Happy Birthday in blue and brown

EDIT:

I made the card and had it sitting on my desk for a couple days.  I just didn't like how the stamped image and sentiment were lost on the brown paper.  So I changed it.  :o)  Here is the new card even if the challenge is over.  :o)

It has been over a month since I posted on here but that doesn't mean I haven't been making cards.  Christmas cards was the priority!  Now that things have calmed down and I don't have to mass produce cards, I can play along with some challenges again!  My Mommy's birthday is on January 8th so I decided to make one for her tonight.  I went to some of my favorite blogs for inspiration:

Allsorts Challenge wants us to use brown and blue.

A la Card Monkey had a cute sketch challenge:

And here is my card:

I simply layered solid and patterned paper.  Used my lace edge punch on the blue layer.
The flower stamp in from Stampin Up!  Happy Birthday is a hand me down random stamp.  Both stamped in SU! Chocolate Chip ink.
Added cream colored lace and brown ribbon to finish it off.

Thanks for swinging by!

Christmas cards

I haven't played along with any challenges lately simply because it does take a bit more time to do that and I was trying to make all my Christmas cards this year.  I made about half with stamps and embellishments.  The rest will still be assembled in a simple way with our photo on the front.  I am signing away now and stuffing envelopes and I just love putting these together.  I had to cut my Christmas card list because I keep in touch with many thru Facebook and I just gotta be realistic about the cards.  I include a photo and annual Newman Newsletter too so by the time I do that and pay for postage, it's a big endeavor!
Here is my created stash:

Today is Thanksgiving and I have much to be thankful for!  Enjoy the holidays everyone!!

My eyes are brown

Less is More is having a challenge to use the color your eyes are on a card.  My eyes are brown and since I am making my Christmas cards, I immediately thought of a little gingerbread man stamp I had.  And wouldn't you know... one of my favorite challenge sites Do You Stack Up has the color brown as their theme this week too. 

Then I used this simple sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

So here is my card to play along with all three challenges.

I used pattern paper with holly leaves and swirls as the strip.
The gingerbread man is a foam dollar stamp I acquired somewhere along the way.  I stamped him in SU! Chocolate Chip ink.  I added Stickles glitter to his outfit.  I cut him out using a Nestabilities die on my Big Shot.  Layered red behind that using the next size up.  I love die cuts!
Merry Christmas is stamped in the same Chocolate Chip ink.
I finished it off with little candy canes thanks to Jolie's.  I like how the holly matches that background paper.

Thanks for swinging by!

Sketch challenge

Freshly Made Sketches has a fun sketch challenge this week.

I'm still plugging away on my Christmas cards.  So here is my card:

I started with red cardstock as the base.

Next layer is branch patterned paper.  Then an olive colored green strip.

The tag:  I stamped snowflakes in SU! Whisper White craft ink.  Love this stuff.  Added red ribbon.

The penguin is recycled from an old Christmas card that I cut out with a punch.  

I printed "Merry Christmas from the Newmans" on my computer and used a punch to cut it out.

ta da!

Thanks for swinging by!

Christmas sketch challenge

A la card Monkey has a Christmas sketch challenge that I played along with today.  I like the sketch challenges cause that proves I was inspired by them!  

Started with red card stock.  Added a layer of branchy patterned paper.
I made the red tag with the same paper as the base of the card.  I stamped swirls in SU! Old Olive to coordinate with the swirls in the star.
The star is a sticker from my stash.
Added the ribbon and stamped Merry Christmas in Old Olive ink.

Thanks for swinging by!

Male birthday card

The Paper Players have a sketch challenge.

Annabelle Stamps wants to see male cards this week.
Do You Stack Up has a fun "Duo" theme challenge.

So I made this card for my husband's uncle whose birthday is coming up.

Started with blue cardstock.
Layered three strips of patterned paper.  My paper cutter blade is a little dull so the edges look distressed which I like for this card.
I made the gift with patterned paper and a stencil.  I thought it looked like wrapping paper.  I edged it in white ink to help it pop a little.  I made a bow out of silver glittery ribbon.  Clearly I need to look up how to make a bow next time!
Balloons were in a little package of die cuts.  I added the embroidery floss for the strings.
Finished with a little happy birthday stamped sentiment from Leisure Arts.

Thanks for swinging by!

New home

We are going to a housewarming party next weekend so I made this Fall card for the first time homeowners!

I am playing along with Allsorts this week.  They want us to keep it clean and simple.  

I stamped the door from a set given to me.  Not sure of the company.  The pumpkin is in the same set. I colored it with watercolor pencils.
Congratulations if from a clear wedding set from AC Moore.
Corner punched the orange layer.  And simply layered that on happy Fall paper.

Thanks for swinging by!