More Masculine Merriment

We're in our second week of making "Guy Cards" here at Jingle Belles, by which we mean holiday cards with a masculine vibe.

Here are our contributions to Masculine Merriment this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "This card is 99% composed of gorgeous vintage-themed elements from Tim Holtz's Idea-ology Christmas Emporium Layers, a curated collection of elements that I snagged on the Ranger website. I've added in a few paper scraps, some twine, and woodgrain background. I distressed the edges of literally every single piece, which  which might arguably be considered "too much" but it was quite relaxing and soothing to do, so there's that."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "When I thought about potential masculine themes, I thought it would be fun to incorporate a card ... and thankfully, right on top of my yet-to-be-used pile was this adorable Snowman Reindeer Car from Cottage Cutz.  I had fun piecing it all together on top of a hexagon die cut from one of my Gelliarts prints on top of foiled All That Sparkles paper by Lawn Fawn.  I added a sentiment from Waffle Flower Classic Holiday Sentiments."

♥♥♥

JB2617: Masculine Merriment runs until the evening of next Wednesday, August 26th. Link your newly made, holiday "guy cards" on the original Masculine Merriment post; directly below this one.

Saint Nick-Tac-Toe

We're still playing a game of Tree Skirt Tic-Tac-Toe this week; here's a reminder of what the board looks like:.

Here is how we played the game this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "I chose the right-hand vertical column, which gave me: Dry or Heat Embossing + Ribbon + Stamping. I'll admit I did that partially because I unexpectedly rediscovered my Dina Wakley Soaring embossing folder and once I saw it, I HAD TO use it immediately. My ribbon is of the gorgeous, pink, semi-sheer May Arts variety (which I think you'll agree stages really well!) And finally, my stamping is just the sentiment (from Taylored Expressions' Flip the Snowflake set) but I chalked up a second type of embossing by using Ranger's lovely Pink e/p. I diecut Hero Arts' Snowflake Corner twice (from pale pink and also silver glitter cardstock) and added a single Eyelet Outlet 1.5" Snowflake Bling to give it even more sparkle."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "I started with the BYSH Cardmakers Sketch and decided to go diagonal down from the top left side with dry embossing, red/green and a die cut.  I used the Penny Black Geometric Embossing Folder for my wavy panel (using the debossed side) and then I die cut using a stitched hilly landscape die on each side.  I used a red and green color palette featuring a Penny Black Woodland Splendor Stickeroo image (for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge Things with Wings) and finished with some enamel dots and a stamped Penny Black Banner sentiment."

♥♥♥

Scroll down to the original Tic-Tac-Toe post to link your card(s) today!

Unicorn Colors Christmas

This week we're still asking you to create a holiday card using at least three of the colors from our Unicorn Holiday graphic. You can also be inspired by the image, but it's not required!  Neutrals (brown, black, white, kraft) are also allowed. 

Here's what we made this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "I couldn't decide between recreating Stephanie's amazing card from last week or using my new Simon Hurley create Tangled Lights Layering Stencil Set; so I did a bit of both! I used Simon's Inks for the lights; and a set of nested dies to make the four graduated circles from Stephanie's design. I considered a yeti... or a narwhal... even Hello Kitty; but in the end I chose the snow person in Simon's North Pole Sentiments set from Spellbinders, and had fun dressing him up using scraps from the same colors of cardstock that make up the circles."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "I cut cardstock from four of the colors into 3/4" strips for my angled card base.  I used the fifth color for Santa's hat and the stamping ink.  I'm also linking-up my card up at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers X is for Xmas in July, since I believe Simon Says Stamp Santa Man dies paired with sentiments from CZ Design's Sassy Christmas are the perfect snarky fun."

♥♥♥

Scroll down to the original post to link your Unicorn Holiday cards.

Merry SKETCH-mas

We're still making cards this week using this fun sketch layout:

This is how we got sketchy this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "I only have a couple of Penny Black's pre-printed Masterpieces Made Simple journal cards left, but luckily one of them was landscape oriented, because I wanted to rotate the sketch this time. I found this stencil-printed piece of white on dark blue cardstock in my "ufo" box and loved the way the colors and branches sort of echoed the background of the deer illustration. I added a strip of glitter silver tape to serve as the strong line inside the sketch, and a small glittery snowflake is swapping in for the circle piece. The tiny white pearls get a little bit lost in the white branches at the bottom left, but the ones on the top right show up well. Finally I chose a Tim Holtz Idea-Ology wordfetti sticker as my sentiment, and placed it towards the top of the snowscape scene."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "I wanted to use this fun tag from Simple Stories All Wrapped Up Big Bits, so I flipped the sketch on it's side.  I paired with with Simple Stories All Wrapped Up papers and a fun little Bella Boulavard St. Nick Bella-Pop 3-D sticker for the "circle" element in the sketch."

JB2613: 'Twas the Sketch Before Christmas runs until next Wednesday evening, July 1st. Details and Linky Tool are on the original post.

One Layer Wonderland

We're still creating for the Flat Feliz Navidad theme ... one layer cards for the win.

Here is how we created flat this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "This week, I got out my Simon Hurley Bold Holiday Blooms background stamp. It’s one of the great Ranger "Peel Apart" stamps that you can use either as a whole 6x6 background; or remove some of the flowers out and stamp them on their own; which is what I’ve done this time. I stamped the big poinsettias in Simon’s Prom Queen Stellar Ink; and stamped the smaller ones in Rosy Cheeks. I stamped the big poinsettias in Simon’s Prom Queen Stellar Ink; and stamped the smaller ones in Rosy Cheeks. I’ve got a small branch from Penny Black’s Nature’s Garlands set; and a sentiment from Taylored Expressions’ Flip the Snowflake set. When I finished stamping, I added some big and small dots with my Zig Dot Markers, et voila! Job done."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "I started by Die Cutting the next-to-the-largest Star from Hero Arts 5-Point Star Infinity Dies from lightweight cardstock.  I placed the mask over my ivory card base and blended two colors of yellow and one orange Distress Oxide Ink and then splattered some water for a bit more visual interest.  I stoped the large sentiment from Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Bold Tidings 3 in black ink and finished with a few holly leaves & berries from Hero Arts Greetings Christmas Messages."

♥♥♥

Scroll down to the original post to link YOUR Fabulous Flat cards; this challenge runs until next Wednesday evening, June 17th.

The Ombré and the Ivy

We're still creating in an Ombré Wonderland this week at Jingle Belles ... creating cards with wonderful blends of color.

Here's how we blended this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "This week I've taken the ultimate ombre short cut: I've diecut my tiny trees from paint chip color cards! My Perfect Pearls background has a bit of gradient to it... radiating outwards from the center; whether it's actually ombre is up for debate, but I thought it made a nice "sky" for my funky scene. I cut some snowy hills from sheet music and diecut my sentiment from another Perfect Pearls experiment that has a beautiful shade of blue so soft you admittedly can't actually see it in the photo. Eyelet Outlet Snowflake Brads and Sticky Back Pearl Bling adorn the sky; a skinny blue mat and some machine stitching complete the design."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "This week my card started with Ombré designer paper from Pinkfresh Studio: The Simple Things collection.  I topped it with a rainbow of snowflakes and coordinating tree from Doodlebug Design.  I finished with a Pinkfresh Studio Holiday Sentiment Ephemera."

JB2611: Ombre Wonderland runs until the evening of Wednesday, June 3rd. Link up your Ombre card(s) today on the original post... directly below this one.

Walking in a SNOWY Wonderland

We're still creating cards that feature snow this week and we'd love for you to join us. In the meantime, here's how we walked in a SNOWY wonderland.

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "One of my favorite "specialty" mandalas to draw is a Snowflake Mandala. So of course, when I realized we were featuring SNOW this fortnight, I knew this would be the perfect time for the first one of 2026. I made a nice inky background with some of my favorite blue Archival Ink shades, dried it thoroughly, and then drew lots of snowflakes with a Letter It Fineliner. I added details with a few blue markers and finally put additional white in there with a Posca Pen. Since the design is quite busy already, when I turned my mandala panels into cards, I only added bright blue mats, a chunky (sparkly!) sentiment and some small Eyelet Outlet Snowflake Bling."  

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "I started by embossing white cardstock with the Penny Black Geometric Embossing Folder, which I thought sort of looked like tiny snowflakes.  Next I added a lovely snowy scene from Penny Black Masterpieces Made Simple Home for Christmas that I framed with red cardstock that I cut using the Penny Black Stitches of Love Creative Frame Dies.  I added a green frame with designer paper whose plaid pattern repeated the embossed design.  I finished with a sentiment from Penny Black Banner Sentiments."

♥♥♥

And remember, one lucky participant will receive this fun snowy gift. All you need to do is link up a SNOW-centric card (or more than one, if the snowy spirit moves you!) on the original post and wait to see if the Random Number Generator picks your digit! Winner to be announced on the Shout Outs Post, Thursday, May 21st. 

Christmas Down to EARTH (Day)

We're back for round two of our EARTH DAY prompt featuring RECYCLING, where we'd like you to create a holiday card that features re-cycled, re-used or up-cycled elements.  You know you've got that stash of things that you saved because they were just too pretty to throw away ... break them out and create with them.

In the past we've used everything from Kleenex Boxes & Soda Cans to Gift Wrap and we *always* have a lot of fun making our own cards and admiring yours!

Here's how we up-cycled this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "A couple of years ago, I bought this fun yeti gift wrap. I used most of it to wrap presents; but whenever I had scraps, I saved however many intact yeti photos there were, backed them with cardstock, and set them aside to fussycut and use on cards. The grey paper with stars came as a free gift with a craft magazine. (Not exactly recycling, but a sort of related field, I feel.) This is definitely not the fanciest card I've ever made, but it makes me smile! Also it's flattish and flexible, which means I can mail it for a reasonable price. So I'm callin' it a WIN!"

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "I started with this recycled front cut from a vintage holiday card using a stitched die cut.  Next I framed it in red and layered it on top of a piece from a tissue box and a piece of crafty packaging that covered the card front.  I finished with a stamped sentiment from Kristina Werner Pretty Poinsettias."

♥♥♥

Scroll down to the original post to link your card(s) and heck out the fabulous Readers' Gallery. JB2609: Peace on EARTH DAY runs until 6pm (Eastern) on Wednesday, May 6th.

Spirit of Christmas Past

This week we're still Walking in a Vintage Wonderland … which means creating a card with a vintage or retro-inspired design. That could mean incorporating actual vintage elements, using new products that have a vintage style, or using stamps or images that convey a vintage vibe – whatever says vintage to you. 

And to add a little extra incentive to your endeavors, this time we are sponsored by Lauren's fantastic Etsy Shop Just Enough Stuff, so there's a sweet little pack of vintage Christmassy things for one lucky random card maker who links-up their vintage-inspired design. (Scroll down to the original post for more details about that!)

Here's how we went Old School this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "This week, I made a random collage of torn and layered vintage and found papers including: some sheet music; a dictionary page with a reindeer (technically a caribou); an order form and advertisement from a vintage Christmas Ideals magazine; some S&H Green Stamps and... ok, I think that's it, lol. Since the background is quite busy, I only needed a fussycut Authentique bauble (which luckily had a bold sentiment!) and a few Katie Pertiet Christmas Collageable Banners that I machine stitched while I was doing the edges."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "I started with a full page poinsettia photo from the 1979 issue of Christmas Ideals Magazine.  I cut it into 3/4" strips and assembled it on a green card base using the layout from BYSH Cardmakers.  I used Spellbinders Essential Stylish Oval Dies to cut a vintage Tim Holtz Poinsettia image from the Vintage Christmas Paper Dolls 2023 and finished with a vintage-like Tim Holtz label sentiment sticker."

Remember, you have until 6pm EST on Wednesday to link-up for a chance to win.

Tinsel Trios

We're still creating in threes this week ... asking you to include 3 of something on your card design.

Here are our Tinsel Trios:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "I have about half a sheet left of PhotoPlay's Ugly Sweater Party patterned paper, and I must confess that I've never used it in any other way than I've done here; I really only want to cut out the cute little sweaters and put them on cards. So much so, that I had cut out four or five sweaters to make my THREE-centric card before remembering I either had to put some aside or make two cards with three sweaters. Obviously, I chose the latter course. I used my Elizabethcraft Planner Filmstrip die to hold the sweater trios and I computer-generated my silly sentiment, Don we now our ugly sweaters."

 

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "This week's card is an homage to my grandma ... she had a desk in her living room that she filled with all sorts of papers and stickers for her grandkids to play with.  I remember these National Wildlife Association and other charity stickers and stamps.  I also spent hours filling S&H Green Stamp books and choosing what I wanted to buy with them (we saved them up to get my first Black & Decker Teflon Iron for me to take to collage).  I finished with two trios of enamel dots and a three-word Tim Holtz Label sticker sentiment on a kraft card base.  She would have loved it."

Snoopy vs. the ♥♥RED♥♥ Baron

We're still Celebrating Rudolph (and the RED Baron) at Jingle Belles this week by creating cards that primarily feature the color RED.

Here is how we created with RED this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "I am fairly proud of how many scraps of RED patterned paper I combined to make this card (for the record, it's nine); and also the fact that I unearthed and used not one, not two, not three... but FOUR ancient border punches to do so! There are also eight (RED!) stickers; three (RED!) Eyelet Outlet brads and two (RED!) circle diecuts involved. I sewed around the edges to keep the edges on all those borders from curling up and called it a RED-letter day."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "One thing I like to do when I'm working on a single color design is to pull out all of the scraps of designer paper I have in my scrap bin that are in that color and see what comes together.  Once I did that this week, I decided to cut mostly 5/8" strips of cardstock and create a quilted background (a few were slightly wider or narrower because it worked with the design like the tiny poinsettias in the bottom right).  Since the scrap of cardstock I used for the base was a long rectangle, I ended-up cutting it down into a slimline size.  I added a Simple Stories Holly Jolly Page Pieces Santa and a stamped sentiment from Simon Says Stamp The Man, The Myth."

♥♥♥

Link your (mostly) RED cards on the original post by Wednesday evening, February 25th. 

The Gift (Wrapping) of Christmas

For our No Time Like the Presents prompt, we're still making cards using bits of leftover holiday wrapping paper and tags.

Here's how we were inspired:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "I've got TWO styles of carefully-saved giftwrap here (the pink snowflake paper and the white snowflake paper in the background); plus the white tag with the pink tree was on one of my presents. (Pink Christmas runs in my family, lol!) I added some (ancient) KI Memories lasercut snowflake paper, and lots more tags, snowflakes and stickers to make a little collage on my 5.5" square card."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "Years ago (posts indicate 2019), Lauren shared a piece of this fun Hello Kitty holiday wrapping paper with me by Xyron-ing it to some cardstock.  I used the Hero Arts Arches Infinity dies to cut out two of the Kitties (they reminded me of me & Lauren) and paired them with the Simon Says Stamp CZ Design Merry word die and a sentiment from Memory Box Merry Christmas Foil Greetings.  I finished with some enamel dots ... such a fun color combination."

Remember, one lucky participant will win the STAMPlorations Christmas Baubles #2 Layering Dies.

Visit the original post to link your cards and see the Readers' Gallery so far. JB2601: No Time Like the Presents runs until 6pm (Eastern) on Wednesday, January 14th.

SNOW Place like Home for the Holidays

We're still creating with SNOW this week at Jingle Belles ... It might be snowmen, snowflakes or just a snowy landscape, but include some snow on your cards.

Here's how we got SNOW-y this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "The other night I had fun ink-blending various shades of blue Ranger Distress Oxides over several panels of white-embossed snowflake backgrounds. But then I couldn't decide which one I liked the best... so I popped a hole into one and layered it over the other... problem solved! The snowman and sentiment are from Simon Hurley's North Pole Sentiments die set by Spellbinders; the Snowflake Brads and Enamel Hearts are from Eyelet Outlet."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "I started with a rainbow GelliArts print and the Lawn Fawn Snowflakes Stencil for the Lawn Fawnatics rainbows! Challenge.  I used silver glitter paste through the stencil and let it dry before diecutting with the Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Die Cut.  Next I cut the Lawn Fawn Giant Be Merry from Silver Glitter cardstock & black cardstock for a drop shadow.  I finished by cutting the Candy Cane from the Lawn Fawn Build-a-Drink Mug Add-on (reversing it for the second one) using a scrap of red GelliArts printed paper and white cardstock.  All dies were attached using foam tape for dimension."

Link your fabulous snow-centric masterpieces on the original post (right below this one) by next Wednesday evening, November 5th! ♥

The 12 Days of Cardstock

We're still celebrating a Cardstock Christmas this week ... making cards with absolutely no designer paper.

Here's how we got Cardstock Creative this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "Not only is this card entirely free of patterned paper, I've used mostly scraps and leftovers! When I was making the Dressed to Chill kits last week, I made a few different versions of the sign and the happy snowperson from Simon Hurley's Spellbinders North Pole Sentiments Die Set; the white-embossed watercolor panel (made with Hero Arts' Christmas Rose cover stamp) was made probably a year ago and (mysteriously?!) never used; the sparkly snowflakes were in my diecut organizer; and the background is made of thin, random-width strips of coordinating pink cardstock, stuck to an adhesive sheet and stitched around the edges."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "I cut a number of gelliarts prints on white cardstock into 1/4" stripes and then I wove them together to create my background.  I topped it with three white cardstock Christmas Trees cut using Memory Box Tall Evergreen Circle.  I finished with a brushed gold star cut using a die from Simon Says Stamp CZ Design Clean Line Christmas and a Memory Box Foiled Christmas Greetings (I shared a second bonus card with the leftover strips on my blog)."

♥♥♥

    

JB2518: Cardstock Christmas runs until next Wednesday evening, September 10th, so there's still time to join the fun! Link your cards on the original post... directly below this one!  

Merry SKETCH-mas

The Jingle Belles are still getting SKETCH-y this week.

Here is how we celebrated SKETCH-mas this week:

Lauren's Other Sketch Card

Lauren says, "This week I raided my stash of holiday cuuuuuteness, including some adorable Doodlebug stickers and papers, plus coordinating items from Elle's Studio, Carta Bella and Pebbles. My card is all about Santa getting ready for the holidays at the North Pole and I've been about as faithful to the sketch as I could possibly be! (Of course *YOU* do not need be as literal as this; feel free to swap shapes; flip, rotate or stretch the sketch; just so long as we can see "the bones"!)"

Stephanie's Other Sketch Card

Stephanie says, "My Sketch Card started with a Concord & 9th Cup of Kindness adorned with an Eyelet Outlet Retro Christmas Tree brad.  I paired it with papers from Pebbles Cozy and Bright and a sentiment from STAMPlorations Caffeinated Christmas.  I finished with two enamel dots. I'm also joining the Caffeinated Christmas Challenge.

 ♥♥♥

Remember there's a fun little prize for one lucky random cardmaker who links up with us this time. Check it out (& find the Linky Tool!) on the original 'Twas the Sketch Before Xmas post, directly below this one.

Merry Mistletoe

This week we're continuing with our Poinsettia Perfection theme - asking you to make cards featuring Poinsettias or other holiday blooms; plants or greenery like Mistletoe or Holly; or even a Pine Branch wreath.

Here are our creations for week two:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "Way back in February, for the "Midnight Clear" prompt, I had made a card built on a well-hoarded, super-sturdy Hambly Screen Prints transparency base, which reminded me how much I love those AND generated an interesting idea involving washi tape which I've finally gotten around to right here! As you can see, I just added strips of red and green washi dangling down from the topfold of the card. I've wrapped them around to the back as well, but trimmed those edges slightly shorter than the ones on the front so that they don't show. I was on the point of attaching some poinsettia diecuts when this hand-painted, machine-stitched poinsettia (that I made a while ago but for some reason didn't use) literally fell out of an envelope full of crafty "leftovers" which seemed like a pretty clear SIGN, so of course I used it, lol."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "I loved the gorgeous poinsettia paper from the Mintay Merry Little Christmas Collection.  I paired it with the pink snow design that was on the reverse side and a poinsettia decked mug of hot chocolate using the July sketch from Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.  I'm also joining the Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge.  The sentiment is a vintage woodblock from Hero Arts."

Remember, you have until 6pm on Wednesday, July 16th to link-up your festive foliage cards on the original Poinsettia Perfection post (directly underneath this one).

Feliz Navidad Frames

We're still creating with Festive Frames this week ... include at least one frame in your card design.

Here's how we got framed this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "A few years ago I purchased a set of holiday postcards that were not in good condition, but since I wanted to use them on Christmas cards, that was fine with me. This one was the most battered of the lot:  it had several very large creases and was entirely missing its lower righthand corner. But luckily, by finding two frame dies of just the right size, I was able to select the nicest bits, frame them up, and showcase them in a collage of Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Pocket Cards, 7 Gypsies velvet holly leaves and assorted festive washi tape in coordinating colors."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "My frame for this week's card is a chipboard polaroid shaped frame from Crate Paper's Mittens and Mistletoe Collection.  I positioned it over one of the stars in paper from the same collection and then filled it with another chipboard sticker.  I finished with a couple of postage stamp stickers over the other two stars."

Remember, you have until 6pm EST on Wednesday to link-up!

A Caroling We Will Go

This week at Jingle Belles the theme remains Fa-la-la-la-la ... We're asking you to create a card that incorporates music, a musical instrument, or a holiday song title or lyrics.

Here's our tune this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "This week I raided my stash of vintage sheet music and I chose a nicely patina-ed page to coordinate with this fun (ancient!) Basic Grey flower sticker. I added a few strips of washi tape, some inked edges, a chipboard sentiment and a shimmery red mat... et voila!"

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie says, "I found music for a Christmas Carol in a children's song book that happened to be perfectly card-sized.  I used the original music adding a stitched oval cut from a vintage holiday card and finishing with a 2002 Stampin' Up wood block stamped sentiment."

Remember, you have until 6pm EST on June 18th to link-up your Fa-la-la-la-la creations.

Critter Christmas

We're back again this week with cards that include Animal Antics ... because even animals know when Santa is on his way.

Here's what we made this week:

Lauren's Other Card

Lauren says, "Lawn Fawn's Critters in the Arctic set is probably ten years old and yet, I still find it every bit as adorable and whimsical as the first time I saw it; I'm guessing others do too as it's still available. I love coloring or (as in this case) paper-piecing those happy arctic pals; and I'm especially happy with the floral moose! I went a little more wintery than xmas, with a neutral diecut sentiment from Elizabeth Craft Designs' Winter Wishes set (also ancient and I believe out of print) since not everyone celebrates Christmas and it's nice to have a selection of cards on hand in December."

Stephanie's Other Card

Stephanie Says, "I knew my Taylored Expressions Big Grumpy needed to make an appearance for this prompt.  This time I added mittens on his paws and reindeer antlers from Big Grumpy Christmas together with the Ho Ho ... No. sentiment.  I finished with a silver embossed snowflake from Taylored Expressions Flip the Snowflake."

♥♥♥

JB2511: Animal Antics runs until next Wednesday evening, June 4th. Link your card(s) on the original post... directly below this one!