Mistletoe Monday #27

Today's Mistletoe Monday challenge is to create a card based on the poem Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Mistletoe Monday...using The Night Before Christmas as inspiration 

 I cut out my fat little mouse freehand and shaded his outline with black ink and drew his sleepy eyes and gave him cheeks with my Spectrum Noir markers.  His tail is white twine. The pine bough is a Silhouette file I cut using glitter paper.  Merry Christmouse!  Gracie 

Happy Crafting
Theresa & Gracie

Clean and Simple Sunday #27

Today we are continuing with the masculine theme from yesterday's blog hop.

As promised here is Anna's card:

  

Hi everyone! I don't know about the rest of you 

but doing masculine cards are the hardest for me! 

This is a simple cut file from Cricut, and I added a cut out of a cupcake with a pop dot behind it. 

The font is "Chiller" which is in my word font library.  I didn't think it had enough impact as an 

outline so I used black "Wink of Stella" glitter pen and filled it all in. Just a quick little card!  ~Anna

Today's Clean and Simple Challenge is to create a Birthday card appropriate for a 3-5 year old.

Gracie created this card for you:

Child's Happy Birthday card I made using an embossing folder AND some Jolee's stickers.  Did I tell y'all I hate stickers?  Kid's Birthday cards are a great way to use that stash!  ~ Gracie

Happy Crafting
Theresa, Anna & Gracie

Make it Masculine Blog Hop

Welcome to the

Get ready for some great ideas on cards, layouts and other crafty goodness for the men in your life.

We'd like to say a HUGE THANKS to

and they are giving away a class of the winner's choice.

All you have to do to win this fabulous prize is comment on each of the blogs.

That's it! It really is easy. 

Of course, we would love it if you became a follower too.

Comment buttons can be found at the bottom of the post (on most of the blogs).

You should have arrived here from Theresa's blog.

Now on with the hop!

This was done by cutting triangles for the collar in both beige and the gingham plaid paper.  I just put the stitching on by making lines with a fine tip marker, so it isn't perfect, but it works.  The pocket was cut on the Explore using the cartridge Artiste.  The stamp is made to go with the cut and I thought it looked like a pocket, so I made the shirt to go with it.  ~Denise

This was made by embossing black paper with a folder from Darice.  I then rubbed it with silver Viva 3-D stamp paint.  It was layered on some red paper I had scraps of that had a sheen to it.  It was a really quick card to do.  ~ Denise

I used and old paper sack, a shop towel, a Little Yellow Bicycle metallic die cut and black ink.  ~ Gracie

This simple card was made using textures as the theme.  There are squares made of mettalic paper in two colors, suede and cork. The twine is another texture I added.  ~ Kathy

Stop back tomorrow and we'll have another great masculine card for you by Anna.

Don't forget to comment on this post from your chance to win.

Your next stop is Denise - www.craftconfectionery.com

Theresa - http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com

CADC Blog Design Team - http://cardadaychallenge.blogspot.com

Denise - www.craftconfectionery.com

Kim - www.katydidcards.com

Sarah - www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com

Alicia - http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com

Tristan - https://www.facebook.com/TinstarDesigns

Daphne - craftyscrapsofstuff.blogspot.com

Jessica - http://www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com

Audrey - www.kricutkreations.blogspot.com

Nana - www.nanasscrapspot.com

Haidee - http://created2bunique.blogspot.com

Holli - http://Sunflowerholli.blogspot.com

Thursday Technique #26

Today's challenge is Paper Tole.

Paper tole, also known as three-dimensional decoupage, is the art of handcrafting three-dimensional pictures from flat prints. This art is created by skillfully cutting, shaping, and assembling pieces of paper layered onto an image until a three-dimensional version of the image emerges. Though there are a number of ways to use paper tole, one of the most popular is to frame the image in a deep wall frame and display it as wall art.

The techniques used in paper tole are specific and quality projects involve specific skills. Precise cutting with no tattered or cracked edges is the key to creating the pieces that are reassembled onto the project. Cutting is thus generally done with an Exacto® knife or other precision cutting tool. Assembly requires patience while the artisan carefully attaches the separate pieces onto the print. An understanding and knowledge of perspective is also an important skill. (Information from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-paper-tole.htm

I just started in this craft and this is my third attempt at it. I just LOVE IT!!  I can print off photos on heavy card stock and then sit and fussy cut while watching TV in the evenings.  It is difficult to find "Free" prints but if you search you can find them. 

Most web sites are from Europe.  I hope you give it a try.   ~Anna

1. This is how the art work comes out of the printer 

2. This is after I cut out each layer. 

3. I sprayed each layer with Color Bloom by Prima - Pearl White spray mist

4. Beginning of layering process 

5. All layers in place 

6. Finished card. 

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Anna

Card Sketch Wednesday #26

Today's card sketch:

This card came together quickly using a die cut, flowers from Michael's and printed cardstock.  I love how sketches can get you jump-started without having to think!

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Gracie

Color Challenge Tuesday #26

Today's color challenge:

Mistletoe Monday #26

Today's challenge is to create a holiday card featuring the Nativity.

I welded together some shapes and images on Design Space to make a Z-fold card in black cardstock.  I cut it on the Explore using black Brazzill Paper. I learned that to cut the black paper, it is better to use the deep cut blade and select the “intricate cut – cardstock” on the custom settings.  I backed it with a blue paper fromEcho Park and cut the star from silver vinyl.  The sentiment on the front was heat embossed using silver embossing powder.

Happy Crafting 

Theresa & Denise

Clean and Simple Sunday #26

Today's challenge is to create a card to celebrate Back to School.

Anna created this awesome card for the challenge.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Anna

Specialty Cards Saturday #25

Today's challenge is to create a puzzle card.

The challenge is based on this YouTube video.

This card was made from a puzzle card instructional video on YouTube  (don't you just love YouTube - right up there with Pinterest - I just get sucked in - for hours).  Choose a picture from cardstock that can be cut in fourths.   Three go on the front fitting together like a puzzle and the last goes in the right spot on the inside of your card.  Very easy to make!

Sorry for the blurry pic!

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Gracie

Anything Goes Friday #25 Guest Designer Carey Payette

Today's guest designer is a return friend to CADC...Carey Payette.

I am a wife and mom to 3 very busy boys. I am a Canadian, living in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio since Y2K. By day I am a software developer, and by night I am a guitar student and black belt in Taekwondo. I am lucky that my boys and I get to enjoy music lessons and the martial arts together.

I've always had a crafty streak although I am at both ends of the spectrum. I love to create using nothing but my hands, scissors, stamps and inks, but at the same time I'm a total electronics geek and love playing around with the latest in microcontrollers and sensors and dabble in home automation. I've been paper crafting for almost 12 years, it is definitely my creative outlet and is very therapeutic. I love making cards and preserving memories through scrapbooking whenever I get the chance (which isn't very often, so I make it count!!)

Cover Plates, Cover Plates, Cover Plates!

Cover plates are die cuts that contain eye catching designs that cover the entire front of a card. They make very quick work of putting together a clean and simple card. Simply die cut your cover plate in your card stock of choice, and place it over that awesome background piece that you created trying out a new technique, or even over top some exquisite patterned paper. 

Cover plates are available from many companies as wafer thin dies, but there are also plenty of them available as digital cut files. These cover plates come in all styles, from fancy and elegant, to ultra-modern and geometric. 

This week's Anything Goes challenge is to use a cover plate to create a CAS card! 

Here is my sample:

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Carey

Color Challenge Tuesday #25

Today's color challenge:

Thursday Technique #25

Today's challenge is to create a card using the Stencil Monoprint technique.

Here is a YouTube video showing how to do this great technique.

Here is Kathy's take on the challenge:

I used a Heidi Swamp spray stencil, inking it with Tim Holtz distress inks on watercolor paper, using tge smooth side.  It took a lot of trial runs to get one that sufficiently covered. My hint is to lay the ink on quite heavily before using the stencil as your background stamp. Have fun!

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Kathy

PS: I'd like to apologize.  Somehow when I created the posts for this week, they never got published.  I've corrected the issues and hopefully you'll get new content daily through the end of November.  The design team will be taking the month of December off with the exception of a few blog hops. We will be bringing you other content weekly in December, similar to our July hiatus.
If you find inspiration in our blog and the challenges, we would love to know.
Please leave us a comment on any post.
~ Theresa

Card Sketch Wednesday #25

Today's card sketch:

Denise created this sample for the challenge:

I made this card from a 6 x 6 paper pad by My Mind's Eye called Now & Then.  I love using those pads because they all coordinate.  I was able to make two cards using the same pieces of paper in different combinations.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Denise

Mistletoe Monday #25

Today's challenge is to create a holiday card featuring Santa in some way.

Gracie created this awesome card for the challenge.

This is a take on an old picture from a Creative Memories book from the early '90s.  I remembered making a scrapbook page way back in the day.  His buttons are rhinestones.  His belt buckle is Oracle vinyl.  The rest is just torn card stock and an oval cut of red card stock.  Easy peasy!

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Gracie

Clean and Simple Sunday #25

Today's challenge is to create a one-layer wonder, any theme.

Kathy created this cute birthday card.

I used a numbers and sentiment stamp with Crumb Cake ink,
SU! markers to color and green ribbon and bow. 

Happy Crafting
Theresa & Kathy

Specialty Cards Saturday #24

Today's challenge is to create cards that are "TAG-centric"

You may have tags already in your stash, whether they are ones you've made, 

received in a swap or bought...get them out and make cards with them as the focal point.

Here is Denise's take on the challenge:

I made the tags out of a 6 x 6 paper pack from Authentique called "Anchored". 
The tags were cut on my Explore and while I kept the height the same, I used different lengths.
The eyelets were put in with my Crop-a-dile and the stars were embossed using a Cuttlebug folder.
I also used paper from the same pack for the red. ~ Denise

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Denise

Anything Goes Friday #24 Guest Designer Tristan Dawes

We'd like to welcome back Tristan Dawes today as guest designer.

Hi. My name is Tristan and I live in the hilly leafy suburb of Eltham North in Victoria Australia. I’ve been married for just over 7 years now to my best friend (we’ve been together nearly 18 years) and we have a beautiful 8 year old daughter fondly referred to as Miss K.

I work full time which is a juggle with family life but that’s the way it is for the moment (I am dreaming of part time in the future). I’ve been working for the largest insurance company in Australia for the past 4.5 years as an instructional designer - what’s that I hear you say? Basically I write training programs for face to face, online, virtual classrooms, leader led and self-paced delivery. It’s a fun job and allows for me to be a little bit creative at work too.

I’ve been paper crafting for about 10 years now, but have really come into my own since joining an online community called Stamp Nation. I think I’m finding my style which leans towards CAS and as many of you know I’m a bit of a shop-a-holic and find it hard to not jump on board with new trends.

I created this card using a new set from Unity Stamps called 'pretty as a peacock'.

I stamped it in black Versamark and then coloured it with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I mounted it on black cardstock and then Stampin Up certainly celery card stock.

Hope you like it!  ~ Tristan

What a beautiful card Tristan has created! Since I'm a HUGE peacock lover, having raised them on our farm as a kid, this one is right up my alley.

Thanks Tristan!

Happy Crafting

Theresa

Thursday Technique #24

Today's card challenge is based on the Bargello Technique.

Here are a couple of YouTube videos to explain how it is done.

This video by Splitcoast Stampers. 

This video is by Dawn Olchefske.

Here is Gracie's take on the challenge:

Today's card was created using the Bargello Technique.  One step I would suggest is making the strip longer so you can play with your pattern a little more.  You can make a wave, a chevron, a checker board, etc.
Looks time consuming but it's not!   Have fun!  ~ Gracie

Have fun with this one and see what kinds of great patterns you can come up with.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Gracie

Card Sketch Wednesday #24

Today's sketch challenge: 

Find more great sketches by Susan at www.sketchsavvy.blogspot.com

Here's Kathy's take on the sketch:

The frame paper is Luxe Ecology Go Green.  I don't have the pattern name for the flower papers.
I used a SU! flower punch and used a Basic Black marker to outline the flowers and the frame. ~ Kathy

Kathy created her card following the sketch pretty closely, but try turning the sketch and using other elements than flowers or use paper instead of the ribbon or how about a patterned paper background and a plain cardstock frame? 

Give this one a try.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Kathy

Color Challenge Tuesday #24

Today's color challenge: 

Here's Denise's take on this beautiful color palette:

I didn't have a lot of paper with those colors in them, so I found these that had been in my stash forever. 
I tried to follow the circle theme with the sentiment.  ~ Denise

Push yourself with these color challenges to use what you have on hand.  Dig through that stash of yours (We know you have one and if it is anything like ours it is out of control, LOL) and think outside the box.  So you don't have the color in a cardstock but do you have an ink that color? Then create your own custom colored cardstock by blending on the ink color with a sponge, a brayer or directly to the paper.  Think creatively and even if they aren't your favorite colors, you might be surprised that the finished product is one you are thrilled with. 

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Denise

Mistletoe Monday #24

Today's Mistletoe Monday challenge is to create a card with an Elf or Elves on it.

Do you realize there are only 18 more Mistletoe Mondays before Christmas? 

 If you haven't been playing along it might be time to get started on those holiday cards.

Here is Anna's take on the challenge:

I decided to take a pocket envelope and enlarge it to the size of a cocoa packet.  

I then used Cricuts Print/Cut feature to make the elf and Elf Cocoa tag. 

I think you can add any embellishment you like and attach to a mug as a inexpensive 

gift for a teacher or neighbor.  ~ Anna

How cute is that? What a great way to give a little something to lots of people.  It would also make a great gift card holder for the mailman, garbage collectors or hair stylist.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Anna

Clean and Simple Sunday #24

Today's clean and simple challenge is to create a kids birthday card.

Gracie created this stinkin' cute one for us.

Kid's Birthday - I had fun with this card!
Some of you know I almost lost my 3 1/2 year old granddaughter to a near drowning earlier this summer.
She was visiting the other day and wanted to "help" me.
The monster on the card is her creation!
Go hug your child or grandchild and let them make a mess in your craft room!  ~ Gracie

What great advice!  Get the kids crafting with you.  Create a "kit" that is all theirs, include some printed and colored paper, a few stickers, scissors, some googly eyes, glue sticks, crayons, markers, watercolor paints and most importantly the freedom to create whatever they desire.  Go buy a vinyl tablecloth from the Dollar Tree and let them make a mess. Then when they are gone, turn their creations into cards to send to them.  They will be thrilled to receive mail and will cherish the memories forever. 

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Gracie

Specialty Cards Saturday #23

Today's challenge is to create a quilt card.

I received a pay it forward gift from an online friend that had all this soft colored paper in it.
 I thought it looked like an old quilt. ~ Kathy

Isn't this card just gorgeous?

Whether you use paper or ink or even fabric, try one of these great cards today.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Kathy

Anything Goes Friday #23 Guest Designer Heather North

We'd like to welcome back Heather North today as guest designer.

From the time I was a little girl I loved to send and receive cards in the mail.  There is something magical about opening your mailbox and seeing that someone has taken the time to send you a hand written note.  That is where my obsession with papercrafting began.  Today I have a blog where I make cards and videos to hopefully inspire others to get creative and spread the papercrafting love.  I'm currently serving terms on 2 design teams, Stampin' Celebration and StampNation.  I've been a member of the StampNation Design Team for over 2 years, teaching in the classroom for the past year and started designing challenges for the StampNation members back in January 2015.  

I love a good challenge, and coming up with new challenges each week 

that motivates stampers is a new adventure for me!  

You can find me on my blog: http://www.heatherscreativeblessings.com

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUqCzr4ls5I6ReJNPrbB8Hw

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherscreativeblessings

and Instagram: https://instagram.com/heatherscreativeblessings

For more details on how Heather created this amazing inlaid die cut card

stop by her blog post.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Heather

Thursday Technique #23

Today's technique challenge is to use the Epson Salt Technique.

Here is a link to one of Deb Valder's videos on this technique.

Epsom salts technique. 
This one was harder for me since the videos I watched tended to use the technique for snow or winter scenes.  It looks like frost, but I am trying to enjoy summer and don't even want to think about winter.  I decided to try it as the top of waves by brushing the solution across the top of torn blue card stock and in a couple of wavy lines under that.  The embellishments were some from my stash that I have had for awhile. ~ Denise

Give this one a try, I think you'll like it!

Happy Crafting
Theresa & Denise

Card Sketch Wednesday #23

Today's sketch:

Anna's take on the sketch:

I used all scraps to make this card. Leftover ribbon and 3 pearl dots. 

I used pop dots to raise the chipboard greetingin the center.  ~ Anna

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Anna

Color Challenge Tuesday #23

Today's color challenge:

Gracie's card:

What a challenge Gracie faced with this very muted color scheme, 

but I think she pulled it off wonderfully. 

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Gracie