Happy Holidays

 

Welcome to the new challenge sketch #659 at Try A Sketch On Tuesday

My design team card uses some gold matt paper and the Corbel ornament die from Simon Says Stamp, a stitched square die from MFT, and pine bough cut from a Flora and Fauna die.  The sentiment was foiled.

Thankful

 What a marvelous weekend I had at a craft retreat!  Twice a year we rent a big house and spend three days laughing, eating, and sharing. Ten of us this year all doing different things - there are quilters, cross-stitch, knitters, wood burning, and me with paper and ink.  

My card was inspired by the new sketch challenge this week at Atlantic Hearts, and we are collaborating with the Double Trouble challenge to "Stitch It Up."  Well, mine comes by using stitched dies, but that counts :-)  Check out their post and get into some crafty trouble.

WELCOME to Challenge #180 - Let the Troubles Begin!

This Challenge runs from

Monday, November 18th thru Sunday, December 1st

"Stitch It Up"

THING 1: Trouble Maker

says, "Our requirement for this challenge is simple... use stitching somewhere in your project. There are many possibilities for using paper scraps, stencils, and even embossing folders to create patchwork, quilting, and/or knit designs. Consider using punch- or die-cutting, hand or machine sewing, piercing, hand-drawn stitching, needlework or cross-stitching, etc... so, keep calm and stitch on. 'Stitch It Up' and show us your creativity

I stenciled a gate fold card base and used Gina K Designs stitched dies for the label, circles, and sentiment.

Sunflowers

 Finding my crafting mojo again after being away for almost two months traveling in East Asia.  It was very hot there and coming back to the PNW to the cool, gray rain has been a shock :-)   So as I reached for things warm yellow felt quite comforting. 

The new sketch #658 at Try A Sketch On Tuesday is my inspiration today. The My Favorite Things gingham pad for the background and Gina K Designs Breath of Sunshine kit for flowers and sentiment. 

It will be fun to be able to visit blogs and comment once again, so I hope you will join the challenge!

Linking also to our sister challenge Double Trouble - "Lots of Layers"  

Always lots of fun to be had there.  Check out their challenge #179 and have some fun.

Playful Penguins

 Back in the USA after nearly two months travel in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Japan.  It was hot and humid in all places, so returning to chilly and wet PNW has been quite an adjustment. 

The craft room felt quite welcoming - so this weekend has been a fun time to pull out the holiday stash of stamps and papers and to catch up with my Design Teams.

The new sketch #602 at 

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge is a great one for fun layers.  I took some liberty and replaced the floral images with penguins from Gina K Designs Playful Penguins set.  They were colored with Copic markers.

I hope you will join the challenge and share your creation at AHSC.   The Design Team has lots of inspiration for you - they add their cards to the blog on Wednesday, but the challenge link is open for you now.  Happy crafting!