Reindeer Kisses - TCP Tuesday Anything Goes challenge

Do you realize, as of today there are exactly two months left till Christmas?! Are you ready?

I signed up for a shaker card exchange on SplitCoastStampers, and I've been working on some ideas. After a couple of epic fails (like glueing the darned thing closed *before* putting in the shaker bits!!) I finally completed a working prototype. Not sure if I want to make 5 more of these, but I do like the end result. And as it happens, this week is The Cats Pajamas Anything Goes challenge. Since this is from TCP set 'Reindeer Kisses' how perfect did that work out, huh? I haven't played in a TCP challenge for ages, so I think I deserve that part lining up for me... since I spent the weekend working on my failed cards. ;) They were both completely different ideas so maybe this one is meant to be!

 

I could point out all the glitches, but I won't! It's not like anybody reads my blog to learn stuff so I'm sure I can just keep those things to myself, hehe. I colored in the penguin and reindeer with Copics, and used Tumbled Glass distress ink for the 'sky'. I tried a new-to-me trick for the glitter. I used my clear double sided tape (the tape with the red liner that sticks to your fingers like crazy when you peel it off! lol) and covered it with glitter. Sure enough, once you've shaked and rubbed off the excess glitter, it still looks shiny and glittery but nothing comes off. I love that tape, it's pretty much my favorite adhesive. I just bought two 50 meter rolls for super cheap, I think I'm set for a while now. :)

One of my biggest pet peeves is the photography part. I suck at it. My hands are really shaky so I have a teeny tiny tripod that I use, but it's not very stable so I still need to steady it with my hands. And my camera isn't that great. Honestly, some days I get better pictures with my iPhone! So I'm bummed that you can't see that the sentiment is heat embossed. I used Crimson Red Versafine ink and Judikins clear detail embossing powder. No matter what I tried, I couldn't get the light to catch the gleam of the embossing so it just looks flat in the picture. 

Both the big and little circles were done with the Simon Says Stamp stitched circles. The stitching really takes it up a notch without any extra effort. Really glad I finally bought that set! I just need me some squares... and some rectangles... and, and, and... :D

I hope you're all having fun working on your Christmas cards. I'm not going to start mass producing till my MISTI arrives this week. Super squeeee!

Alright, I'm done for today.

Super quick tag for my Secret Sister Swap on Splitcoaststampers

I'm participating in a 'First Aid Kit' Secret Sister Swap on SplitCoastStampers. The idea is that each person provides a list of 10 stamping related items that would heal their 'crafty owies', as well as a list of 5 non-stamping items that the recipient would also like. The swapper creates a 'first aid' kit of a minimum value of $25 (before shipping costs), along with a tag or card identifying themselves, and some fun band-aids.

My 'kit' is all ready to send off, and I realized I hadn't made a card or tag. I put together something small because the space in my package is pretty maxed out already! Here it is:

It says 'Scottitude' at the top because that is my user name on SCS. I feel like I kinda cheaped out on the tag, but I promise the package is amazing! Here's what I included (and everything was on my secret sister's list):

1 pkg of mixed berry Skittles
1 Sudoku book
1 pkg of 15 clear gemstone stickers
a baker's dozen of A2 envelopes
some pearl embellishments
some clear and red rhinestone embellishments
1 pkg of 400 clear adhesive dots by EK Tools
'I Wheelie Like You' stamp set by My Favorite Things
'Swiss Pixie Heidi with Ornament' stamp by C.C. Designs
and 3 stamped C.C. Designs Swiss Pixie images

The moderator is Joan7356 and I think she did an amazing job at matching me up with a secret sister. I adore C.C. Designs stamps, so it was easy for me to stamp some images (which the recipient had requested). I also love pearls and rhinestones and have a ton of those in my stash. We had a lot of similarly listed items, some of which I wasn't able to include unfortunately, but I found that having a secret sister who likes the same stuff as I do made it really easy to put her 'first aid kit' together.

I think my own first aid kit has arrived, I received a notification that a package has arrived so I need to go pick it up. We can't open it till June 17th though, so I will post later this week with what I received.

What is the best or most fun swap you've ever participated in?