Sunday, November 30, 2008

Three French...

...roosters! This was as close as I could come to three French hens for the PCP 12 Days of Christmas challenge today! This is a combo card for the FS challenge at SCS also! Congratulations, Dawn!

Gotta run to our church's Hanging of the Greens service, so I'll come back later to give more details!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Tree House turns One Year Old!

I don't normally post twice in one day, but there's so much going on this Thanksgiving weekend that I just couldn't pass it up!

Last night Tree House Stamps held a release party for several brand new stamp sets! I have had such a great time playing with these new stamps already, and they're so versatile that I know I'll use them again and again!

These adorable frogs are from a set called Hoppy Kisses. I used Crate Paper designer paper, and colored the cute couple using water color pencils and an aquapainter.

Sweet as Sugar uses two single stamps that simply make me smile...I'm from the South and lots of folks called me Sugar when I was little. I love this Pink Paisley Pop Fashion paper...couldn't get any sweeter (or pinker) could it!?

Tree House is celebrating its first anniversary, and in honor of the occasion Ashley is offering a 10% discount on orders for the rest of the year! Just click on the banner in the sidebar (yes, it's so cool that my card is featured in this banner ad! *grin*) to browse the website and place yours. I'm planning to order some of the new dp kits and glitters that Ashley just started carrying. They're yummy!

Hope you'll keep coming back! I love when you visit and treasure your comments!

Late Sketch--What Was I Thinking?

Do you ever really struggle with a card? Here's a Sweet 'n Sassy Cozy Feathered Friends card that I started on Wednesday for the SCS sketch challenge, and wrestled with off and on for days! I just love this little birdie, and started out painting him thinking I'd use some of my new Ambrosia paper. Then when I was done, the paper seemed *off* for the image, so I struggled forever trying to find a plan B. Then, after deciding to try to give him some little feathers, my white gelpen died and I had to resort to a ghost writer. Finally I arrived at this, which isn't making me happy but I'm posting it anyway!

It's time for the SNSS blog hop, so don't miss the chance to see some fabulous cards and win some blog candy!

Two other reminders before you go...the i {heart} papers Black Friday sale is still going on! And you still have lots of opportunities to enter Paper Craft Planet's 12 Days of Christmas! Here's my entry for today's challenge, to use a dove or turtle on your card...I used a scrap of leftover Basic Grey DP to make this 4.25 square card using Pink Poison's Faith, Hope and Love dove. This set was a gift from Faith (Markie's Mom) when I went to her retreat in October. Thanks so much Faith...I love this set!

Friday, November 28, 2008

The 12 Days of Christmas!

Today marks the beginning of a fun contest sponsored by Paper Craft Planet...each day a new challenge will be posted, and prizes awarded for participation!

Today's challenge was to make a card using a tree stamp...a card by Kelly (her tutorial is here) inspired me to use SEI's Alpine Frost from i {heart} papers to make a garland of greenery. I only wish I had some pretty ornament stamps so I could hang some danglies from it!

There's a fabulous sale going on today at i {heart} papers. See yesterday's post for the details!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Huge Black Friday Sale!

Do you love to find a bargain but hate to fight the crowds and traffic on Black Friday? Then this sale is for you! Kate at i {heart} papers is having a HUGE special Friday through Sunday! Check out all the details HERE .

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Rub It In!

Today's color challenge was the perfect opportunity for me to use some of this gorgeous Basic Grey Ambrosia paper for the first time. I bought it along with a matching pack of rub-ons when my friend Wendybell was Featured Stamper on SCS...she loves butterflies and the rub-on pack had a giant beauty on the front. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that there was this fabulous elephant hiding inside! (Note to self: still gotta case Wendy and use that butterfly!) My mom LOVES elephants, so this is a great card for her!

The layout for this comes from last week's Mojo Monday sketch...I love having a sketch to jump start my card-making!

Hope you have a great Tuesday! Thanks for visiting...YOU are one of the things on my list of what I'm grateful for!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Blog Candy Winner and Today's Challenge!


I SO enjoyed reading all of your comments regarding what you love about where you live! I love where I live too! It is close enough to the city to enjoy things like the Nutcracker at the Theatre, but still small town enough to bump into a familiar face on a regular basis. And best of all, my husband, Patrick, who served the USN for 26+ years, is finally retired and home with my sweet Matthew and me!

Congratulations go to the winner of i {heart} papers' blog candy, my friend Judy, who left the 45th comment!

Today's challenge, a gift card holder, is made with gorgeous Wassail designer prints and SEI's Alpine Lace stamp set, both from i {heart} papers. I marked a circle with a pencil, then stamped around it using this small pine cone stamp colored with old olive and close to cocoa markers. I kept this very simple because I wanted to be able to use it to hold a man's gift card, and usually men just don't like things too fussy. A slit punch closure and a button laced with a scrap of red hemp were all it really needed.
I hope you are having a fabulous week already! And to my US friends, enjoy your Thanksgiving! I will be starting my cooking this afternoon!
Blessings to you and yours!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Each Unique!

Do y'all have a stash of alterables, etc. that you collect and eventually get around to using? I am embarrassed that I have a whole clear-keeper full of stuff like that. I bought these adorable little pails at Target last winter and there they've sat for nearly a year. I decided that while the scraps of this snowflake paper were still out, I oughta do something with one of them!

I really should make it my mission to use up some of the stash I have! I am not even sure where this patterned paper came from! I think maybe Michael's! It might have been from a pile of 8.5 x 11" papers about an inch high that my mom gave me when her Michael's (she lives in Louisiana) had a really great sale. She went through grabbing one or two of each print and sent them to me...many I've used, but I still have a folder full!

I've had these Basic Grey chipboard tags for quite a while too, but I know that they are still available at i {heart} papers. They're so fun and easy to use--just paint on some mono multi and stick on your dp, trim the edges with scissors and then sand the edges using a heavy duty emory board.

I have still been experimenting with Becca's circle medallions. They look different depending on the dimension of your circle. I think this one looks really pretty as a frame for Chris' beautiful snowflake, which I stamped in craft white ink and embossed with glitter EP. A MS punched snowflake and some bling were the finishing touches.

I think I should make some of those little powdered sugar cookies to put in a cello bag for this! Wouldn't that be pretty? Do you have any other ideas? I'd love to hear them!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Keep Warm!

The last few days have been chilly in Florida! A few days ago it got down to 29 degrees! I got up this morning and grabbed my fluffy jacket and fuzzy scarf along with a cup of steaming hot coffee! Patrick immediately started a big roaring fire, which he's kept going all day long. It is nice and toasty in here this evening!

Around noon I received a delivery of brand-spanking new rubber from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps! Several of the sets are future new releases (so you'll have to keep checking back!) but I made sure to get several that I can use in the meantime! This little cup from Warm Up seemed like the most appropriate choice! I used some papers from an old K and Co mat pack that I've had for ages...wasn't quite ready to cut into my new pretty dp yet! These colors are bright and fun and even though my card is a simple design, I'm pleased with it. It also qualifies for Daring Card Challenges' current challenge to make a coffee card.

You have one day left to make your comments (scroll down!) for my i {heart} papers blog candy! There is more at my i {heart} papers DT mates' blogs too, so get busy!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Chocolate...YUM!


Today's limited supplies challenge was to make a card using something chocolate for the theme of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! My order from i {heart} papers had just arrived, so I had no problem deciding which yummie papers and stamps to use! This challenge seemed tailor-made for what I had ordered!

Don't you just love this delicious plaid MME paper from Kate's store?! There are several coordinating prints that make mix and match really easy. I stamped this Inkadinkado swirlie frosted cupcake using Palette Burnt Umber, then colored it using a relatively dry aquapainter and ink from the lids of my close to cocoa and regal rose ink pads, followed by a bit of shading with some chocolate chip. All the edges were sponged with Tim Holtz distress inks. This layout is from Saturday Sketch.
Scroll down for a chance at some fabulous blog candy! You have until Sunday evening!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Pearly Medallion

I missed the TLC challenge last week when Becca's fabulous circle medallions were featured, so I thought I would give those a whirl along with today's ways to use it challenge for pearls. I really love vintage things, and decided that this paper and lace would go well, and so this is what I ended up with. The medallion is definitely not perfect and I could use some practice, but I am pleased with the overall result. This would make a nice thinking of you card, or even a sympathy card, which I find very difficult to make.

I'm looking forward to seeing some new rubber today! Can't wait for it to arrive! In the meantime, I need to be cleaning my house and beginning my Thanksgiving grocery list! I LOVE this season!

Blog candy is still available so check below and at all my other i {heart} papers DT members' blogs. Three of us still have different prizes available, so don't miss it!

Blessings to you and yours!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

What a fun sketch today!

I am such a symmetrical person (often to my dismay) that sketches like this are easier for me to embrace than some others!

Everything that I used today I have had in my stash forevah! So glad to use it to make something fun. The stamp was from the sale bin at Hobby Lobby, the paper from a huge stack my mother bought for me years ago! All the cardstock is from Stampin' Up! The only thing that is relatively new is that pretty Martha Stewart snowflake punch...it's a new favorite lately.

Just a reminder to scroll down if you haven't already...there's blog candy still up for grabs here and at several of my i {heart} papers DT mates' blogs. Cruise around to see our Give Thanks challenge posts and find your chance to win at their blogs too!

Monday, November 17, 2008

With a Grateful Heart!

The i {heart} papers team was challenged to create a project with a theme of gratitude...so here is what I came up with. My priority was much more function than beauty. I needed a way to keep a running list of who/what I need cards for, so I made a little book to keep track. I thought this gorgeous Wassail snow flurries paper was generic enough to last well beyond the holidays, so I covered some chipboard book covers with it. Then I used some scraps of textured ivory paper to cover chipboard {} and heart shapes (I'm so grateful to be a part of this awesome team!), which I inked with Tim Holtz distress inks. They came out darker and pinker than I really wanted, so I grabbed some acrylic paint and swiped across them with my fingers. I wanted them to look similar to the appearance of the coral/pink tones of the subtle accents of the paper. I chose not to add any other embellishments because of the bulk...I want it to lay flat so I will be able to write in it easily.


The inside pages were printed on my computer. Facing pages have a list for the person's name and the occasion for the card on one side and a calendar on the other.

The whole thing is held together by 1-inch ring binder clips, which I dressed up just a bit with a couple of velvet ribbon scraps from my ribbon jar.


Be sure to cruise the other designers' blogs to see all their great projects! Several of us are offering blog candy (see yesterday's post to have a chance to win, but be sure to look elsewhere because the prize is different!) AND because Kate is grateful for you, her customers, for a 10% savings on your i {heart} papers order, check out the i {heart} papers blog!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Blog Candy!!!!

It's my turn to be one of the team of the i {heart} papers who is offering blog candy this week, and I've chosen from Kate's fabulous store this gorgeous Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper pack and matching brads to share with you.

Whether you live in the big city, in the wide open prairie, or someplace that offers the best of both worlds, there is something you love about Life where you live it! To be eligible to win, leave a comment here about what it is you love about where you are, something unique and special that makes you {heart} it. The winner will be randomly drawn Monday morning, November 24th, from the comments made between now and midnight the night before. Make sure you leave an email address so that you can be contacted if your name is drawn!

While you're at it, why don't you go over to Merry's and wish her Happy Birthday! And to Kendra's to congratulate her on being today's SCS Featured Stamper!

Friday, November 14, 2008

From our family...

....to yours!

I just LOVE this little snowman family! I couldn't wait to get this cute little set and make a card with it! I found a great sketch at sketches by Tamara, and also used my new nesties, fabulous ribbon, and beautiful Wassail paper from i {heart} papers. Just uploaded it for today's limited supplies challenge at SCS, to use only acrylic stamps! What a fun challenge!

OK....I'm off to try to play some virtual stamp night! I hope to get alot of cards made this weekend!

Don't forget to check out yesterday's post regarding some yummy blog candy!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Blog Candy Alert and Yesterday's Sketch


I made this card a few days ago, thinking that I was sending it to a friend's daughter who is in the hospital, but when I showed it to my Bible study girls (I take my week's worth of cards to show them each Wednesday) it got scarfed up as a birthday card, so I made another pink card using yesterday's SCS sketch and the same image.



I am pleased with the way they each turned out, but for a young girl, I really like the softness of the second one. It is so soft and serene, sparkly and sweet...kinda sugar and spice like little girls are supposed to be!


I was thinking that I would post direct links to the blog candy that my i {heart} papers design teams are giving away, but after being awake and visiting their blogs in the middle of a kinda sleepless night, I'm gonna recommend that you visit each of them and search for the candy in the process! They've uploaded some amazing creations that you won't want to miss!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Stamping Simply

I have been exploring Bloggerville for the various challenges which are offered each day, and I came across several that were really fun. Some are more challenging than others, and I would say that while making a simple single-layer card would seem to be easy, pulling it off well is actually more challenging than just about any other challenge I've tried. It is nice when one can stamp simply and the result is elegant, especially when time is short and the list of recipients is long. My friend Sharon Johnson is the queen of stamping simply and I am always amazed at her designs.

This card was made for the Stamp Something challenge to stamp a single layer card. I used a single layer of white cardstock, stamped with the bough from SEI's Alpine Frost. A luxurious bow and pretty pin are the only embellishments. I hope you like it! This set and beautiful ribbon are available at i {heart} papers.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Another Blog Candy Alert!

Didn't want you to miss a chance at all this scrumptious ribbon being offered by my friend and fellow DT member Cathleen, hand-picked by Kate of i {heart} papers. Make sure you get your comments in ON HER BLOG on time, and don't forget to keep checking back here because there will be more to come!

I am hoping to get to stamp some today after my i {heart} papers package arrives. In the meantime, I have to make a run to the Jeep dealership to find out why my just past its 2nd birthday Liberty won't start this morning. :(

Hope to be back soon and have some new cards to show you!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

A Tiny Distraction!

I have not gotten to stamp yesterday or today as planned! I did manage to alter this teeny tiny JOY that I found in the $1 bin at Michael's. It measures about 3 x 4 inches. I had a few small scraps of gorgeous Basic Grey Wassail paper from i {heart} papers that would work just perfectly, so I glued 'em on and sanded the edges as best I could. I need a smaller file with rounded edges to really get into the small spaces, and I might find some tiny embellishments to add, but for now I have a major distraction in the form of a teeny tiny Yorkie that I'm puppy-sitting! He is a little like having a baby...wants to be held, constantly needs watching (or else he'll oopsie on our carpet!), but he is so absolutely adorable that he's already got US trained! Honestly, how can you refuse a face like this? His name is Ollie (Oliver) and he'll be with us until tomorrow afternoon. :)

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Celebrate Life!

A few of you have asked to see pictures of the musical...so here are some that were taken during our performance last night. It was such an amazing experience to portray Mary and sing the Magnificat!




Matthew had a great time and was very excited to have some fun narration in the funny three kings song!

To see more, visit the online album.

I'll hope to be back later to post some cards! Until then, blessings to you and yours!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

We are three kings...

Our final performance of Celebrate Life is tonight at our own church...three choirs are combined for almost 100 voices, and we've performed at each of the other churches so far. I am very excited to perform for a familiar audience, and all at once also a little let down for it to end! It has been an amazing experience!

These cards are little gift card holders for the choir directors of the other churches. They've done SO much to make this performance happen, and I want them to know how much we appreciate all their efforts! Sharing the gifts God has given them is what life is all about, and that is definitely something to celebrate!

If you'd like to see the words to one of the songs, check out this card in my SCS gallery!

I want to congratulate my fellow design-team mates at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps! Yesterday I was so on-the-go and so to-the-moon excited that I didn't post their names! Check out their blogs! I am so honored to be among them!

Senior Design Team:

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

So Sweet!

I am so excited to tell you that I have been invited to join the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Design Team for January 1st-June 30th, 2009! Life is just SO SWEET right now! The past 10 days have been so amazing! I don't think I could be any more thrilled or honored!

I had a wonderful conversation with Korin this afternoon, and I know that I am going to enjoy working with her and her group of talented designers. I'm looking forward to some new great friendships and lots of stamping!

Monday, November 3, 2008

FS Challenge, and MORE blog candy!


Yesterday's Featured Stamper challenge honored Becca Feeken of Amazing Paper Grace. I had a great time casing her Seize the Day card, but didn't get to finish it until this morning (we spent almost all day at church yesterday for our fabulous Fall Festival and 2nd annual chili cookoff!). I really was happy to see that this morning's TLC challenge is to try the tutorial that Becca posted on her blog using corner punches to make the gorgeous circular medallions that are the highlight of her gallery. I'll be heading back upstairs to try one shortly!

Head on over to i {heart} papers for the beautiful Basic Grey Wassail designer paper and May Arts ribbon used to complete this card. Kate also has her Halloween goodies on sale, so if you have not yet made layouts to show off your little goblins, there's still time! And don't forget this week's blog candy...take a look at Carolyn's AND Amber's!

Notes:
Stamps: SEI Alpine Lace
Paper: Basic Grey Wassail, SU Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, Mellow Moss, Ruby Red, Whisper White
Inks: Always Artichoke, Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Accessories: Markers, May Arts Faux Suede Ribbon, buttons, hemp

Saturday, November 1, 2008

It's Official!

The i {heart} papers party has begun! For the entire month of November Kate will be providing blog candy for each of the design team members to give away! And there are 10 of us! 10 chances! You won't want to miss a single one!

Check out what Carolyn has chosen for the first give-away!

A Quiet Night


I was a little disappointed that we had only 20 or 25 Trick or Treaters come to our door, but getting to stamp one last Halloween card took a bit of the blues away! I wanted to squeeze in one more of Leigh O'Brien's Freaky Friday cards, and was able to combine it with my friend Tammy's Color Throwdown.

I stamped the image on watercolor paper using Black Stazon, then colored in the background using Lovely Lilac. For the pumpkins I layered color on using an aquapainter, first with Marigold Morning, then Only Orange, Pumpkin Pie, and Ruby Red. I embossed the Trick or Treat sentiment in black EP, tied on some ribbon and added on a couple of little tags from my left overs pile. What I ended up with is not exactly what I had in mind, but I guess the journey is as important as the destination, right?! I had a good time!

Notes:
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Paper: Watercolor paper, K & Co DP, Basic Black (SU), scrap of dark purple
Inks: Lovely Lilac, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Marigold Morning, Only Orange, VersaMark
Accessories: black EP, ribbons, fibers, buttons


I hope you are having a wonderful All Saints' Day! Come back again!