A Wish for Happiness in the New Year

Please click here for the Year in Review Blog Hop. I am having a little prize giveaway in that post, so hope you'll check it out if you haven't already!

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Hello and Happy 2024!!! I would like to start by wishing all of my blog followers and readers a 

                                                  Happy and Healthy New Year!!

It's the first of January so we're in the midst of Winter at the Four Seasons challenge blog and it's time for a new winter challenge. As always there is a fantastic mood board to inspire you, but it is optional and we would love to see all of your wonderful winter creations in the Four Seasons gallery, up to 3 entries per participant. 

Our January 2024 Mood Board:

Here is what I made inspired by the bottom left image on the mood board.

I started by creating a winter background using a mix Distress Oxides (Speckled Egg, Stormy Sky and Wilted Violet). A piece of torn paper was used on the bottom for some snow. I used Tim Holtz snowfall paste on the hill and trees but not sure it shows up in the picture. Maybe I just don't know how to properly use it, it's a new to me product.

The image is a stamp from Tim Holtz' set Winterscape by Stampers Anonymous. The sentiment is from the Penny Black set Festive Cheer. I added a die cut berry branch and die cut snowflakes and also used my white Posca pen for some splatter. 

Related Products:

I plan to share the final card with these challenges:

• A Perfect Time To Craft
• Classic Design Challenge 
• Crafts Galore Encore
• DL.Art Linky Challenge
• We Love Stamping (AG option) 
• Bastel-Traum - Winter Landscape
• Creative Crafting Uncles - Christmas or New Year
• Crafty Gals Corner - Tis the Season

Before I sign off for today, I wanted to let you know that there is a brand new challenge blog in town blogland! Our team leaders from the Four Seasons challenge (Darlene and Diane) have created a brand new challenge blog called Word Power where the focus is on words/sentiments. Hope you'll check it out. The first challenge is set to start on January 4th!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - December Challenge

Hello and welcome to Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday December challenge taking place right here on my blog! I'm so happy you decided to stop by today and hopefully you'll link up your own creation too! There were some wonderful entries last month so be sure to scroll down to see who made the top 3! 

As a reminder, the theme is now always.......

Anything Goes,

and instead of a challenge theme there will be a "Top Pick Twist" but nobody knows what the twist will be (not even me) until the challenge closes as it will be inspired by YOUR creations. So do link up all your new or recently created projects for a chance to be featured. Remember, you may share anything crafty, handmade by you. It doesn't have to be a card.

And here is what I made:

Stamps used: Winterscape - Stampers Anonymous // Snowflake Greetings - Dare to be Artzy (no longer available)

Inks: Stormy Sky Distress oxide // Versafine Onyx

Dies: Beneath the Birches and Dancing Snowflakes - both by Penny Black // Stitched Border Dies - Whimsy Stamps (retired - similar)

Other:  Cloud Stencil - MFT // white Posca pen // Stickles glitter // red Faber Castell Polychromos pencil

This card was inspired by the sample on the packaging for Beneath the Birches die set. I did use different stamps and created a stormy winter sky by stenciling some clouds and using a white Posca pen for snow.

Related Products:

                  >>>>>>>>12 Days of Christmas Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Challenges I am linking up with:

We Love Stamping - I love... (no, I don't love snow but I do love building a snowman, however I'm entering with "I Love... Stencils and Creating Scenes"!) // Stamping Sensations - Winter Wonderland // Simon Says Stamp - Add some Sparkle // Sisterhood of Crafters - Christmas or Winter // Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Stencils (my new cloud stencil!) // Everybody-Art-Challenge - Winter has come to town // The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge  // Bastel-Traum - Snowflakes // Die Cut Divas - Winter and Die Cuts // Let's Craft & Create Challenge - Inspired by a Song (Frosty the Snowman) // Lost Coast Designs - Something Seasonal // Make My Monday - Winter Card // International Art & Soul - Winter 

Last Month's Top Picks with a Twist:

As mentioned previously, there is now a Top Pick Twist when it comes to my selection of Top Picks. Nobody knows what the twist will be - not even me - until the end of the month as the twist will be totally inspired by YOUR creations. This means the top picks will all have something in common.

The Top Pick Twist from the November entries is ............ Seasonal Simplicity so you will see this twist reflected in each one of the top pick's cards. Remember: Simplicity doesn't necessarily mean simple to make but to me it rather means "simple in design". I just love how each one of these features a simple but eye catching design.

No. 30 KraftyKards

No. 64 Helen F.

No. 71 Valérie

Congratulations! Well deserved recognition! Your top pick logo is below, feel free to post it to your own blogs if you like to :)

I will continue to pin the top picks to the dedicated Pinterest board, but will also include photo and link back to the original blogs/sites here. These will be removed at the start of the new challenge to stay in compliance with GDPR.

PS: If you've been thinking about taking part in the "Year in Review" hop, there are only a few days remaining to sign up as a co-host. You can find all the details about the hop  HERE. 

To join in this month's challenge please use the linky tool below. You have until December 31st 11:59 CST to play along!

A few things to remember:

• You may combine with any other challenges.
• You may use any brand of stamps/digis/products (no company restriction).
• No more than 3 entries per person please so I can manage to visit each entry.
• Please do include a link back here to my blog in your blog post.
• Backlinking to a recent post IS allowed.
• Digital products are allowed and very welcome but the final piece has to be a physical handmade creation, not just digital

Encouragement Card with a Butterfly on an Inky Background

Hello and welcome! 

It's vacation time for my hubby and since we aren't going anywhere we are doing some home updates. We did go to Chicago for an overnight stay last week and I wanted to share some pictures but I didn't get a chance to look through them all, hopefully once things slow down. 

We finally got our kitchen painted!! Many years ago I wanted a sort of lighter terracotta tone, but it turned out to be very orange-y (I have no idea if they had mixed it wrong or if it just showed up differently than it did on the sample card but we stuck with it for several years!) Now it's a pretty white-ish shade (Bohemian Lace by Sherwin Williams).  It needed several coats of primer but I am sooooo glad I don't have to see the orange paint any longer!! Now I just need to plan another day to re-paint the kitchen cabinets. Wish I could just replace them (because they are really old) but that's not possible. They are an antique white right now and I want them in a very light gray.  But before I do more painting, we'll have the bathroom re-tiling scheduled for next week (we had to hire someone for that job), something else that's way overdue!! And then some plumbing work done too. Fun times :) 

But I did take a break from most work yesterday because it was my birthday :-) Originally I wanted to be gone somewhere on a vacation during my birthday, but my son wanted to get a summer job before he starts college, and hubby and my daughter didn't really feel like going anyway. 

Well, I'm not here to talk about work, instead I'd like to show you my card for this week's Allsorts challenge. Brenda is hosting this week and she would like to see something Feminine. We have Pearlywinks  giving away a £15 voucher to their shop and then we have a second prize of 3 craft stencils. Hope you'll join us for your chance to win!

This card was made with some ink remnants when I made another card (I will share that one tomorrow). 

After the inky background was dry, I simply stamped the butterfly from this Tim Holtz set onto it using Blueprint Sketch Distress ink. The borders on both sides is from an older Stampin UP set called Butterfly Basics. (It's a truly beautiful set and anything but basic!) Sentiment and lacy butterfly on the bottom portion of the inked background are also part of this set. 

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I decided the card could use some embossing and this was done with an old Cuttlebug embossing folders, in fact it was already embossed in my box of folders, so I just had to adhere the image/sentiment panel onto it. This particular one is really old, probably one from when embossing folders were first introduced, but there are plenty of option available at Scrapbook.com and of course Amazon. They really are such a great tool especially for CAS style cards, I wish I'd use them more often, but somehow I always forget about them!

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A few sticky back pearls finish off the card. 

Thanks so much for visiting!!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I'm linking up here:

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes Option // Krafty Chicks - CAS // Paper Shelter - Girly // Simon Says Stamp - Embossing  // Sisterhood of Crafters - Embossing // The Three Muses - Butterfly // Crafty Sentiment Designs - Anything Goes // 

Always Anything Goes and Link Parties:

Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

Dare to Share //   Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Welcome Wednesdays // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

Monochromatic Wall Decoration with Butterflies in Shades of Browns

Hello and welcome! 

It's time for a  new theme at Allsorts challenge. This one will run for two weeks to cover the Easter holiday so you'll have some extra time to play along and we have two wonderful prizes to give away!

It's Mervi's turn to host and she chose the theme of "Monochromatic" with an option of Anything Goes, so do feel free to link up all your new crafty makes for a chance to win one of the prizes.

I love monochromatic pieces but don't do them often, so really enjoyed the challenge! I had this sketch in mind but with the size of the butterflies it's a little too big for a traditional card so instead I decided to layer the finished piece onto a 8.5x11 inches piece of card stock and it's ready to be framed and used as a wall hanging. I just need to purchase a picture frame.

Most products I used here are by Tim Holtz. The butterflies, stencil and script I used over the butterflies are from the same set - Butterflies and Stencil combo, and I used a variety of light and brown Distress inks to stamp the butterflies and stenciling. You can see the stamp/stencil combo below and if you click the image it should take you to Amazon. 

Each butterfly image panel was adhered onto dark brown card stock after inking and distressing the edges. As mentioned, the stencil designs are both part of the same set and I used Stampin Up's french script once again (I've used this stamp a lot recently!!) to add some more interest to the background. This background stamp is long retired but always available on eBay. 

The sticky sentiment words are from Tim Holtz's sticker set Quotations available at Scrapbook.com as well as Amazon (currently higher priced). 

I inked and distressed the edges once again, adhered to dark brown card stock and then to a white 8.5x11 inch card stock. To finish off this wall hanging, I added some sticky pearls. 

Find more butterfly stamps here:

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Recent posts you may have missed:

• Olive Utility Jacket Outfit for Spring 
• I Spy Photo Challenge No. 11
• Daffodils and Stenciling for a Get Well Card

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Linking up with these blogs:

As You Like It Challenge - Favorite Springtime Critters (butterflies, because most of the other critters are out in my backyard all year round but it's always an exciting time when butterflies emerge. Last summer I planted a butterfly bush and I am even more excited to see them back again this year!) 

Stamping Sensations - Monochromatic // We Love Chocolate Baroque Challenge - I love (Butterflies & Stencils) // Ike's World - Monochromatic // Unicorn Challenge - Feminine // Path of Positivity - Something Positive // Bastel-Traum - Butterfly // Happy Little Stampers - Stencils // 

Anything Goes:

Inspire Me Monday // Tuesday Turn About //  Wonderful Wednesday // Thursday Favorite Things //  Encouraging Hearts and Home // Creative Fingers // Pattie's Creations // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // House That Stamps Built * // Crafty Sentiment Designs // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // Crafting Happiness Challenges // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges // Dare 2B Artzy Challenges * // Dragonfly Dreams // The Corrosive Challenges // Classic Design  Challenge // Crafts Galore Encore  // 

Allsorts 456 and Papercrafters' Linky party4

Hello everyone, thanks so much for visiting! Are you ready for a fun challenge? We're playing "I Spy" this week at Allsorts ...I spy something beginning with B. Super fun theme chosen by Brenda. I hope you'll join in the fun, so many choices here!! Also, the linky for the Papercrafters Linky Party has been posted, and you can find my top pick from last week and the new linky at the end of this post as well. Don't forget - Anything Papercrafts Goes at Papercrafters Linky party.

To make my card I first inked up an  acrylic block using Zig Clean Color real brush pens. I  simply scribbled the makers on top of the block, spritzed with water and then stamped the block onto Strathmore Bristol Vellum cardstock. I let the ink dry before stamping the boat using versafine onyx ink. The boat and wheel stamps are both from Just for Fun Rubberstamps. The sentiment is an old retired one from Stampin Up. The wheel was stamped using Distress ink Broken China. I finished off the card by tying some May Arts Natural Burlap twine around the card.

I also made another quick and easy card (couldn't stop playing "I spy something beginning with B" :)

For this card my "B" is a butterfly. I used the Tim Holtz Mixed Media Butterflies Stamps and Stencil Set by Stampers Anonymous. I used this same set on Tuesday's card, if you missed that card an would like to see another way of using this set, you can see it HERE. To make this card I inked a piece of Neenah Solar white 80lb card stock using Distress Ink Evergreen Bough (the same ink I used on Tuesday's card), then placed one of the stencil patterns (which is part of the stamp set) onto the card stock and added a little more of the same ink to create a design. Using the same ink again, I stamped the sentiment, butterfly and hearts. Distressed the edges using a distressing toolthen matted with black card stock and distressed those edges as well. To finish off this card I added a sticker sentiment from Tim Holtz's Metallic Quotations set. This was then adhered to a white Neenah card base.

At Allsorts challenge we have two wonderful prizes to give away this week....sponsored by Tattered Lace  and Sizzix.  I hope you'll come join us there for a chance to win! And definitely lots of choices this week to join us, following our "I spy" theme. Be sure to visit the challenge blog to see what the rest of the team chose for their "B".


This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you.

I am also playing along here:
Boat card:
Art Impressions Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes  
Crafting With An Attitude - Always Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes or A Twist Of Colour Challenge*
2 Sisters On The Blog  - A Man's Card
Always Happy Birthday  - Birthday + CAS
Country View Crafts' Challenge - Anything but Cute
Craftaholics R Us  - Anything Goes
Watercolor Wednesday Challenges -  Masculine

Butterfly card:
Southern Girls - Nature

Stamps & Stencils Feb- Collage (if a Clean and Simple collage counts)
A Bit More Time to Craft  - Anything Goes
Create and Inspire  - Anything Goes
Daisy Chain Challenges - Add a Heart
Mix It Up Challenge - Anything Goes + option: CAS

Paper Shelter Challenge - Things That Fly
Simon Says Wednesday -  Make Your own Background

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Papercrafters' Linky Party 4

    
A big thank you to everyone that joined in last week's linky party. I'm having lots of fun visiting your blogs and meeting new crafty friends. Carole, if you read this I am so sorry I wasn't able to comment on your entry....I get a white screen when trying to comment, it probably is because my blog  isn't signed up to comment on accounts requiring google plus. I did see your lovely entry, and I thank you as well for sharing that gorgeous cat ATC!

Before I post the new linky, it's time for my top pick from last week..............

Janie R 

Congratulations, Janie!!

Janie created an absolutely beautiful Paris themed album. She put so many wonderful details into this, it's truly a work of art. Thank you so much, Janie, for sharing your creativity! Feel free to place the top pick logo on your own blog if you like.

If you would like to play along for a chance to be featured here on my blog, simply click the linky tool below. Remember ANYTHING PAPERCRAFTS GOES. This can be something new or recently made (within the last week or two). 

Happy stamping and thank you for visiting!!


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Beautiful Butterfly

For the Papercrafters' Linky Party simply click here.


Happy Tuesday!
I have another unscheduled post today, I purchased a couple new stamp sets and found some time this weekend to get inky. The card was quick to make too. We actually had a 4 day weekend, and had no plans as my daughter and son were both recovering from what is probably the flu. My daughter was the last one to catch it and I still have her home today. She felt better to go to school this morning but she still has too many symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, some coughing) and with how bad the flu season is this year I decided to keep her home today so she doesn't get anyone else sick. My kids do hate missing school though as they know they will have to work harder to catch up on what they missed.

The stamp set I used on today's card is Tim Holtz Mixed Media Butterflies Stamps and Stencil Set by Stampers Anonymous. I just love the versatility of the set and what a great sentiment! So inspiring! I actually made another quick card with it, but I am keeping that one for Saturday's Allsorts challenge post.

I started out by inking an acrylic block with Distress Ink Evergreen Bough,  spritzing the block with water and then using it to stamp directly onto Strathmore Bristol Vellum card stock. Next I used my Tonic Studios Tim Holtz Stamp Platform to stamp the verse and butterfly using Versafine Onyx Ink  (after making sure the distress ink was dry - I used a heating tool to speed up the drying process.) After cleaning off the black ink from the butterfly, I inked it up again using Evergreen Bough distress ink and then stamped it twice over the sentiment panel (only inking once). I have also used a paint brush to add a little bit of ink splatter to the background.

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The edges were distressed using a distressing tool, but this can easily be done with a pair of scissors. Mounted onto black card stock, distressed again then adhered onto a card base. The card base is one of Stampin Up's in-color (Bermuda Bay - not sure if it is still available). A couple of sticky pearlswere placed onto the butterfly body. I've also used one side of the stencil that was included with this stamp set on the watercolor piece, I just sponged a little bit of the same ink to give it a subtle texture.


This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you.

I'd like to play along in these challenges:
Always Fun Challenges - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations -  Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Make My Monday - Messy Backgrounds
Path of Positivity -  Anything Positive 
The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge  Anything Goes 
heARTful Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes + a Stamp
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenges - Always Anything Goes
We Love 2 Create  - Always Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes
Crafty Calendar- 2 or More Layers
Imagine That! Creative Playground - Year Round Link Party
Cardz 4 Galz - Stamping
Crafting With An Attitude - Always Anything Goes
Little Miss Muffet Challenges - Always Anything Goes
Country View Crafts' Challenge - Anything but Cute
Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media February - Butterfly

Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you enjoy the rest of your week and I will be back again on Saturday.