1st 2014 Christmas: stars and snowflakes

Before I begin the description I will comment on the weather in AZ.  Sky Harbor recorded the most rainfall EVER in one day - about 3 1/2 inches the last I heard.  We are about 40 miles away and had a lot - not that much, however.  You may have seen photos of incredible flooding on the freeways - many drivers have badly flooded cars.  Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose homes were flooded also - some for the second tme in a few weeks.
It is hard for me to focus on Christmas when temperatures have been right around 100!  Last year I made some 50 cards - will not do that again.  I have a friend who gave me a stack of her cards to recycle, and I will try to use many of them.  I am thinking of donating them to our church to enclose with the Christmas boxes we give to needy families.
This is a recycled image, and the burgundy strips and sentiment were cut from the same card.  The blue:
 bg is also a recycled piece - the cover from an annual stock report.  I embossed with the snowflake folder.
Sketch:  http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
Stars:
Non-birthday sentiment:  http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Any, with recycles:  http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/Any:  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/
Any:  http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/
Layers:  http://thesweetpeastampers.blogspot.co.uk/

Back to School with an apple

Wouldn't you know!  I decided to use some stamps I had not yet brought in to the house fro the motor home, and just at that moment a monsoon wind (called haboob) came up - I decided it would be prudent to stay in and use supplies I had!  This die is from Cuttlebug - a bit labor intensive, but with a cute result from all the pieces.  The embossing folders ( a tree trunk and leaves) are both Sizzix.  I used pop dots behind the circle.
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Layers:   http://thesweetpeastampers.blogspot.co.uk/
Embossing:  http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/
Texture:  http://wedodoobadoo.blogspot.co.uk/
Back to school:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
                         http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.com/
                       http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ 
                        /http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/

Masculine

I had a masculine card in mind - this turned out a bit more "blah" than anticipated - I used various parts of one sheet from my right now favorite stack - a DCWV Heirloom pack.  I am on a mission to use some pieces that I tend to skip over.  I used the Cuttlebug Asterisk die for the trim.
Sketch #5:  http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Layers:  http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/
             http://thesweetpeastampers.blogspot.co.uk/
Best friend = smiles and happiness:    http://asonginyourart.blogspot.com/
Any:    http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
            http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/
         
 

Quick masculine card

Sometimes I just need a really fast card!  D - DCWV Heirloom. Image - Embossing Arts; Sentiment - Rubber Cafe; Washi tape, MS punch.
Sketch:  http://feeling-sketchy.blogspot.com.au/
Masculine:  http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/2014/05/challenge-134-anything-goes-masculine.html
Dimension  (washi tape, punch): http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://thesweetpeastampers.blogspot.co.uk/
"5" - Paper, Washi tape, punch, stamps, dies :  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Any:  http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/ 

Fish Whisperer - Dale

This image is perfect for our friend whose birthday is soon - I just received it as part of a Bugaboo prize package.  I used a computer sentiment so I could make it small and add his name.  It is colored with Prismas.  The DP is from a Karen Foster "Gone Fishing" pack - there are (subtle) lures.  I added some chalk sponging, and distressed the edges.  The button and circle are die cuts on my machine. 
Inside top:  It's your birthday again?  Didn't we do that about a year ago?  And for the main verse, I have a list of fishing wisdom - such as "When in doubt, exaggerate".  (I think that is needed with this cartch LOL!
Sketch: http://adieforasketch.blogspot.ca/
No flowers:   http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
Humor:  http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.com/
Shabby chic:  http://craftyhandsdevon.blogspot.co.uk/
Make me smile:  http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/
Distress:   http://onesweetchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/search/label/challenge

Spring Birthday

I have been having major computer and internet woes - again!  So it is good I could get on here for a little while at least, and get this added.  I used a free digi image and sentiment from The Alley Way.  The DP is DCWV, and flowers by Petaloo.  I colored with a combination of Prismas and gel pens, with glitter added to the frosting.  The sketch is Sweet Sketch Wed, but though I finished the card, I could not get on to upload on time!
Digital image:  http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/
Spring colors:  http://thesweetpeastampers.blogspot.co.uk/
Birthday, with ribbon:  http://theprettylittleribbonshop.blogspot.com/
Inspiration, with green and white, and TAWS freebie:   http://www.thealleywaystamps.blogspot.com/search/label/BE%20inspired%20Challenge
Any:  http://pausedreamenjoychallenges.blogspot.com/