New Year and New Goals!

Happy New Year!

When I saw the challenge at AAA Cards Challenge, I was inspired to create. New Year's is all about clean slates and new goals, and a white on white card is a clean slate!

So first my card . . . because the card will be far easier than any new goals or resolutions. There is something magical about a white on white card. For me, it was all about the dimension, and this stamp set gave me everything I needed for dimension. 

A solid flat flower anchored to the base, and then an open flower offset so the petals float and provide all that great dimension. Some clear confetti, a layered whit sentiment. 

The goals and resolutions? Easy to make, but harder to follow through on for an entire year. But I'll still try, and I'm going to keep it to crafty goals.

This past year I created just over 350 cards. Some were classes that I took, but most were my own creations. I am going to guess that I mailed about 20% of that number, donated around 10% for someone looking for Get Well Cards for a project, and I have a stash that is just sitting. 

My goals for this year:

• Continue to track the cards I create and log in a journal.
• Continue to create cards based on amazing prompts and inspiration on the blog posts, such as this one. However, I need to up my game and follow through to post and actually enter the challenges. My goal is to try to enter at least one a week!
• Mail more cards and/or donate more cards to friends and family to share handmade kindness.
• Make more interactive or fun fold cards.
• Buy less new products and use the items I have. 

And the big goal . . . offer myself grace when I don't meet these crafty goals, because I likely won't. 

White card . . . clean slate . . . new goals. 

Now to create.

Debbie

Supplies Used  - Hello - White

Stamps and Dies:  Hello Blooms Dies (Scrapbook.com)

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today);

Other: Sparkling Clear Confetti (Pretty Pink Posh);

Merry Little Christmas - Turnabout Stamp

Sweet Stampin' was the inspiration for my card today. It's Christmas! 

There was a lot of stamping on this card. I used a Turnabout stamp from Concord & 9th to create my background. Four different shades of ink created a great background, and the stamp also had a focal image of a larger tree which I placed on vellum. 

Gold and green . . . the perfect combo. Turnabout stamps can be tricky, but this on was a lot of fun. If you haven't tried one, highly recommend.

Happy stamping!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Stamps and Dies:  Tiny Trees Turnabout Stamp Set and Dies (Concord & 9th);

Ink & Embossing:  Evergreen, Nutmeg, Artichoke, Sprout Ink (Concord & 9th); Embossing Pad and Gold Rich Regular Embossing Powder (Wow);

Paper: White Cardstock (Park Lane Paperie); Evergreen Cardstock (Concord & 9th); Brushed Gold Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Vellum (Close To My Heart);

Other: Gold Smooth Discs (Spellbinders);

Winter Greetings

My card today was inspired by the "fence" prompt at Creative Friday. There is something about fences that I just love, especially a good picket fence. It's like a home sweet home thing. 

For this card I started with my fence die and some other items that came with it. I let my pattern papers determine my colors. The strip down the left side matches my birds perfectly. 

One thing I love about Catherine Pooler's pattern papers, they match the inks just perfectly. No guessing required.

Such a fun scene . . . it's reminding me that we need to bring our bird feeder out for the season. 

I hope you have some fun playing with inks and paper!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Winter Greetings

Stamps and Dies:   In Every Season Stamp Set and Dies, White Picket Fence Die, Seasons of Love Sentiment Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Macchiato, Wintergreen, Matcha, Apricot and Spruce (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock and Painted Butterflies Pattern Paper (Catherine Pooler Designs); Dark Brown Woodgrain Cardstock (Lawn Fawn);

Other: Wintergreen Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Snow-rific Birthday, Inspired by "Cold"

A chilly winter card inspired by the Inkspirational challenge. The prompt there was cold, and what's colder than snowmen and snowflakes.

Lots of sparkle and shine on this card. I used a Catherine Pooler set that was perfect for winter birthdays. 

Included a window to capture the inside sentiment. 

Challenge for your day . . . create something sparkly and cold! 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Snow-rific Birthday

Stamps and Dies:  Snow-rific Party Stamp Set and Dies, Frosted Window Die, Party Tags Die, (Catherine Pooler Deisngs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Party Dress, Rockin' Red, In the Park, Something Borrowed (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs); Blue Glitter Cardstock (Stampin' Up);

Other: Diamond Stickles (Ranger); Mykonos Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Until We Meet Again . . .

My card today was inspired by the color inspiration at Color Dare. I had used a stencil to create a bullet journal page, and when I do that I like to spray the panel with water and try to create a watercolor background fitting for a card. I never want waste all that excess ink. This particular stencil was lengthy, so I created a slimline card. 

I turned this one into a sympathy card for a pet, as it seemed like the perfect rainbow bridge card. I'm always needing some of those, and while I don't love the occasion, I do love how this card turned out. 

I love how the sweet little dog is just sitting on the cloud. I may have to intentionally create some additional panels like this one. 

Give this a try when you have your next inky stencil. It will often surprise you.

Debbie

Until You Meet Again Slimline Watercolor Rainbow

Stamps and Dies:  Rainbow Bridge Stamp Set; Top Dog Stamp and Die Set (Pink & Main and 2Cute);

Ink & Embossing:  Versafine Black Onyx Ink; Party Dress, Orange Twist, Tiara, Lime Rickey, All That Jazz, Flirty Fuchsia, Twilight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Watercolor Paper (Canson);

Other: Clear Confetti (Concord & 9th); Rainbow Confetti (Pretty Pink Posh); Over the Rainbow Stencil (Catherine Pooler Designs); Diamond Stickles (Ranger); Silver Shimmer Trim (Close To My Heart);

Celebration!

I was inspired to create a card using the "Celebration" prompt at Just Add Ink. This particular card could be used for any celebration. 

I love a card using a rainbow of colors, and I had fun with this one. I stacked my balloon die and string for added dimension. Since the "collection" of color in the middle got a big muddy, that white balloon was perfect, and it just pops. 

The black frame really makes all the color pop on this card.

Find something to celebrate today.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Celebrate Balloon Card

Stamps and Dies:   Celebrate Today Dies (Concord & 9th); 

Ink:  Honeysuckle, Buttercup and Oceanside Ink (Concord & 9th);

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); White and Oceanside Cardstock (Concord & 9th); White Glitter Cardstock (Close To My Heart);

Other:  Clear Sequins (Concord & 9th);

CAS Hello Card

Today's card was inspired by the challenge at Little Red Wagon. The prompt there was one word.

I went with a simple, single word . . . hello. I had this new set from Catherine Pooler Designs, and I used pattern paper as my focal point for this card. I stacked four layers of letters to get the dimension on this card. 

I love the shades of color in this pattern paper pack. I let the dies in my kit do all the talking on this one.

I hope you find some time to create something fabulous today. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Hello

Stamps and Dies: Hello Daisy Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Paper:  White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Signature Hello Pattern Paper (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Other: Ikaria Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

Peace & Love - Christmas Trees

Back to Christmas cards. Christmas trees was the prompt at Make My Monday. I pulled out some Hero Arts supplies from an event a few years ago. 

Trees with glitter paper is all Christmas. I added some rub-ons for my background, and strip of glitter paper to anchor it all. 

Another holiday card for the stash. 

Need a task? Pull out some old supplies and get busy. 

Debbie

Supplies Used  - Peace & Love

Stamps and Dies:  Northern Lights Stamp Set and Die and Tree Pattern Cover Plate Die (Hero Arts);

Ink & Embossing:  Versafine Black Onyx Ink; Clear Glass Regular Embossing Powder (Wow);

Paper: Daisy White Cardstock and White and Silver Glitter Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Blue Glitter Cardstock (Stampin' Up);

Other: Snowflake Hero Transfers (Hero Arts);

Let's Have a Ball

I needed to break out of Christmas card mode, so I made a winter themed birthday card and knew just the stamp set to make that happen. The colors and snowy theme were inspired by Cupcake Inspirations. 

This little snow dude is surrounded by snowflakes and loads of glimmer which I tried to capture below.

Who wouldn't want a juggling snowman to celebrate a birthday?

Glitter something today!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Let's Have a Ball

Stamps and Dies:  Snow-rific Party Stamp Set and Dies, Party Tags Die, Snow Many Flakes Dies (Catherine Pooler Deisngs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, In the Park, Something; Borrowed (Catherine Pooler Inks); 

Paper: Premium White Cardstock and Snowday Birthday Pattern Paper Pack (Catherine Pooler Designs); Glitter Cardstock (Close To My Heart); 

Other: Diamond Stickles (Ranger); Mykonos Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

Fun Surprise Gift Bag Inside a Holiday Card

My project today was inspired by The Paper Players. It is a theme challenge for gifting, and so I wanted to try a project that I had up my sleeve for quite some time. It's a holiday card with a surprise gift bag inside. It's sized for a gift card, cash or a small gift such as jewelry. 

I used some supplies in a bag that were left from a scrapbook layout I created a few years ago. I only needed to add some Neenah Desert Storm cardstock and ribbon from my stash. 

These were super fun to make, and I'm sure I'll make more soon. Those little gift bags are just too cute.

Cheers!

Debbie

Holly Jolly for 52 Christmas Throwdown

Today's card is inspired by the October sketch at 52 Christmas Throwdown. It was my pick from this past year's sketches. 

I did shift some elements a bit in my card, and I chose an ornament instead of a tree. I also used a fair amount of pattern paper for my elements. 

That ornament paper background began my inspiration for this card, and is why I shifted to an ornament for the focal point. 

Another Christmas card for my stash. 

Get creative!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Holly Jolly

Stamps and Dies:  Ornament Stamp and Stitch Stamp Set and Dies (Concord & 9th);

Ink & Embossing:  Embossing Pad and Opaque Bright White Embossing Powder (Wow)

Paper:  Powdered Sugar Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); White Christmas Pattern Paper (Moda Scraps); Brushed Gold Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Favorite Flannel 6 x 6 Paper Pack (Lawn Fawn); Vellum (Close To My Heart);

Other: White and Gold Ribbon (Close To My Heart); Dublin Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Q is for Quote

My card today was inspired by Alphabet Challenge to use a quote on a card. 

I created this card using some leftover supplies from a Pinkfresh kit. I love the colors in this paper pack, and my quote is from Charles Schultz. Love a good Peanuts quote. 

The holiday cards are coming fast and furious right now. I hope you are being creative in your neck of the woods. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Happy Holidays

Stamps and Dies:  Holly Jolly Stamp Set (Concord & 9th);

Ink & Embossing:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Holiday Magic Pattern Paper (Pinkfresh);

Other: Twine (Concord & 9th); Holiday Magic Chipboard Snowflake (Pinkfresh);

Holly Jolly Christmas

My card today was inspired by the colors at Color Dare. 

I used an old 6 x 6 Christmas pack from Bo Bunny. I matched my inks in my tree to the greens in the paper, attempting to get variation in color from one side to the other. 

Hoping stamps and dies are under my tree.

Hope your day includes some creating. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

Stamps and Dies:  Falala Fringe Stamp Set and Dies (Concord & 9th);

Ink & Embossing:  Embossing Pad, Golden Glow Embossing Powder, Opaque Bright White and Pure Platinum Embossing Powder (Wow); Deck the Halls and Martini (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  White Cardstock (Park Lane Paperie); Mistletoe Pattern Paper (Bo Bunny); Gold Glitter Cardstock (The Paper Studio);

Other: Gold Smooth Disc (Spellbinders);

Chillin' With My Gnomies

The Inspired By challenge this week included a gnome. I pulled from an old stamp kit with a gnome die from Simon Says Stamp to create my card. 

I love paper piecing; like inlaid dies, I find it similar to a jigsaw puzzle and love putting all the pieces together. 

Who doesn't need a glittery beard on a gnome, and a gnome on an action wobble.

I hope you find some time to create today.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Chillin' With my Gnomies

Stamps and Dies:  Gnome for the Holidays Stamp Set and Little Gnome Wafer Die (Simon Says Stamp)

Ink & Embossing: Midnight (Catherine Pooler Ink)

Paper: Kringle & Co. Pattern Paper (Photoplay); Schoolhouse Red Cardstock (Simon Says Stamp); Solar White Cardstock (Neenah);

Other: Action Wobble Mini; Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (Stampin' Up); Black Shimmer Trim (Close To My Heart); 

Treats for Lawn Fawnatics Challenge

I love cookies! I think they are likely my favorite treat, even over candy, cakes and pies. So they were my pick for the current Lawn Fawnatics challenge. Since the holidays are upon us, I also decided to go with a holiday card. 

I crated a few cookies for inside my shaker, and I dropped a few "candies" in the jar as well. 

As much as I love cookies, I never make cookies. I feel like I never want to open that door to have them around. Every year I say I'm going to make them, and I never do. Perhaps this will be the year. 

My favorite cookie is the Russian Teacake . . . those little round snowballs of delicious salty/sweet. 

What's your favorite?

Debbie

Supplies Used - Peace Joy Love (and cookies)

Stamps and Dies:  How You Bean Stamp Set and Dies, How You Bean Christmas Cookie Add-on Stamps and Dies and Simply Wavy Banner Dies (Lawn Fawn);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks); Tuxedo Black (Memento) and Copic Markers; White Pen (Marvy);

Paper: Daisy White Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Knit Picky Fall Pattern Paper (Lawn Fawn); Gumball Green (Stampin' Up); Acetate (Newton's Nook); Red Glitter Paper (Close To My Heart);

Other: Very Cherry Sprinkletz (Buttons Galore and More); Merry Christmas Confetti Mix (Pretty Pink Posh); Cookies and Cream Twine (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

It's All About the Glitter

Today's card was inspired by the prompt at As You Like It Challenge. 

What's my favourite? I love gold, I love silver, but anything glitter makes me happy. I especially love white and black glitter papers but honestly will take them all. Something about the way it catches the light just makes me happy. 

I used a butterfly set that was part of Concord & 9th's summer camp. The top layer was cut from a watercolor background piece, and then I stacked additional solid white dies to give it a bit of lift. I used that same due to cut from white glitter cardstock and then inlaid the pieces. I love inlaid dies . . . it's like a jigsaw puzzle.  

The die cut background also had inlaid pieces, so double jigsaw puzzle fun. 

Of course, I have additional pieces for another card saved in a tray, so perhaps another card will be posted soon. 

I hope you find some time to inlay some pieces, if that's your thing! 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Thinking of You

Stamps and Dies:  Butterfly Inlay Stamp Set and Dies (Concord & 9th);

Ink & Embossing:  Black, Harbor, Lilac, Fig, Grape Soda, Parsley Grasshopper and Evergreen (Concord & 9th);

Paper:  White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); White Glitter Paper (Concord & 9th); Distress Watercolor Cardstock (Ranger);

Other: Iridescent Sequins (Gina K Designs); 

Sympathy Card Inspired by Little Red Wagon

Oh my - it's been a while! Just a day over four months. While I was away from posting, I wasn't away from crafting. I just had a bit of a cataract issue to deal with, and things were a bit blurry when looking at the computer screen.

Getting back into the swing of being challenged and today finding inspiration from Little Red Wagon. Sad songs, and so a sympathy card.

I embossed my design on white cardstock and then used the coordinating stencil to add some color to the images. I tried to keep things light so it would look a bit like watercolor. 

Hoping I can keep the trend going with posting regularly, and certainly hope anyone reading this finds some time to create today.

Debbie

Supplies Used - With Deepest Sympathy

Stamps and Dies: Floral Laurel Embossing Folder, Stencil and Stamps (Altenew);

Ink & Embossing:  Garden Party and Pixie Dust Ink (Catherine Pooler Designs); Pimento and Honeysuckle Ink (Concord & 9th);

Paper:  White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Kiwi Cardstock (Hero Arts); 

Other: Clear Confetti (Concord & 9th); 

Life Happens . . . Chocolate Helps!

Today's card was inspired by the photo inspiration at Just Add Ink.

I was inspired by the chocolate and really wanted to try my hand at a box of chocolates with a stamp and die that had been in my set for quite some time.

My one regret was not using gold paper for the wrappers for each candy. The last box of candy I had was from a company in Ohio who has gold foil box covers, which I did go with if you see the outline of the box. Their papers for each candy were brown, and I knew that wouldn't stand out so I used white. I felt like the gold would be too much, so I went with white. 

My overall goal was to create a card with chocolates that looked real, with that shine upon them. I used embossing powder to get the shine, and it definitely has shine. I may take this in a different direction next time.

But now I crave chocolate.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Life Happens . . . Chocolate Helps

Stamps and Dies:  Quilted Heart Backdrop Landscape (Lawn Fawn); chocolate2stamp and chocolates2Love Dies (The Stamps of Life);

Ink & Embossing:  Embossing Pad and French Toast Embossing Powder (Wow); Jet Black (Lawn Fawn);

Paper:  White Cardstock (Scrapbook Cards Today); Brushed Metallic Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Solar White (Neenah); Cranberry Cardstock (Concord & 9th); Early Espresso Cardstock (Stampin' Up);

Other:  Liquid Glass and Resin Mini Hearts (Close To My Heart);

My Favorite Color?

My card today was inspired by Seize the Birthday's inspiration of favorite color. 

I'm horrible with favorites. From colors to music. Movies to books. Beverages to foods. I never can choose. And if I do choose, it can only last about 42 seconds, and then my mind changes. 

And so my card today is inspired by my favorite color across the span of time it took me to create the card.

I am drawn to color combinations, and nothing beats a rainbow card. There is something about it that just makes me happy. I had the pattern paper on my desk from cards over the last few weeks, so I brought it in some matching inks to create my birthday card.

Am I the only person that stinks at determining favorites? (I secretly tell all my dogs they are my favorite.)

Crafting is my favorite! 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Celebrate

Stamps and Dies:   Celebrate Today Dies and Cardscapes Stamp Set (Concord & 9th);

Ink:  Honeysuckle, Buttercup and Oceanside Ink (Concord & 9th); Jet Black (Lawn Fawn);

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Pattern Paper (Concord & 9th);

Other:  Clear Sequins (Concord & 9th); Silver Trim (Concord & 9th);

Another Ruff Day Design

I had the critters still on my desk from a few days ago when I created another card, so a CAS card for CAS on Friday seemed to be right in front of me.

Similar pups and sentiment that I used the other day, but a completely different look. Dogs on parade commiserating with you about a "ruff" day - who doesn't need that? 

If you have a furry friend in your life, tell them I said hello!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Heard You Had a Ruff Day, Sending Pawsitive Vibes

Stamps and Dies:  Bow Wow Dies (Photoplay); Newton's Kite Stamp Set (Newton's Nook); Simply Celebrate Pets Stamp Set (Lawn Fawn);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Bow Wow Pattern Paper (Photoplay); White Cardstock (Park Lane); Licorice Cardstock (The Stamps of Life);

Other: Black Smooth Discs (Spellbinders);