The Christmas Train

     So, it's Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend and I am back at the computer.  Two of my posts which were scheduled posted properly but one went astray.  I have reset it for tomorrow so we'll see what happens.  For today, I want to share with you a Christmas card I've made for a very special someone -- my youngest grandson, who (at 5 years old) happens to think that trains are the most fantastic things ever invented!  :-D

The sketch came from Paper Players.

     Don't you just love that vintage train, chugging along through the snow with smoke trailing along behind the smokestack?  Brrrr, winter is definitely here!   It's from Graphics Fairy.  The card is about as CAS as I could get, but I did add the one snowflake which is totally covered in glitter.  I also added glitter to the headlamps on the train, and then used Creative Inspirations paints to add some shimmer to the snow, the moon hiding behind the clouds, and the smoke.  I wish it showed up better in the photograph.

     Here are the challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - snowflakes

C.R.A.F.T. - unusual Christmas (not a typical Christmas card, but does have a Polar Express feel to it)

Crazy 4 Challenges - some kind of snow

Creative Card Crew - monochromatic

Divas by Design - monochromatic

Dream Valley Challenges - sparkle

Fashionable Stamping - "Dreaming of a White Christmas"

Gingerloft - Christmas & Winter

Here Come the Boys - for the Men in your life

House That Stamps Built - Christmas + snowflake

Hybrid Chick - Glitter

Ladybug Crafts Ink - Winter blues

Outlawz Twisted Thursday - No Copics or alcohol inks - Anything Goes

Rainbow Lady's Challenge - Cards for men

Scrapbook Sisters - Christmas

Send a Smile 4 Kids - Holiday card for a kid

Totally Gorjuss - sparkle

     That's it for the weekend.  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you've made at least a dent in your Christmas shopping.  Keep warm and enjoy some crafting.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Warm and Fuzzy House Mice

     Another Guest Designer card for House Mouse & Friends.  The challenge theme this time is "Warm & Fuzzy."   Nothing could be warmer or fuzzier than these little mice huddled around a candle lamp.  This image is from the House Mouse unmounted stamp set "Winter", and I'm almost ashamed to admit I've never used it before this card.  Well, in my defense, I got it after my Christmas/winter cards were done for last year.  :-D   The sketch is from Bling It On.

    The image is stamped with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with black detail EP, then colored with Copic markers, including the sky, and I used the colorless blender to make the snowflakes, filled in with a white gel pen.  The image is matted with black and dark blue CS, cut with square die cuts.  I used polka dot dp and striped dp from DCWV (I think - they've been in my stash a long time!) for the background papers and used lace ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon to make the vertical lines of the sketch.   I added Stickles to the snow and the candle flame.  For embellishments, I added more of the lace ribbon, ruffling it along super sticky tape, then added the pearl swirls and the flowers.  The flowers also have Stickles on them for glitz and glimmer.

     I adore this stamp now that I've used it.  It makes me think of staying warm with family all around, and the sad part is that my family is spread all over the country.  Wish we were all closer.   I think this may be my favorite Christmas card so far this year!  It'll be a tough decision which favorite child or grandchild is going to get it when it comes to mailing out cards to family for the holiday.   Maybe one or more of them will try to bribe me for it!  Maybe I could offer it in exchange for more House Mouse stamps in my Christmas stocking - what d' ya think?   Pay attention family -- I'm open to all bribery suggestions!  :-D 

     OK, here's the long list of other challenges for this card:

Pile It On (Load as many challenges as possible on one card) - Anything with a "P" (pearls)

Moving Along with the Times - Let It Snow

Addicted to Stamps - pearls and lace

Catered Crop - from their list, I used: Winter scene, swirls, lace, ribbon, pearls, & layers

Try It On Tuesday - Anything Goes/Wish you were here

Southern Girls Challenge- Bingo (Glitter, Ribbon, Embossing) 

Gingerloft - Lace 

Crafter's Companion Monthly - Let it snow

Delightful Challenges - Bingo (Add dimension, ribbon/lace, glitter/sparkle)

Let's Ink It Up - Favorite Technique (lots of layers, heat embossing, & coloring)

Penny Black and More - All Creatures Great and Small

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Anything Christmas with pearls (My first time playing here)

Forever Friends (must use an animal) - Christmas is Coming

Stamps R Us - Bling it on

Oldie But a Goodie - Let It Snow

Ooh La La - Bingo (Pearls, Flowers, Lace)

Sassy Cheryl's - Anything Goes

Cards und More - Blue and Pearls

Just Inspirational - inspiration photo

Shelley's Images - Anything Goes

City Crafter - Four Legged Friends (My first time playing here, too.)

Make It Colorful - Lanterns/Candlelight

Kaboodle Doodles - Baby, It's Cold Outside

Scraptastic - Not an A2 + use ribbon and die cut

     Dig out those wonderful House Mouse stamps you have (or a Gruffies or a Happy Hopper stamp) and play along in the challenge at House Mouse & Friends.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Stitchy Bear Sponsors Tuesday Throwdown

     Good morning, all my lovely followers and friends.  It's a glorious Tuesday morning here in Northern California after a weekend of rain or snow, depending on your elevation.  While my own back yard doesn't get snow, after seeing all the beautiful pictures of the fresh snow, today's card is done to celebrate snowy, white Christmases.  The challenge at Tuesday Throwdown this week is sponsored by Stitchy Bear (they generously supplied all the images to the DT), and our theme is Favorite Color Combo.  While most of you know that purple is my favorite color, teal/turquoise and white is one of my favorite color combos for cards.

     Isn't this the most adorable snowman (hmmm, snowpeople) family, all together for Christmas?  The sketch is from Eat, Sleep, Stamp and I had to push it a bit to get the window effect I wanted.  I think Tracy will forgive me for that since square cards and window cards are things I rarely do but I took it as a challenge and did both in one card!  Thanks, Tracy, for the inspiration.  :-D   Christmas Stamping All Year Long wants us to use a favorite sketch, and you all know by now that Tracy's Eat, Sleep, Stamp is my favorite place to find a sketch.

     The image is colored with teal, turquoise, and blue-gray Touch Twin markers (loving those more and more all the time!) and I added almost no other colors because I wanted to stay with the teal, which is the color challenge this week at Do You Stack Up?  I added Stickles Diamonds and also Stickles Frosted Lace for all the sparklies on the image.  There is also sparkle in the dp, which is from the Linen Closet stack by DCWV.  I chose it because it looked like it could be wallpaper.   I used 1/16" teal, satin ribbon to make the window, and a scrap of lace from my stash for the curtain.  That lace has flowers in it so they have to serve as the flowers on my card.  Crafty Ribbons had a Bingo chart this week (Glitter, Flowers, Gems), as did Truly Scrumptious, (Lace, Flowers, Ribbon.)

     My final touch was the sparkly gem swirl for some added bling.  I have to say this is one of those cards which pleases me greatly!  I was a bit concerned that it wouldn't look the way I had it pictured in my mind, but it is even better than what I imagined!

     Other challenges (and there are a ton of them this time):

Allways Something Creative - sparkle

Crafty Purple Frog - sparkle

Delightful Challenges - sparkly Christmas

Crafter's Companion - Celebrate a Holiday

Bah, Humbug - Snowmen

Crop Stop - Make a Snowman

Cupcake Craftroom - Sweet Christmas

Floweret - Christmas

I Did It Creations - Winter/Christmas (also sponsored by Stitchy Bear this week!)

Freshly Brewed - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Christmas

Jellypark Friends - non-traditional Christmas colors

Sundays with Chrissy - Christmas in non-traditional colors

Crimbo Crackers - (must be Christmas) Anything Goes

Fabulous Friday - Family

Paper Crafting Journey - Use a Digi

Winter Wonderland - Make it sparkle

The Squirrel & The Fox - Hats or Flowers

Party Time Tuesday - sparkle and bling

Heart Song Inspirations - Anything Goes

     Hope to see you playing this week at Tuesday Throwdown.  How much easier can it be?  Just pick a favorite color combo and play along.  See you there.  NanaConnie