The 2012 Christmas Card Challenge! April 2012

Well, I can't say I'm really thrilled with the response I've had with my 2012 Christmas Card Challenge. I've taken part in these in the past, and had a blast.... so I thought it would be a GREAT idea to do one myself. I planned out the themes for each month, and put together prizes for each month so when people participated, they would have 6 more cards ready for this coming Christmas, AND some nice things to add to their scrap stash. BUT with the exception of January, no one has participated!

With all that said, (just had to vent)... I am NOT stopping this right as it's beginning. SO.... here goes.

The theme for April is: GREEN!
Since Spring is here so early, and I love the Spring so much since everything is blooming and starting over for another year of growing, our theme this month is Green! OK, so an all green card will be boring, so you can use white, and one other (SMALL) accent color. :)

Click HERE for the original post including the (very easy and straightforward) rules to the Challenge.

Get your cards made, and entered into the Linky below by the 20th!!! Can't wait to see what you've made! Put mine to shame, I'm sure!

Here are my cards for this month.

Your comments are always appreciated!
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The 2012 Christmas Card Challenge! March

Happy March 2012!

Has March come so soon?? The weather here has been unseasonably warm, and the daffodils and grape hyacinths are already in bloom!

Here is the March 2012 Christmas Card Challenge!
I hope you join in.

The theme for March is: Snow!
It usually snows here in March, so as a last homage to Winter who is quickly coming to a close here, Snow is going to be the theme.

Click HERE for the original post showing the rules and regs.
In short: Make 6 christmas cards with a snow theme, enter them here in the linky by March 21st, and hopefully YOU will will this month's prize!

Here are my cards for the March Challenge: Isn't he an adorable snowman?

I used my Stampin' Up markers to color Mr. Snowman, Christmas Red stickles to highlight the holly berries on top of the bird house, and Diamond stickles to fill him in because snow is so sparkly!!! He is covered with a dryer sheet to simulate snow, and the card base is stamped in Versamark with snowflakes as a background.


Click on the Linky to enter your cards! Please join in, and win some awesome Christmas themed prizes!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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Cards and Things

Here are some of my latest creations... I got out the watercolors again, and had a good time playing with them, made some more cards for our Chinese project, and we also decided that we needed some birthday cards for the little ones!









This Elmo includes flocking - a new technique I've been playing with. SO easy, and so cute!!!











Your comments are always appreciated!

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Dark Berry Smoothie

This really did turn out to be a FANTASTIC drink!!!

The berries were so sweet it didn't need a bit of sweetener at all.

1/2 c. crushed ice
1 banana
5 - 7 blackberries (they were HUGE)
blueberries to fill the cup.
Milk to fill in the cracks...
Blend, then when there's space add in most of the Lemon Yogurt.
Blend again.

Enjoy!!! It's delicious!!!


Your comments are always appreciated!

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My DELICIOUS Version of Iced Coffee

Over lunch one day, we were talking about coffee. Isn't that a conversation everyone has at some point with their co-workers?
One of the girls was telling us about how she makes the most delicious iced coffee drinks herself, and NEVER goes to xxx "quick" coffee shop.

Not being a coffee drinker myself, but always looking for delicious flavors, I grilled her about this for a week or two, and decided I had to try it myself. This was in October, or early November. I've now been making these coffee drinks for awhile.... they're addicting!!
Best thing of all??? NO SUGAR!!!!!!

Here's my drink all finished..... and the directions how? Keep scrolling!!


In the Magic Bullet cup, add about 1 inch of crushed ice. I started with cubes, but found the crushed ice works much better.


I add about 1 Tablespoon of instant coffee. My friend thought this was a lot, but it works for me.


Here's the best part.... SUGAR FREE!!! I like the Hazelnut flavor best, so I use more, and less of the Vanilla Caramel. I use between 2 and 4 Tbls. depending on how I feel that day. ;)

On top of this ice/coffee/creamer mix, I add 2 - 3 Splenda packets.

Fill the cup with cold water......

Screw on the blender cap, and let it mix away!!! I usually stop it when it stops "grinding".


There are so many variations that can be made of this coffee drink..... Do you have one?
Leave a comment!!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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Chinese Stamps and Storage

We've been busy working on Chinese projects due to my friend's daughter taking a trip to China, and hoping our projects raise lots of funds!!

One of my school colleagues lent me her Chinese Kanji character stamps, and asked if I would cover and decorate the can she used for storage.

This is what I came up with.... and YES, the paper is crooked... on purpose!!


Here's the top... I hope she likes it!!


Your comments are always appreciated!
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Cards for Soldiers - February Happy Valentine's Day!

I haven't made Cards for Soldiers in awhile simply because it's been crazy busy here. I missed crafting a lot so I decided to make some Valentine Cards.

LOVE the Kitchen Sink Stamps, and I haven't used them in awhile. There are so many pretty heart/rose images from this company! I also got out one of my favorite heart wheels and used a darker pink just to be able to see the hearts running across the background!



Here is a set I made similar to last year - One Sheet Wonders using red and pink roses with the Romance embossing folder.



Please Enjoy!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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The Oklahoma Chinese Connection

I just had to share this card. There will be another post with all kinds of cards my friends and I have made as a fundraiser to send my friend's daughter to China through a school trip.

Seems that's quite the popular thing to do here in Okielandia - my school has an exchange program with a Chinese school every year, allowing our kids/teachers to go there, and a group of their students/teachers to come over to the states and visit.

Since the kids have to pay their own way, we decided to help raise money for the trip and have been spending one day every weekend making cards to sell at a craft show on February 25th and Jenks East Intermediate. If you are in the Tulsa area and know where that is.... come on by and take part helping to send some kids to China!!!!!

This card is one that just popped into my head one morning - I have the awesome Kitchen Sink stamps - the cowboy hat and boots sets as well as some Chinese Kanji character stamps... and I thought this would be a cute design. After stamping, matting, embossing, and hand-cutting the boots, this is was the creation!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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The 2012 Christmas Card Challenge! February

Did you miss January's Christmas Card Challenge? Don't worry! Here we are in February, and ready to go AGAIN!

**Do you want to join the 2012 CCC but don't have a blog? Problem solved!! Leave a comment below, and I will direct you to where you can upload your picture and link it back here for the contest! Don't let being blogless (is that a new word??) stop you from joining the challenge!

First, here are the prizes I sent for the January Challenge - a Stampin' Up stamp set, and 4 bottles of Stickes that I consider to be the essential Christmas colors: Christmas Red, Green, Golden Rod, and Holly.



Please refer to the original rules and regs post by clicking HERE. They're easy! :)

Post the above logo on your blog, and link back to this post so when people click it, they can go right from your blog here, and so on and so forth.
OK.... so here it is!

February 2012's challenge is: Use the color RED in honor of Valentine's Day.
One exception to the challenge rule this month is to use one other color like white as a contrast.... the additional color is of your own choosing.

Make your 6 cards including ornaments, post it to your blog, and use the linky (at the end) in this post to link back here.

Remember you have until midnight on the 20th with voting starting on the 21st through the 24th! The winner will be announced on the 25th.

Here are my pictures for February's Challenge.


I used the Stampin' Up Ornament punch and the Scallop Trim border to make the focal point of the card, the Scrolls embossing folder from Cuttlebug/Provo Craft, and my very favorite Merry Christmas Stamp embossed in white for the sentiment. Behind the negative ornament image is red glitter paper, with the white trim highlighted in Diamond Stickles.

I hope you enjoy making your RED Februrary Christmas Cards!

Here's the Linky!

Your comments are always appreciated!~*~ ~*~ ~*~ *~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

25th of January - Winning Cards!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Today is the 25th of the month, so looking at the entries and votes...

Terry D.

Your Christmas Card Challenge entry got the most votes!!
I'll post a picture here of your prize. It's in the mail to you!

Congrats!!!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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Vote for Your Favorite!

Did you get too busy to enter this month?? February's challenge is coming!

Come on and vote for your favorite card in this month's challenge.
Scroll down to the post, and click on the card to vote!!
Voting closes January 24th.

THANKS so much!
**Christmas is coming! Tee Hee!


Your comments are always appreciated!

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January's Challenge Is Almost Due!

Only 2 days left to enter your cards!!!!! Click HERE for a direct link to the post!

Remember, you can enter
until midnight the 20th...
voting runs from
the 21st to the 24th, with
a winner announced on the 25th!!!

How, you ask?? Directly under the post, is an advertisement.
Directly under the advertisement, you see a little blue froggy looking character in an oval box.... click on that... it says Add a link. When you click on it, you'll see the html box pop up to enter your cards!

I can't wait to see them!!!!!

****Remember, I am not NOT eligible for prizes.... but I put in the first linky to get things rolling!


Your comments are always appreciated!~*~ ~*~ ~*~ *~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

January New Occasions Catalog Stamp Camp Candy Project

Here's a quick post showing the candy project I've designed for our January Stamp Camp! It holds 4 Hershey's Nuggets... just enough for a gift.

The embossed hearts also show a technique I used a few years ago in a craft fair.

Please enjoy!!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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January New Occasions Catalog Stamp Camp

This card is one of two projects of mine we will make January 14th at our Occasions Mini Catalog Stamp camp. Robin will have 1 card, and 2 treat projects, and so will Kathy!

I LOVE the scented embossing powder! This card uses the Cherry. It lasts a LONG time!!!

Another project will post later this week. Chocolate, anyone??

Your comments are always appreciated!

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The 2012 Christmas Card Challenge! January

Here it is!!! The FIRST 2012 Christmas Card Challenge for January.

Please refer to this POST by clicking HERE for all the rules and regs for participating in this challenge. (They're easy!!)

Post the above logo on your blog, and link back to this post so when people click it, they can go right from your blog here, and so on and so forth.
OK.... so here it is!

January 2012's challenge is: Ornaments!
Make your 6 cards including ornaments, post it to your blog, and use the linky (at the end) in this post to link back here.

Remember you have until midnight on the 20th with voting starting on the 21st through the 24th! The winner will be announced on the 25th.


Here are my two pictures for this Challenge. I really LOVE these ornaments!
Christmas trees and the ornaments are some of my absolute favorite things at Christmas time, and here's a chance that on Jan. 5th your tree is still up and you're looking at some ornaments! Ours is! We're taking it down a little later this week. :)

I used the Cuttlebug to emboss the background red paper with Musical Flourish, and then Cherry Cobbler ink to highlight the embossing. White, red, and green rhinestones highlight spots on the ornaments. I used the Ultimate Crafter's Companion to tie the bows, and DCWV paper from the Merry Christmas stack at the bottom.
Did you stamp your envelopes? I did, but didn't take a picture. Next time!!

SO.... write up your card/inspiration etc. and include your post above in the linky!
GOOD LUCK!!


Your comments are always appreciated!

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My Sister's Birthday Card

My sister Gail is CRAZY for purple! How could I not have a purple birthday card for her? As I've been crafting, I found out she also loves the heat embossing and the smooth surface it leaves... so I took the new Stampin' Up cupcake image and some Elegant Eggplant craft in with clear embossing powder, and had a good time! I used red glitter paper to cut out the cherry, and 3 markers to give some pink frosting accents; Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, and Regal Rose.

It's difficult to see, but the matted purple piece is popped with dimensionals, and so is the hand-cut cupcake image.

Happy Birthday, Gail!


Your comments are always appreciated!

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Design Team - Open Call!

Have you decided it's time to become part of a Design Team?

Do you LOVE creating things, and don't know what to do with them?

This is a fantastic opportunity to take care of both of these issues you're having!
1. Become part of an amazing Design Team.
2. Donate your creations to people who desperately need help!

The Lime Light Design Team is currently having an Open Call for Design Team members. We are a charity based DT, donating all of our creations to helping others. Take a look at our Blog, and come and join us!

As a LLDT member, you have the unique opportunity to use your creative abilities to helping people less fortunate than yourself - AND gaining great satisfaction in the process due to the gratitude we receive from these projects.

Take a moment and follow one of the links I placed in the above post and add your application to the list.

Your comments are always appreciated!

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Gift Card Holders, and a Story!!

So here are two gift card holders I made for gifts for my parents.... to put gift cards in.
The thing is, these are the SECOND gift card holders I made for them.... the first ones were STOLEN! They were placed in a blue mailbox near our house, and when they envelope got to my sister, it was taped shut, and a horse Christmas card was in it.

A couple of things.... 1. I sent along a $50 gift card in one of them, and my sister was going to put a card from a local restaurant in the other one. 2. I would NEVER send a horse Christmas card!!!

Next.... I spent 1 hour 10 minutes on hold with the post office when we discovered this (before Christmas).... and they were SUPPOSED to call me by the 29th after they "investigated". I've had no return phone call, but I do have a "case number".

I'm about to go to our local media to get some action. I've heard of two other incidences like this... one in Alaska where an entire bag of mail was left on the side of the road, and things opened and stolen out of it. Don't these people realize it's a federal offense to steal from the mail?????

Well..... above you have a picture of the two newest gift card holders I made. I'm sorry I didn't take pics of the first set.... they were SO pretty!!!


Your comments are always appreciated!

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