Some Unusual Christmas Characters and a Big Thank You!

Happy Friday everyone!!

Usually I am so glad it is Friday, but that means it is now less than two weeks until Christmas, YIKES!!! I can't believe it, time has really flown by this year. Guess I have been having a good time, huh? Lol!

Well, today was a bad potty day. Izzy went potty on the floor today. Poor thing, I was standing in my craft closet putting my ribbon box away when I looked down. She was standing there with this look of shock all across her face. I don't think she knew what to do. So we walked into the bathroom and sat on the potty for a couple of minutes so that she would know what to do next time. Honestly, it was kind of my fault. We tried to go earlier and I left her diaper off and forgot about it. I will definitely know for next time.

Izzy and Tuxy have certainly formed a bond over the last couple of days. They keep chasing each other and Izzy is giving him all her toys to play with. I think it is good. Tuxy needs more exercise during the winter and she definitely gives it to him.

I think I was in kind of a silly mood today. I just couldn't bring myself to make a traditional Christmas card. I wanted to make some cards that were Christmas themed but had either non-traditional settings or non-traditional characters.

My first card involves a non-traditional Christmas setting. I would love to take credit for this concept, but sadly it wasn't my idea. The first spark actually came from the amazingly talented Jan Tinklenberg. She created this adorable trailer card last Christmas and I have been thinking about it every since I first saw it!! Then yesterday I saw on Candice Lighty's blog (another amazingly talented woman!) the same concept with Riley in a Trailer. So here is my take on a Christmas Trailer!

I honestly have had this idea in my head since the summer and have finally been able to execute it. I am calling it, "Surely Santa will Stop By!". I mean, even if you are out camping on Christmas eve, Santa will find you right? Lol! Okay, so I started this card by stamping the boy, fire, trailer, and trees from Roughin' It by SUInk and more on white card stock and colored all the images in with my markers and copics. I drew in the mountains in the background and the lights on the trailer using a black pen. I also drew the Santa hat on white card stock, colored it in and placed it on top of the boy's head that I popped off. I added lots of white gel pen to make the appearance of snow in the scene. For the card itself, I layered on green card stock, red card stock and several different kinds of Christmas DP. I added a piece of Christmas ribbon to the bottom and three camping buttons in the corner. I love the rugged feel to the card! I mean not everyone's Christmas is traditional!

My second card for today was so much fun to create!!! I have been dying to ink the Isabelle Paper Doll set from MFT stamps ever since I first saw it! I mean, I love paper dolls, always have, and the set is called Isabelle and my daughter is Isabella!! It is fate I tell you. I actually combined two challenges on this one. This week's What's Up Wednesday Challenge which was to use glitter on your card and the MFT sketch challenge for this week.

Tail to the Right!

Tail on the Left!

Isn't she adorable!! Her tail even swings back and forth!!! I mean mermaids celebrate Christmas too!!! I know that they are probably not fish, but hey, it was the only sentiment I could think of, I mean I never said I was witty!! Lol! Okay, okay, so I started this card by stamping Isabelle, three starfish, three fish and the mermaid tail from Isabelle Paper Dolls by MFT Stamps on white card stock and colored them in with my markers and copics. I then cut out a circle with my nesties and colored the water and sand in with my copics. I sponged on a little bit of close to cocoa to give it some texture. I then adhered my starfish and fish to the background. I then went over her tail with my glitterpen so it would sparkle. I cut off the bottom of her tail and attached a brad so that it would swing back and forth! I then popped her image off the background. Following the sketch, I layered on green card stock, red card stock and Christmas DP. I added a piece of brown organdy ribbon and punched the bottom with my Martha Stewart decorative punch. I finished the card by printing off the sentiment on my computer and mounting it on a piece of green card stock!! I know my aunt will love it!!! She is totally into mermaids!!

My final card is the card I promised yesterday for Pink Cat Studio! This card goes out to Melissa, the owner of Pink Cat, to say thank you so much for including me on the design team. I feel so lucky to be a part of such a talented group of ladies.

This is one of my favorite images of Lily!! She is such a cute little girl and just wait till you see what Melissa has in store for you next month!!! OMG!!! It is so cute!! Okay, enough gushing! I started this card off by stamping Lily and Tweet in present from Lily and Tweet by Pink Cat Studio on white card stock and colored her in with my markers and copics. I cut the image out along with some DP and red card stock using my nesties and layered them on top of green card stock and two different kinds of DP. I stamped the thank you sentiment and cut it out along with a piece of green card stock using my nesties and popped it off. I finished the card off by placing three blue brads in the corner. Thank you so much again Melissa for everything!!

Well, that is all for today. I think we are going out to dinner when Jason gets home and then maybe a little bit of Christmas shopping! Wish me luck!! Have a great evening and as always, thanks for stopping by!!