Dear Friend ...

Your birthday, as my own, to me is dear....

But yours gives most; for mine did only lend

Me to the world; yours gave to me a friend.

~Marcus Valerius Martialis (Martial), "To Quintius Ovidius," translated by William Hay

Good morning ...

Today is the start of a new Color Challenge at The Outlawz

We are using this tic tac toe grid this week for inspiration.

Red - Black & Green

Although the picture does not show it, the DP actually has glossy accents and there is black glitter on the tips of the border.

I made this card for a dear friend who is celebrating a birthday right after the first of the year.

I used horizontal from top left to lower right ... 

card size 5 x 7

Supplies

Black glitter glue from Studio G

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Bazzill

Design Paper "Victorian Treaures" from DCWV

Die "Ironworks Accents" from Spellbinders

Thanks for stopping by!

Don't forget to visit The Outlawz, where a new challenge starts every day! 

 (Hugs) Cara

White on White ...

Poinsettias received their name in the United States in honor of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the plant into the country in 1828. Poinsett was a botanist, physician and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. He sent cuttings of the plant he had discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charleston, South Carolina. The word Poinsettia is traditionally capitalized because it is named after a person.

Good morning ... today is the start of a new color challenge at The Outlawz. This is my week to post and our challenge this week is White on white with one neutral (black, brown, kraft) and one color of choice. The project must be mostly white with just touches of the allowed colors.

I chose the white on white because I love the look of  projects made with them. It doesn't matter if it has minimal elements or lots of layers, they always looks elegant and tidy. However, I struggle with them when trying to make them myself as I always want to add color somewhere! So baby steps right?

Here is my 5 x 7 card!

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up

Christmas Holly Damask embossing folder from Cricut

Christmas Joy stamp set from Close to My Heart

India ink from Memories

Layered Poinsettia die from Spellbinders

Pearls from my Stash

Pine Needle die from Gina Marie Designs

Stitched Heart die from Gine Marie Designs

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to head over to the Outlawz where a new challenge starts every day of the week! (Hugs) Cara

Bag it ....

Good evening

I am running ever so behind schedule these days ... Yesterday was the start of a new Color Challenge at The Outlawz!

This weeks challenge comes from Jeanie ...

Make a bag using Red, Green, White & Black with an added twist of Lace!

Here is a photo to inspire you.

Here is my little bag

Supplies:

Bit of Lace from stash

Black yarn from my stash

Card stock from Stampin Up!

Darice embossing folder "Crackle"

Hampton Art stamp set "Holiday Sentiments"

Ink from Memories and Stampin Up!

Sizzix die "Bag with Flower"

Sizzix die "Pillow box & Poinsettias"

Stampin Up stamp set "Season's Sketches"

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to head over to the Outlawz where a new challenge starts every day of the week!

(Hugs) Cara

Of all the months of the year there is not a month one-half so welcome to the young, or so full of happy associations, as the last month of the year... ~"All the Year Round: December," All the Year Round: A Weekly Journal Conducted by Charles Dickens, 1887 December 10th

Birthday Wishes ...

Everything slows down with age, except the time it takes cake and ice cream to reach your hips.  ~John Wagner 

Good morning!

I hope everyone is doing great! Today I am sharing the card I made for this week's color challenge at The Outlawz. Ursula picked out the colors this week with an added twist of using a button. Something I didn't do because I have 50 gazillion buttons and none were the right color or size (sigh). 

Here is my 5 x 7 card

Supplies

Cardstock from The Paper Studio

Cricut Die "Flower Vine"

Cuttlebug EF "Polka Dots"

Darice EF "Crackle"

Design Paper from Colorbok "Bright Splash"

Stampin Up! Die "Butterflies"

Stash: Silver Birthday Tag, Rhinestones

Yvonne Creations Die "Flowers"

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Blog Candy Time!

Good Evening Everyone!

As you are aware, we just finished up our month long blog hop celebrating my 2nd year as owner of Through the Craft Room Door.

Many hugs and thank you's to all of you who commented on my cards! I enjoyed reading them all and as promised, I have blog candy to give away!

The winner, picked via Random draw is ... (drum roll please) ...

The Altered Paper

Congratulations Tee .... Email me at cdmalmrose@gmail.com with your address so I can get your goodies out to you!

And .... if you followed the hop and want to find out who won all the awesome prizes at Through the Craft Room Door, just click HERE!

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Jumping for joy is good exercise.  ~Author Unknown

Happy Holidays ...

Got snow drifts? Think of all the magical snowmen buried beneath, waiting for release.

~Dr. SunWolf, 2015 tweet

Good morning!

I hope you are all enjoying the Holidays and are ready for Christmas!

I'm still working to get my Christmas cards addressed and out the door... and I still need to make the cards for the Parents! 

Today is December 1st and the start of a new Progressive Freebie Challenge at The Outlawz. Our sponsor this month is SandiSamples with this adorable snowman!

Come check us out and play along!

This card is 5 x 5

Supplies

Image #65 Snowman by Sandi Samples colored with Copics

Embossing folder "Petals a Plenty" from Stampin Up!

Pearls from The Paper Studio

Card stock from The Paper Studio

DP from my stash (I think DCWV)

Thanks for Stopping By!

(Hugs) Cara

31 years strong ...

To keep the fire burning brightly there's one easy rule: Keep the two logs together, near enough to keep each other warm and far enough apart — about a finger's breadth — for breathing room. Good fire, good marriage, same rule. ~Marnie Reed Crowell

Good morning!

Today is the start of a new color challenge at The Outlawz

Our sponsor this month is

Newton's Nook Designs. 

 

Ursula picked our challenge this week!

  Monochromatic!

You can use any color family your wish, I used blue to make this 5 x 7 Anniversary card for my Husband.

"Stitched Heart" die from Gina Marie Designs

Bow Punch from Stampin Up!

Cardstock: Stampin Up!, The Paper Studio and my stash

DP: Close to My Heart "Dakota"

Ink from Close to My Heart

Silver dots from my stash

Stamp from Momenta

My card is based on this card from Jenn47 at SplitCoastStampers

Thanks for Stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Enjoy your day ...

“Be the type of person that not only turns heads, but turns souls as well.” ~ Author Unknown

Good morning!

Today is the start of a new color challenge at The Outlawz

Our sponsor this month is

Newton's Nook Designs. 

 

Jeanie picked our challenge colors this week with a twist of making it a Birthday card

 

Here's my card!

I used all 5 colors for this Birthday card.

Cardstock from Stampin Up! and my Stash

Die: Butterflies from Stampin Up!

Die: Scallop Circles from Sizzix

DP for the "rays" from Bo Bunny "Petal Pink Splatter", ColorBok, Stampin up! and my scrap bin

Ink from Stampin Up! & Memories

Pearls from The Paper Studio

Stamps: "Riveting" from Stampin Up!

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Wonderland ...

In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it "Christmas" and went to church; the Jews called it "Hanukka" and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say "Merry Christmas!" or "Happy Hanukka!" or (to the atheists) "Look out for the wall!"

~Dave Barry, "Christmas Shopping: A Survivor's Guide"

Good morning

Today I have another Christmas card for you!

Card size 5 x 7

SUPPLIES

"Christmas Holly Damask" embossing folder from Cuttle bug

"Holiday Words: Script" from Sizzix

"Oval Burst" die from Gina Maris Designs

"Tattered Poinsettias" die from Sizzix

Card stock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!

Design Paper unknown

Perfect Pearls from Ranger

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Dandelions ...

Some see Weeds, I see Wishes!

Good morning

This is my week to select the Color Challenge for The Outlawz which started today and I am using this lovely inspiration photo! Every time I see a field of dandelion, my heart can't help but smile looking at all those possible wishes waiting to be sent out on the wind!

  

Our sponsor this month is

Newton's Nook Designs. 

 

Here is my 5 x 7 card

SUPPLIES

Card stock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!

E.Folder "Dandelions" from Darice

Glitter glue from Studio G

Glitter Paper from Recollections

Ink from Stampin up and Memories

Sentiment from Halo Rubber Stamps

Various small punches

Come Play with us!

(Hugs) Cara

Think Snow ...

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found? ~J.B. Priestley

Good morning Everyone!

I hope you are all having a wonderful start to your week!

Today is the start of a new Color Challenge at The Outlawz Challenges.

Here is our challenge this week! Come play along with us!

USE ALL 5 COLORS 

Our sponsor this month is

Newton's Nook Designs. 

And here is my 5 x 7 card!

Supplies

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin up!

DP "Touquet" By 7 Gypsies

Rhinestones from my Stash

Ink from Stampin Up!

Stamps "Flurry of Wishes" from Stampin Up! & "Think Snow" from Inkahootz!

Dies "Classic Circles" from Sizzix

My time of year!

November gave her scented sprigs

Of Spruce and Larch and Pine...

~James Rigg, "The Progress of Queen Flora, Adorned by a Hundred Wild Flowers," Wild Flower Lyrics and Other Poems, 1897

Good morning my fair friends and followers,

Today is the first of November ... I know many people dislike the coming of autumn but I love it. I always have. I love the different shades of gold, copper, brown and yellow in the trees. Everything seems to hold a warmth that is lacking in the pastels of Spring and the brightness of Summer.

I don't know how else to explain it but this time of year sings to me and I feel myself relaxing into it.

(sigh)

Today is also the start of the Monthly Progressive Freebie challenge at The Outlawz Challenges.

Our sponsor this month is DisDigiStamps with this really cute image done by Di Carubia.

Card size is 5 x 7

 Supplies

Image "Micemas" Post by Di Carubia colored with Copics and Prisma color pencils

"Holiday Greetings" from The Angel Company

Black India Ink from Memories

Card stock from The Paper Studio

Glitter card stock from Recollections

"Swiss Dots" embossing folder from Cuttlebug

Bow punch from Stampin Up!

"Labels Collections" die from Stampin Up!

Snowflake sticker from Wal-Mart

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

I have entered the following Challenge(s)

Crimbo Crackers #118, Die Cuts

LTCCB #4 - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge #31 - "Anything Goes"

Traditional? I think not! ...

It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it. ~John Burroughs, "Winter Sunshine"

Good morning!

WOW! Can you all believe it is November 1st already?! Halloween is past and Christmas is nipping at the heels of Thanksgiving which is coming up faster that we would all like I think!

Today is also the start of a new Color Challenge at The Outlawz Challenges with a challenge of making a Christmas card without using Red, Green or Gold!

Our sponsor this month is

Newton's Nook Designs. 

And here is my 5 x 7 card!

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio

Dies: Snowflake from Hero Arts and Tags from Sizzix

Glitter paper from Stampin Up!

Ink from Close to my Heart (and is not gold - it's actually a brown color)

Stamps: Flurry of Wishes from Stampin Up! and Stampabilities

Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you over at The Outlawz Challenges!

I entered this card into the folllowing challenge(s)

Unicorn Challenge Blog #15 Snow/Snowflakes

Love to Craft Challenge Blog LTCCB #4 - Anything Goes

2nd Annual Through the Craft Room Door Celebration Blog Hop

Good morning Friends and Followers!

Welcome to my post for the 2nd Annual Celebration Blog Hop for Through the Craft Room Door which will run until midnight November 30th with winners announced December 5th!

If you came here from Ann-Marie blog you are on the right trail! If not, click HERE to head on over to Through the Craft Room Door to read the requirements and start the hop!

We have quite a few prizes up for grabs from some very generous sponsors, blog candy on several of the Design Team Members blogs, including mine, a freebie digi paper for everyone who leaves a comment on the main blog post. A weekly prize drawing on the main blog post and a drawing on our Facebook Page.

Check out this list of sponsors and prizes!

Decosses Dynamite Doodles

PRIZE: Three Digi paper items

DigiStamps4Joy

PRIZE: Two $10.00 Vouchers

Fresh Brewed Designs

PRIZE: Two $20.00 vouchers

Indigoblu

PRIZE: Nottingham Lace Stamp Set

MHKDesigns

PRIZE: Choice of 3 items from her shop

Morgan Fitzsimon

PRIZE: Three single digi images

Pickled Potpourri

PRIZE: $7.00 voucher

Repeat Impressions

PRIZE: $25.00 gift voucher

Whimsy Stamps

PRIZE: $20.00 gift voucher

Wink Wink Ink

PRIZE: $15.00 voucher

Denise, Close to My Heart Independent Consultant

PRIZE: $25.00 voucher, US Only

Drawn with Character

PRIZE: Choice of 3 images from her shop

I have two cards which I am going to share with you using some images from a couple of our Sponsors. 

This worked great for me since I am trying to get some more Christmas and some Halloween cards done!

This first card is an A2 card I made for Halloween using an pre-colored image called "Bootiful" from Wink Wink Ink

This A2 card was made using the image "Santa's Latte" from Fresh Brewed Designs!

Thanks for stopping by ... Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win one of the main prizes and also a surprise package of crafty goodness from me!

Now on to your next stop which is Cicci's Blog. Don't forget to leave some love ... if you comment on all the blogs as you visit, you get more chances in the drawing!

Aly

Angela

Ann-Marie

You are here ---> Cara

Cicci

Deonna

Digistamps4joy - Guest

Ema

IndigoBlu - Guest

Jan

Jeanie

Mel

Natalie - Morgan's Art World Guest Designer

Nicky

Sandra

Therese

TTCRD CHALLENGE BLOG

TTCRD FACEBOOK PAGE

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to comment before heading over to Cicci's blog!

(hugs) Cara

Boo! ...

Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title. ~From Scooby-Doo

Good morning Friends and Followers... I hope you are having a great week and are ready for all the little trick or treaters this weekend. I enjoy Halloween but not the scary stuff many of my friends seem to prefer. 

I find no pleasure having the living daylights scared out of me and won't watch horror flicks, preferring to watch Hocus Pocus, Nightmare before Christmas or It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

I like Casper the Friendly Ghost, Wendy the Good Witch and Hot Stuff the Little Devil! LOL ...

Anyway, whatever type of Halloween you prefer, I hope you have a fun one!

Today is the start of a new Color challenge at The Outlawz ...

  

Our Sponsor this month is Mari Digis Digital Stamp Store

and the prize is these three images

Here is my card

Card size 5 x 7

Supplies

• Digi Image "Movie Time" from Mari Digis Digitial Stamp Store colored with Copics
• Bats from my stash
• Cardstock from The Paper Studio, Bazzill and Stampin Up!
• Die: "Pumpkin Jack" and "Mini Scary Jack" from Sizzix
• Embossing folders:"D'Vine Swirl" and "Midnight Haunting" from Cuttlebug, "Wood grain" from The Paper Studio
• India Ink from Memories
• Sentiment from "Spooky Phrases" by Martha Stewart

Thanks for stop by!

(Hugs) Cara

Kitty Serenade ...

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”

~ Khalil Gibran

Good morning Everyone!

Today is the start of a new Anything Goes Challenge at Through the Craft Room Door.

This week our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps

and I am using this really cute image BugsCatsTopperCats which I colored with a combination of Copics and Prisma Color Pencils.

Because the plucky little critters look like they are singing I added some music notes to make it seem like they were singing the Birthday Song.

  

card size 5 x 7

BugCatsTopperCats

Cardstock from The Paper Studio

Copics

Prisma Color Pencils

Musical notes from "All that Jazz" by Stampin Up!

Sentiment from "Happiest of Birthday Wishes" by Stampin Up!

Aleen's Paper Glaze

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Reading is FUN-damental ..

If you see the magic in a fairy tale, you can face the future.

- Danielle Steel -

  

Good morning Friends and Followers

Today is the start of a new Color challenge at The Outlawz ...

  

Our Sponsor this month is Mari Digis Digital Stamp Store

and the prize is these three images

This weeks challenge is to use 4 colors with a optional twist of anything but a card.

I made a bookmark for my daughter

 Supplies

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!

Digi image "Love Music"  from Mari Digis, colored with Copics

India Ink from Memories

Musical notes from "All that Jazz" by Stampin Up!

Sentiment "Smile" from Unity Stamp Company

Thanks for stopping my!

Cara