(Christmas) Wrapping Up 2023

It's hard to believe we've already come to the end of another Jingle Belles season. It feels like 2023 just few by, thanks to all of the fun we've had seeing you build your holiday stash, and working on our own.  

Once again we're sharing our beginning-of-December big pile-o-cards before we begin writing & addressing, so they can be mailed or hand-delivered to our favorite folks:

Now it just remains to wish you the happiest of holiday seasons. We'll be back on January 1, 2024 to start our 14th year of taking back December one holiday card at a time... and of course we'd love for you to join us for our holiday mayhem once more. There's one last link-up for the year over at Jingle Belles; you can use it to share your last-minute holiday cards and, if you have a few minutes, cruise through the other cards to be inspired and maybe leave a comment or two. 

Many thanks to everyone who helped to make this year our most fun EVER; we'd hope to see you back again at Jingle Belles in 2024! ♥

It's Taco... Thursday?

I was scrolling through the photos on my phone and realized I never posted the incredibly awesome, GIANT Taco Pillow I made for my nephew Matthew's birthday in September; so here it is now!

This project was inspired by the adorable Happy Lil Taco @theknottyboss offers as a free pattern. As you can see, I super-sized it by crocheting with three strands of Vanna's Choice from @lionbrandyarn (Mustard, Duckie and Beige add up to the variegated shade of a crunchy corn taco shell, in case you wondered) and working until my taco shell circle was approximately 22" in diameter; a measurement scientifically based on that being when I ran out of the lightest shade. To make the curly lettuce (one strand of Sweet Pea and one of Radiant Lime) I used the stitch progression @walkerwhimsy devised for the clouds on her Rainy Day Scarf, but worked as an edging. The tomatoes are just half-circles of red, and again their size and quantity were based on when I ran out of Scarlet yarn. The cute mustachio was also a free pattern, which I unfortunately did not save; but if you Google "crocheted mustache pattern" you'll be spoilt for choice. 

I'd write more about this but it's nearly lunchtime and now I really REALLY want some tacos!

Wildlife Winterscapes

Maybe the most fun you can have with our Eyelet Outlet Wildlife Brads is to build little scenes for them to inhabit. This trio of A1 cards all have stamped trees and sponged skies, with Sun and Cloud Brads to light the way and a flurry of Snowflake Sequins to set the season. Pine Tree Brads and Snowy Pines add to the foliage, then the critters arrive: a Prancing Deer, a handsome Moose, plus mama and baby Bear Brads. Two washi tape mats, of Glitter Blue Tape and Wide Wood Washi frame the designs.

There are Eyelet Outlet Animals for every taste, including Dinosaurs, Farm Animals, Reptiles, Cats and Dogs, Fish and Crustaceans, Jungle Animals, Birds, Bugs and Critters of all kinds! 

This is BIG

It's an Elegantly Elephantine Mandala Monday thanks to this gorgeous Pink Momma and Baby Elephant Sticker from my friend Gina's Redbubble Shop where there are pages and pages of stickers, stationery, tees, accessories and sooooo much more... all adorned with Gina's colorful stylized designs, which I would call Whimsical Realism. You should probably go take a look... afterall... it's Cyber Monday, right?!

This mandala was created with Black Letter It Fineliners in my (now sadly discontinued) Dina Wakley Blue Edition Journal both from Ranger Ink. The gorgeous orchids, which serendipitously match the pachyderms perfectly, were cut from a freebie calendar.

JB2324: Banner Holiday, Week 2

We're still making cards inspired by our 2023 Jingle Belles Blog Banner, here's a reminder of what it looks like:

And here's how I was inspired this week:

Having gone as literal as possible last week, this time I wanted to see how far I could go in the other direction, but still have the influence of the banner show clearly. I rotated the rectangle shape to make a "tall card"; I used the layers of music, text and snowflakes for the background; I placed a tree toward the left of the frame; and finally I used the same Stamplorations "Jingle" die on glitter paper as my sentiment. 

Head over to Jingle Belles to see Stephanie's gorgeou card, then scroll down to the original Banner Inspired Holiday post to visit the Readers' Gallery and to link up your own card(s)!

Give Thanks

On the day before the American Thanksgiving holiday, what could be more fitting than a simple card which sums up the day. The "THANKS" portion of the sentiment is diecut from beautiful extra-wide autumn Leaf Washi, studded with Leaf Brads, Mini Leaf Brads and the yellow flowers from our Colored Daisy set. The background is made of super-wide Wood Tape, framed with Brick Washi.

Wishing the happiest and healthiest of holidays to all who are celebrating!

SOS510: Splish, Splash

This fortnight at Shopping Our Stash we're celebrating wet media, such as watercolor, acrylic paint, etc; but if that isn't your thing, you could swap out and use an image featuring water.

I made a vibrant watercolor background by spritzing my craft sheet with Dylusions Ink Sprays in London Blue and Cut Grass, diluting them slightly with clear water, then placing my watercolor panel face down to absorb the colors. When my background dried, I stamped, in collage style, portions of some of my favorite older Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 Backgrounds, including Herringbone (embossed with Ranger Turquoise Powder), Perfectly Plaid and Botanical Register (embossed in White). Around the edges I overstamped the stars from Wendy's Doodle Holiday Stamp Set embossed in Blue Neon. I added Night Sky Archival around the edges and machine stitched the panel to a white 5.5" square card. The focal flower is from Wendy's A Million Thank Stamp, Die and Stencil set; it's been stamped once in Leaf Green and once in Rosey Posey, with the additional shades of Prickly Pear and Pink Peony Archival added for detail.

The "Splish, Splash" challenge runs at Shopping Our Stash until December 4th. Be sure to check out all of the inspiring cards the Crew have made, then start planning what you'll link up with us this time.