Let It Snow!

My Sheri CRAFTS:  Challenge #75 - Let It Snow!

Bazzill Basics cardstock.  Art Philosophy cut.  Stamp from December 25th set from CTMH.  Offray ribbon.  Embroidery floss. Webshots American Greetings photo.

If you've just clicked here after viewing this card in a thumbnail thinking, "What stamp is so realistic looking?" please don't be disappointed!  I made many Christmas cards this year, but I have to say the ones I used featuring professional photos were my favorites, and I'm glad to share it with you!  They were quick, simple, and flat which was good for mailing.

The card also features a cut from the Art Philosophy cart and a coordinating stamp from the December 25th set from CTMH.

I purchased 5 stamp sets to coordinate with the AP cart as I think CTMH created a real winner with  stamps that coordinate with cricut cuts.  LOVE IT!  But one tip I have from using this cart is that the cut which coordinates with this charm (page 30 in the handbook, cut at  1 3/4") does not cut round!  One of the sides is sort of "wonky."  I cut the cut several times, as well as created a "shadow" by cutting it a bit larger (all cuts from my Gypsy.)  They all line up perfectly, but they are not perfectly round! Next time I'm going to go to a different cart to get a truly round ornament or charm and use it with the round stamps.  Joys of the Season or Paper Pups come to mind, but there are lots of carts that have this shape and cut it perfectly.  I'm happy with the other cuts I've used so far, especially the way they coordinate with the stamps.

I have a new home this year, and a chance to decorate it like I've never had since getting married.  I purchased accents that were multi-purpose to make my decorating dollar stretch as far as possible.  For example, I purchased some picture frames to lend a bit of holiday decor.  I then went to one of my favorite websites Webshots to download some free professional photos of the season.  Once they were on my computer I sized them and printed them out on photo paper.  Of course, now that I had awesome holiday photos, I had to use them in some paper project (layout or otherwise) and ended up using them on cards.

Thanks for taking a peek, Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas! Use It Tuesday Challenge #21

Wow, it's been forever since I've blogged, and I really have not been crafting as much as I'd like.  Here's a chance for me to exercise my creative muscle.  These cards are entered into

Use It Tuesday - Challenge #21: Holiday

 

My first card is this simple North Pole card featuring buttons.  The kraft cardstock and cut from my Art Philosophy cart are actually fairly new, but the buttons however have been sitting, sitting, sitting.... The stamp is from a grab bin last year, Inkadinkadoo Clear Mini Stamp, "Northpole."

I picked up several of these cute little totes full of buttons at a stamp show more than a year ago.  They were only like two bucks each and picked up all kinds of colors like this red/blue tote, a pink/brown tote, and so on.  Let's see, hundreds of buttons purchased over hundreds of days ago, and only appearing on a handful (if that!) of projects.  Yeah, I'd say these goodies qualify as a hoarded supply!

 

I was quite jazzed about my AP cart from CTMH and their coordinating Christmas stamps.  I turned out this little sparkler in an attempt to use as many cuts+stamps as possible.  The embossed kraft strip, which is popped up on foam tape over ruffled trim, is meant to represent a mantle of sorts with the stockings hanging from it.  But oh, to get those stockings to hang...read on!

 

 I thought I had the perfect coordinating sizes of jump rings... somewhere!  But these little goodies which were tucked away in a tucked away container were not the "jump" rings I'm used to.  These are much more like a car key ring or pet tag ring.  SUPER difficult to attach to my paper project.  No wonder they've sat around for years.  I can't imagine even using them for a bead project.  I would just throw them out, but when it comes to craft items I am a bit of a hoardasaurus!

Finally, the trim on the card was from an awesome TH pack.  This is item is not as old as some others, but I've had it with my other TH collections and looked at it time, and time, and time again... and thought, "I should save this for something special."  Hence, 9 months have gone by, and it was never opened.  Until now!

Thanks for taking a peek.  Merry Christmas!