Have A Merry Unusual Christmas

And the Inside of the card:

Looking for an open mined challenge blog, where you can feel free to express yourself any way you like?!  Well, then Open Minded Crafting Challenge is the challenge blog for you! We welcome and appreciate any expression of creativity, as long as it fits the current challenge theme, so come over and play with us! Our challenges run every fortnight, so you have two weeks to play along with us!


Our theme, just in time for the holidays is..... Unusual Christmas.  Think unusual colors or images that aren't usually used for Christmas projects. Or, maybe just use papers that are different.  Let your creativity run wild and create something fabulous! Whatever you create, or however you interpret the theme, we'd love to see your creations!  Come link up with us at Open Minded Crafting Challenges. We have prizes up for grabs, from these awesome and supportive sponsors:

 A & T Digital Designs

Delicious Doodles

Dilly Beans

Eureka Stamps

Fabulous prizes from fabulous sponsors! Remember, you have to be in it to win it, so hurry over to Open Minded Crafting Challenges and link up your Unusual Christmas creation, for your chance to win!

Oh, wait, don't leave before I get a chance to tell you about my card!  I feel like I truly embraced the Unusual Christmas theme! It's fun, now and then to be different and bring out a little (or a lot) of your darker side.  (We all have one - admit it and show us your dark side creations!) I wanted to color the images in "darker" colors and incorporate skulls, to create a different type of Christmas card.

This is a rarity to me - I actually had so much fun with this card, that I decorated the inside, also - I rarely do that, so this card is definitely special, for a special person! All papers used are from my stash.  (Gotta love that skull paper that I never got the chance to use for Halloween!)  The black white and gold metallic foil snowflake paper seemed to be perfect for this "Darker" Christmas card. My card uses the image Holly and Rosehip Wreath, from Delicious Doodles, colored with Promarkers. My layout uses the sketch at Seems A Little Sketchy. I used skull printed ribbon and a handmade bow, across the bottom.  I used these fun skull shaped buttons to embellish on either side of the bow.  The sentiment is punched with circle and scalloped circle punches.

This card was created for a wonderful friend, for Christmas.  I know my friend will love it and appreciate it!


I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Non Traditional Christmas Colors at Incy Wincy
TPE279 Photo Inspiration (Christmas Wreath) at The Pink Elephant
Challenge #79 Sketch at Seems A Little Sketchy
CMA#61 Favorite Color Combo (Black, Green, Gold) at Card Mania
Challenge #117 Celebrations at Eureka Stamps
Challenge #7 Anything Goes at Not Just Cards
Challenge #120 Anything Goes at Artistic Inspirations
Anything Goes at Whoopsi Daisy
Challenge #198 Christmas Spirit at Sweet Stamps
Anything Goes 11/24 - 12/6 at My Craft Creations
Challenge #3 Christmas at Get Creative
Challenge #21 Celebrate The Season at Craft Hoarders Anonymous
Challenge #128 Happy Holidays at Fussy and Fancy Challenge
Challenge #99 Christmas at Let's Craft and Create
Challenge #30 Anything Goes at Treasured Times Rubber Stamps
Challenge #240 Anything Goes at Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog
Challenge #235 Lots of Layers at Sentimental Sundays
Challenge #100 Anything Goes at 613 Avenue Create
Challenge #92 Lots of Layers at Addicted To Stamps Challenge
Challenge #53 Anything Goes at Christmas Card Challenges
CHNC December at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra
Celebrate The Holidays at Mema's Crafts
VSC#29 Holiday Theme at V's Sweet Ideas
12 Months of Xmas Card Link Up at Decosse's Dynamite Doodles
December Anything Goes at Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge
Anything goes at Crafty Sentiments
Circles  (Sentiment) and Shine (Foil Snowflakes)  at Clear It Out
Anything Goes at Papertake Weekly
Challenge #129 Photo Inspiration (Christmas) at PINspirational
Snowflakes at Just Inspirational Challenges
One For The Boys at Just Inspirational
TTCRD 12/2 - 12/8 at Through The Craftroom Door
Challenge #48 Christmas at Digi Choosday
Christmas at Scrap-Creations
Challenge #129 Christmas at Loves Rubber Stamps
Christmas at PDE Linky Party
Christmas at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Feeling Festive at Divas By Design
Special Celebration at The Paper Shelter
Challenge #206 Favorite Color (Black) at Penny's Paper Crafty
Challenge #78 Sparkle or Metallic (Gold Foil Snowflakes) at Lia Stampz
Challenge #57 Anything Goes or Winter at Creative Moments
Anything Christmas at Crafting By Designs
Challenge #58 Anything Goes at The Stamping Chef
Challenge #36 Non-Traditional Christmas Colors at Scrapper's Delights
Challenge #10 Anything Goes at Inspiration Destination
Challenge #21 Merry Little Christmas at A Song In Your HeART
Anything Goes at Kraftin' Kimmie Wonderful Wednesday
Favorite Christmas Colors (Black and Gold) at Craft For The Craic
Christmas at A Girl Who Crafts
Challenge #39 Anything Goes at AnMa Creatief
Christmas With Non Traditional Colors at Milk Coffee Challenges
CH#113 Non Traditional Christmas at Delicious Doodles
Challenge #38 Unusual Colored Christmas at Kitty Bee Designs
Challenge #20 Anything Goes at Art By Miran
Challenge #86 Anything Goes at Sister Act Card Challenge
Challenge #95 Anything Holiday at Pumpkin Spice Challenge Blog
Challenge #134 Christmas at A Gem of A Challenge
Challenge #177 Christmas Colors at Hiding In My Craft Room
Anything With a Bow at Craft-Dee Bowz

Let's Catch Some Butterflies

Whoo Hoo! Welcome to another challenge! Are you ready to come play with us?! I hope so, because we have an Anything Goes Challenge for you, at the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog! You have two weeks to play along, as always, so we expect to see a huge potpourri of fabulous entries, this round! There's a random winner to be chosen, Top 3 spots and even a guest designer spot, so you have lots of opportunities to win, from Lacy Sunshine! Oh and its the birthday of Eleanor and Pickles this month, too, so we are celebrating by using images of these two cuties, on our creations! Come see the awesome talent on display!

My bright, colorful card, today, uses the image Eleanor and Pickles Catching Butterflies, from Lacy Sunshine. I used these gorgeous papers from my stash - The base paper has flower foil accents, to add that extra special touch. This card has lots of layers, so I felt it didn't need any extra emebllishments.  I wanted to be all about the layers, this time!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Challenge #34 Anything Goes at The Stamping Chef
Challenge #67 Summer Fun (Catching Butterflies) at Lia Stampz
3 Or more Layers at Divas By Design
PWC315 Summer Fun at Paper Pretties
Summer Fun (Catching Butterflies) at Milk Coffee Challenges
Challenge #94 Lazy Summer Days at Fairy Tale Challenge
Challenge #67 Flowers at Craftitude
Challenge #6 Anything Goes at Ditzie Digi Designs
Lots of Layers at Di's Digi Designs
Challenge #264 How Does Your Garden Grow at Allsorts
Challenge #122 For A Child at A Gem Of A Challenge
Challenge #218 Anything Goes at One Stitch At a Time
Challenge #202 Color Me Happy at Corrosive Challenge
Challenge #90 Include Some Yellow at Glitter N Sparkle Challenge Blog
Challenge #77 Anything Goes (With Pink) at 613 Avenue Create
Anything Goes at My Craft Creations

Sexy Wedded Bliss

Hello, everyone! Are you ready to hear about our new challenge over at Hobbycutz! Our theme, this week, is Something Old, Something new. We want to see you use something old and something new on your project. Remember, there's a prize up for grabs, too, so you won't want to miss out on your chance to win! This week, we're being sponsored by the oh so awesome Kenny K. Come play with us! We'd love to see what you create!

I have a glittery, sparkly wedding card to show you, today. My card uses the image Wedding Garter, by Kenny K. My something old are my papers, as they are all from my sash. Don't you just love the brown, gold and black color combo? For my something new, I used this gorgeous wood die cut from Hobbycutz. To add color and sparkle, I painted to heart diecut with two colors of gold Twinkling H20's, by Luminarte.


I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Challenge #25 Get Sentimental at Scrapper's Delights Challenge Blog
Challenge #34 Anything Goes at The Stamping Chef
Challenge #45 For The Boys at Creative Moments
Weddings at The Sisterhood of Crafters
Challenge #182 Use Your Favorite Embellishments (Die Cuts) at Penny's Paper Crafty
3 Or More Designs at Divas By Designs
IIC#164 For The Boys at Inky Impressions
Challenge #94 Wedding at Pattie's Creations
Challenge #6 Anything Goes at Ditzie Digi Designs
Challenge #174 Anything With A Twist of Brown at Kenny K's Krafty Krew
Lots of Layers at Di's Digi Designs
Challenge #76 Masculine at Pumpkin Spice
Challenge #218 Anything Goes at One Stitch At a Time
For A Man at Eclectic Ellapu
Challenge #77 Anything Goes at 613 Avenue Create
Challenge #40 Masculine at Fitztown Challenges
Challenge #44 Anything Goes at Scrapbook Stamp Society

Congratulations On Your Wedding

Welcome to Oldie But Goodie Thursday, everyone! Today is the day we feature some of the older images from Bugaboo Stamps, and bring them back out into the spotlight, to provide you some awesome creative inspiration.  You can find lots more Oldie But Goodie inspiration over at Catch The Bug, too, so be sure you check them out, too, when you're finished, here.  The DT would love to have you come and visit and leave them some love!

My creation, today, uses the image Make It Snappy - Congratulations, from Bugaboo Stamps, colored with Promarkers.  For my card layout, I've used the sketch at Sketch and Stash. The gold ribbon if from my stash.  I tied it into a cute little bow on one side.  The flowers are punches with two flower punches by Recollections, and layered.  The leaf branches are punched with a punch by Martha Stewart. I used two white papers with gold foil accents, from my stash, for my background.


I am entering this card in the following challenges:


Challenge #105 Sketch at Sketch And Stash
Challenge #49 Share Your 3 Favorite Colors (Black, White and Gold) at Love To Create
Favorite Things (punches) at Natalie and Amy's Challenge Blog
Challenge #5 Spark Your Creativity/Anything Goes and Pin And Tack
Challenge #7 Flowers at The Crafty Bloggers Network
New (Papers) at Crafty Boots
Challenge #144 Anything Goes at MyGrafico
Challenge #82 Fancy Folds at Lexi's Creations
Linky Party #124 at Make It Monday
Challenge #23 Anything Goes at Eurkea Stamps Challenges
Challenge #194 Favorite Color Combo (Black, Gold and White) at Digital Tuesday
Challenge #59 New Stamps at Fairy Tale Challenge

For The Love Of Otters

I'm so excited, today, to share with you another Marvelous Monday at Shelly's Images! This one is extra special to me, because it features an image that I requested. Shelly was kind enough to draw it for me, for a project I had in mind. My cousin had visited back in the Winter and had seen a clock I altered. She fell in love with the clock and said, "OMG! You should make me one with an Otter on it!" (She LOVES otters!) I thought, Where am I going to get an image of an otter?!" So, I took a chance and asked Shelly if she could possibly draw one for me, so I could make this clock, and viola! Here we are with this fabulous Otter image! You can buy "Otter" in Shelly's Store, today only, for a discounted price!

This is perfect timing, because my cousin just moved into her own apartment for the first time and also just won an awesome Talent Contest in her hometown at the local comedy club! So, this is going to be a wonderful gift for her when I surprise her with it! Thanks so much, Shelly, for this fabulous image! Brandie is going to love her clock!

Stop by Shelly's Images and check out the other fantastic projects from our talented DT, as well as our featured Guest Designer, the oh so creative Debbie Harris, of DKH Designs! *Applause* Visit us at Shelly's Images and leave us some love! We love to read your comments!

Oh, and how about a tutorial for making an altered clock?! Stop by Shelly's Images, again, tomorrow for a step by step tutorial, and make your own clock!

Now, let's talk about this clock! I've used an inexpensive (just under $5) clock from Walmart. In case you are looking to make your own, the brand name of the clock is Mainstay. I used a patterned leaf paper in fall colors, to go with my Otter. The adorable otter is colored with Promarkers. I used the sponging technique to add color around the image. (Browns, Tans and Greens below the log, and then a mix of blues and greens to create a sky behind the otter) I punched a hole in the image with the Croc A Dile Big Bite, to be able to add the hands for the clock. The numbers are metallic gold foil stickers from The Paper Studio, matted on Chocolate Chip Cardstock and mounted with Foam Mounting Tape for dimension. The otter is cut out using the Creative Memories Cutting System.

Don't forget to drop by Shelly's Images, again, tomorrow for a step by step tutorial on altering your own clock!


I am entering this altered clock in the following challenges:


Anything Goes at MyGrafico
Challenge #38 Anything But A Card at Lexi's Creations
Challenge #62 Anything Goes at I Love Promarkers
Challenge #30 Open at Top Tip Tuesday
Challenge #148 Let's Celebrate (My cousin getting her own apt.) at A Spoon Full of Sugar
Challenge #2 Glitter or Shine (Shiny Metallic gold foil numbers) at My Mum's Craft Shop
It's All In The Numbers at The Paper Variety
Challenge #81 Animals at Fun With Shapes and More
Challenge #22 Anything Goes at Delicious Doodles
Week #128 Chocolate Inspired at One Stop Crafts
Challenge #5 Animals at Little Claire Designs
Challenge #11 One For The Boys at Bunny Zoe's Crafts
Fountain of Youth - Going To The Zoo at Stamping Vacation
Challenge #107 Pretty Punches at Digital Tuesday
Challenge #113 Welcome To The Jungle at Corrosive
Challenge #108 Pile It On! (5 layers counting hands) at Stamptacular Sunday
Challenge #58 Digi Day at Creative Inspirations
Challenge #118 Circles at The Crafty Pad
Challenge #10 Anything Goes at Sparkles Forum
Challenge #44 Digi Monday - (Gift for) Friend - at Paper Playtime
Masculine at Stamp-n-Doodle
Challenge #11 Anything Goes at KB Challenges