Saturday, November 30, 2013

Noel


I'm sure many of you put a huge dent in your Christmas shopping this long Black Friday weekend...since tomorrow is December 1st, the Christmas countdown will officially begin!  With Thanksgiving behind us I'm ready to embrace the season.

This card celebrates lots of lovely ways to say Merry Christmas!

Notes:
Wplus9 Pretty Poinsettia and coordinating dies
Authentique "Joyous" designer paper
Authentique "Irresistible" designer paper
Memento Pistachio and Lady Bug inks
Wplus9 Timeless Tags 2 dies
hemp twine

Warm Cider Spices


I've had these cute little paper mache` bags in my craft stash for a while.  They're only about 4 inches tall...in the photo they look much larger than they actually are.  They're perfect for a little bag of potpourri or mulling spices.  Since it's been a little cool here for the last few days, I have been craving some warm spiced cider, so now I'm all set!

Notes:
Wplus9 Pretty Patches: Apple stamp set and coordinating die
Wplus9 Heartfelt Holiday stamp set
Wplus9 Timeless Tags 2 dies
Memento Pistachio and Lady Bug inks
Authentique "Joyous" designer paper
Tim Holtz distress ink
Maya Road ivory crochet trim
silk ribbon
hemp twine
2 mm dimensional adhesive squares
1/4 inch scor tape

Friday, November 29, 2013

Warm Winter Wishes!


Hello again!  I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Ours was great!  We had a surprise dinner guest! My friend, Deleene, and her husband David moved up to Pax River, Maryland for his 3 year twilight tour, while their son remained here in Florida in college at USF near Tampa.  He was planning to stay in his shared apartment for Thanksgiving since he'll be visiting his parents in a few weeks for Christmas holiday, but with all his roommates gone, decided at the last minute to make a Thanksgiving weekend trip up to Jacksonville.  Since it was my first time cooking gluten-free turkey dinner, I was a little apprehensive about how it would all turn out.  To my relief, everything tasted great, although it took a little longer than I expected!  In years past I kinda had a rhythm to shuffling it all in and out of the oven and timing it to all ready at once...new recipes changed the order of things, but hopefully with practice the gluten-free version will flow smoothly too!  This is the one day of the year I really wish I had two ovens!

Yesterday and today have been a bit chilly, even in Florida, so that made it a little easier to get into the mood to stamp a snowman for today's "Let it Snow" Friday Free 4 All challenge, hosted by my friend, Wendy.  I used the rock-n-roll technique on a stamp from Wplus9, and scribbled on some eyes and a nose with a multiline and a Spectrum Noir marker.  Couldn't help but think when I was done that the medallion would make a fun package decoration!

Notes:
Wplus9 Heartfelt Holiday stamp set
Wplus9 Lacey Layers stamp and coordinating dies
Memento Gray Flannel, Cocoa, Nautical Blue and Lady Bug inks
Authentique "Joyous" designer paper
Tim Holtz distress ink
Spectrum Noir alcohol marker for nose
Copic multiliner for eyes
faux suede ribbon
hemp twine
heart-shaped button from stash
dimensional adhesive

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!  Don't forget, there's still time to shop Kate's i {heart} papers Black Friday weekend sale!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Get Ready for ihp's Black Friday Sale!


There are so many special people for whom I am thankful!  All month long I have been meditating on my blessings, and a handmade card is certainly one way to express that gratitude, especially when it is one with a fancy fold that is much more special than a store-bought card.  I followed Beate's tutorial to make this vertical diamond fold.  Here's what it looks like opened:


Cards like this are so fun to make, especially with designer paper packs that make the mix-and-match of coordinating prints such a breeze.  Although many of you are already in the throes of winter storms, here in Florida the leaves are still changing, so this color combo caught my eye.  I suppose our late change of season is one reason that I have such a hard time getting into Christmas card crafting before Thanksgiving.  I really dislike "fast-forwarding" through the holidays!  I love that the sentiment in this set is one that is useful year round!

Of course, the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year.  I am definitely NOT a Black Friday kind of gal...I'd MUCH rather sit in my pi's and shop from the comfort of my cushy chair via my keyboard!

IHP is celebrating Black Friday and Cyber Monday with a 20% off store-wide coupon (in stock items only and not valid on gift certificates) on all orders $50 or more, valid NOW through 12/2, Cyber Monday. Use coupon code Black20DT13 at checkout. All orders will ship on Tuesday December 3. Enjoy!

Notes:
Lawn Fawn "So Thankful" stamp set
Authentique "Strong" designer paper
Memento Peanut Brittle ink from the Snowcones Assortment
Tim Holtz distress ink
Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three die
want2scrap coordinating bling
alcohol markers (to tint bling to match)
Kaisercraft pearls
1 inch gold satin/grosgrain ribbon
wool felt for hand-rolled flowers
white ink to highlight edges of flower petals
dimensional adhesive
glue dots
Scor-Pal