Day 3 of 12 Days of Christmas on PCP

On the third day of Christmas (you're seeing a pattern here, aren't you?) my true love gave to me three French hens. Papercraft Planet's 12 Days Contests continue with today's project featuring a rooster, hen or owl. Don't have a rooster or hen, so here we go...
Base card is forest green DP. Wrapped the ribbon around Basic Grey Wassail DP and attached it to the base. Stamped the owl with Versamark then embossed with Red Dragon EP; it's a deep red with lots of gold glitter. Cut out and embossed the image and a mat with Lg and Sm Labels dies, inked around the owl using a cotton circle. Layered glittered Spellbinders and Cuttlebug snowflakes, topped with a rhinestone. The sentiment was cut and embossed with a Spellbinders Label Tag, then added some rhinestones on it for more bling.

Stamps: Inkadinkado Birds Galore, My Sentiments Exactly.
Paper: Basic Grey Wassail, The Paper Studio.
Ink: Versamark, Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders dies, ribbon, glitter, rhinestones, EP powder.

Stamp Simply #63 - Give Thanks

Sharon's Stamp Simply challenge this week is to create a thank you card. First off have to say a big CONGRATS to Sharon - five days ago her blog hit 1 MILLION hits! And it's already sky-rocketing to the next million. Sharon's blog is the first one I hit everyday. She has so many wonderful creations and tutorials. So THANK YOU Sharon for all your inspiration and tutorials! She is truly The Paper Queen. :)

I think I need more Kraft CS, I've been going through it like chocolate candy. I used it for the base of this card. Folded it in half and ran it through the CB with the largest Spellbinders Curved Rectangle overlapping the edge a bit so there would be a hinge. Inked the edges using a cotton circle. Used the next size smaller rectangle to cut the DP from Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste pad. I finally inked up my SU! Flores Suaves set (hi Michelle!); used the the script stamp with Chestnut Roan to stamp on the right side of the paper. The butterfly stamp "landed" with some StazOn on another piece from the Fleuriste pad, so I cut it out of there and attached it to the left side. I used JustRite stampers for the sentiment - Brayton for the block letters and Special Occasions font from another set. Set that up in the rectangular block and stamped it with Charcoal ink. Finally, added some Dew Drops (they've been calling to me from their drawer) using Diamond Glaze. I got some of this yesterday when I stumbled onto it at the scrapbook store; 35% off - Mine! Love this stuff, just have to make sure what you stick down is where you want it because there's no changing your mind once it's down. This stuff could glue a horse in place. No, I didn't try that, and it's not a suggestion. :) Won't say who this card is for, because we stalk each other on here and PCP. Hope she likes it!

Hopefully will have another post later today. Got a lot done this weekend (2 cards yesterday even-wink) with waiting to hear from Shelbie that she got back to Vermont yesterday. She flew out of Austin yesterday morning at 8, got to the campus at 3:30 our time, so it was a looooong day - up at 4:15 to head to Austin.

Stamps: Stampin Up! Flores Suaves, JustRite fonts.

Paper: Stampin Up! Kraft CS, Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste.

Ink: StazOn, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Spellbinders, JustRite stamper, Dew Drops, scissors.

SK112908 on PCP

Today's Papercraft Planet Saturday Sketch Challenge is another fun one. Background DP is from Memory Box Winterberry pad. I embossed acetate with the Winter House CB folder then cut it out with a circle Nestabilities. I put some Diamond Glaze around the edge and rolled it in chunky glitter, also glittered the snowy part in front of the houses. I attached that to the shimmery blue DP I cut with Labels One, attached that stack to the background. Used MS branch punch (have had it for weeks and ignored it, now can't get enough of it) on some scraps of vellum, inked and blotted them. The snowflakes are from my ever trusty CB die, covered with chunky glitter and a little rhinestone in the center and then attached on top of the branches. The sentiment is Stampin Up! Wonderful Words II. Looks like snow on the houses and smoke coming from the chimneys, but that is how the acetate embossed. Cool, huh? :)

Stamps: Stampin Up! Wonderful Words II.
Paper: Memory Box Winterberry, The Paper Studio CS, vellum.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Cuttlebug folder and die, Nestabilities, MS branch punch, rhinestone, glitter, Diamond Glaze.

Day 2 of 12 Days of Christmas on PCP

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me two turtle doves, or a turtle, or...a reptile (?) hee hee! Alrighty then, any of the above apply to this one on Papercraft Planet's 12 Days contests.
I chose this dove from Penny Black. Stamped it on Kraft CS with Versamark then embossed with copper EP and cut it out. The sentiment is done the same way, from Flourishes Peace set, then rounded the corners. For the background I picked this purdy plum colored paper from Hot Off the Press. I stamped the SU! French Flair background with a glue pad, then sprinkled MS Rose Quartz glitter across the glue and let it dry. Brushed it off and oh my is it pretty! I attached the dove and the sentiment up on dimensionals, then attached the little jewelry charm just beneath the sentiment.

Stamps: Penny Black dove, Flourishes Peace sentiment, SU! French Flair.
Paper: Hot Off the Press DP, Kraft CS.
Ink: Versamark.
Accessories: Copper EP, glue pad, glitter, charm, dimensionals.

Day 1 of 12 days of Christmas on PCP

I got home from spending Thanksgiving at my brother's and saw Papercraft Planet is doing some 12 Days of Christmas fun stuff. Today's card should have a bird, a tree, or both. I had this Inkadinkado bird already stamped with burnt copper and silver ink, and embossed with iridescent powder. It's pretty and sparkly, but that got blasted out with the flash. I cut it out with the Labels One, embossed and then chalked a bit aroud the border. Added a few tiny rhinestones to it. I wrapped the ribbon around the DP from Basic Grey Wassail pad and attached to kraft CS. Then attached the main image. Added some branches cut from MS punch after inking those with green, and a snowflake from CB die that I attacked with chunky glitter. The sentiment is from Flourishes Peace set, cut/embossed with Spellbinders Label, and attached with dimensionals.

Stamps: Inkadinkado Winter Birds, Flourishes Peace.
Paper: Basic Grey Wassail, The Paper Studio CS.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels One and Label, MS branch punch, CB snowflake die, iridescent embossing powder, dimensionals, ribbon, rhinestones.

Pop-up Gift Card - TLC196

I was browsing on Lynn's blog and saw this TLC challenge to make a pop up gift card and decided to play along. A few swishes with the paper cutter, swipes with the Scor-Pal, add some embellies and you have a great gift card holder! Kept this pretty simple but I like how it turned out. I used Cosmo Cricket paper. It's double-sided, so I just flipped it over and mounted the card to the other side for my base. Even I couldn't mess this up. :) Cut out the Kraft CS with circle Nesties, and scallop for the burgundy. Embossed the circles for the front. The burgundy flowers came in a little paint can from Michael's bridal department. Stacked two together, and if you close one eye and turn your head to the side they kinda look like poinsettias. Okay, maybe you have to have a lot of coffee to make that work also. (You tried it didn't you? hee hee!) Added another pseudo-poinsettia to the inside, Stickled the center of all three. I used this sentiment from Flourishes because this is for a Starbucks gift card. Will come up with something clever to write on the circle inside.

Stamps: Flourishes - Coffee With Friends.

Paper: Cosmo Cricket, The Paper Studio.

Ink: Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Flowers from Michael's, Nestabilities, Stickles.

Seeing Spots

Polka dots actually. That's the theme for this week's House Mouse Challenge. I had dotted paper laying out all over the place and finally decided on this one with the pastel dots and designed the rest of the card around that. Punched the border of the polka dots and attached it to the base. Ran the lavender CS through Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. The image was colored with my Prismacolors/baby oil for blending, cut out and embossed with oval Nestabilities, chalked while still in the die. Then cut pink mat and the tiny oval for the sentiment, which is from Verve. A really simple card, nice and flat for easy mailing.

Stamps: House Mouse "Sweet Kiss", Verve Artful Elegance.
Paper: The Paper Studio, My Mind's Eye.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders, MS border punch, chalks, Prismacolor pencils/baby oil.

Triple Delight

Got lots accomplished last night. Shelbie's plane was delayed out of Burlington, VT - twice; thought she would miss her connection at JFK but that one was delayed as well. So I worked on cards throughout the evening while continuing to check on her flight status. Finally her flight into Austin was due to arrive at 1:46 this morning instead of 11:30 last night. So left here at midnight with my niece and Shelbie's boyfriend (my son wanted to sleep) to pick her up at the Austin airport. Cheaper by hundreds, even with gas, to fly her into Austin rather than straight into San Antonio. Crazy. The three of us almost tackled her; I think we were all crying, and we sure were getting stared at. : )
So here is some of what I got accomplished last night. More still in stages all over my desk. :) For all three of these cards I used paper from Cosmo Cricket's Wonderland pack. Gorgeous stuff.

I love WOJ images; this one just arrived last week so inked her up for Heather's sketch for Whiff of Joy Challenge #9. I colored Lizzie with Prismacolor pencils and baby oil, inked around her a bit and added some corners behind her. Layered all the Cosmo Cricket papers and the ribbon onto green CS base. Used gold vellum for the snowflakes. Sentiment is from Verve.

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Lizzie With Muff, Verve Winter Wonder.
Paper: The Paper Studio CS and vellum, Cosmo Cricket.
Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Prismacolor pencils/baby oil, ribbon, Cuttlebug.

For Sharon's SSNOTIME62 challenge this week, got to do something I haven't tried yet, writing on ribbon. I had this pretty wide satin ribbon in my stash so ran it through my printer. It's a little fuzzy, but I'll take it because I wanted the sentiment vertical. Cosmo Cricut DP attached to manilla folder, both punched with MS border punch. Also stamped the Inkadinkado angel on a piece of manila folder with Versamark and embossed in gold EP. Cut out and embossed with the Curved Rectangle Nestie, inked the edges. Added some gold vellum CB snowflakes. Finally, added some rhinestones on the flakes and on the angel.

Stamps: Inkadinkado Christmas Silhouettes.
Paper: Manilla folder, Cosmo Cricket, vellum.
Ink: Versamark, Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Ribbon, computer, embossing powder, Cuttlebug, Spellbinders, MS border punch, rhinestones.

I have been wanting to use this owl image from Inkadinkado, and thought it was perfect for Papercraft Planet's Saturday Sketch Challenge. I flipped the sketch on its side. The DP is attached to a cream CS, then ribbon from Michael's over the seam. I stamped the owl with Versamark and embossed with copper EP. Cut out and embossed with the oval Nestie, then scalloped one. Inked around the image while still in the die. The sentiment and cute little snowflakes are from Verve. Attached image and sentiment on dimensionals.

Stamp: Inkadinkado Winter Birds, Verve Winter Wonder
Paper: The Paper Studio, Cosmo Cricket.
Ink: Versamark, Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Nestabilities, ribbon, embossing powder, dimensionals.

Award and Some Candy

Being a slave driver today, since I seem to have some more energy today...Doing house cleaning and dragging my son and niece down with me. :) My daughter comes in from college this evening and will be here for a week. CAN'T WAIT!! Have some things I meant to post a couple days ago, but the Post It note fell of my monitor and I forgot. Plus, I've slept since then and brain function sometimes seems to get wiped clean just by doing that. HAHAHA! Will hopefully get a card posted today.

Karen over at 6 Wacky Women left me this award a couple days ago. Thank you so much Karen! That's very sweet. I check out her (their) blog everyday; some gorgeous stuff there! We're supposed to pass it on to five people. This is the hard part.

Michelle
[another] Nancy
Laura

Claire

Donna

Finally, Debbie is giving away some great candy on her blog Passion for Crafts to celebrate 12K visits. Nice candy Debbie!

EDITED TO ADD: FOR ANYONE WANTING TO SEND CHRISTMAS CARDS TO RECOVERING SOLDIERS
I knew I was forgetting something. Must not have turned brain completely on this morning.
There was an e-mail circulating around with an address to send Christmas cards to recovering wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital. I wanted to make sure it wasn't a fake, so called, and sure enough the address is incorrect and the lady gave me the correct addie.

Holiday Mail for Heroes

P.O. Box 5456

Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Try to have all mail there by December 10. The cards will then be taken to Walter Reed Hospital and distributed. I think this is a very small thing we can do to let those soldiers know we appreciate what they have gone through.

House Mouse Christmas

This week's House Mouse Challenge theme is All About Christmas. Fun!
I love this image, the expressions on their faces are so cute. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and baby oil. Added Liquid Pearls to the "fuzzy" part of their hats, and Waterfall Stickles to the snow around them. Cut out the image and attached it to the acetate that I had run though the CB Snowflakes folder. The background DP is from the Memory Box Winterberry pad. I added some of the Waterfall Stickles to the hills on the DP for some more dimension. I then attached the acetate to the background DP and then the whole thing onto the red CS base card. IRL it looks dimensional, with the mousies in the foreground the snow-covered hills and trees in the background.

Stamps: House Mouse Leaf-ing The Tree Farm.
Paper: Memory Box, The paper Studio.
Ink: None.
Accessories: Prismacolor pencils/baby oil, Cuttlebug, acetate, Stickles, Liquid Pearls

Thanks Deb!

A couple of color combos that I really like are pink/brown and pink/gray. I needed a thank you card for Deborah who helped me get the 200 invitations (couple posts back) put together. I decided to use the SCS Sketch Challenge #203 to make this card. I haven't quite made friends with this one, and I think I've decided it's because the pink is too pink, but I seem to have run out of the paler shade. Anyhooo, the base CS looks like gray flannel, and I also used it for the center Nestie. I just love the new dies! I ran the pink through CB Argyle folder, hacked it up to make sure the diamonds were going in the same direction in the four pieces. Heavy silver CS for the rest of the squares. Sentiment is from a Clearly Wordworth set. Here is where the no love feelings started and this one almost got filed in the recycle bin, but it was late last night and I didn't feel like starting over so I kind of attacked it with different things before settling on these foil butterflies that I attached a tiny rhinestone to, the Dew Drops and that swirl from a Sizzix die that I had totally forgotten about. Still not what I think is my best work, but Deb says I'm a perfectionist (who me?) when it comes to my paper stuff, and I think she'll like this.

Stamps: Clearly Wordsworth
Paper: The Paper Studio, The Paper Company.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Spellbinders, Cuttlebug, strong will not to toss, Sizzix, Dew Drops, foil butterflies.

Papercraft Planet Sketch Challenge

I wanted to do this week's Papercraft Planet Sketch challenge, so made this card for my boyfriend's birthday which was yesterday. Didn't want to post it till today so he wouldn't see it here. : )
Mushy time. Have to say I feel I've found my soul mate in Chuck. Last year when I learned that my cancer had recurred he and I had only been dating about a month. I told him the news, gave him the opportunity to run without any guilt since we had been seeing each other such a short time. Without missing a beat, he said "you're not getting rid of me that easily". He has been such a source of strength and joy...laughed with me, cried with me, held me quietly when I didn't feel like talking. Added bonus, my kids are crazy about him too! Am I lucky, or what? : )
Okay, on to the card stuff now if you're still with me. Card base is from Stampin Up! Rich Regals (don't know the individual color names). The background DP is a pretty shimmery blue by Hot of the Press. I used a leftover scrap from a DCWV pack for the patterned DP strip, rounded a couple of corners, inked the edges. On top of that put the sentiment panel, which I printed from my computer, rounded some corners, inked edges, then used a cotton ball to smear some color across the white paper to tone it down. Cut the stars from heavy silver cardstock using a Cuttlebug die. The locket was cut from the same paper with a Spellbinders die, embossed and then inked while still in the die, then attached wtih dimensionals. The matching key is attached to the inside of the card, and the sentiment continued there says "That's how much I love you". Added glitter to the stars and stuck them down with my glue pen.

Stamps: None.
Paper: SU!, HOTP, DCWV.
Ink: Computer, Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders, glitter, computer, corner rounder.

SSNOTIME - Fun Folds!!

Sharon's challenge this week is to do a card with fun folds. Anything but the ordinary, everyday side or top opening. This one is a triangular trifold. Was super easy, which is what I needed after this week feeling pretty yuck. Chose lavender CS for my base. I have no idea who made the DP. I just looooove it and have been holding onto it because I can't remember where I got it and didn't want to use it all up. Finally broke into it. I used the new Labels Two die to cut the center piece. It is actually a paint chip from Lowe's, just the right size for this die. :) Has a bit of a metallic sheen. I didn't really feel like doing any stamping (I know...*~gasp!~*), so did some rummaging and came up with this metal medallion I got in the jewelry section at Hobby Lobby. Poifect. Added those antique brass photo anchors with matching brads, because I didn't have any ribbon that could do that focal piece justice. :)


Here it is open. It's a really simple design. Instructions can be found on Scor-Pal site.

Stamps: None
Paper: SU! cardstock, ?? DS, paint chip.
Ink: None.
Accessories: Scor-Pal, Nestabilities, jewelry finding, photo anchors, brads

Junky House Mouse, #13

Got an early start on this week's House Mouse Challenge. Use our junk...oh my, so many choices, so little time. I was sitting at my craft desk during lunch thinking of where to start with figuring out what junk to use. I have an essential oil burner on my work desk and the tea light burned out right as I turned, and a light bulb came on - I just have to spin around and I've changed desks. :) Remembered seeing this on SCS Resource page.
So here's my little "Oh Happy Day" mouse playing in a snow globe. I stamped him on a piece of recycled acetate packaging with black Stazon. I used a black Sharpie for the eyes and mouth, then the brown for some of his fur, but he looked like he had mange; too much missing. No other suitable colors in my Sharpie set, so put my thinking cap on. I have no idea how I thought of this, but for face, paws and tail, and to fill in the fur with brown, I ended up mixing clear finger nail polish with some of my Bare Escentuals eye shadows (they're powder). Painted that right on. Used white Stazon for the white snowflakes cut from my CB die. Popped the acetate into the glass ornament. Here comes the junk...my tea light container is the base. I glued it to the globe
after I had put some snow into it. I wrapped the base with this Joy ribbon I got from Michael's $1 bin, added some red rhinestone bling. The picture to the right is the tea light container; flimsy aluminum that was going to the recycle bin...but was saved by a mouse.

Stamps: House Mouse, homemade CB snowflake stamp.
Paper: None.
Ink: Stazon.
Accessories: Ornament globe, Cuttlebug, acetate, ribbon, rhinestones, snow, tea light "junk" container.

Blog Award

This was a very pleasant surprise! Barb gave me this very nice award. This was a real pick-me-up after I started a bit of a downward pitty spiral. Thanks Barb! She has been super busy with her images for Christmas cards. Now for the rest of the story:
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog. (Yay...will proudly display this!)
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to their blogs. (Click on name below for link)
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

My five picks are:
Jennifer
Karen
Judy
Cindy
Joanne

Squeaking in a House Mouse Challenge

Been so busy with the invitations but I wanted to squeeze in this week's House Mouse Challenge where we have a recipe to follow to include ribbon, two buttons, felt and a scalloped edge. Barely made it, but here's mine.
Colored the busy little critters with Prismacolor pencils and baby oil. Sentiment I made with a JustRite monogram stamper. Felt shirt, and the blue ribbon and scallop on the left. Be sure and check out all other great cards for this challenge!

Stamp: House Mouse.
Paper: The Paper Studio.
Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Ribbon, buttons, scallop punch, JustRite stamper, felt.

Some Cheese To Go With the Whine???

Boy have I had my days mixed up this week, kept thinking Tuesday was Monday, etc. Finally have it straight, I think. Hasn't been one of my better weeks. Was supposed to start 3rd round of chemo couple weeks ago but postposted when I lost my job. Well, not really...was just put on indefinite "I dunno how long" status. Didn't need the physical on top of emotional stress. Started another job this past Monday, so relaxed and started the chemo Tuesday. Bleh. Roller coaster of up and down emotions...don't want to do this, don't like this, my face is over the commode again, can I get through this, how much hair will I lose this time, why is the cat staring at me that way...

As far as paper goods this week, I've been working on 200 invitations for my son's JROTC Military Ball coming up in December. I had made them last year as well and must have done an okay job because they asked me to do it again. The Military Ball is like a prom for the JROTC cadets. They guys dress in their Class B uniforms, the girls in formals. There is a traditional Army Dining In ceremony, the grog bowl, then a dance. It's very nice. This will be my 5th year to chaperone. So here's the invitation. Burgundy CS (there is it again, see previous post), run through with CB D'Vine Swirls. Black Nestabilities oval stamped and gold embossed with numbers I cut from craft foam using CB dies and mounted to use as a stamp. Gold vellum for the theme cut with decorative scissors. My friend Deborah came over and helped me with these this week. She cut out some ovals, did some of the CB embossing, and cut the cord for the tassel and tied knots. Once we got all the pieces cut, embossed, etc., became more of an assembly line type process and went pretty quickly. The inside has the info printed on white opaque vellum, then tied with the cord. Pretty simple stuff...just a lot of it.

Stamps: Homemade numbers from CB die.
Paper: CS and vellum from The Paper Studio.
Ink: Laser printer.
Accessories: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, embossing powder, cording, decorative scissors.

Team Cookies & Cards...Away!

Kind of been a crazy week. Just now getting around to posting this.
For Team Cards & Cookies, our team captain Erika added a little spin to Operation Baking Gals. In addition to some baked goodies, we made 10 cards with envies to sent to a soldier overseas, who would then distribute all the baked goods and cards to everyone in his batallion. There were 21 on our team. Woo hoo!
I got my cards with envies made and packed up. For my card base I started with a burgundy CS. I then Cuttled white card stock in the Ornaments folder. Stamped the sentiment and cut it out with the Spellbinders ribbon tag, inked the edges. Cut some burgundy satin ribbon, threaded it through the tag. Then hit a wall. Maybe it was just me, but nothing I put on that background looked good. Lost count of how many times I stepped away from the cards, trying to get some ideas. Blank. Finally just started browsing the SCS Gallery for inspiration, came across this card and so finished mine with some casing. I had some pieces of left over vellum in a bunch of different colors, so cut out "ornaments" with a circle Nestabilities, ran it through the D'Vine Swirls CB folder. I drew the ornament "caps" freehand and cut those out; that was loads of fun. :) Had some very fine chain left over from a fashion doll makeover I did, so I used it for the hangers. Added a CB snowflake on top of the ribbon. Did that x10. Needed to keep the card relatively simple and flat so it would mail well. Guess that's where I kept running into trouble, wanted to add too much. I decided to make mini muffins from this recipe Tammy posted. It has been a great hit with my daughter and her roomie and the rest of her company at college. I send her a batch every week and her company commander comes down the hall of the dorm asking if she has anymore of the "Texas muffins", (even though they're Paula Dean's) so at least I know they're a hit. :)

Stamps: Flourished Christmas by Flourishes.
Paper: CS from Hobby Lobby, vellum from another life.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Nestabilities, Spellbinders Tags, ribbon, Cuttlebug folders and snowflake die, chain.