Countdown to Christmas #16 and Clearly Inspired Challenge

Happy Sunday friends! I am off on another road trip with the hubby and the rest of the "motorcycle gang"... once again, I'm torn about the whole motorcycle thing, but off I go. We are meeting a couple of other couples and doing the ride to Orcas Island and my lovely friend is coming over to watch the children.

But, in the mean time, I wanted to share my 16th Countdown to Christmas card. I must say that I am very pleased with the way this turned out. I love the look, the simplicity, the colors, and the embellishments.

I also wanted to let you know about the challenge that I host over on Lori's blog - Clearly iStamp. These occur every other Friday and the challenge changes every time.

This week's challenge (posted this past Friday) is all about ribbon. I didn't use a lot on my card, but I feel that it provides a big punch to the overall look of my card. I used the new Cherry Go Round ribbon that is part of the new Clearly Coordinating Collection that has been introduced at the store.

Head on over to the challenge and not only have fun, but get a chance to win a FREE stamp set of your choice just for joining in.

I also wanted to high light the stamped tree image. I stamped this in a pigment white ink and then added clear embossing powder to it and while I was heating the powder I covered it in these new Ultra Fine clear Micro Beads that you can find at Clear Dollar Stamps now. This stuff is so cool and it gave my tree such a neat look too.

I tried to get a good picture of it, but it adds a lot of interest to the card in real life.

Ok, that's it for me... thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day.

Recipe:

Stamps: Scenic Trees, Christmas Blessings (Clear Dollar Stamps)

Cardstock/Designer Paper: Everlasting Level 2 (Close to my Heart)

Ink: Pigment white, Ponderosa Pine (Close to my Heart), Victorian Velvet Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)

Other: Red Ribbon, Clear Micro Beads (Clear Dollar Stamps), Long Scallop Nestability (Spellbinders), Distress Sponge Tool (Tim Holtz), Embossing Powder, Heat Gun

Clearly Inspired Challenges (CIC6) - Color Challenge

Ok, I fibbed... I do have one more post for you today. Its the "other"part of every other Friday, which means that its time for another Clearly Inspired Challenge hosted by me over on Lori's blog - Clearly iStamp . Head on over for all the details on how you can join in on the fun. Its easy!

Clear Dollar Stamps is the sponsor of course and one randomly drawn winner will get to chose any stamp set of their choice next Friday - woo hoo.

As many of you know I just got back from CHA and my most prized goody was a signed NEW die from Tim Holtz. We stood in line to get this and it was worth it, so I had to stick that in there with my picture because, I of course had to use it :) Its a new card edge die and I used both designs. You can see the 2 edges on the pinwheel paper.

The colors for the challenge are RED, BLACK, WHITE, with the option of PINK. I originally picked these colors because Valentine's Day is right around the corner, but I ended up not doing a Valentine's theme at all.

I instead, used a soon to be released stamp set that was shown yesterday called Silhouette Thoguhts. I used the cake and stand. I inked it with my CTMH white pigment ink and then kissed it with the little flower image that comes in the set. The designer paper is actually from the Cosmo Cricket holiday line, but it worked fabulous!

Head on over and join the fun! Thanks for coming to visit and have a great day!



Recipe:
Stamps: Silhouette Thoughts (CDstamps)
Ink: White Daisy (CTMH), Black pigment (Colorbox)
Cardstock/Designer Paper: Black (CTMH), White (PTI), Jolly by Golly (Cosmo Cricket)
Embellishments: Buttons (PTI)
Tools: Tim Holtz die cut (Sizzix), Edge Distressor (CTMH), Cuttlebug (Provo Craft)

Its Challenge Time - Clearly Inspired Challenges #5

Hey everyone... if you didn't know, I host a challenge for Clear Dollar Stamps over on Lori's blog - Clearly iStamp every other Friday. Today is the "other" part and this week its a sketch for you. You have a week to play and there is a stamp of your choice up for grabs to a randomly drawn winner. Head on over for all the details.









Ok, I did mess with the sketch somewhat... but I like how it turned out :)... I used the January Stamp of the Month - Kisses and Cookies and this set is just too cute. It's FREE with a minimum purchase of just $50 so make sure to grab one.

I used Basic Grey paper, heart nesties to cut out my image and sentiment, ribbon from my stash, a bit of sponging, and stitching.

Thanks for visiting and have a great day. Come and play if you have time.

Clearly Inspired Challenges (CIC)

Hey everyone! Woo hoo... got something to share with you today. I haven't spent that much time on this card, but I will tell you that it has taken me 3 days to get it finished and uploaded.

If you didn't know already, Clear Dollar Stamps has started a new challenge over on Lori's blog called Clearly Inspired Challenges. These challenges will be hosted by me and will be every other Friday (last Friday being the very first). Head on over to get all the details.

You get one week to play and some members of the CDstamps design team will always have inspiration for you for each and every challenge. This week's challenge is called "Give me 5" and is a very easy challenge all based on the number 5 and I picked number 5 because Lori just celebrated her 5th year of business with her company.

I didn't cheat or anything, but I did go the simple route... simple is good right? I had wanted to ink up this set called Baskets of Blessings for a long time and the apples were perfect! There are exactly 5 of them :)

I used my Copics to color the basket and apples and actually had the paper all ready matted and ready to go from an earlier card that I had planned on making.

I did some sponging after using my nesties to cut out my image and sentiment. The sentiment is actually a label die that I cut the ribbon slots off.

That's it for me today and I hope you had or are having a good day and you've got plenty of time to go play the CIC challenge. Its easy, fun, and you just might win a prize!

Recipe:
Cardstock: CTMH and PTI
Designer Paper: CTMH
Stamps: Baskests of Blessings (CDstamps)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, CTMH black
Other: PTI ribbon, Spellbinders Nestabilitie Labels 9 and Ribbon Tags Trio 2, SU! Slot punch