Poinsettias Focal using smooshing technique on Christmas card

This month I have carved out some craft time to compete in each weekly challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. Week 4 for October is a technique focus and smooshing was selected. I used several different colors of inks and a textured paper towel to do my smooshing and dabbing.

Merry Christmas * 2019 * is hand-written in gold metallic paint pen surrounding the center of the poinsettia. Additional gold was used to outline the red leaves. The poinsettia was sketched onto watercolor paper and then outlined in markers. Smooshing different colors of inks over and over again is what I did to create depth and age for this focal image.

Patterned paper is from The Paper Studio/Hobby Lobby.

link for this particular challenge by 52 CCT blog=

https://52cct.blogspot.com/2019/10/october-technique-challenge-dt-call.html

other challenge blogs and Facebook groups where my post or card photo will be shared:

a. my personal FB page

b. PPPDTC group on FB

c. Mixed Media Creativity group on FB (gold metallic paint pen, markers, several ink pads, solid color paper, patterned paper, kraft cardstock, amber/gold gems)

d. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge Blog; #116; anything goes

link: http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-116.html

ID badge: 

e. 12 Months of Christmas Link-up Challenge Blog; #58; regular entry

link: https://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-58-opt-twistsensational-santa.html

ID badge: 

 Thanks for seeing and reading about my crafting in the USA heartland,
Becca S

Snow Couple with Snowflakes Christmas card

For the 3rd week of October 2019, 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge blog has picked the theme prompt of snowmen/snowman, so my response is to go with a different layout style with my take on this.

One reason is I don't have much of Christmas or winter patterned papers, just a 6" square paper pad of MSLO's 2018 Christmas patterns. I've got lots of embellishments especially ribbons and a few stamps but those supplies are out in the garage right now. So my attempts for this card are to get crafty and creative with a few accents that are handy on our dining table [aka indoor craft space]:

link for 52 CCT: https://52cct.blogspot.com/2019/10/october-theme-challenge-dt-call.html

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other challenge blogs and Facebook groups, besides my personal FB page=

a. https://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-58-opt-twistsensational-santa.html = 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up Challenge Blog; #58; my card is just a regular entry

b. https://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/10/238-for-child-and-dt-call.html = Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog #238 with theme of "For A Child" + sentiment; my card is a charming Christmas card which is super cute to give to a youngster

c. PPPDTC group on FB; a sharing site for crafting bloggers

d. Mixed Media Creativity group on FB

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Some design notes:
a. 3 scrap sections from the 2018 MSLO Christmas Paper Pad
b. 2 snowman and tree stickers
c. iridescent gems stickers from Dollar Tree
d. base cardstock from Colorbok purchased at Wal-Mart
e. white with glitter foam snowflakes from Dollar Tree
f. white and silver snowflakes confetti scatter is part of an assorted 4 pack set purchased from Peachy Cheap website
g. "Merry Christmas" stamp from Stampin' Up

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Crafting in the 'getting chilly' USA heartland,

Becca S

Merry and Bright with white blue and brown color palette for Christmas Card

This was a quick and easy made Christmas card using cute polar bear patterned paper from Martha Stewart 2018. A scrap of blue-green cardstock for a ribbon tail type tag and 2 different set of alphas along with some white glitter foam snowflakes and blue gems add the accents.

link for October challenge of Merry and Bright for Winter Wonderland Challenge Blog:

https://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/10/merry-and-bright.html

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other links and shares=

link for 52 CCT colour challenge for Week 2 of October 2019=

expired last night but you can see the marvelous DT projects and all the terrific linked submissions by a hundred +/- talented crafters: https://52cct.blogspot.com/2019/10/october-colour-challenge-dt-call.html; new challenge of theme for Week 3 is snowman...if only the patterned paper had snowmen instead of polar bears!!!!!!

*Not Just Cards= October challenge with anything goes theme
link: http://notjustcardschallenges.blogspot.com/2019/10/october-challenge-and-results-of.html

*my personal page on Facebook

*PPPDTC group on Facebook; its a sharing site for crafting bloggers

Short post, folks! Crazy week with substitute teaching interrupted with husband having some irregular cardiac issues and spending about 31 hours with him at a regional hospital! We've both spent the bulk of today/Saturday resting and napping.

Spending a little time crafting and blogging from the American heartland,
Becca S

MTTC blog reveal on 18 October 2019 with theme of Halloween and or Cats

My Time To Craft #408 has another fortnight challenge ready to go with a seasonal theme of Halloween and/or Cats. I chose just to feature Halloween colors and part of the 'gimmick' line of Trick or Treat:

Above: my ID badge for being part of the MTTC design team
Find all the guidelines to participate and details of the new challenge #408 as well as see the rest of the DT's fabulous projects, please use this link:
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-408-halloween-or-cats.html


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My blog post or card photo will be linked to the following challenge blogs or Facebook groups/sites=
a. PPPDTC group on Facebook

b. Mixed Media Creativity group on Facebook

c. my personal page on Facebook

d. Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges Blog= anything goes theme
link: https://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2019/10/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-452.html

e. Cute N Crafty challenge blog #32= anything goes theme for September 23 to October 20
link: http://cutencraftychallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/09/challenge-32.html

f. Incy Wincy Designs challenge blog = fall colors theme
link= https://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/2019/10/oct-7th-19th-autumn-fall-colours.html

above: partial view of the card enlarged

Crafting in the American heartland,

Becca S

White Blue and Brown Color Palette Challenge for 2nd Week of October at 52 CCT blog

52 Christmas Card Throwdown has presented a wintery color combo for the Week 2 October 2019 challenge theme. Here's what I did after a 5 minute raid through my Christmas related supplies:

Recycled plastic packaging from a set of rulers was trimmed down to become a unique split shaker card feature!!! Different sticky notes were re-purposed as patterned papers in the background.

Above: participator ID badge for 52 CCT
Below: the link for the current blog post reveal for the Week 2 October challenge=
https://52cct.blogspot.com/2019/10/october-colour-challenge-dt-call.html and their colour inspiration image=

*****
other challenge blogs and group sites on Facebook where you will see the card photo or a link to this blog post:

a. PPPDTC group on Facebook

b. Mixed Media Creativity on Facebook

c. my personal page on Facebook

d. Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges blog
link: https://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2019/10/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-452.html

e. The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up challenge blog #58
link: https://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-58-opt-twistsensational-santa.html

Quick post! I've got to teach for 5.5 hours tomorrow, so I need some beauty sleep!
Crafting in the American heartland,
Becca S

TCCC blog DT card 1 for 15 October 2019

CARD 1 using Decosse's Trick or Treat Washi Tapes Set for my design team inspiration project for The Crafter's Café Challenge blog #229=

above is my personalized DT badge for TCCC blog

link= https://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/10/229-use-stencil-and-or-halloween-or-use.html

#229 themes are= using a stencil &/OR Halloween OR purple, orange, & black

above is DDD's sponsorship badge
below is her preview image of the set

**Thanks to Lisa Decosse for approving my idea of using the whole set of washi tapes to create  patterned papers!!! The layouts aren't perfect if you look too closely to the angles of many of the cuts made to the ends. I printed out each washi tape design at the wallet size setting, so even though that's the smallest size option with my printer, I still had to cut some of the designs in half (width or depth-wise) and most in some length variation. This one set of washi tapes provided enough to create the diagonal patterning on the 4.25" x 6.25" black paper x 2.

The darkest purple CS for the card base's dimensions are 5" x 7". Glitter paper and orange paper have sizes in between the base and the black background.

**Other supplies used besides the digital washi tape designs print-outs and papers are: different colored gem dots, square gold gem strips, old alpha stickers, gold metallic paint pen, and a wood pumpkin & leaf die-cuts along with glue stick and glue dots. --And don't adjust your screen!!! I deliberately skewed the black and orange layers to add to the craziness (besides our funky weather!).

________
other challenge blogs or Facebook groups where this card or posting will be linked=
a. Little Red Wagon #518= theme is "cut-it-out"; I had to do lots of fussy cutting! Each washi tape design was printed in the center of the sheet, so each one had to be cut out and then almost all of them were either cut in half depth-wise and/or cut to be shortened.
link= https://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-518-cut-it-out.html

b. Use Your Stuff #378 = theme is "use a pumpkin(s)"; on my project I've got the wooden one
link= http://useyourstuff.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-378-pumpkins-majo.html

c. a new challenge blog for me-- Incy Wincy Designs challenge blog: October 7-19, 2019= Fall Colors theme; on my card I've used purple, orange, lime green, and black with some yellow
link= https://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/2019/10/oct-7th-19th-autumn-fall-colours.html

d. Scrapping 4 Fun Challenges blog #151= theme is anything goes with warm colours; my card has orange and some yellow which are warm colors
link= https://scrapping4funchallenges.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-151-ag-with-warm-colours.html

e. my personal page on Facebook

f. Mixed Media Creativity group on Facebook; sharing site for mixed media projects; my card uses cardstock, glitter paper, solid papers in black and orange, wood die-cuts, gem dots, and digital images that were printed on paper; and also gold metallic paint pen

g. PPPDTC group on Facebook; a sharing site for crafting bloggers

I'm not crazy about Halloween, at least the scary gory devilish aspects, but the color palette of this card is such a bright contrast to other traditional autumn palettes that I just happen to love how this turned out.

Stick around and make sure to look at the other card made with the same DDD Trick or Treat Washi Tapes set that is featured in its own blog post....

Crafting in the USA heartland,
Becca S

TCCC blog DT card 2 project for 15 October 2019 featuring DDD Trick or Treat Washi Tapes Set

CARD 2 for The Crafter's Café Challenge blog design team inspiration project for #229:

above is my personalized DT badge for TCCC blog

link= https://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/10/229-use-stencil-and-or-halloween-or-use.html

#229 themes are= using a stencil &/OR Halloween OR purple, orange, & black

above is DDD's sponsorship badge
below is DDD's preview image for the Trick or Treat Washi Tapes set=

**Thanks to Lisa Decosse for approving my idea of using the whole set of washi tapes to create  patterned papers!!! The layouts aren't perfect if you look too closely to the angles of many of the cuts made to the ends. I printed out each washi tape design at the wallet size setting, so even though that's the smallest size option with my printer, I still had to cut some of the designs in half (width or depth-wise) and most in some length variation. This one set of washi tapes provided enough to create the diagonal patterning on the 4.25" x 6.25" black paper.

The darkest purple CS for the card base's dimensions are 5" x 7". Glitter paper and orange paper have sizes in between the base and the black background.

**Other supplies used besides the digital washi tape designs print-outs and papers are: different colored gem dots, old alpha stickers, purple microfine ink pen, and a wood pumpkin die-cuts along with glue stick and glue dots.

______
other challenge blogs or Facebook groups where this card or post will be linked:
a. Little Red Wagon #518 with theme of "cut it out"
link= https://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-518-cut-it-out.html
[all the digital washi tapes were printed individually and in the middle of each sheet of paper! ugh!, so I had lots of fussy cutting to do]

b. Use Your Stuff #378 = theme is "use a pumpkin(s)"; my card features a wooden die-cut pumpkin at top center
link= http://useyourstuff.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-378-pumpkins-majo.html

c. Incy Wincy Designs challenge blog (this is a new one for me starting this week!!)= theme is fall colors; my are typical Halloween colors of purple, orange and black with some lime green and a bit of yellow for accent
link= https://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/2019/10/oct-7th-19th-autumn-fall-colours.html

d. Scrapping 4 Fun Challenges blog #151= anything goes theme with warm colors; my card has the warm colours of orange and some yellow
link= https://scrapping4funchallenges.blogspot.com/2019/10/challenge-151-ag-with-warm-colours.html

e. my personal page on Facebook

f. Mixed Media Creativity group on Facebook; sharing group for mixed media projects; my card uses cardstock, glitter paper, solid color papers, digital images printed out, wood die-cut, gem dots, ….

g. PPPDTC group on Facebook; sharing site for crafting bloggers

Love how this card looks! So vibrant! Yet seasonal!! Make sure to see the other previous blog post showing a card made with the same digital washi tapes set from DDD.

Crafting in the USA heartland,
Becca S

Gold and Black Christmas Glam Card using 52 CCT sketch

Using 52 Christmas Card Throwdown's sketch for the first week of October, this is my #3 of 3rd

 I've rotated the elements of the 52 CCT sketch for this first week of October=

link: https://52cct.blogspot.com/2019/10/october-sketch-challenge-dt-call.html

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other challenge blogs and Facebook groups=

a. Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog; background papers are from Sept 2019 kit

link= https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/09/september-2019-just-gist-of-it.html

here's a photo of some of my Sept kit that shows a bit of the background papers=

the CKC ID badge=

b. 100 Pattern Papers Challenge group in Facebook= background papers have been in last year's and this year's selection of print papers and finally used!!!

c. Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges blog # 451= anything goes theme

link= http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2019/10/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-451.html

the PPCC blog ID badge =

d. my personal page on Facebook

e. PPPDTC group in Facebook= group for crafting bloggers to share what their posting

f. Mixed Media Creativity group in Facebook= elements include: patterned papers, stickers, 1  washi tape, die-cut wooden star painted in gold metallic and black, solid kraft CS, gold paint pen to lengthen reindeer reins

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one more photo to end the blog post:

Merry Christmas 2019 and Happy New Year 2020

early wishes from a teacher/crafter/blogger that is usually late,

Becca S

Christmas Gingerbread card using 52 CCT sketch

This Christmas card has a great mix of glam and cuteness! From 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, the first week of October features a sketch challenge=

 I've rotated and flipped some of the elements of the 52 CCT sketch for this first week of October=

link: https://52cct.blogspot.com/2019/10/october-sketch-challenge-dt-call.html

****

other challenge blogs and Facebook groups=

a. Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog; background papers are from Sept 2019 kit

link= https://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/09/september-2019-just-gist-of-it.html

here's a photo of some of my Sept kit that shows a bit of the background papers=

the CKC ID badge=

b. 100 Pattern Papers Challenge group in Facebook= background papers have been in last year's and this year's selection of print papers and finally used!!!

c. Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges blog # 451= anything goes theme

link= http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2019/10/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-451.html

the PPCC blog ID badge =

d. my personal page on Facebook

e. PPPDTC group in Facebook= group for crafting bloggers

f. Mixed Media Creativity group in Facebook= elements include: patterned papers, stamping, 3 different washi tapes, die-cut circle, gingerbread stationery note, green doily, solid white CS

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one more photo to end the blog post:

Early holiday wishes: for a bountiful harvest, a season of giving thanks, and the reason for the seasons

From the USA heartland,

Becca S