The Daily Dare

Monday evenings are LiveChat for the TreeHouse Team, and last night we had so much fun! As we all discussed our favorite tools and techniques for stamping, the topic of challenges came up. We all LOVE challenges, but keeping track of the various challenges in the infinite world of the internet can be a challenge in itself.

In the course of this discussion, a new blog was born! Several of us have joined forces to bring you The Daily Dare, a place to find information about the challenges that are offered each day of the week. Of course, the site is in its infancy right now and will take a while to get on its feet, but the idea was born and we're hoping it's gonna become a great resource!

Love is Blue!

I know...by using this title I'm dating myself! I couldn't resist though! Do you remember that song?

Today's TLC was to make a squash card. I have made these fun albums before, but never a card, so I really wanted to try it. So fun, fast, and very easy! I knew right away that I wanted to use my new Hero Arts set, Always Heart, from i {heart} papers.

I started with a piece of soft coral-colored cardstock, then stamped the swirly image on the front with Versamark and dabbed some Pearl-Ex on very gently with a cotton swab. I stamped half of the heart on each side of the fold, and then the final image for the inside on white card stock.


I wish you could see this card in person...it is very simple, but the iridescent shine of the Pearl-Ex makes it so soft and pretty. I tried to capture some of the blue hue on camera, but it doesn't quite do it justice. At a certain angle the Pearl-Ex takes on a beautiful blue, almost amethyst hue.

Relieved!

Christmas Day was my friend and i {heart} papers design team-mate Cathleen's birthday...in the flurry of all the Christmas card-making, I didn't get her birthday card out, so when this new set from i {heart} papers came on Christmas Eve along with a stash of other goodies, I knew what I wanted to ink up first. I just love this little beaver by OCL! He fit right in w/ her belated birthday card and Friday's challenge, so my first after-Christmas stamping session was to stamp this card.

It's funny how *coincidences* happen...Cathleen posted on ihp's PCP page that she was worried that her house might flood! With all the rain and snow, the creek behind her house was rising and predicted to go above flood stage! Her family had to seriously prepare for this, including stacking sandbags. OMGoodness! I'm thinking of how inappropriate this belated birthday card is...and does this mean I'm clairvoyant? ;)

Thankfully, today, Cathleen came back with good news! Our prayers were answered...the flood did not come into their house! Whew! Maybe I'll get to send this card after all!

i {heart} papers sale...and some news!

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas Day! We had a relaxing quiet day after a very late Christmas Eve...it was about 1:30 when we finally got to sleep after two lovely candlelight services. My sweet young friend Jordan sang fabulously for both and I was SO proud of her! Christmas morning Patrick and I got up at around 6 a.m. to finish helping Santa, and the rest of the day was a leisurely celebration connecting with family and friends. By 10:30 I could barely keep my eyes open.

Today is traditionally a great sales day if you're brave enough to venture out shopping, but I have an even better option for all my scrapping/stamping friends. Visit i {heart} papers for 15% off today's purchase. Kate has been busy adding great new stuff practically every day, so there is a lot to choose from!

The i {heart} papers Design Team is very excited to welcome Dee Jackson as our newest designer. Dee is a fabulous stamper, and I feel like I already know her because she is a long-time friend of my wonderful friend Pinky. Please join me in welcoming Dee by visiting her blog and leaving her a message!

Have a Very Merry Christmas!

My Treehouse Stamps design team mate and newly found friend Michelle got her gift from me, her Secret Santa, just in time for Christmas, so now I can share it with you! I wanted it to be something that was appropriate for the holidays that she would also be able to leave out beyond Christmas if she liked. I found this beautiful designer paper in soft, muted colors, so I covered a little chipwood box with it and topped it with this adorable pair of owls from Treehouse's Owlentine. I watercolored the image, embossed it with a mixture of clear EP and Iridescent Ice, embellished it with punched ferns and primas, and then tucked some delicious Peterbrooke chocolates inside. The matching 3 x 3 card also uses a new TreeHouse stamp, Live Life Passionately... and my new nesties label die.

To complete Michelle's gift, I enclosed some of my favorite designer paper, brads, and fibers...Basic Grey is one of my very favorite brands of stamping and scrapping supplies. I can't wait to see what she makes with these new goodies!

While Thanksgiving is a very long, drawn-out day (actually, several days) in the kitchen, Christmas Day is much more relaxed. We open presents in the morning, then enjoy a late breakfast. For dinner Patrick cooks a delicious standing rib pork roast stuffed with mushroom sauce. I am usually in charge of dessert (traditionally a cheesecake that takes 40 oz of cream cheese to bake!). We just relax and enjoy being together.

Christmas in the Felts household only begins on Christmas Day! We celebrate the 12 days of Christmas from Christmas Day through Epiphany...I'll be sharing more of that with you as the days go by.

I am looking forward to this week in between Christmas and New Year's Day. Life moves at a much slower pace, a welcome respite after the frenzy of all the holiday preparations. I am hoping that I'll get to play with some of the new rubber that arrived here on Christmas Eve! There are several design team projects I plan to work on. I've missed the challenges lately also, and would love to go back and make up a few!

Merry Christmas! I hope you're enjoying the traditions and heritage of your family and friends on this most blessed day! Peace be yours!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Are you ready? I am pulling my typical up until the last minute crafting frenzy...I just love this time of year and work up until and through not only Christmas but Little Christmas because I just can't stand for it to be over so quickly. I've spent this week making gifts, addressing and mailing cards. I'm wondering whether my little Secret Santa gift made it to its destination yet!

Here are the little nugget boxes I made yesterday and today. I'm giving these to our choir between our 5:30 and 11:30 services tonight. Just a little something to say thank you and show my appreciation for all of their hard work.

May your Christmas celebrations be filled with the wonder and awe of Emmanuel, God with us! Blessings through this holiday season! Let Christmas remain in your heart all the year through!

Blog Candy Alert!

I hate to admit that I procrastinated about getting started early enough with Christmas because I just wasn't *in the mood* and I'm determined not to do that with my Valentine cards (thankfully there aren't as many!)...here's a chance for you to get a head start on yours too! Go check out Carolyn's blog candy for some gorgeous i {heart} papers Valentine goodies!

Whew! I Survived the Post Office!

It was certainly an adventure at the Post Office earlier today...I am grateful that I was able to ship my box with the assurance that it would arrive before Christmas morning. Thank God for the machine that lets you weigh and pay on your own! Otherwise, it probably would have been late...I arrived about 5 minutes after the clerks' stations closed.

I stamped this sympathy card this afternoon...my SIL's father passed away last weekend, and I wanted to make something for her that would let her know she is on my heart and in my prayers. My new Basic Grey Archaic pack had this *menswear* plaid, so I distress inked it, stitched a double row of straight stitching along the edge of the paper, and added some buttons from Patrick's worn out linen shirt that I had already cut apart (previous post!). Sympathy cards are quite a challenge for me, so I'm relieved to have this one finished. I still need to make her a birthday card...hers is two days after Christmas. I'm sure it will be a bittersweet day after her recent loss, but it is still definitely something to celebrate.

I am still hoping to make several gift card holders, hopefully that will fit with today's challenge and/or the new Holiday Extravaganza challenges. Lots of fun stuff going on to relieve that holiday stress!

Happy Birthday Jerry!

Christmas is nearly upon us, and while I've been busy stamping lots of Christmas cards and gifts, I've also been making birthday cards! Five of my friends/relatives have birthdays right around Christmas.

My friend and now dirty girl, DawnL, sent this gorgeous Thomas Kincaid image to me when I oohed and aaahed over it on one of her cards. It is just perfect for my brother for his birthday on Monday...he is a wildlife and fisheries guy who loves to hunt and fish. He is a no-fuss, no-frills fella, so I kept this card completely simple, just layering this gorgeous image on barely blush, close to cocoa, and almost amethyst cardstock atop a ruby red card base. A little distress ink gave it a really rustic feel, just perfect for Jerry.

I also finished up a box that I made for a friend of mine...I am going to go load it up with something yummy and send it on its way. I'll show it to you once it has reached its destination. She might be peeking, so I gotta keep it secret! ;)

More...with measurements

Yesterday's post featured a single of the project that I finished working on today...here are 20 (minus one already gifted) of the little emery board sleeves that I made for my Bible study ladies. My prayer is that these will be something they'll come across often that will let them know how much I appreciate them. I love them all so much and they play such an important role in my life. They encourage me and hold me accountable in my Christian walk, and they're also just plain fun to be with!

Here are the measurements, if you'd like to make one of these yourself:

• pink cardstock, 3" x 7.5", scored parallel to the long edge at 1, 1.25, 2.25 and 2.5 inches
  
• 2 pieces of patterned paper, 7/8" x 7.25", only one of which is notched at one end with the 3/4" circle punch
• scraps of coordinating patterned paper to layer for a belly band (mine were approximately 1" x 3" and 1.25" x 3")

Fold the scored lines using a bone folder. Next, put some mono multi glue along the inside of the length of the narrow edge...the longer piece will butt inside all the way to the corner and help keep the box square with this shorter piece glued to the top on the outside. Glue the decorative pieces of paper on top, then glue the bottom shut and crimp just a couple of clicks. Wrap the belly band around, gluing the edges together. Tie with ribbon.

Pink Paisley

Just a really quick post to show you what I've been working on today...I came across some pink emery boards at the $1 store and thought that they'd make a nice little thinking of you gift for my Bible study ladies (I hope they aren't peeking!). I bought 20 of them, and came up with this little sleeve to slide them in so they look pretty and won't scratch the other things in your purse. Michael's had this paper on sale...hopefully it will pass for a holiday print that will also gracefully transition to every-day as the year progresses.

I am still working on finishing up my holiday cards and gifts...I usually end up working on them right up until the last minute. I especially love crafting during this time of year! I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Hoppy Breezy Kisses!

I had a piece of DCWV Old World paper sitting on my desk when I pulled out today's colors (Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, and Not Quite Navy), so I just went with the flow and made this Treehouse Stamps Hoppy Kisses card using PCP's sketch from this weekend. I colored the frogs using prisma color pencils and baby oil....they came out a little brighter than I would have liked, so I sponged them with Tim Holtz Distress Ink and sprayed them with Glimmer Mist to try to tone them down a little. They still are a bit brighter than I'd like but it's liveable! It is actually kinda pretty IRL if frogs can be called pretty (yes, Sharon, you said it!)...it is quite shimmery, and for some reason cards like this with lots of color/texture are very difficult to get a good picture of. They always end up looking very grainy and strange.

Wait until you see all the fun going on at Tree House! I am in the process of putting together my order of goodies from all the fabulous new stuff and I'm having a *time* deciding! New stamp sets, including Lelo, RAM, and Sarah Kay, along with copics, kits of paper/ribbon/glitter, and more!

Earlier this morning I stamped a card for my friends Brad and Ellen...they had to put their dog Pooch down, and I have had them on my heart ever since. I just wanted a simple card that would let them know that I'm thinking of them...I thought this Inkadinkado pooch would maybe give them a smile. I'm hoping the charm looks sorta like a *dogtag*. I LOVE these Basic Grey Archaic papers. Pooch was stamped three times so that his face could be cut out and popped up for dimension, and his ear popped up on top of that. I like the rustic colors and the no-frills design and hope that they will too.

Matthew spent his afternoon up at the highschool auditioning for a part in Seussical the Musical! We homeschool, so getting to participate in this production is a big deal! For his audition, he sang the Cowardly Lion's song, If I Were King, from the Wizard of Oz. He was called back to read for 4 or 5 parts...and thinks he did well, although we won't know anything until Thursday or Friday, so please wish him luck!

Tracy's Challenge

My design team mate, Tracy, has issued our first i {heart} papers DT challenge, to make a Christmas thank you card. I had so much fun playing around with this!

This MME paper is so yummy! (I first saw it at LSS before being invited to join Kate's team, and just *HAD* to have some!) I love the surprise of the non-traditional colors, how soft and yet bright and cheerful they are. I decided to try to fashion a tiered paper tree...so I cut 1, 1 1/2, 2, and 3 inch squares of river rock cardstock, then tore the edges in an arc from corner to corner, inked and ruffled them up and gave them some bling ornaments. (If I had had any liquid applique I would have added some snow!) The pink background is stamped with pirouette snowflakes from the SEI Alpine set, and the sentiment is actually from Stampendous' Changito the Monkey! I added a MS Stewart snowflake with a pretty jeweled center, and tied a bow with some luscious two-toned satin ribbon (which matches perfectly...sometimes colors freak my camera out!)

Such a fun challenge! I'm looking forward to finding out what' s next!

Suzy's Happy Haul-a-Days Giveaway

Just wanted to give all of my loyal followers a head's up on some amazing blog candy! Head over to Suzy Haghighi's blog. She's one of my fellow Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps design team mates beginning January 2009...her credentials list is LONG, and the companies she designs for have pooled some terrific products to make one giant prize for one lucky winner. Good luck!

Trees and More Trees!

We went to the Home for the Holidays concert by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra last night, and when we got home I was tired but wired...I was actually up late enough to see the Inspiration Challenge posted before going to sleep. Immediately when I saw this image, (and since I don't have these cute Unity trees) I thought of stamped thumbprints, so this morning when I got up I had to try it, and this is what I ended up with.


Over on the Sweet 'n Sassy blog, there is a challenge posted by the DT every Monday. This week's was to make a card using Christmas print designer paper, and I had this MME paper just begging to be used. The only Christmas SNSS images I have that are Chris' Snowflakes, so I decided to paper piece a tree and use the smallest snowflake of the set to spruce it up (hehehe...Matthew hates puns like this so I have to use 'em just to tease him!). I sponged, stamped, and embellished with some silver cord, buttons tied with linen thread, a punched/stickled star, and a spiral clip of fabulous fibers...I really love the colors of this card and am quite happy with the way it turned out.

I am spending today stamping and trying to get caught up with some other Christmas projects! Hope you're having a relaxing weekend too!

I recycled Ralph Lauren!

To my husband's dismay, I am always saving things that I think might become *useful.* Several months ago he decided to throw away a well-worn designer shirt, and I just couldn't stand the thought of getting rid of it! It seemed to me that there had to be some perfectly good use for this worn out shirt, so I quickly (when he wasn't looking, or it would have been an argument *wink*) threw it into the corner of my craft closet.

When Dawn issued her challenge to reuse or recycle something in today's limited supplies card, I knew right where to look! Just a snip and a rip and it was ready to go! I also clipped the buttons off, but they were too pale for this rich plaid paper so they'll have to wait their turn! These Moxxie burgundy buttons are from one of my favorite LSS, Scrap n Stuff.


This Studio G $1 stamp is one of the treasures from my shopping trip to Michael's yesterday! The paper is left over from two Christmases ago. I straight-stitched and zig-zagged, tied on some raffia, and I think I'm finished! I kept trying to add more but it just didn't seem to fit, so I quit!

Here's a close-up of the raggedy edges and machine stitching. This one will cost way more to mail than it was to make! ;)

Happy Stamping!

Bare Bear Hi?!

This card, for today's Ways to Use It Challenge (half-baked...to find ways to use half an image or embellishment) was definitely half-baked! I had a very vague idea of what I wanted to try, but no real vision of where I was going. Not too sure about where I ended up either, but it is a finished card that maybe someone will appreciate! It would work as a kiddie card!

Both images are Stampin' Up sets (Season of Friendship, Under the Stars) and the alphabet is from Stampabilities. I used prismas and baby oil to color the bear. The tree was stamped twice so that it could be layered and then sprinkled with blossoms. Some close to cocoa dotted Swiss and dotted ribbon were finished off with some bling, stickles, and some punched circle balloons with scraps for tails tied with cord.

Some days you just never know!...

Thanks a bunch more!

Today I have two changito cards to share with you using the same fun designer papers and stamps from i {heart} papers. Both cards were made for SCS sketch challenges from last week and today...with all the Papercraft Planet Christmas challenges, last week's sketch card never made it onto my blog, although you may have seen it in my gallery.


Matthew thinks that my love of these word/image puns is so corny, but to me they're just too cute! I think Stampendous' Changito the Monkey is so adorable! I used MME's Hello Baby, This is Me, Totally Dotty, along with SU's Sage Shadow and Chocolate Chip cardstock. I also used some red and brown cardstock from a very old paper pack for today's card. It would be fun to make another card or two along with a box for them...wouldn't that be a cute gift set?!

I have been stamping more consistently lately, but I *still* have not finished all my Christmas cards! Eeeek! I am hoping to have some stamping time over the next several days to do some stamp-a-stack style card-making and get them ready to be mailed! I have some gifts that need to be ready for next Tuesday and Wednesday also, so it oughta be a marathon stamp weekend! I'm looking forward to it!

Thanks so much for coming to visit my blog! From here you need to head to Amber's! She has some super blingie blog candy up for grabs until Monday!

A Baker's Dozen!

Today is the last of PCP's 12 Days of Christmas challenges. I really hate to see them come to a close. I have enjoyed them so much and they have added some fun cards to my Christmas and every-day card stashes. I was very happy to be able to combine today's PCP challenge with SCS's Color Challenge for this card.

Season of Friendship is probably my favorite set from this year's holiday mini. It's so versatile! Today I sponged in some clouds using a mask, then stamped the tree in chocolate chip and added some taken with teal snowflakes. PCP's challenge called for 12 embellishments, but there's an extra snowflake here! I stamped the bird in real red, cut it out, and tucked him in the bare branches. The sentiment was stamped in two colors using markers directly to the stamp, and the card was finished off with some punched snowflakes, pretty ribbon, and lots of bling and stickles. A simple design, but I really like how it turned out!

I'm off to the first Christmas party of the season! Blessings!

Harmony!

I have been having so much fun with the PCP 12 Days of Christmas challenges, and I think, so far, this is probably my favorite of all the cards that I've made for them. Y'all know how much I love music! Today's card is very simple, but all the iridescent papers and gold/bronze inks make it elegant, and I just adore how lovely the image is in the first place. I wish I could have captured the shimmer in the photo...maybe I'll try again later in the day to see if I can get a better shot.

I colored Stampendous' Harmony Angel stamp with a combination of prismas with baby oil, gold and bronze gel pens, and markers. This Basic Grey Wassail paper from i {heart} papers is so beautiful, but it was a challenge to color-match! I think that this mix of colors worked out in the end! The sketch is Mojo #64. The muted colors of the paper, the simplicity of the design and the elegance of the shimmery embellishments make this a very serene and peaceful card. I hope you like it!

SNSS Challenge

Over at the Sweet 'n Sassy Blog there was a challenge last Monday to make a cute little tissue holder...I wanted to get mine made and uploaded before the new challenge appears in the morning!

I used a bird from Feathered Friends, colored with Prismas and baby oil, along with some Martha Stewart snowflake punches, SU's photo corner punch, buttons from my button jar, and a Nesties label for the sentiment. The colors (Wild Wasabi and Real Red) were inspired by the tissue package inside, a special holiday edition that I bought at Hallmark printed with green and red snowflakes. Even though it is very simple, I'm pleased with the way it turned out, and plan to give it to a friend who is forever in search of tissues!

Day 10 at PCP

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is sponsoring today's 12 Days of Christmas challenge over at Paper Craft Planet. The theme is 10 Lords a Leaping, and we were challenged to use a boy stamp on our cards. This fun fella is the scientist from Korin's set, You're a Genius. I stamped him in Palette Noir ink, then colored him with prisma pencils and baby oil. I wanted him to be neon bright and wacky fun! Most of what I used is from deep in the dark recesses of my stash...I have had those dingbrads for over a year! Do you do that? Buy something you just *HAVE* to have and then hoard it forever!?

I am delighted to tell you that I have been given another award! My friend and fellow challenge stalker, Jackie, has blessed me with the Kreativ Blogger Award! I hope, Jackie, that you and Riley (see yesterday's post) understand how honored I am to be given awards by stampers whose work I love and admire and whose friendships I treasure!

I will have the pleasure of nominating 5 of my friends for this award, but right now I am dashing off to take Matthew to meet the church youth for a benefit concert. Please whisper a prayer for a young man named Jacob who was injured in a freak accident several weeks ago. He is a foster child with no medical insurance, and suffered a cervical fracture...he currently has no motion in his lower extremities and also has limited sensation. He needs a miracle...

Nine Ladies Dancing!

Today's card is for PCP's 12 Days of Christmas challenge...I've had this idea in my head all week, and was surprised to see that it sorta fits today's SCS Inspiration Challenge too. I have other girl stamps that I could have used, but really wanted to have the chance to use this particular image again...it is one of my favorite Halloween stamps and I thought it would be fun to use it for something other than Halloween. I stamped it on shrink plastic, colored it with markers and a white gel pen, then hit it with the heat gun. No matter how old you get, shrink plastic is still fascinating to watch!

I am so excited to tell you that I have received an award! My friend Riley gave me this beautiful Butterfly Award! I am thrilled that she would think my blog is a cool blog, because I think hers is wonderful!

I, in turn, have the privilege of passing the award on to the creators of 10 more cool blogs...most of these bloggers are friends and fellow challenge s/talkers. Some are new friends that I've met in the short time since I've started blogging. The list is in reverse alphabetical order because Wendy just *had* to be first...she's all about butterflies!

• Wendy
• Vicki
• Silvia
• Shelly
• Lorraine
• Juliana
• Judy
• Jami
• Debi
• Angel

Have fun visiting all these fabulous stampers' websites! Thanks for visiting mine!

SNOW! Just kidding!

My friend Wendy and her daughter Amelia hosted today's SCS Limited Supplies Challenge, which was to make something monochromatic using snowflakes...we could use only snowflake patterned paper, snowflake stamps, and a one word sentiment.

Remember way back, when we did these medallions and I was making cards w/ this old patterned paper? Well, that's how long this project has been sitting at the edge of my desk! I started it and got stumped, set it aside and didn't touch it until this morning. Today's challenge simply demanded that it be completed.

I glued a scrap of patterned paper onto a Basic Grey chipboard tag and penned a little dot-dash pattern along the edge with a white pen. Made a huge mess spreading mono multi glue onto some RAK gift white chipboard letters and sparkling them up with dazzling diamonds glitter. I punched a few vellum snowflakes with a Martha Stewart snowflake punch, then added glittery snowflake brads and clear rhinestones to their centers. For the hanger I tied a bow and attached my already made triangle medallion to it with another snowflake brad, and voila! I still have to do something (paper, paint, etc) to cover the chipboard back, but I do think I like it! So glad it finally came together!

My fellow design team mate Lori is hosting today's PCP challenge, which is to use maids a'milking cows for the 8th Day of Christmas...go take a peek! I'm headed back to the stamp room!

O Christmas Tree!

I've been MIA from the card-making world today as we decorated our tree and finished preparing our house for the highschooling homeschoolers' party tonight. We are having about 15 kids over to watch A Christmas Story (we even went and bought a leg lamp ornament!) and exchange gifts. Should be a really fun night!

I'm hoping to stamp most of the coming weekend! Hopefully I'll have something nice to share tomorrow!

On the 6th day of Christmas...

I don't have any geese stamps except for a small one that says *from the kitchen of...* that I didn't want to use for this card! I have to laugh, because when we (the DTs of the companies sponsoring prizes at PCP) were told in advance what these challenges would be, I had prepared a *defense* about my choice of stamps for this challenge. We were to make a card regarding geese, hunting, wildlife, etc., so I decided that my strategy would be to point out the fact that owls are great hunters, and that this particular romantic guy had searched high and low to find his one true love! ;) I thought I was gonna have to work hard to sell my logic.

As it turns out, they posted this challenge differently than they did the original call...they challenged us to use birds, so I don't have to try to convince you that this works after all!

These adorable lovebirds are from a new set, Owlentine, recently released at Tree House Stamps. I used Ashley's recent sketch with some left-over designer paper for my layout, and watercolored the owls...don't you love their blingy eyes and her blue eyeshadow?!

Thanks for visiting! Tomorrow the swans'll be swimming.....

Five Golden Rings!

Paper Craft Planet's daily challenge has me singing this song on a daily basis too! ;) Today's theme was to create a card that has circles or rings. I still have lots of this Basic Grey Wassail...even the striped print has circles in it, so I decided to start with that and make another of Becca's circle medallions to go with it. I put a little bling in the center of the snowflake and in the dots of the vertical stripe to give it a little sparkle. I distress inked the edges of the Mellow Moss medallion in hopes that it would better harmonize with the distressed background...I usually LOVE that look but this time it made the color appear to be Old Olive, and I'm not too thrilled about that but it's too late now! A bow tied with my favorite faux suede ribbon made me feel a little better about it!

If you haven't been playing along, today would be a GREAT day to start! Today's PCP challenge is being sponsored by i {heart} papers, and Kate is giving away some Nesties to today's winner! So go get busy!

Notes:
Stamps: SEI Alpine Frost
Paper: SU! Mellow Moss, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Basic Grey Wassail DP
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks
Accessories: Mellow Moss marker, May Arts faux suede ribbon, corner punch, bling

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!

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!

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!

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 .

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!

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!

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!

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!