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

TN Time challenge 1 no 2 doing both sketch and prompt 01242019

2nd entry for the 1st ever monthly challenge at TN Time With Lisa and Lori doing both Lisa's sketch and Lori's prompt

Above #1: their ID badge/button
Above #2: my 2nd entry for the January challenges for both Lisa's sketch and Lori's prompt
Below: Lisa's first TN Time sketch
**link to Lisa's blog: http://createdbylisa.blogspot.com/2019/01/tn-time-with-lisa-and-lori.html

**link to Lori's blog: https://loriannie670.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-new-adventure-tn-time-with-lisa-and_10.html

Above #1: a close-up for the left side of my interpretation of Lisa's sketch featuring the 2nd verse for my chosen Bible Word of the Year (WOY) study & journaling = HOPE

Above #2: Lori's "button" showing issued prompt she selected for January

Below: close-up for the right side for my interpretation of Lisa's sketch; and both showcase more than 3 patterned papers; if you count the prints for the tabs there would be 5

Below: this is my 'practice' Bible that I use for experimenting with different styles of journaling
This morning I did a simple marker outline of the verse in purple; then boxed the 2 appearances of 'hope' in hot pink, shading both in different tones. I added a very basic butterfly to symbolize hope. The foam God sticker was added to emphasize the first use of hope--God of hope--which He certainly is. My husband and I have both been medically proclaimed close to death separately within the past 15 & 18 months plus had a house fire that destroyed 40-43% of our home...and it is our God of HOPE that keeps up grateful, appreciative, and looking forward! We are trying to live each day abounding in HOPE.

One final look with the layout split in order to show what it will look like on the binder ring:

If you have an opportunity for crafting (or want to use this sketch and/or prompt with a different purpose other than Bible study), Lisa and Lori's challenges can be done in a Travelers Notebook (TN), planner, or bullet journal. This first challenge ends on February 9th, 2019. Lisa's example is posted on her blog (My Creative Endeavors) and Lori has her own posted at her blog (My Happy Life).

My previous entry can be checked at the older post using the link below the comment area of this post. It uses some of the same papers mostly because my favorite colors are purples and pinks! 

Keep checking back as I continue to explore different blogs, Facebook groups, and my own personal creative challenges like anniversary dates to showcase in my postings.

Stay safe, warm, and comfortable.

From the USA heartland, Becca S

TN Time challenge no 1 doing both sketch and prompt 01212019

Trying another paper-crafting challenge! This time through a joint venture for the blogs of Lisa and Lori. TN is code for Travelers Notebook. You can also do bullet journal or planner.

Mine is experimental using ringed index cards I bought in 2018 and hadn't used yet (I've got lots of them in different sizes!!!!) I've been wanting to do something either in a book journal or my Bible art journal for my chosen Bible Word of the Year or WOY. I decided tonight to use the index cards and try to proportion the sketch to fit. I think it worked:

HOPE entry one: Hebrew 11: 1

Design notes for altering sketch:
a. ribbon in top left corner was angled instead of 'forked'
b. embellishments were kept to same size with the gem stickers
c. date and verse were cut into 3 pieces not 7
d. photo/journal card was compacted due to space and to make as a focal piece with the 2019 Word of Year= HOPE

Above: Lisa's 1st sketch for the 1st TN Time with Lisa & Lori challenge (monthly)
Lisa's link at her blog "My Creative Endeavor":
http://createdbylisa.blogspot.com/2019/01/tn-time-with-lisa-and-lori.html

Below: Lori's badge for this challenge with prompt to use 3 or more patterned papers (I've used 4: navy blue dot on ivory; white dot on lavender; red and lavender diagonal stripes on purple; pink dot on red)

Lori's link at her blog "My Happy Life":
https://loriannie670.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-new-adventure-tn-time-with-lisa-and_10.html

below: how the layout is changed due to how it's attached to the binder ring but the cohesiveness of the colors and papers keeps it unified

From start to finish, this took about 45 minutes; photographing, downloading, and blogging is adding another 45 minutes or so...but I enjoyed this more than the TV options at 9 pm...just saying.

I HOPE Lisa and Lori have marvelous success with this new paper-crafting venture they've decided to start.

P.S.: shout out to 100 Pattern Papers Challenge group on Facebook because all these papers including the background purple cardstock are all over 1 year old!!! Even though I just used small amounts, I'm making a tiny dent in my stashes!!! 

From the USA heartland, Becca S

SOS 386 and JB 02 for combined challenges in this 2019 Christmas Card

Trying 2 new blogs for design inspiration and possible prizes and/or recognition at Shopping Our Stash and Jingle Belles--

Design notes:
a. snowman scene is a clipart image!!! YES!!!; filled in with colored pencils for a soft look to match the soft pinkish red cardstock
b. green and ivory plaid cardstock is old stash inventory
c. dimensions of base= about 4.25" x 6. 25"

I just love how this turned out!!! Having my first Christmas card ready almost 11 1/2 months early is a record for me!!! I'm usually sending out Christmas cards as New Year's ones!

About the challenges:

JB:19:02= "Look What Santa Brought Me"--new supplies featured on my card are both lettering sticker sets, the green doily (only used the center), the white glitter tape under the heart and the word "For".

Link: http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.com/2019/01/look-what-santa-brought-me.html

SOS #386= "Hearts on Fire"--so I was supposed to raid my stash but a new package of foil hearts was setting on my temporary craft area on the dining room table...foil heart it is!

Link: https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2019/01/shopping-our-stash-386-hearts-on-fire.html

Don't worry about my anniversary dates if you've been reading my posts this month! We did lunch out today to make #14 of 23 and battled blowing snow for a supper date #15. We have until Sunday to try to get 8 more dates in before we officially reach our 23rd anniversary!!!! I've only scrapped the first 5 dates and have pics printed for #6-8, so I've got to get back to that part of my crafting.

So check back in the next day or so!--Becca S

CKC blog LIRNH kit with leftovers and CCMWF sketch model card for Thank You cards

Two thank you cards made using sketch inspiration from CCMWF group with supplies from current and past CKC kits

Below: Monica Mackler's posted card in the Facebook closed group Christian Card-Makers ~ Women's Fellowship that was used for the model to follow for sketch layout

This is the ID badge for the Jan 2019 challenge that some of the cards' papers and accessories that I've been using this month or leftover from October and November 2018:

link to current post: https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/01/january-2019-challenge-2-mood-board.html

Below: more photos of each card. I will be mailing or hand-delivering these for Christmas gifts my husband and I received. I need to make at least 3 more!

Above: supplies from current CKC kit I've dubbed "Love Is Reaching New Heights" are white CS, cording, glitter tape, heart stickers, and the blue script paper. The lime green paper and plaid paper are leftovers from previous October and/or November 2018 kits.

Above: supplies different from card #1 that are current kit's: ivory ribbon; blue tonal paper that is sandwiched between the plaid and the script paper is leftover; and the large pink foil heart is new.

These were fairly easy to make and assemble...my kind of card-making! Thanks CCMWF and CKC for helping with creative mojo this month!!--Becca S

CKC blog Jan 2019 LIRNH kit layout six featuring anniv date five

How our love is reaching new heights...hubs surprises me with a favorite candy treat of mine at the end of our supper date!

Above: close-up for the top left section (stenciling and stickers)
Below: the full mixed format pocket page for anniversary date #5 from January 6, 2019

Below: close-up for the bottom left section (layering; repetition of colors; angled cut to reflect arrows and tails in other pockets)

Below: close-up of the bottom right section (more repeated colors and patterns/papers from previous album pages plus more layering)

Below: close-up of the top right section (cloud paper has been used in previous album pages plus use of hearts; 2 hearts stickers are placed on diagonal to mimic traditional icon of Valentine's cupid arrow piercing the heart; lots of curves and angles; repeating colors and floral washi tape)

besides the personal challenge to try to have 23 dates within a 23+/- mile radius of our home before 23rd anniversary on January 27th, the January 2019 challenges at CKC blog have helped document our dates:

link: https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/01/january-2019-challenge-2-mood-board.html 

This is the inspiration prompt for January 2019 CKC blog picked by Master Forger Susan. In this particular pocket page, the elements that reflect the kit are: floral tape, browns/black/blues/pinks tones, diagonal lines, hot air balloon motif instead of bicycles that I subbed out for my kit, and the hearts.

I'm having a great time this month with "dating", documenting, and 'destroying' my Love Is Reaching New Heights kit for jan 2019 CKC blog challenges!!!! Oh, my sweet love!!!

Becca S and shout-out to 100 Pattern Papers Challenge that pushes me to use old papers like the cloud paper that I've had for 8-10 years!

CKC blog LIRNH kit LO five with forgery 2 and CKC mood board combined

Layout #5 for 4th anniversary date combines forgery 2 and mood board elements

Personal challenge from late December 2018 up to our 23rd anniversary on January 27, 2019 is to have 23 dates within a 23-mile radius of our home...well, almost 23 give or take 10-15 miles extra!! Challenges within the challenge have been weather and husband's health needs, so as I type this blog we've managed to get 13 dates completed up to yesterday, January 18th. We are going to have to have more 'dates' each day if we are going to get this done in 8 days!

Documenting this journey, today's blog post is the 4th date from January 5th:

Part of the Counterfeit challenges is to create forgeries (Forgeries on the Fourth). My second forgery for this month and my LIRNH kit is to make woodgrain paper using decorative tape and then it was cut into a heart shape which is a repeating element for our anniversary date documented album.

Another part of the Counterfeit challenge each month are "challenges 1 and 2" which change each and every time based on what the Master Forger assigned to each month has planned. Challenge 1 is about ringing in the new year--to do something new. I do have a new sticker in the bottom left section that I applied over a pink foam heart sticker. However I want to focus on 2 aspects of Challenge 2 from the mood board: the collage of book pages that has yellow, ivory, and brown tones and the stack of books image. Every section has stacking and/or layering with some staggered and some that are visual, like the cardstock border strips from 3 My Mind's Eye papers used for the "Date 4".

Above: the bottom left section's colors, layering, and placement turned out very nice for this pocket's layout design!!!

Above: bottom right section close-up (this isn't my favorite section but I'd been wanted to include a chipboard balloon since I've been using some hot air print balloon paper as a design element instead of the bicycles that are seen in the "Hannah" kit.) I like the repeating colors and papers but not how I placed the pieces...something's just off...but I really love the other sections

Below: like the "Date 4" section with its "stacked book" kind of look from the mood board using more patterned papers from the border edges of 3 double-sided My Mind's Eye papers put in my January LIRNH kit!!! Too cute!!!

Above: the Felicity Jane's "Hannah" kit revealed in October 2018 that is the inspiration for making copy-cat versions out of our own craft supplies "stockpiles". In this layout, the prominent elements that show up from "Hannah" are the woodgrain, scallop/fish scale, and hearts.

Below: the CKC blog ID badge that appears on each blog post. The link for the current post about the mood board challenge can be found here: https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/01/january-2019-challenge-2-mood-board.html

Go back to the January 4th post to find out about "Forgeries on the Fourth". Each month a few of the Master Forgers lead the way on re-creating something from the inspiration kit that they don't have in their supplies or what was pulled for their copy-cat kit. I didn't have a color spot paper pulled for my LIRNH kit so that was my forgery #1 featured in a previous blog post. Today's feature is forgery #2 the woodgrain heart shown below in the making:

The CKC mood board for this month's 2nd challenge:

love the overall look of this mixed format pocket page and the layouts with the layout of the page!!!

Keep checking back for more time together chronicled using the Love Is Reaching New Heights (LIRNH) kits that I put together from my craft supplies for January 2019 with motivation from the CKC blog and Facebook community group!--Becca S