Changes at Phindy's Friday Challenges

As we mentioned last week, we have some changes to tell you about at Phindy's Friday Challenges. We have decided to open up the challenge to all cards, not just those that use Phindy's Place images. However, we still love to see your cards that use Phindy's fabulous images and so those of you who use a Phindy image will get two entries into the random drawing for the prize - just follow the instructions to link your entry twice. The first open challenge will run for a two weeks, to give the hard-working DT some well-earned time off over the holidays and will close on  January 7, 2011.

As ever, there will be a great prize of $8 to spend at the Phindy's Place web store, chosen by Random.org and the DT's Pick of the Week wins a 20% off voucher for the Phindy's Place store. Don't forget that once a month we will choose an overall winner from the weekly winners and they will be offered a Guest position on the DT - and of course a free image from Phindy's Place to use for that week's challenge!

We are challenging you to make a Thank You card with scraps as an optional extra theme.  Since this challenge runs for two weeks, this is a perfect opportunity to make the cards you will need to acknowledge all the gifts you are going to receive for Christmas (craft supplies - maybe).  Don't forget that there are lots of wonderful images in Phindy's store that are perfect for any type of card, including a Thank You card.

After the drain on my finances with the postage for my Christmas cards I am still on an austerity kick so this is another clean and simple card.  The embellishments are really calling me though so I don't expect this will last long.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad - Anything Goes
CES Challenges - Anything Goes
Crafty Ann's - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
ABC Challenge  - K is for Keep it Simple

Image:  A Helping Hand (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  White (Staples)
Papers:  Stripe, Squares and Swirl (Provo Craft), Branch (Memories Forever), Gingham (Can't Remember)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Chalk (Mungyo), Corner Rounder Punch (Marvy Uchida), Buttons (Dress it Up)

Sassy Snowmen

I haven't had an opportunity to play in Sassy Cheryl's challenges lately but knew I wanted to get back there soon so I carved out some time to create this funky card for the Snowmen challenge that is running this week.  Cheryl draws the best snowmen and I think this little group is so festive and they make me smile.  I am calling this card funky because of the papers.  They certainly are non-traditional Christmas colours and are from the Krafty Christmas collection from Cuddlebeez.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Sassy Cheryl's - Snowmen
A Spoonfull of Sugar  - Christmas Cards

Image:  Box Top Snowmen (Sassy Cheryl)
Sentiment: Create with TLC
Card Stock:  Kraft (My Stash), Turquoise (Recollections)
Papers:  Krafty Christmas (A Cuddlebeez Christmas)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Card Candy (Craftwork Cards), Deckle Scissors (Fiskars), Snowflake Punches (Martha Stewart), Gems (Michaels)

Not a Christmas Card

Today is Sensational Saturday at Sugar Creek Hollow challenge blog and we were asked to create a card using one of the digi stamps from the winter collection that had not been used before.  I know with that flower my card may not look particularly wintery but I have decided that I am tired of winter already (I know it doesn't even arrive until next week but enough with the cold miserable weather already) so I am being a rebel and adding a little spring to the card.  I also happen to be tired of making Christmas cards and I never though I would say that.

I tried something new and cut this gorgeous bluebird, which can be found in the Sugar Creek Hollow Shoppe, so that some of the tail feathers were hanging over the edge of the Nestie.  I have seen it before and always wondered how it was done so I found a tutorial and it turned out to be very easy.  The bird was coloured with pencil crayons.  The sentiment is a freebie from Create with TLC and I have sponged the edges of both the image and sentiment with Weathered Wood and Old Paper distress ink.  The flower was made with a couple of punches and curled around a skewer.  The branches were cut from the Cindy Loo cartridge and my Cricut.  They were then glittered, although it is hard to see in the photo it is still on my desk.  I did some punched strips with my Martha Stewart Double Loops edge punch and added a few gems to finish everything off.

Image:  Eastern Bluebird (Sugar Creek Hollow)
Sentiment:  (Create with TLC)
Card Stock:  Blue & Black (Recollections), Peach Multi (DCWV)
Paper:  Linen Paper (Victoria & Albert Museum)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Weathered Wood & Old Paper Distress Ink (Ranger), Gems (Michaels), Double Loops Edge Punch (Martha Stewart), Label 1 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Cindy Loo Cartridge (Cricut), Onyx Glitter (Martha Stewart)

Miss You

Today the challenge at Phindy's Friday Challenge is to create a card or other papercrafting project with animals so we are calling it All Creatures Great and Small.  You must use a Phindy image on your project but there are lots of animals in her store if you don't have anything suitable.

The Christmas Eve challenge will be our last challenge for 2010 and will run for two weeks.  Make sure you come back to check it out because we are going to have some exciting changes to announce that day. 

I sent my husband to the post office with my Christmas cards a couple of days ago and he called when he got back to his office to inform me that he had to stand and add more postage to each card.  Needless to say, he did not sound happy.  As it turns out they weren't too heavy but they were too thick because of all the embellishments so they were considered large envelopes and as a result they cost $1.34 CDN each to mail.  As a result, I have vowed to try and make at least some of my cards in a more clean and simple style and this is one of them.

Image: What's Up With You (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment: Computer Generated (My Design)
Card Stock:  White (Staples), Red (Recollections)
Paper:  Ladybug (Page Maps), Stripe (Sandylion Sticker Designs)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine), Chalk (Craf-T Products)
Tools & Embellishments:  Card Candy (Craftwork Cards), Circle Punches (EK Paper Shapers)

Party Mouse

This is our last challenge for December at Delightful Challenges so we want to see your New Year cards.  By the time we come back on January 6th with our first challenge of 2011 perhaps this little mouse will be over his hangover.

This week we are sponsored by our own Digital Delights with a $10 gift certificate for the store as the prize.

Don't forget, you do not need to use a Digital Delights image on your card or other paper craft project but if you, follow the instructions and enter twice.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Raise the Bar  - Silver, No Ribbon, One DP, Wording
CES Challenges - Anything but a Christmas Card
Stamp Something - Use a Digi

Images: Party Pippin & Happy New Year Sentiment (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Card Stock: White, Black & Red (Recollections)
Paper: Black & White Dot (Recollections)
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor & Koh-I-Noor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Card Candy (Craftwork Cards), Ric Rac (My Stash), Party Texture Plate (Fiskars), Cuttlebug, Confetti (Handcut from scraps)

Red & White Christmas

Today our challenge to you at Sugar Creek Hollow is to create a red and white card or other paper project.  This is a great challenge if you have some last minute cards to make.  If you enter your project you could win a digi of your choice from the Sugar Creek Hollow Shoppe.  Please make sure you check the work of the other designers as they will have lots of inspiration for you.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges.

Dutch Dare - Christmas
Cooking It Up With Kate - Layer Me A Red Christmas
Little Red Wagon - Use a die cut
Penny's Paper Craty - Christmas
Stampavie & More - Christmas
A Spoonfull of Sugar - Christmas

Image:  Flourishes Red Sleigh & Believe Sentiment (Sugar Creek Hollow)
Card Stock:  White (Staples), Red (Recollections)
Paper:  Summertime Designs
Tools & Embellishments:  Red Ink (Color Box), Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger), Oval & Scalloped Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Ribbons (Fabricland), Pearl Stickers (Kaiser Scrapbook), Cindy Loo Cartridge (Cricut)

It's Winter

The challenge this week at Phindy's Friday Challenge Blog is to create a winter card using a Phindy image.  The weather here in southern Ontario Canada is very wintery so this is an appropriate card right now.  One community about 1 1/2 hours away received close to 50 inches of snow in a 48 hour period at the beginning of the week.  We got 4 inches but another town about halfway between didn't get a flake - go figure.  I will be using this as one of my Christmas cards so there is a holiday message inside.

Make sure you enter your card by Thursday night for a chance to win an $8 voucher to Phindy's store.  In addition the design team will pick a card of the week and the creator will receive a 20% off voucher and have a chance at becoming a Guest Designer.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crazy Challenge - Christmas
Lexis Creations - Blue & Silver
Paper Playtime - Snowflakes
Stamptacular Sunday - Blue Christmas
2 Sisters Challenge - Sparkly Christmas
The Secret Crafter - Christmas
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges  - Christmas
Stampavie & More - Christmas

Image:  Back to Nature (Phindy's Place) 
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  White (Staples), Blue (Recollections)
Papers:  Provo Craft
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) and OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Chalk (Craf-T Products), Snowflake Punch Around the Page Set (Martha Stewart), Stardust Stickles (Ranger), Snowflake Gem (Michaels), Large Snowflake (A gift from Tracy Vinson, owner of Sugar Creek Hollow)

Sweet Princess

The challenge at Delightful Challenges this week is to create a paper craft project with embossing.  In my case I have chosen dry embossing.  This little cutie is actually called Madison the Bride but with a four year-old granddaughter, princesses are a big thing so she is now a princess and this is a girlie card.

You are not required to use an image from Digital Delights but if you do use one make sure you enter your project twice.  There will be a random winner who will win a $20 store gift certificate from our sponsor this week, Simon Says Stamp.

In addition to the random winner, the design team will choose the top three cards and the number one pick will be given an opportunity to be a guest designer.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Woodware USA - Birthday
The Crafty Pad - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes

Image: Madison the Bride (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Sentiment: Computer Generated (My Design)
Card Stock: White (Staples), Pink and Lavender (Recollections)
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Punch Around the Page Set & Frond Punch (Martha Stewart), Circle Punches (EK Paper Shapers), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Pearl Stickers (Recollections), Flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts)

December Sketch at Sugar Creek Hollow

This week at Sugar Creek Hollow, we have a wonderful sketch to challenge you with. I love this sketch because you can make a card that can be dressed up and fancy or even clean and simple.  If you are like me and have a pile of holiday cards yet to make, this sketch will be very helpful when I have to go into mass production mode. 

In the meantime, I have used this very special stamp set called Baby Jesus from the Sugar Creek Hollow store to make my take on the sketch.

I changed the colour of Baby Jesus from black & white to sepia and cut him out using my classic oval Nestabilities die and sponged some Vintage Photo Distress Ink on the edges.  I then cut two more ovals to frame him.  The sentiment scroll was hand cut and then added to a Nestabilities tag.  I added lots of pearls to the frame and a couple to the tag.  The gorgeous linen paper at the top is some that I picked up in England and the bottom is card stock that I embossed and sponged with Vintage Photo Distress ink.  I added two rows of lace back to back with a piece of copper satin ribbon.

You must check out the variations to this sketch that my design team mates have created.  This talented group of ladies has created some inspiring works of art.  Then we would love to see you enter your sketch card in our challenge.  One winner will receive a digi of their choice from the store.

Tracy, Owner

Joseline, DT Coordinator

Mary

Marsha

Nancy

Stephanie

Cec (That's Me)

Sharon

Renee

Joni

Donna

Julie

Ms. Plum

Heide

Dawn

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Stamp Insanity - Lace
Artful Inkables - Punches and/or Die Cuts
My Time to Craft - Vintage

Image:  Baby Jesus & Scroll (Sugar Creek Hollow)
Card Stock:  Recollections
Paper:  Victoria & Albert Museum
Tools & Embellishments:  Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger), Lace (My Stash), Satin Ribbon (Fabricland), Pearl Stickers (Recollections), Classic Oval, Petite Scalloped Oval & Fancy Tag Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Under the Weather

I think I should be sending this card to myself. I have been suffering from a pinched nerve for over a week and it is getting old already. I can only sit for short periods of time and have a really numb lower leg so walking feels odd. I have lots of meds and an appointment for physiotherapy so hopefully by this time next week, I will be feeling much better. I have so much to do with Christmas coming and don't have time to be sick.

Today our challenge to you at Phindy's Friday Challenge Blog is to create a card using one of Phindy's freebies.  If you don't have one check out the discussion area at her group on Paper Craft Planet.   When I was looking through my Phindy images, I was sure that this had been a freebie but since I don't mark them as such I may be wrong but we'll just pretend that it was.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

A Crafty Little Place - Anything Goes
I Did It Creations - Surprise Me
Sweet Stampin - Buttons & Bows

Image:  Rainy Day Friend (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  White (Staples), Brown (Recollections)
Papers:  Milton & Co.
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Brown Ink (Martha Stewart), Buttons (My Stash), Cord (Jewelry Essentials), Circle Punches (EK Paper Shapers)

New Beginnings

This week the challenge at Delightful Challenges is all about new beginnings so we want you to create a card or other paper crafting project about things that are new such as, babies, homes, jobs, hobbies, friends and relationships.

This week our challenge is sponsored by Crafty Emma's Store.

The prize being offered is this wonderful stamp.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

I Did It Creations - Surprise Me
A Crafty Little Place - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes

Image: Little Dumpling & Stork (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Card Stock: Yellow & Pink (Recollections)
Papers: Mini Flowers and Millifiore (Sandylion Sticker Designs)
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor and Koh-I-Noor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Heart Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Flower Punch (EK Paper Shapers), Chalk (Mungyo), Classic Oval Small Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug, Pearl Stickers (Recollections),