The Flower Challenge #109 - Reminder

I have enjoyed my time as a member of The Flower Challenge and heaven knows I have a ton of flower stamps and dies.  Even though the challenge is closing down after the winner reveal on January 4th, I will still be having fun making floral cards. 

My card uses the Festive Blooms die from Concord and 9th.  I played with it when I first got it and can't remember what paper I used but I love how this technique works.  I also can't find where I filed the die to look at it and explain, other than to say there is a coverplate that lays out the Design and you add the die cuts to it.  I've gone through most of my dies already but it's nowhere to be found.  I hope it didn't get left behind at the lake this summer.  The sentiment is from Spellbinders.  

Thanks again to everyone who participated in our challenges over the years.

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Color Hues #123

It's pink and green at Color Hues and I made another Christmas card.

I already made a card using the Waffle Flower Poinsettia Frame die (you can see it here) but it works great with the challenge colors.  I used Distress Inks in Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo, Bundled Sage, Rustic Wilderness and Picked Raspberry.  The background is Timeworn Type from SU! and the silver embossed sentiment is from PFS. I like to make Christmas cards all year long so this won't be the last one you see. 

Thanks for dropping by and spending a little bit of your day with me. 

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The Flower Challenge #109

Before I get to my card, I have sad news to report from our wonderful team leader, Karren.  

"After 9 years of The Flower Challenge the December challenge will be our last. We want to thank all our design team members, past and present, and especially all our participants over the years. Finally, we thank Aileen Ryan for coming up with the idea and running the challenge in conjunction with Viv Hodge for the first 7 years. We will post the winners as usual on the 4th of January 2026. The challenge blog will remain open for floral inspiration. We will be back with our reminder post on the 15th."

I decided to follow in the footsteps of Jennifer McGuire and make a bridge card featuring the Poinsettia Frame die from Waffle Flower.  You get half of the frame and separate flower sections to stack over those on the frame.  The stencils and Distress Inks color everything.  This is mainly a Waffle Flower card since the inside is embossed with their coverplate and the sentiment is one of their hot foil plates.

Thank you to all our loyal followers.  You've given us some wonderful flower cards over the years.

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Freshly Made Sketches #714

One more Christmas card based on Cecile's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  Mine are already in the mail but it's good to get a head start on next year's cards.

The Honey Bee Poinsettia was cut in white and colored with GinaK Carnation inks.  Two different embossing folders add to the theme, the white one from Tim Holtz and the green from Altenew.  The sentiment is from Penny Black. 

Thanks for taking the time to drop by.  I appreciate it.

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Jingle Belles - Banner Inspiration

The gals at Jingle Belles would like to see cards based on their blog banner and I was happy to oblige.

The background was watercolored with Evergreen Bough Distress Ink.  Once dry, I used the BetterPress Season's Greetings Evergreens and the same ink for the first pressing.  Then I pressed again using Pine Needles adding some splatters with the same ink.  The snow is Altenew's metallic watercolor.  The sentiment is "merry" from Penny Black cut in Altenew moonstone and a stamped "Christmas" from PTI.

Thanks for dropping by and spending a little bit of your day with me.  I hope your Thanksgiving was blessed with fine food, family and friends.

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Just Us Girls #803 - Stencil Week

It's stencil week at Just Us Girls and our host is Sue.

This will be our last challenge until the new year.  We hope you check in with us in January.

The image is Spellbinder's Full Bloom Poinsettia glimmer plate, foiled in gold.  Distress Inks were used to color it.  Salt Water Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Rustic Wilderness, Ground Expresso, varying the intensity with pressure and layers.   The gold foiled sentiment is from PFS.

Thanks to all our guest designers and to all of you who have been so good about entering our challenges.  We couldn't do it without you.

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Just Us Girls #800 - Celebrating 800 Challenges with Anything Goes

Can you believe it?  This is Just Us Girls' 800th challenge.  Our host Vicki decided to make it an Anything Goes challenge.

To add to the celebration, some of the Team Members are giving away a prize on their blog.  To win, you need to play in this challenge, and also leave a comment on the Team Member's personal blog.  I am giving away the following hot foil plate from Spellbinders.

Remember - you must play in the challenge and comment on my blog post to be eligible to win.

This being the first challenge of the month, we are welcoming a guest designer, Leslie Miller.  Please take time to visit her blog and leave a comment.  You'll love seeing all her wonderful cards.  

Now for mine:

When I saw Nicki Hearts Cards make a card with the PTI Snowdrops I knew they had to be mine.  EZPZ die cuts shaded with Distress Ink and arranged on a panel of SB Oceantide that has been embossed with the SU Subtle folder.  The sentiment is a PFS Christmas Banner.  So simple yet so sweet.  

Now it's your turn.  Let's fill that gallery with whatever strikes your fancy.

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Merry Christmas to All!

I have a number of cards I made that never got posted so I thought I'd put some of them here today to wish you all a Merry Christmas. 

I made several using Penny Black's Immense Joy and other PB images. 

I like the JOY so much I got NOEL too.

If you need the particulars of any image or design feature, just let me know. 

Have a wonderful holiday!

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Just Us Girls # 704 - Color Week

Where is the time going?  We're already into November.  Do you have your Christmas cards made?  If not, the challenge at Just Us Girls may be just what you need.  Carol Mayne is our host and she has chosen these colors for Color Week.

I knew right away what I was going to do with these colors. 

I used my NBUS stamps, stencils and dies from Alex Syberia Designs, coloring that large poinsettia with Altenew inks.  I love that there are die cuts for the sentiments in this set too.

Melissa Craig is out guest for November.  She and the Design Team have some beautiful red and green cards to inspire you but they don't have to be Christmas cards.  We'd love to see you in our gallery.

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