To Use

Mason Jar Calendars

Since I had good luck in selling my 2015 Mason Jar Calendars, I decided to make a 2016 version for the Etsy shop.

There are four different paper designs to choose from

Each has a coffee dyed doily on the front and a raffia bow around the neck of the jar

The magnet on the back make them great for your fridge or filing cabinet.

Great for adding to a Christmas card as a small gift for someone special!

Go check them out in the shop!

July Calendar Challenge

Yes, I know I'm way behind on my calendar gift -- trying to get caught up by the end of this month. Featuring July's pages today.

Above is the CD case calendar using Scripture on each month,  and below is the quilt block of the month calendar. 

Those starts are cut out of old jeans -- gives it a "country" feel. 

Now click here to see what my friend did for her July calendar.

Calendar Challenge - May/June

Both my friend and I totally forgot about our calendar challenge at the end of May, so we decided to combine the two months at the end of June.  Above is my quilts block calendar page for May -- and below is the one for June (click image for a closer view).

I did a sailboat iris folding on June's- really like how it turned out.  If you've never done iris folding before - here's a link to get you started  - there's lots of free patterns on the side bar, including this sailboat one!
Here's the May CD case calendar

And the one for June:

Stamp sets used: Utopiary - Coastal (Inkadinkado)

The CD case calendar ones look washed out on here -- but I didn't have time to take new pics -- and even so my camera cord is on the blink so I couldn't have uploaded them.  
Now go here to see what my friend created for the May/June Calendar Challenge

April Calendar

Time for the monthly calendar challenge again! My how time is flying by. For my two CD case calendars I did purple spring images.  This time I used two different papers for the background....the second is posted below.

I used a Cuttlebug die for the tulip and leaves.  To make the tulips 3D I cut three, folded them in half and glued them back to back.
Here's the quilt calendar I'm working on.....

The little flowers on this are from the MS border punch bloom dots and the bigger flowers (on the cross) are  from Heartfelt Creations - Posie Patch set.  I also used the candy cane stripe embossing folder on the cross.
Here's a little closer view of the flowers/cross so you can see the textures in it.

I started out making this a stand up calendar (like for an easel), but just this month decided to change it to a hang up calendar.  If you've been following the calendar challenge each month you may want to revisit those posts to see the "new and improved" version.
January
February
March
BTW - Here's the website I got my calendar images from for the quilt calendar
Now go here to see what my friend did for her April 2012 calendar.
This post linked to:
Who Made What Weekends?
Craft Catwalk
Making Monday Marvelous

Calendar Challenge - March

Time to upload the calendar pages for March of next year.  The above one is my CD Case calendar.  Doing this one in a Scripture theme - chose a verse about growing since SRING started this month.  Would you believe that the background paper is actually wrapping paper?  A lady from church regularly contributes to the Disabled Veterans and therefore receives wrapping paper and stuff from them. She likes to pass it on to me since  in her words "you make pretty stuff."
Other supplies used:

• White ribbon
• Felt tip pen
• faux stitching and verse
• Ornate Labels # 3 - Sizzix
• Homemade Dew drops
• Pink nail polish
• colored dew drops with
• old pattern
• butterfly

Here's a closer view of that butterfly --- it has several layers and was cut out and embossed with a Provo Craft die/embossing folder set I have.

Here's the quilted calendar for March

 I used spring papers - mainly pinks/purples for my quilt this month.  Added a big 3D ribbon flower to the center to make the page "pop."
The flowers in the center are Iced Got Flowers with a rhinestone in the middle.
Here's a little closer view:

I plan to give these completed calendars as gifts this coming Christmas.
Click here to see what a friend made for her calendar gift for the month of March.
This post linked to:
Thrilling Thursday
Free For All at Sassy Sites  
Crafty Friday Mash Up   
Crafty Saturday

Calendar Challenge - February

Time for this months calendar challenge. You'll recall (from this post) that I'm making 2 CD case calendars with Scripture on them and 2 quilt block calendars.  The above is my CD case February calendar for next year.
Supplies:

• DP - Classics (K & Company)
• Red Cardstock
• Two flower brads
• Red Fibers
• Felt Tip Pen (faux stitching/verse)

The heart was made by folding four hearts in half and gluing them back to back.

 The Quilt Block Calendar

Supplies used:

• DP - Classics (K & Company)
• Punches
• 1 1/2 in. square punch (corners)
• 3/4 in. square punch -- all those little squares on the patchwork heart
• Scalloped heart stencil
• Red Fiber
• Bic Metallic Marker - Red Elementz
• Traced around the heart with
• Black Felt Tip Pen (faux stitching all over the heart and around the "quilt block")
• White/Red Cardstock

Now go here to see what my friend made for February's calendar.

Calendar Challenge

Problem: Paper-crafting is always more fun with two, but I don't live close to any paper-crafting friends.
Solution: One of my friends and I decided to make a weekly challenge between the two of us last year.  Each week we alternated in picking a "challenge" (example: Sea themed, stitching, No layers, recycled etc.) and would post our cards together on the following Wednesday. In this way we enjoyed scraping "together" though we were far apart!
This year I ask her if she would like to change the challenge a bit.  My plan is to give more homemade things for Christmas this year (and her's is too!), so I thought it would be fun to make a calendar "together" as our challenge for this year.
Each month we will post a calendar page for that month (only with next year's date on it) on the last weekday of the month.  Come Christmas we should have some homemade 2012 calendars to give away as gifts!
I seem to do better at continued projects if they have a theme, so for my small desktop calendars (displayed in a CD case) I chose a Bible Verse theme.  The above page is my January 2012 page

Here's the supplies I used:

• DP - Classics (K&Company)
• "Tropical Blue" Ribbon
• Sunflower Stamp (Heartfelt Creations)
• stamped in Tropical Blue Ink
• Blue Glitter
• Martha Stewart Branch Punch
• Martha Stewart Leaf Punch
• Ornate Label # 4 (Sizzix)
• Blue Bic Marker 
• around the edge of the page

Since my attention span isn't very long, and I wanted to make at least four calendars to give away ---I decided to make the other two in a different design/theme. Each month of the second design will have a different patchwork quilt at the top!  I have a very special friend who enjoys sewing/embroidery and I think this calendar will be perfect for her.
So...Here's my first quilt block calendar page -- for January 2012

 Here's a little closer view to show you all the faux stitching I added to this with a black felt tipped pen. It was a bit time consuming, but well worth the effort in the end!!

Supplies used on this page:

• DP - Classics (K & Company)
• Poppies die (Provo Craft)
• Yellow Cardstock
• Green eyelets
• Green, polka-dot ribbon
• stems and leaves of flowers
• Blue ribbbon
• Black felt tip pen
• faux stitching
•  Green rhinestones 
• centers of flowers

I really like how this one turned out - not sure I'll be able to give the second one away!
 Now go here to see what my friend came up with for a calendar page this month.
Anyone who wishes is welcome to join in on the challenge by leaving a comment and link to your own calendar post!