Sunday Christmas Card Challenges #53

It's Anything Goes week at Sunday Christmas Card Challenges.  I decided to finally use some of my hoarded Graphic 45 Twelve Days of Christmas patterned paper.  I've had it for a while and not used it.  I love the vintage look of their paper.  Can you believe there is no stamping done here?  The only ink used was the marker to color the pearls and to color the edges of the layers.  A little punching, a little fussy cutting, a little sponging and voila! a beautiful vintage Christmas card.  I love vintage!

Ink:  Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz); Card Stock:  Real Red, Twelve Days of Christmas (Graphic 45); Copic Marker:  R27; Accessories & Tools:  Eyelet Border Punch (retired), Distress Tool, Dimensionals, Pearl Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Silver Gelly Roll Pen, Stampin' Trimmer

 For all the challenge details, visit Sunday Christmas Card Challenges HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Colour Me...! Creative Challenge 48 and Freshly Made Sketches 164

The Reed family had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I was so pleased to have my three sons all together this year.  Family fun, food, and football... it doesn't get any better than that!  My son, Matthew, and his wife, Michelle, hosted this year.  He makes a delicious champagne turkey.  There is never much left when we get done with it.  I'm still "stuffed" from yesterday!

Today I was back in the craft studio pairing up challenges for my card.  This one uses the colors from the Colour Me...! Creative Challenge and the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  Along with the new Banner Blessings Stamp Set, they all made for a rather pretty card.  I think it will be perfect to send to Matthew and Michelle for bringing us all together for Thanksgiving.

Stamp Set:  Banner Blessings; Ink:  Rose Red; Card Stock:  Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Adorbs (My Mind's Eye); Accessories & Tools:  Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine, In Color Sequin, Dimensionals

The Colour Me...! Creative Challenge details can be found HERE.

You can find the Freshly Made Sketches challenge details HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your day be filled with love, laughter and joy!  I pray you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thanks for stopping at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

CMCC #47

Oh my gosh!  There is nothing like waiting until the last minute to get a card made and posted to enter in a challenge.  No, I am not a procrastinator.  I just added to much to my plate and did time ever get away from me!  So, here is my card for the current Colour Me...! Creative Challenge using the colors of Soft Suede, Early Espresso and Cajun Craze.  I chose Whisper White a..s my Neutral.  I needed a birthday card so the birthday sentiment is stamped on the inside.

Stamp Set:  Pictogram Punches; Ink:  Cajun Craze;  Card Stock:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Lucky Stars Embossing Folder, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, In Color Sequins, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Dimensionals

You can find the Colour Me...! Creative Challenge details HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

The Friday Mashup 187

Although my day started out with some sunshine, as it progressed, the clouds rolled in and made for a rather gloomy day.  Off in the distance, I can see the capitol building and it was bathed in a haze of gray.  I've always found fog to be rather fascinating, so, I decided to use it for this week's Friday Mashup! Challenge.  The challenge is to create a project using a metal embellishment or weather as inspiration or to use both to mash it up.

For the clouds, I used a template I created a couple of months ago for another project.  Of course, there was some Cajun Craze ink residue on the edge of the clouds so you can see just a hint of color on the gray.  It turned a muted pinkish color that worked well with the Blackberry Bliss Top Note frame.  There is no sentiment as of yet, since I'm not sure what occasion it will be used for.  I like having some cards made up that I've not stamped a sentiment on.

Stamp Sets:  Lovely As a Tree, White Christmas; Inks:  Basic Black, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate; Card Stock:  Blackberry Bliss, Smoky Slate, Very Vanilla; Accessories & Tools:  Top Note Die, Silver Mini Brads

You can find all the details for The Friday Mashup! HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Sunday Christmas Card Challenges #52

It's Sunday and that means a new Christmas Card Challenge.  This week's optional challenge is a Christmas tree inspired by the inspiration photo.  I saw this tree made from hearts quite some time ago and have always wanted to give it a try.  I don't remember the original designer's name, but I do thank her for her inspiration.  It's one of the cards we made in my last Christmas card class.  Clean, simple and just plain cute.

Stamp Sets:  Heard from the Heart (retired), Pennant Parade (retired); Inks:  Old Olive, Real Red; Card Stock:  Whisper White, Old Olive, Real Red; Accessories & Tools:  Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Owl Builder Punch, Linen Thread, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Glue Dots, Multipurpose Liquid Glue

You can find all the Christmas Card Challenges details HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

A Mustache Birthday

In just two short weeks my baby boy will be celebrating one of those milestone birthdays.  Yes, he will be forty!  As his mother, I'm finding it rather hard to believe that I am old enough to have three sons who have reached the forty year mark!  No, I am not old!  I just started having my little ones when I was a baby!  :-)  My boys are the joys of my life and I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of them.  I've watched them grow into wonderful men and I am so blessed to be their mother. 

I loved the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches.  As you can see, I flipped it so I could add three of the mustached die cuts. 

Stamp Set:  Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks:  Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry; Card Stock:  Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, Smoky Slate, All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack, Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack; Accessories & Tools:  Mustache Framelits Die, Baked Brown Sugar In Color Sequins, Dimensionals

  You can find all the details for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Christmas Gift Swap Night

Good food!  Good friends!  Good fellowship!  We all had a great time at our annual Christmas Gift Swap Gathering and came away with some wonderful gifts.  I'm already looking forward to next year!  :-)   I know!  I know!  But I do so love Christmas!

Since I have a full day of movie watching planned with a friend, I'm making this a quick post so I can share with you the beautiful gifts I received last night.

Candy Dispenser from Andrea

Gentle Peace Candle from Barb & Betti

Candy Kisses & Nuggets Tree from Jaimie

Tea Light Candle Holder from Kathy

Mini Beverage Cups & Carrier from Kay

Shortbread Sugar Cookies from Kristin

Tea Light Candle Holder from Renae

Christmas Charger Plate from Kelly

And last, but not least, my gift to them, Hand Soap and Sanitizer.  I had a theme going this year.  :-)

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Retro Sketches 141

Gotta hurry!  Can't be late!  Gotta very important date!  Well, it's true I do have a date and I would consider it important as it's our Christmas Gift Exchange for the local demo group I'm please to be a part of.  Granted it's only 2 p.m. and it doesn't start until 6:30 p.m. but I've been on the go all the day long and would relish an hour in the recliner with my feet up!  But, before that can happen, I wanted to share this card I made for the current Retro Sketches Challenge.

For the past several weeks I've been rather focused on Christmas cards and wanted to do something different.  What better than a Valentine's Day card, right?  When I saw the sketch, I knew I wanted to stay with the heart theme.

Stamp Set:  Heart Balloons (My Favorite Things); Ink:  Rose Red (Stampin' Up!); Card Stock:  Rose Red, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!); Accessories & Tools:  Sweetheart Punch, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Rhinestones

You can find the Retro Sketches Challenge HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

The Paper Players 222 with Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 245

Today I decided to play around with all of the newest In Colors from Stampin' Up!®  They all look so well together.  Along with The Paper Players theme challenge and the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge, I think the it all came together nicely.  What do you think?

Stamp Sets:  Four Feathers, Fancy Thank You (Hero Arts); Inks:  Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow; Card Stock:  Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow, Tangelo Twist, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Banner Punch, Feathers Framelits Dies, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

HERE is where you can find The Paper Players Clean and Simple Thank You Challenge.

The Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge can be found HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Watercooler Challenges #13

It's time for a new challenge here at Watercooler Challenges.  With Christmas just over a month away, our challenge this week is to create something with a Christmas theme.  I totally love the new Gentle Peace photopolymer stamp set from Stampin' Up!®  This time I stamped the image onto Very Vanilla using Elegant Eggplant ink.  I love how it pops against the Elegant Eggplant card, the Gold Foil and the Cherry Cobbler Sheer Linen Ribbon.

It wasn't until I had it all done that I realized I had used a retired embossing folder.  My suggestion would be to use the Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folder found on page 227 of the 2014-2015 Annual Catalog.  I substituted it in the list of products found below.  Looks like I need to put that on my next order so I have it on hand.  :-)

Stamp Set:  Gentle Peace; Ink:  Elegant Eggplant; Card Stock:  Elegant Eggplant, Gold Foil Sheets, Very Vanilla; Accessories & Tools:  Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (retired), Cherry Cobbler Sheer Linen Ribbon, Glue Dots, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals, Paper Snips, Stampin' Trimmer

The design is a CASE (Case And Share Everything)from Monica Weaver.  I don't use metal sheets but the Gold Foil sure makes for a pretty layer on the Elegant Eggplant.

So, now it's your turn to show us what you are creating for Christmas.  Just link up your project to the Watercooler Challenges blog HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Sunday Christmas Card Challenges #51

Welcome to Christmas Card Challenges!  This week's challenge is all about color.  Now you can opt to use the colors found in the inspiration photo or you can simply make a holiday or Christmas card, which is really the only rule to our challenges. 

Stamp Set:  White Christmas; Inks:  Real Red, Crumb Cake, Soft Sky; Card Stock:  Real Red, Trim The Tree, Bermuda Bay, Naturals White; Accessories & Tools:  Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Lucky Stars Embossing Folder, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer

You can find all the details of the Christmas Card Challenges Color Challenge and link up your beautiful card HERE.

The sketch I used is one from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Give Thanks

Today's post will be a short one as I'm headed out to run some errands before the snow starts to fly.  Thanksgiving is nearly here and so this is my final Thanksgiving card I needed to send.  Here is what I came up with using these stamp sets; For All Things, Petite Petals and Pictogram Punches.  Three of my favorites!  (Yes, I know, everything is my favorite!)

Stamp Sets:  For All Things, Petite Petals, Pictogram Punches; Inks:  Cajun Craze, Pear Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango; Card Stock:  Cajun Craze, Whisper White, All Is Calm Specialty Designer Series Paper, Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack; Accessories & Tools:  Petite Petals Punch, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dots, Stampin' Trimmer

Okay, just saw my first snowflake.  It's time for me to get going!  I don't want to be caught out when it really gets to flying white out there.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

The Friday Mashup 186

Hello and happy Friday!  It's a lovely blue sky, sunshine filled day here in Iowa.  Of course, it's just the calm before the storm, so to speak.  Tomorrow will find us with a day filled with snowflakes and,  by the time it is done, two to four inches of them on the ground.  I need to run a couple of errands today but wanted to share the card I made for The Friday Mashup! Challenge.  The challenge is to create a project using the sketch or a surprise element, something you wouldn't expect to see on a card/or an unexpected embellishment or "Mash it Up!" by using the sketch and the unexpected embellishment.  I did my best to Mash it Up!  :-)  They also have a Design Team call out so wish me luck! 

One of the other hobbies I have is jewelry making.  I make all of my own earrings, bracelets, necklaces and ankle bracelets.  I often have things left over that I thought I was going to use in a piece and one is this little butterfly charm you see on my card.  I'm calling it my unexpected embellishment because it's not something I would ordinarily put on a card.  What do you think?

Stamp Sets:  , Bloom with Hope, Everything Eleanor, Gorgeous Grunge; Inks:  Blackberry Bliss, Sahara Sand; Card Stock:  Blackberry Bliss, Blushing Bride, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Linen Thread, Butterfly Charm, beads, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer

You can find more inspiration and The Friday Mashup! challenge details HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Fab Friday 54 and Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 244

Well, here I am again playing with leftovers to see what I can come up with.  It still amazes me that I start a project, have an idea in the middle of it and go off on a totally different track.  No wonder I have all of these extra bits and pieces.

For this card I combined the colors from Fab Friday Challenge Blog and the sketch from the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  When I first got the Hardwood background stamp, I stamped a bunch of them using different card stock and inks.  I was looking for a certain look for a different project and it only took me five different tries to get it right.  :-)  Today's card uses the one I stamped with Blackberry Bliss ink onto Very Vanilla card stock.

Stamp Sets:  Four You, Hardwood; Ink:  Blackberry Bliss; Card Stock:  Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack; Accessories & Tools:  Top Note Bigz Die, Circle Collection Framelits Dies, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Dimensionals, Stampin' Trimmer, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

You can find the Fab Friday color challenge HERE.

The Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge can be found HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Paper Players 221 - Mojo Monday 371

Combining challenges is something I really enjoy.  It can be quite a challenge sometimes but the colors from Paper Players made it easy.  I love the Mossy Meadow, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla.  They worked well with the Mojo Monday sketch and for this Christmas card.  With all the Mossy Meadow I used on the card, I purposely didn't add a layer of it under the top layer of patterned paper.  I did give it a try when I was playing with the layout but I didn't like the way it looked.  I could be wrong.  :-) 

Stamp Set:  Hardwood, Delightful Dozen (retired); Ink:  Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock:  Mossy Meadow, Very Vanilla, All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack, Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack (retired); Accessories & Tools:  Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Cherry Cobbler 1" Sheer Linen Ribbon, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

The colors are from this week's Paper Players Color Challenge.  You can find all the details HERE.

The sketch is from this week's Mojo Monday Card Sketch Challenge.  You can find more details HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Veterans Day Salute

Today is Veterans Day so I made a card as a tribute to those who have served and those who are serving.  I'm so grateful for those who choose to serve our country.  Thank you!

Stamp Set:  Stars & Stripes (Taylored Expressions); Inks:  Night of Navy, Real Red; Card Stock:  Night of Navy, Real Red, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Stars Decorative Mask, Extra-Large Oval Punch, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine,Stars & Stripes Die (Taylored Expressions), Blending Tool (Tim Holtz), SNAIL Adhesive,Dimensionals, Stampin' Trimmer, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

All Stampin' Up! Product unless otherwise noted.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

United States Marine Corps Birthday Salute!

A Triple Challenge

It isn't often that I can combine three challenges using one card, but this one came to gather right nicely.  I used the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch, the colors from Pals Paper Arts and the theme of 'thanks' from SUO Challenges.  The flowers were stamped using Cajun Craze ink, two with a full load of ink and two that were stamped off to give a softer look.  So, what do you think of my leaves?  They were made using the Four Feathers stamp set and Feather Framelits Dies.  :-)   

Stamp Sets:  Hardwood, Flower Shop, Four Feathers; Inks:  Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, Mossy Meadow; Card Stock:  Soft Suede, Mossy Meadow, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Pansy Punch, Feathers Framelits Dies, SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Stampin' Trimmer, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

The CAS(E) this Sketch challenge can be found HERE.

The Pals Paper Arts color challenge can be found HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Sunday Christmas Card Challenges #50

Happy Sunday, everyone!  Today's Christmas Card Challenges optional challenge is to create a faith-based Christmas card. One of my new favorite (yes, I do have a lot of those!) stamp sets is called Gentle Peace.  Don't you just love that stained glass image? 

Stamp Set:  Gentle Peace; Inks:  StazOn, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Softy Sky, Tuxedo Black Memento; Stampin' Write Markers:  So Saffron, Marina Mist, Crushed Curry, Pool party, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Blush Blossom (retired); Card Stock:  Real Red, Naturals White, Vellum; Accessories & Tools:  Iridescent Ice Stampin' Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Snips, SNAIL Adhesive, VersaMark, Dimensionals

Here is a close up of the image and you can see the sparkle from the Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.  It really looks so much better in person but at least you get the idea.  Oh, and just a note of caution for you...never, ever leave a brand new container of Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder on your table with the lid unscrewed.  It makes for an awful mess when you knock it onto the floor!  I'm still sparkly from that little fiasco. 

Don't forget that tomorrow is the last day to link up your blog to be considered for our Christmas Card Challenges Design Team.  You can find all the details HERE.

And, for more inspiration, stop by Christmas Card Challenges to see what the other Design Team members have created.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha