Hot Cocoa Weather

     When the weather is nasty and the wind is howling, it's time to bring in the fur babies, make hot cocoa, and snuggle up on the couch, leaving the freezing cold outside where it belongs.  This darling image from A Day for Daisies reminded me of "hot cocoa evenings" from my childhood.  How could I resist making a card?

     I started with the sketch from Atlantic Hearts, flipped side to side,

and used the colors from Inspired by Stamping.

  

     The image and sentiment are both printed right onto the card front because I wanted a really CAS card.  I colored with my ProMarkers, added a spatter of glitter to the pompom on her cap, and inked the edges.  I sponged around the borders with an ink pad.  This card was the first done in colors that allowed me to use my brand new velvet ribbon that I got for Christmas.  I'm so crazy about that ribbon and I got it in three different shades of pink.  This one is the darkest and, yes, it's just as soft and scrumptious as it looks!  

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
A Snowflakes Promise

ArtbyMiran

Brown Sugar
Crafting for all Seasons
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
Everybody-Art
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Inspiration Destination
In the Pink

Jo's Scrap Shack
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Passion for ProMarkers

Really Reasonable Ribbon

     I'm really proud of myself for managing a post every day this past week.  I had a miserable bout of the flu last week and it's taking forever to shake it off.  I am up and about most of the day now but I did sneak off for a nap the last two days.  I still have no voice and I tire easily but I've gotten a lot done despite that.

     Be sure to stop by tomorrow.  After a four month break, Open-Minded Crafting Fun is back and I've rejoined the team!  We're going to have monthly challenges now, starting on the 10th of each month.  You won't want to miss our first January challenge, with multiple sponsors for more chances to win!!  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Santa with Sparkles

     This cheerful Santa is another image which I found in my stash, already printed/stamped and ready to color.  Like the turkey image on the card I posted a couple of days ago, I have no idea who drew it.  I forgot to label it when I printed it and my memory fails me today.  If anybody knows, please tell me because I'd love to give proper credit.  Edited:  Mystery solved thanks to Vicki!  It's a retired SU stamp which I no longer have.  I sold or gave away all but about a dozen of my rubber stamps when I was packing to move to my current home.  :-D

I used the sketch from the Outlawz Sketch Challenge.

   

    Santa is colored with ProMarkers and I added glitter to the fur and pompom on his hat.  I wish I could figure out what's going on with my camera that I can't seem to photograph sparkle very well.  This photo (and all the others I tried) is so disappointing but IRL, his sparkle is fabulous.  :-D  Edited to add:  I finally managed to get a shot of the sparkle and here it is:

     I fussy cut Santa and mounted him on dimensional dots to red CS, die cut that and added it to a black die cut a size larger.  I put that entire piece onto the card after using two different papers to make the background and the diamond shape dp, and put on the wrapped twine.

     My favorite things on this card are the reindeer and sleigh plus the tree and snowman in the corners.  Can you believe those are all buttons?  I had to cut off the shanks and sand down the left over little bumps but I love the depth and dimension they give to the card without being 'too much' by way of embellishment.  Those have been in my stash for longer than I care to admit.  :-D

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Ching-chou Kuik
Christmas Stampin'; All Year Long
C.R.A.F.T.
Craft for the Craic
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Crafty Time
Crimbo Crackers
Graph'It
Great Impressions
Julia Spiri
Moving Along with the Times
Sisterhood of Crafters
Unicorn Challenge

     Less than two weeks 'til Thanksgiving and only four more after that until Christmas!  Yikes!!  I have more to do than I realized but at least the Christmas shopping has been done for more than a month.  I have a couple of sewing projects I have to finish and I need to start wrapping things but that can wait until Thanksgiving weekend.  In the meantime, I'm going to craft my heart out.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie