Pearly Sparkles November Challenge ~ Christmas

Hi Crafty Friends,
Wow, welcome to November and time to really start thinking about Christmas. A Christmas theme at Pearly Sparkles Challenge Blog is appropriate, don't you think?
I attended a retreat last year where we spent 3 days making an assortment of cards, albums, and gift boxes.  It was a busy, busy 3 days and I came home with a lot of ideas and a lot of unfinished projects. One of the projects was a holiday box album.  I had assembled all of the interactive inside pages but never got to the actual decorating.  I decided my project for this month would be a perfect reason to get it completed.  I'm sharing the the cover and a picture of the album-in-the-box so you can get an idea of the total project.  I'm thinking that the way I designed to exterior would also be a good template for some Christmas cards only on a smaller scale.

The box album is 6 x 6.  The die cuts are from La-La Land Crafts (sponsor of the retreat.) All of the patterned papers are from Authentique's Alpine set.  The box album is 1 inch deep .

Here you can see how the pages are built into the box which opens like a book.  Most of the pages have pockets or flaps so lots of room for pictures, journaling, or fun embellishments.
Please join us at Pearly Sparkles.  We can't wait to see one of your Christmas projects.

Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #444 ~ Anything Goes!

Hi Crafty Friends,
Well, the nasty cold bug visited our household and the hubs and I have been down for a week - yuck! I know I'm really under the weather when I can't even spend time in my craft room.   I think we're on the mend and I'll have several crafty posts for you this week.
Our 5th Tuesday challenge at Die Cuttin' Divas is always ANYTHING GOES.
This is a birthday card I made for my hubby's great friend who loves fishing. The stamp is from Whimsy Stamps and created by Jennifer Dove (LOVE her!)

I colored the bass using Copic Markers.  The stitched mats are Jaded Blossom dies and the sentiment and flag dies are from La-La Land Crafts.
I'm so happy with the way this turned out.  I colored a second one for another masculine birthday using a slightly different layout.
Please join us for our ANYTHING GOES challenge.  Just follow the link above.

Die Cuttin' Divas #443 ~ Fab Fall

Hi Crafty Friends,
Just when I thought fall was actually here, our weather is back in the 80s - ugh! Well maybe the FAB FALL challenge at Die Cuttin' Divas will help!

I've used dies from several of my favorite companies, La-La Land Crafts, Jaded Blossom, and IO, for this card.  I especially love this truck because I can fill it with pumpkins, trees, or hearts depending on the season.  I cut everything using my Gemini Jr.
Be sure to visit the DCD blog.  Our guest designer has posted two AMAZING projects that you must see.
Until next week . . .

My Time to Craft #408 ~ Halloween OR Cats

Hi Crafty Friends,
Our My Time to Craft challenge is double-themed this week for those of you who don't participate in Halloween.
I just love Whimsy Stamps, especially their monthly Paper Door kits.  The stamps I used for this project are from one of last year's kits but the stamps are still available in the store, just not as a kit.

The card base is a Whimsy Stamp die.  I colored using Copic Markers.
I hope you'll join us with either a Cat or Halloween project.  Just follow the link above.

Cut it Challenge #185 ~ Ghosts/Goblins/Ghouls

Hi Crafty Friends,
I hope you like our theme for this challenge at Cut it Up.
I don't send very many Halloween card but I do think they are fun to create.  For this challenge I used a file from our sponsor STINKIN CUTE PAPER PIECINGS.
The file I chose would make a cute page layout but I decided to make a stand up card/poster that measures approximately 7x7.  It would look cute in a Halloween vignette of favorite framed pictures, don't you think?

You might also choose to cute the file using HTV for a T-shirt, hmmmm?
Thanks for looking and I hope you'll join us for this challenge.  Just follow the Cut it Up link above.

Die Cuttin' Divas #442 ~ Adorable Monsters

Hi Crafty Friends,
Can monsters be adorable?  At Die Cuttin' Divas we think so.
I created this card using a cute girl monster from the Silhouette Design store.

I also used a number of dies from La-La Land Crafts to embellish the card.  I think it's cute in a freaky sort of way.
So, show us your adorable monsters.  Just follow the link above.

Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #441 ~ GET WELL

Hi Crafty Friends,
I'm sorry I missed last week's challenge.  I was spending the week with my daughter in Louisiana and was without a computer for the entire trip!  Eeek, but it can be done LOL.
This week's challenge at Die Cuttin Divas is GET WELL.  These cards are always handy to have in your stash.
Here's my project, a shaker card.

I used Jaded Blossom's stitched rectangles and oval  for the card base.  The heartbeat, flag, and pill bottle are from La-La Land Crafts.  The sentiment is from JB's For Your Boo Boo.
I hope you'll join in this week's fun.  Just follow the link above.

My Time to Craft #407 ~ Inside Out

Hi Crafty Friends,
Our theme for the My Time To Craft challenge is INSIDE OUT.  So, what do we mean by that? We want to see the INSIDE of your card as well as the outside.  I'll admit that I often leave the inside blank but I'm always inspired by Irina Blount (La-La Land Crafts) because she always creates something special for the inside as well.
Here'a a birthday card that was inspired by one of Irina's make n take classes at our local Memories for the Making store.

All of the dies (except the scalloped rectangle) are from La-La Land Crafts.  I also embossed an LLLC stencil for the white background and stamped the gingham using an LLLC background stamp and Distress Oxide ink.  I love that you can use  stencils with inks as well as emboss with them.  I used my Gemini Jr. to cut all of the die cuts.

Please join us for our Inside Out challenge.  Be sure to show us both parts of your card!

Cut it Up Challenge #184 ~ Tags, Bags, or Boxes

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's time to share things other than cards at Cut it Up Challenge Blog. We'd like to see your TAGS, BAGS, or BOXES.
I love Jaded Blossom's wide variety of tags, toppers, and treat holders.  Their dies can be used to make quick and easy gifts.  Here's one using the Lollipop holder.

How's this for making giving a See's lollipop a little more special?  Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy, right?
I hope you'll join us to share your projects as well.  Just follow the link above. You'll be entered to win a $25 gift voucher to CAS-ual Fridays, our challenge sponsor.