Christmas COTW #5

Wow, at some point Wednesday night my blog counter hit 10K. Not a big number, I know, but when I started this blog in August, I thought I would be spending most of my time talking to myself and did not imagine that many hits 5 months later. A big thank you for visiting, and know that your comments are always greatly appreciated! I had originally planned to give away some blog candy for 10K hits, but a much better cause came up sooner, and that was Pat Adam's Cards for Kids. She has received almost 3500 cards to date (way to go cardmakers!) and that number keeps growing. Details and my blog candy can be found here. It goes till Feb. 7, so jump in the pool!

Okay, back to talking to myself. : ) Here is my Christmas card of the week, #5. This Whiff of Joy image is called Melinda Christmas Angel. Colored her with Primacolors/baby oil. Added Twinkling H20's to the "fur" trim and the sash, Stickles on the berries and her wings. I cut her out and mounted her on three layers of Curved Rectangles Nesties. I stamped silver snowflakes on the two solid colored cuts. Sentiment was stamped in three different colors to give it dimensions; looks good IRL. Tiny pearls added that final needed touch.

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Melinda Christmas Angel; Verve Winter Wonder; SU! Warm Words.

Paper: The Paper Studio, My Mind's Eye.

Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Nestabilities, Stickles, Twinkling H2O's, pearls.

A Piercing House Mouse Challenge

I did two cards for this challenge. When I first read this week's House Mouse Challenge to use paper piercing, my brain didn't register the "r", so I started off in a paper piecing direction. Then re-read it and here's where I ended up. I followed this week's Mojo Monday 71 sketch. Colored the image with Prismacolor pencils/baby oil, cut margins close and inked the edges. Used Memory Box Provence DP on gray base, inked all edges. Stamped the zipper from Crafty Secrets on the same gray CS and attached it in placed of the ribbon in the sketch. Sentiment is also from Crafty Secrets, cut and embossed with Labels One Nestabilities. Did the piercing around the inner border of the die. Inked the edges and attached it up on foam tape. Deviated from the sketch an itty bit by hiding a piercing boo-boo with the Dew Drops in the lower corner. : )

Stamps: House Mouse Perfect Fit, Crafty Secrets Sew Special.
Paper: The Paper Studio, Memory Box Provence, paint chip.
Ink: Colorbox Queues, Stazon.
Accessories: Dew Drops, Nestabilities, foam tape.

This card is for this weekend. How many of you ladies will be seeing your guys with this glazed-over stare this Sunday? Lots of hands. How many of you ladies will be wearing this same expression? hee hee!! We're going to a Super Bowl party, and I made this to give to the hosts. Obviously I'm rooting for the Steelers. Hey, Cowboys didn't make it (by a long shot), so... : ) Before Chuck I never watched football regularly; now I watch it more but it's more for entertainment of seeing and hearing Chuck yell at the players and coaches. Have caught myself a few times yelling "gooooooooo" or "get him!" Got this stamp on E-Bay; it's from 1998 when Stampa Rosa was making these mousey images. The rubber was a bit hard so I had a hard time getting a good image stamped, but did the best I could. Colored with Prismacolor pencils/baby oil. Tried my best to match the black and gold Steelers colors. Used MS punch on the border of the gold CS before attaching to the base. Image attached on top, edges inked. Sentiment was cut out with Spellbinders Tag, paper pierced inside the die. Attached it on foam tape, and added the gold rhinestones.

Stamps: Monday Night Football, sentiment unknown.

Paper: The Paper Studio.

Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: MS border punch, Spellbinders tag, rhinestones, foam tape.

Whiff of Joy #15

This week's Whiff of Joy challenge featured another great sketch by Katharina. Willow was colored with my Prismacolor pencils blended with baby oil. Waterfall Stickles were added to the rain. None of my circle Nesties were large enough to fit her in, so I used the largest and traced around here, cut out freehand, and scalloped Nestie used for mat. Martha Stewart scallop punch was used on the border, attached to My Mind's Eye DP and all attached to pale yellow base after edges were inked. Cuttlebug tag was cut and threaded on lower ribbon. Sentiment from Verve. We're so dry here - drought conditions and 2nd stage of water rationing - rain would be like liquid sunshine at this point. :) Felt like it needed some balance, so added the paisleys cut from a Cuttlebug die.

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Willow With Umbrella, Verve Artful Elegance.

Paper: The Paper Studio, My Mind's Eye.

Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Nestabilities, MS scallop punch, ribbon, Stickles, Cuttlebug, rhinestones.

Tuesday Stash Challenge #3

Several weeks ago Laura Fredrickson threw out a challenge to e-mail her with any stash stuff we might have that could be used in a challenge with her. Imagine my surprise and jaw-dropping delight (grin) when she e-mailed me about my challenge to use outline stickers. I have lots of these. Lots. So does Laura. : ) In fact, after this I sweetened the pot and added five sheets of the outline stickers (brand new, still in package) to my Cards 4 Kids blog candy.

I made these three cards, but for some reason only hit the gold ones, didn't use any of my silver ones. I have to say this first one is my favorite. This gold outline sticker is from a sheet called "Vintage", attached to the front of a piece of vellum. I colored her from the back with Prismacolor pencils/baby oil, then cut a piece of white cardstock to attach behind her so the background would not show through. Attached the vellum to the Anna Griffin DP; also cut out a matching section and attached it on foam tape in the lower left corner, stuck a little flower outline below it. The chandelier is from a new set that I just got from Firecracker Designs. Colored it with Prismas, cut it out, added yellow Stickles to the candles, and Tiara stickles to the "crystals"; attached directly to the vellum. Sentiment is from Stampin Up! stamped directly onto the vellum.

Stamps: Parisian Romance by Firecracker Designs; Stampin Up! Rosevine Wreath.

Paper: The Paper Studio vellum and CS, Anna Griffin DP.

Ink: Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Stickles, foam tape, outline stickers.

This card was very simple. Red CS base, with Basic Gray Bittersweet attached after using MS Lattice punch on edges. Attached the gold outline heart and Love to a decorative piece salvaged from a gift box, cut out around the heart, attached that to the heart shape doily. Inked up the doily and attached to the background.

Stamps: None.

Paper: The Paper Studio, gift box.

Ink: Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Outline stickers, doily, MS border punch.

This last card was another simple one. These doves and the words were attached to a piece of vellum, then it was punched with MS lace doily punch, edges inked with Wisteria. The Anna Griffin DP was also punched with the doily punch, edges inked.

All papers were layered and attached to lavender CS base, edges of that inked as well. Voila'...a simple, pretty card. All of these outline stickers are from different sheets. I didn't even put a dent in my stash, but sure had fun with this challenge. Thanks Laura!

Stamps: None.

Paper: The Paper Studio CS and vellum, Anna Griffin DP.

Ink: Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Outline stickers, MS border punch.

A Modern Christmas COTW #4

Alrighty, needed to get my mojo going for my personal challenge of a Christmas card a week, this being week four. Read Sharon's Stamp Simply challenge and decided to do base my card on that. When I think of modern I think straight lines, no fluff. I used one of the bowls from Flourishes Mixed Greetings, and the tiny ornament from All That Glitters, cut that image out and attached to rectangle of Memory Box Winterberry DP. Sentiment is from Simply Wordsworth. Same DP used to cover card base, and the red is Basic Grey Wassail. Couldn't help myself...added a little red rhinestone to the bowl. : ) Went together very quickly.

Stamps: Flourishes Mixed Greetings and All That Glitters, Simply Wordsworth.

Paper: The Paper Studio, Basic Grey Wassail, Memory Box Winterberry.

Ink: Colorbox Queues, Stazon.

Accessories: That little rhinestone.

House Mouse #21 & Last Cards 4 Kids

I started out thinking this color scheme would be pretty easy to work with, but ended up struggling with these colors. This week's House Mouse Challenge is to use Cameo Coral, Old Olive, Night of Navy. Don't have the actual SU! papers, but matched as closely as I could. Followed this week's sketch on Papercraft Planet. Used a new Inkadinkado stamp to stamp the base card with blue ink, embossed with clear EP. Coral DP was stamped with the same stamp in rose coral and Fruit Punch Stickles added. Used a corner rounder with a little heart in it. Love Bunny image was stamped with Stazon, colored with Prismas/baby oil, and Stickles in the hearts. Cut out with Labels One that was inked to get the green border, then inked with the rose coral while still in the die. Sentiment stamped with JustRite tiny letters, punched out with SU! Designer Label punch. Inked the edge heavily with olive ink, then embossed with clear EP, attached on foam tape. The little fern was done with a punch.

Stamps: House Mouse Love Bunny, Inkadinkado Flourish.
Paper: The Paper Studio, Hot Off the Press.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Nestabililities, heart corner rounder, SU! Designer Label punch, fern punch, Stickles, embossing powder

I started playing with this HM image I colored with Prismas/baby oil, Stickles and Liquid Pearls on the heart, and here is where they ended up. :) I used shipping tags. All DP is Basic Grey Bittersweet. Cut out/embossed the image with plain and scalloped oval Nesties. Sentiment from Gina K, cut/embossed with Nesties Tag. Inked around edges of everything, and sentiment is attached on foam tape. The buckle is Spellbinders Ladies Buckles (has tiny hearts on it), cut/embossed, and ribbon threaded through and ends wrapped to back, then whole thing attached to the shipping tag. I stamped To and From on the back. The little hearts on the strings are Cuttlebug dies, with the string sandwiched between two of them, couple of little keys from the same die added. These are my last four I'm sending to Pat for Cards 4 Kids. Blog candy still up for grabs a few posts down; I've added more goodies.
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Stamps: House Mouse Monica Romances, Anna-Mae's Valentine from Gina K.
Paper: Basic Grey Bittersweet, The Paper Studio.
Ink: Colorbox Queues, Stazon.
Accessories: Shipping tag, Spellbinders, Cuttlebug, ribbon, Stickles, Liquid Pearls.

SSNOTIME70 - Seniors Rule !

This week Sharon's SSNOTIME70 challenge is to create a card that would be suitable to give to a senior citizen. Could be silly, vintage, any occasion...whatever we can dream up that an older person would enjoy getting. I went for vintage, remembering how much my grandmother loved lacey stuff. DP is Anna Griffin, edges distressed then inked and mounted to card base. Had this white lace for 10+ years, ran three different Colorbox Queues over it to get this color so it would match the cameo. Ran it through my Xyron to attach it to the card. The cameo was a paint chip with a bit of shimmer that was cut/embossed with Spellbinders Cameo and Brooch die, inked while still in the die. The lady in the center was embossed then painted with Petal Pink Liquid Pearls. Added some tiny pearls to the frame, threaded the sheer ribbon through, and attached the cameo up on foam tape. Attached the ribbon then in the swirly pattern, and finally added a few more pearls to the edge of the lace. Sentiment is from SU! Carte Postale set. Love how this turned out! :)

Stamps: SU! Carte Postale.
Paper: The Paper Studio, Anna Griffin.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Lace, Spellbinders, Liquid pearls, flat-backed pearls.

WOJ Color Theme in a Sketch

Getting in under the wire (doing that a lot lately) with the Whiff of Joy Challenge #14. We get to use purple and green in this week's creation; love those colors! I followed the SC211 Sketch for this card. The image is Melinda Blowing Kisses, colored with Prismacolors/baby oil. Cut her out with Lg Labels Nestie then chalked with purple and green while still in the die. Mounted on scalloped rectangle Nestie. Then I attacked poor little Melinda with Stickles - Lavender on the blowing hearts with Patina on the tiniest ones and the flowers on her jeans, Tiara on her jewelry, and Waterfall on her wings. All DP is from Hot Off the Press. Cut out the rose and leaves on the upper right from the DP, mounted leaves directly to BG and rose up on foam tape. The sentiment is from Verve Fairy Tales, cut and embossed with small scalloped oval, inked and mounted on foam tape.

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Melinda Blowing Kisses, Verve Fairy Tales.
Paper: The Paper Studio, Hot Off the Press.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Nestabilities, Pebbles Chalks, Stickles, foam tape.

Some Wonderful Awards

Two posts today.

Over the past few weeks I have been honored (as many of us have) by some very wonderful and talented people with several awards. I appreciate you for thinking of me for these awards. It is nice when people leave comments and such to show that you are not just talking to yourself in cyperspace. : ) I haven't been ignoring these, but the hardest part is choosing people to give the award to because there are so many wonderful blogs out there, but also finding those who haven't already received it. So after lots of fun bouncing all over blogville and seeing lots of eye candy, I can finally post these. : )


I received this award from Karen at 6 Wacky Women. She has some amazing creations on her blog. Check out her stunning pergamano work...OMGosh gorgeous!! I stare at her work in awe...such patience and talent to do that!

For this award, we are to pass it on to 5 people, let them know, and post it on our blog.
1. Karen at KrB's Korner.
2. Camilla.
3. Judy at Joy in a JAR.
4. Jenny at One Krafty Kat.
5. Julie at Out to Impress.

This award was given to me by two different people. First was Barb at Made for Keeps. This sweet lady is a Whiff of Joy coloring Goddess! She has many beautiful creations, but I am always drawn to her WOJ colorings! I would love to meet Barb in person one day; have a feeling there would be some serious paper mischief and fun happening! : ) Also got this from across the ocean from Els at Els Online. Thought what Els said was interesting: "This award is called 'Marie Antoinette', but in fact it is Jeanne-Antoinne Poisson, better known as Madame de Pompadour, painted here by François Boucher in 1756. She had a great passion for literature and also for wallpaper by Jean-Baptiste Réveillon. I'm sure she would have adored all our great design papers!" A little history tidbit. :) Els does some really fabulous creations with the House Mouse images. Love them all!

The rules for this award are: Link to the person who gave you the award; Nominate 7 more persons; link the nominees and let them know about this award; post the award on your blog.
1. Karen at 6 Wacky Women.
2. My SU! Demo, Michelle at Michelle's Moments.
3. Susan and Susiestampalot.
4. Chris at Creating With Chrissy.
5. Deborah at Dream in Color.
6. Carolyn at P.M.S. etc.
7. Jennifer at Jennifer's Sweet Designs.

Most recently was this "Encouraged" award from Karen at Krb's Korner. This very sweet and super talented lady has me ooo-ing and ahh-ing at every post. Such beautiful creations!! Pay her a visit and see what I mean! It is definitely encouraging when people stop at your blog and leave a comment, or an award.

The rules of this award are as follows: Post a link of the person who gave you this award; nominate 5 other people and give a link to there sites; let the people who you have nominated know; put a logo of the award on your blog.
1. Janine at 2BKrafty.
2. Heidi at Embellished-Dreams.
3. Barb at Made for Keeps.
4. Curt at Curt's World.
5. Lynn at Stamperosity.

Rest of the Valentines for Cards 4 Kids

Okay, after dealing with icky respiratory issues for the past several days that us south Texans affectionately (HA!) call "cedar fever" finally posting the rest of the cards to send to Pat for the Cards 4 Kids project. Read about it here. I ended up with 34, with two being from my stash from previous posts. Since I only give out Valentine's to my two kids and Chuck, but they're fun to make, any others I do I'll send on to Pat as well. Just a reminder, my blog candy for this event is a few posts down...here. I've added some goodies that aren't pictured and will try to remember to edit that post to include the additions as I add them. This is an ongoing project, and other types of cards needed are birthday, sympathy, thank you, thinking of you cards.

Here are four cards using Snoopy on Chopper, colored with Prismacolor pencils/baby oil. Cut out the image with Small Labels, matted on yellow one, inked edges of both. Added the flourished from Paper Studio and "Cool Cat" from Pink Cat Studio, both stamped directly on the card base. Thought this might appeal to an older boy to use.

Next is these four cards using the Little Tees set from Gina K, stamped in warm red. Two of the shirts have U Rock, two have Be Mine and I stamped a little heart from See D's Romance set that I then glittered. Cut them out with circle Nestabilities, inked the edges. Sentiment is from Anna-Mae's Valentine from Gina K also, cut out with Spellbinders tag, inked. The heart DP is an ivory vellum that I attached to the cream colored card base.

These next six cards also might appeal more to an older boy to use. This is the guitar and sentiment from Inkadinkado's You Rock set. Each guitar was embossed with black EP and the white part colored with a different color Prisma pencil. The sentiment was stamped with Colorbox Queues stack called Night Sky. Guess I didn't realize how many shade of black there are. hee hee! Actually each color has a hint of another color, such as Lava Black having hints of red, Dragonfly Black had hints of green. Kinda cool. Anyway, enough color therapy. :) Cut out the guitar with long rectangle Nestie, and the sentiment with the smallest scalloped long rectangle. Inked the edges of both to coordinate with the guitar color. Can't really see in the picture, but I used Stampin Up! canvas BG stamp on the card base, in gold, copper, silver, or peacock gold. Shows up nicely IRL. Guitar cut out is directly on the card base and sentiment is attached on foam tape.

I don't have any really cutesy stamps, so I turned to PC Crafter for these images. I printed two of each before I realized they can be printed without color and I could color them myself. Oh well, next time. Each image was mounted to a coordinating color of CS, different corner adorning or edging, inked the edges, and then the mat mounted onto red card base. I used Stickles or glitter on each for some added sparkle. They were obviously super simple but I think they're really cute.

Christmas COTW #3, Flourishes Home Challenge

Two cards in this post. Where did this week go?!? Just didn't seem like there were enough days. : ) Okay, here's my week 3 Christmas card. Decided to go with this image from Flourished Christmas, and to use non-traditional colors this time. Embossed the tree and sentiment with silver EP. Cut both out with regular and scalloped Nestabilities. Inked edges. Background DP is from DCWV; it has a sheen to it that was picked up by the flash. Attached the sentiment stack over the ribbon along the bottom, tied the ribbon in a bow.

Stamps: Flourished Christmas by Flourishes.

Paper: DCWV, The Paper Studio.

Ink: Versarmark, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Nestabilities, silver EP, ribbon.

I also wanted to do the Flourishes home challenge, to make a card using something in our home as inspiration. Here is my inspiration, a little shelf I have in my bedroom. Actually used the same flourished tree as above, turned upside down. I used the largest Curved Rectangle Nestabilities to cut the card base on the fold, inked the edges all the way around . Base DP is from Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste. Used Versamark to stamp the tree from the Flourishes set upside down, embossed it with silver and copper EP mixed together. Then used a flourish from Crafty Secrets calender set to stamp/emboss the shelf with black EP. The "ball" was cut out with a Nestabilities from a scrolled heart stamp. I stamped and colored the vase and rose, then stamped, cut and cut out the smaller flowers and attached those over the rose stem, added Stickles to them. The sentiment was stamped onto the same CS as the base, cut out with the smallest Labels 1, inked the edges, put it on foam tape. Then used a slot stamp to make it into a slider. Ran the ribbon through it, through some slits I did on each side of the rose and wrapped the ends around the edge. Inked around the lower border and halfway up. Will also use this card for Sharon's SSNOTIME68 challenge.

Stamps: Flourished Christmas, Stampin Up! Fresh Cuts, scrolled heart (unknown), Prima, See D's Romance, Crafty Secrets Calendar.

Paper: The Paper Studio, Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste.

Ink: Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Gold and copper EP, Nestabilities

Birthday Card For My Sis-in-Law

I made this card this past weekend for my sis-in-law's birthday, but couldn't post until today so she wouldn't see this before she got the card. Her birthday was yesterday; she lives in another city so I hope she got it in time. I got two new sets of Inkadinkado stamps in the mail last week, one being this set, "Nostalgia". Had to get into that one right off the bat! Stamped main image on white CS, as well as the sentiment. Cut/embossed the main image with Labels 2 die, the sentiment with smallest Curved Rectangle die. Inked both while they were still in the dies with cocoa, then lightly with olive inside that to pick up on the green from the DP. Distressed the edges of the main image. Attached the DP to the base, distressed the edges all around and attached the cut-outs. The sentiment is up on foam tape. Added tiny pearls to the top and bottom of the main image, then the paper flowers after inking them and adding pearls to the center. I had been wanting to try this canopy effect, so cut a piece of DP in opposite direction, used MS punch on the edge, then scored it. Distressed the top edge, inked the punched edge, attached it to the base and added graduated pearls to the center of it. I got her a gift card and made a little pocket on the inside cover for it to go into. I love how this turned out.

Stamps: Inkadinkado Nostalgia.
Paper: The Paper Studio, My Mind's Eye.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 2 and Curved Rectangles, Cuttlebug, paper flowers, pearls, MS cornice border punch.

Some ATC's and Blog Candy

Today's post is for some of the cards I have made for Pat Adam's cause Cards 4 Kids at the Children's Hospital of Michigan. The administrator asked if Pat could come up with 1,000 valentines for the kids to swap with each other, parents and staff. She has received a wonderful response from other stampers and has gotten over 500 cards so far, with more coming in! I contacted Pat, telling her that I would like to offer some blog candy, along with some other stampers who are doing the same. I had originally planned on offering this when my blog counter hit 10,000, but it doesn't seem to be working...and besides, this is a much more worthy cause! : )
I personally will be making 25 cards to send, as well as adding in a couple from past posts that could be used either for Valentines or other use. I will get the rest posted probably tomorrow, as I'm still finishing up some (took a time-out to spend time with my daughter last week before she left). First, what I have made so far:
I have never made an ATC, so decided to give it a whirl. I made 10 of these. Used Bazzil paper for the base, attached a piece of BG LilyKate to that. I stamped and colored the HM stamp on white CS, cut it out and attached him to the card. Sprinkled the X and O confetti to look like he was tossing it up in the air. The sentiment was added with the tiny JustRite letters. Used the SU! curved tag punch, two of each color, to make the tag, stamped a little See D's heart sprig on front and back of each tag. On the back of the tag, I stamped Happy Valentine's Day using JustRite Trompe and Brayton fonts, added different colored rhinestones to the side of each. Left room at the bottom for the kids to write. Made a little pocket envelope for each one with this double sided CS I've had forever. Used the SU! punch again so the tag would show even in the envelope. That's it. They look really cute IRL. Now on to the goodies.


Alrighty...here's my blog candy offering:

1. Glue Glider Pro with roll of Perma Tac adhesive.
2. Box of Prima Mulberry Paper Flowers (60 Flowers).
3. Vintage Toys stamp set from Hanna Stamps.
4. Peppermint Twist stamp set from Inkadinkado.
5. "Jen" stamp by Me & My Big Ideas.
6. Container of Indigo Blue Fun Flock by Stampendous.
7. Unmounted "Peeking Kitty" stamp (3 pieces-face and paws) by Eureka Stamps, approx 3 x 5".
8. ETA: JustRite Harmony Classic Circle Stamper II (2 5/16"). Round wooden stamper only, new in package.
9. Embossed foil autumn leaves, embossed foil butterflies (several colors).
10. Adhesive Metal Words (Friends, Celebrate, Cherish)
11. Epoxy garden embellishments.
12. Five sheets outline stickers.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. You don't have to send cards to Pat to be eligible, but that sure would be wonderful! I will put your name into a drawing and will draw a winner on February 8th. If you would like to contribute to this project, please send Pat an e-mail letting here know. Details can be found here at Pat's site. The deadline for getting cards to Pat is February 7Th. Please help if you can.

For My Personal Challenge

Uh oh, I made the first card for my goal of doing a Christmas card a week this year, but then I got distracted, didn't even take a picture of it, then totally forgot about it. So this post will have cards 1 and 2. Blogging buddy Chris has the same goal, so we can keep each other motivated. My daughter left this morning to head back to college in Vermont, so I had been spending as much time as possible with her. I won't get to see her until April when I go up there for Relay for Life. She won't be coming home for Spring Break, but instead will be going to New York to work with Habitat for Humanity, which I think is so great! I started missing her before she even turned to go through security at the airport.

Okay, so here's card 1. This is the first time I have used this Rubber Stamp Tapestry set. I don't think there is a way to mess this up or do it wrong. I had this scalloped oval already cut out/embossed, so stamped Noel on it and then used the tiny little peg stamps to add the poinsettias, leaves and tendrils. Added some along the scallops too. Put burgundy Stickles in the centers of the poinsettias. Inked the edge and smudge Velvet Colorbox on the scallop and attached it to the green CS square with rounded corners. Played with the peg stamps on there too. Attached the square to this gorgeous burgundy foil and flocked wrapping paper I got on sale at the Container Store. Pictures don't do it justice.

Stamps: Rubber Stamp Tapestry Noel.

Paper: Container Store wrapping paper, The Paper Studio CS.

Ink: Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Nestabilities, Stickles, corner rounder.

Card 2 will also be double-duty one for the House Mouse #19 Challenge that I kept not having time to do and that was extended another week, so squeaking this one in. :) Supposed to use some embossing on this one. I colored the image with Prismas/baby oil. The bow was colored with Twinkling H2Os in two different colors for depth. Burgundy Stickles on the berries in the wreath. Cut/embossed the image with Lg and Sm Labels, inked the edges of both. Used SU! Designer Label punch, embossed the Verve sentiment with gold EP, then embossed all around the edge as well with the EP. Background DP is from Black Market. Not typical Christmas colors, but it looks pretty. Attached sentiment on foam tape. Base card is Kraft CS. Added a couple of gold Dew Drops in the corner.

Stamps: House Mouse Tumbling Wreath, Verve Winter Wonder.

Paper: Black Market Let it Bloom pack, The Paper Studio CS, Kraft CS.

Ink: Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Prismacolor pencils/baby oil, gold EP, Twinkling H2O's, Stickles, Nestabilities, SU! Designer Label punch.

It's Still Winter....Really????

Hmmm...it was 82 here yesterday, already up to 76 this afternoon. I've been running around in capri jeans, short sleeves and barefoot (sandals when I go out). Yet the calendar and Sharon say it's still winter, so we're definitely having some crazy south Texas weather. :) For this week's Stamp Simply Challenge Sharon wants us to make any type of card that says winter. If we can do that without using a snowman or snowflake, all the better! I actually had all these pieces cut and colored since before Christmas, they just never made it any further. Willow sitting in her armchair enjoying some hot chocolate, colored with Prismas/baby oil, attached to a stack of CS then on a background of Winterberry DP. Stamped the Verve sentiment directly on the green CS. Cuttlebug scrolls were put on burgundy CS, and gold vellum cut with MS punch. The buttons in the corners are left over from a suit I made over 15 years ago. Looks wintery to me! : ) This card will also serve as my entry for Whiff of Joy Challenge #13, following the sketch Heather provided.

Stamps: Willow With Hot Chocolate & Willow's Armchair from Whiff of Joy; Verve Artful Elegance.

Paper: The Paper Studio, Memory Box Winterberry, vellum.

Ink: Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Cuttlebug, MS punch, buttons.

Happy 50th To Tony

I have a guy friend who lives in Austin, whose 50th birthday is tomorrow. Hopefully he won't pop on here and see this before he gets the card. We met not long after my divorce and became fast friends. He comes down to San Antonio every couple of months and we wander through antique shops here in SA, or go on day trips Boerne or Fredricksburg for the antiquing and wine tastings there. Tony was the first person I had ever heard describe himself as a "metrosexual". Didn't want to appear dumb so waited until I got home and googled that. Yep...was like Tony was posing for that description. :) Hence the birth of this card...the image and sentiment for the trips through the wineries. Used burgundy CS base, as it has a story of its own. We were in an antique shop in Boerne and I saw this beautiful burgundy leather chair. As I sat down in it, Tony said "I have a pair of shoes that would match that perfectly". Before I burst into peels of laughter, I know I gave him that - you did NOT just say that - look. :) SU! crackle background, torn and distressed, edge-inked. Inkadinkado image colored with Prismas/baby oil, cut out and embossed with curved rectangle Nesties then attached on foam tape after inking the edge. Crafty Secrets sentiments embossed with silver and copper EP that I mixed together before sprinkling it on. Can't tell in the pic, but has a really pretty patina look to it. One cut out with Spellbinders Label, inked, brads added, and attached on double layers of foam tape. Second sentiment directly on CS base.

Stamps: Inkadinkado Wine & Cheese, Crafty Secrets Wine Lovers.
Paper: The Paper Studio, manila folder.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels & Curved Rectangles, copper and silver EP, brads, foam tape, metal ruler for distressing.

MIA Mojo...

When my kiddos had their Christmas with their father's side of the family, they didn't take gifts for their dad or stepmother because they were told they would have a separate gift exchange with them. That hasn't happened yet for one reason or another, and the kids put off getting gifts, the little stinkers. I finally coralled them for the picture for their dad (previous post), and they had no idea what to get their stepmother. Groan...I was going to be making something for my niece yesterday but said I would make something for stepmom. I called and asked my ex her favorite color - pink. Here's what I came up with, though took a while to get my heart into it. I made the A2 box base, and then my mojo just jumped out the window...to chase a squirrel or something, I dunno...but I had a hard time coming up with something that could be considered presentable. Finally told myself not to think about who this is for and just "do what you do" as my daughter said. Okay, so I picked this pretty cardstock and cut it to fit around it the box base like a book cover, scallop punched the edge. Ran narrow satin ribbon across the base and attached the box over it, cut a slit to pull the ribbon through. Because it was a single-sided CS I rummaged and found a solid DP that was a close match and lined the cover and spine. Put that to the side and started on the cards. Used my JustRite Monogram stampers with the From the Desk of frame. Did the initial in pink and frame in a pale blue to pick up from the design. Cut those out with circle Nesties, then a scalloped circle from the liner paper for the mat. Mojo waffled again. Went and did some cleaning downstairs because we're having a dinner party tonight, came back a few hours later and this is what I ended up with. I used the largest scalloped rectangle Nestie on the patterned CS, then a larger scalloped circle and cut out a vignette. That's where I put the monogram stack. My daughter came in and looked at everything, said "Oh Mommy, that is so cute". Before I could stop her, I heard my evil twin say "is it too cute?" (I'll smack myself later). Back to the card - felt it was missing something, so added that muave satin ribbon running all the way across. Then attached the monogram stack. Still missing something, so I added those little swirls, which are outline stickers. Used four gold and four silver, then added a longer one to the inside of the box lid. Went back to the box and stamped her name with JustRite Brayton and Special Occasions fonts, cut that out with Spellbinders ribbon slide, inked edges. Ran the ribbon through it. Flowers are layered CS from a Cuttlebug die. I inked alternating layers with shades of pink and blue, then put them on my gel wrist pad from my computer and pushed down in the center of each layer with the end of my paper piercer so they would curl up. Attached them to the box with Diamond Glaze, and added the blue foil butterfly. Put little rhinestones in the center of the flowers and on the butterfly's body. Did I do okay? :)

Stamps: JustRite Monogram stamper and Fonts.
Paper: The Paper Studio, Pink Paislee, Hot Off the Press.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Spellbinders, Cuttlebug, ribbon, foil butterfly, rhinestones, outline stickers, scallop edge punch.