Christmas cards and flowers...............

I totally love challenges. They inspire me to try new things. They encourage me to use and combine colors I might not consider trying. I love to see what others have done while participating in the same challenge or how they interpreted the same sketch. Sometimes the results surprise me. Sometimes the results are even amazing. Most of all, challenges are fun.

My new passion is paper flowers.  That's what I have been doing for the past several evenings. I love creating them.  The possibilities are endless.

I decided earlier this evening I really need to get to work on my Christmas cards.  I have several done but will need a few more.  I started visiting my favorite blogs looking for challnges I could have fun with while creating my Christmas cards.  I also wanted to be able to use my flowers.  I was really pleased to find several.  There were several 'Anything Goes' challenges this week.  Those are always fun.

Here is my first creationusing my flowers while making a Christmas card.

The bird is a digi stamp colored with watercolor pencils blended with a aqua-painter. The flowers are torn paper flowers.  You can use paper or cardstock to make them.  I love 'em.

I'd like to thank Gabi at 'Such a Pretty Mess' for the fantastic and easy to follow tutorial for these great flowers.  I love her blog. 

I submitted this card to several great blogs. 

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round -- Card size other than the norm.  Must have gold, silver, crystal or pearl.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge -- Use purple & Silver.

Totally Gorjuss Challenge -- Christmas

Paper Romance -- Handmade flowers

Alphabet Challenge Blog -- 'V' is for vintage.

Charisma Cardz Challenge #38 -- Anything Goes

Crazy for Challenges -- Bling

AiFactory -- Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs -- challenge #61-- Anything Goes

Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog -- Make your own flowers

Tellen's Place Designs -- Bling!!

Delightful Challenges -- Make it Sparkle

Happy Christmas card making.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Birthday, 'with love'..........

I made this card 'with love' for my dear Uncle Allen's birthday.  He's a sweet & wonderful man in his 90s. I love him & his beautiful wife, Aunt Judy, very much.

 This little guy & his balloons were colored with watercolor pencils with the help of an aqua-painter.

I submitted this card to the following challenges.

Pile it up--Cute & Charming.

Spoon Full of Sugar -- Spots & Stripes

Allsorts Challenge #71 -- Plain & Simple

Charisma Cardz Challenge #38 -- Anything Goes

AiFactory -- Challenge & Digital Blog -- Challenge #49 -- Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs -- Challenge #61 -- Anything Goes.

Thanks so much for stopping by.