The 12 Days of Christmas Quest: Day Eleven

Hello everyone!  It is the eleventh day of Christmas and it is time to continue the quest.  Can you believe there are just two days to go?!  I'm getting this one done just under the wire but at least it is still Jan. 4th where I live--well for 12 more minutes anyway!

If you missed day one click HERE to start from the beginning and read all the details.

Day two:    click HERE
Day three:  click HERE
Day four:    clck HERE
Day five:     click HERE
Day six:    click HERE
Day seven: click HERE
Day eight:  click HERE
Day nine:  click HERE

 Day ten:  click HERE

As a quick refresher, each day during the 12 Days of Christmas (Dec. 25th to Jan. 5th), you're going to be given a task to follow.  I'll be sending you on a quest to find or provide me with certain facts from the stores or blogs of designers that I love.  Then, it is will just be a matter of emailing me the answer to my query and you'll earn a free digital paper.

Since this is a busy time of year for most people, you will have plenty of time to complete the quest.  It is completely up to you as to when and how you submit your answers (daily, all at once at the end, or otherwise) AS LONG AS all your answers are sent in no later than January 12th, 2016.

Here is the paper up for grabs today...

This paper is 3600 x 3600 pixels, in jpg format and published at 300 dpi.  Credits include:  Pixaroma (purchased through Deal Jumbo) and Brooke Gazarek, with Pixel Scrapper.  In the zip folder that will be emailed should you successfully complete the quest, you will find a copy of the paper, its preview sheet, the credit information and my terms of use which are standard to all my folders.

Play along each of the 12 days and you'll earn yourself the full set!  So, how about we get started with today's clue!!!

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
it is time to earn paper number eleven.
It is a very well know fact that, 

all good designers and card makers go to heaven!!

Task:
Head on over to the Sami Stamps store and let me know HOW MANY images in the Christmas section have an ANIMAL, BIRD OR FISH in them.  Hint:  In the left hand sidebar, you'll see the CATEGORIES listed.  Click on the Christmas and Gifts section to narrow down your search!

Click HERE to head there now! 

When you come up with a response, send an email to decossesdynamitedoodles {at} yahoo {dot} ca (be sure to replace 'at' and 'dot' with the appropriate symbols) or by clicking HERE to bring up my address in your email program, with the subject heading, "12 Days of Christmas:  Day Eleven".  I'm still working on sending out the papers to those participating.  Your continued patience, as always, is appreciated. 

May the happiness you experienced during the holidays, last the whole year through!  See you all tomorrow for day number twelve, the final day!!!

Cheers!

Card Design: 12MoC Ch. #4...Opt. Theme--Colour Challenge

Hello!  It is time for the April challenge and link up to begin over at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  We had another great showing in March and Monica and I hope that you'll continue to spread the word about our Link Up. 

Don't forget that this link up is basically two-fold.  First of all, you are still going to have the opportunity to link up any number of Christmas and December holiday themed cards throughout the month with an anything goes theme. At the end of each month, every person who has linked up a MINIMUM of two (2) Christmas or holiday themed cards will be eligible to receive a specially designed Christmas themed digital paper created by moi. That means that if you submit two cards each month, by the time that the year is done, you will have received 12 free digital papers, all for the low cost of linking up cards you need to create anyway. You do not need to use the digital paper you receive each month in your cards in order to get the next paper. They are strictly meant as incentive to participate.

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called Bauble Bonanza, based on the theme for this challenge.  Check out the preview...

 Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of April will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set.  The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post.  If you would like to have a say in determining which colour will be offered, you can answer the poll we've set up in the sidebar on the top right hand side of The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up blog. 

The second part of the challenge provides even more incentive to play. Each month there will be an OPTIONAL theme to follow. This month the optional theme is a Colour Challenge. In order to have a chance to win the $12.00 gift card from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that your card showcases at least THREE of the colours from the palette below. You can find more details over on the Challenge #4 post. You can find that post and the link up by clicking HERE.

http://design-seeds.com/index.php/home/entry/merry-christmas

Also, be sure to check out all the rules and details on the Challenge Details Page. We have provided examples of a few different scenarios to help explain things and make them a bit clearer, in case there is any confusion. 

This month our wonderful guest sponsor is Sami Stamps...

Check out the fabulous image I got to work with this month for the start of the challenge...

 Whiskers in my Stocking

 Clicking on the image watermark will take you to its spot in the Sami Stamps store.

 This latest card makes...

Christmas Cards to date for 2015:  10

...and here it is...

General Info:

• I managed to use all the colours of the palette on both the inside and out!

FRONT

Digital Image Details:

• Whiskers in my Stocking:  Details and link above.  The image was coloured in with Copic Markers. 

Embellishments:

• The glittery sticker and the fabric snowflakes are both Crafts brand and were purchased at Dollarama. 
• The ribbon is Celebrate It brand and was purchased at Michael's. 

Digital Paper Products: 

• I used one of the papers from the Bauble Bonanza set which is mentioned above.  If anyone is interested in purchasing this set, just let me know and I'll add it to the store.

INSIDE

Digital Sentiment Details:

• This sentiment was created by Paulette from Create with TLC. I picked it up a while back as a freebie. For more great freebies and inspiration be sure to click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and for awesome sets for purchase, click HERE to go to the home page of the store.

•  I coloured it digitally using each of the colours from the palette before printing it out.  I also added a shadow to make it stand out a bit more.  This layer style is from Sheila Reid, Pixel Scrapper.

OVERALL 
Paper Products: 

• Card, image and sentiment base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.

Challenges I am hoping to enter...

• http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes:  Christmas
• http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes:  Christmas
• http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Tie a Bow
• http://craftcreatoins.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://kraftinkimmiestamps.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://hjcchallenge.blogspot.ca/  -- Feature a Creature
• http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/ -- Any Holiday
• http://artbymiranchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes with hand colouring
• http://suzysmarty1.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes with a twist...No Sentiment  (There is no sentiment on the front of my card which is usually all that is entered into challenges.)

So what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for April.  Whether you choose to link up two Anything Goes themed cards simply to earn your free paper this month, or you choose to also follow the theme to have a chance at the sponsor's prize, it is completely up to you!  Cards for this challenge will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. (18:00 hrs), April 1st - 11:55 p.m. (23:55 hrs), April30th, 2015.  You can find out all the details for this challenge including the link up by heading HERE.  Monica, I and the design team hope to see you there! 

Until next time!

Card Design: Path of Positivity #24--Serendiptiy

Hello everyone.  It is not very often that I have the time to create for the start of The Path of Positivity Challenge.  However, as busy as I was, I did find some time to squeeze in another card.  This month the theme is a bit more challenging as we want to see a creation that showcases the concept of serendipity.

As I mention over on the challenge blog, Serendipity means a "fortunate happenstance" or "pleasant surprise"(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serendipity).  Or another way to look at it is, "luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serendipity).  I thought that creating a wedding card would illustrate the idea.  I found a really great quote online and then made it into a sentiment that you can pick up for free over on the challenge blog, "Sweet Serendipity...The unexpected meeting that changes your life." (Alexia).  I really like this quote because it could apply to any kind of meeting.  You might come across a person who becomes a really great friend.  You might meet someone that changes your career for the better.  There are so many interpretations, including meeting the love of your life.  Since I only have a couple wedding cards on hand, I figured that now would be a good opportunity to add to the pile.

This month our sponsors are...

 Lunagirl

and Sami Stamps

For the start of the challenge, I'm working with an image from Sami Stamps.  

Both Sami and Karen had lots of wonderful images to choose from that worked well for this challenge.  You can see the images the rest of the team chose to work with over on the challenge blog.

For now, here is the one I chose to work with...

On Your Arm

 You can find it in the "Valentine's Day and love category" over in the Sami Stamps store.  Clicking on the watermark above, will take you to that section in the store.

Here are my card and details.  I hope I haven't forgotten anything important...

FRONT

Digital Images Details: 

• On Your Arm: Details above.  I've coloured it in with Copic markers.  Unfortunately, my main grey marker started running out halfway through the process, so I'm not exactly happy with the final result.  I suppose it doesn't look awful but it could do with a little more blending.  Maybe I could just say the fabric is a wool tweed blend.  Or better yet, they're saving up money for a home and couldn't really afford an expensive suit.  Do you think I could get away with it?! ;)
• I have used an image from Imagine That! Digis by Kris, featured in the Impossible Hearts Set.  Since I used a paper from this set as well, you can find the watermark and details below. 
• The floral frame that the the hearts are in, is in the Doily Frames set created by Paulette from Create with TLC.  Paulette recently had a special on where if you bought something in the store, you received the frames as a special thank you.  I was lucky enough to acquire them.  They are just so pretty and versatile!  For great freebies and inspiration be sure to click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and for more awesome sets for purchase, click HERE to go to the home page of the store.

Digital Sentiment Details: 

• The beautiful sentiment on the front was also created by Paulette from Create with TLC. I picked it up a while back as a freebie.

Embellishments:

• The glittery silver ribbon is Crafts brand and was purchased at Dollarama.
• The gemstones and the puffy hearts are also Crafts brand.

INSIDE

Digital Sentiment Details:

• One I created.  You can find it over on The Path of Positivity blog by clicking HERE and scrolling three quarters of the way down.  I've offered it up in two separate pieces.  Originally I was going to put the 'sweet serendipity' part on the front and then the rest of the sentiment on the inside followed by 'happy wedding day' but then figured maybe it would be better done the other way.

OVERALL

Paper Products: 

• Card base:  Recollections card set in white, lg.
• Image and sentiment base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
• The shimmery grey piece used as an accent, along with the dark grey cardstock used for matting, are from Michael's openstock scrapbook paper.

Digital Paper Products:

• As mentioned above, I made use out of the Impossible Hearts Set from Imagine That! Digis by Kris, using both one of the images in the set, along with one of the papers.  This is another really great set that is versatile and I'm sure I'll be using it over and over.  You can find the set for sale in the store. Right now is only $1.95 reduced from $3.00!  Click on the watermark below to head there now.

Challenges I am hoping to enter...

• http://artbymiranchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes with hand colouring
• http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://suzysmarty1.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes with a twist...Add Some Texture (I am hoping that the ribbon on the front and the embellishments give it enough texture.)
• http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.ca/ -- Love
• http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.ca/ -- More than One Layer
• http://eclecticellapu.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes
• http://www.fairytalestamper.blogspot.de/ -- Anything Goes but must use a digi (I've used several digital images)
• http://www.scribbleandscrapcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes
• http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes with a Sentiment
• http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/ -- Use a Digi (I've used several digital images)

For Challenge #24, the prizes will be the following:

• A $12 gift certificate from Sami Stamps, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $15 gift certificate from Lunagirl, one of our guest sponsors this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:

• One digital designer paper (made to order in a couple different ways) from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

So what are you waiting for?  Create a project and/or post that is positive AND relates to serendipity, provide an explanation of how your project and/or post relates to the theme somewhere in your post or  leave a comment on the challenge post with the explanation.  Easy, peasy!

To find out all the details you need along with the link up, click HERE.  The team and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!!!

Until next time!

Card Design: Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge...February

It is time to post my creation for the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge. So many adorable images available.  They just keep getting cuter and cuter!  Here is the image we got to work with for this month...

Everyone who played along in last month's challenge received Bunny with Glasses for free. If you decide to hop on and play along in the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge, then you can purchase this digital by clicking HERE (or on the watermark above to head to its location in the store). This way you'll receive next month's digital stamp for free.

Here are my card and details...

General Information:

• Where's a recycling challenge when you need one?  I was able to use parts of a used tissue box to make this card.

FRONT

 Digital Image Details: 

• Bunny with Glasses:  You can find this image in the store.  Details above.  This image was coloured in with Copic Markers.  
• Birthday Hat:  I added a cute little hat to make him more birthday like.  It is from Scribbles Designs and is 1/2 of the Birthday Cake & Hat set.  Click on either watermark below to head to their location in the store.
  

• One Christmas Gift:  Finally, I decided to use a versatile image from Sami Stamps.  You can find it in the Christmas and Gifts section which you can find by clicking the watermark below.   I paper pieced it with one of my word papers.  While you can't read it, it says 'celebration'.

  INSIDE

OVERALL
Digital Sentiment Details:

• Both of the great sentiments I used were created by Paulette from Create with TLC.  I picked each up as a freebie a while back.  You can find more great freebies on Paulette's blog, by clicking HERE.  To find great sets in the store, click HERE.

Paper Products:

• Card and sentiment base:  Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
• Designer Papers:  The floral strip and the strip of yellow are from my scrap pile.
• The blue striped cardboard on the front and inside is from a tissue box.
• The dark blue used as matting is from Michael's Recollection's openstock paper.

Challenges I am entering: 

• Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge

 Other challenges I hope to enter... 

***Please note that if the word verification appears, ignore it and simply click the 'publish' button***

• Word Art Wednesday -- Anything Goes
• http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes but must be a card
• http://artbymiranchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes but no digital colouring
• http://seizethebirthday.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes Birthday
• http://animalfriendschallenge.blogspot.de/ -- Image must have an Animal
• http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Birthdays
• http://www.scribbleandscrapcrafts.blogspot.co.uk -- Anything Goes 
• http://www.samistamp.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes with a Sami Stamps image

Well guys, that is it for this one.  Lots to do, lots to do.  See you all again soon.

Until next time,

Card Design: Two Challenges -- One Card...Gerda Steiner Designs PC & Sami Stamps

Once again I've decided to combine challenges with one creation.  I've used the stamp that I got in the Gerda Steiner Designs progressive challenge to create the front of my card and then took a freebie I got from Sami Stamps and used it on the inside of my card.


First up for the FRONT OF THE CARD--Gerda Steiner Designs... Progressive Challenge for August

Gerda Steiner Designs images are just so cute!  Check out the one we got to work with this month...

 

This little guy is so adorable.  This image is currently available in the shop for purchase.  Click HERE or on the watermark above to go and check it out.

Here is the front of my card...

General Information:

• I used a Sweet Sunday Sketch from Karen Giron.  I adore her sketches and one of these days, I might even get a card using one done in time to actually submit to one of her challenges... ...yeah, you're right... ...the odds are probably not in my favour since the challenges are only open a week but I suppose miracles could happen (click on sketch to head to blog).

Digital Image Details: 

• Kid in Pumpkin Costume:  You can find this image in the store.  Details above.  This image was coloured in and grounded with Copic Markers. 

Embellishments:

• The button was purchased as part of a collection at the Dollar Tree.

Paper Products: 

• Designer Papers:  The two different Hallowe'en themed papers are from Recollection's All Seasons Paper Pad.

Challenges I am entering:

• Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge

Other Challenges I am hoping to get it into... 

• http://www.lunagirlmoonbeams.com/ -- Let's Hear it for the Boys
• http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/ -- Two or more Patterned Papers (you do not specify that you must use Rubber stamps, only that some stamping is on the project.  I have used digital stamps.  Hope that is okay.)
• http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/use-your-stash-at-try-it-on-tuesdays.html -- Use Your Stash (these papers are from the second book I ever bought.  They've been used before and have been sitting in my stash for the last year.) 
• http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes

Now for the INSIDE OF THE CARD with Sami Stamps...

Sami Stamps is another company that I love.  Unfortunately, my regular monthly work keeps me so busy I don't have a chance to play in their challenges as often as I would like.  However, I was lucky again this month to find a great Hallowe'en image in my collection to work on the inside.

Be sure to stop by Sami Stamps.  Click HERE for the store, and HERE for the blog.  Sami has the most beautiful images and each month offers up a new freebie.  In addition to the monthly challenge there is always great inspiration from the design team.  You won't be disappointed.

Here is what I came up with for the inside of my card...  

Digital Image Details: 

• Halloween Kitty:  You can find this image in the store in the Hallowe'en section.  I've linked the watermark below to take you to that section.  This image was coloured in and grounded with Copic Markers.  

Digital Sentiment Details: 

• I found the perfect sentiment in my collection from Create with TLC.  Click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and HERE to go to the store.

OVERALL
Paper Products: 

• Image and sentiment base:  Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
• Card base:  Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, black.
• Solid yellow used for decoration on the front and matting on the inside is Michael's open stock scrapbook paper.  

Challenges I am entering:

• Sami Stamps -- Anything Goes with a Sami Stamps image

Other Challenges I am hoping to get it into...

• http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.ca/ -- Animals (hopefully that cute little kitty cat is enough to qualify for the theme)
• http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ -- Anything Goes
• http://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes with Stamping (the image and sentiment are both digital stamps)

Thanks for popping by everyone! Can you believe that September is almost upon us?  A new season is coming filled with lots of colour, beauty and wonder.  Hopefully I won't blink and miss it.  Time to get to more crafting done.  Hope you are having a glorious week so far.

 
Until next time,