The Merry Christmas Challenge ~ November Project

Hi Crafty Friends, How are doing with your holiday cards?  I'm hoping to have mine ready to mail by December 1!!! Here's my project for our November challenge at The Merry Christmas Challenge.

I've used stamps from LaLa Land Crafts (love the new CLEAR stamps.)

I also used the Wine Tag and Stitched Circle dies from Jaded Blossom.  The snowflakes are from several different set.

This challenge is open from November 15 - December 14.

Just follow the link above to share your Christmas project.

I hope you've enjoyed getting ahead on your Christmas cards.  It's been so much fun seeing all of your amazing projects and getting early inspiration.

Sadly, this is the final post for The Merry Christmas Challenge blog.

All of the design team members will miss you.

The Merry Christmas Challenge ~ October

Hi Crafty Friends,
Today I'm sharing my The Merry Christmas Challenge card for October.   I truly appreciate this challenge blog because for the first time I have quite a holiday stash so I can get my Christmas cards in the mail without a last minute card making frenzy.

I hope you can see the embossing on this card.  I have so many wonderful embossing folders and I simply don't use them enough.  This is from Crafter's Companion.  All I added was a die cut sentiment by Sizzix and a few sparkly sticker dots.
So, come on over and join our challenge and keep that card stash building!

September's The Merry Christmas Challenge

Hi Crafty Friends,
I'd like to share my card for this month's The Merry Christmas Challenge.

This is such a cute image and sentiment.  I plan to make multiples of this one.
Remember that our challenge runs for the entire month so you'll have plenty of time to enter. Just follow the link above.

The Merry Christmas Challenge

Hi Crafty Friends,
Woohoo, another Christmas card completed (I may not have that last minute holiday card panic this year!) for this month's The Merry Christmas Challenge.
Remember we have changed our challenge to monthly from now through December.  You'll find the design team's projects posted on the 15th.  Just follow the link above.
Here's a CAS card I designed for this month.  Right now I'm designing cards that will be easy to make multiples with changes in the background to make them different.

Just some matting and a greeting that I die cut using foiled paper makes a simple holiday card.
Thanks for stopping in.  I hope you'll join our challenge.

The Merry Christmas Challenge #27

Hi Crafty Friends, Here's my project for The Merry Christmas Challenge this month.  From now through December our challenges will be posted on the 15th of each month and will be open until the 14th of the next month.  Hopefully you've been keeping up with your holiday card making so this reduction of challenges will give you more crafty time because YOU'RE AHEAD with your Christmas cards, right?  LOL.  The remainder of my designs will be those with which I can make easily make multiples so I'll have plenty come mail time. I used one of Authentique's paper lines from last year to create this card.

The tree is washi tape wrapped around a triangle.  I added some Recollections sparkly dots to mimic the tree lights in the patterned paper.  This was a quick and easy card to design and assemble. Just follow the link above and show us how you're doing with your Christmas cards.

The Merry Christmas Challenge # 25

Hi Crafty Friends,
The OPTIONAL theme for The Merry Christmas Challenge is Memories.
There's just something to be said about traditional Santas and Christmas stories.  This paper by Graphic 45 really brings back memories of traditional celebrations.

The only thing I added to the panel I selected was the Joy die cut from Lala Land Crafts.  I really think the paper says it all.
I hope you'll join our Merry Christmas Challenge.  Remember that there are new card ideas every week.  Just follow the link above.

The Merry Christmas Challenge #21

Hi Crafty Friends,
The OPTIONAL theme for this Merry Christmas Challenge is holly and ivy.

I found this traditional holly paper in my stash.  I had die cut these letters when I was learning to use the Minc machine which adheres foil to toner paper.  The holly and berries are from the Jaded Blossom Christmas die set.
There is a new challenge every week.  Visit the team blog (link above) to see more card ideas and to play along with us.

The Merry Christmas Challenge #19

Hi Crafty Friends,
Are you feeling like Christmas in May?  Anytime is a good time to think Christmas, right?
The optional theme for The Merry Christmas Challenge this week is PLAID.
I love plaid and think it looks especially festive as a holiday print.  Carta Bella had a great Christmas line last year that included lots of plaid.  For this card I used the Buffalo Plaid.

The paper set also had matching embellishments so I added one of the dimensional stickers. Easy Peasy but I love the look.
Keep your card stash going and join us for this challenge by following the link above.

The Merry Christmas Challenge #17

Hi Crafty Friends,
Time of me to post on The Merry Christmas Challenge.  Remember that there is a new challenge every week even though I only post on the odd # challenges. The OPTIONAL theme for this challenge is Banners.

Sometimes it's just fun to play with extra die cuts that are in my stash and let them "land" on the card mat LOL.  I've used dies from Jaded Blossom (stitched circles) and La La Land (all the rest.)
The only thing this card needs is a greeting or sentiment which can be added later.
Follow the link above to share your Christmas project.  It's fun to know that you're ahead for the upcoming Christmas season.

The Merry Christmas Challenge #15 ~ TREES

Hi Crafty Friends,
Sorry I'm late with this post.  The good news is that I had my project ready for  The Merry Christmas Challenge post that went live this morning.
The optional theme for this week's challenge is TREES.

I love this pretty musical background paper.  I cut the trees from LaLa Land Crafts adhesive foil and the sentiment die was cut from Classic Linen white pearl.  Both dies are from La La Land Crafts.
Follow the link above to join in this week's challenge.

The Merry Christmas Challenge # 13

Hi Crafty Friends,
The Holly and Ivy team are sharing projects for TMCC #13.  Our optional theme is BELLS.
I used a file from the Silhouette Design Store and papers from Authentique.

I cut this file with my Silhouette and set the over cut option to get a clean cut. I love how it turned out.  I think I'll be making duplicates of this one!
Just follow the link above to join in our challenge.  Remember, our them is optional.  So get going on those Christmas cards!!!

The Merry Christmas Challenge #11

Hi Crafty Friends,
Time again for the Holly and Ivy team to post on The Merry Christmas Challenge Blog.
Our optional theme is the Grinch Movie.

I think this Grinch is delightfully evil but I must say that the one in the movie (not the animated film) kind of scares me!!!
I purchased this cut file on Etsy.  I used my Silhouette but it was tricky finding the right paper that would cut these lines.  I used Doodlebug Designs card stock and set my Silhouette ot overcut.  Than seemed to work best.  I found the font for the sentiment on DaFont.  
Be sure to join us and keep those Christmas cards coming!

The Merry Christmas Challenge #9

Hi Crafty Friends,
The Holly and Ivy Team is up for challenge #9.  Our optional theme is Snowmen. I love snowmen and have a pretty good collection (which are still on display - eeek!)
Here's my card for this challenge.

I colored this image in multiples to have a set of cards to send.  I love the Buffalo print patterned paper.  The sentiment is from a sticker set by Carta Bella.  I colored using Copics.  This image is a digi stamp from Copic Marker Scrapbooking which is no longer in existence.  So glad I have this file because I think he's a great snowman.
So, keep working on those Christmas cards and share them with us at The Merry Christmas Challenge.

The Merry Christmas Challenge # 7

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's time for the Holly and Ivy team to post on The Merry Christmas Challenge. Our optional theme is REINDEER.

Once again I used some of my favorite dies from La La Land Crafts and some gorgeous Classic Linen Pearl and Gold papers from Paper Temptress.  I just love this look!!

Just follow the link above to join in our challenge.  Let's keep those Christmas cards coming!

The Merry Christmas Challenge #5

Hi Crafty Friends,
Are you sticking with your goal to continue making Christmas cards year round? I love thinking that I might be ahead of the game for next Christmas.
Today's The Merry Christmas Challenge optional theme is Wreaths.   I usually design my cards including papers and embellishments and then color my image.  However, for this card I had the image already colored with no card in mind.  I made it into a card which included a wreath and the more I looked at it, it just didn't make creative sense to me so ... off came the image and using a new selection of papers and sentiment, here is the final product. Good thing a wreath is optional - maybe another time, another card.

This cute little Santa Monster is from Sherri Baldy's My Besties.  I colored using Copic Markers and added Frosted Lace Stickles to the hat.  The sentiment is from Jaded Blossom's Christmas Signs set.
Just click on the link above to join in our challenge.

The Merry Christmas Challenge #3

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's the Holly and Ivy's turn to post for The Merry Christmas Challenge.  This year we will have OPTIONAL themes if you'd like to follow them.  Our theme for this challenge is  STOCKINGS.

I've used Jaded Blossom's Treat Tag dies and Christmas Dies for this project.  The sentiment is from JB's Holiday Treat Tags set.  The papers are Authentique.
Just follow the link above to enter our challenge.  Remember that there is a new challenge every week.  

The Merry Christmas Challenge ~ 2018 #1

Hi Crafty Friends,
Time to keep going (or start fresh) with your holiday cards!!! I'm having so much fun with The Merry Christmas Challenge because it's actually keeping me on top of my holiday cards.  I send well over 60 and I want them all to be handmade. So, let's get started with cards for 2018.   This year our challenges will have an optional theme. This week's theme is Happy New Year. You don't have to follow the theme to enter - you'll find that sometimes I won't either. So here's my first card for 2018.

This adorable snowman is from Digi My World and I colored him using Copic Markers.
Follow the link above to join our challenge and stay on top of those holiday cards. An added bonus - you don't have to put away your Christmas papers and goodies LOL.

The Merry Christmas Challenge #48

Hi Crafty Friends,
This is the final post of 2017 for the Holly and Ivy Team at The Merry Christmas Challenge. We'll be back on January 3 with Challenge #1 of 2018!
I made this fun shaker card for my final Christmas card of 2017.  The detail dies are from La-La Land Crafts and the stitched and scallop circles are from Jaded blossom.

It's difficult to tell, but I used gold linen card stock for the die cuts.  
Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas!!!
I'll see you in the new year.  We can keep our Christmas going LOL.

The Merry Christmas Challenge #46

Hi Crafty Friends,
Well, we're in the final stretch for this year's Christmas cards!  I always tell myself that I'll keep making them even after the holiday and this year I'll be able to do just that since TMCC will continue throughout the new year!!!

For this card, I've chosen a gold linen background and for the die cuts, classic white linen pearl and Mercury Glass.  The detailed dies are from La-La Land Crafts and the stitched mat die is from Jaded Blossom.  
Come on over and join our challenge.  If you've already mailed your cards, you'll be getting a start on next year!  Remember, you can share ANY Christmas project.  It doesn't have to be a card.

The Merry Christmas Challenge #44

Hi Crafty Friends,
I hope you've been finding lots of Christmas inspiration from the weekly posts on The Merry Christmas Challenge blog.
For my team post, I'm sharing a wine tag I made for my daughter's holiday gift giving. Actually, I made her and entire set but this one is for Christmas.

This is a great project to use your scraps on!  The wine tag base is from the Silhouette Design Store.  I think it's the Balloons tag - I just left off the balloons and added a Sizzix branch from a thinlits set.  I also added some Nuvo Chrystal Drops "berries", a sentiment tag and jute bow.  I think it will be a great addition to her wine gifts.
I hope you're sharing your holiday ideas.  Just follow the link above to join in the fun.