Eye Chart

Merry Christmas to all my blog friends. Hope you and you family have a good Holiday Season.
My daughter is an Optometrist so I made her an "eye chart" Christmas Card. So things came out even, I added 2 little wreathes from clip art on the bottom line. This was done on the computer. The bottom border is from my scrap box with gold ribbon and red sequins accents

Entering in Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge of "anything goes"

Star Thanks

My DH came and asked for a thank you card for the paper carrier. And GASP, I didn't have any.  Guess that will be my next project--maybe after the holidays. I was wanting to do the sketch challenge from Case This Sketch

So I did a quick CAS thank you card.

The papers are from SU and the sentiment from PTI is stamped with VersaMark and embossed with metallic silver. I backed the pattern stars with shiny silver stars for a little dimension. The upper star is also popped up with dimensionals.

 Sometimes things just come together--our newspaper is called Indianapolis Star.That didn't come to mind until I was sitting here doing the post.

Congrats Banners

I love using banners. So the sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches just fit the bill. I wanted a retirement card for a man. I used scraps of SU black and white papers and a sentiment from The Angel Company.

The zig-zag on the Cherry Cobbler banner was cut from another SU scrap. I only used 3 banners instead of the 5 on the sketch. Those 3 were making me dizzy!!, so I didn't add any more.

Snowflakes

I've been absent for awhile in sunny Florida escaping the cold and snow of Indiana. Alas, I had to return home  and boy have we seen a lot of snowflakes. So this card is pretty appropriate right now.

DP is from SU. Snowflake die is Spellbinders.It is hard to see, there is a clear crystal flower in the center of the snowflake. Silver tape from Michael's. The sentiment is done on computer. After die cutting it with a Nesties die, I stamped small snowflakes in SU Pool Party and popped it up with dimensionals.
Here is the inside:

That cutie snowman is from The Angel Company colored with colored pencils. I stamped more small snowflakes inside. And again, did the sentiment on computer.
This is for the challenges at Simon Says and  Cas-ual Fridays.
Also for Tuesday Throwdown of "what Christmas means to me". Although Christmas isn't really about snow, I can say it was a little difficult imagining Christmas in Florida without any snow. 

Cheer Card

Okay, don't be mad at me--I am done with Christmas cards. And I am not a Black Friday shopper, can't stand all the crowds, pushing, standing in line, etc. So I am replenishing my collection of care and concern cards.

I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for this one

The 2 stripes were just calling "washi tape" to me. Love that stuff--it is so easy and repositional without tearing the card base. The vertical plaid is from my scrap pile. I punched out a green blossom with a SU punch to use as the leaves. The flower blossom is from a larger flower that I pulled apart. Sentiment is Studio g. Then 2 buttons for accents and done!

Celebrate

Two of SILs are celebrating her birthdays next month so for the sketch challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch I made a birthday card.
The sentiment is done on the computer. The candles are Hero Arts colored with colored pencils and star gel pens. 3 glittery stickers add bling.
Here is the sketch.

Eight

Today's blog is brought to you by the number 8 and CAS-ual Fridays blog challenge to create with 8.
I feel like I'm back on Sesame Street!LOL!

And like Sesame Street, you don't just get the number 8 once but multiple times so you won't forget it!
The 8 butterflies are Hero Arts. Happy day has 8 letters. And 8 purple sequins are scattered among the swirls at the top of the card.
I hope you enjoyed our presentation today of the number 8.

Gift Bag

Straying from my normal card making for Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week. I wanted a special gift bag for a hostess gift.

I think this sketch worked very well for the bag decor.

The DP is from SU. Green from my scrap file. 2 flourishes are cut with Tim Holtz die. Flower is from SU Mixed Bunch set, stamped in Cherry Cobbler and punched out, then popped up with deminsional Sequins glued in the center make it sparkle. The tag is 2x4 folded in half. The little flower is also from Mixed Bunch. I made a bow with SU's Cherry Cobbler tulle ribbon and tied it on with Cherry Cobbler seam binding.
I will not write on this tag so my friend can reuse the bag, thus the bag is part of the gift. I think it can be either Christmasy or any occasion I'm all for recycling. This bag is actually recycled. It came from a gift shop and had the name stamped on it. The DP covers that name. 

Thinking of You Today

And thanking Mojo Monday sketch for getting my creative juices flowing this morning.

The DP is from SU. The "weeds" from Inkadinkadoo stamped in Tim Holtz Distress Tea Dye. Sentiment from PTI. Butterfly cut with Sizzlet and Big Shot. The lace was retrieved from my scrap bin, fastened with a safety pin--Got that cute idea from  Megan Daves
Here is the Mojo sketch:

CAS Sketch

A sympathy card for this week's sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch

Card base and black chevron DP and sentiment from SU. The chevron is from a Halloween paper. I'm always glad to find new used for it. I used a Stampabilities label die with a punched oval over it. The flowers are done in black StazOn stamped off once to get a softer effect. Then a little butterfly from a Sizzix Sizzlet adds a little touch of color..
This is the sketch I followed:

get well

This is a fun get well to bring a smile to anyone who is under the weather.

When you need a quick, easy card, try this one. Those are real bandaids stamped with bugs. The sentiment is Lawn Fawn but you could easily write your own,
This is for the sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches

Thanks

I read a research report on the brain and creativity. The researcher found a higher percentage of creativity in people with bipolar and other mental disorders than in the general population. Huh?
I am not bipolar but I do know spending time on creative projects certainly helps keep my sanity. How about you?
Therefore, today for all the inspiring creative ideas on all the great blogs, I say

And especially for Tuesday Throwdown challenge of "grateful" and  Tuesday Morning Sketches

I think my card has that old Hollywood glam style. The cardstock, DP, and sentiment are from SU and the glitter paper from Michael's.
This week at Simon Says Stamp Blog is also a Thanks theme so I will link up there too.

Bamboo Set

Honestly when I first saw the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches I thought it looked incomplete. But after looking at the DT creations, I decided it was a really creative design so I should give it a try. Here is their sketch:
 
I found this pretty bamboo paper in my file. I think I had bought it for a scrapbook of a tropical island trip we took but never used it. It is from Paper Studio. I have been working on a gift set for a few days with this paper and didn't yet have the "thank you" so went with that for the sketch.

The flower is from SU done in Melon Mambo and fussy cut. The stripes are from SU's Gorgeous Grunge. and the sentiment is from Inkadinkadoo. And because thank yous are really special, I added a big sparkly rhinestone as the flower center. And now that the card is done, I'm really loving the sketch.
Here are the other cards in the set.

Now I just need to design a gift bag to hold them.

Tuesday Get Well

Today is my Tuesday Two-fer: Tuesday Throwdown challenge to "tag it" and   Tuesday Morning Sketches

I used Cuttlebug dots IP on white cardstock then  placed a tag of DCWV stack DP as the center element on my card with a SU punched oval with Get Well Soon by The Angel Company.

The green swirl is a Tim Holtz die. The pink flower is a Sizzix die. I cut between each petal so they would have some dimension. The flower center is a dahlia button from SU. I tried 3 of these flowers but it was too crowded so I opted for just one. For the staple elements on the sketch, I cut some of the sparkly strip from the DP and glued in place. 

CAS embossing

CAS-ual Fridays challenge is embossing--dry or heat. I used Kraft cardstock--CAS doesn't always have to be white does it? Embossed with SU hexagon IP. A strip of burlap ribbon. Dark orange banner and SU hexagon punch and sentiment.

A pretty quick and easy card.

Speed Limit

While blog surfing this morning, I found a new sketch challenge at Reverse Confetti I am always looking for new inspiration so glad to find this one.

These DPs are all from SU and my scrap file. I like their double sided papers because they can be used for multiple occasions. The black chevrons are the reverse of a Halloween paper and the red diagonals are from Christmas collection. I found the sentiment at a trade show. It is by Morning Star Stamps. And the little car is Inkadindadoo colored with colored pencils and star gel pens. Under the sentiment I used a diagonal IP and smudged it with black to look like a road.
Here is the sketch from Reverse Confetti:

Special Friend

You always want special friends to have a very special birthday card that you made. And a sense of humor!

And of course, you get to an age where birthday numbers aren't brought up.
This one is done all in shades of pink. The background behind the lace is a DCWV pack. The flowers are from a geranium that I pulled apart--makes lots of single blossoms. They are centered with rhinestones. The sentiment I found on Quote Garden and did on the computer.
And then you get to the inside--more reference to aging and remembering--or not!!

The butterfly is the same DP as background punched out with SU punch and black scraper's floss for antennae.
This is for a sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches

Sympathy

I have a sympathy card to share today. I think it is so hard to get the balance between somber and uplifting. I like this DP I found at hobby lobby. I think it strikes that balance. The pearls, ribbon, sentiment, and banner die are from SU. I used dimensionals on the banner.

I followed the sketch from CAS(e) This Sketch

Farewell to Friends

Good friends are selling their home and moving to a retirement center near their children. We will miss them a lot but am happy they can make this move. So I made this card to wish them happiness in their new home.

The house is from The Angel Company, colored with colored pencils. The papers are from SU. Happiness is from SU's Loving Thoughts.
I used this weeks sketch from The Paper Players
 

Duct Tape

My second post today. I am trying to catch up on challenges. My Google has been down and having trouble with Internet Explorer too.
This is a super simple CAS card. A quick one for the men in your life who need a get well card. I've used this sentiment before and the recipients really like it.

That is real duct tape and real band-aids on there. I used to add smiley faces on band-aids when I started IVs so thought that appropriate here. The sentiment is done on computer.
Have you seen all the cool new designs on duct tape? I'm thinking I'll get some for kids cards.
This is for Freshly Made Sketches sketch of the week

Flyig Witch

When I saw this inspiration photo from Papercraft Star I knew I had the perfect stamp for it.
 

The witch is  from Inkadindadoo and the house is a $1.00 stamp from Michael's.

I colored the house with colored pencils and added some sparkles to the witch with star gel pens.

Bag and Tag

I think I watch too much NCIS. Something about "bag and tag" just sounds ominous.  But these are fun decorated gift bags with cute tags to match. It is for the latest challenge at CAS-ual Fridays

 
Sound better the way they say it! I have been making several of these for a craft bazaar in November. I'm glad CAS-ual Fridays chose this theme so I can share them with you.
I actually have 2 to share

Santa is from SU last year. I covered the lower part with "brick" paper sponged with white and bordered with Snow Marker that is a paint, let dry, and heat emboss to puff it up. I used a  snowflake from CAS-ual Friday stamps in white StazOn. The tag stamp is also from Cas-ual Friday stamped is vertical rows. I stamped another circle around the snowflake to make more of an O.

My other bag is a snowflake from SU punched out with the blossom punch. It has glitter glue to make it sparkle. Sentiment is from the same Cas-ual Friday stamp set. Love how they make the Os into snowflakes.

The tag has a snowman cut from some wrapping paper.

Dove of Peace

I have used SUs Calm Christmas Dove and sentiment for my card today for Freshly Made Sketches

The cardstock and DP are also SU from the Holiday book. I stamped the dove on the back of the SU silver paper (also from the holiday book) and then cut it out. The picture doesn't look silver--it was either this dark one or one with too much flash reflection.I stamped the olive branch on the back of the green and cut it out and glued on with the dove. I masked off all put the Peace of the sentiment and stamped it on the dove with StazOn black. On the inside, I used the sentiment from the set on a strip of white cardstock to mimic the front and then repeated the green and red banners.

Here is the sketch

Nativity Snowmen

Since I still have the adorable snowman nativity stamps from The Angel Company on my desk, I decided to do one more using the Tuesday Morning Sketches

The blues seem to be the color choice for this set. Here I used an aqua and turquoise accented with gold metallic vellum.

So now I have a whole set and a coordinating gift bag.

These are just a few of the set of 10. I am thinking what a great thanks and appreciation gift for the minister's family.