OddballArtCo. Christmas

Well if you have made it to this point...you got it all accomplished!  Time to treat yourself!  Maybe a nice long soak like this young lady.  She has the right idea.  😜

As part of the design team from Creative Fingers Challenge I want to thank all of the sponsors for the year 2017!  I chose a image I had in my folders from OddballArtCo.  You can find the image here.  

I kept this card simple as I wanted the image to be the focus.  I did add this lady's list of things she accomplished to be ready for the Christmas Season.  I colored her in with Copics.

I used a 41/4 x 5 1/2 top folding card base.  I then patterned paper from a 6 x 6 patterned paper pack I have called North Country Collection by Prima.  I also added some clear gems to the top.  Hard to see them in the picture but they are there.

To keep things simple I will not be entering this card into any challenges.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Playing Around

Just a video showing some playing around I did this afternoon.  I put together some cards.  Hope you all get some new goodies under the tree.

Masculine Card Inspiration

I hope you are have had a wonderful week and weekend.  Today I wanted to share with you a card I made some time ago.  I love it's simplicity, but I also love the fact it is something you could replicate to give a thinking of you card to a man in your life.

I know these can be the hardest cards to make.  This one came together just as I was playing around.

The idea started with gears.  I always think of the men in my life when I think of anything to do with tinkering, fixing things.  Then one day I was playing with the stencils I made using my Cricut.  I spread some black paste on this bright green cardstock to see how well the stencils worked.  They worked perfectly.

Since I had this paper with the paste on it.  I added the gears I had cut with the Cricut.  The gears were a free svg file I found.  I did add a bit of purple washi at the bottom.  All of this was then added to kraft cardstock base.

Finally, I needed a sentiment.  I found this quote from 'Dead Poet's Society'.  I thought it was perfect.  The quote I put on white cardstock, and again let my Cricut to the work.  The Cricut is what wrote the quote for me.  I die cut the sentiment with a Papertrey die.  Neuvo drops in gray added the finishing touch.

I hope this card inspires you to find things in your stash to make those men in your life a card.  They like home made things too.  (Especially, if papercrafting is your hobby...they have a good idea how much you spend so they know it's special).  😉

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge:  Anything Goes found here.

Not Just Cards Challenge:  Anything Goes found here.

Christmas gifts

 This year I wanted to do something for all my co-workers.  Something cute that doesn't break the budget.  I turned to my favorite places of course:  Youtube & Pinterest.  These magnet clothes pins that are glamed up are everywhere.  

I thought they would be perfect.  This would lead to me using my stash.  I could do these assembly style which is great to do while watching TV.
I also knew I could make the packaging super cute.  Most of my main project needs came from the Dollar Tree:  The clothes pins, the bags for packaging, and some of the embellishments.  Everything else came from what I already had or from Michael's.  The mod podge and magnets I got from Michael's using that handy 25% off my entire purchase coupon.  😉


The clothes pins were topped with either washi from my stash or paper.  A layer of glossy mod podge I added to the top for a nice shine.  I just added the magnets to finish them off.  I cut paper to pin them on.

I put four pins in the clear bags I got from Dollar Tree.  These I topped with doileys I had in my stash.  Of course, then I had to turn on the Cricut.  It was feeling left out.  So I used the Cricut to make the "For You" labels.  I felt it was missing something so I added snowflake stickers to the label as well.

Below is a video is you want a close look.  Happy Crafting!

Christmas ornaments

This is totally from Pinterest.  I am sure you have seen this one around.  Each year I try to make at least one new ornament for the tree.  This year I have made 4 so far.

These cute knit hats were the first three.  I used some very wide yarn I already had on hand.  Since the yarn was pretty wide it did not take many strands to cover the toilet paper cardboard roll that I cut to make the band of the hat.

Seriously, I finished all three of these in probably half an hour if that long.  I completed while watching some TV.  What new crafts are you trying out this Christmas?

Simple Christmas Cards

With the exception of this year, I typically am trying to get Christmas cards done at the last minute.  Heck, I have even skipped the whole giving Christmas cards at all.  Pretty sad for someone who makes cards all year long I know.  😆

But, I get busy...then it's too late.  This year I totally broke that habit by doing some Christmas Cards in July.  To see that post head here.

That being said, I wanted to offer you some inspiration on a couple of cards you could get done pretty quickly.  When mass producing cards, I stick to a simple card design, something relatively flat, and get them done assembly style.  Usually card bases one night, stamping the next night, any die cutting another night, etc.  This makes the process pretty quick.  

I hope you have a stress free season. If not getting cards out stresses you then maybe something like one of these cards will make the process less of a headache.  None of us want our hobby to be a headache do we?😉  

If you want a play by play on how I made the cards, watch the video below.

I am entering the card above to the following challenges:  

Pile it on Challenge # 136:  Large Sentiments or Things with Wings.  You can check out the challenge here.

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge:  November 2017. You can find this challenge here.

Jo's Scrap Shack Fun Day Friday Challenge:  #217 Anything Goes found here. 

Wanted to stop by today and just share with you what I do with all those "extra" images I have made after putting together my DT card.  Hope you enjoy!

Foxy Shabby Chic

I love trying things out of my comfort zone.  This design team project is definitely one of those.

I am a big fan of all those gorgeous shabby chic cards I see on Pinterest.  All the lace, flowers, distressing, die cuts.  They are just lovely.  As much as I love the look, I really have a hard time recreating it.  But this week's image was the inspiration I needed.

The digital stamp I used is from Wink Wink Ink.  You can find the image here.  The download came in different formats, the colored image, translucent, light, or white.  That way you can use it however you wish.  I used the colored image this week.  I wanted the image to look it's best and the colored image is just gorgeous.

Since I don't usually do much shabby chic, I looked through my stash to see what I had to hopefully get look I was looking for to make this card.

I started out with a cream base that is 4 1/4 x 51/2 top folding card made out of Recollections cardstock.  Then to have a way to put on the lace and ribbon I used a panel on top of that was 4 1/8 x 5 1/4.

I then used some of the same cream cardstock to die cut the snowflakes as well as the frame.  I added the fox image I had printed on the same cream cardstock with a cross stitched edged die.  The next layer was the framed die cut, then I added two coordinating patterned papers that were slightly bigger than the layer before.  These two layers I distressed the edges with my craft knife.

The patterned paper came from a 6x6 paper pad I picked up from Tuesday Morning from American Crafts called Everyday.  I have already used several papers out of this.  The colors are a bit muted so they work well with all the cream cardstock.

Keurig Boxes

 I wanted to stop by with a couple of projects I did sometime back.  This is not an affiliate post.  The cut files come from Lori Whitlock.  I just love her files so wanted to share with you!  These boxes hold 2 Keurig cups of your choice.

I love them since they are quick to put together.  They make a nice thinking of you or thank you for someone who has made your day.  This also could be quickly made into a Christmas stocking stuffer by just changing up the papers.  On this one I added a cute Bugaboo digital stamp that I did some Copic coloring on.

This is a great project to use some that 12 x 12 paper you are hoarding...and I know you have some begging to be made into these cute boxes.

Here is another box I made.  This time I used a simple sticker I picked up at Dollar Tree to put on the belly band.  So cute!

I hope you enjoyed getting to see these.  I also hope you get to play with some paper, inks, die cutting machines, whatever brings you joy today!

I am entering the first box above into the following challenges:

Not Just Cards Challenge:  November Anything Goes Challenge found here.

Digi Choosday Crafting Challenge:  Week 45 Anything Goes found here.  

New Video of my Latest Dollar Tree Haul

Spotlight Cards

 I am on a roll this weekend!  It has been fun.  I think I have fallen in love with doing Facebook live.  😜

I created all these cards in a couple of sessions of Facebook Live.  You can find those videos on my Facebook page.  Just click this link.

The first video was on 10/29/17, the second was 11/3/17 if you want to check them out.

 To make these cards I used Recollections square card bases in white.  Random paper scraps from my stash were used to stamp the images.  I used stamps from Verve and Unity Stamps.  The patterned paper showing came from some patterned paper stacks from American Crafts called Everyday.  Also, from the Paper Studio's Pink Lemonade.  

The American Craft's pad I picked up from Tuesday Morning so probably not a pad you could find.  The Pink Lemonade I bought over the summer.  I added Nuvo drops as well as some butterfly stickers to add some interest.

I hope this will inspire you to watch the videos maybe while you craft or maybe just use these  as a jumping off point to inspire.

This idea for me was inspired by my crafty guru Jennifer McGuire.  Don't think she knows she is my guru but she is (and one of many).

You can find the video that inspired me here.

I will be entering the first card in the following challenges:
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge : November Challenge found here.

Lemon Shortbread's Challenge: #53 Anything Goes found here.

CCC Digi Creations Challenge: #84 Must use flowers found here.

Process Video/Tutorial

Just wanted to come back with the video that shows how I made my last card.  Hope you check it out.

Bugaboo-Brat Pumpkin Wagon

It's time for another challenge over at Creative Fingers Challenge Blog.  I hope you have time to join us.  All the design team members have been making some great cards that are beautiful.  Stop on by to see all the Design Team projects, as well as, all the lovely entries to the challenge.

If you are new to my blog, welcome!  Today, I am sharing a card I made with the cute image from Bugaboo Stamps called Brat Pumpkin Wagon.  This image is the cutest thing!  I love the image because it makes me want to pull out my jeans, sweaters, and a jacket.  Too bad we have been having such a heatwave here in Southern Cali.  (I have been pulling out the shorts and tank tops instead 😒)

I colored this cutie with copics.  Nothing too hard, then made a recessed window card to place him in.  I will have a separate post that will show how I did this, but if you want to see my inspiration for the card you can check out this tutorial I based my card on from Splitcoast Stampers.

To finish the card, I wanted to keep it simple...because again this is the cutest image ever.  So after I die cut my image using a stitched square, I placed it on a square of kraft cardstock.  Then on the outside of the recessed window I added some patterned paper.  This is from a pad I have had forever called Tattered and Worn by Recollections.

To bring home that homespun feel, I added a simple bow made from embroidery thread and a button.  On the inside of the card, I tied it together by first adding a stitched square to cover up that not so pretty portion of the recessed window.  I also added some stitched hills with die cut flowers.

Such a cute card in the end.  I love the look...now if I can't get out the jackets and sweaters yet...maybe, I will go make some homemade soup instead.  😉

Adorbs

If you have been following me here at my blog, social media, or YouTube channel.  You may have noticed I tend to get out my Cricut.  Cut tons of images.  Then along with my other die cuts, I will sit down for a few hours to bang out some quick cards.

This tends to work for me pretty well.  The end result can be some totally cute cards.  Again sometimes the mojo isn't working. 😑  In those cases, I end up with some cards but maybe just not in love with them.  Either way, the folks who receive my cards know they are from the heart.  They also know this is my therapy.  This thing of making papercrafts relaxes me and makes me happy.  Which is why I love sharing with all of you. 

So enough of that, here is what is happening with today's card.  This is one of those I made after a Cricut marathon session.  I got out my die cuts to go along too.  These cute animals I print and cut with my Cricut.  (Sorry, I looked for where these came from and can't find it anywhere.)  I do know the images was a free image.  The card base and the patterned paper were already together.  I added the craft cardstock to the bottom for more interest.  

To ground the animals, I added a hill using a border die.  The sunshine die was already cut out.  It just seemed to go so well with this card so I added that to the top right of the card.  Finally for some added glam, I added some stickers I had already added foil to.  The adorbs was just right to add as a sentiment.

So, since I had all the pieces done pretty much, this was a less than 5 minute card.  This will be great for that next baby card I need. 

I am entering these into the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge:  #53 Anything Goes  found here.

Happy Little Stampers October Challenge: Anything Goes With Dies Challenge found here.

Dollar Tree Haul

See what I picked up from the Dollar Tree today!

Lollipop...anyone?

I was looking for a cute way to gift some sweet treats this Halloween.  While stalking Pinterest I found this cute little project.  

You can find the tutorial here.  If you want to repin then follow this link.  

The cute little scalloped circles and critters I put on the front of these lollipop holders came straight from Cricut Design Space.  They were free with Cricut Acess.

I knocked out about 20 these in 1 1/2 hours.  So now these are ready to go to my co-workers on Halloween.  I also recorded a quick tutorial in case you are a visual learner like me. 

The only problem with the video is I recorded it upside down.  Now in Youtube I am trying to correct this but not sure if it will be successful since I tried this yesterday without luck.  But if it remains upside down I hope it gives you the gist of how to do this.  

I hope you get to do something creative today.  I was giving my Cricut it's usual weekend workout...but it stops cutting halfway  in my project....so a frustrating craft day here.  Hope yours is going well.

I am entering this into the following challenge:

A Gem of a Challenge: #205 Spots or Stripes or Halloween found here.
and
Scrap from Your Heart Challenge:  #14 Halloween found here.

Exciting News...My First Creative Fingers Design Team Card!!!

I am so excited to have been asked to join the Creative Fingers Design Team.  I have been joining their challenges for a while now.  So I am honored to be asked to join this awesome bunch of cardmakers/paper crafters.  

Though I have been making cards and other papercrafts myself for over 20 years I still feel like a "newb" as my son would say.  Regardless though I hope those of you that stop by are inspired to get out your supplies.  Make something that will bring a smile to someone's face.  In this world we all need that.

Ok, enough of that...on to the card.  This week our Sponser is WeAre3.  Click on the name of this awesome Etsy shop.  It will take you right to the shop so you can browse the collection of digital stamps and papers.  I was looking around the shop myself.  Such cute Halloween images, cupcake images, digital papers, and sentiments.  Everything you need to make a sweet card for a friend.

The image I used from the shop is called Birdies of a Feather.  I was so enthralled with the image I ended up making two cards.  But today I am showcasing this little gem.  The image I cut out using the print and cut feature from Cricut.  Once the image was cut, I colored it with Copic markers.

I put that on some deep purple cardstock that I die cut with a stitched circle die.  The rest of the papers are from a 6 x 6 paper pad by Recollections called blush and mint.  Each layer was placed on some Black cardstock to make it pop.

Just to add just a touch sparkle, I added 3 pink sequins on the side.  Everything came together on a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 cardstock base.

Done just in time for a friend I need to thank for her kindness.  Ok your turn get those supplies out...make something fabulous!

Coffin Project from Design Space

As Halloween approaches, I have wanted to try out a couple of cute ways to give some treats to friends or co-workers.  Today I wanted to share with you this really easy Coffin that I made by using a Design Space image from Cricut.  

This might not be the way you package some treats for kiddos, but for co-workers, especially those who like the creepier side of Halloween, this would work great.

This is something that could easily be mass produced.  It wasn't really difficult either.  If you want to see how to make the coffin after it is cut out watch the video below.

I used Recollections Black Cardstock to cut out the coffin.  I then decorated it with some washi and a skeleton from a Recollections stamp set I picked up last year.

 

The Design Space Project I used is:

Coffin Box

#M3EBCC

Hope you enjoy the tutorial below.

I am entering this project in the following

challenges:

Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #120: Anything Goes.  You can go to 

the challenge here.

Lemon Shortbread Challenge: #52 Anything Goes You can

go to the challenge here. 

Rafflecopter giveaway closed

😒 I had no one enter...so there is nothing to give away.  I also had no where to really post the giveaway to get it out there.  Oh well, I will add the markers to a Christmas gift for someone special.

Happy Halloween

Though I am still wearing shorts most days when I am off from work, that doesn't mean I am not ready for fall and all the great things that come with it.  

For instance, it will be in mid 70's today in southern California but I still have a pot of vegetable beef soup cooking in the crock pot.

But on to the reason you stopped by.  I was able to get a set of Halloween cards made so I can get them in the mail in the next few days.  In the spirit of using up my stash, I used a Recollections 6 x 6 paper pad I purchased I think last year called "Halloween Boo".  With that I added in some tags I bought from the Target Dollar spot, some cuteness I received in swaps last year, as well as some old and new washi.  I will put all the cards below the video I filmed showcasing these cards.

The inspiration for each card came from Pinterest.  I did a search for card sketches that included tags since I knew I had lots of those.  Each card starts with some of those card bases I have been hoarding forever.  I then added some paper, the embellies from my stash, added a stamped sentiment in some cases.  Done in a flash!  I have a total of 8 card in all ready to go.

Here is the video in case you want to watch:

I am entering the card at the beginning of this post to the following challenges:

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge:  October 2017 Anything Goes found here.

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog # 138:  Anything Goes found here.

Simple Cards with Simple Tools

Sometimes it only takes a few tools to create a card that will make a person's day.

In the spirit of trying to use all my "goodies" I have in my craft area.  I used some washi tape again to make this beautiful card.

I used some black Recollections cardstock on a white cardstock base.  I added some cute washi tape from Dollar Tree.  I added a scalloped die cut in a deep pink color.

See that cute butterfly, that is cardstock I covered in black and white washi then die cut.

The sentiment is simple.  It is from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped it some Versamark ink then sprinkled white embossing powder over it.  It gives it a nice crisp look since I actually remembered to use my  embossing buddy to cut down on the static/moisture of the paper.  😊 (Yep, I typically forget that step.)

I am not entering this card into any challenges....😨*gasp*...taking a mini vacation so just going to make this about the card...  LOL. 😄

Have a great creative weekend!💖

Happy Fall Ya'll

So with the beginning of fall, I am leaning towards doing some fall cards, Halloween cards, with still a few other everyday cards thrown in here and there.  This little beauty is my first double z card.  It turned out so pretty!  Some of my best copic coloring to date on the jar digital stamp.

I started with 110lb recollections cardstock in white.  The card when closed measures 4 1/4 by 4 1/4.  Still not sure how I ended up with that strange size card.  (Definitely going to need to make the envelope to go with this odd size😜.)

The image on the tag is from Bugaboo Stamps.  I love their digital images.  This is colored using Copic markers.  I then used some stitched dies to cut out the image and the craft tag behind it.

From my paper scrap stash I gathered all the rest of the cardstock I wanted.  Choosing oranges, blues, and browns.  Every piece of cardstock and patterned paper was distressed using Gathered Twig Distress ink.

The flowers and leaves are die cut from scrap paper as well.  The lighter green leaves I laid down a bit more dark color on so the contrast was more pleasing to the eye by using Momento's Bamboo Leaves.

The sentiment I stamped in Momento's Texedo black ink.  This sentiment is from Unity Stamp Co.  The frame around and the die I cut out the sentiment with comes from Papertrey ink.  I did this on some Recollections white cardstock but it was too bright, so I used the Gathered Twig Distress in again to add some color.

I added flat back pearls in a gold color to the flowers and two white pearls next to the sentiment.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Your Next Stamp's Sketch and Color Challenge:  #73 (used craft, brown, orange, soft yellow)  found here.

Creative Fingers Challenge #137:  Anything Goes found here.

 Creative Inspirations Challenge #280: Seasonal found here.

It's my Birthday so I am giving away some Alcohol Markers

For the details go to my Youtube channel.  Watch today's video.  At then end it will tell you how you can enter to win.

Giveaway begins 9/17/17 and ends 10/6/17

Also you can check this link out to enter to win:

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank You Gifts

Hey there you papercrafters!  Hope your weekend is going well.  I want to share with you one of my "Thank You" gifts I give when someone does something sweet for me or maybe one of our clients at work.  It isn't a huge gift, but it's fun to make these little treats that will just make someone's day.  I usually make a few at a time to keep on hand.  

The one I am showing you today is a nugget box with an easel card on top.  It is made using a SVGfile from SVG Cuttingfiles.  I resized it a bit to make it big enough to hold some post it notes.  I then let my Cricut do all the work and cut out the box/card for me.  You could also fill it with some Hershey nuggets or whatever you may think of.  

After cutting out the box and putting it together I did use a circle punch to punch out a little notch to make it easier to open the drawer.

The Owl image came straight from Cricut Design Space.  (I thought it was too cute).  I added a heart shaped die cut from some Colorbox patterned paper.  The wavy line is also a die cut I cut from some scrap pink paper.

To finish it out I used some flowers I picked up on a Michael's excursion, two glittered epoxy stickers from Dollar Tree, and used a sentiment sticker from Dollar Tree that says "thanks a bunch".

Totally simple to put together.  It's a nice size that you can add all type of treats to.

I am entering this cute card/box into the following challenges:

Crafting with an Attitude: #31, Anything Goes  found here.

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog:  #136 Anything goes found here.

Frankfully....Halloween Card

My first Halloween card of the season!  Isn't this little Frankenstein just the cutest?

I created him with a mix and match stamp set I picked up last halloween by Stampendous.  He is stamped in tuxedo black by Momento and colored with Copics.

I cut him out using a stitched oval die.  I then cut a stitched shape out of orange and off white patterned paper by Recollections.  On this I stamped the Happy Halloween sentiment. The sentiment came from a Recollections stamp set.

To add a little "extra", I added some cute washi's I just purchased. The one on the bottom I added the BOO using my small alphabet stamp by Studio G this time using Staz On Ink since this was a slick surface.  The bat came from a pack of felt stick on embellishments I picked up from Dollar Tree. 

I can't wait to make some more Halloween cards to share.  Hope you are getting some time to play as well this weekend!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Craftyhazlenut's Patterned Paper Challenge: September found here.

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge:  Cute fall or Halloween cards found here.

Your Next Stamp Challenge:  #72 Color or Sketch Challenge. I went with the Color Challenge and I am using Yellow, Orange, and Green.  You can find the challenge here.

Happy Accidents

Don't you just love it when something falls together easily?  As if, it was meant to be.  This is one of those easy, effortless cards. I had all the elements. It came together quickly.  All the elements were out on my desk.

It started out with Recollections cardstock which I used for the card base that measures 5.5x 4.25.  The patterned paper was out on my desk. It is from a pad made by Colorbox in bright cheery colors.  The blue had already been cut using my stitched landscape die by Poppystamps, Inc.

I cut the paper to fit the note card. I then used a piece of cardstock I had played on using two of the stencils I cut using my Cricut. If you missed my post showing you these you can find it here. (I was super excited to make my own stencils.)

I took that piece and cut out a stitched heart.  The pink cardstock was also on my workstation.  I cut out a pink heart using the next smallest stitched heart.  

The butterfly I had bought on one of my Dollar Tree shopping sprees.

The sentiment is from that same sticker sheet of sentiments I created myself.  Finally, I added some bling. 

Done! 

I think this took me less than 5 minutes to put this together. Since pretty much everything was out on my desk it came together very quickly. 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations Challenge #279: Anything Goes found here.

Creative Fingers Challenge #135: Anything Goes found here.