A cuppa Cocoa soothes the soul

I haven't been keeping up on my Christmas cards, so I am trying to get some done with some images that I had sitting in my stash. This is one from Torico and a sentiment from TLC Create. I used pop dots on the smaller hearts.

Patterned Paper:  Recollections
Cardstock: Bazzil and Recollection
Tag: Recollection
Stamp: Torico digital
Sentiment: TLC, Create - Cocoa soothes the soul
Punches: EK Success, Fiskars
Ribbon and twine: Michaels
Ink: Distress - Fired Brick
Pom: Creativity

Challenges
Cheerful Sketches - June 2021
Sparkles Christmas - Ch. 125 A Krafty Christmas
Fezziwigs Festive Frolics - Red and Green
Crafty Catz - Ch. 554 Anything Goes with optional Tag, you're it
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - Ch. 186 K is for Kraft
CCAYR - June something with K or L (Kraft, love, layers)
Do-A1(1) Kreatives - Ch. 54 Small and big (hearts)
Merry Little Christmas - Ch. 35 Anything Christmas
CHNC - Ch. 545 Anything Christmas with optional winter fun

Buttons and Bows

To all my friends that celebrate here in the US - Happy Mother's Day! Whether you have children, furry family members or a pet rock it doesn't matter. And especially during these Covid pandemic times when we can't always be with our loved ones it makes it so much harder. Hugs to all.
I found an image that I had in my stash and finally got it put together from Paper Shelter My Style and the sentiment is from Create with TLC. It reminds me of one of my daughter's dance costumes.

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Cardstock:  Stampin' Up; Recollections
Stamp:  Paper Shelter (see above for direct link)
Sentiment: TLC, Create - Buttons and Bows
Ink: Distress - Old Paper
Lace: Hobby Lobby
Border: Fiskars
Die: Lifestyle Arts
Hemptique
Buttons: Stash
Punch: Martha Stewart
Ribbon: Michael's
Spellbinder: Pennant

Challenges
Paper Shelter - Ch. 468 Color It
Cheerful Sketches - May 2021
Dies R Us - Ch. 168 Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Ch. 550 Anything Goes with optional flowers, twine, gems
CHNC Patterned - May 2021
Creative Knockouts - Ch. 400 Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Ch. 685 Anything Goes

You deserve the royal treatment

I had this image printed out as a freebie that I had in my stash along with this sentiment from TLC, Create.  I really have to get cleaning since I want to sell my house instead I just find things to finish and craft instead. I think I just have to buy a house then I will get serious lol.

Patterned Paper: American Crafts
Cardstock: Bazzil; Recollections
Image: Unknown freebie
Sentiment: TLC, Create
Dies: My Favorite Things
Spellbinder: Banner
Ribbon: Michael's
Bling: Me and My Big Ideas
Ink: Distress Broken China
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

Challenges
Alphabet Challenge - B for Bird
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - Ch. 183 M for Monochrome
Creative Knockouts - Ch. 398 Wings and Things
Cardz 4 Galz - Ch. 145 Mother's Day or for a Special Lady
Crafty Animals - Ch. 49
Dragonfly Dreams- Feature a creature
Unicorn Challenge - Ch. 64 Include an animal

Some people don't believe in Superheroes

I made a Father's Day card using word art from TLC, Create. I distressed the word art and several papers. I punched out some stars and popped up two of them to make this card. I tried to keep it simple for a masculine card.

Patterned Paper:  Paper Studio
Cardstock: Bazzil; Recollections
Sentiment:  TLC, Create
Punches: Fiskar
Tim Holtz distress tool
Bling: Paper Studio

Challenges
Sketch Saturday - Ch. 656
Krafty Chicks - Ch. 556 All occasions
Watercooler Wednesday - Ch. 314 All about occasions
Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 487 - 488 Anything Goes
Always Fun - Ch. 210 Anything Goes  

To my Wonderful Friend on Mother's Day

One last one with bright floral design and sentiment from TLC, Create.  I had to add some butterflies also with bling and pearls.

Patterned Paper: Recollection
Cardstock: Bazzil; Recollection
Sentiment: TLC, Create - To my friend on Mother's Day
Punches: EK Success; Fiskars; Tonic; Martha Stewart
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon
Bling: Duct Tape
Pearls: Recollections

Challenges
Tuesday Morning Sketches - Ch. 601
Crafty Friends - Ch. 151 Ladies/girls
Creatalicious - Ch. 209 Anything Goes with optional slim line
Cardz 4 Galz - Ch. 144 Slimline card
CHNC Patterned - April 2021 

Happy Nurse's Day

I made another card using the Paper Shelter Cute Nurses and a sentiment from TLC, Create. Naturally as a nurse myself this is a holiday that I celebrate, lol. It's just funny since the hat is still a symbol of nursing and nurses haven't worn hats for MANY years! And now they basically are wearing haz mat suits due to Covid.

Patterned Paper: TLC, Create
Cardstock: Recollections
Stamp:  Paper Shelter (See above for direct link)
Sentiment: TLC, Create - Happy Nurse's Day
Dies: My Favorite Things

Challenges
Paper Shelter - Ch. 465 Girl Power
Creations in Pink - Ch. 33
Aud Sentiments - Ch. 272 Anything Goes with a sentiment
Crafty Friends - Ch. 151 For the ladies/girls
Always Fun - Ch 209 Pastel colors 

Happy Nurse's Day to my favorite nurse

 Here is a simple card that I made to honor nurses.  The image is a pre-colored image from Paper Shelter and the sentiment and patterned paper are from TLC, Create.  

Patterned Paper:  TLC, Create
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Paper Shelter - Cute Nurses (see above for direct link)
Sentiment:  TLC - To my favorite nurse
Dies: My Favorite Things; Taylored Expressions

Challenges
Paper Shelter - Ch. 464 With a sentiment
Aud Sentiment - Ch. 272 Anything Goes with a sentiment
Time Out - Photo Inspiration  (colors)
Crafty Catz - Ch. 546 Anything Goes
Creative Knockouts- Ch. 396 For the Girls

For the Mommy to Be

Just trying to get ready for all the spring cards that I need and here is a fun one. The sentiment is from TLC, Create. I kept it to yellow and green since they don't know if they will be having a boy or girl.

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye
Cardstock: Bazzil; Recollections
Sentiment: TLC, Create - For the Mommy to be
Spellbinder
Bling: Recollections
Flowers: Prima
Enamel Dots: Paper Studio

Challenges
Sketch Saturday - Ch. 654
Sweet Stampin' - Special Woman
Creative Knockouts - For the Girls
Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 485 - 486 Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments -Ch 272 Anything Goes 

Gardeners

Well I am not a gardener. My Dad was a potato farmer; however, I have no desire to have a garden, heck I can't even keep plants alive. The cat I have now I don't think would bother a plant, since she doesn't go after flower bouquets like my male cat did. She went and got a hair cut today so she had enough drama. I went out to get some groceries the other night and when I came home....my garage door wouldn't open. Today I had a repair person out and as my Dad predicted "my spring was out." Needless to say $600 later I can get my car in the garage and we missed garbage day. So obviously I did some coloring to try to help my stress and got this new image from Twistoon and a sentiment from TLC, Create. 

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections
Stamp:  Twistoons - George Gnome Wheelbarrow (see above for direct link)
Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Garders all day in beds
Washi Tape:  Recollections
Ink - Distress Oxides - Squeezed lemonade
Stencil:  My Favorite Things

Challenges
Tuesday Morning Sketches - Ch. 599
Scribbles Designs - Ch. 98 Spring Fling
Cute Card Thursday - Ch. 680 Anything Goes
Time Out - Ch. 184 Inspired by Words
Love to Scrap - Ch. 144 Spring Forward
Do-A1(1) Kreatives  - Ch. 52 Spring
Krafty Chicks - Ch. 553 Stamp Act

Let Heaven and Nature Sing!

I wanted to get a couple Christmas cards done each month and I am trying to do it yet for March. I had this one colored and put it together. This adorable elf is from Mo Manning and the sentiment is from TLC, Create. For March, I kept it green in color.

Cardstock: Bazzil
Stamp:  Mo Manning - see above for direct link
Sentiment: TLC, Create - let Heaven and Nature Sing!
Pom: Creativity
Spectrum Noir glitter pens
Border Punch:  Martha Stewart

Challenges
Mo's Digital Pencil - Ch. 301 Anything Goes with a Mo Manning image
Sketch Saturday - Ch 653
CHNC - Ch. 535 Anything Christmas with optional star or more
Christmas Kickstart - Ch. 48 Green Christmas
ABC Christmas - E for Elf
CCAYR - E for Elf
12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Ch 75 Cheers 

It's You and Me against the world

I have been seeing everyone's gorgeous cards and I had to make just one. I have been overwhelmed by life, but had to take the time since I have so many coffee "things".  So I grabbed two different Tattered Angel Mist brown sprays for the background. I had some paper scraps of  paper that I had made by blending my Distress oxide inks together and die cut a small Spellbinder coffee cup.  I had a sentiment from TLC Create.  Then added a some twine, Spellbinder butterfly circle and flowers. There now I won't feel so jealous and left out, but I will need the coffee since I stayed up later than usual, lol.

Cardstock: Recollections
Sentiment:  TLC, Create
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
Flowers:  Prima, Recollections
Punches:  EK Success
Spellbinder:  Butterfly Circle, Coffee set
Distress Oxides: unknown what colors I used
Divine Twine

Challenges
2021 Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop
Fab 'n Funky - Ch. 516 Flowers
Cardz 4 Galz - Ch. 143 Tea or Coffee Time
Crafty Creations - Ch 419 Anything Goes
Allsorts - Wk 616 Spring flowers for the first day of spring 

Let's celebrate the gift of you

My friend Andrea came up with this wonderful sketch last week at Tuesday Morning Sketches and I had it made, but just didn't get it posted.  The sentiment is from TLC, Create and the shaker is a pre-made that I picked up on clearance from Hobby Lobby. I embossed the white and pink papers. This is just a fun and magical birthday card for a young lady.

Patterned Paper:  Recollection
Cardstock:  Bazzil: Recollection
Shaker:  Paper Cuts
Die: Spellbinder - Large Circle; My Favorite Thing - Banner
Gems:  Duct Tape
Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug

Challenges
Double Trouble - Ch. 79 Make it Magical
Dies R Us - Ch. 165 Make it Magical
Seize the Birthday - Ch. 210 optional sketch
Aud Sentiments - Ch. 271 An animal and a sentiment
Krafty Chicks - Ch. 522 All occasions
Unicorn Challenge - Ch. 63 Make it feminine
Watercooler Wednesday - Ch. 312 All about occasions

LOVE

I have been trying to clean in my craft area....right then I just start playing. I have this patterned paper from TLC Create that I just love the color and printed out long ago and thought it would work with a heart and MFT die. I added lots of flowers. I guess I am one that likes to do non-traditional colors, lol.

Patterned Paper: TLC Create
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections
Spellbinders:  Heart; Scalloped Heart
MFT: LOVE die
Sakura jelly white pen
Flowers: Wild orchid craft; Hobby Lobby leaves

Challenges
My Favorite Things - MFTWSC522
Love to Craft - Ch. 54 Anything Goes
Love to Scrap - Ch. 141 Anything Goes
Pearly Sparkles - Ch. 58 something that starts with "P" (petals, peach, pretty)
Creative Crafters -Ch. 35 Anything Goes
Watercooler Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Merry Christmas Mom & Dad

I decided to make a shaker card for my parents for Christmas. I used a sentiment from TLC Create and a shaker kit from Kat Scrappiness.
Just for a quick update - NO squirrels in my attic, my Dad, brother and son came over last Sunday and found that it was a RACCOON!!! Since it was a lone raccoon it was probably a female since they den alone for the winter since they don't want a male around when they have their babes. She didn't want to leave my warm attic, but with MUCH coaxing from the guys she left. They cleaned up the mess she made, put some new insulation in and replaced the screen on my fan that she ripped out to get in. She tried to come back for several nights which I didn't appreciate and the temperature dropped. So it got quite cold and windy so I'm sure she found a new shelter.

For those of you who celebrate have a Merry Christmas!

Patterned Paper:  Paper Studio
Cardstock: Bazzil: Recollections
Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Merry Christmas Mom & Dad
Punches:  EK Success
Dies:  My Favorite Things
Sequins: Recollections
Flowers:  Hobby Lobby

Challenges
Cheerful Sketches - December 2020
CHNC - Ch. 521 Anything Christmas with optional use "Christmas"
Always Fun - Ch. 194 Christmas
As You Like It - Favorite person to create for family or friend and why (family, they appreciate it when they know that you make it special for them)
Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 470 - 472 Anything Christmas
Fezziwigs Festive Frolics - Last minute makes

CIJ Day 7 at CTB Knobby Knees Christmas Sack

Today is the last day, day 7 of the Christmas in July at Catch the Bug and the theme is a Friday Freebie with a Color Challenge. You don't have the Friday Freebie.  For my card, I used a sentiment from TLC, Create.  This is emotional since this is my Design Team post. Due to all the demands with working full time as a nurse it has been difficult to meet the requirements of all that's required for the DTs.  I have met so many wonderful people and have gained such inspiration along the way.
And the inspiration for the design for my card, came from a card that Julie made back last August after she returned from having surgery and she was so excited to return. So it's just the opposite of what I am doing, but it was also a watermelon photo.

Julie's inspiration from August 2019

Patterned Paper:  Paper Studio

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection

Stamp:  Bugaboo - Knobby Knees Christmas Sack

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Christmas Things

Pom:  Creativity

Stickles

Ribbon:  Michael's

Sakura jelly glitter pen

Prisma pencils

Enamel Dots: Paper Studio

Challenges

Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 448 - 449 Anything Goes

CHNC - Ch. 499 Anything Christmas with optional die cut or punch

Cute Card Thursday - Ch. 644 Christmas in July

Merry Little Christmas - Ch. 24

Crafty Calendar - July Add a ribbon

CIJ Day 4 at CTB Rock'n Christmas

Today is Day 4 and we are moving along on the Christmas in July celebration at Catch the Bug and it's a BINGO challenge. I always like to use all the elements for a full card which I did this time. The sentiment is from TLC, Create. I found an older post from 2014 of Julie's where she used blue and brown as my inspiration.

Julie's image from 2014

Patterned Paper:  Paper Studio

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dinations; Recollections

Stamp:  Bugaboo - Christmas Rocking Horse

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Hope you have a Rock'n Christmas

Punches:  EK Success

Dies:  Birch Press

Ribbon:  Michael's

Divine Twine

Brads:  Making Memories

Snowflakes:  Jolee

Tim Holtz Distress Tool

Ink:  Distress Old Paper

Challenges

CHNC - Ch. 499 Anything Christmas with optional use die cut or punch

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 - Ch. 187

Fezziwigs Festive Frolic - Christmas with Summer Colors

Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 448 - 449 Anything Goes

Merry Little Christmas - Ch. 24 Anything Goes

International Art & Soul - Ch. C. 88 Christmas card based on a carol or song (Rocking under the Christmas tree)

Crafty Calendar - July Add a ribbon

CIJ Day 1 at CTB Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Well it's here....Day 1 of the Christmas in July at Catch the Bug and there are lots of prizes and surprises a long the way. Today we start with creating a card or project with using the picture of Santa's workshop. During the celebration we are also going to be honoring Julie Temple our DT member that recently passed away. As I put on my Facebook, with losing my husband, I know that God takes some of the wonderful people too soon, but then they are able to watch over us. I just hope that Julie is able to give me some creative vibes since she was so talented. I realize that I colored my elf to look like her. I also have candy canes which are so sweet like my friend. Also my daughter LOVES them. I would buy boxes of the mini ones and she would pack them as snacks. I think to her they are a food group, lol.

Julie Temple

Patterned Paper:  Paper Studio

Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections

Stamp:  Bugaboo - Kidz Christmas Elf

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Have Yourself a merry little Christmas

Bling:  Me and My Big Ideas

Flowers:  Recollections

Die:  Tutti

Embellishments:  Target

Pop dots

Prisma pencils and Gamsol

Challenges

CHNC - Ch. 499 Anything Christmas with optional use die cut or punch

Creatalicious Challenge - Ch. 191 Anything Goes with optional 3 of a kind (3 columns for the layout)

Aud Sentiment - Ch. 255 Christmas in July with a sentiment

Unicorn Challenge - Ch. 56 Food and/or drink

Alphabet Challenge - H for Hungry favorite food (candy canes for my daughter)

Sending you a great big THANKS

Today we start another challenge at Catch the Bug and being the last Saturday of the month it's a Recipe which is: 1 Ribbon, 2 Flowers, 3 Layers. For my card I used, 3 Square Floral Thinking of You and a sentiment from TLC, Create.  I used the other portion of this image a couple of weeks ago. Since I make cards for my stash and my family members this one goes to my daughter who is a teacher. I have now put gift bags in my office so each person gets their cards put in their bag so I can keep track of where everything is going.

Cardstock:  Recollections

Stamp:  Bugaboo - 3 Square Floral Thinking of You (see above for direct link)

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Sending you a great big THANKS

Spellbinder:  Pennant

Ribbon:  Offray

Embossing Folder:  Sizzix

Flower:  Recollection

Challenges

Arty Divas - Ch. 22 Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments - Ch. 152 Flower and sentiment

QKR - Ch. 399 Anything Goes

Crafting Happiness - Ch. 50 Anything Goes with optional red

Crafty Friends - Ch. 136 Add embellishments

Love to Scrap - Ch. 133 Anything Goes

Hand Stamped Sentiments - Ch. 340 (see photo above)

But first coffee

My last coffee card is using an image and coffee paper are from TLC, Create. I just love these colors. I am just hoping soon to be able to get together with friends for coffee.

Patterned Paper:  TLC, Create - 

Cardstock:  Recollections

Stamp:  TLC, Create - but first coffee

Spellbinders:  Small and Large Circles

Flower:  Wild Orchid Crafts

Challenges

2020 Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Hop

Mojo Monday - Ch. 537 

Tuesday Throwdown - Ch. 458 Color Challenge (see above)

Hand Stamped Sentiment - Ch. 340 Photo Inspiration (daisy - see photo above)

Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 440 - 441 Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments - Ch. 152 Flower and a sentiment

Coffee very seriously

Here is another coffee card using a single Verve retired digi and a sentiment from TLC, Create. This is another background that I did blending stripes of distress oxide inks to make a red, white and blue background.

Cardstock:  Recollection

Watercolor Paper:  Stratham

Stamp:  Verve digis

Distress Oxides:  Salty Ocean & Candied Apple

Stars:  Darice

Challenges

2020 Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Hop

Mojo Monday - Ch. 537

Cute Card Thursday - Ch. 636 Stripes

Krafty Chicks - Ch. 509 All occasions

Polkadoodles - Wk 22 Anything Goes

Love to Scrap - Ch. 133 Anything Goes