Sunday, December 31, 2017

On the treshold of a new year . . .

Hello Friends!
Today I'm sharing my final Christmas card created for the 2017 holiday season.
I can't believe we are on the doorstep of another new year!
Where does the time go???
Anyways ... back to my card created using various dies from the Dies R Us Store and was created to share over on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog.  If you're not familiar with this blog and team of amazing designers, you really need to treat yourself and pop over right away!!!
I must admit I was scrambling around at the last minute (a week before Christmas), trying to create a few more cards to send to family & friends.  I must have miscounted because I actually came up SEVEN short!  YIKES!!
How lucky am I to have these fabulous dies from the Dies R Us Store that helped me create QUICK yet adorable cards to get mailed just in the nick of time!!   (And a great way to use up scraps too.)

The dies I have used today are:

Impression Obsession - Dies - Carolers

Impression Obsession - Dies - Fir Trees

and Technique Tuesday 'Nesting Stars' 
(not currently in the store but if you SEARCH on the word STAR you will find a wonderful variety of stars available for your crafting needs.)


If you happen to be looking for this Sizzix Tim Holtz 'snowfall' embossing folder, you can find it HERE.


TIP:  Anytime you are doing an outside winter 'scene', it's always fun to create mounds of snow by simply tearing scraps of white card stock and layering them.  (ssshhh!  Don't tell anyone ... but my embossed snow panel was a little 'short' so I simply moved the tree up a bit and added a couple layers of torn snow!  PERFECT!!)


Of course I couldn't add just any star to the top of my tree ... it had to SPARKLE!!
And, did you notice the sparkle of the blue glitter paper background?

Well here's another TIP for you . . .
When using foil or glitter paper as a MAT ... you don't want to waste all that beautiful paper that is hidden behind your focus panel ... so before layering, use a rectangle die cut (for instance the Tutti Designs Nesting Stitched Rectangles) using the largest you can and still have the edge you desire for your current matting project, die cut a panel from the center of your special paper.  Now you have another gorgeous panel to use on a future creation.

Challenges to share in:
Impression Obsession Challenge - ATG
A Gem of a Challenge #209 - ATG Christmas
Winter Wonderland Challenge - ATG Christmas

 I hope you've enjoyed what I've shared today!  And, don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.

 For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.
click below for:

Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!


Saturday, December 30, 2017

Brrrr! I could use a cup of Hot Chocolate!

Hello my friends!
BRRR!  It sure is cold outside and more snow
is on it's way so I've decided to stay in where it is warm
and 'get crafty'!

I spotted a 'sketch' challenge and I thought I'd play along.
This is a very easy sketch to follow and I think it made for a fun card.
The challenge blog is called Inspire,Create Challenges.  I love doing
sketches so I'm sure I'll be visiting this blog again & again!

NOW ... here's where it pays to check out the RULES first before you begin!

Here is my original card (before reading the rules) ...


Cute card yes ... but then I read the rules and saw this rule:
  • We ask that all submissions include some stamping, no digital images please

SO ... back to the drawing board since I only used paper & dies.  
Luckily,  I was able to fix my original card by using the cute 
Verve Stamp set called 'Winter Mittens' 
Whew!!!


Here are a few other challenges to share in:

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes Masculine

This beautiful design paper is from American Crafts and
the die I have used for my banner is Sue Wilson ' Stitched Flags'.
Sue Wilson Designs - Frames & Tags - Stitched Flags

 Thanks so much for stopping by!
As always . . .

Friday, December 29, 2017

A wintry birthday card . . .

Hello Friends!
Today I was able to get into my 'cave' and do a little creating.
I checked out the available challenges and came up with a few that I
used as a basis for today's card.


The design is based on the sketch offered at Freshly Made Sketches.

The Birthday theme is for the Craftaholics R Us Challenge and the Watercoloring
with Snow Technique is for the Mod Squad Challenge.  The Mod Squad
challenge is 'add snow' and their technique challenge (for an extra entry) is
to 'watercolor' ... so I combined the two.

I used the Tim Holtz Oxide distress inks (Broken China &  Faded Jeans)
to create my background panel.  Once I got the colors where I wanted them,
I spritzed with water and blotted dry quickly to create my snow.

The dies I have used are the new Tutti Designs 'Scalloped Stitched Rectangle' dies

TUTTI-418 Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangles

and the Die-Mensions 'Birthday Balloons'.
For the inside of my card, I had a couple of extra Impressions Obsession
Impression Obsession - Dies - Balloons
die cut balloons laying on my work table so added them to the bottom corner.

I hope you are all enjoying your holiday time!
We have had a wonderful time so far!
The weather has been cooperative and we were
able to get to my Mom's in PA the Saturday before Christmas
for a family gather and then to our daughters (1 hr drive) on
Christmas morning for another wonderful get together!

There's a 'CLIPPER SYSTEM' coming tonight so
we will be indoors staying safe & warm for New Years! 

Thanks for stopping by and as always . . .

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Double D - Baby It's Cold Outside

Hello Friends!
It's time for a new challenge over on the Double D Challenge Blog!
Team Darlene is hosting today and the theme is:
 
Baby It's Cold Outside  (WINTER)

Here's the inspiration board I have created to help you get started . . 
 So many fun winter elements to be inspired by, but the sled & mittens caught my eye so that is the direction I took for today's creation ... what do you think??


I'm blessed with some fabulous winter type dies so of course I just had to rummage through and see what I could come up with!  I've had this sled die since last winter and hadn't used it yet so that was my first pick.  Plus, I knew I wanted to use the 'Brrr' sentiment.  Next I had to decide did I want to use mittens or a cup of hot chocolate in my design.  After choosing my background paper from a new Carta Bella paper pack called 'Cabin Fever', I decided on the mittens.
The dies I've used are Elizabeth Craft  'Sled'  #1243, Elizabeth Craft 'Brrr' #1228 and Memory Box 'Precious Mittens' #98663.  

The sentiment has been 'stacked' using THREE cuts ... 2 blue & 1 white.  Crystal Stickles has been added to the snowflakes for sparkle and the snowflakes were stamped on the red mittens with a touch of Crystal Stickles in the middle also.  


Please be sure to pop over to see the amazing creations the ladies
have made to inspire you today!
I'm always so impressed with these ladies!!!
They leave me in awe with each & every challenge theme!

Challenges to share in:
Craftaholics R Us Challenge #50 - ATG
Scrapy Land Challenge #80 - ATG using product carried in the store
Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Snowflakes
Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #348 - Holidays
{PIN}spirational Challenge #206 - Photo Inspiration (inspired by the red/green & sled)
 

613 Avenue Creates Challenge #204 - ATG - Christmas/Winter
Crop Stop December Linky Party - ATG using product carried at their store
The Paper Girls Challenge - Holiday Fun (Sled Riding)
Memory Box Challenge #31 - Holiday Greetings

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun!
Here's what I have up for grabs to one lucky random draw winner.
But, you need to play to win!!  LOL
 
 Hope to see you there!
As always . . .

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

OH NO! Where is my mind??

Hello All and Happy Tuesday!
Last evening while watch a little TV with hubby, he says to me . . .

 "Are all the Christmas cards mailed?"
(Me) "Yes"
(Hubby)  "And did you include the $$$ for the kids" (referring to his niece & nephews children)
(Me) "Oh Crap!  No!  I forgot"  "Dang!"
(Hubby) "Do you have more Christmas Cards?"
(Me) "Nope but I'll get into the cave and whip up something right now so they can be mailed tomorrow"

AND, here's what I came up with ... 



Simple but it says it all!

I've used the Tutti Designs 'Merry Christmas' die and cut from various glitter papers.  PERFECT!  A quick personal message inside along with their Christmas Cash and I popped them into the mail box this morning!   WHEW!

Thank Goodness for Die Cuts ... they sure saved the day in this case!!

Challenges to share in:
613 Avenue Create Challenge - ATG Christmas/Winter

Time is flying by ... hope you're ready for Santa's visit!  
I'm about as ready as I'm going to be I think!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by ... 
As always ...


Monday, December 18, 2017

Cards for a friend . . .

Hello All!
WOW!  Can you believe it?  
This time next week will be Christmas Day!
Hubby is going to do the gift wrapping this afternoon and hopefully we will have all the gifts needed.  BUT if not, I still have time to venture through the crowds and find those last minute goodies.  Fingers crossed we have all we need!  LOL

Last week while talking with a very dear childhood friend over in Pennsylvania, she mentioned she was in need of some masculine Get Well cards.  She loves that I make cards and can personalize her greeting with special card creations when needed.  But at the moment as long as they are mailable and masculine, she'll be happy.  Hopefully she'll be coming to visit between Christmas and New Years so I wanted to get a selection created for her to choose from.

For this first group of cards I searched through my binders of dies and came up with a few Get Well Greetings that would work.


Dies used are:
Sizzix Tim Holtz 'Tree Line' #661604

For this next group, I went through the large collection of greeting cards I have received over the past several months from various organizations we contribute to, and chose some of the images to RECYCLE into my own creations.  We get so many and I share them as much as I can but I still end up with a box full and I hate to discard them or just having them sit around.  So here's my repurposing efforts for today . . .

 

I thought she might need a couple cards for the ladies too so quickly put these two together.

 I hope you are having a fun day and I think it's time I start gathering the gifts together for my sweet husband to wrap.  Oh don't feel badly for him ... he loves wrapping (as long as they are nice square boxes lol) ... the odd shaped gifts that I don't have a box for becomes MY wrapping fun!  LOL

Happy week ahead ...
As always ...

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Last minute crunch . . .

Hello Friends!
Well we are in crunch time here at the Pavlick house when it comes to gift buying, card making/sending, etc.  So after finally writing out & sending my holiday cards last week I realized I was several short ... got busy yesterday and created the extras needed due to my 'miscount' !!  My Bad!!

So I did something I RARELY do ... mass production!
Well ... mass production for me ... only 4 of one kind, 2 of another, etc. etc.


I purchased this adorable 'Caroling Penguins' stamp by Rubbernecker Stamps a few months back and even though it didn't take much to color ... it did take a little more time for the fussy cutting but I think they turned out cute!!!

My die cut sentiments are Impression Obsession 'Merry Christmas Flourish' 
Impression Obsession - Dies - Merry Christmas Flourish
and Sue Wilson 'Festive Collection - Merry Little Christmas'.
Sue Wilson Designs - Festive Collection -  Merry Little Christmas
Lawn Fawn - Small Cross Stitched Rectangle Stackables DiesLawn Fawn - Large Cross Stitched Rectangle Stackables DiesAnd, the frame was created using the
Lawn Fawn Large & Small Cross Stitched Stackable Rectangle dies.







When BFF Diane Hover (Nellie's Nest) showed me this Tim Holtz falling snow embossing folder while visiting her in November ... I knew I just HAD TO HAVE IT!!!  (Thanks Diane ... you are my #1 enabler!  lol)   I must admit, this embossing folder made it so easy to create the background for my cute carolers!!

Challenges to share in:
2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #9 - ATG with Critters
Animal Friends Challenge #57 - ATG with Animals
The Artistic Stamper December Challenge - Christmas
 Die Cut Diva's Challenge - Wintertime
The Rubber Buggy Challenge #8 - Christmas and/or Winter

Well, back to work ...

Hope you're enjoying a wonderful holiday season!
As always . . .


Friday, December 15, 2017

It's Fussy and Fancy Time!

Hello Everyone!
It's time once again for a new challenge over at the 


Today both teams are sharing inspirational projects
and the theme is 

CHRISTMAS

I pulled together a beautiful image from an older Graphic45 12x12 paper pack as the focus of my Christmas card.  I hope you like it!



Dies used on today's creation are:


Yvonne Creations - Holly Jolly - Music Border


Sue Wilson Designs - Festive Collection -  Poinsettia Flourish & Corner

Yvonne Creations 'Snowy Trees' #YCD10053
and
Cheery Lynn Designs 'Holly Flourish' #B148


Challenges to share in:
The House that Stamps Built Challenge - Tic Tac Toe (Gems, Red/Green, Santa)
 C.R.A.F.T,  December Challenge - Christmas
Creative Knockouts #224 - Christmas Delight
Moo-Mania and More Challenge - Christmas
 Sunny Day Crafting Challenge #65 - X is for Xmas
Stinkin' Inkers Challenge - Celebrating the Holidays

I do hope you will come join in our challenge fun! 
Fussy and Fancy will be on holiday break until January 12th!

See you there!

Thanks so much for stopping by and as always . . .

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Christmas at The Sisterhood of Crafters

Hello Everyone!
It's time for a new challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters!
 This will be our last challenge for 2017 ... the team deserves a long rest so we will begin our challenges again on January 10th with Sistah Diane hosting and the theme will be FRAMES!!  I hope you'll come back in the new year to join in our fun once again!

Today our hostess is Agata and the theme she has chosen is ...

Anything CHRISTMAS

I was playing around with some NEW and OLD products for this creation ... 
what do you think?


 To create this scene, I've used a 'new' to me Falling Snow embossing folder that I saw at BFF Diane's house when I was there last month and just HAD TO HAVE IT for myself.  It's by Sizzix - Tim Holtz embossing folder ... love it!  Another new product I used on this creation is the Sizzix - Tim Holtz  'Tree Line' #661604 die.  I've cut it 3 times ... twice in green then sponged white ink across the top and once in white for the front dimension.

Impression Obsession - Dies - Merry Christmas Flourish
 and the Frantic Stamper 'Reindeer Duo' ... both die sets were cut from DCWV glitter paper.

Frantic Stamper - Dies - Reindeer Duo

3M Dimensional tape was used to create various layers of trees.  The first cut was adhered directly to the card base panel, the second was off set with a single layer of dimensional tape and the white tree line in the foreground was positioned with a double layer of dimensional tape.  I love the outcome ... how about you?


I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun at The Sisterhood of Crafters!
My 'sistahs' have created some fabulous creations to help inspire you ... be sure to pop over and check them out!  You have until Christmas Eve - December 24th to join in the fun!!

Challenges to share in:
 Craftaholics R Us Challenge #49 - Emboss
Crop Stop December Challenge #35 - ATG using product carried at their store
Little Red Wagon Challenge #423 - Christmas Critters
The Male Room Challenge #75 - Christmas/Winter Wishes/December Celebrations
Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #203 - Reindeer
Scrapy Land Challenge #79 - ATG using product carried at their store 

Hope to see you there!
 As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!