Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!

I know its been awhile since I've posted here. December went by in a blur with the holidays, family visiting, a short fun ski trip to PA, and my twin daughter's eighth birthday. I hardly made it into my craft space except to make quick tags I needed for gifts. Hence, one of my 2014 goals is to make tags in advance all throughout the year. But I did stay active in the crafting world by keeping up with my blog reader (you all were very busy crafting and inspiring me last month!), bookmarking projects I loved, and commenting when I could. Another 2014 goal is to comment on the blogs I read more. I know how happy your comments make me and I am hoping to spread the love a bit more this coming year.

I finally had some time to open up some packages brimming with new supplies this morning. When you have been away from creating for awhile, color, paper, and stamp choices seem so much harder to make! Here are a few cards I made while watching the last episode of Downton Abbey (WOW, what a finale! Can't wait for the premiere tomorrow!) to help get me back into the swing of things.

First card is for the FUSION challenge which I am thrilled is up and running again!

I needed a simple and modern baby card for some friends due next month so I drew my inspiration from the challenge photo. I die cut a onesie from the PTI Bitty Baby Blessings die using orange gingham from the Lily Bee Double Dutch collection. I used my new congratulations stamp on a banner and put that all on some scattered American Crafts orange and grey bakers twine. I had seen twine used similarly somewhere (Sorry, I can't remember which fab cardmaker did this!) and thought it was a clever use of texture. I backed it all up on some grey cardstock to help the white panel stand out.

Next card is for the brand new color challenge, Colour Me Card Challenge which features a monochromatic indigo. I love color challenges so I had to check them out as soon as I heard about them. Congrats ladies on your new blog! I hope to play along often!

I used my PTI Center Stage die with some Pebbles Scene and Noted patterned paper. I used PTI soft stone for the die cut stars and sentiment to create this birthday card with a masculine feel.

This next card uses my new stamp set from Craft's Meow, Inspired by Audrey. As someone who often finds it difficult to let things go, its sentiment is one that I hope to hold onto this year so I thought it would be perfect for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge.

I used the set's pretty feminine graphic in a pattern using PTI Melon Berry, Summer Sunrise, Hibiscus Burst, and Scarlet Jewel. I added a few pale pink rhinestones to finish. Definitely quite Audrey inspired don't you think?

Edited to add: Totally forgot to mention that the sketch inspiration for these three cards above is latest CAS(E) This Sketch challenge!

Last card today is for the new One-Layer Simplicity Challenge. Yay for a new card challenge! The challenge this week is to "Restock Your Shelves". I am always in need of masculine birthday cards so here's a simple card using my favorite candle from PTI's Make A Wish set in PTI New Leaf, Limeade Ice, Enchanted Evening, and Hawaiian Shores. One layer seems like its simple but always ends up taking longer than I think!

I stamped some candles and sentiment on the inside too.

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! As always, thanks for stopping by my little part of the world.