Christmas Cards

I think it should be a rule that no one is required to blog in December!!

Here is a shot of what my Christmas cards look like. Finally finished and they are in today's mail. The card is a total case of one Nicole Heady made back in September. Blue is my favorite color, so I fell in love with it right away!

I used my labels one nestability cut in half for the front sentiment, and a paper crimper to make the textured strip along the bottom. I have the ribbon, but decided not to put it on my cards (and it made it a touch faster to complete them!). Cute little crystals are in the center of the snowflakes.

As I was working on putting these together today, I was totally having fun singing along with my new "Glee" CD! Good thing no one could see...or hear me!

In case I'm not back before...Have a Merry Christmas!!

Sharon

Mojo #115

Hi there! Hopefully I'm back in action with the crafting. I've been sick (and tired) the last few weeks, and also lost my voice. I then noticed how much I talk out loud to myself while doing things around the house!

I used the Mojo Monday sketch for my card. A nice one to get things going again. I used Papertrey cardstock, and Basic Grey Lime Rickey for the design paper. My image is Ruby from Jessica Lynn Original. I colored her with copic markers, and cut her out with my Creative Memories circle cutter. The matting was cut with a circle scallop nestabilities and some silver stickles were added for some sparkle. Sentiment is stamped on a ribbon tag nestability.

My November guest spot for i {heart} papers is officially over, but since I was out sick and did not make as many things as planned, I'm going to be like the guest that hangs around a bit longer! There are still a couple of items that I haven't used in a post and I want to be sure to highlight those products also!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Sale!

Hey everyone, starting at Midnight i {heart} papers is having a fantastic Black Friday sale, that lasts for the entire weekend.

FREE SHIPPING on US orders $25 or more ($75 or more for Canadian orders) PLUS…

*For every $50 spent, you will receive a $10 gift certificate towards a future purchase. That’s like an automatic 10% off coupon ON EVERYTHING – even new and sale items! Orders do not combine however they are incremental, meaning, a single order of $50 earns you one $10 gift certificate and a single order of $100 earns a $20 reward certificate. You cannot however place one order for $20 and another for $30 and qualify for the gift certificate. Additionally at $45 order and $55 order does not qualify for you for a $20 reward.

*Qualification amount does not include shipping total – it is merchandise total only.
Following the sale, on December 1, you will receive a one-time use $10 gift certificate for every $50 order you place during the qualification period. Minimum order amount for qualification is $50.

*Gift Certificate purchases are not included in the sale.

*Rewards certificates are valid for redemption beginning December 1, 2009.
*Reward certificates are transferable.
*Sales runs 12:01am (EST) Friday November 27 – 11:59pm (EST) Sunday November 29
*You must enter the Coupon code from the banner ad at the time of ordering. This is how we track our advertising.
*Can not be redeemed for cash or combined with any other discounts/coupons.
*Please contact us if you have any questions regarding this sale.

Swap card

Been under the weather for quite a bit, and not up to standing to make anything. However, I have a "Winter in the Forest" swap due next week. Went with a very simple design and used all Papertrey products on this one.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

JLO Challenge #5

Brentwood the Owl is just so adorable, love to make cards with him! I knew I needed to use this stamp from the Thanksgiving launch before the actual day so it could be mailed out to someone!

My papers and brad are from Target Dollar Spot, and base is Papertrey kraft. Brentwood was cut out using my largest rectangle nestie...oh yeah, this is a large 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 card. Both the image panel and sentiment tag were distressed with a dull steak knife. Very dull as it slipped and I didn't cut myself!

I used the sketch from Jessica's challenge #5. Sigh...as I was going all along, card made, photographed, working on this blog entry it was then noticed that she also mentions that "Winter Holidays" would be a great theme for the layout. Well, just might make another since there's almost a month before the winner is drawn. Lucky person gets a $20 gift certificate to the store!!

There is gong to be a launch for a new website look on Saturday morning November 21 from 10am-12 for Jessica Lynn Original Clear Stamps. There is normally a chat room open for these events and some surprises! I'm guessing this will be Central time, as she's in Wisconsin.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Sketch to try #2

I liked the sketch so well on Saturday's card that I used it again, but with a different color scheme.

I used design paper and "pops" stickers from Eskimo Kisses line. Easy, easy since I'd made one in this style already! Papertrey Ink cardstock of Plum Pudding, Scarlet Jewel, and Sweet Blush were used in the layers.

I {heart} papers has a new release from Chicken Girl Designs today! Aren't these little critters so cute? Even though this is a birthday set, there is much versatility to the images. You can visit Kate's blog to see some wonderful samples, and DT members are listed on her sidebar. Cuteness abounds!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Sketch to try

Another November day that's to reach the upper 60's! I think we've normally had some snow flurries by now, but none yet this year! Since it's a warm and sunny day, I went with some bright cheerful colors! A large standard nestability tag was used to cut paper from Basic Grey Lime Rickey for my stamping spot. The bird design paper is also Lime Rickey.

My "Thank you" is from Hero Arts. Bird by Imaginisce (sounds like the ladies on the CMA red carpet Wednesday night: Dress by....) There is a little stickle touch on the bird's flower, and I used my Bow-Easy again. Cardstock from Papertrey Ink.

I used Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try and my brand new Tonic 12x12 paper cutter! It sliced like butter!! Notice I have more layers than normal?? I measured stuff out! (but still did some eye-balling!).

Have a crafty day!

Sharon

Oh deer!

I will admit, I cased a card by Dawn McVey for today's creation. Love her style and use of color! She is one of the first blogs I found when I discovered the blogging world.

What a cute little deer from Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses! I matched him up on some Papertrey Ink card stock cut out & embossed with Labels One nestabilities. I layered some Eskimo Kisses design paper onto New Leaf cardstock. "Noel" is from Dawn's Signature Christmas (finally got it out of it's packaging!) Sparkle added under the sentiment.

While putting this all together, the card base under the deer needed a little something more, and I did lots of playing around to come up with this look. I stamped Versamark ink onto the Impressabilities Snowflake, put that on top of the base and ran it through the cuttlebug. Then, sprinkled with "Bridal" embossing powder. It gives a shimmery, iridescent look to the snowflakes.

Many of the goodies on the card today came in my November guest designer prize package from Kate at i {heart} papers! She has hundreds of items for sale, so be sure to take a look-see!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Snow business

There's no business like snow business, unless it's a warm November day that's predicted to reach 70°! No, that is not normal for the mid-west at this time of year, but I went ahead with my snowman card!

I used Splitcoast sketch 252 along with stamps from Inkadinkado to decorate the outside and inside. Both the rectangle and scallop nesties were used to make the image panel. I used brown ink to sponge along the image panel. Snowman was colored with Copics & pencils. Icicle stickles were added to the snowflakes and the curve of the snow for some sparkle.

Design paper from the Memory Box Dewfrost collection was used along with PTI cardstock. I was very happy to read that the Memory Box paper is from a certified sustainable forest program. Do you recycle your paper scraps?? I have a bag for little pieces in my work area. Makes me feel a bit less wasteful.

My card was finished, but felt like it still needed a little something. I used my Bow-Easy to make the little bow in the corner. How happy it is to be able to make one with the "flat" side on the front! I could never get my bows to turn out pretty until now!!

Well, I had the card and post done this morning, but when I went to preview it...I found out it hadn't autosaved, and lost most of my work! It had to wait until I was back home this afternoon to re-write everything! And it did reach 70 degrees today.

Happy crafting!
Sharon

Fast Birthday card

My daughter has a birthday party to attend this afternoon for a classmate who is turning nine. Originally, she was going to make a card, then decided last minute that she wanted me to do it: no pink, no ribbon, no bows, and nothing fancy were her requests since it is for a boy.

I just cut several squares using nesties, did some doodling around the edge, and my daughter helped hammer for the eyelets.

While she is at the party, I'll visit a craft fair in the same town, and wish I could be at home making something! We've had something every evening this week, and my at home time has been minimal!

Sharon

Brentwood finds a tree

Those little Charlie Brown trees...standing by themselves at the tree farm. You think how cute they could be in some small corner of the house, or a little room. Brentwood thinks the same thing, and brought home this little beauty, plus a wreath.

He is colored with Copics and has some fun flock added to his hat to help keep his ears warm. It does not show in the picture (of course not, because it's very sparkly in person) but I used my clear spica glitter pen on the ornament, the ribbon tag, and words in the sentiment. It reads: Trimming the tree with happy hearts, that's the way the holiday starts. I had used some silver/glitter embossing powder, and it had lots of sparkle & shine, but was harder to read, as it "bled" some. For another small touch of "sparkle" Christmas red (how appropriate!) stickles were added to the berries in the wreath.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Thank You

This is a cute little thank you note to have on hand for when an occasion pops up unexpectedly. The little frog was colored with Copics and cut out with my Creative Memories circle cutter and scalloped nestie. His eyes have some bling for some sparkle. I used Lime Rickey Basic Grey DP, against some PTI New Leaf.

The "Thank You" on the ribbon tag nestie is from a Hero Arts set full of "thank yous" in many different fonts and styles.

This card is also a 'thank you' to Kate for all of the wonderful goodies she sent me for the November Guest Design spot for i {heart} papers.

Happy Crafting!

Sharon

Brentwood goes Trick or Treating!

Brentwood loves to wear silly costumes, so Halloween is a fun time of year for him. I happen to have this Brentwood in digital form, so I was able to play around with size and positioning. I was able to combine two different digital images into one picture.

How did I do it? By watching this video on Card Universe. I took me a bit of time to find where my version of Word is hiding everything, but I figured it out! I inserted my Spookville Lane image first, then added, resized, and moved Brentwood into position.

It does not show up real well, but I used stickles along the bottom border of the roof. Paper is Basic Grey Mellow, spider ribbon from Target Dollar Spot.

The card also uses the sketch challenge from Jessica Lynn Original. There is still time for you to enter!!

Oh my, couldn't forget this bit of information...remember all the Birthday Bash creations I made? I won one of the November Guest Designer spots at i {heart} papers!! I have a box of goodies heading my way! Looking forward to finding out what's in there!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Final Birthday Bash card

Presents have been opened, cake eaten, guests have taken goodie bags home. Now what should you do? Write a thank you note for any gifts received and to the guests who attended the birthday party.

My card uses the same Doodlebug paper line and color scheme that was used for the invitation and table place card. I stamped a Verve "Thanks" in Jardin Moss on a Lablels one nestie. The challenge for day three was to use embellishments. This stumped for a bit, as I messed with some flowers, but they just weren't doing it for me. I decided the Hero Arts pearls were a nice touch.

Below is a picture of the invitation, thank you, and table place card all together. I could have made my goodie bag with the same paper & colors, but I really wanted to put up something that looked different! Most of the party elements have parts that my little helper could assist with, should we do something like this for a real party for her sometime in the future (her birthday was just a couple of weeks ago). I know she would like to help with stickles! She's gotten into them before!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Place card name tag

There will be two posts for today, as I have two final projects for the i {heart} papers birthday bash.

This is a little table place setting name card for the challenge to use papers or stamps that feature food and/or drinks. I used my scalloped nesties to create the place card. I needed a bit more, so I dotted with Magenta Stickles and white Inkssentials pen along the cardstock. I also used the stickles to spell out the name.

You can see how I have the place card standing. I was a bit stuck, and thinking about just leaning it against a stuffed animal, when hubby suggested "making one of those things like on the back of a picture frame". Super idea honey! Thanks! Sometimes when I'm stuck, I use him or the little daughter as sounding boards.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Birthday card

Today's challenge is to make a special birthday card for the i {heart} papers birthday bash.

I used these beautiful Basic Grey Indian Summer design papers paired with some PTI Scarlet Jewel cardstock. They go so perfect together! A pretty little brad with some Martha Stewart pine branch punches. Can you believe I bought the punch last December, and this is the first time I ever used it??? The sentiment was cut out using the regular and scallop nesties.

This is a picture of leaves on my forsythia bush. Don't the colors coordinate with the card above so well? I snapped a bunch of "for fun" pictures late Thursday afternoon around the yard before the winds and rain came to visit.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Designer Paper + Ribbon

Can you guess what today's challenge is for the i {heart} papers birthday bash?? My title says it all! Use some design paper and ribbon on a project for a birthday party.

I made little goodies bags for the guests to take home. No need to send more sugar with the kiddos, try some trail mix! Those little cubes of dried fruit are just as sweet and a tad more healthy. I used my Labels 1 nestabilities along with some Basic Grey Sugared paper to create a little bag topper. The sentiment says, "Smile" as I would want everyone to smile thinking of the fun times they had at the party.

Yards and yards of ribbon will be given away for today's prize! Visit the i {heart} papers blog for further information on how you can win!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

i {heart} papers color challenge

I'm back with another birthday bash challenge for i {heart} papers. Be sure to check it out. There are prizes for each day's challenge, and also a grand prize and a guest design spot for November.

The colors to use for this challenge were: rose, celery green, light blue, and black. I embossed both the Inkadinkado butterfly and the "Happy Birthday" sentiment. Sentiment is up on a foam dot. The butterfly is from a set called Beautiful Fairies. It was purchased last year at IHP, but is no longer in the store (fyi in case you're searching). But Kate does have other Inkadinkado sets available. Paper is all PTI.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

i {heart} papers

Kate at i {heart} papers is celebrating one year of being in business. I must have discovered her within a month of her opening, as I know I made a November purchase! One of the challenges (I'm not doing them in order) is to create a card using a non-traditional fold.

I created a square gate fold card by trimming my card stock 8x4, then scoring at 2" and 6". The design paper is from Doodlebug. I use my Labels One Nestability behind the cupcake. I also used my Spica Clear Glitter pen to add some sparkle to the sprinkles on the cupcake. The butterflies I picked up last spring at Hobby Lobby in the Easter section. They were just opened today for the first time! But for 75 cents, I knew I should grab them even if it took a bit before they were used.

First time for using the fake stitching on a card...it seems to really add a little some extra!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Cards for Heroes

I found a simple but nice look and ran with it while creating my "Cards for Heroes". JessicaLynnOriginal is having a card drive for soldiers. Create something in either the holiday or birthday category. If you send at least five, you will receive an adorable digi Brentwood, and will be entered to win a gift certificate to her store. There is still time to make some cards for soldiers to send home to loved ones. You can read all about this organization here... they recently changed the name to Operation Write Home.

I've had these colored for quite awhile, and picked the paper before coloring so things would coordinate. Unfortunately, my craft "space" has been all a jumble, and then sickness hit :-( We have a back porch/laundry/store it area where I make my cards. I don't have much counter space, and use the top of the dryer to keep things and it was over flowing. The cat knocked the dryer vent loose and I had to move everything so I could wiggle the dryer out to re-attach the vent. You know how it goes...move one thing, then another...and things get out of hand.

The bottom two cards my daughter made. Images attached at an angle on purpose. She wanted them that way :-)

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Magazine submission

This is the card I submitted for Embellish Magazine. Kraft, brown, red, and blue were the colors to use on submission creations, along with some twine. Unfortunately, mine was not one of the lucky picks, but I've taken that next step of starting to submit to magazines. Man oh man, writing down every little thing I used, and the "how to" part took more time than making the card! (At least it felt that way).

Happy crafting!
Sharon

"Warm" cards

This card was for the GinaK color challenge to use Pumpkin, Chocolate, and Vanilla on a card. I used all GinaK StampTV items in this card. The image and sentiment are both embossed and up on pop dots. Even though it looks almost black in my picture, I did use the "Pure Luxury Chocolate" cardstock.

This card is the final WCMD that I have to show you. This was a Gratitude, Chocolate, and a Sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.

I've not finished anything new yet this week, so I better get cracking so I have something to post!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Use a quote

This was for the Unity WCMD challenge to use a quote. The stamp is from Verve and embossed on Basic Grey DP. I used an older Mojo Monday layout for the layout.

Well, the rain held off for my field trip! It started two minutes after we got on the bus to go back to school. Good timing!!

Happy crafting!
Sharon

Think Pink

Here is the next of my World Card Making Day challenge cards. This one was sponsored by My Favorite Things on Splitcoast Stampers. They really wanted you to use one of their images if possible, so they were giving away this free digi image.

The challenge was to use pink, black, white, and bling. I have rhinestones on each corner of the image panel, and each side of the sentiment. The ribbons on the ladies tops have stickles.

My class is scheduled to go on an outdoor field trip today, and there is a 70% chance of rain! We are to do a fall hike and make apple cider. I'm hoping the rain holds off...as it's been a few years since I've done this trip!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Paper Garden WCMD Challenge

The challenge from Paper Garden Projects was to make a project inspired by some of your favorite things about fall. Well, I love my new Brentwood stamps from Jessica Lynn Original that just arrived Thursday (happy mail!).

I colored Brentwood: Thanksgiving Turkey with Copics & Bic Mark-it pens. The sentiment is also from the same set. The DP, burlap swatch, and pumpkin spice cardstock are all from GinaK Designs Signs of Autumn StampTV kit. Base is PTI.

So....did anyone else make several cards Saturday for World Card Making Day? I worked on challenges on Splitcoast Stampers (along with this one), and will be posting those throughout the upcoming week. I was really on a roll...which made me happy since I'd been on such a dry spell!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Blog Candy & WCMD

Good morning! Is everyone all geared up for World Card Making Day? I'm ready to go and the mojo is flowing today! There will probably be several postings over the next several days with WCMD cards.

To start the excitement, one of my favorite artist's (Jessica Lynn Original) has blog candy for today's event. So what will you win? New Brentwood & Friends Stamp Set: Adam the QB. You will also get a handmade JLO card for Halloween and three small adorable stamps by JLO: Mini Brentwood, Cat, and Cake! Just for posting this on your blog!! She also has all stamps 25% off until midnight Sunday.

Go visit her blog so you can sign up for the candy!

Happy crafting!!

Sharon

MSB Digi Day

Hi there! This little cat from Modern Sugar Blvd is the freebie for Digi Day at SNR Cardiverse. You still have several hours left to make a Halloween something using this cat. You can also get 40% off today if you're a member of the group. MSB has some fantastic new releases for the fall season up in the store. I already bought some for myself!!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Kid Swap

My daughter made these cards for a kid swap over at Splitcoast Stampers. She has seen me do several swaps, and was excited to do one of her own! I did help her a bit with the measuring of paper, but she did the picking out on her own. She used an owl from Jessica Lynn Original and the rest are digi's from Victoria Case Stamps. She said she wanted to be able to color! She will be nine soon!!

MSB Work From Home

Feet up, laptop busy, and a cup of tea beside me is how I start my "don't go away to work" days. I first take my daughter to school, and once I arrive home my routine is to check emails, blogs, and do some surfing around for at least half an hour (many times more!) before getting busy with the day.

I really thought this paper from Basic Grey: Recess worked well with a "typing" sort of activity. The numbers & letters inside the circles remind me of the keys on an old-time typewriter. Sentiment from Papertrey Ink reads, "You're in my thoughts today".

Work From Home will be released on Sunday from Modern Sugar Blvd. Be sure to check out other sugar's on my sidebar to see what they have created for this mini release!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

MSB Friends

Chocolate...a girls best friend! Who other than a best friend would you be willing to share some with? I had to get this little box made, so the picture could be taken before I ate all the filling for it! Who knew how many little pieces could fit this container. Luckily, there were enough left to pack it up! Modern Sugar Blvd will have some new images released on Sunday (9/20) including this new one, MSB Friends.

The sentiment reads, "Friends to the end" from Papertrey Ink. What a great way to send some encouragement or congratulations to your BFF!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

JLO Challenge #2

Here is a sweet kitty from Jessica Lynn Original Stamps to go along with her sketch challenge. The fish & paw print strips are from a package of scrapbook borders. The design paper has a nice "texture" that makes it look like a piece of fabric.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

StampTV Kit

Short and sweet post here! Stamps are from the "Signs of Autumn" StampTV Kit. Top image is up on foam dots. Ribbon from Hobby Lobby last year, but I think I saw the same thing in there the other day. The layout was from StampTV's sketch challenge a couple of weeks ago.

Stamp Sale!!

Whooooo has a new release and sale going on? Whoooo could it be? It's Jessica Lynn Original Stamps! New sets are filled with Brentwood the Owl & Friends...they are football & cheerleading stars, they are dressing up for Halloween and looking for treats. Six new sets of dogs, plus one special breast cancer ribbon stamp. All other stamps are on sale for 40% off!! (I'm pretty sure it's all) Wow! Stock up! The sale continues this weekend through Monday 11:59pm JLO time (central time zone...clock on-site).

My card this evening uses a digi image that will soon be available. I inked the edges black and roughed it up. DP is Basic Grey: Offbeat and also has inked up edges. The felt ric-rac I just picked up this morning at Hobby Lobby...on sale of course! The "Boo!" was printed on the computer.

Have a great weekend!

Sharon

JLO Challenge

Hi there! This card was made for a sketch challenge on the Jessica Lynn Original blog. There are just so many cute stamps from the JLO line to choose from, that I went back and forth between many! I think I'll use this layout to make up some more, perhaps for the "Cards for Heroes" drive. I will pick a different DP, as no glitter is allowed..."Cards with glitter pose a problem because glitter can be seen with night-vision goggles". The paper is from a pack of Martha Stewart Christmas paper that I bought last year once it went on clearance.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Fall Swap

With cooler temperatures this weekend and the opening of a nearby orchard for the season, today seemed like a good day to share the card I made for a "Fall is Fun" swap over at Splitcoast Stampers. It's getting to be the time of year where my daughter and I (and occasionally hubby too) visit all the fall activity places!

My image is from The Digi Shack and was colored mostly with Bic Mark-it pens. DP is Basic Grey: Mellow (12x12).




Do you remember this card? ------>

It was one of my swap cards for the Jessica Lynn Original swap at SCS. It is now up for voting for "Favorite Card" on Jessica's blog. So please, please, please go vote for me!! :-) Have your friends vote for me! I would love to win the $25 gift certificate and be able to use it with new stamp release coming up on September 4th. Vote Here

Happy crafting!

Sharon

From Courtney's Closet #54

It's time for some adorable inspiration from little Courtney, Stampin' Libby's daughter. She's wearing the cutest little jumper this week, with cherries. No cherry DP here, but I did find some old gingham from Creative Memories. I think it came in my first ever order! The cherry is part of the digi group Crystal's Creations from Modern Sugar Blvd.

I used Glossy Accents on the cherry. I found it very interesting the difference in color with the before and after. These two are colored the same, but the GA turned the red much brighter. I was proud of myself that I thought to take a side by side comparison before adding attaching with the pop dot.

Thanks for stopping by again, as this is my second post of the day.

Happy crafting!

Sharon