Blessings ...

...all which we behold

Is full of blessings...

~William Wordsworth, 1798

Good morning,
I need to add to my stash of Thanksgiving cards to I picked out some design paper and got to work!

For this set I used another Sheetload of cards layout that produced 12 cards. Pretty much took care of what I needed!

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!
Design paper from My Minds Eye (Home)
Dies from Dee’s Distinctively dies (Trass base #2 & Tree Toppers)
Ink from Stampin Up!
Sentiment from Stampin Up! (Teeny Tiny Wishes)
Sketch: Call me Crafty Al Sheetload of Cards
#SUYSDec2910
#Showusyoursheetloads

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Scrappy Yuletide Greetings ...

Remember This December,

That love weighs more than gold!...

~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon (1876–1961), "The Right Gift," 1912

Good morning,
This card is based on a sketch from The Outlawz Challenges. I love working with sketches because I feel like they give me an anchor point … sometimes I stick to sketch. Other times I wander off in another direction. Either way, it always helps.

Sketchs are also a great way to use up paper scraps!  

Most of this card are made from bits left over from a set of cards I made as well as my die bucket where I toss unused die cuts.

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (base) and Stampin Up!
Design paper from Stampin Up! and my scrap bin
Embossing folder from Stampin Up! (Timeworn Type)
Ink, Versafine Claire from Tsukineko
Sentiment from Close to My Heart (To You & Yours)
Sequins from my stash
Walnut ink spray from Tsukineko
Zig Zag border bunch from EK Success
Sketch: The Outlawz Challenges

 
Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Winter Wonderland ...

Of winter's lifeless world each tree

Now seems a perfect part;

Yet each one holds summer's secret

Deep down within its heart.

~Charles G. Stater

Good morning, today I am sharing another card I made recycling an older Christmas card. This image just makes me cold looking at it! LOL

Supplies: 5 x 7

Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!

Glimmer paper from my stash

Ink from Stampin Up!

Sentiment from Close to my Heart (Joyful Garden)

Sequins from Unity Stamps

Silver strip from my stash

Stampin Up! Tag punch

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Up & away ...

Spend time barefoot with adventure and joy. ~Terri Guillemets, "Heart & sole," 2019, blackout poetry created from Mary Carter, Return to Hampton Beach, 2014, chapter 8

Good morning!

We have a new Challenge at The Outlawz Greeting Challenge located HERE. This round is sponsored Mirtillamente and will run through October 9th

Our Greeting this challenge is good luck with a twist of adding balloons!

This one was a for sure a bit of a challenge but in a good way but I managed a fun slimline style card.

Supplies, Slimline card

• Sponsor image (Crazy Paw Froggy) printed on Hammermill Color Card
• Embossing folders from Stampin Up! (Subtle & Old World Paper)
• Ink from Stampin Up! & Versafine Claire
• ProMarkers
• Sentiment die from Sizzix (Hot Air Balloon)
• Sentiment stamp from Stampingbella (Irish Chicks)
• Twine from American Crafts

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to check out the main blog located HERE to see the other challenges!
(Hugs) Cara

Oh Christmas Tree ...

Oh, the Christmas tree's my favorite

Of all the trees that grow.

~Laura F. Armitage, "My Favorite Tree," 1906

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

I happened to have two identical cards that had a big Christmas tree on the front. So I used a die to cut a bunch of little Christmas trees out and used one of Crafty Al's wonderful Sheetlaod of cards layouts resulting in 6 lovely Christmas cards to add to my stash.

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio and scrap bin
Die from Gina Marie Designs (Stitched Circles)
Embossing folder from Stampin Up! (Timeworn type)
Sequins from my stash

Sketch from Call my Crafty Al Sheetload of Cards
#SUYSNov2020
#Showusyoursheetloads

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Lovely Christmas Trees...

The Christmas tree is a symbol of love... ~Andy Rooney, "Just the Way It Is," in McCall's, 1982

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

This is another simple card but I think has a nice wow factor. The front of the original card was cut down them trimmed out with a scrap of gold glitter paper and green cardstock.

Still a bit unsure of my sentiment choice but not too unhappy with it. I colored in the holly with a bit of green and red to tie it all together.

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and scrap bin
Glitter paper from scrap bin
Sentiment unknown
Versafine Clair Ink

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Frosty, is that you?

Winter came down

To our home

One night

Quietly pirouetting in

On silvery-toed slippers

Of snow.

And we,

We were children

Once again.

~Bill Morgan, Jr.

Good morning, today I am sharing another card I made recycling an older Christmas card.

I just loved this image … all that red and green. So festive with the smiling snowman!

So simple layering for this one with the addition of a die cut sentiment.

Supplies: 5 x 7

Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!

Die cut sentiment unknown

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Happy Hellos

I need more hellos. ~Charles M. Schulz, Snoopy, Come Home, 1972

Hi everyone!

New Outlawz Color Challenge located HERE  has started. This challenge will run for 2 weeks, ending on October 3rd and is Sponsored Alex Serbia Design. Her images are stunning and I love using them!

Our challenge this fortnight is to use black, white + 1 color with

an added twist of adding stripes. I do believe my blue is a little more blue that blue green though.

Supplies (5 x 7 card)
Digital pre-colored image (Happy Flower Digi Stamp) printed on Hammermill color copy
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!
Glitter glue from Studio G
Ink from Stampin Up!
ProMarkers
Rhinestones from my stash
Sentiment from Studio G
Strip dies from Scrapbook.com

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to stop by The Outlawz Challenges for more challenges and Inspiration! 

(Hugs) Cara

Who's there???

We see then that the bat is a very wonderful creature, one of Nature's triumphs and masterpieces... ~W. H. Hudson, "Bats," The Book of a Naturalist, 1919

Good morning!

This morning I am sharing a card I made for the new Sunday Song & Rhyme Challenge which just started. You can find the challenge HERE

Our poem this fortnight was picked by Susan Murphy

 

Antigonish [I met a man who wasn't there] HUGHES MEARNS

Yesterday, upon the stair,

I met a man who wasn't there

He wasn't there again today

I wish, I wish he'd go away...

When I came home last night at three

The man was waiting there for me

But when I looked around the hall

I couldn't see him there at all!

Go away, go away, don't you come back anymore!

Go away, go away, and please don't slam the door... (slam!)

Last night I saw upon the stair

A little man who wasn't there

He wasn't there again today

Oh, how I wish he'd go away...

Our sponsor this challenge is Oddball Art with a $10.00 prize.

I always love using her images because she has so many fun ones to pick from! For this fun slimline card I am using an adorable image of a bat dressed up like a ghostie as my card was inspired by the lines I met a man who wasn't there He wasn't there again today I wish, I wish he'd go away... Made me think of ghosties and what better way to "go away" than use wings

I colored his wings black, then added a bit of texture by tamping alcohol over them to fade out a few spots them went back over with some canvas paint and a star stencil.

Supplies, Slimline card

• Image (Creepy Cute Halloween Bats Mummy Ghost & Frankenstein Image No 84) printed on Hammermill Color Copy
• Cardstock from The Paper Studio (base) and Stampin Up!
• Design paper from Stampin Up! and Photo Play (Trick or Treat)
• Googlie eyes from my stash
• Ink from Palette
• ProMarkers
• Star stencil from Hero arts (Clouds & Stars)

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to check out the main blog located HERE to see the other challenges we offer!

(Hugs) Cara

The "BER" months are here!!!

Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love — that makes life and nature harmonize. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one's very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. ~George Eliot, letter to Miss Lewis, 1st October 1841

Good morning!

I think the quote above sums up my feelings about Autumn! I feel it in my soul. Here in Arizona the mornings are a little cooler making trips to the dog park much more enjoyable. I more inclined to start projects that I need to do outside as its not blistering hot and/or humid!

A couple of weeks ago I started thinking about Fall decorations and when I was coming from the mailbox and looking at my Summer-ish door décor I decided I needed something more that the little pumpkin sign that says happy fall y’all.

I started searching through my garage because I just knew I had something I had brought home from my mom’s house and I found it! I still have the little basket you see tucked inside but have not decided what I will do with it yet.

PERFECT!

Then I started rummaging around my boxes of fall foliage to see what I had that I thought I could use to and gather it all together. The orignal flowers that I pulled out of my box just didn't work for me so I made a trip to the store to pick up the Sunflowers and the foam disk. When I started getting everything gathered I could not find my floral wire so it was another trip out to the store to pick some up and while there I found the pumpkin and the stems of fall colored balls that I thought would be perfect accents.

After I got the basket put together I realized I needed another roll of ribbon so that’s not pictured.

Anyway, here are the results! I love how it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara


CHALLENGE(S) ENTERED

#13 ... Path of Positivity: Ch. #104--Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of Celebrate Something Special about YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NATION or the WORLD at Large

#125 ... 613 Avenue Create: #202209 - SEPTEMBER 2022 - ANYTHING GOES W/Optional Twist: LEAVES can be FOILAGE OR PAPER

#76 ... Corrosive Challenge Blog: Challenge #9 Sep 2022 Anything Goes, Winner & Top Pick

Christmas shared ...

In prickly green of Christmas wreaths

The holly berries glow,

The Christmas trees will sparkle soon,

With Christmas fruit bent low...

~Hannah G. Fernald, "Outside," 1906

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

Today I am sharing 3 cards I made from 1 card. Love the images that I punched from this card. These images are such an ingrained part of Christmas an although the card I used was not an old one, the colors and images evoke memories of Christmas past ...

Supplies

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and scrap bin

Embossing folder from Stampin up! (Subtle)

Sentiment from Stampin Up! (Tiny Talk)

Versafine Claire ink

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

The Outlawz Crash your Stash Challenge: Googly Eyes

Gnome and elf and fairy,
Witch and ghost make merry
On this last of dear October’s days.
~Lettie C. Van Derveer, Halloween Happenings, 1921

Good morning!
We have a new Outlawz Crash your Stash Challenge going on! You can find us HERE! The challenges will run through October 14th so come play along.

The challenge for this month is to use googly eye.  

Our sponsor this month is Oddball Art and for my card I used her super cute image Printable Stamp Jones Family Halloween Image No 459

 Supplies: 5 x 7 card

• Sponsor image printed on Hammermill Color Copy
• Cardstock from The Paper Studio (base) and Stampin Up!
• Glitter paper from Coordinations
• Googly eyes and tiny rhinestones from my stash
• ProMarkers
• Sentiment from Studio G
• Card Sketch: Mojo Monday, week 129 

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to Don’t forget to join our Facebook Fan Page
(Hugs) Cara

Celebrating ...

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~1800 Quotes, Quips, and Squibs, E. C. McKenzie, 1972

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

One of my favorite Christmas cards from last year. Love to see it given another chance to bring a smile!

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base)
Glimmer paper from Neenah
Sentiment from The Angel Company (Simple Joys)
Versa fine Clair Ink

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Festive ...

The bells ring out, and how they dance

Below, around the Christmas Tree!

~Hiram Ladd Spencer, "To My Daughter: A Christmas Reverie," 1878

Good morning, today I am sharing another card I made recycling an older Christmas card.

To be honest, I’m on the fence about this one simply because I think my choice of die doesn’t work as well as some others I have… as well as the silver strips I added (Which would have looked better with some other dies I have) but I mean overall it’s not a bad card.

Supplies: 5 x 7

• Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!
• Ink Versafine Clair
• Sentiment from Lisa Horton Crafts (Festive Banner Sentiments)
• Sequins from my stash
• Silver strips from my stash

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Halloween Frights

And as to being in a fright,

Allow me to remark

That ghosts have just as good a right,

In every way, to fear the light,

As men to fear the dark.

~Lewis Carroll, "Phantasmagoria," 1869

Good morning!

We have a new Challenge at The Outlawz Greeting Challenge located HERE. This round is sponsored by Polkadoodles and will run through September 25th

Our challenge is Halloween Greetings with a twist of using Black, White + one color. I chose to work with a bright green.

Supplies: 5 x 7 card

• Sponsor image (Witches Hat) printed on Hammermill Color Card
• Card candy from my stash
• Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin up!
• Design Paper from Stampin Up!
• ProMarkers
  Sentiment from Stampin Up!

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to check out the main blog located HERE to see the other challenges!
(Hugs) Cara

Golden Christmas ...

Remember this December,

That love weighs more than gold!...

~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon (1876–1961), "The Right Gift," 1912

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

A simple mini slimline.

I just rummaged through my die cut box and found one in read that worked perfect!

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

A Christmas Greeting ...

'T is Christmas morn! awake, awake,

Let each with care his stocking take,

Full to the very brim...

~M., "The Christmas Gift," The Children's Magazine, 1833

Good morning,
I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

I really like how this turned out … I trimmed down the card front and did a bit of layering using a sketch from Verve. Looks quite festive to me!

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) & scrap bin
Gold DP from my scrap bin
Sentiment from Unity Stamps (A Foxy Greeting)
Sizzix dies (Classic Circles)
Snowflake sequins from Stampin up!
Sketch: Viva la Verve, April 2016 (I changed layout from portrait to landscape)

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Partridge in a Pear Tree

Nature looks dead in winter because her life is gathered into her heart. She withers the plant down to the root that she may grow it up again fairer and stronger. She calls her family together within her inmost home to prepare them for being scattered abroad upon the face of the earth. ~Hugh Macmillan, "Rejuvenescence," The Ministry of Nature, 1871

Good morning, today I am sharing a card I made recycling an older Christmas card. I love giving new life to beautiful cards.

This one is pretty simple since I absolutely love the gorgeous image.

At the last minute I added the gold strip under the sentiment to pull out the gold in the card.

Supplies: 5 x 7
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!
Ink Versafine Clair
Sentiment from Lisa Horton Crafts (Festive Banner Sentiments)

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Make Waves

If you surrender to the wind you can ride it. ~Toni Morrison, quoted in Laura B. Randolph, "The Magic of Toni Morrison," Ebony, July 1988

Hi everyone!

I’m running a bit behind with my card, but a new Outlawz Color Challenge located HERE has started.

This challenge will run for 2 weeks, ending on September 19th and is Sponsored Alex Serbia Design. Her images are stunning and I love using them!

My inspiration from the photo comes from the flower on the tea cup, the colors and the map background. I am using a simple flower image that I did some digital paper-piecing using digital background paper from Touched by a Butterfly, fussy cut out and popped up on foam.

Inspiration Photo

Supplies used for A2 card

Digital pre-colored image (Happy Flower Digi Stamp) printed on Hammermill color copy
Background Stamp from Beeswax Stamps (Old Map)
Digital background from Touched by a butterfly
Ink from Stampin Up!, Versafine Claire and Liquid silk from Fun Stampers Journey
Sentiment from The Angel Company (Sail Away)

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to stop by The Outlawz Challenges for more challenges and Inspiration! 

Fall is here ...

How dear the woods are! You beautiful trees! I love every one of you as a friend. ~Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea, 1909

Good morning!

This morning I am sharing a card I made for the new Sunday Song & Rhyme Challenge which just started. You can find the challenge HERE

Our poem this fortnight was picked by Nan Murphy

 

Fall is here, hear the yell

Back to school, ring the bell

Brand new shoes, walking blues

Climb the fence, books and pens

I can tell that we are gonna be friends

I can tell that we are gonna be friends

Walk with me, Suzy Lee

Through the park and by the tree

We will rest upon the ground

And look at all the bugs we found

Safely walk to school without a sound

Safely walk to school without a sound

Here we are, no one else

We walked to school all by ourselves

There's dirt on our uniforms

From chasing all the ants and worms

We clean up and now its time to learn

We clean up and now its time to learn

My card this challenge was inspired by two lines:

Through the park and by the tree

And

I can tell that we are gonna be friends

Our sponsor this challenge is GeckoGalz Designs. They carry an amazing assortment of images, both line art and pre-colored. I lean towards their pre-colored digital sets because they are always beautifully done!

For my card layout, I am using a sketch I created as landscape but decided to turn portrait. really wanted to pull out the gold because you know, Fall color, so I went with a base cover thinking I would emboss it to add some texture. Only I did not have an embossing folder I felt would work will with the image so I decided to do a bit of tone on tone stenciling.

Supplies, 5 x 7 card

• Pre-colored image from the digital collage set "Fall into Nature" printed on Hammermill Color Copy
• Cardstock from The Paper Studio (base) and Stampin Up!
• Circle punches from Stampin Up!
• Ink from Stampin Up! & Versafine Claire
• Rhinestones from my stash
• Sentiment from Unity Stamps
• Stencil from Stampers Anonymous (Clockwork)
• Sketch use: CCBC#3

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to check out the main blog located HERE to see the other challenges we offer!

(Hugs) Cara

 

Let us adore him ...

As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, then Christmas is. ~Eric Sevareid (1912–1992)

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

This is pretty simple slimline, I just trimmed off the card front, added a layer and attached to the card base.

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base)

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Merry & Bright ...

The bells ring out, and how they dance

Below, around the Christmas Tree!

~Hiram Ladd Spencer, "To My Daughter: A Christmas Reverie," 1878

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

Today I am sharing 3 cards I got from another old Christmas card. Always a bonus, 3 for 1!

These are so fun and I am delighted with the response!

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base)
Ink from Stampin Up!
Mulberry paper from Paperbilities
Sentiment from Unity Stamps

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Progressive Freebie Challenge: September 2022

Velvet shadows come and go,

Drifting, whisp'ring breezes,

Winged adieus that sadly blow,

Wave the shadow friezes:

Ghostly branches, bare of leaves,

Gently bend in sorrow;

Summer's parting kiss deceives—

Winter comes tomorrow.

~W. Dayton Wegefarth (1885–1973), "Autumn," Rainbow Verse: A Book of Helpful Sunny Philosophy, 1919

Good morning!

A new Progressive Freebie Challenge has started at The Outlawz Challenges on our blog located HERE.

If you are not playing along and wish to join the rules are very simple:

You need to be a member of The Outlawz Challenge Facebook Fan Page and you will need to send us an email to outlawzprogressivechallenge@gmx.com. We’ll send you the image. All you have to do is enter a card/project made with the image supplied before the challenges closes on the last day of the month and you will automatically get the next image. If for any reason you don’t get your project made and you would like to rejoin us, contact us and we will let you know how to jump back in. And as long as you enter before the end of the month you will get the next one free and you will then get them automatically each month you enter a project.

This month’s adorable image comes from StarzStampz

Autumn Fall Girl Reading

Supplies

• Image (Autumn Fall Girl Reading) printed on Hammermill Color Copy
• Cardstock from The Paper Studio (base), Stampin Up! & Scrap bin
• Ink from Stampin Up! & Versafine Claire
• Sentiment from Unity stamps (Hello Pumpkin Gnome)
• ProMarkers

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to check out our MAIN blog and join our Facebook Fan Page
(Hugs) Cara