January 2024 52 CCT Sketch Card.....

Hi friends, welcome to my card making blog.   Today's card marks the start of my 2024 Christmas Card stash, and it was made using  Andreja L.'s January sketch over at 52 CCT.   I used (SU) Eden's Garden papers for the card panel, the holly and the green backing for the sentiment.  The card panel was embossed using a spellbinder  holly folder.  The green piece behind the sentiment strip was die cut using a border from the Basic Borders die set that is in the current SU catalog.   The sentiment is from a retired SU stamp set, Christmas to Remember and the Holly leaves were in the Poinsettia Petals SU set. (it may be retired also).  The Holly Berries are tiny red buttons and they provide the perfect pop of color for the card.    I really appreciate those of you who pop in for a visit and comments are so appreciated.  Hugs and smiles,  Kathy    

 

December Theme Challenge 52 CCT

For the third Saturday which is a theme challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, Fabiola has chosen for us to make Christmas cards with Snow Globes.   I ordered the die cut and clear insert by Marrianne Designs and decided that the snowman scene from Connie Fong (Etsy) would work nicely.  The paper and CS are from SU  and are both current.   I colored the scene with SU Watercolor pencils and gel pens and that went well.   I bought some snow from Hobby Lobby and that proved to be a disaster.  That card ended up in the trash!     I remembered I had some tiny snowflakes left over from SU Paper Pumpkin from years ago.  So I punched some tiny circles using sparkly white CS and added them to the tiny snowflakes.  I then added the snowman scene to the card panel. After placing the flakes mixture in the middle and after adding runner tape around the back of the clear insert and placed it on top of winter scene.   I had tried glue stick and that proved a disaster also.  Immediately the "mixture" started popping all over the place and no amount of "thumping" persuasion could get them to the bottom.    I'm trying to think who has bad eyesight these days (besides me)  I' m having my third eye surgery this coming Monday. Dec. 18th.    I think it's static --I probably could have used my emboss buddy and I will try that next time!    Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out the wonderful cards that the design team has made.    Smiles,    Kathy

 

December Colour Challenge 52 CCT

This second week of December is color challenge over at 52 CCT and Fabiola has chosen purple and gold or purple and silver.   I seldom ever use "purple" in my cardmaking so I found a purple "spectrum" of color over at Etsy and I used one of the lightest purples and one of the darker purples with silver to make my card.  A few days ago I found a beautiful purple/gold digital collection from Carolyn's Musings.    The light purple panel is embossed with Spellbinder Holly and the tree bulbs are from Simon says.  Because the folder is holly I added the die cut holly and berries (from 2 different die cut sets) to the silver bow.  Now while this would not be a color combo I would normally choose,  the longer I look at it the better I like it!   I use to shy away from color challenges, but this year has stretched me as I've played with not only the different color challenges but also interpreted various themes and tried new to me techniques.   We only have two more challenges for 2023 and I hope you come back for those..  Seeing all the amazing artwork has been pure enjoyment for me.       So head on over to 52 CCT and check out the wonderful ideas from the design team and I look forward to seeing your card with these colors!  Thanks to all of you who faithfully comment!    Smiles and may your Christmas be more than merry may it be a season of peace and realization of who Jesus really is.   He was more than just a baby!    He is the Savior to whosoever will accept Him!   If you would like to know more click the link below, where I have links to ministries that have played a role in my life!

Where Pearls Lie Deep

 

December Sketch Challenge 52 CCT

Hi friends, welcome to the first Saturday in December, Fabiola has designed a simple and clean sketch for us over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.  I really enjoyed making this card.   A few weeks ago I was browsing Etsy and I happened upon some Christmas Embroidered Clipart.     My mother loved to do embroidery by hand.   The embroidered image on my card has the look of machine embroidery, but I think it makes a beautiful centerpiece on my card.  I printed the image on watercolor paper and then embossed in the Su linen paper folder before die cutting with the SU stitched circle.   I had printed some extras and I fussy cut the poinsettias and popped them up.  That's a look I really like doing.   I chose the papers from Eden's Garden (Su retired for my background and square behind the circle) and added SU enamels around the image.    I stuck very closely to the sketch, even though there is color, texture and layering, I think it is just about a CAS card.    Thank you for stopping by to all of you faithful friends and welcome to anyone who is new.   Head on over to 52 CCT and check out the beautiful cards from the design team and then share with us how you use the sketch to make a beautiful Christmas card.        Smiles   Kathy

 

November technique Challenge 52 CCT

For the last challenge of November  over at 52 Christmas Card THrowdown, Gill has chosen for us to make a shaped card.  Using a  couple of red ornament die cuts from Michaels I made a "Santa" ornament card.  The front of the ornament is red and the back is white.   I embossed the top red die cut with a holly EB from spellbinders, This allows some of the white to show through in the design.    The front slides over to reveal the sentiment.  The ornament die cuts are only held together by the ribbon and twine.  The recipient could hang it on their tree.    The Santa came from Etsy. The gold wreath around Santa is from a set in the new SU Occasions.   It was a fun challenge,     Thanks for stopping in today.   Smiles,   Kathy

This is the first card I made and then I decided I wanted to make the second card.

 I put the same sentiment in both cards.   

"Wishing You A Christmas of  SMILES and LOVE that will last all year."

November Sketch Challenge 52CCT

Hi friends,   if you've been participating fairly regular with us this year at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, then like me you will be mailing your handmade treasures out to friends and family in a few short weeks.   It's been an exciting year and I have enjoyed the challenges immensely.    It's the 1st Saturday in November and time for a sketch over at 52 CCT.   The above cards were made using Penquin Playmates DSP from SU.   This paper (retired) is so sweet and really works so well for fussy cutting.  For the bear to add to his definition I used a cool grey colored pencil to outline him around the edges.  His belly is "factory" grey.   I used the sentiment "Happy Holidays"   I think these two cards will be good to send to friends  with young children.    Be sure and check out the wonderful cards made by the rest of the Design Team.   As always, we invite you to join us and make a card for this challenge by Gill.   Thanks for stopping by.   Smiles,  Kathy

I'm joining these challenges this week

The Holly and Ivy ChristTmas Challenge

anything goes

(center across)

Anything Goes

October Technique/Stash Challenge 52 CCT

Majda's choice for the technique challenge over at 52 CCT is a Shaker Card.   I've never made one and I kept putting it off to the last minute!   Though far from perfect I managed to make 2 shaker cards to share with you this week!  The hardest part for me was working with the roll of foam tape--I seemed to get it all over m fingers and kept picking up the tape I had put down!    If you have a suggestion for foam tape or how to use it, I would love to hear it!  The cards turned out cute!   Thanks for stopping in and check out the other design team member cards and then take this challenge, we would love to see what you come up with!     Smiles,   Kathy 

 

September 9, 2023 CCT Color Challenge

Today "Rosi" has chosen a green, brown and blue colour challenge.   I can't remember ever making a card with these specific colours, but I really like it.  I used a large die cut from SU to create the evergreen sprigs behind the pine cones from a retired CTMH set.   The sentiment  "Thinking of you at Christmas Time" is from an SU set.  A friend recently gave me a bag full of ribbons and I used some of the navy grossgrain for the bow and added a button with linen thread for the bow.  The base was printed from paper I printed from an Etsy set.

Ugly (Tacky) Christmas Sweater Card

the sentiment reads:   I want an "ugly sweater" for Christmas said no one ever.

At 52 Christmas Card Throwdown our hostess Rosie brings us a great sketch to work with.   I seldom ever do a square card, I'm not sure why, I always enjoy making them for challenges.   I purchased this sweater knit embossing folder from Spellbinders awhile back and coupled with this fun sweater image which I "fussy cut" from a set I bought on Etsy and the faux washi tape from another set on Etsy.  I created a fun card with a somewhat "snarky" sentiment I also found online and created in Word for the inside.  I kept thinking about the movie A Christmas Story where Ralphie's aunt makes him a one piece pink bunny suit and his mom makes him go put it on and model it!      I certainly hope no one is offended by my card.    All our tastes in clothing varies and this is just done in fun!   Thanks for stopping by and join us with your creation with this sketch.   There are some great cards created by the design team that will inspire you I'm quite sure!          Smiles,   Kathy

 

52 CCT August Technique Challenge

It's the fourth week at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown and Tracy has chosen for us to use an Embossing Folder.  I decided to use a new Spellbinder holly folder I recently purchased from Scrapbook.Pal and a retired SU Stationary folder.   I stamped the white sentiment Panel with Merry Christmas in permanent black.  I then embossed that panel, the red panel and the white base panel  with the SU folder and then used the Spellbinders folder to emboss the white sentiment panel and the base panel.    The holly is a digital download from Etsy that I colored in the green leaves with colored pencils and watercolor pencils to get a more vibrant look.   I followed up with Nuvo Shimmer on the leaves and berries of the holly.  I consider it a CAS card!    It was fun to make and the Holly embossing folder is the star of the card!    Thanks for stopping by and check out the beautiful work by the rest of the design team and as always we would love to see what you make with this challenge.      Smiles,   Kathy

I am sharing this at the following Challenges

(Holly Spellbinders Folder)

 

52 CCT August Sketch

 Welcome everyone, thanks for stopping in for a visit.   As always, the first Saturday of the month is a sketch challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown and this one is a great one.   I used some printed digi paper for my base and made a tag using SU tag dies and then used a layered die cut from Hobby Lobby Paper Studio and a shiny silver sentiment and snowflakes from the same paper studio collection.    It's a fun and colorful card to add to my stash for 2023.   I hope you will join the fun, make your card and share it with us!    Smiles,   to all of you,  Kathy

52 CCT Technique "fussy cutting" Christmas Card with popped images....

Hi friends,   thank you so much for visiting my blog today.  So many of you are so supportive and I appreciate it.    I made this card for the technique challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.  For the month of July I have been the hostess and it has been so rewarding to see the beautiful work that has been done using the challenges that I came up with for everyone.  What fun seeing all the different ways that so many talented card makers have interpreted the challenges these past few weeks.  Our technique for this last two week (since July has 5 weeks) of July is "fussy cutting."  When I first started making cards over 20 years ago..in order to layer you had to "fussy cut" your images.   Die cuts for home use had not come on the scene quite yet.   And even though I order die cuts with most stamp sets now (bundled up at SU) fussy cutting is something I still do quite a bit.  We enjoy an abundance of beautiful designer paper these days and I so enjoy using that to make cards.   I have paper I buy in collections and digital paper that I buy and download storing on a flash drive (saving space on my computer.)   The tope 2 cards were from  BeracaInk a seller on Etsy.  The bottom card is from 

I really enjoyed making all three of these.  For the bottom card I cut the poinsettia close to the black outline and then using a glue stick for good adherence I glued to white and cut to make it look like stamped die cuts.  Join the fun at 52 CCT and make a card for this last challenge in July (you will have 2 weeks instead of 1).  Thanks for being a friend!          Kathy

I'm also linking my card to  

Merry Little Christmas Challenge  (anything goes)      

Sparkles Christmas Challenge   (include gold)  

The Holly and the Ivy Card Challenge  (anything goes)  

ABC Christmas Challenge  (O is for Ornament)

 

Doggie Christmas Card...

The third Saturday of the month is always "theme" challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, we are celebrating our pets this month!    The design team has created some beautiful cards for you to enjoy and to inspire you.   Quite a while back I bought this cute St. Bernard puppy digi stamp from DigiDoodles.   They no longer are doing digital stamps and I don't know exactly what they are doing.   While he is so precious "looking,"  coloring him turned out to be a giant challenge for me.   I started by printing him on white cs and die cut this using a stitched oval from SU.  I then printed him on a black/red gingham style plaid and fussy cut this out and glued on top of the first printing, and then printed on white a second time and fussy cut just the part I

needed to color and after coloring this piece I attached with pop dots on top of the black/red piece.   Suffice to say I ended up printing the piece to color more than once...I colored with pencils, water color pencils and wanna be copics (that I bought from Amazon.)  I used "wink of stella" on the white fur areas.  The sentiment is from Glacielle designs.    I  embossed the panel with the SU brick folder.     The black/red paper is a piece from Evergreen and Holly paper pad by Vicki Boutin.    Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you will make a card to share with us this week.     Smiles,   Kathy

Also linking card to:  Critter Crazy Challengegs

 

Christmas In July Sketch

Hi friends,  so glad you have dropped by for a visit today...I'm excited to celebrate Christmas in July with you.  It's my pleasure to be hostess this month at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.    It's the first Saturday of the month and time for a sketch.     For the wreath and stripe I used a sheet of paper from a Christmas kit I bought at Hobby Lobby a while back.   There were some gold flecks in the paper and I added gold centers to the flowers ( which along with the sentiment came from a past SU paper pumpkin kit.   The bow is from a current SU die set.    I hope you will make a card for this challenge and share it with us.   It is always so fun to see everyone's beautiful work!   Smile,    Kathy

 

Green Pink Red June Color Card....

Hi everyone,   today brings a beautiful June Colour Challenge.  These colours said clean and simple to me!   I really liked these colors and I remember this beautiful paper collection that I had bought from Scrapbook.com last year. It turned out to have exactly what I wanted.  The bottom card is the first card I made for the challenge...but since I had trouble getting my card panel to stay positioned in the embossing folder I chose, I  ended up having to it closer. So,  I decided to make another card. But, I think this card is definitely a keeper,  I then decided to use a different embossing folder for the second card and it (the top carfd) turned out to be my favorite.      I cut the card colour stripes,l and then fussy cut the ornaments.   I cut the tag from Honey Bee die cuts and the sentiment "Have a Holly Jolly Chrtistmas" is from a retired SU set.   The sentiment is the first line of a song by the title "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" sung by Burl Ives in the animated Christmas show "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer."   My adult kids (still single) and my husband and I still watch this every year along with the movies "Christmas Vacation" and "ELF"  and several other Christmas specials.   You are all invited over to  52 Christmas Card Throwdown.   The design team has some awesome cards for your inspiration.   We would love to see what you do with these colours.   Have fun with this challenge...I sure did!    Smiles,  Kathy
 

Slimline Christmas Card....

Supplies List:      crumb cake cs,    digital blue/white panel = Glacielle Designer Paper

                            Digital Nativity from Etsy,   SU Stitched Circle,  Simon Says tree bulbs, Shiny Gold                                CS, RealRed CS and gold thin thread and LIsa Horton Snowflake Embossing Folder

It was an emotional lift to work on this card these fews days.        I have mentioned on here that our Cairn Terrier had cancerous tumors and she passed away this past Monday...Our hearts are broken, but we are thankful we had her for almost 14 years....She loved to lay under my craft table when I was making things!      I know so many of you are dog and cat lovers, it is so numbing and while I was able to make the card...writing the blog has been very difficult.   Thanks to all of you who are my blog friends!            Kathy

 A little over a year ago, she was a beautiful Brindle color and she loved being with us and going to the park and eating apples and carrots and bread as night snacks!

This was made Sunday (the day before she died).  We had to keep her bandaged since her tumors started bleeding some and we used baby onesies adapted for her needs.   But she was such a fighter and she still loved going to the park to see all her friends and she continued to eat so again we are thankful that we had more time with her than the Vet predicted for the kind of cancer she had.   Wiithout her help my cardmaking may not be as good!    She was my inspiration for sure!