ABC's

This is my card for my personal challenge of a Christmas card each.  All paper is from Anna Griffin.  I saw the clean and simple sketch on ABC Christmas Challenge blog and knew which stamp I was going to use, and the ABC challenge called for neutral colors, so this card kind of fell together pretty quickly.  The wreath is embossed with gold EP, cut out with Spellbinders circle Nesties, as is the frame around it.  The ladies at 2 Sisters challenge say the world is our oyster - to use pearls - so I added some to the wreath.  The sentiment is from JustRite.

Challenges
ABC Christmas Challenge - Sketch
ABC Challenge - N is for neutral 
Top Tip Tuesday - Frame it
2 Sisters - Pearls

Stamps:  Penny Black "Adornment",  JustRite Christmas Nested Sentiments
Paper: Anna Griffin
Ink:  Distress Ink, Versamark.
Accessories:  Spellbinders, pearls, gold EP. 

One More For Today

Three posts in one day...on a roll.  : )  Actually, this last card was pretty quick to put together.  The Our Creative Corner challenge this week is "branch out"...use a tree image and keep it clean and simple.  I love this tree image and used copper EP, cut it out with Spellbinders Mega Curved Rectanble die.  I also went straight to this Tim Holtz embossing folder and mooshed a piece cut from a cereal box through it. I edged the "bark" with a copper DecoColor marker. 
Challenges
Splitcoast Stampers - Sketch Challenge 318
OCC - Tree image, clean and simple. 
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Embossing

Stamps:  Inkadinkado Flourished Fall Tree.
Paper:  The Paper Studio, cereal box. 
Ink:  Versamark, Distress Ink.
Accessories:  Tim Holtz Woodgrain EF, copper EP, Spellbinders Mega Curved Rectangles, DecoColor marker. 

Oriental Waltzingmouse

This is my second post today.  I've had this stamp from Rubbernecker for a long time but have never used it.  It is colored with Copics and Prismacolor pencils, trying to go for somewhat of a watercolor look.  The background is chalked.  All DP is DCWV Far East pack.  Kept is pretty clean and simple, but I like the way it turned out.

Challenges:
Waltzingmouse - Sketch.
The Stamp Man - Oriental

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Asian Spring, Hero Arts Chinese Calligraphy.
Paper:  DCWV Far East mat pack.
Ink:  Memento.
Accessories:  Spellbinders Classic Rectangles, corner rounder, foam tape.

Joan's Challenge #5

Ever have one of those projects pictured in your head, but by the time you have it in paper it looks completely different?  That this card.  : )  The card base and vintage paper were cut from Grand Labels One (lovin' my Grand Calibur!).  I colored the image with combo of Copics and Prismacolor pencils. On the pink paper I stamped a flourish image with Versamark and embossed with clear EP. This is my card for Joan's weekly card challenge.  Keeping Joan and her family in my prayers, as they are going through a very difficult time.  

Challenges:

Joan's Gardens - Coral/pink & green, birthday sentiment, vintage paper, homemade flower.

Pixie Cottage - Sketch and/or buttons
Mark's Finest Papers - Self-made flowers.
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Spring flowers.

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Alexandra, Stampin Up sentiment.
Paper:  HOTP.
Ink:  Colorbox Queues.
Accessories:  Spellbinders, Handmade flowers, buttons, EP, leaf punch, Stickles.

MIdnight Madness Double Play

For the Midnight Madness sketch, I decided to do both the fancy and CAS sketches, though I added a bit to the CAS one. : )  For the Fancy version, I used another Whiff of Joy image, colored with Copics, and hair colored with Prismacolor pencils.  The lacy edge and border vellum cut from Spellbinders dies. 
Challenges
Midnight Madness - Sketch MMSC89
Whiff of Joy - Love is in the Air
Flutterby Wednesday - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Show Some Love

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Melinda Blowing Kisses.

Paper: DCWV Once Upon a Time, vellum
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Pendants and Borderabilities


I am making a wedding planner, the colors are lavender and light blue.  For each divider I decided to use a different sketch, covered the cardstock divider with HOTP DP and punched the holes, added the SU! tabs.   These are the first three dividers.  I'll post all the dividers and the binder together in one post when all is finished.

For this divider page, I used the clean and simple version of the sketch, with Creative Images Large Cameo stamp, punched flowers, some lavender Distress Stickles.  The sketch is reversed, and I used the existing side border that was on the paper.

I used the MMSC88 CAS sketch for this divider.  Crafty Secrets stamps inside the Spellbinders die, added some beads.

For this divider page I used the MojoMonday176 sketch, stretched out.  Also faux pressed flower technique over on SCS.  Foil stickers make the border.

Trifold Valentine

Here's another Valentine card.  Again, I can't seem to get good lighting to take a good picture.  It looks a bit washed out, but IRL the colors are so pretty.  Anywhoooo...  I saw this sketch on the Verve forum on SCS and thought it would make a nice trifold card.  I cut the hearts from Spellbinders dies then used the Flourish Impressabilities and letter press technique.  The flower is home made, sprayed with Glimmer Mist.  The lady and little angels are stickers from Crafty Secrets.

Challenges:

Verve Forum - Sketch

Flourishes FTTC 103 - Valentine.

Cuttlebug Spot - Trifold Card.

Bunny Zoe - Love Is In The Air

Claudia & Co. - Unique Fold

Stamps:  None.

Paper:  Hot Off The Press, The Paper Studio

Ink:  Cuttlebox Queues, Distress Inks.

Accessories:  Spellbinders dies and Impressabilities, ribbon, sewing machine, homemade flower, leaf punch, Crafty Secrets stickers.

House Mouse Mojo

Second post today.  We had a "snow day" - all 1/4" or so. Actually it started as some snow during the night and turned into freezing rain, so all the roads and highways were covered with ice this morning. I was getting ready for work when our office manager called and said the office would be closed today. I spent the entire day playing in my craft cave, so I'll have more stuff to post tomorrow! :)

This week's Mojo Monday sketch is either round or square, so I decided to play with my Spellbinders Lacy Circles die and little Monica from House Mouse.  All DP is from SEI Chocolat pack. I punched the flowers from different parts of different papers in the set.  Colored Monica with Copics, cut her out and attached her on foam tape. 

Challenges
MojoMonday176 - Round or Square
House Mouse #88 - Hearts
ABC Challenge - N is for Nestie
Paper Sundae - Valentine

Stamp:  House Mouse "Monica Romances"
Paper:  SEI Chocolat
Ink: Copics
Accessories: Spellbinders, flower punch, Stickles, foam tape.

Sweet Pea Glitz and My Christmas COTW

I have quite a collection of the gorgeous Sweet Pea Stamps.  I've had this image colored for a while and went ahead and used her on this card.  This image is "Serene Night", colored with Prismacolor pencils and baby oil.  The gold paper I got at Hobby Lobby but it doesn't have a company name on it.  It is gorgeous, almost like gold canvas. 

Challenges:
In A Sweet Pea Dream - Talk To Me (Sentiment)
Sweet Pea Stampers - Glitz and Glamour
Friday Sketchers - #139 

Stamps:  Sweet Pea "Serene Night", Crafty Secrets "Fairyland" sentiment.
Paper:  GCD Bella Blue, SU! base CS, Neenah Solar White, unknown gold DP.
Ink:  Colorbox Queues.
Accessories:  Spellbinders die, corner rounder, MS edge punch, Wild Orchid roses, rhinestones, foil butterflies, foam tape, ribbon.

This second card is for my own personal challenge of a  Christmas card a week.  I just love this owl image.  Oh man...just noticed after uploading the picture that the tiny rhinestone fell off the center of the big snowflake. 

Card Patterns - Sketch 100


Stamps: Inkadinkado
Paper:  My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas, scraps
Ink: Versamark, Colorbox Queues
Accessories:  EP, embossing folder, ribbon.

Joan's Tag Challenge

I'm really having fun Joan's weekly tag challenge.  It's nice to have a stock of tags on hand!  For this tag I covered a shipping tag with Ella Blue paper.  The image was stamped with brown Stazon and I colored her with Copics to get the "bleeding" effect of some of the lines. She was cut out and mounted on foam tape.  The flowers are made from CS, with some Distress Stickles added to the big one.  The tiny envelope I made, and inside is a little card to write on.  Added an eyelet and the fan charm. 

Challenge list
Joan's Tag Challenge
2 Sisters - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Crazy4Challenges - Vintage or shabby element
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes + Flowers

Stamps:  Inkadinkado Gala Gown.
Paper:  GCD Ella Blue, Neenah Solar White, HOTP.
Ink:  Copics, Stazon.
Accessories:  Fan charm, eyelet, leaf punch, homemade flowers. Stickles.

Pretty Lady in Green and Yellow

The challenge this week at Joan's Gardens is to use green and yellow, a piece of trim, a frame, and embossing.  I inked up this pretty lady, a stamp Shelbie and I found on one of our VT-SA-VT trips this past summer.  She is colored with Copics and Prismacolor pencils, added Stickles to her dress and headpiece.  Cut out with Spellbinders die, Distress Inked while still in the die, then a darker color around the edge to frame.  The little fan is a button with the shank cut off. 

Challenge list:
Joan's Garden - use green and yellow, a piece of trim, a frame, and embossing.
Sketch Saturday #140
Crazy4Challenges - Vintage or shabby element.
2 Sisters - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes + Flowers

Stamps: Lilac Lemon Art Deco Bride.
Paper: HOTP, scraps.
Ink: Copic markers, Distress Ink, Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Fan button, Wild Orchid roses, trim, Spellbinders, CB embossing folder, Stickles, MS leaf punch and edge punch.

I know most of the country is experiencing bone chilling, blustery, snowy conditions...but here in San Antonio where we generally only have two seasons - hot and hotter - we just got a huge blast of cold. Yesterday's high was 80, at bedtime it was 64. At 3:30 this morning a cold front slammed through here with crazy high winds, and temp now 36 and dropping, heading down to around 30 by 5:00, with a high of only 25 tomorrow. They're calling for teens for tomorrow night!  Eeeesh, need to find my coat.

A Couple More Challenge Cards

Here are a couple more cards.  This first one is for The Shabby Tea Room - Winter Wonderland.  I used the this sketch, added some distressing to the edges of the papers and did some quick stitching.  For the snowflakes cut craft foam with a Cuttlebug die and then covered them with chunky glitter.  The image is from Magic Moonlight.

Shabby Tea Room - Winter Wonderland
Paper Sundaes #53 - Distressing
Sunday Sketch and Stamp - Sketch
Tuesday Throwdown - Distressing
Crafty Purple Frog - Distressing

Stamps:  Verve Winter Wonder. Image from Magic Moonlight.
Paper:  MME Christmas Glitter, HOTP, Paper Studio
Ink:  Distress Inks
Accessories:  Cuttlebug, glitter, Spellbinders Labels Trio, sewing machine

A friend asked me to make a car for her boyfriend.  I used my Cricut to cut out the couple silhouette and the base.  I stamped the black heart with glue on Stampin Up French Flair background then sprinkled with glitter.  The red heart is attached on foam tape.  The base card is a 5.5" square easle card.  HOTP DP covers the card, which was inked around the edges and cut with deckle scissors.  Used an Inkadinkado stamp under the heart.  JustRite sentiment and border, cut out with Spellbinders.  Spellbinders Renaissance Hearts border, with some pearls on the bottom panel.

JustRite Friday Challenge - Love is in the air
Craft Your Days Away - Love

Stamps:  JustRite Romantic Sentiments and Just A Note border, Inkadinkado Garden Delight, Stampin Up French Flair
Paper:  The Paper Studio, HOTP.
Ink:  Colorbox Queues.
Accessories:  Cricut, glitter, foam tape, pearls, Spellbinders

Flutterby Mojo & Sailing Away

Here's another all white except for the main image card, this time for the Flutterby Wednesday challenge.  I used copper EP on the butterfly, cut out between some of the design, then curled the wings and attached it.  I really like how this turned out.  Lots of pretty shimmer without being over-the-top.

Flutterby Wednesday:  All white except for main image.
MojoMonday175:  Sketch.
Sweet Stampin:  Brown and one other color.

Stamps:  Inkadinkado Mindscapes.
Paper:  The Paper Studio, unknown glittery CS.
Ink:  Versamar
Accessories:  Spellbinders circle, Cuttlebug lattice dies, Sizzix embossing folders, embossing powder, homemade flowers, rhinestones, Glimmer Mist.

My second card today is a card I made for Father's Day.  My dad has been gone for 20 years (he's actually my step-dad but the only father I ever knew), but he was my hero and I still miss him terribly.  There are times when his passing seems so much more recent.  Every year on his birthday, Father's day, Christmas I take flowers and a card to his gravesight at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetary.  He was a Korean War and Vietnam Vet.  He loved sailing, so this set is perfect.

I used Flourishes stamps, colored a bit on the ship with Prismacolor pencils and added Stickles to the waves.  Cut out image with Spellbinders deckled oval, sponged Distress Ink around the ship. Used a corner punch on the base CS and DP.  Flourishes challenge is to use hardware.  I have had these anchor buttons for many years.  I snipped off the back, gave them a "patina" with a Copic marker and attached them.  The ship's wheel is a Tim Holtz gear.  I had some flower stamens and I colored them with a Copic marker and attached them to the back of the gear, then attached it with a brad.  Looks like a wheel to me. : )

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday 102 - Use hardware.
Papertake Weekly - Sketch
Stamp With Fun - Blue and Brown

Stamps: Flourishes Antique Map and Guiding Light.

Paper: HOTP, The Paper Studio, Neenah Solar White,
Ink: Copic marker, Memento, Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Spellbinders die, corner punch, Stickles, foam tape, button, Tim Holtz gear, flower stamens, brad.

Mousy Note And a Whiff of Joy COTW

I haven't done a House Mouse card in ages, and I have a ton of the little critters.  I used the Tim Holtz brick wall folder on the background.  Other DP are scraps from my stash.  Mouse was colored with Copics, my first attempt - still needs lots of practice.  Cut out image with Spellbinders die, chalked around image while still in the die.  The little XO on his note and the sentiment are from Crafty Secrets, and the heart is from Rubber Stamp Tapestery set.

House Mouse challenge - Embossing.
Splitcoast Stampers - Sketch 317
Crafty Secrets SCS Forum - Have a heart
Craft Your Days Away - Love

Stamps: House Mouse "Maxwell's Note", Crafty Secrets "Glamour  Girls" and "Bonjour Merci".
Paper:  Kraft CS, stash scraps, Neenah Solar White
Ink: Copics, Memento, Colorbox Queues
Accessories:  Spellbinders, embossing folder



This next card follows the Midnight Madness sketch and also the Whiff of Joy color scheme of chocolate, teal and cream.  I had meant to use Distress Inks to color the image, but used the wrong ink to stamp it.  When the lines started to smear a bit I switched to Prismacolor pencils blended with baby oil.  Not the end result I wanted, but I still like it.  The snowflakes were cut from craft foam with a Cuttlebug die and glittered with ivory chunky glitter.  This card will be my personal quota for my Christmas card of the week (COTW)

Midnight Madness - Sketch

Whiff of Joy - Chocolate, teal and cream. 

Stamps:  Whiff of Joy Willow With Lantern.
Paper:  GCD Studio "Scent of Christmas" and "Ella Blue", stash scrap, watercolor paper.
Ink:  Colorbox Queues.
Accessories:  Spellbinders Labels Six, glitter, craft foam, charms, Stickles.

Color Challenged Tag

Here's my next tag for Joan's weekly tag challenge.  My order from Joan arrived yesterday, and included this gorgeous die, so and I decided to use that as the base for my tag.  Our Creative Corner is having a color challenge, to use an analogous color scheme.  I searched the web for a color wheel with more colors then went with the paler hues.  I cut the base from an old greeting card (has some shimmer), embossed and used a Copic marker to stencil the embossed areas while still in the die.  The lady silhouette is from a Marianne D die.  I made the flowers, they look so pretty IRL.  I highlighted/edged them with a Copic marker then sprayed the layers with Glimmer Mist before assembling them.  They have a pretty shimmer.  Leaves are Martha Stewart punch.  Strung some beads on some eyepins and attached behind the flower.  The picture is not the greatest, I seem to have issues with lighting that I can't overcome.

Challenges:
Joan's Weekly Tag Challenge
Our Creative Corner - Analogous color scheme

Stamps:  None.
Paper:  The Paper Studio, sacrificed greeting card.
Ink:  Copic markers
Accessories:  Heartfelt Creations Decorative Window Scene Die, homemade flowers, Marianne D die, pearl, beads, MS leaf punch, Stickles.

CSSC155 Birthday Wishes

The challenge on the Crafty Secrets Forum Challenge is to do a ONE LAYER creation using Crafty Secrets products. You can stamp the card base, add texture to it or punch it, but you can only add one image layer to the base.

I did this simple birthday card to have one hand, and I love how it turned out. The picture doesn't do it justice - I just can't seem to get good lighting for my photos.  I embossed the base with a CB folder.  Then I used a piece from Crafty Secrets Earthy paper pack and ran it through the same folder, then tore the edges.  I used the sentiment from Crafty Secrets Fairyland set, embossed it with copper EP.  I inked the edges of the base card and the layer with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, then attached the layer.  Added a little copper Stickles. 

Stamps:  Crafty Secrets Fairyland.
Paper:  SU! Sage Shadow, Crafty Secrets Earthy paper pack.
Ink:  Versamark, Distress Ink.
Accessories:  Cuttlebug folder, embossing powder, Stickles.

Flourishes FTTC101

Dee jackson is hosting the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge this week.  She wants us to make a big card...5x7 or larger.  This one is 5x7.  I followed this week's sketch over on SCS used Flourishes "Santa, I Believe" set for the main image and the sentiment, cut/embossed with Spellbinders Labels Seventeen, inked in the die.  The CS is from MME Christmas Glitter pack.  I embossed the upper right portion of the base with Cuttlebug Allegro folder.  Edges of all pieces were inked with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink.  This also fills my personal challenge quota of a Christmas card a week.  : )

Stamps:  Flourishes "Santa, I Believe"
Paper:  MME Christmas Glitter Pack, Paper Studio CS
Ink:  Memories Sepia, Ranger Distress Ink
Accessories:  Foam tape, Dew Drops, Spellbinders

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #3

As I was going onto Joan's blog to post my tag link (below this post), I saw that this week's Thursday Weekly challenge #3 is:

1.Make a box...any kind of box will work.....even an alter box (how about a box for your tags)
2. A flourish
3. A butterfly
4. Make a flower (alright...if you can't make one use one you have purchased).

I made this little trinket box.  It is 2 1/8" square.  I used cardboard backing from a paper pack to make box and covered it with paper from my stash, I have no idea what company.  The box closes with the ribbon...I put a tiny flat magnet under the brown paper and wrapped within the end of the ribbon.  The flower was made with several sizes of punches, misted with water, wadded and then the layers put together.  The butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch and the flourish is a Spellbinders die. Will also include in this week's Flutterby Wednesday Challenge - anything goes.

Joan's Tuesday Tag Challenge #3

I love tags, but for some reason haven't made many.  Joan over at Joan's Gardens started another challenge to create a tag a week, any occasion, so we'll have tags on hand when we need them.  So for her  Tuesday Tag Challenge #3 I made this tag.

The base of the tag was already embossed, a pale pearly green CS, that I got at Joann's.  The image is from Magic Moonlight, cut and embossed with Spellbinders die, sponged with Distress Ink while still in the die.  The edges of the base tag were also sponged with two different Distress Inks.  The flowers I made, and the branches are a Martha Stewart punch.

Where I've Been, Where I Plan To Be (long post)

I've had a long absence from the craft blog world, though not intentional.  Long story short...My son painted the family room for me.  I painted the kitchen, put Venetian plaster on the walls in the breakfast room, as a backsplash behind the stove, over the tile around the fireplace, and a different color in the powder room to replace the wallpaper that was in there.  Then Chuck and I pulled up all the carpet downstairs and spent two entire days on our hands and knees sanding and scraping the plaster and paint that the contractors figured would never be seen.  After all that, we stained the concrete and applied several layers of sealer.  It's gorgeous! Then I was suddenly and unexpectly laid off  from my job on October 4.  Was hired November 29 by a law firm and I'm still trying to fit in there.  I've always worked in the medical field in one capacity or another since I was 15, so a law firm is definitely a stretch for me!

Here are the house pix, should be able to click on them to make them bigger if you'd like. 

Breakfast room (before) Girls night in. :)  Can see where I'm in process of removing wallpaper, the vertical blinds and mini blinds we replaced. 



Living/Dining room. This was after we had been sanding for more than 12 hours

   

Family room. Gray tile around fireplace I covered with venetian plaster, you'll see in after shot



Breakfast area all put together. New French doors, valances I made, new window blinds

Powder room with Venetian Plaster

Family room. Venetian plaster over the gray tile around fireplace, valances up.

     

Living/dining room, from the front door

 

As far as crafting goes, here is a listing and pictures of what I have been up to.

Military Ball invitations for the JROTC program at my son's high school.  He is no longer in the program, but I have made the invitations for the last four years, they liked how I did them and they asked me to do them again.  This is my fifth and last year.  Their colors were purple and gold, theme was "Roman", so this is what I came up with.  I made 125 of these.

Beaded ornament covers. I did four different designs, five of each design in different colors. We had a Christmas party and I let the guests choose which ornament they wanted from the tree. They loved them!

Fleece jackets.  I made four of these, this is one for my daughter.  The other designs were Dallas Cowboys, Texas A&M and Black Watch plaid.

Mass Christmas Cards.  My mother and some of my friends depleted my stash of Christmas cards.  I never got around to making cards in time to send out to friends at Christmas but I did need a few for my family.  Also, a friend wanted quite a few clean and simple cards, so I did a mass production of these, there were 40 in the varied designs and colors

Christmas card I made for my mom.  Not a mistake on lower part of card, I forgot to take a picture before I signed it, so I "airbrushed" the words off the picture

 

Birthday card for my daughter, Shelbie

Birthday card for my niece

My daughter asked me to make a card for a friend of hers who got married New Years Eve.  She loved this card I made previously and asked that I make similar one in her friend's colors.

A friend of mine is a great salesperson but can't sew, so she asked if I would make microwave potato bags and she would sell them.  Pretty boring so I didn't include a picture...rectangular bag with patterned cotton exterior, layer of cotton batting, and white cotton inner layer.  I made 96 of them and she sold every one of them!  Then she asked me to design a wine tote bag that she could sell to the ladies in her bunco group.  They went over very well so she asked me to make more.  The pics above are what I designed. They have a little pocket for the corkscrew.  I also made some tags from shrink plastic on which I used a stamp from Crafty Secrets.  I attached some jump rings to a lobster claw which clips over the drawstring cord.  I made 72 wine bags and she sold all of those too!

So my plans for this year crafting wise are to participate in more card challenges, my first one being below.  Plan to re-start my personal challenge of making a Christmas card a week so I have enough cards by Christmas, and more varied designs.  Perhaps just a few 'mass' batches. :)  Also plan to do more beadwork in the form of ornaments and necklaces.  I have one major sewing project to finish by spring break, and I will post that when I can put it on my daughter to model. :)

If you're still reading this, thanks for hanging in there with me.  So now take a look at my first challenge this year in the post below.

Sweet Pea Mojo174

This is my first card challenge this year, and I managed to get this one to fit three challenges. 

1)  MojoMonday174. I turned the sketch on its side then flipped it.
2)  Sweet Pea Stampers: All white apart from the image.
3)  In a Sweet Pea Dream: "Under the Sea"...Use a mermaid or sea creature image.
4)  Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog:  Bingo.  I used punches/dies, embossing, and ribbon (bottom row).

All of the white CS is Neenah Solar White. I used two different Cuttlebug embossing folders. The image is ching-chou kuik's Coral Immersion from Sweet Pea Stamps.  I've kind of become addicted to these georgeous fairy/fantasy style stamps! She is colored with Prismacolor pencils, with Stickles added.  The edges of the image and both embossed panels have been glittered.  The flowers are from a couple of Martha Stewart punches.



This is a close-up of the colored image.

A Very Merry Christmas to You All!

I know I've been absent for a while on my blog, but it's been more of a time issue than not doing any crafting or otherwise staying busy.  Most of my crafty projects I didn't think to take pictures of so I could post them, but I'll get some up here after Christmas. 

We want to wish everyone out there a very Merry Christmas, and safe travels if you're on the road.  Love and enjoy your family and your time together!  I leave you with the latest snap of my beautiful kiddos, Tyler-17 and Shelbie-20.

Whiff of Joy Flutter

It has been far too long since I made a card using a Whiff of Joy image, and I have a bunch of them! I saw Jane's great sketch on the WOJ challenge blog so decided to play along.  Definitely need to ink these images up more often again!  For this card I used Musing Melinda, putting her on the mushroom from the Fall 2009 set.  Colored image with Prismacolors. Added Stickles to her wings and Liquid Pearls in her hair on around the scallops.  Spellbinders large scallop circle used to cut/emboss image, shaded in with distress ink and chalks.  The DP is a gorgeous linen texture paper from GCD Studios.  Used JustRite sentiment, some flowers from my stash after I used Glimmer Mist on them.  Pearls in the corners and a calla lilly charm.  I am also using this card for this week's Flutter By Wednesday challenge. 

Stamp Simply 153 & MojoMonday 153

I saw Sharon's challenge earlier in the week, to use pleated ribbon on our card. I am so ribbon challenged I just kept putting it off. I had everything worked out for the card, decided to use this week's Mojo Monday sketch for this card, but could not get the ribbon to look presentable. Then I remembered this ribbon I bought probably 15 years ago that I used on a dress for my daughter, and decided to use it. Thankfully the color was right so I didn't have to change what I had already started on the card.

I used a 5x7 embossing folder on Kraft CS, inked and distressed the edges with a ruler. Stitched some sloppy lines around the edges, incorporating the ribbon in the stitching. Stamped the SU! image onto Neena Solar White paper, cut it into four panels, inked and distressed the edges as well, and attached to burgundy CS. Stamped the hummingbird from same SU! set with distress ink, cut it out and attached it to the ribbon. Attached embossed layer to SU! CS, added some Dew Drops.