ColourQ #211, Simon Says: Happy Holiday, &TAWS Be Inspired #39

Hello!  I had full intentions of going with a Halloween theme for these cards, but obviously that didn't happen. I recently won some TAWS stamps and they arrived in the mail a couple days ago (yay!).  I couldn't resist the urge to try them out last night.  My first card was inspired by this week's ColourQ Challenge the Simon Says...Christmas/Happy Holiday Challenge.

My favorite parts of this card are the darling little paper pieced elf and the shiny lights.  It took a while to cut everything out, but it was so worth it. (Though, just so you know, he looks super cute even without coloring/paper piecing him at all)  The string of lights was inspired by Arielle's awesome card.  I added some liquid glass to the lights so they would be shiny.  ETA: And since this card features some pink, I'm also linking this up to Jingle Belles Rock's Pink Christmas...For the Cure.  It's a special link up and for every card linked to the challenge $4 will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  Pretty awesome, huh?  The deadline is tomorrow (October 23rd 6pm EST), but if you hurry and make a Christmas card featuring pink, your card can help increase the contribution. 

Supplies

Stamps: TAWS (Chill Out, Toyland)

Paper: PTI (Orange Zest, Raspberry Fizz, White), The Paper Studio (Merry Merry Collection)

Ink: PTI (True Black), SU! (Pumpkin Pie)

Other: CTMH (liquid glass), colored pencils

I debated whether or not to even share this next card that I made for the TAWS Be Inspired #39 Challenge.  It was the first idea that came to me when I saw this cute little bird in my TAWS Chill Out set.  Even during theor release week every time I saw this bird I knew he would look perfect perched on the branch/tree from TAWS's Trees Company set, which is one of the reasons I wanted to get the new set.  I drew inspiration from the vibrant pink and orange but also the tiny bit of blue in the challenge photo.  I did notice the yellow, too, but a yellow tree branch seemed funny, so I stamped brown on cork instead like I did on this card.  I was a bit on the fence with how it turned out, so I asked my husband what he thought, and he said, "eh.  You could still give it to someone."  That was a nice way to confirm my doubts.  The card is lacking something, but I'm too busy to figure it out.  Well, I'm off to work some more on my son's Halloween costume.  Wish me luck! :)

Supplies
Stamps: TAWS (Chill Out, Toyland, Trees Company)
Paper: PTI (Raspberry Fizz, White)
Ink: Color Box (Robin's Egg), PTI (True Black), SU! (Pumpkin Pie)
Other: PTI (Bubble Talk Die), Cork