Wishy-Washi @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Heather's turn to host and she went with the theme "Wishy-Washi" which simply means (as you've probably already guessed) that she wants to see washi tape on your creations.

Now, I'll have to admit, I'm not a big washi tape fan. Don't really get the appeal myself. But I do have a roll or two and this is what I came up with.....

I made a washi tape banner.  Digi is from Mo Manning.  I've used this one a couple times before, I think it's the perfect image to use on a male birthday card for the over 55 crowd. 

So, why not pull out a washi tape roll or two and then head on over to Little Red Wagon and enter the challenge? And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also we have a DT call going on right now.  Click here for all the details.

Gratitude & Joyfulness @ Tiddly Inks

For the next two weeks at

the challenge is "Gratitude & Joyfulness". Now, we're not horrible sticklers over at Tiddly Inks, so this is open to your interpretation. You could do a thank you card, obviously, but you could also make something that makes you happy, or something for someone who makes you happy. You could even do a project that incorporates the words "gratitude" or "joyfulness" or....maybe.....just...the.....word.....joy.....

I think this has got to be my fave Tiddly Ink stamp. It's called Cocoa Wishes and it's so versatile! You could use it for a Christmas card, like I did here, or you could use it for a friendship card, a winter birthday card, a thank you card etc. etc. etc.

Have to admit, I'm pretty happy with how this turned out.

Why not head on over to Tiddly Inks to enter the challenge? And be sure to also check out the fabulousness the DT has come up with.

City Crafter:  fave technique - colouring on textured cardstock
Clear It Out:  winter wishes + use a snowflake
Crafty Sentiments:  use die cuts
Creative Card Crew:  stripes
Cuttlebug Mania:  There's snow place like home - snowflake die (Unfortunately I don't know the brand.)
Everybody Art:  snowflake
Just Inspirational:  winter
Party Time Tuesday:  anything goes
Shopping Our Stash:  free is good - free digi ('coz I'm on the DT); free button (I was gifted an unwanted stash) and free stitching (sewing machine was a past Christmas present)
Top Tip Tuesday:  buttons or bows
Artistic Inspirations:  warm & cozy
Card Mania:  use a digi
Craft Your Passion:  Baby, it's cold outside.
Dream Valley:  anything goes
Incy Wincy:  friendship
Ooh La La:  Christmas
613 Avenue Create:  anything goes
Addicted to Stamps:  lots of layers
Come and Get It:  winter
Catered Crop:  say yes
Corrosive:  happy everything
Hiding in My Craftroom:  any holiday
Kit and Clowder:  Christmas
Simply Create Too:  snow, snow, snow
As You Like It:  favourite Christmas style:  modern or traditional - I prefer modern.  Cute images and non-traditional colours.
Aud Sentiments:  sentiment for a December holiday
A Crafty Mess:  anything goes
Crafty Catz:  winter theme

DT Call @ Little Red Wagon

Hey all! We're having a dt call (tee hee, that rhymes)

over at Little Red Wagon.

For all the details just clicky here.

Fabby Friday @ Tiddly Inks

It's Friday! Hey, did you know that there's only four more Fridays until Christmas? That puts it in perspective, don't it? If you're like me, you're in the thick of Christmas crafting. Every year I say, "Nope. I'm not doing it again this year" and every year (well, every year since I started crafting) I do do it again. (*snicker* I said "do do".)

But, I do feel like I've got a bit of a jump on it this year anyways. (I just know when I'm frantically putting together the last of my cards on Boxing Day morning for the last of my Christmases I'll think back on this post and spit out a swear word or two.) I've already got my teachers' Christmas gifts completed! And here they are......

As you can see, I made a gift card holder box. I followed this tutorial right here.  In the interest of full disclosure I should mention that Lindt chocolates are actually too big to fit in these boxes but that's all I had on hand and the box looked sadly empty and I wanted to show why I went with a box rather than just a card.  Closer to the Christmas break (when I can be better trusted not to need a chocolate fix and bust into these boxes) I'll put in some smaller chocolates or candies.

I made a couple more too......

(Didn't bother taking pictures of the inside of these as they're exactly the same as the one above, with different paper.  Oh, and by the time I got these done the too big Lindt chocolates had somehow disappeared so it wouldn't have been a proper pic anyways.)  I used Inky Critters for my images. Love these guys. If you think I left the poor widdle penguin out, I didn't. I just used him on a card for a Fabby Friday in October.

If you want to see more Fabby Friday makes head on over to the challenge site and check 'em out.  You won't be disappointed!

Layer It Up! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Tracy's turn to set the challenge and she wants everyone to "Layer It Up!" which simply means she wants to see layers on your projects. Easy-peasy!

Not a hard one for me at all seeing as I usually pile paper on paper on paper on paper. Actually, this week I piled cardstock on cardstock on ribbon on paper on paper on cardstock on thread on paper on cardstock. And that's not including the wooden snowflake or pearls.

And here it is......

Tried a little vintage this time around. Not awesomely, mind you, but a change from my usual cutesy creations.

So, why not pile it all on and then head on over to Little Red Wagon and enter the challenge? And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

.....I Wanna Wish You a Merry Christmas, I Wanna Wish You a Merry Christmas......

Actually, I'm lying.  It's November so I really, really don't want to wish you a Merry Christmas just yet.  'Coz while I might do some Christmas crafting (because of time constraints) and some Christmas shopping (so I can spread it out a bit so I don't faint when I see the January MC statement) I'm a bit of a stickler when I comes to celebrating Christmas and/or the holiday season.  And I don't start doing that (the celebrating or the decorating) until December 1st at least.

But, I had to put "I Wanna Wish You a Merry Christmas" as my title.  I.  Just.  Had.  To.  And, here's why.....

Bwahahahahahahahahaha! That's funny, ain't it? Digi is from Bugaboo Stamps.

So that's why, about two weeks early, I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas. And it's from the baaaaaaaattom of my heart.

For:

MelonHeadz:  add a sentiment
Crazy Challenge:  favourite technique - colouring on textured cardstock
Artistic Inspirations:  anything goes
Card Mania:  use a digi
Cutie Pie:  festive furry friends
Dream Valley:  anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday:  use 3 or more papers
Inky Chicks:  down on the farm
Crafty Sentiments:  2 or more papers
Fan-Tastic Tuesday:  it's a male thing
613 Avenue Create:  anything goes
Catered Crop:  anything goes
Glitter 'n' Sparkle:  cute
Jellypark:  festive
That Craft Place:  anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge:  Christmas
Simon Says:  stars
Crafty Catz:  Christmas is coming
Sweet Stampin':  to die for

50 Shades of ? (Monochromatic) @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Jayne's turn to pick the challenge and she went with "50 Shades of ?", which simply means she wants to see a monochromatic card. You can choose gray (oh, sorry - grey) if you want......[*ahem* there's just too many jokes I could make here, so in the interest of being fair to all the jokes, (wouldn't want to have any of them feeling left out) I'll channel my inner grownup and just move on.......fake-cough-while-muttering-the-word-"porn"......*sigh* and that's why I referred to it as my "inner grownup" 'coz apparently I don't have an outer one]....we won't judge, but you can use any colour you want as long as you stick to shades of that colour. (I would also like to say, that Jayne's play on words here is pretty darn clever, even though it doesn't look like I think that it's brilliant, I totally do. I'm betting we have a record number of people visiting the site this week to check out what the challenge is all about.)

Anyhoooooooooo, enough blabbling on. On to the card. I had actually made a different card for this challenge but I really wasn't very fond of it. So, I decided to come up with something else. And I also challenged myself (and myself accepted) to use something other than brown as that seems to be my go-to colour when it comes to monochromatic cards. When I first started making this I thought it was going to end up being as unliked as the first card. But, luckily, it was one of those cases where, in the end, it all came together.

Here it is.....

Yep, it's a shaker card. All in green. It's also a fairly non-traditional Christmas card. With no stamps. And no shouty capitals either.

So, why not stick to just one colour on your creation and then head on over to Little Red Wagon and enter the challenge? And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Remembrance or Honour @ Tiddly Inks

For the next two weeks at

the challenge is "Remembrance or Honour". That just means we want to projects in memory of someone or even "Miss You" or "Thinking Of You" cards.

This is what I did......

I used Poppylicious. Nothing really says remembrance more than poppies. I know these poppies aren't really the same colour as traditional Remembrance Day poppies....artistic license and all that.

Why not head on over to Tiddly Inks to enter the challenge? And be sure to also check out the fabulousness the DT has come up with.

Also for:

Incy Wincy:  stripes
Love to Create:  anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy:  lots of layers
Addicted to Stamps:  bling bling
Corrosive:  girly
Allsorts:  poppies or remembrance
Sweet Stampin':  poppies or red for remembrance
A Crafty Mess:  anything goes
Sweet Stamps:  lovely layers

Fabby Friday @ Tiddly Inks

Frrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Time for another Tiddly Inks card. I got my Christmas crafting on and made this.......

This is one of my fave stamps (and I could say that a lot when it comes to Tiddly Inks images). It's called Faythe Gives.  I think this is really the first time I've ever really tried to do curly hair.  And, I'll admit, I'm happy with how it turned out.

If you want to see more Fabby Friday makes head on over to the challenge site and check 'em out.  You won't be disappointed!

Also for:

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge:  winter
Crafty Ribbons:  Christmas creation with ribbon
Papertake Weekly:  anything goes
Creative Card Crew:  Christmas joy
Clear It Out:  gearing up for winter + metal
Whoopsidaisy:  add a sentiment
Use Your Stuff:  snow
My Time to Craft:  charmed I'm sure
Crafty Calendar:  it's all about Christmas
Challenge Up You Life:  anything goes
Bearly-Mine:  Christmas
Ribbons Girls:  Christmas cards
Sentimental Sundays:  anything goes
Pile It On:  feeling cool
Christmas Stampin:  anything goes
QKR Stampede:  let's talk
Really Reasonable Ribbon:  winter holiday + ribbon
Creative Corner:  it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Completely Christmas:  anything goes + ribbon

Home Is Where Your Heart Is @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Carolyn's turn to pick the challenge and she went with "Home Is Where Your Heart Is" which she is leaving open for you to interpret as you will.

Now, I've never really got this saying. Yes, yes, yes, I do get the meaning of the saying, home is the place you long for and all that, but whenever I think of this saying it's always had a more literal meaning for me. More like this:

'Coz really, you can't actually leave your heart at home, now can you? I'm more partial to "Home is where you hang your hat." You can actually do that, leave the house, and, you know, still be alive.

But, it's not my turn to pick the challenge this week so I should really quit digressing (not mention I should quit giving Carolyn a hard time too). And, in truth, it is a neat challenge. Here's my interpretation.....

Digis are from Tiddly Inks - My Home and a tree that might be no longer be available as I can't find the link for it.  And for all my expounding on the subject, I stuck pretty close to what I'm sure Carolyn was going for when she set the challenge.

Except I didn't put a heart on my card.  I left it in the chest cavity where it belongs.  

So, why not show us your interpretation for the challenge and then head on over to Little Red Wagon and enter? And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

3 Calling Birds??

I won some free digis from Bugaboo Stamps awhile back and I picked up a really cute one called Winter Bird Trio that I wanted to use for a Christmas card. Got it all coloured up and the card made and I was trying to decide what to use for a sentiment. The standard, "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" just wasn't cutting it for me.

Then, it came to me. I'd use the line "3 Calling Birds" from "12 Days of Christmas" - perfect! I was about ready to print that out when I got my frowny face on and said, "Hmmmmm..." Now, I was at the computer anyways so I could have just Googled the lyrics but I went for the incredibly more fun way of singing the song in my head from "5 Golden Rings" instead. (The Muppets version of the song, of course, because otherwise, there's really no point.)

My frowny face got a little more wrinkly when I got to "4 Calling Birds" and I realized that I couldn't use it for my card. But, I continued on and, as you know, the next line is "3 French Hens" which would also work for this card. Then apparently the next line of the song is, "Omg! That's even freakin' perfecter!" because that's not only what I sang in my head next but what popped out of my mouth and addressed the empty room. (And the room was nice enough not to comment on my poor grammar.)

Then I decided to use Thickers and alpha stickers rather than a computer-generated sentiment and, BAM, card completed.

Here it is.......

And, I wanted to make sure everyone knew the hens were actually French, so I added that "Joyeux Noël".  Truth be told, I was seriously thinking about putting the following in the speech bubble:  "Hé! Qui appelez-vous une poule!" you know, 'coz those birds are clearly male. (Seeing as they've got the colourful plumage going on and all that.) But, I thought that might be a little too obscure for my Christmas card recipients as I think only one or two of them have more than the compulsory grade 9 French credit, if that. (Not that I'm putting them down for that, I'll admit I'm guilty of washing out of French after grade 9. And if any Francophone ever heard my French accent they'd thank me for doing so, for sure.)

I also thought it might be too obscure for anyone who doesn't share my.......ahem.....special.... brand of humour.  Honestly, I can't always tell the difference between what's actually funny and what's just me funny.  Still, if I've made at least one person at least smile with this post.....mission accomplished.  And if I've made the rest of you go "Huh?" while you're wearing your omg-she's-so-weird-face, well, that's a pretty good day's work too.

For:

Inkspirational:  photo inspiration
Crafty Catz:  anything goes
Jingle Belles:  Christmas creature
QKR Stampede:  3 of a kind - 3 birds, 3 ornaments
Simply Create Too:  shop your craft room - Digi and papers are a few months old, Thickers and alpha stickers are close to being ancient
Divas By Design:  anything goes
Just Inspirational:  occasions
The Pink Elephant:  anything goes
Sentimental Sundays:  anything goes
Quirky Crafts:  quirky charades - I think I've well covered what song this is from.  Even provided a video to watch and everything!  :-)
Pile It On:  feeling cool
Christmas Card Challenges:  no embellishments - Not sure if Thickers and alpha stickers count as embellishments or not......
4 Crafty Chicks:  anything goes
As You Like It:  favourite style cute or elegant - Definitely cute over elegant. Mostly because cute can also be funny but elegant rarely is.
Aud Sentiments:  two or three word sentiment - I have both!
Moving Along With the Times:  winter is coming
Catch The Bug:  anything goes
Challenge Up Your Life:  anything goes
Crafty Calendar:  It's all about Christmas
Kit and Clowder:  Christmas
Little Clair's:  Christmas theme
Vandicrafts:  bye bye birdy
Animal Friends:  it's cold
Bearly-Mine:  Christmas cards
Cards Galore:  anything goes
Penny's Paper Crafty:  anything goes
Simon Says Stamp:  anything goes
Craft Hoarders:  Layer it + hoarded supplies
Crafty Boots:  music
Time Out Challenges:  bird of a feather flock together