CTMH Christmas Card Challenge

As many of you know, I am on the design team for a challenge blog called Crafting By Designs.  It is a terrific site that encourages friendship and creativity.  Weekly, we do fun challenges that often push the creative juices.  :o)  This week, the challenge is to create a card using only the color white.  We were allowed to color an image.  CTMH has so many terrific images that are perfect for coloring but one of my favorites immediately came to mind to use....

 

It is the cardinal from the "To You and Yours" set (B1403).  This set was actually released last year and remains current.  I loved it last year and I continue to love it.   White on White is a challenge.  When I was designing this card, I knew that I would have to come up with texture to show off the different mats.  I used my Cuttlebug folders along with my scoreboard for the top mat to do this.  The cardinal was stamped using my CTMH Archival Black ink and colored with my CTMH alcohol markers.  Just a tip...  when you use the Archival Black ink for your markers please allow it to dry before you color the image.  I usually will do my stamping and go off and prepare the rest of the card while the ink is setting.  You could also use your heat gun to speed the process.  The key is to ensure that the ink is dry to avoid smearing.  Anyway, after the cardinal was colored, I cut it out before I attached it to the mats.  I wanted to do that to enhance the texture of the card.

I know that we are all busy right now, but take a few moments and check out the challenge on Crafting By Designs.  Feel free to enter a card, too.  I would love to see how you interpret the White on White challenge.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

Crafting By Designs Challenge

I am finally seeing my way clear to assume some of my Crafting By Designs designer team responsibilities.  Whew....  Crafting By Designs is a terrific challenge blog that focuses on creativity and friendship.  The challenges run for a week and many times have a great give away attached.  This weeks challenge is to create a card that features either a Christmas or Winter Theme. 

My card for the challenge features the CTMH stamp called Classy Doily (B1424) and the Frosted paper packet (X7175B.)  Both of these products are 2 of my favorites from the Fall/Winter Idea Book.

To complete this card, I heat embossed the Classic Doily 3 times in silver embossing powder.  I cut out the first image, then cut the second one around an inner design and the third I cut out the center star.  I lightly colored small sections of each with my CTMH alcohol markers for just an accent and the focal image was done.  "Noel" was also heat embossed in silver.  The two bottom strips were punched using my CTMH border punch (Z1851.)   A few sparkles, a little shimmer tape and the card was done.  By the way, the sketch is from "Make It From The Heart, Vol. 1."  (9035)  I love the CTMH sketch and how to books.

So, if you want to take a break from your cooking, baking and eating, hop over to the Crafting By Designs Blog Challenge and share one of your creations.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

A Card Challenge and CTMH For Always

For those of you who don't realize this, I often help out with challenges over at the Crafting By Designs Challenge Blog.  It is a group of very talents ladies who weekly offer up some really fun challenges.  This week, it was my turn to host the challenge.  I decided that I wanted to do a "Thank You" card challenge, but I haven't been much help to those lovely ladies recently in addition to saying thank you to the many many participants on the blog.

 

You might have notices that I am using an awful lot of For Always right now.  Well, that is because my monthly workshop features this paper packet and I have been busy designing card to include in class.  This card features last month's CTMH Stamp of the Month, Lagoon and Pacifica card stock and For Always.  I colored the flowers using our Alcohol Markers and the Sentiment was Rock and Roll stamped with Lagoon and Pacifica inks.

So, if you are in the mood to make a Thank You card, click on over to Crafting By Designs and add your creation!  For Now, Happy Crafting!