My MTTCC #109 using brad fasteners for Christmas cards DT on 28 March 2025

Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity blog!

post's purpose...the why = This posting showcases my newest themed Christmas card for MTTCC or My Time To Craft Christmas. I've been manager and a DT member for 3 years! It's sister blog MTTC has been a longer commitment! #109 is our second in a series for requiring a specific supply item. DT member Granmargaret's suggested we use brad fasteners. I've decided to bring out a neglected garage-stored plastic container with eight different brad packages!!! [two weeks ago, DT member Alyson suggested ribbon to be the supply item.]

when: #109 starts Friday March 28, 2025 and lasts for 13 days.

what: Red glitter brad fasteners for extra holly berries ===> Have a Holly Christmas =

notes:

1. green cardstock for base and for the circles/wreath = Pen + Gear; cardstock cut to 5" wide x 5.5" high

2. the deer and foliage print paper started as 6" x 8" and I trimmed to 4.75" x 5" = Fruitcake and Tinsel paper pad by Fancy Pants Design

3. the holly die-cut ephemera = Simple Stories "Make It Merry"

4. red glitter brad fasteners = K & i

5. 'oatmeal' color specialty paper = came in a scrap paper pack = Crafter's Square

6. specialty paper was ink-edged in Artichoke ..... stamp pad = SU

7. the deer and foliage print paper was outlined with a light brown retractable smudge-proof marker pen = Zebra Clickarts

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where: MTTCC #109 blog posting

link =

DT personalized badge =

other places to share/link are:

A. Word Art Wednesday; started on Wed March 26 for 2 weeks; anything goes family-friendly and Scripture-friendly; MY Christmas card shows holly and berries for the focal

link = https://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/2025/03/anything-goes-weeks-692-693.html

B. Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge; started on Sunday March 23; anything goes Christmas

link = https://peaceonearthchristmas.blogspot.com/2025/03/peace-on-earth-challenge-84.html

C. Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge; started on Sunday March 23; Shaped Card Christmas theme; MY card is square.

link = https://girlzcreativechristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/03/challenge-117-shaped-card-dt-call.html

D. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge; started on Tuesday March 25/current; anything goes Christmas

link = https://thehollyandivychallenge.blogspot.com/2025/03/challenge-181-anything-christmas-goes.html

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Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

* manager/DT = MTTCChristmas and its sister blog MTTC

* DT member only = HAOOCAYR and P=R=S

* owner/DT = HQCB, HQFCB (the old TFATU), HQCOLCB, HQFSCAT, FQCB, FQGS, FQCCCB, FQHSKCB, and FQGGCB for my Quest challenges; then AA; ConBC; CCC

Loving my HAOOCAYR #24 DT projects on 1 March 2025

Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity blog! ~~from America's heartland!

WHY: My heart is happy to share my newest design team (DT) inspiration projects for my blogger/artisan friend Deanne's HAOOCAYR...Halloween and other occasions crafts all year round. This is #24 with the 2 main themes of Halloween and Birthday plus optional themes St. Patrick's Day and/or Caffeine. (see the badge further down).

WHEN: #24 is published on March 1, 2025 and is open for the whole month.

WHAT: Project #1 = Halloween

notes for #1:

1. black cardstock cut to 6" square = Neenah

2. peach is neon deep orange cardstock cut to 5.5" square = Astrobrights/Neenah

3. black with orange pin dots print & the ghouls print papers + cut-a-part card + brad = FaBOOlous collection by Simple Stories

4. string = stash

5. string was colored with alcohol marker "Goldfish Orange" = Arteza

6. brown/Walnut stamp ink pad = Lawn Fawn (for all outside edges)

7. foam dimensional adhesive tape strips used under the cut-a-part card = Crafter's Square (3 pack with different widths and thicknesses)

and

WHAT: Project #2 = optional theme of Caffeine

notes for #2: "Coffee Time" tag

21. white cardstock base = Conservation Flat Card in White by CutCardStock

22. lighter amount of ink on the white = "Chocolate Chip" by SU

23. darker amount of ink on the white = "Walnut" by Lawn Fawn

24. circle tag focal is on foam tape = Sandcastle Tan by Martha Stewart and sold by CutCardStock

25. coffee bean looking shapes was actually an abstract leaf stencil and the lettering is from different words from a religious stencil set = I forget who made; it was gifted by a friend

26. red umber colored pencil for the lettering= stash

27. brown watercolor marker for the coffee beans = stash

28. twine = stash

29. hole punch used to cut the corners for an altered rectangle tag base 

WHERE: HAOOCAYR #24 or March 2025 blog posting

link = https://halloweencraftsallyearround.blogspot.com/2025/03/march-1st-halloween-and-other-occasions.html

theme badge = 

DT badge =

other places to share/link are:

a. Ghouls = Fab -n- Funky; started Feb 26/Wed; theme is fantasy; My card has ghouls/ghosts/spirits; some people consider these fantasy/make-believe

link = https://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/2025/02/611-fantasy.html

b. Ghouls = Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges; started Feb 26/Wed; anything goes using paper; My Halloween card has 5 uses of paper (black, orange, dotted, ghosts and journal card with large ghost

link = https://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2025/02/pennys-challenge-591.html

c. Ghouls = Lil Patch of Crafty Friends; started Feb 16/1 day or less yet; anything goes

link = https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2025/02/248-paper-shelter.html

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d. Coffee tag = Krafty Chicks; week 4/theme is masculine; the neutral colors and twine plus coffee theme would appeal to a lot of guys, especially since there are no frills or bling

link = https://kraftychickschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/02/krafty-chicks-challenge-757-masculine.html

e. Coffee tag = I Love Promarkers; week 2 of 2; use markers; MY coffee tag's coffee beans are color-filled with a brown watercolor marker

link = https://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/2025/02/challenge-577.html

f. Coffee tag = Creating with CutCardStock FB group share

g. Coffee tag = could be shared with 2 challenge blogs that I own: FQGGCB/AFG theme- anything food goes (coffee beans) and HQFSCAT for shaped tag -- since I altered the rectangle tag base with the punched corners that counts for an acceptable altered rectangle shape

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Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

* DT member of 2 of Deanne's teams = HAOOCAYR and P-R-S

* manager/DT = MTTC and MTTCChristmas

* owner/DT = FQGGCB and HQFSCAT mentioned above; also FQCB, FQGS, FQCCCB, FQHSKCB, HQCB, HQFCB, HQCOLCB; AA; ConBC; and CCC (Critter Crazy Challenges is effective after February 25, 2025)

 

Love Santa Christmas in July card for DT project for MTTC no 402

Love Santa! Christmas 25th! Isn't this wonderful?!!

Design notes:

a. red cardstock base dimensions= 4.25" wide and 5.5" long; fold at top (Colorbok)

b. green doily center section

c. gray wreath print paper dimensions= 4" square (Martha Stewart 2018)

d. Santa chipboard accent (Carta Bella)

e. love Santa chipboard accent (Oh What Fun from My Mind's Eye)

f. brad (My Mind's Eye) w/ little gift package

g. various gem dots

h. black inking to papers and chipboard accents

I. doodling at corners and perimeter of the wreath print paper

MTTC challenge blog #402= theme is Christmas...lots of stores, websites, and blogs even Cable channels are doing Christmas in July...check out the MTTC #402 post to see the other DT inspirational creations and the details for participating! New challenges are fortnightly...every other Friday. 

link: http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/07/challenge-402-christmas-in-july.html

Other challenges or sharing sites=
A. 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up = #55 July 2019 anything Christmas w/ optional twist of plaids
link: https://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2019/07/challenge-55-opt-twistplaids.html
my entry= just 'anything goes Christmas'

B. Jingle Belles= started 7/19/19 Rustic Glam Christmas Fireside photo prompt
link: http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-rustic-glam-christmas-fireside.html

my entry= wreath like paper's soft colors and the Santa illustration on the chipboard make me think of the vibe when glancing at this photo from JB's post=

C. Crafty Sentiments Designs challenge blog= started 7/23/19= anything goes theme=

link: https://craftysentiments.blogspot.com/2019/07/anything-goes-challenge.html

D. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends challenge blog= ends 8/3/19= anything goes theme=

link: http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2019/07/challenge-110.html

E. Cute N Crafty challenge blog = ends in 3 days 7/28 ?; Christmas in July theme=

link: http://cutencraftychallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/07/challenge-29-christmas-in-july.html

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More scanned pics=

Lots of different elements from different vendors that have made their way into my crafting supplies (stockpile might be the better term!) have come together to create this charming Christmas card! I like how the iridescent gems repeat the gray/silver hues whereas the green glitter gem dots repeat the green doily accent piece and from the Santa chipboard accent.

If you didn't come from the MTTC blog, please use the link I included up above and visit the post, leave a comment for the owner, and if you've got some extra online time, visit the blogs of my DT crew-mates!

Becca S 

Tic Tac Toe Challenge at 100 PPC group used to make Bday card

Hope your birthday fun is reaching new heights!

100 Pattern Papers Challenge group on Facebook has an easy premise for a crafter to pull 100 patterned papers from their stockpile with the purpose of using it in 1 year and not to hoard it! In January, I put together about 25 cardstock patterns that were 12" x 12" and about 40 patterned papers ranging in full to half sheets from 8.5" x 11" along with a scraps bag to be my starter kit. This was in mid-January and I didn't want to dig around or start fussing about how to use any more papers. So now it is almost mid-March! I only started in January with 2 full 12" square sheets of a hot air balloon full sheet repeat design on side A.  I think with the section used in the center of this birthday card, I've almost used those 2 sheets...whew...but many more to use. Here's the Big Top Fun birthday card for one of my male cousins:

This is the prompt board for 100 PPC's Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge of March 2019= I'm using the center column (teal green, pocket cards cut from a full 12" square of cardstock as die-cuts, and the little wood plaque for wood veneers) plus the brads for gold as an extra element.

the "pocket" cards used for the cover's focal pieces are interchangeable which I thought would be a great guy element and when moved out of the way they reveal the hot air balloon print paper=

This cousin has his pilot's license so I thought the adding the hot air balloon print would be homage to his hobby. That CS paper and the pocket cards CS paper are from My Mind's Eye; adventure tab sticker is from the Treasure Map Word Stickers sheet from October Afternoon, and the little wood plaque I painted/colored with a teal marker is from Classic Wood Shapes by Art Skills.

I still have oodles of scrapbooking I would like to do this month along with more birthday cards and some get well/recovery cards. So keep checking back to see what I'll be crafting next!...Becca S

Multiple Challenges LO 2 features feathers and birds

Birds of a feather flock together...no birds were harmed in creating this scrapbook layout! :) February Challenge 2 at CKC is feathers

after editing=little gem dots were added along the edges and to the hot air balloon pocket card/image focal

3 of  my nieces were able to be at their grandma's and visit one of the family farms to do some exploring with their great uncle and great aunt, so the birds and feathers emphasis for one of the listed challenges became a good fit to use with this photo.

before editing= no little dots of color with the gems

CHALLENGE BLOGS' PROMPTS and LINKS=

a. and b. Double Trouble #22 joint challenge with Use Your Stuff #348

*UYS=something magical  http://useyourstuff.blogspot.com/2019/02/challenge-348-double-trouble-team-up.html

*D.T.'s Thing #1 Tic-Tac-Toe board  using 1st column 

* D.T.'s link= https://doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com/2019/02/challenge-22-do-you-believe-in-magic.html

c. Little Red Wagon #484 use some type of movement

https://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/2019/02/challenge-484-move-on.html

d. Counterfeit Kit Challenge February 2019 #2 is feathers for scrapbook layout which fits the naturalist theme collection from Kaisercraft that our copy cat kits are to reflect (see the CKC post for several Master Forger's examples for ideas); all papers and embellishments were in my folders for my Feb 2019 "Bodacious Botanicals" copy cat kit for CKC

https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/02/february-challenge-2-feathers.html

DESIGN NOTES FOR CHALLENGE ELEMENTS=

a. for UYS= magical--sweet time for the girls to be together 

b. for DT= Thing #1 Tic-Tac-Toe board--diagonal of die-cuts with pocket cards on the bottom half; image of photo; and blue hues from the feathers, base cardstock, and soft light blue tones throughout others

c. for LRW= movement--location of brads in bottom left corner can be reversed in their placement and if there are rotated upwards, they will review a very charming 'steam punk' bird!!!

d. for CKC= feathers--2 large feathers cut from a scarf and 4 pocket cards have birds/feathers-wings and the base paper's title and hidden bird are also part of the feathers' elements

Above: corner pocket cards rotated upward to show the corner design of the base cardstock

Below: the way I prefer to have the corner pocket cards (I really love the flashcard style pocket card!)

cards rotated making this part of the layout interactive:

Love this layout! It was fairly easy to assemble! I spent under an hour on it last night and only about 15 minutes on it this morning before taking photos. That's taking longer...photos and blogging...oh, well!!!

Becca S...from the USA heartland

Multiple Challenges Layout filled with blues butterflies glitter movement and embellishments

Before starting this scrapbook layout, I looked at a bunch of challenge blogs for what's current and will try to get many covered within 1 page:

LOOK:

journaling tags at the top of the layout have been rotated to show what's hidden underneath!!!

CHALLENGES/BLOGS:

a. and b. Double Trouble #22 joint challenge with Use Your Stuff #348

*UYS=something magical  http://useyourstuff.blogspot.com/2019/02/challenge-348-double-trouble-team-up.html

*D.T.'s Thing #1 Tic-Tac-Toe board  using 1st column 

* D.T.'s link= https://doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com/2019/02/challenge-22-do-you-believe-in-magic.html

c. Shopping Our Stash #389 use something colored with markers--"make your mark"

https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2019/02/shopping-our-stash-389-make-your-mark.html

d. Little Red Wagon #484 use some type of movement

https://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/2019/02/challenge-484-move-on.html

e. Counterfeit Kit Challenge February 2019 #1 sketch/1 photo minimum placement plus lots of embellishments scrapbook layout based on a Paper Issues similar challenge (see the PI sample photo for the original idea and the CKC post for several Master Forger's examples for ideas); all papers and embellishments were in my folders for my Feb 2019 "Bodacious Botanicals" copy cat kit for CKC

https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/02/february-challenge-1-lots-of.html

Magical: besides my nieces being super special to me, I love butterflies and believe they add unique "transportation to a different place" kind of joy!!!

Tic-Tac-Toe 1st column: (a) silver/gold seen on little yellow/gold heart sticker, 2 butterfly metal stickers have gold, and gold paint pen circles on doily; (b) sentiment is LOVE sticker; and (c) die-cuts of ticket with roses, butterfly circle tag, roses border piece, and narrow tag under brad on butterfly tag. There are extra elements too like the glitter, image/photo, and blue hues.

Colored Markers used: the roses die-cut was black outline on white cardstock until I got ahold of it!! Roses have light pink, magenta pink, red, and purple. The leaves have teal, green, and/or yellow-green.

MOVEMENT: top left and right with small brads, the journaling tags can be rotated to reveal 'hidden' treasures like the little metallic yellow heart above the roses die-cut and the metallic butterfly and hexagon patterned tape  to its right.

1 PHOTO with LOTS of EMBELLISHMENTS: 3 journaling die-cuts and 1 journaling tab, 2 white butterflies/stick-ons, 2 light blue butterflies/stick-ons, 2 metallic foil butterflies, 1 little yellow heart, 2 little blue hearts, roses die-cut border piece, LOVE glitter sticker, 3 magenta heart stickers, 2 sections of hexagon patterned tape, 2 little brads, 1/2 of doily = 23 pretties added to the layout that has 5 different patterned papers/cardstocks!!!!

This very full scrapbook layout was a delight to assemble and actually took only about 60-90 minutes to complete from start to finish!!! I love it!! I kept the 3 main colors as yellow, blue, and green with pink hues as the bold accent to pop on this very busy, give your eyes lots to look at layout!

Until next time, Becca S

The 12 Months of Christmas no 49 challenge for Jan 2019 card 2

a little less than 11 months to celebrating Christmas...this is my 3rd Christmas card for the month and the second one for this blog, The 12 Months of Christmas 

Peace, deer/dear! I love the striped glitter cardstock from My Mind's Eye 2013. The 'peace' chipboard accent sticker is from Carta Bella's 2015 "Have a Merry Christmas". The doily, glitter snowflakes & deer, and teal gems were purchased at Dollar Tree. And a shout-out to CKC blog because the white doily with gold dot accents was an add-in I made for my October 2018 kit but I had a few leftover and this one behind the round/clamshell featured card is one of those.

This pretty card with non-traditional colors started with the striped cardstock because it reminded me of old-fashioned candy cane sticks (butter rum has always been my favorite) or gorgeous Christmas gift wrapping papers!

The main part of the card is the round 'clamshell' looking part that after applying the doily backing I decided it still needed something to help so I did a simple easel type background.

link: https://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2019/01/challenge-49-optional-twistanything-but.html

The purpose of this blog is to help paper-crafters, specifically card-makers, avoid last-minute panic in December to have beautiful hand-made cards created for all their friends and family. I generally try to focus on about 25 close friends and usually immediate family and elderly aunts and uncles. I still have 2 maternal great aunts, too, that I remember for holidays as well. Yet I still seem to not get them mailed out early enough to be received before Christmas Eve. Follow this challenge blog if you are interested in not having that year end frenzy!!!!

Until next time,

Becca S

in the frightfully frigid polar vortex of northern IL

The 12 Months of Christmas blog Jan 2019 challenge no 49 card one

Christmas card challenge with twist to 'not be a rectangle' base...so I did round

Oh, deer!!! Deer/dear will probably be incorporated into a sentiment that I will add later for this cutie.

Inside:

The inside panel's brad and chipboard sticker are from My Mind's Eye's 2017 "Oh, What Fun!" set.

The cover panel's chipboard sticker is from: Carta  Bella's 2015 "Have a Merry Christmas"

The striped cardstock with glitter is also from My Mind's Eye, 2013, I think. I love the non-traditional colors of it, reminding me of gift wrap paper or candy. 

And I'll give a shout-out to CKC blog because the small white doily with gold metallic paint pen lines was made for my kit back in October 2018. The gold accented embellishments I made to add-in:

The final shout-out is for the blog that I crafted this card for--The 12 Months of Christmas challenge blog! Basically anything goes Christmas is the main theme but they had the optional twist for not using a rectangle base for January 2019 (Challenge #49).

link: https://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2019/01/challenge-49-optional-twistanything-but.html 

The weather is frightful outside so I don't mind being cozy inside crafting! Stay safe and warm.

Becca S in the USA heartland

Masculine Birthday Card #2 of 3

Card #2 recipient--my "little" brother! His favorite color is orange so I always try to incorporate it into his birthday cards.

Wedding cards: # 1 of 3 made for friends

Friends of mine had 3 of their 4 adult children marry within a timespan of 1.5 years!

Wedding card #1:

clever uses of ordinary supplies--tulle that has been inked in order to coordinate with the colors and contrast against the doily

Card was made in 30 minutes on July 6

#2 of 3 birthday cards that were quick-to-create

This is an angled view of the cover. Not shown in the bottom right corner is the stamping 'be happy'. Papers are from different sources. Flower-shaped brads are from Hot Off the Press (available from Paper Wishes). the epoxy stickers and jewel stick-ons are also from  different suppliers.

Studio G is the vendor for the mauve pink square card, purple ink stamp pad, and the 'be happy' wood stamp.

Cute Birthday Card made in 30 minutes #1 of 3 created July 6

Blooms and Butterflies! What more can be said to create a feminine garden theme card for one of my aunts?!?!

The embossed card from Studio G plus the sticker embellishments (from different sources) made this a quick-create card. Yea!

Teal and purple ink stamp pads along with the two stamps ('today is the day' clear stamp and 'happy birthday' wood stamp) are also from Studio G.

The tan color flower shaped brad is from Hot Off the Press (available from Paper Wishes).

I've forgotten the source for the patterned paper shown on the inside view--sorry. It's pretty and perfect for the color mix, however.

Owl Be Thinking of You card

Monochromatic Neutrals Color Scheme (mostly)

Eclectic use of supplies and vendors--at least 8 different companies represented: DCWV, The Paper Studio's Spare Parts metallic brads, Acid Free Dye Ink Stamp Pads in beige, brown, and black from Oriental Trading Company (OTC), Tree

Eclectic use of techniques--at least 6 different art-crafting skills applied=inking, stamping, outlining, decorative edging/cutting, embellishing, stenciling/cutting, etc.

Owl theme

Best friend is the receiver of this sweet charmer:

25th Wedding Anniversary Card

Sister's 25th anniversary celebrated in March 2014

Here's what I created for Martha and Dave:

I love the mix of colors, patterns, textures, and theme reminders!!! There are many different techniques used as well:
*decorative edged scissors give a zig-zag finish to the bottom of the cover
*hole-punching to use the baker's twine
*stamping for the heart, initials and years using alphabet stamps, key, and love
*inking on edges of patterned papers
*stickers on top of decorative tape
*embellishments ranging from jewel stick-ons to glittered heart to silver glitter mini brad