A DT Call and my Top 5 for 2013

What a great year for Christmas cards!

I started making cards for this Christmas back in January, entering a few challenges.

Then, I had the chance to be chosen in Christmas Card Challenges DT and made Christmas cards weekly. I often managed to make more than one copy and found myself in September with a good number of cards for my Etsy shop.

I also had to make copies of existing cards for my Customers and all this has made me very happy.

Now that Christmas is just around the corner I'd like to sit down and make a list of my favorite cards for 2013.

I also take this chance to enter a new DT call for C.R.A.F.T. Challenge where I've been gently invited by Trimgym.

So, here's my fav cards for 2013 (in no particular order):

Hope you like them as much as I do!

I'm already working on new cards for 2014 so stay tuned!

Starfish for Christmas?

A very quick post today to show you a last-minute Christmas tag I've just finished.

The inspiration came from Meljen's Design Challenge: Christmas Tags.

I checked my Meljen's Christmas digis and I couldn't find the right one for what I had in mind. I checked my other folders and... I found the perfect one in my summer digis: Starfish Buddies!

I cut it leaving the shells out and voilà a lovely couple of stars!

Here's my tag:

Aren't they super-sweet?

This is the magic of digi stamps!

This creation is for the following challenges:

Meljen's Design Challenge # 189: Christmas Tags

ABC Christmas Challenge: X for Out of the BoX - No Squares Allowed

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for December: Anything Goes



Christmas Card Challenge # 2: Color Challenge

Welcome to week # 2 at Christmas Card Challenges and today it's all about Black and White!

From what I heard from some of my team mates it's not so easy to work with black and white only, although I had no problem and managed to make a pretty little card:

I was looking through my stash of printed/stamped images when I found this cute mouse, a freebie from Wee Stamps. I printed the star paper from a collection by Pink Petticoat, added some black touches here and there and colored my little mouse with greys and black. I needed a touch of color and I chose red for a couple of details.

Since I didn't have time to have a look at the cards my fellow DT made for this challenge, let's all have a look at them here or look at their blogs:

 Alanna

Anne C

Heather

Jenn

Jovita

Karen

Margo

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for December: Anything Goes
Divas by Design Challenge: Feeling Festive
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 236: Christmas
Paper Crafting Journey Challenge: Christmas Time
Papertake Weekly Challenge: Anything Goes
Stamp-n-Doodle Challenge: Anything Goes
ABC Challenge: A for Almost Christmas
Crafting from the Heart Challenge # 1: Anything Goes

Welcome to a New Year of Christmas Card Challenges!

Let's start with Christmas Card Challenge # 1!

I'm happy to announce that I've been confirmed in the team for another term so don't miss our weekly posts with inspiring Christmas cards even once Christmas will be over!

For this first week the challenge is challenging for a stamper like me: No Stamping!

I reached for my little collection of chipboard icons and decided to make this card:

I love this cheerful Santa with candy canes and gifts!

No stamping means no coloring so this card was very quick to make... I should consider the no-stamping option more often!

Here's the link to my fellow DT cards, have a look at them and be inspired!



Alanna

Anne C

Heather

Jenn

Jovita

Karen

Margo

Sabrina

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge: One for the Boys
CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for December: Anything Goes
Divas by Design Challenge: Use some Red
Cute Card Thursday Challenge # 297: Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody Challenge # 34: Anything Goes

Pink & Black.

What do you think about Pink & Black together?

I LOVE it!

I've just finished a card (no, not a Christmas card...) with a black & pink scheme.

The inspiration came from Meljen's Designs Challenge: Black Out - Use black cardstock as your card base.

I've had the lovely Little Skunk digi from Meljen's Designs for a while and this was the perfect occasion to use it.

I made this card:

 I wanted the black cardstock to be visible and added some pink dots with acrylic paint. I used greys for the skunk so that the fur could be visible.

She''s so sweet!

This card is for the following challenges:

Meljen's Design Challenge # 187: Black Out

Challenges 4 Everybody # 34: Anything Goes

Faith.

This week the theme at Christmas Card Challenges is very inspiring: Faith.

I immediately reached for a digi stamp from Bugaboo called Mary and Joseph.

This is my card:

It's a simple card with a sweet image which reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.

Have a look at the other cards from the DT:



Alanna

Anne C

Heather

Jenn

Jovita

Karen

Margo

Sabrina

Well, Christmas is just around the corner so start making some cards if you haven't already!

Bling!

I know, I know... I'm quite a lazy blogger lately but, although I have tons of new Christmas cards ready this year, I still have lots of custom orders to prepare...

This week the theme at Christmas Card Challenges is Bling!

You know how I love to add glitter and bling to my cards so this is the perfect excuse to use lots of them!

I made this card:

This LOVELY couple was the new Winter Toodle Couple from Broken Box Stock (available here in black and white and here in a fab colored version with classic Christmas colors).

I decided I wanted to change the colors a bit and decided to use a lilac card and colored the girl accordingly.

Then, it was time for the glitter... lots of glitter! And bling... lots of rhinestones!
I made this card for Christmas but I decided to use a neutral sentiment so it can work for winter birthdays, too!

Having so little time to blog, I haven't had any sneak peek at my fellow DT cards so I can't wait to see their creations! They are all here!

Alanna

Anne C

Heather

Jenn

Jovita

Karen

Margo

Sabrina

I'd like to enter the following challenges:
CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for November: Anything Goes
Crafting By Designs Challenge: Anything Goes with a Twist of Christmas
Challenges 4 Everybody Challenge # 33: Anything Goes
Paper Playtime Challenge # 23: Sparkle
Designed to Color Challenge # 23: Christmas/Winter
Fab'n'Funky Challenge # 193: Anything Goes
Crafting Calendar Challenge: All Things Christmas

It's Sketch Time at Christmas Card Challenges!

This week we have to follow a sketch at Christmas Card Challenges:

Clean and simple, isn't it?

I decided it was perfect for an image I've wanted for a while in Karen's Doodles shop: Bigsby's Christmas Wish and I made this card:

The paper behind the image is from the Make It Merry paper pad from October Afternoon and the gold glittered cardstock is from DCWV.

What I enjoyed most while making this card was coloring the image which I find so sweet and with a touch of poetry!

Can't wait to see what my fellow DT memebrs have made with this sketch!

Their cards are all here:

  Alanna

Anne C

Heather

Jenn

Jovita

Karen

Margo

Sabrina

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday Challenge # 294: Animal Magic
Crimbo Crackers Challenge # 54: Christmas Words
The Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge: Traditional Colors plus Gold or Silver
Winter Wonderland Challenge: For a Child
CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for November: Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations Challenge: Christmas
One Crazy Stamper Challenge: Christmas
Fab'n'Funky Challenge # 192: Traditional Christmas Colors
Crafty Calendar Challenge: All Things Christmas
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 232: Christmas
Crafty Little Fairies Challenge: Christmas in November

Elegant but Funny.

A while ago I discovered an image in Meljen's Designs shop I immediately fell in love with and I've finally been able to use it for a card and... it's NOT a Christmas card! I needed a break!

Her name is Little Lady Claire even if I always think about her as a funnier version of marie Antoniette!

I chose a palette of lilacs and light pinks with touches of glitter. I again wanted to use some of my paper roses to give a special touch to my card.

This card is for the following challenges:

Meljen's Designs Challenge # 185: Friends Forever

Divas By Design Challenge: Use a Digi

Brown Sugar Challenge # 67: Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge: Anything Goes

Crafting By Designs Challenge: Anything Goes

Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Challenge # 65: Anything Goes



Pop It Up!

It's time for a new challenge at Christmas Card Challenges and this week the theme is Dimension.

I love to add dimension to my cards, usually using 3D dots and this time I've used dots in various thickness to make my elves pop up in different ways,

This is my card:

I've used just one digi (a cute Christmas Elf by Jellypark): I printed it in different sizes and colored the elves using the same palette of classic Christmas colors and, of course, touches of glitter here and there. And I couldn't help but adding lots of rhinestones to make the card sparkle!

Let's have a look at what the other DT have created this week:

Alanna

Anne C

Heather

Jenn

Jovita

Karen

Margo

Sabrina

If you haven't started your Christmas cards yet, be inspired by our creations and let's go to work! Christmas is only 51 days away!


I'd love to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge # 149: Bling It Up
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for November: Christmas
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' Challenge: Cards for Men
Crafty Calendar Challenge: All Things Christmas
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 231: For the Boys
Cute Card Thursday Challenge # 293: Sparkles
A Gem of a Challenge # 104: Christmas is Coming
One Crazy Stamper November Challenge: Christmas