Holiday Card Buffet Continued

I shared with you some of the cards from my annual Holiday Card Buffet. Those were the cards that offered a raffle prize. Here are some of the other cards that guests got to create~

As you can see I had just a couple of Fall/Thanksgiving themed cards. These used the gorgeous Falling For You papers, some new stamp sets and watercolors that allowed the participants a few moments of relaxing coloring!

As you can see, I always try to provide a mix of colors and themes. This was a really fun buffet!

Christmas Card Buffet

I recently hosted my first ever card buffet. I created a dozen different Christmas cards with a huge variety of themes from reindeer to gingerbread men and even a VW bug!? The ladies had 2 hours to create and the more they made the more savings the earned per card. It was hit overall and everyone really had fun!

Here is a picture of the cards, minus one that was left out of the photo.~

This picture illustrates how the cards were set in crates or boxes with kits to make the card along with the materials needed to complete it. Most required a stamp set and inks, but others needed thin cuts, markers, craft heaters, embossing folders and more.

Here are the ladies having fun, but mostly getting to work....serious business you know!

One of the aspects that the ladies enjoyed the most is that all the ideas were already thought of for them. The could simply look at the master card and recreate it. I try to come up with interesting ideas and wanted to explore all sorts of stamp images as well as use a variety of papers. Sometimes the ideas came from strange items. Like the Merry VW bug card. On a recent shopping trip to Michaels I came across these adorable magnetic closing boxes for 50% off. The image of the little cars decked out for the holidays was my inspiration for this card. I think the post office should seriously make this a stamp design. I would buy it! None of these card kits were left in the box...well not many cards were left at all at the end of the night!

Happy crafting!

Nightmare Before Christmas?

Today I am sharing two versions of this week's Freshly Made Sketch! I feel like I didn't create enough Halloween cards this year, so I wanted to make just one more fun skull card. After seeing all the wonderful inspiration from the design team, I wanted to create a Christmas card too. Aren't you so lucky to get two versions, one to use now for Halloween and another to use later for the Holidays!

Yummy, Yummy! Look at those colorful skulls and that awesome Cricut cut sentiment from the Artistry cartridge.

What a happy and festive snowman, looking so dapper in his top hat and scarf!

Be sure to check out Freshly Made Sketches for more inspiration or to play along!

Christmas Card Display

During my Holiday Open house I had lots of cards on display. Some of the cards used some newer stamp sets and products, however many of the cards were made using the newest Cricut collection Artfully Sent. I think the ladies were inspired and got a few ideas!

Here I showed a simple bottom border card {Ho Ho Ho}, the new adorable scooter card with some gold bling and washi tape, a gorgeous deer card and peeking in the left corner a nativity scene card.

Hey look!  There's that Holiday Happenings Kraft mini book that I posted earlier!

On this display I had a couple swing cards and I also turned some PML type cards into full size Holiday cards!

Here is a close up of just a few of the cards.

This cheerful deer card is one of about 20 or so?! This was the card I designed and sent to family & friends for Christmas. The deer comes from one of the images intended to be used in a Holiday pop up card. The antlers cut beautifully even though they were so delicate and those birds were so tiny! I used some older cream paper, but down the center of the card is the gorgeous paper from the new Heartstrings collection. A tiny holiday cheer sentiment and some grosgrain ribbon finished the card perfectly. Oh! Don't forget the red glitter for the bird!

I love how this nativity scene card turned out. It was actually suppose to be cut larger, but it still came together perfectly. I kept it simple with neutral colors and a message stamped inside.

This noel card is intended to be used like a PML {Picture My Life} card for your scrapbooking pockets. However, with some layering, a velvet poinsettia and some sparkles, it becomes a traditional 5x7 greeting card.

Finally, some swing cards. These can be created fairly quickly and can be left simple or dressed up as you wish. I can't decide which one I like better...the adorable snowman or the ornamental tree?!

I hope you found some inspiration here today and will try some of these ideas for your own Christmas cards!

2014 Christmas Card Exchange

Yesterday I held my annual Christmas card exchange. This year I had a total of 7 participants including myself. We exchanged our creative cards, ate some yummy food and played with some paper while laughing and exchanging stories. As always I was delighted with all the talent and creativity that this group of ladies brings every year!

The card I created this year was inspired by one that I saw on Pinterest. I had no instructions though and needed to incorporate products exclusively from Close To My Heart. I loved the idea of creating a Christmas scene within a cozy home setting. Not only did I pull out some older non-Christmas stamps, but I also dug out some older retired textiles!

I used my Cricut to make a variety of cuts from a couple of the cartridges. I also borrowed my daughters sewing machine to sew the fabric curtains on the window!

Do you recognize those old sassy strands wrapped around the Christmas tree? I even created a snowy scene behind the vellum framed window!

Here are the cards from the ladies~

Aren't they all amazing!!

I also made a small gift for them as a sincere thank you for their participation and hanging out with me for some creative fun!

Inside of these adorable little burlap bags were a couple of my favorite types of tea. I hope that when they are relaxing at home, enjoying their tea, that they will think of me and our fun creative times we shared throughout the whole year. I really, truly have the best customers and friends!

In my next post I will share with you what these wonderful ladies were up to at our get-together! Hmmm....I wonder what they could be making?

Winter Valentine

Today's card is a fresh take on a winter valentine! I am playing along with the photo at Inspired By and using the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.

 

 

 

Mr. Snowman

This Saturday I am hosting a workshop where we will be creating this darling block snowman! His body is made from boxes cut on the Artiste Cricut cartridge. He is embellished with button brads, chipboard stars, red twine and a child's sock for a hat!

The boxes can be left empty and simply used as Holiday decoration....or....fill the boxes with goodies as a fun surprise for your loved ones!

 

Please contact me if you are interested in attending this workshop! 

Virtual Card Exchange

It's a virtual card exchange on Heart 2 Heart challenges this week! It will be the last challenge for the year on H2H, so sad!

I was able to use up a small amount of papers, stickease and ribbons for these darling snowmen cards. As usual all products used are CTMH.

Here is the small set and a peek on the inside!

Please see the wonderful inspiration on H2H and play along.

Merry Christmas to all of you and your families!