Happy New Year!

There are only a few hours left to enter my blogaversary candy here.  The linky will close at 11:59 PM CST tonight and I'll announce the winner tomorrow.  Good luck!

Good morning!  Happy New Year's Eve!  I can't believe we are at the last day of the year!  It's been a difficult year for me in a lot of ways.  I lost my Mom at the end of June and I miss her terribly every single day.  I had back surgery in October and I'm still trying to get back to my fully-active routine, but it's been slow going.  That said, I have had many blessings in 2013 and I am so grateful for each and every one of them.  I am very thankful for my family and friends and my wonderful blog friends, too!  Wishing you all peace, health and happiness in the new year!

Anyway, I do have a card for you today, my last one for 2013:

My card base and mats are SU Sage Shadow and the patterned papers are from the Basic Grey Serenade 6x6 pad.  The beautiful vintage frame image is from The Graphics Fairy and the sentiment over it is from Create With TLC.  I distressed the panels a little with Antique Linen Distress Ink.  I added a flourish cut with my Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish die, to which I added a couple of Wild Orchid Crafts Chrysanthemums.  A triple-loop seam binding bow and a vintage charm finished my card.

Here is a close-up of the focal image:

I am entering my card in the Crafts-Too Challenge You Challenge #6 (the natural world), Twist 2 (any winged creature).

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope to be back to my normal routine after tomorrow and should be crafting and visiting again then.  I'll be by to post the winner of my blog candy tomorrow!

Have a safe and fun New Year's Eve!

Guest Designer - Crafts-Too Challenge You

Good morning!  Happy Monday!  Hope you had a good weekend and your week is off to a great start!  It was cold and rainy here all weekend, but at least we did not get any snow or ice, so I am grateful.  I am here today with some exciting news!  I recently came in Top 3 at Crafts-Too Challenge You and I was invited to be a Guest Designer for the December Challenge!  The main theme for Challenge #6  is "the natural world" and Twist 1 is: add a flower.  There is a little spotlight on my project over on the C2CU blog.  I am so honored!

Here is my project:

I went with a natural and vintage style for my card in keeping with the theme.  My card base and mats are GKD Fresh Asparagus and the patterned papers have lots of images from nature and holiday flowers.  They are from the K & Co. Elizabeth Brownd Christmas collection and the Recollections Botanica Noel paper pad.  The main image is a vintage Christmas Graphic called Pine Branch Frame from The Graphics Fairy. I stitched around all the panels and added sparkling Shabby White Fran-Tage here and there to look like snow. I added some vintage lace and some ivory seam binding that I distressed with Antique Linen Distress Ink.  A cluster of Wild Orchid Crafts Red Berries and a dimensional poinsettia sticker finished my card.

Here is a close-up of the vintage image:

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed my inspiration for the new challenge at Crafts-Too Challenge You!

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Sketch N Stash #127 (sketch, which I flipped one turn)
The Ribbon Girl December Challenge (Christmas)
Live & Love Crafts Challenge #18 (Star Dust)
Crafts & Me Challenge #143 (anything goes)
Charisma Cardz Challenge #47 (distressed)
A Creative Romance Challenge (sparkle at Christmas)

Here is Sketch #127:

Have a wonderful day and see you soon!

All Spruced Up

Hi again!  I'm back with another quick post!  I was feeling pretty well this afternoon so I put together a vintage Christmas card to add to my stash.  I used another pre-colored vintage image from my files so I didn't have to sit and color.  All I had to do was design, glue and go!

Here is my card:

My card base and mats are GKD Fresh Asparagus and the patterned papers are from the My Mind's Eye Vintage Christmas 6x6 pad.  The sweet image is Snow Girl with Topiary from The Graphics Fairy.    I added a bit of Shabby White Fran-Tage to the image for some texture.    The sentiment is from Create With TLC.  It was from Paulette's recent Winter Club.  If you have never done one of her Clubs, you are really missing out! You get lots of fabulous digital images, sentiments and papers sent every day right to your mailbox.  Check out the upcoming Club here.  I added lots of pretty embellishments to my collage: a Silver Vintage Metal Corner, Wild Orchid Crafts Ivory Roses and Red Berries and some vintage lace.  A triple-loop seam binding bow, a pearl spray and a metal dove that I also Fran-Taged finished my card.

Here is a close-up of the image:

Thanks for stopping by again!  I made a little progress with my blogging today and I hope to make more later.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge #231 (Christmas cheer)
A Creative Romance (add metal)
Papertake Weekly (anything goes; optional Christmas)
Fab 'n Funky #192 (traditional Christmas colors)
Crafts and Me Challenge #142 (vintage Christmas)
Live & Love Crafts Challenge #17 (vintage Christmas collage)

Here is the LLC Christmas collage photo inspiration:

Have a great evening and see you soon!

Card Patterns Sketch #113 and Joan's Gardens Card Challenge #17

I'm back with a quick post to share the card I made for last week's Card Patterns Sketch #113 and for Card Challenge #17 on Joan's Gardens' blog.    The requirements for Joan's challenge this week were to use blue and green, use an image of a lady, add a large embellishment and attach a bow. 

Here is the Card Patterns Sketch:

Here is my card for both challenges:

I started with a card base of SU Soft Sky and layered with some beautiful blue and green patterned paper from the Webster's Pages Spring Market/Yacht Club/Country Estate Petite Papers pack.  The vintage lady image was a free download from The Graphics Fairy and it was colored with Copics.  I cut it out with a Spellbinders Classic Circle die and sponged with Antique Linen Distress Ink while it was still in the die before layering on a Spellbinders Scallop Circle diecut.  I cut a doily from my stash in half and sponged it lightly with Antique Linen.  I added a banner and bow of soft blue suede ribbon.  Some ivory pearls and a large charm recycled from one of my Mom's old bracelets finished my card.

Thanks for visiting!  I really appreciate when you stop by!