Monday, December 31, 2012

Paper Pretties Monday

Good Morning!  Happy Monday and Happy New Year's eve!  This week's Paper Pretties challenge is up and this week we're making Winter Creations.  And, I am sad to announce that this is my last post for Paper Pretties.  I have been on this wonderful team for a year and I think it's just time for me to go.  I have loved my time on Paper Pretties and I thank Heather and Jackie for having me for so long.  I also thank ARTish for the fabulous images, she's definitely a favorite of mine.

And now for my card....


The card I created was using last week's sketch from Try Stampin on Tuesday.  I loved the layout and couldn't resist playing with it.

Well, I'm off to work so enjoy your Monday and come play along with us!


Supplies
Image:  Frost
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Gable Green, Bashful Blue
Paper:  Festivus (Recollections)
Copics:  BG15, C5, C7, Y11, Y15, YG06
Tools:  circle cutters (CM), Scor-Pal, med snowflake punch


Sunday, December 30, 2012

TPE Scrapbook Challenge Saturday

Good Morning,

I know, it's Sunday, I'm a day late in posting my page for this week's scrapbook challenge at The Pink Elephant.  But hey, better late than never, right?

This week we have a color combination to play with.  It is Christmas colors, but they were perfect for my page... the green of the driving range and Hollyanne's shirt just really pulled this page together for these colors.


A few year's ago, my sister and her husband gifted us a visit and a lovely weekend at Massanutten in Virginia.  We stayed in a lovely condo, enjoyed dinner, a trip to the water slides and this particularly beautiful day was spent at the driving range with Uncle John giving lessons.  Karin and I sat back and watched the kids.


This is a true 12x12 page, which is why it's so "far away."  The blue is the drape in my studio in a box.  I don't like it.  But the page is cute.  I followed the sketch from My Favorite Things (MFTWSC104).  It's a bit off scale from their sketch, but the elements are basically there.  It's a simple page.  I am featuring a few MFT products:  Large Scallop Die-Namics die and the Die-Namics Framed Greeting stamp set and die and a sentiment from a set that was given to me when I took a class at the MFT shop.  I don't know it's name.  But the sentiment says "Simple pleasures make wonderful memories" - it was perfect!  The greeting die doesn't have a larger one for layering, so I pulled out my old Magic Matter pieces and created a layer.  I hate hand cutting, I'm not very good at it.  I need to invent a pin-point cutter that would work like a pencil that you use to draw around your image.

I do hope you'll join us this week for our scrapbook challenge.  They are a lot of fun and it'll help you get those pictures out of a box (or off the flash drive) and into the albums for people to enjoy.

Have a wonderful Sunday!



Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Tuesday Morning Sketches #178

Good morning!  Merry Christmas!  I will be enjoying the day with kids which I am sure will a lot of fun.  So I'll make my post quick.  This week's challenge is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's an Anything Goes challenge.  Yes, that's what I said.  No sketch (*gasp*), but there are some very specific rules that will need to be followed.  One being that you really need to challenge yourself.

Here's my challenge.  I created a card that I have been very afraid of....


I have admired the concertina fold for a very long time but when I've read the directions, I was pretty much lost.  So I watched a great tutorial by Beate on SCS and you know what?  It was actually fairly easy.  It has it's flaws, but I'll definitely be making these again.  I already have my next one thought out.


My Scor-Pal made this card really easy, too.  With it's special markings, it took all the guess work out.  And the Scor-Tape made this a sturdy, well adhered card.

Now, Beate's tutorial didn't include a sentiment on the inside, but I figured that one out on my own.  With a Sentiment Strip die from MFT, it made a cool little banner that I put in with a couple of pop dots.

I'm off now, enjoy the day with my family.  I hope you are, too.  But I also hope you find some time for yourself to play along with us at TMS.


Supplies
Stamps/Ink:  Alfresco (CTMH), sentiment from Santa's Helper Cocoa (SNSS), Rich Cocoa (Memento), Bravo Burgundy (SU!)
Card stock:  Very Vanilla
Paper:  Merry Christmas pack (Echo Park)
Tools:  Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape, Cuttlebug, Labels One Nesties, edger punch (EK Success), Mary Ann embossing folder, Die-Namics Sentiment Strips (MFT)
Embellishments:  Flower ($1 bin @ Michaels)


Monday, December 24, 2012

Paper Pretties Monday

Good Morning - Happy Christmas Eve!  I am so happy that you are here to visit me.  I have just a quick post with this week's Paper Pretties post.  I actually have a lot of things to do today as I am sure you do.  But at some point, you'll want to play.  The challenge this week is a color combo...

Black, White plus One

I love this combo and I threw in red.  My card features a new image by ARTish.  This is Bubbly...


I am so pleased with my card - I love the texture of the embossing folder I treated myself to.  Who can blame me?  It was on sale for $5 and then I got 20% off that!  I love my Michaels phone app.  It's called Baby's Breath and it came with a border folder, too.

The card layout came from The House that Stamps Built and I am also playing along with JUGs who has a photo inspiration.  Well the fast approaching New Year is what inspired me.

Have a great Monday and take a few minutes out for yourself to play along with us.



Supplies
Image:  Bubbly
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, White
Copics:  BG10, C3, C5, C7, E30, E33, E34, G28, R02, R11, W2, W3, YG00
Tools:  Scor-Pal, Cuttlebug, Baby's Breath embossing folders
Embellishments: red brads


Saturday, December 22, 2012

TPE Scrapbook Challenge Saturday

Hi everyone! Thank you for coming back to see my 2nd post of the day.  This one is for the The Pink Elephant Scrapbook challenge.  This week Lori has a sketch for us to follow.  It's a great sketch, too.


And here's the page I created with it.


This is a picture of Levi and I taken about 3 years ago or so.  I love this picture and although 3 years ago wasn't so long ago, it's amazing how much he's changed and grown.  He used to be a scrawny kid and now he's built like a line-backer.

I hope that my page inspires you to pull out those photos and play along with our challenge this week.  See at The Pink Elephant!  I also played along with another challenge blog, Color Throwdown.


Supplies
Cardstock:  Recollections Sea collection, black, white
Paper:  Unk (my stash)
Tools:  Cuttlebug, Genius Ultimate Platform, Circle Stax Die-namics (MFT), large Scallop border Die-namics (MFT)
Stamps/Ink:  Borders & Corners Circles stamps (PTI), Summer Sky (Memento)
Embellishments:  buttons (MFT)


Just playing around...

Hi everyone!  Happy Saturday!  I am on day 3 of 6 days off from work and I am loving every minute of it.  Yesterday, when Hollyanne got home from school, she and I began to work on a little holiday baking.  We had so much fun.  We made Puppy Chow (not for puppies though) and Surprise Teacakes.  We wore a lot of powdered sugar and sung and danced in the kitchen.  I felt so much joy!!

This morning, while it's still quiet in the house and just before I go make my 2nd cup of coffee and enjoy a bowl of oatmeal with blueberries and a few pecans (best breakfast in world!) I thought I'd play along with a few challenges just for the fun of it!  No design team sample, just to make a card.  And since CAS cards are a bigger challenge for me, I went with that.  So I am combining 3 challenges in this sweet card.  (Please excuse the quality of the photo, it's poor.  I don't like taking pictures in the morning in my room.  Lots of sunlight, but TONS of shadows.)


The first challenge is Clean & Simple which is the great layout I followed.  The second challenge is CAS-ual Fridays which is Holiday Dash and since they are joining efforts with 10 Minute Craft Dash.  Talk about a stressful challenge.  You have to create in 10 minutes or less.  But look!  I did it....


This was fun to do!

Thanks so much for visiting with me today.  Enjoy your Saturday.  I'm baking with Hollyanne again today and helping her with a scrapbook.

Supplies
Stamps/Ink:  Miss Shayla at Christmastime (Fun n Flair), Warmest Wishes (TSG),
  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Red Delicious (Raisin Boat)
Copics:  R29, RV29, YG17
Tools:  Scor-Pal, Cuttlebug, Die-Namics Sentiment Strips (MFT)


Thursday, December 20, 2012

MTME Pretty Patterns #78

** Scroll down for the Delightful Challenges post **

Hi everyone!  Thanks for coming back.  Today starts my Christmas vacation and guess what happened last night.  The unspeakable... it's a catastrophe... I almost cried.... MY PRINTER DIED!!  OK, in perspective to having happy, healthy kids - a job, a roof over my head... it's not that bad.  But ugh!  So what do I do?  I go looking for another, inexpensive printer.  Found one, loved the reviews and specs so I ordered it.  For $39 - it's a steal.... and not in stock.  Double ugh!  So then I found another and this one is less money - $29. The ink cartridges cost more!  So, hopefully, I'll be able to pick up a new printer later today.

Good thing I had this digi printed already to get my card created to share with you.  This two week challenge for MTME Pretty Patterns, we're still reviewing Tangii's great sketches.  I picked this one to work with...


And here's what I did with it.  *gasp!*  Not a Christmas card!


I am featuring my all time favorite set.  This is Bee Loved and Bee Loved Sentiments.  I also tried the ribbon/button treatment that was recently featured on Stamp TV.  I'm pretty sure I've attempted this before but Gina K made it so much easier.

Please come join us at My Time Made Easy.


Supplies
Image:  Bee Loved & Bee Loved Sentiments
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Old Olive
Paper: Cool Escape & Romance digi paper packs
Copics:  BG10, E33, YG17, YR20, YR23
Embellishments:  blue satin ribbon, button (MFT), natural twine (MFT)


Delightful Challenges

Good Morning!  Happy Thursday!  This is a post that is a little hard for me today as it's my last post for Delightful Challenges.  After a year and a half being on this fabulous team, it's time for me to say good-bye.  I have truly enjoyed being a part of this challenge blog and working with Wendy and the other amazing designers.  I will miss this weekly post.  Wendy, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for allowing me to be on the team.

This week's challenge is an Anything Goes challenge and you know that I personally feel that in order to truly play along with this type of challenge, that one must really challenge themselves.  Now you may see this as another treat box, but it was a challenge.  Let me show you....


The base is an easy to make mini-pizza box.  I did use the heavy weight 120 lb card stock from Gina K to create the box.  I felt this needed to be sturdy to hold what goes on the inside and what sits on top.  Then I created the tree with a large circle made into a cone.  Then I added layers of 1" x 2" strips of paper to create the limbs.  Then topped it off with a scallop circle punch out made into a little cone.


This is a close up so you can see the snow baby (Baby Snow) image that I cut out and created a little easel that he's adhered to so he can be 3D.

I hope to see you join the challenge this week - it will surely be a hit!


Supplies
Image:  Baby Snow
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Creamy Caramel, 120 lb wt Pure Luxury white (Gina K)
Paper:  Dashing (SU!)
Copics:  BG10, R11, R27, YG17, YG67, YR04
Tools:  Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape, scallop circle punch


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Tuesday Morning Sketches #177

Good Morning!  Only one more day to my week this week.  Whoo-hoo!!  Are you ready for the holidays?  I'm nearly there.  I'm working on making an ornament for my daughter.  She's such a fan girl of One Direction, it was only right for me to pay homage to this special time in her teenage life.  Lord knows I was the same with Rick Springfield.  LOL

The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's an easy one!  You can keep this one clean and simple or really dress it up.  It was created by Angela and I loved it so much, I already used it awhile back.  We're sponsored by Bugaboo, which is always fun.


I am very pleased with my card.  I love the richness of the paper, it just really helps that image stand up and pow!  JJ Me Naughty is adorable!  This girl just makes me smile.

Now head on over to the TMS blog to play along with us.


Supplies
Image:  JJ Me Naughty (Bugaboo)
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Mud Pie, Red Delicious (Raisin Boat)
Paper:  Festivus paper pad (Recollections)
Copics:  BG05, C5, C7, E00, E02, E37, E51, E53, R00, R11, R27, R29
Tools:  Scor-Pal
Embellishments:  Mini Glitter Brads (American Crafts)


Monday, December 17, 2012

Paper Pretties Monday

Hello and Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  I sure did.  It was so laid back despite the suicide mission to the mall yesterday.  Ugh!

I have a quick project share today that features the newest challenge from Paper Pretties.  This week we're making Christmas Projects.  Here's mine....


The project is also featuring the newest digi from ARTish called Express Delivery.  I couldn't help put play with this guy because that's how I feel every morning with my coffee!

I have a Kuerig and I love it, so I decorated some k-cups and created a tent holder for it.  My Scor-Pal and a little bit of math made this super simple.  I started with a 4" x 11" piece of card stock.  I scored at 4", 2 1/4 and then 6 1/4" - this left a little tab for sealing purposes.


Here's an inside view of the k-cups.  To keep the k-cups inside I adhered with a dimension glue dots.  If you do this, remember to keep the glue dot to the side of the cup because the needle in the machine pierces on the bottom.


Have fun with this week's challenge!

Hugs to all!

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Welcome Christmas with Raisin Boat

Good Morning,

I hope you're having a nice weekend.  I would have to say that mine is pretty enjoyable.  I watched It's a Wonderful Life last night with my daughter.  It's the first time I'd ever seen and I loved it!  I can't understand why I'd never seen it before - surely this had to be a favorite of my mom's.  Oh well, Hollyanne and I enjoyed it very much.

So I made this little welcome sign using Raisin Boat stamps.  I am so pleased with how it came out.  What do you think?


I started with a wood tile frame.  I'm not sure how one would use for tiles, but I love how it turned out for this welcome sign.  I painted with chocolate brown paint and after it dried, I sponged it with ivory craft ink to create a snowy background.  Then I stamped some trees from the Nature's Reflection stamp set onto Ivory Coast card stock and cut them out.  I also stamped snowflakes with craft ink directly onto the wood.  I then applied glue where I wanted sparkle and then glittered it up with Martha Stewart coarse diamond glitter.  Then, using my eCraft (still learning to love this thing) I cut out the welcome letters and adhered those.  Finally, using a few different punches, I made the cardinal that is perched in the largest tree.

I got a hand drill from Michaels, so I drilled a couple of little holes, added some wire for hanging and then added a button with some Baker's Twine.  Overall, I'd say the project took about 4 hours to complete, but I think the results were worth the effort.



Supplies:
Stamps: Nature's Reflection
Card stock: Ivory Coast, Roasted Red Pepper
Ink: Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Ivory Craft ink
Tools: Cuttlebug, Olivia letter dies, 5/8” circle punch, flower punch, holly leaf punch, 16 gauge wire
Embellishments: coarse glitter (Martha Stewart), white gel pen, button, Baker's Twine Natural

Saturday, December 15, 2012

TPE Scrapbook Challenge Saturday

Good Morning!  It's Saturday and I am so hoping that my day will be filled with more crafting.  I do have to run a few errands, but basically, I want to spend the day in my craft room playing with my stamps.

The challenge is up at The Pink Elephant and I am loving my page.  However, if anyone has some tips on how to best photograph a 12x12 page, please leave them in the comments.  Anyway, the challenge this week is a color combo....


These colors reminded of a couple of pictures I took of my mother last year.  She looked so cute!


The colors were a perfect fit to a scrapbook kit that I've had for years.  I've been hoarding it much as possible, but I've used it, too and now I'm sad because now it's nearly gone.  Now I followed a picture of another challenge blog - they didn't have a sketch, so I interpreted as best as I could.  Kaisercraft had a beautiful inspiration photo.

Supplies

Images:  Tickled Pink stamp set (CTMH)
Card stock:  Tickled Pink scrapbook kit (CTMH)
Ink:  Pink Piroutte, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue (SU!), Lady Bug (Memento)
Tools: Cuttlebug, Curls & Swirls letter dies, scallop border punch, lacy doily Die-namics (MFT), circle cutter (CM)
Embellishments:  buckle (CTMH), red ribbon (Offray), assorted Washi Tape (Beary Scrap)

Friday, December 14, 2012

Fun 'n Flair Challenge

Hi there!  Happy Friday!  This will be the last post and challenge for the rest of the year for Fun 'n Flair, so you'll want to be sure to play along.  This week we're playing with....

WINTER BLUES

Now that's a fun challenge and here's what I came up with....


Everyone has seen and/or even made rosettes.  However, this one is a bit larger and will be adorning a Christmas package.  What a fun and easy way to dress up a package.  So fire up your glue gun or in my case, grab a roll of Scor-Tape, too, and I'll tell you how to make this fun package to/from gift tag.

First of all, your going to cut two strips of white card stock 2" x 11" and then using a border punch, punch along one side.  Then get your Scor-Pal and and {carefully} score at every inch along the 11" side.  Then flip it over and score again at every 1/2" line.  This will score peaks and valleys and make it very easy to gather up in an accordion fold.  Then repeat with the second strip.  Adhere the ends together to create a big circle.  Then punch out a 2" circle.  Now put hot glue all over that circle.  You'll need to working a little quickly, push the straight edge in to form your rosette and place on top of the hot glue on the circle.  Then, what I did and this is purely optional, I filled the hole in the center with hot glue.  Now, I'm assuming you've already stamped and prepared your focal image.  Generously add glue to the back of it and place on the front of the rosette.  That's it!  That's all there is to it.

I hope you create a lot of these.  You can make them in just about any size you'd like.  Have fun!


Supplies
Stamps:  Snowmany Wishes, Penguin Christmas
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Brocade Blue (SU!)
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, white (GP), Brocade Blue (SU!)
Copics:  B95, B97, BG10, C5, C8, G28, R11, RV27, YR04
Tools:  Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape, snowflake border punch (MS), circle cutters (CM)


Thursday, December 13, 2012

Delightful Challenge

Good Morning!  OK, I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed it's Thursday.  For a minute, I thought it was Friday.  But it's Thursday which means it's time for the Delightful Challenge challenge.  This week we're Getting Blingy!  What a fun challenge, pull out all those things that sparkle and shine.  Here's my card....


This didn't quite turn out the way I envisioned, but it's pretty darn cute anyway.  You can't go wrong with Delightful Digis by Louby Loo.  Look at that Gingerbaby.  She's pretty darn cute!  So I used lots of Stickles to bling out my card.  Not too many surfaces on this card didn't get a bit of glitter.


I'm not sure, even at this angle, you can see all the glitz on this card.  But the ornaments and the snowflake "doily" are glittered and the rest stayed pretty clean.

So come join us!


Supplies
Images:  Gingerbread Holiday Set, Garlands & Gifts
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Black
Copics:  E34, E37, R11, RV29, W3, YG06, YG09
Embellishments:  Diamond, Candy Cane, Gold Stickles

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Tuesday Morning Sketches #176

Good Morning!  I am so glad yesterday is over.  It was really busy for me yesterday... a good busy but I came home really tired.  Oh well, it's Tuesday - a new day and we have a new sketch up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and I think you're really going to like it.  It's beautiful all by itself.  It was created by Cheryl and it's as beautiful as the cards she creates.  It's also a Judged Challenge week, so the added twist is non-Traditional Christmas.  We're sponsored by Debbie, CTMH Demonstrator, but my sister Theresa who is also a CTMH Demonstrator gifted us with a stamp set to play with.  Thank you Theresa!

So here's my non-Traditional Christmas card....


The snowman and snowflakes are from the stamp set Flakey Friends.  The sentiment came from a Sweet n Sassy Stamp set.  I am pleased with the results.  I think the I'm going have a lot of fun with this stamp set.

See you over at Tuesday Morning Sketches blog!


Supplies
Stamps:  Flakey Friends (CTMH), sentiment from Santa's Helper Cocoa (SNSS)
Ink:  Soft Sky (SU!), Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Aqua Breeze (Raisin Boat)
Copics:  BG01, BG05, BG10, E33, Y17, YR04, YR07#
Tools:  oval cutters (CM), med/lg snowflake punches (Martha Stewart)
Embellishments:  Diamond Stickles


Fun 'n Flair Card Share

Hi everyone!  I have a quick post to share another fun card with Fun 'n Flair stamps.


I'm kinda giving you a sneak peek to the Tuesday Morning Sketches sketch this week - but it's OK, it'll publish in a few hours.

This was a really easy card to and with paper piecing, it's pretty quick, too.  That fussy cutting is what will take the longest, so I would say stamp those all out and do your cutting while watching a favorite movie.  Then move back to your craft room and do all your cutting with dies.  This card would be pretty easy to mass produce.

Be sure to come back for the TMS post.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Paper Pretties Monday

Good Morning!  Happy Monday!  I had a fabulous weekend, it was very productive at the craft table.  It was a pretty laid back weekend even thought it was busy.  Saturday, we got the house cleaned and put up the tree.  I got the entire week's worth of projects done and it was just a good weekend.  I even enjoyed a glass of wine while having a phone conversation with my sister.

So this week's challenge at Paper Pretties is up and we're playing with a color combo.  Red, Green plus one other color.  I pretty much stayed with red and green.  My card features a new image by ARTish, this one is called Berry Merry Christmas.


I used the sketch from The Sweet Stop and it helped me create a fairly clean and simple card.  It does have a bit of dimension, but not enough that it would require an extra 20 cents in postage.


Supplies
Image:  Berry Merry Christmas
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Old Olive, Red Delicious (Raisin Boat)
Paper: Dashing (SU!)
Copics:  BG10, E04, E17, R27, YG17, YG63
Tools: circle cutter (CM), Cuttlebug, Mary Ann embossing folder
Embellishments:  Diamond Stickles, White Liquid Applique


Sunday, December 9, 2012

Fun 'n Flair Sketch Challenge

Good Morning!

Another really quick post today.  I just discovered the blogger hasn't been very nice to me this week.  My Saturday post didn't go up and I should've come back to create this post, but I was so busy yesterday that it slipped my mind.  Worked out OK, the sketch challenge went up late.

I did get the house cleaned and the tree is up.  No Christmas movie though.  That's OK, my friend Pamela is bringing It's a Wonderful Life on DVD tomorrow so I can watch it.  I have never seen this movie.  Which really surprises me because I LOVE old movies and I love Jimmy Stewart.  Anyway, I did get some cards done, too and I'm working on a fun little idea that I hope works out.

Onto to the sketch challenge....


Isn't this a fun Christmas card?  Non-traditional colors, so bright and happy!  Love that snowman!  I think maybe the week of Christmas I'll do nothing but Snowman cards.  We'll see....

OK - I'm off because I still need to make my coffee, get laundry started and work on a few more cards.  Have a super Sunday and please come play along with sketch challenge.  Perhaps you can get really creative and combine with the Fun  n Flair 3D challenge, too.

Happy Sunday!


Supplies
Stamps:  Snowmany Wishes
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Green Galore
Ink:  Bahama Blue, Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: digi paper unk (it was scrap)
Copics:  B00, B000, BG01, BG05, C5, C7, C8, G02, G05, R00, R02, R11, R27, RV29, YG06, YG09, YR04, YR07
Tools:  oval cutters (CM), med/lg snowflake punches (Martha Stewart), Cuttlebug, Snowflake & Dots embossing folder


Saturday, December 8, 2012

TPE Scrapbook Challenge Saturday

Hi everyone!  I hope your weekend is going great so far.  Just a real quick post as I have tons to do today.  My plans are to do a bit of stamping, clean the house and the put up the tree.  Then maybe a Christmas movie tonight.  We'll see.

So awhile back The Pink Elephant was having a DT call for the scrapbook page weekly challenge.  I decided to apply because I need some sort of motivation to get back to scrapbooking - my kids have tons of pictures that needs to get into albums and I haven't done a thing in YEARS!  Well, I didn't think I made it but then I got a late night email from Lori Boyd a couple of weeks inviting me to the team. Whoo-hoo!!  I was supposed to start last week, but it just didn't happen.  I had slipped on something in the grocery store and over-compensated to keep myself from falling and wrenched my back. I'm OK - a heating pad helped but I just didn't get to get started.

I did this week, however, and the challenge is a recipe challenge.

Big Title, Stitching and Green


I loosely followed a sketch from Page Maps.  This is a little more CAS than I envisioned but after ruining my first couple of attempts and not finding the photo that I wanted to use, I decided I better quit while I was ahead before I ruined something else.

Now the photo.  This is daughter (right) and her best friend Taylor.  They are Directioners... crazed teenage girls over One Direction.  We made these t-shirts for the girls for Taylor's birthday.   Since I don't have a sewing machine, my stitching came from a white gel pen and a ruler.  My greens clash a little bit, but when Hollyanne saw the page, she was very happy.  That's what counts!

See you over at the TPE Blog!  Come on, break out those pictures and come play along!

Supplies:
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Night of Navy
Paper:  Certainly Celery Designer Series paper
Tools:  Cuttlebug, Olivia letter dies (Provo Craft), white gel pen, ruler
Embellishments:  Flowers (StampingScrapping), ribbon (my stash), button (MFT)


Friday, December 7, 2012

Fun n Flair Challenge

Hi there!  Happy Friday!  You have no idea how happy I am that the weekend is finally here.  It's been a very tiring week.  Nothing bad, just a lot going on.

This week's challenge at Fun n Flair is a 3D Challenge.  I had a lot of fun with this challenge.  Of course my first thought was to create a treat holder but I always do treat holders.  So I decided it was time to try something different.  So I went off to studying how to create a diorama.  It was really easy and sooo much fun.  Check it out...


I used some cute images from Miss Shayla at Christmas Time set.  So way fun digi paper from Jessica Sprague.  I also used some Gina K Pure Luxury 120 lb weight card stock for the base, so that it really stands up.

Here, let me turn it for you so you can see the dimension in this card.


And, yes, it will fold flat for mailing.  Isn't that a cute little kitten?  This diorama was really easy to make and as I said, I had a lot of fun making it to share with you today.  Hope you join in on the challenge.

Supplies
Stamps:  Miss Shayla at Christmas Time
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Red Delicious (Raisin Boat), 120 lb weight Pure Luxury white card stock (Gina K)
Copics:  G05, G99, R00, R11, R29, RV29, W0, W2, W3, Y15, YG63
Tools:  Cuttlebug, Labels One dies, Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape

Thursday, December 6, 2012

MTME Pattern Review

** scroll down for Delightful Challenges **

Hi! Thanks for coming back.  It's also time for another challenge at MTME Pretty Patterns.  We're doing a pattern review of a set of Tangii's sketches.  You can choose any sketch from MTME Pretty Patterns #41-47.  I used sketch #46.


This was one of my favorite sketches, it just looks like Christmas!  I had the pleasure of playing with 3 new releases, too.  My card features images from Christmas Swag, Merriest Monograms and Homemade Holidays.  What do you think?


I really love how my card turned out.  I colored the digis on my computer.  Now I still haven't learned how to add dimension with this coloring method, so I added it with embossing folders and dimensionals.  I've been having a lot of fun playing with white.  Having Silke as a guest designer on TMS, she's really inspired me.

Supplies:
Images: Christmas Swag, Merriest Monograms, Homemade Holidays
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Ruby Red
Tools:  Scor-Pal, Cuttlebug, Mary Ann emb folder, Candy Stripe emb folder, circle cutter
Embellisments:  ribbon (my stash)


Delightful Challenges

Good Morning!  It's Thursday and you know what that means.  Yep!  Time for a new challenge at Delightful Challenges.  This week it's ALL ABOUT CHRISTMAS.

We have a new release, too.  I'm using Donita and Tree...


I did also include the beautiful sentiment from the Poinsettia Set.  The layout came from a great sketch at The Sweetest Thing by Karen Giron.

I hope to see you over at Delightful Challenges - Wendy also has a great sale going for Winter images.  20% off of $10 or more.  Use the code WINTER at checkout.


Supplies
Image:  Donita and Tree, Poinsettia Set (sentiment)
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest
Paper: unk (Basic Gray)
Copics:  C5, C7, C10, E00, E30, E33, E34, E37, E57, G05, R11, R27, R29, V09, W0, YG63, YG67, YR04
Tools: circle cutter (CM), med & large snowflake punches (Martha Stewart), tag punch (SU!), silver & gold gel pens
Embellishments: Diamond Stickles



Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Tuesday Morning Sketches #175

Good Morning!  How is your Tuesday going?  Well, since it's just starting, I hope you are off to a great start with however you like to start it.  Mine is a yummy cup of coffee on the way to work.  It's so nice to enjoy it on the way there, particularly on the weeks that I'm not driving.

So this week's sketch is up and think you're really going to like it.  There's a lot of possibility for dimension.  We're sponsored by Sweet n Sassy Stamps this week so I got to play with an adorable digi, Smiley Snowman.


Isn't he cute?  I just love this frosty little man who could warm any heart.  I warmed him up a bit by making his a fuzzy little scarf using Fun Flock that I have had for probably 12 years or more.  I never think about it.  Do you?


Here, you see the scarf better at this angle.  I also love the paper that I used.  It's from Making Memories and *gasp* I'm about out of this.  Yipes!

Well, I do hope you'll join us this week at TMS.


Supplies
Image:  Smiley Snowman (SNSS)
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy
Paper:  FaLaLa (Making Memories)
Copics:  BG10, R11, R27, YR04, YR07
Tools:  Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape, snowflake border punch
Embellishments:  Red Fun Flock, green satin ribbon


Monday, December 3, 2012

Paper Pretties Monday

Hi there!  Thanks for coming back.  I promise I won't bother you anymore today.  But I have to share what I created with the Paper Pretties challenge and ARTish has some new images.

My card was created from the sketch at The Sweet Stop.


This is Diggity.  I want him under my Christmas tree.  He's so cute!!  The challenge this week is easy, use ribbon.  How fun is that!


Supplies
Image:  Diggity
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest,
Paper:
Copics:  C7, C8, E13, E17, E30, E33, G05, R27
Tools:  Scor-Pal, Cuttlebug, Snowflakes & Dot embossing folder
Embellishments:  red satin ribbon


Hostess Monday at Digital Delights

Today is my day for Hostess Monday at Digital Delights and I have a really fun card to share with you.  Now this "little" baby is huge and I think would be a perfect way to send holiday greetings to family members  and share a photo on the inside.
Now I cannot take credit for this fun fold, I did follow a tutorial on You Tube by Dawn Griffith.  Let me present the Napkin Fold card....


So here's the front of it.  It is held together by a belly band that I am not too happy with, but I don't have a printer that will print 12 inches in length.  Is there even such a beast?  Anyway, movin' on...


So this view is the belly band removed.


Then as you start to unfold it, you get to reveal the surprise inside!  Isn't this cute?!  This is a lot of folds and a lot of triangles and so cute.  So I included an image from the Snowie Set here, but this is where I think it would be super cute to include a photo to share.  This is made from a 12x12 piece of paper as the base.  I also printed two different digi papers, Sparkle & Magic and Sail Away digi papers to dress up the white base.


And then fully opened, as I said you can either include a photo or as I did, the Snowie and write a greeting.  I hope you like it and it inspires you to try something a little different.  Oh, I almost forgot, the sentiment is from A Touch of Christmas.

Have a fabulous day and thank you for allowing me to share a project with you.

Supplies
Image:  Snowie Set, A Touch of Christmas
Paper:  Sparkle & Magic, Sail Away digi paper packs
Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest, White textured card stock (Colorbok), Red (Recollections)
Copics:  BG10, C5, C7, C8, C10, R00, R02, R27, RV29, YG03, YG63, YR04, YR07
Tools:  Scor-Pal, Cuttlebug, Framed Greetings Die-namics Die (MFT)

Fun n Flair Card Share

Good Morning!  Happy Monday.  I hope you all had a fantastic weekend.  I had a very enjoyable visit with my Mom and her husband.  Mom made her lovely orange juice rolls.  Mmmmm....  And then I made chicken and dumplings for dinner.  It was like Christmas, just no presents.

So today is my day to share another fun project featuring Fun n Flair stamps.  Now this is very easy, clean and simple.  But this just shows you how little one can use the stamps and still make a big statement.



I made this Christmas tag with the snowflake stamp from Penguin Christmas and the to/from stamps from Snowmany Wishes.  I was inspired to create this by the challenges at CAS-ual Fridays and The Kraft Journal.

Have a great Monday, be sure to come back for the Paper Pretties post.


Supplies
Stamps:  Penguin Christmas, Snowmany Wishes
Card stock:  Neenah Milled Ivory, Kraft
Ink:  Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Tools:  circle cutter (CM), large and medium snowflake punches (Martha Stewart), Crop-o-dile
Embellishments:  natural twine (MFT), Maraschino Cherry Baker's Twine (SNSS)



Friday, November 30, 2012

Fun n Flair x 2

Good Morning!!  Happy Friday!  Oh my goodness, I didn't think the day would get here.  My mom and her husband will be here to visit for a week when I get home from work today.  I'm excited to see her, I miss her a lot.

I have two projects to share with you featuring Fun n Flair.  It's my day to post to the Fun n Flair blog but it's also challenge day.  So up first is a card I made featuring Miss Shayla at Christmas Time.  It's a fun, non-traditional, fresh take on a Christmas card.  I did follow the sketch from Papertake Weekly.


And next is the challenge.  This time we're making scrapbook pages.  Remember I said that Selina's stamps were big and perfect for scrapbook pages....


This is Penguin Christmas and was perfect for this wintry fun page.  These are my kids and one of the neighbor boys after a snowball fight after a HUGE snowstorm.  I don't miss that about West Virginia.


I believe that is the prettiest penguin I've ever seen.  I hope you join us over at Fun n Flair for the challenge and some great inspiration.

Happy Friday!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Friends of SNSS Birthday Bash Blog Hop

Hi again!  Thanks for coming back for the blog hop which kinda wraps up all the fun and festivities that have been going on all month to celebrate Sweet n Sassy Stamps' 5th birthday.

This is a HUGE hop, 37 bloggers and friends of Sweet n Sassy.  Not only will you have so much eye candy to feast upon, but there's prizes....


~There will be 4 random participants from whom I will choose 1 commenter to receive a $15 store credit.
~To be included in the drawings, comments must be left by midnight EST Friday, November 30th.
~The winners will be announced on the SNSS Blog on December 1st at 8am EST

So before I share my card I, first of all, want to wish Korin and Dan a very happy birthday.  I have been blessed to have been on both the Sweet n Sassy Diva and The Sweet Stop design teams.  It was a dream come true for me.  As most of you know, Korin knows no stranger and she loves all those that come into her periphery with her sweet spirit.  She's always there to lend an encouraging word or to share one of her great designs.  I'm the proud owner of a couple pieces of her works or art.  They are not merely cards.


So this is the card that I created using a great sketch from MFT and the inspiration of Silke Ledlow.  She does so well with all white... I tried with cream and just a hint of brown.  No matter what I did, I couldn't get the photo to come out right.  It's much prettier in person - I swear.

Enjoy the hop!  Happy birthday Korin, Dan & Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  I look forward to doing this again for your 10th birthday.

Supplies
Stamps:  Wildflowers
Card stock:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
Ink:  Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Tools:  Cuttlebug, Mary Ann emb folder, Textile emb folder, Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape
Embellishments:  brown statin ribbon, antique brads

Delightful Challenges

Good Morning!

Happy Thursday to you.  I can't believe how quickly this week is going.  Wow!  I'm so happy, too, I'm ready for a weekend.  I'm also very happy to be sharing this week's Delightful Challenge with you.  This week we're playing with Festive Florals.  I am using the Poinsettia Set which I think is gorgeous.

OK - this really did start out to be a card and then it took on a life of it's own and decided it was going to be a blinged out, very shiny, very beautiful ornament.


I think it turned out really pretty!  I love it and I think it's going to quite lovely on my Mom's Christmas Tree.

Here's a close up so you can see the glitter and shine that I added using Stickles and a Paper Pen.


I hope you to see you play this week at Delightful Challenges and go ahead, make an ornament, it'll be fun!


Supplies
Image:  Poinsettia Set
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest
Copics:  G28, R27, R29, YR17
Embellishments:  Gold Paper Pen, Diamond Stickles, white organdy ribbon

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Tuesday Morning Sketches #174

Good Morning!  I have a new sketch posted for you on the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog and you're not going to want to miss playing with one.  It's easy and fun and very versatile.  I think you'll like it a lot.  We're also sponsored by DRS Designs and they've generously supplied us stamps to play with.

My card features Jingle all the Way and Bells & Bows.  I love my card, I hope you do, too.


I had a lot of fun making this one.  I started with punching out two sizes of snowflakes and glued them down to a red base.  Then I ran that thru my Cuttlebug with the basketweave embossing folder from SU! - I then stamped all my pieces:  the border, the sentiment and the bells and colored.  To add a bit more interest...


I added glossy glaze to the bells to give them a metal shine and also colored the rope with a gold paper liner pen.  I am very happy with the results.  I do hope you'll come join us this week.


Supplies
Stamps:  Bells and Bows, Jingle All the Way (DRS Designs)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Red Delicious (Raisin Boat)
Copics:  C-1, C-3, C-5, R00, R27, R29
Tools:  circle cutters (CM),
Embellishments:  Gold Paper Pen (Raisin Boat), Diamond Glaze (JudiKins)