Annual "Anything Goes"

Happy Tuesday before Christmas! This is our annual "anything goes" challenge (or as I like to think of it, our annual "do your own thing" challenge). Everyone, of course, is putting those last minute touches on their Christmas plans (or are on their way to Grandma's house), so crafting time is very limited. You may be aware that I've been absent from the DT line up for the last two weeks. If it were not for this "do your own thing" -- er, I mean "anything goes" -- then I wouldn't be here this week.

I've been seeing this particular card all over the place on various web-sites and posted on Pinterest. Well, not THIS card, but one similar using the circles for the snowman. I thought it was so cute that I wanted to give it a try, so the last play date my friend, Dottie, and I had for 2014, we made our own versions of this card.

My background is stamped with snowflake stamps using blue ink. Yep, you guessed it. I don't remember which stamp(s) I used. However, the ink is by Stampin Up (Almost Navy). The circles were cut using circle punches. They were all by EK Success, and I used three sizes that would give me the look that I wanted (in other words, they aren't particularly incremental in size). I lightly inked around the circles with Tim Holtz Antique Paper ink.

The black circles are also a punch, and the orange nose is free hand. The "arms" are from a Cheery Lynn tree limb die. The scarf is a bit of ribbon which has been folded and placed under the head. The head and the first layer of the body are adhered with pop-up foam dots for dimension. The words Merry and Christmas are cut with an Elizabeth Craft sentiment die which belongs to my girlfriend.

Anyway, I want to take a minute and tell all of you who follow my blog how much I appreciate you. I sincerely hope that the true spirit of Christmas shines within your home and your heart this year. And if you do not celebrate Christmas, then I wish you a wonderful week, and I hope to see you back next Tuesday.