Merry Monday #146: (Another) Santa

Hello, friends!  I'm back again to play along with the current Merry Monday Challenge #146: Santa.  I couldn't resist making a second card for this challenge!

For this card, I used another favorite Santa image in my stash (and it's an oldie!) by Whipper Snapper Designs called "Magical Santa."  I'm really drawn to the whimsical, country feel of this image...maybe its all the little dots around the image outline? Whatever it is, I love this guy!

I made this card a 5" square, so I guess I'll be hand-delivering this one with a gift next Christmas...a tough size to mail.  No worries, I'll have no trouble using this card!  :)

(Sorry for the poor photo quality, I took it late at night because I'm not sure if I'll be able to get pics of it tomorrow before or after work!  If I do, I'll edit to add to my post.)

EDIT:  Here is a better (daytime) photo!

Be sure to check out the pool over at Merry Monday this week...pull out your Santa images and play along!

As a side note, I want to welcome my newest followers.  When I reach 150, I might just be having a little giveaway to say THANK YOU!  I do appreciate you all!

As always, thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Merry Monday #146 Meets Sweet Sketch Challenge #256!

Hello, friends!  This is my second post of the day...for my CASology post, go HERE.

I'm here today with a card I made for the current Merry Monday Challenge #146 which calls for a Santa card.  How fun!  I'm combining this theme with a sketch from the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #256 and I have to thank Kristie Goulet for helping me stumble upon it!

  

I have four favorite Santa stamps in my stash... THIS fun guy by Jane's Doodles, THIS vintage image also by Jane's Doodles, THIS adorable image from Whipper Snapper Designs, and then my newest favorite set from Torico (Birdie Brown) for My Favorite Things seen HERE.  LOVE this set!

I'd like to be able to make several cards for these challenges, but if not I have at least this one!

We got a few inches of snow today, so I thought I'd try a picture with the snowy back yard in the background.  (Yes, we are the family that will have candy canes around for months after the holiday.  Same thing happens at Halloween and Easter, too.)
 

The Design Team at Merry Monday really knocked this one out of the park this week.  You should see the range of designs from cute to whimsical to vintage to classic...and all amazing!  You might even be able to guess which DT card inspired me?  (Cough, cough, Kristie, cough.)  Just sayin.'

Anyway, thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Judy

CASology #134: MONOCHROME

Hello, friends!  After a wonderful week full of LOVE, we are back with our next cue card at CASology!

This week we are sponsored by STAMPlorations so be sure to check out the CASology blog for all the details!

OK, so I have to be honest.  I have participated in every CASology challenge since it began, and this has been the toughest cue card for me to date!  (I guess 134 is a charm!)  I had to Google exactly what "monochrome" meant and I also searched Pinterest for inspiration.  What I found out is that monochrome images are in black and white or varied tones of the same color.  Here were some images I came across that serve as good examples:

 

OK, so these images made me realize that I have several patterned papers in my stash that could be considered monochrome (i.e., several tones of the same color).  I paired them up with a chunky die cut from Simon Says Stamp and went to town!

Here are a few samples I started out with, using purples, greens and pinks:

Here is what I came up with in the end.

I tried to add some interest by outlining the die with a glitter pen.  Can you see the shine?

Since I used all Simon Says Stamp products (sentiment stamp and die) and added sparkle to it, I'll also be entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge #12: So Sparkly.

You must know I am particularly interested in seeing what MONOCHROME means to you this week...especially since I was so stumped!  Be sure to link up your card by noon on Monday (Central time). You will also be inspired by the many ways our Design Team and Guest Designer interpreted the cue this week...be sure to check out their blogs, too!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Hazel Hodgkins
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

Kymona Tracey
May Sukyong Park
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Maria

Thanks for visiting,

Judy

CASology #133: LOVE

Hello, friends! After a HOT week, we are back with a new cue card at CASology!  I have a feeling you are going to LOVE it!

This week we are sponsored by Lawn Fawn!  How exciting!  Be sure to check out the CASology blog for all the details!

I decided to keep this design clean and simple by only coloring portions of the stamped image by Unity Stamps.  In this case, I aded shading around the image and only colored the boots and the umbrella.  The sentiment is Paper Smooches, and the embossing folder is from Darice ("Oblong Doily").   

Here we go!  I can't wait to see your LOVE cards this week!  Be sure to link up your card by noon on Monday (Central time) and check out the inspiration by our Design Team and Guest Designer this week!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Hazel Hodgkins
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

Kymona Tracey
May Sukyong Park
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Mayline

Thanks for stopping by,

Judy

LIM Color Challenge: Pink and Grey - Take 2!

Hello, friends!  I'm back with another quick card I made using the same die cuts as yesterday's card for the Less Is More color challenge using Pink and Grey.

While I think the pastel striped background yesterday's card could be considered "open space," I did another card using literal "white space."  Maybe a little more clean and simple?  I think so, but I guess it is a matter of opinion.  (Honestly, I think this one is cleaner and simpler.)

In any case, here is my "Take Two" of yesterday's card!

This time I used a sentiment from CAS-ual Fridays.  I think this one is going to my husband this Valentine's Day!

I hope you get a chance to play along at Less is More this week -- they are celebrating their 4th birthday!  Happy Birthday, Less is More!!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Judy

LIM Color Challenge: Pink and Grey

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by with a card I made for the current Less is More challenge -- it is their 4th birthday and they have a color challenge this week using pink and grey. (Ooh, perfect for Valentine's Day!)

There are prizes being offered by various sponsors in honor of their birthday celebration, so if you haven't joined in the fun at Less is More yet, you might want to think about it this week! I first played along in May, 2011 and I have always loved their clean and simple requirements.  Indeed, sometimes less is more!

I recently placed an order from Simon Says Stamp and I received a free gift package along with my order.  One of the items was this really cool heart die ("Heart Ensemble") from Memory Box.  I couldn't wait to play with it!  I obviously die cut several different papers and mixed and matched the patterns.  I love the way the black glitter card stock looks as the outline!

The sentiment is from  Avery Elle ("Oh Happy Day"), another recent purchase.  I love these scripty fonts!

You can be sure I'll be back with more cards using this die...I have lots of pieces to mix and match now!  I might just make a bunch of Valentines to save for Winter's Cards from the Heart Card Drive next year.  (She is no longer accepting cards for this year's card drive.)

Happy 4th Birthday, Less is More!!!

As always, thanks for stopping by!
Judy

CASology #132: HOT

Hello, friends!  After a fun week of birthday-themed cards, we are back today with a new cue at CASology.  While we don't have an official sponsor this week, our amazingly talented DT member May Sukyong Park is giving away a stamp set that she designed for Neat and Tangled!  Check out the CASology blog for the details.

I know this cue may bring to mind love and Valentine's Day; however, I went a different way with this cue.  My card was inspired by two people.  I think THIS card is an absolute riot...KStamper called her card "Cake On Fire" and posted it in her Splitcoast Stamper gallery.  I wanted to use this technique and pair it with another inspiration card by Barbara Roe (OH Babs) of love2color (see her fun card HERE). Barb was kind enough to stamp a few of these images for me and she mailed them to me last December.  Wasn't that lovely of her?  I was so happy to be able to play with these images...especially with several older siblings who will really appreciate these cards and my wry sense of humor!  Here is how I combined my two sources of inspiration:

I simply tore the top edge and darkened it using distress inks.  Can't you just feel the heat rising from that birthday cake?  Yep, this one is going to my older brother this coming February.  (He is a whopping 18 months older than me...it's good to remind him every once in a while!  This card should do the trick!)

I'm also linking up my card to the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog "Anything Goes."

Be sure to link up your HOT card by noon on Monday (Central time). You will also be inspired by the many ways our Design Team and Guest Designer interpreted the cue this week...be sure to check out their blogs, too!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Hazel Hodgkins
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

Kymona Tracey
May Sukyong Park
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Penny

Extra Bonus:  Have you ever seen the movie "School of Rock?"  We own the DVD and have watched it several times...my kids love it!  One of our favorite parts of the movie is when the uptight, straight-laced principal is talking to a heavy metal rocker and he calls her "hot."  We love her reaction!  (You can check it out HERE if you are interested!)  Honestly, that was one of the first things that popped into my mind when I saw this week's cue!

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!
Judy