Holly Christmas Cards

 

These are my final three Holly themed cards for the Splitcoast Christmas Card Challenge for  the month of October.  I'm getting there.  Only eight cards to go and I will have completd the entire year's challenge.  I still have to complete the November Scraps challenge and the May Fun Fold Challenge.  I will get that fun folds done.  I'm leaving it for last because I'm still dreading it even with lots of suggestion, which I thank everyone for.

This card uses an image from Power Poppy that I have always loved.  It is colored with Copic markers.  The paper is a new Christmas paper from Stampin' Up.

This card is also from Power Poppy with paper from Stampin' Up.  It is colored with Copic markers and I have used lots of Stickles on it.

My final card for this challenge uses an image from Lily of the Valley.  I colored this with Luminance pencils.  I am not very pleased with how this one turned out.  I made it in the smallest card format, A2.  I have so much difficulty coloring that size card because my vision is really not good anymore.  Especially doing fine detail.  I usually wear very powerful readers, but on this size card they don't help a whole lot.  Arthritis in my hands also makes coloring on this size card difficult.  Oh well, getting old really stinks!

Some More Christmas!

 

I'm getting there on my Splitcoast Stampers Christmas Card Challenge.  The card above is for the October challenge with the theme of Holly.  Three more to go for October.  This image is by Power Poppy and is colored with Copic markers.

This image is from Mo's Digital Pencil.  Isn't she just the cutest little munchkin?  I colored this one with Copics.  I'm giving my pencils a little rest!  This is my final card for the August theme of Warm Greetings.  Another month done!

 

 

Finally, an non-Christmas card.  I saw this done somewhere on the internet and had to try it.  Nothing but a die and some Stampn' Up paper.  Easy peasy.

Lots of Christmas Cards

 

 

 I have lots of Christmas cards completed.  I worked on them for a while and finally got a bunch done.  I already had more than enough cards for this year.  Every year I join Splitcoast Stampers Christmas Card Challenge.  I have never actually completed a year.  Each month they have a theme to follow.  I am majorly avoiding the theme of Fun Fold cards.  I will get to them last.  I hate making shaped cards.  Anyways, first up is a series of cards for the September challenge, which is sweaters.  I have committed to four a month.  I have one already completed and posted.  Here are the next three.  This one uses an image by Mo's Digital Pencil.  I colored the image with Copics and Polychromos pencils.

This is another Mo's image wearing an ugly (matter of opinion) Christmas sweater.  This image is colored with Copics.  The paper is from a new Stampin' Up paper pack.

This is the last for the sweater category.  It is an image from Dr, Digi that is wearing a very poorly made ugly Christmas sweater.  He is colored with Copic markers.  The paper is from Stampin' Up.

 

This card is from a new Stampin' Up set.  I embossed the design on the cookies and added plastic decorations.  I am using this for the Warm Greetings, August Challenge.

 

 

This card wasn't for any challenge.  I had watched a tutorial on Stampin' Up on how to do it.  I watercolored the background.  Then, over a stencil,  I used Mr. Clean sponge wipes to  erase some of the paint.  I wasn't very thrilled with the results, but I thought I might need an extra card sometime.  So here it is.

Next up will be two more Warm Greetings cards, four Holly cards. and four Scraps cards.  I bought some new quilt dies so they will be useful for that category.  Then the dreaded Fun Folds, which are anything but fun for me.

Through the Snow

 

This is an adorable image by Lili of the Valley.  The sentiment circle is also by them.  I wanted this to have an old fashioned feel so I finished the edges with chalks.  Unfortunately, I did not have the shade of brown I wanted.  The background paper is tan with lighter tan snowflakes on it.  It did not photograph well.  The image is colored with Copic markers.  My next couple of cards will be of sweaters for the Splitcoast Christmas challenge.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Gem of a Craft Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafter's Castle - Anything Goes

Colour Crazy Challenge - Anything Coloring Goes

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Christmas

Krafty Chicks - Christmas

Decorating the Tree

 

Every year I make sure I make at least one pink Christmas card.  I just love pink cards.  This image is by Lili of the Valley on Etsy.  I colored the image with Copic markers.  Her dress id spotted with a white ink pen.  I didn't have any Christmas paper in pink so I used a different paper.  I think it goes, anyways.  I used Stampin' Up dies for the pine boughs.  The sentiment is also by Lili of the Valley.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Color Crazy Craft Challenge - Anything Coloring Goes

Creative Fingers Challenge - Anything Goes

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Christmas

The Holly and the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Jingle Balls

 

This is a stamp that I have had for a couple years.  I absolutely love it.  I have always loved funny Christmas cards.  I think I will do a few more even though I'm currently dong cards for 2022.  This stamp is by Whipper Snapper.  I have tried coloring it in a couple different years, but was never happy with the results.  It always ended up n the circular file.  I kinda like this attempt.  The image is colored with Copics and the paper is from a very old paper pad I have and the front cover of the pad is missing, but I think it was  October Afternoon.

Santa

This is a image I got for free somewhere many, may years ago.  I finally decided to color it since I am in Christmas mode.  I usually don't make cards this size, A4.  I decided to start scaling some down because the postage for the larger cards is so expensive.  This image was colored with Copic markers.  The paper is a new Christmas paper from Stampin' Up.  A 12x12 pack of Christmas designs was free during their Sale-a-Bration, with purchase.

 

Prescious Moments Nativity

 

I love this Precious Moments Nativity scene.  I colored the image with Copic markers.  I don't recall who the paper is from, but it is my absolute favorite paper to use on Christmas cards, it has blue and pink snowflakes on th back..  I used to have about ten sheets.  Now I am down to one and it is not produced any longer.  So disappointing!  

The nativity set that I own is actually a Precious Moments Nativity.  I spent years and years when I was much younger collecting the pieces.  I ended up having just about a full set., probably at least thirty pieces.  In 1990 after we moved to AZ I had a beautiful fireplace with a very large mantel.  That became the home every Christmas for my nativity set.  Probably, around the third of fourth year we lived here we had a mischievous little cat called Missy.  One night after I put the set up on the mantel, I was in the kitchen and starting hearing the sound of ceramics breaking.  I got there in time to see Missy walking along the mantel pushing the pieces off, one by one, onto the brick hearth below.  She broke Mary, one of the three wise men, one of the three camels  and a couple other pieces. In order to replace them I had to buy full sets if a one piece broke out of a set.  That was the last straw for Missy, who had always had an interest in breaking glass.  The next day she was gone.  I feel bad about it now, but that nativity set meant a lot to me.  I eventually replaced all the missing pieces.  Funny, now I no longer use it.  It just isn't my style, anymore.  Besides, we still have cats.

 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnuts - Anything Christmas Goes

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Christmas 

Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Power Poppy Christmas

 

Both images today are from Power Poppy. The images are colored with Copic markers.  I used a 110 cardstock for the Christmas village.  I was hoping the markers wouldn't bleed through, but they did so I had to line the inside of the card.  I was in the mood for a little Christmas.  I already have enough cards done for the next year and a half.  No challenges today.

Two Card Sunday

 

 

Today is my grandson, Lucas', ninth birthday.  I made this train card for him with a Whimsy stamp.  I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils.

 

 

 My next card is done with a Whimsy digital image.  This is my second time trying a slimline card.  I bought some extra heavy cardstock so the color would not show through.  Fortunately it did not.  I need advice on how to fold the card.  I used 110# card stock.  I scored it at the fold, then I went over it with my paper creaser tool, multiple, multiple times.  It still does not lay flat. I normally do not use cardstock this heavy.  Any suggestions?

Thanks for visiting!

Tony's Birthday

 

This is a birthday card made for my brother Tony.  I used one of the seven dwarfs from Mo's Digital Pencil.  Definitely not your traditional dwarf.  I just love them all.  I colored the image with Copic markers.  Whenever I do a Mo's card I never seem to be able to fit into that month's challenge.  Oh well!  The background paper is a well worn and crumpled paper.  One of my favorite papers.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Stamping Sensations - Any Celebration

C rafter's Castle - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Daisy Chain Challenge - Boys/Men

Morgan's Art World - Anything Goes

Birthday - Gold and Watercolor

 

This is my first try at gold embossing and water coloring.  I am usually quite timid with trying new things.  Actually it took me ten tries to get the embossing correct.  I don't know what I was doing wrong.  I used an embossing buddy, but still ended up with embossing powder everywhere I didn't want it.  I did the painting with my Arteza water color pens.  I found them very difficult to use.  I watched a You Tube video first.  She put a small amount of paint on and then spread it out with a wet brush.  I don't know why, but I could not get my paint to spread the way she did.  So frustrating.  I guess I need to keep practicing.  Anyways, I used a stamp by Simon Says Stamp.  I love the stamp...so pretty.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Int'l Art & Soul - CAS

Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes

CCC Digi Creations - Use Flowers

Happy Little Stamper - Off the Edge

Alexis and Zach's Wedding

This card was made for my niece's wedding next month.  I used a Spellbinder's APG die set.  I finally did a card with no coloring.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafting Happiness- Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge - Anything Goes/Roses

Crafters Castle - Anything Goes

The Blacksmith Shop II

 This image is by Morgan Firzsimons.  I was unable to find it in her current shop.  Here is a link to her shop:  Creative Art & Design.  I was unable to do this in markers.  I have been having a lot of problems with my vision lately and this is very detailed.  I colored it with Prismacolor pencils and soft pastels.  I colored it on a full size page, then scanned it and reduced the size to fit on a card.   I was completely running out of male birthday cards and needed to make some.  This and the other two I made recently should keep me covered until January.  I just hope the relatives don't happen to show each other the card that I made them.  That would be interesting!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Morgan's Art World - Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes with a Critter

Daisy Chain Challenges - Boys/Men

Do All Kreatives - Vintage for Men

Colour Crazy Challenge - Anything Coloring Goes

Ellibelle's Corner - For Boys/Men

The Male Room - Masculine Birthday

 

Watercooler Wednesday - Masculine

Ike's World - Animals

Int'l Art & Soul- Transportation

Monday Outlawz Challenge - Masculine

Here are the other three I completed with this design.

 

 

The Blacksmith Shop

 

This image is by  Morgan FItzsimons.  I was on her Design Team years ago.  I checked and couldn't find this image in her shop any longer.  Even though I had this for years I was very intimidated  by all the detail so I avoided it.  I knew I would never be able to do all the detail with markers.  I finally decided to color it in full size with Prismacolor pencils and pastels.    I have scanned it and printed it in a size that I can use on a card.  I plan on using it for a couple of the male birthday cards that I need.