Mo's Challenge # 59

My Head's in a Swirl!

I'm so late getting this post up that it's almost time for the next one! Thanksgiving Day just seemed to consume me this year. We had fifteen  people here on Wednesday night to have pizza and make our traditional 'apple turkeys'. This is something that started when our 36 year old son made them at school when he was in second grade. They are made out of a Red Delicious apple, cranberries, raisins, and marshmallows, all held together with toothpicks. They're really cute and some are used to decorate the table on the holiday. The kids have fun trying to outdo each other with their masterpieces!

We had a crowd of fourteen on the day itself. It was a wonderful time filled with laughter and too much food.  We had two turkeys, one roasted and one fried, all the usual trimmings, and I made seven homemade pies to top off the meal!

The challenge this week was to use swirls or flourishes on our projects

I don't do 'fancy' well, so this was a real challenge for me.

I always seem to go a bit overboard, and things never look quite right to me.

After I had photographed this card, I removed the star charm, and wished that I hadn't put a bow on it. I think it's a bit 'busy' for my taste, although it has grown on me. I think things always look better when some time has passed, and you can look at it more objectively.

This is one of my favorites of all of Mo's Christmas images. It's called "Boughs for the Wreath". I cut the oval using the "out-of-the-box" technique so that the little guy would be the focus. I love the way he's looking back over his shoulder, don't you?

Images: "Bringing Home the Boughs" From Mo's Digital Pencil, Digital Sentiment from Ladybug and Friends.

Tools: Copic Markers, Prismacolor pencil, White gel pen, Quickcutz Swirl die, Cuttlebug with Nestabilities, SU! Oval punch.

Papers:  SU! Soft Sage and Riding Hood Red, Neenah smooth white, Metallic gold CS, Basic Grey DP.

Embellishments: Grosgrain ribbon, Natural cotton lace, Star charm,  Frosted Lace Stickles.

I hope you'll join us  week and use a bit of flourish or swirl on your project!

Here's another Christmas card using Mo's "Not Even a Mouse" .  Isn't this the sweetest image?
 I've had it for over a year, and this is the first time I've gotten around to coloring it.

I used the Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page Snowflake punches under the image panel. The sizes they recommend just didn't work for this card, so I started out with the 5" square, punched it out,  then cut and over-lapped it, covering the joint with satin ribbon. I love using the little punched out snowflakes as embellishments.

I also love making these poinsettias with the embossing leaf punch set from Nellie Snellen. They are quick and inexpensive to make and really add a lot to a card. I just punch a tiny circle and glue the leaves down on it, over-lapping some, then glue some green leaves in back. I finish them off by either punching a small hole and threading the stems of paper stamens through to the back, or using a small punched flower and pearl or gold cabochon for the centers, as I did with these.

Thanks for visiting!

Elaine

Mo's Challenge #58

  

Punch it!

The challenge this week is to use three punches on your creation. This wasn't a difficult one for me...I think I have at least a gazillion punches! I really am obsessed with them!

I'm sorry if this picture's a bit washed out. I didn't get this card done until after sundown tonight and had to use a flash instead of the natural light that I prefer. 

 I used "Employee # 3355" from Mo's set of two adorable little Christmas elves. I had to have this set as soon as I saw it (but then,  I 'have to have' all of Mo's images!). They have such personality and are such fun to color!

I used Nellie Snellen's  embossing leaf set to make the poinsettias. The leaves were glued on to a small circle of CS and finished with paper stamens

Images: "Employee # 3355" from Mo's Digital Pencil , Digital  "Merry Christmas" (unknown)

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencil, White gel pen, MS Branch and Snowflake punches, Nellie Snellen embossing leaf punch set, Glue Dots

Papers: SU! Real Red, Garden Green, Green Galore, and Certainly Celery CS, Neenah smooth white, Basic Grey "Jovial" DP

Embellishments: Gold and Pearl cabochons, Paper stamens, Natural cotton lace

The Three Bears at Christmas

Here's another card using the same poinsettias. The sweet bears are a free digital from Cuddly Buddly. They were easy to color. I think multiples of this card would be a snap to make, although I only make a card once.  Mass-producing would bore me to death!

Images: Bears from Cuddly Buddly,  Free digital sentiment from Zany Not Crazy

Tools: Copics, White gel pen , Gold metallic pen, Nellie Snellen Leaf set

Paper: SU! Real Red, Glorious Green, Garden Green CS, Neenah smooth white, Paper Pizazz  DP

Embellishments: Red pearl cabochons, Paper stamens

Let's see how well you can punch! We want to be "knocked out" by your beautiful creations using three punches and one of Mo's  great images!

Thanks for visiting!
Elaine

More Christmas Cards!

Never Enough!

All my Christmas cards are one-of-a-kind, so it takes me forever to get enough done to send to distant family and friends. Add to that the fact that my DIL has asked for some to sell in her store, and I don't think I'll ever be finished!

A Memorable Visit with Santa!

I think a lot of us with small children or grand-kids can relate to this scene! Most kids love the idea of visiting Santa, until they are face to face....then the crying begins!

I love this adorable image. It certainly tells a story!  It was so much fun to color, too,  but a bit time consuming with all the little details.

Images: "And I want a..." from Mo's Digital Pencil, Sentiment from Ladybug and Friends

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencil, White gel pen, Circle punches, MS Snowflake chain punch,  Frosted Lace Stickles

Paper: SU!Real Red, Creamy Caramel, Bazzill textured brown, Neenah smooth white, Basic Grey "Jovial" DP

Embellishments: Recycled  Red satin bow (My three grandchildren saved the bows that were on big lollipops they got because, "Mimi can use them on her cards.")

Red Poinsettia

This pretty flower and greeting are two of several digital Christmas images and sentiments offered free from Ladybug.
It was a joy to color, and I love the way it turned out.
Black isn't a color I would usually use for Christmas, but the new Basic Grey "Jovial" collection is 
so beautiful! In fact, the design with the black ground is my favorite!

Images: Image and Sentiment from Ladybug and Friends

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencil, MS Zig-Zag border punch, Quickcutz swirl die


Papers: SU! Basic Black, Ruby Red, Old Olive CS,  Metallic gold CS, Basic Grey "Jovial" DP

Embellishments: Rhinestones, Stitched grosgrain ribbon

Glad you stopped by!
Elaine

Mo's Challenge # 57

  

I Can See Right Through You!

The challenge this week is to use acetate or vellum on your project or card.  I haven't used either in quite some time, but I remembered loving  flowers I once made using vellum and white embossing powder. 

I used  "Kai in a Tub" for my image...such a happy little baby! I used little pearl cabochons in three different sizes for the bubbles.

The flowers and leaves were made using rubber stamps. They were stamped on vellum card stock with VersaMark and sprinkled with white detail embossing powder. After carefully heating the powder (vellum can scorch easily!), I colored the back of each flower and leaf with Copics and cut them out. I used the yellow brads to attach the flowers and Glue Dots to adhere the leaves.

The embossing folder is one of three pretty Craft Concepts designs that I ordered from Cuddly Buddly

I really like how this turned out!

Images: "Kai in a Tub" from Mo's Digital Pencil, Large flower by Stampendous, Small flower from SU! set "Natural Beauty"

Tools: Copics, Cuttlebug with Embossing folder, Corner rounder, Mounting tape, Glue Dots

Paper: SU! Rose Romance, Pretty in Pink, Vellum CS, Neenah smooth white, PTI white

Embellishments: Brads, Pearl cabochons

So get out your acetate or vellum and make something wonderful for Mo's Challenge using an image from Mo's Digital Pencil. We can't wait to see what you make!

Thanks for dropping by!

Elaine

Mo's Challenge #56

Pockets!

This week the challenge is "Pockets"....to be interpreted any way you choose.

I was going to do a real pocket card, but instead I've taken the easy way out...these two both have pockets in their pants! 

Yeah, it's lame, I know!

Actually, the zig-zag border is a shallow pocket which I intended for a sentiment tag, but I couldn't get it to look right and just  abandoned the idea.  

This is an engagement card for our youngest son, who has finally found the woman he wants to spend his life with.  He's 32 and has been looking to settle down for several years...just couldn't find the "one"..... until now!

This was taken by one of his buddies just as he was asking her to marry him. They are on the summit of  Mt Morgan in the Ashland Wilderness of New Hampshire, overlooking Squam Lake, which was the location for the filming of On Golden Pond.. They had spent the day hiking and enjoying the scenery...she had no idea that the whole day was planned around this moment!

Isn't it wonderful that they'll have this gorgeous picture to look back on for years to come?!

Now, about the card.....

Images: "Just a Knot" from Mo's Digital Pencil, Rainbow Trout from The Happy Stamper,

Computer-generated sentiment

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencil, White gel pen, MS Ziz-zag border punch, Circle punches, Mounting tape, Sewing machine

Papers: SU! More Mustard, Taken with Teal, Certainly Celery, unknown Maroon, Neenah smooth white, Basic Grey Pyrus DP

Now let's see how you'll interpret this challenge! Make something wonderful using one of Mo's images and enter Mo's Challenge for a chance to win!

Thanks for visiting!

Elaine