Sharing Projects from Make It Merry Bayonne

Hello, friends!

For those of you who follow me on Instagram you know that I was lucky enough to attend Cheiron Brandon's "Make It Merry!" holiday card making event in Bayonne, NJ on Saturday, November 10th.  We had a great day -- I met some very lovely ladies, and I came home with a bag of finished holiday cards and some new stamps to play with!

While I know lots of people do these classes, I must admit that it was my first. With four teens, my weekends are usually booked solid, but this time the stars aligned and I was able to go. (What a wonderful early Christmas present from my darling husband!) I'm already going to plan to go next year...anyone in the New Jersey/New York/Delaware area interested in joining me?  Think about it!

This will be a picture-heavy post...feel free to scroll quickly if needed!

First up, all the cards we made. We made lots of fun projects using stamps and dies from fun companies such as Concord & 9th, Neat and Tangled, Lawn Fawn, Hero Arts, Tim Holtz, Flora & Fauna and Avery Elle.  We made 15 cards in all...and each one is different.

In addition to this being my first card making class, I also made my first shaker card and used my first turnabout stamp set! How about that?  Here are all the cards we made:

Here are close-ups of some (not all) of the cards I made:

(My first shaker card!)

(I'm definitely adding a candy cane to this card!)

Now some fun pictures...the Bridge Art Gallery was a really sweet space, and the ladies who filled it were even sweeter!  Here are some pics from the day.

(I totally cherish this name tag handwritten by Danielle of Neat and Tangled!)

(Our goodies from the very generous Concord & 9th and Hero Arts!)

(My awesome table-mates!)

(So happy to meet Danielle from Neat and Tangled!)

(Thrilled to be with Danielle and Cheiron...such sweethearts!)

I have to admit, I came home from this event on such a high! I still feel so happy and energized when I think about my day of crafting with fellow card makers. What a joy it was to make cards all day with such a fun group of amazing women. I'm so grateful I was able to go!

In case you are interested in the stamp sets and dies we used for our cards, I have linked most products below.  Thanks again for hanging in there for a very long post!
Take good care,
Judy

Links to most of the stamps/dies we used:
* Avery Elle - Burst Elle-ments die
* Concord & 9th - Merry & Bright die
* Concord & 9th - Snowflakes Turnabout
* Flora & Fauna - Flamingo Holiday Set and dies
* Flora & Fauna - Unicorn Ice Castle stamps and dies
* Flora & Fauna - Animal Sweaters Set and dies
* Hero Arts - Naughty Elves stamps and dies
* Hero Arts - Very Merry Tree Fancy Die
* Lawn Fawn - Gingerbread Friends dies
* Lawn Fawn - Winter Skies stamps and dies
* Lawn Fawn - Reverse Stitched Scalloped Circle Window die
* Neat & Tangled - Angel Wings stamps and dies
* Neat and Tangled - Falling Stars
* Neat and Tangled - Snow Fun stamps and dies
* Neat and Tangled - Penguin Treat Holder die
* Neat and Tangled - Fa La La Cover Plate die
* Tim Holtz Sizzix Lumber 3D Texture Fades Embossing Folder
* Tim Holtz Sizzix Layered Holiday Wreath Bigz Die With Texture

Santa Has Some Favorites

Hello, friends! As my week off continues, I want to share a card for two current challenges:

(1) The CAS Christmas November Challenge calls for a clean and simple card featuring Santa.

(2)  The current challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #317 is to "Make Your Mark" and, in this case, I made my mark with distress inks and lots of Copic markers!

For my card, I die cut a white panel and stamped the Whipper Snapper Designs Santa image and My Favorite Things sentiment. Next,  I colored Santa with Copic markers and masked the image in order to add blue distress ink to the sky.  The sequins were the final touch.

Supplies:

Stamps: Whipper Snapper (Magical Santa); MFT (Jingle All the Way)

Inks: Memento (Tuxedo Black), Distress Oxide (Tumbled Glass), Copic markers

Other: Wonky Stitched Rectangles die, sequins 

While I was at it, I made another version of this card. This time I used all the same materials but I changed the placement and color of the sequins.

I have always loved this Santa image by Whipper Snapper Designs. If you get the chance, you should check out the whole collection of Christmas images at their shop HERE.  They are all so cute!

As always, thank you for stopping by!
Judy

Honey Bee ~ New Release Stamps

Hello, friends!  I wanted to stop by today because I have some time off from work and recently purchased some awesome stamps from the new release at Honey Bee Stamps.  I had some fun and made a few cards...I couldn't wait to share them with you!

The stamp sets I ordered included Fa La La and Rejoice 4x6 stamp sets. I fell in love with the fonts and the sentiments...so versatile!

 

I made three cards yesterday. The first one used stamps from the Honey Bee Rejoice set. My card is a 5" square.  I die cut a stitched square and stamped the image and sentiment (all one stamp) in black ink, then stamped again in Versamark ink and clear embossed.  I colored in the image with Copic markers, then added sequins and glitter to the flowers for some sparkle and interest.

I am entering this card into the current "Anything Goes" challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  

I'm also entering it into the "Anything Goes" challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!

My next two cards used Honey Bee Stamps sentiments from both sets mentioned above paired with a nativity silhouette stamp ("Greatest Gift") from Hero Arts. I did some masking and distress inking and spritzing for the sky, adding a few Stickle drops here and there for shine.

I'm entering this card into the current "Anything Goes" challenge at Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #358-359.  (I actually bought these stamp sets with the prize I won last week at Word Art Wednesday! Thank you again!)

I have another set of cards stamped out and ready to color...I will be sure to share when done.  I am really excited to have these sentiments, they are the perfect size to pair with one main image and that makes for an easy, fun holiday card in my book!

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Happy Halloween!

Hello, friends!

Happy Halloween! I'm stopping by today to share the cards I sent out to my sweet nieces and nephews this Halloween.

I do love this day, it brings back so many memories of my own childhood as well as the days when my own children were young enough to trick-or-treat. (Don't get me wrong, even though they are all teenagers, they all still find reasons to dress up!)

Anyway, I had a great time making Halloween cards throughout the month of October, and here are the cards I made:

Supplies:

Stamps: There She Goes (Bewitched By You); Hero Arts (Scroll Tree, Clouds)

Dies: Martha Stewart (Picket Fence); circle; stitched rectangle

Supplies:

Stamps: There She Goes (Bewitched By You); Hero Arts (Scroll Tree, Clouds)

Dies: Martha Stewart (Picket Fence); circle; stitched rectangle

Supplies:

Stamps: There She Goes (Bewitched By You); Studio G (Happy Halloween)

Dies: stitched banner; stitched circle; scallop stitched rectangle

Supplies:

Stamps: There She Goes (Bewitched By You); Studio G (Happy Halloween)

Dies: stitched banner; stitched circle; scallop stitched rectangle

Supplies:

Stamps: Studio G (Happy Halloween, pumpkin); 

Impression Obsession (Wooden Plank); Hero Arts (Woodgrain)

Dies: Spellbinders (Nestabilities - Labels 1)

I hope you are having a great day! Happy Halloween to those who celebrate it!
Thanks for stopping by,
Judy

A Tribute to Melissa Lane

Hello, friends.  I'm here today to share a card I made for the tribute to Melissa Lane of Honey Bee Lane following her sudden passing in early October, 2018.  If you would like to participate, check out the STAMPlorations blog post HERE.

I never met Melissa in person, but through her consistent participation in the challenges as CASology while I was a team member, I visited her blog often and admired her as an artist, a lover of God and nature, and an inspiring woman.

When I read about her sudden passing, I was saddened deeply.  Isn't that a testament to her?  I have never met her, yet her life brightened mine and her passing affected me in a way I could not have predicted.  It did not take long to understand the depths of her faith and her beauty...a few visits to her blog and it was clear.  She was a woman of God, a faithful servant, and an inspiration to me.

If you have ever visited her blog, you may have noticed that she signed off every post with, "Grace and peace, Melissa." Grace and peace is what I wish for her in eternal life and for her family and loved ones here in this life.

I thought it was only fitting to use stamps and stencils from STAMPlorations, where Melissa was a valued design team member for two years.

Supplies:

Stamps: STAMPlorations (Noteworthy 1)

Stencils: STAMPlorations ARTplorations(Happy Flowers)

Dies: WPlus9 (Sunshine Layers), Simon Says Stamp (Leanna)

Other: Studio G (purple gems)

For my card, I die cut the white panel, stenciled the flower, and stamped the sentiment.  I cut a die cut butterfly in half and layered it twice so that the wings could flutter open. The gems serve as the butterfly body.

I will send this card to Shery at STAMPlorations since she is collecting cards to forward to Melissa's family.  (This is open through October 31st and directions for mailing are at the specific post HERE.)

Grace and peace to you, Melissa.

Thank you for stopping by,
Judy

Entered Here:
(1) Word Art Wednesday #356-357
(2) STAMPlorations Never-Ending Anything Goes Challenge

Fall Cards for My College Kids

Hello, friends! I find it hard to believe that it has been almost three months since our oldest two children went off to college.  So far they have been doing great, thank God...enjoying classes, friends, activities, etc.

I decided before they left that I would send them each a card every month, and so I want to share the cards I sent in early September and early October.  (I know they have received them already, so I'm not spoiling any surprises!)  It was funny, in this day and age in which everything is sent electronically, I had to remind them to check their campus mailboxes every once in a while!

I thought they would get a kick out of these fun Art Impressions images; I personalized their cards by printing and die cutting the computer-generated sentiments.

Here are the cards I sent my son and my daughter in early September, using "Hot Java Mama" and paper-piecing for her nightgown and robe.

Here are the early October cards they received, using the same set and more paper-piecing:

(It's true, they don't call me enough.)

I have some fun Halloween cards to share soon, but I'll do that later this month so I don't spoil the surprise!

Thanks for stopping by.
Enjoy your weekend!
Judy