Peace, Love, Joy

On Monday, while I crafted to the sounds of Hurricane Sandy blowing outside my window, I made two of these cards.  They've helped me use up some paper scraps.

I challenged myself to use things from the $1.00 Scrap Bags I get from my Stampin' Up! demo.  These patterned paper strips came with the pinked edges.  I lined them up on a scrap of Old Olive cardstock so that the negative areas resulted in little triangles.

I had to laugh at myself as I made these cards.  Don't most of us have never-ending piles of scraps from card-making or scrapbooking?  And here I am, buying bags of.....more scraps.  LOL  I must be a nut case!

I'm entering this in Pixie's Crafty Snippets challenge for week #44.

Thanks so much for coming over!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Many Merry Messages, Merry Christmas Trees - Hero Arts
Paper: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, assorted patterned strips - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: red satin ribbon
Other: Copic markers

A Burlap Tree

Hello friends!  I am thankful that Hurricane Sandy spared my family grief and destruction.  We came away with nothing to fix, mop up, pump out or file an insurance claim for.  I know we are blessed, and my heart goes out to those who have been affected by Sandy.  The devastation I see on TV makes me cringe.  The Jersey shore took a real beating.  :-(  Our poor Jersey beach folks have been hit so hard.  There is a zoo in Cape May NJ, and being a big-time animal lover, my thoughts have been on those creatures since before the hurricane arrived.  I've seen nothing on the news about them.

Since school's been closed, I just sat and crafted my heart out.  I made 7 Christmas cards, one of which I'm showing today.

I stamped a scripted tree image from Hero Arts' Merry Christmas Trees onto some burlap ribbon and trimmed out.  It's backed with cardstock for stability and propped up with foam dimensionals.  The star is from Just Rite's O Christmas Tree, and I topped it with a yellow gem stone.

I am entering three challenges:

• The Moxie Fab World Paper Crafting Tips & Tricks 'Canvas, Cork & Burlap' challenge
• Sparkle Creations Weekly Christmas Card Challenge:  Pop It Up

and also at

• CASE Study.  Their muse is Julia Stainton (one of my favorite designers) and this is the inspiration card from Julia:

I took my cue from Julia's vertical elements and her white/green/kraft colors.  I'm hoping (still) to be a guest designer at CASE Study, and am throwing my hat in the ring for a chance.

Can't wait to show you my other cards, but I'll wait until tomorrow to post another.

Thanks SO much for your thoughts, good wishes and prayers regarding the storm.  It feels good to know someone cares!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Merry Christmas Trees, Many Merry Messages - Hero Arts; O Christmas Tree - Just Rite
Paper: white - PTI; Basic Black - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; burlap ribbon
Other: yellow gem, red and green pearls - Queen & Co.; Copic markers

Twin Boys

My cousin asked me to make a card for a christening she'll attend soon, for twin boys.  She liked THIS card of mine, and requested a similar one.

This was the most appropriate sentiment I had for a christening, and used a cross inside with the words, "Celebrate Today".

I'm scheduling this post ahead, since I don't know if we'll have power after this hurricane blows through.

Thanks for coming by today!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Wedding - Hampton Art; Oh, Baby! and Delicate Doilies II - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: white - PTI; Garden Party, Nana's Nursery Boy - DCWV
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Summer Sun - SU
Fibers: Lemondrop twine - The Twinery

Elegant Thanks

After church today, I made a card for the Play Date Cafe challenge, while I still have power.  Hurricane Sandy is a-comin', and we've done all we can do in preparation for her.  I'll enjoy my electricity for now.  :-)

The colors are mint, gold and leather.  So pretty!  I remembered I had bought a package of little paper flowers from Hobby Lobby when I visited the Houston area a few weeks ago.  The colors of the blossoms fit very well with the challenge.  The ribbon is vintage, from my sweet grandmother.

Thanks so much for visiting me here.  Time is precious, and it makes my heart happy to know you gave me some of your time.  Hugs!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Mehdni Medallions - Wplus9
Paper: Very Vanilla - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: vintage satin ribbon
Other: Big Shot; Ornate Flowers, Leaves and Twirls embossing folder - Sizzix; paper flowers - The Paper Studio; pearls

CAS Christmas

I took full advantage of crafting time yesterday and made two whole cards - whoo hoo!  If I wasn't such a slow card maker, it would have been more.  ;)

This clean and classy Christmas card is being entered in two challenges, which are my inspiration:

• CAS-ual Fridays - Kraft On - include kraft on your project
• CAS(E) this Sketch! - Challenge #3

The stars and tree are from a Hero Arts set called Merry Christmas Trees.  I topped my tree with a pearl (what else?).

Hurricane Sandy is headed our way soon (I'm in New Jersey).  Reeealllly hope we don't lose power.  My thoughts are with everyone who will be affected by this big storm.  Hugs!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Holiday Sayings, Merry Christmas Trees - Hero Arts
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Whisper White - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Other: Big Shot; Snow Globe embossing folder - Sizzix; pearl - The Paper Studio; doily - Martha Stewart; Copic markers

Home

Lucky for me the Tuesday Trigger challenge at Moxie Fab World is a three-weeker this time 'round.  I intend to play most weeks at MFW, but with life keeping me busy, sometimes I can't get a good idea (and the time to make it materialize) in just a week.

I've seen some awesome cards out there in Blogland based upon this Trigger photo:

I thought and thought and thought about what to do with it.  I do not have house stamps, so had to get more creative.  When I saw a new slew of challenges at MFW, namely the Paper Crafting Tips & Tricks Week:  The Alphabet Stickers Challenge, the idea hit me to use a window die.

The idea was somewhat simpler in my head, but when I put it on paper, it looked too plain.  I embossed, I added a lace curtain, I added an overflowing window box of flowers, I placed a bird atop the blossoms.

These alpha stickers just aren't sitting quite right with me.  Something's amiss.  At some point, I just had to call it 'finished.'

After the hectic week I've had, it's good to be home, and make a card.

Thanks for dropping in!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Sending Smiles - Hero Arts
Paper: Orchid Opulence, Perfect Plum, More Mustard, Pink Pirhouette, Pretty in Pink, Lavender Lace, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: Venise lace
Other: Glitz & Glitter alphabet stickers - Glitz Designs; Alphabet Thickers - American Crafts; yellow Liquid Pearls - Ranger; pearls; Big Shot; Kassi's Brocade embossing folder - Cuttlebug; Window Box, Window, Shutter dies - Memory Box; Flower Trio punch - SU; Copic markers

Published in Papers and Pixels magazine!

Life has been moving at such a quick pace since the kids started back to school.  With all that's been going on, I forgot to post this card, which was published in the online magazine, Papers and Pixels, September 2012 issue.  My card was included in an article about Joanna Munster, owner of Inspired By Stamping.  Joanna kindly asked each of the IBS design team members to create something special for the issue.

I used the set Paris exclusively for this card.  I made my own background print from fleur de lis and laurel wreath stamps included in the set.

I stamped another fleur de lis very lightly behind the Eiffel Tower on the clock face.  The punched star is made from cereal box chipboard, edges inked, then coated in clear glitter (I have a whole bag of these...just sat and made 'em up one day).  The paper rose and the crochet lace are from IBS, too.

I stamped the decorative flourish from Paris with white craft ink on black cardstock, then topped it with two different-sized pearls.

Thanks so much for joining me today!  I always love when you visit.  :-)



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Paris - IBS
Paper: Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Basic Black - SU; cereal box chipboard
Ink: Crumb Cake, Whisper White - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Antique Linen - Ranger
Fibers: Cream Crochet Lace - IBS; twine - Creative Impressions
Other: pearls; circle die - Spellbinders; Big Shot; star punch - Fiskars; clear glitter - Martha Stewart; Off-White Flower - IBS; Arches punch - EK Success

CAS Sympathy

This is my second post for today.  Please scroll down one post or click HERE 

for my Play Date Cafe Anniversary card.

Hello friends!  I'm popping in with a quick card, trying to meet a deadline over at Freshly Made Sketches.

I've used up some pretty patterned paper strips and made several of these sympathy cards to sell at the boutique.  The ribbon is vintage, from my grandmother.  It's so soft!

Here's the sketch, which I flipped right to left, and used a sentiment in place of a shape.  (hope it's okay with the FMS folks!)

I'm also entering this at A Blog Named Hero:  'Clean Up Your Act' - make a clean and simple card or project.

Thank you so much for coming by!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Kind Words - Verve
Paper: white - PTI; patterns - Whisper stack - Colorbok
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: vintage satin ribbon 

Play Date Cafe Anniversary Celebration

Today I am an Alumni Guest over at The Play Date Cafe Color Challenge, my very first design team.  :-)  Julie Ranae of the PDCC invited all of her past team designers to join for this very special 3rd Anniversary BIG bash.  Thank you, Julie, for this wonderful opportunity and Happy Anniversary!

The PDCC has always been a unique challenge for two reasons:

• They encourage you as a player to 'interpret the colors' as YOU see them. 
• They welcome pretty much ANY type of project from cards to layouts, knit, crochet & sewing, mixed-media and even cupcakes (yum). 

I love doing cards, so here's what I cooked up using the colors Flame, Grape and Mulberry:

So bold!  I am scared of brights, and tend to add lots of white to balance them out.  

These Persian Motif dies are new to me (and there's a Fleur de Lis Motif layer here, too).  I LOVE them.  They look so cool stacked up on each other, topped by a glittered chipboard heart.  The sentiment is Verve, and the tag die is Memory Box.

You've still got time to play at The Play Date Cafe.  There are prizes from a variety of sponsors and additional giveaways for becoming a follower of the challenge and for displaying their brand new badges.  If you play, tell them I sent you!

Thanks for joining me today.  :-)



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Small Phrases - Verve
Paper: white - PTI; Real Red, Vintage Violet, Rich Razzleberry - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white seam binding - The Zipper Stop; white thread - SU
Other: doily - Wilton; Big Shot; chipboard glitter heart; Fleur de Lis Motif, Persian Motif dies - Spellbinders; pearls; tag die - Memory Box

Inspired By Stamping - Elegant Christmas

Hello!  What did you think of the amazing new October releases from Inspired By Stamping?  So much Christmas goodness!  It's put me in a festive mood.  :-)

This card is for my mom, and features four Christmas sets (3 new, one from September's release): 

The postage stamp is from Christmas Postcard Add-On, and the snowflake is from a September release, Elegant Christmas Sentiments.

The sentiment is from Holiday Expressions, and the flourishes behind it are from Festive Frames.

Love the script and the saying on the inside stamp, too (also from Holiday Expressions):

What a fun release this was!  The design team has more to share with you, too:

Deb Hickman

Irit Shalom

Joanna Munster

Kendra Sand

Liz Weber

Tammy Hobbs

Thanks so much for joining me.  I always appreciate your visits!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: snowflake - Elegant Christmas Sentiments, flourish frame - Festive Frames, postage - Christmas Postcard Add-On , front sentiment, inside sentiment - Holiday Expressions - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Black & Ivory Designer paper - K & Co.; Very Vanilla - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap - Ranger
Fibers: sheer ribbon - Stamp Simply Ribbon Store
Other: Big Shot; scalloped circle punch - Martha Stewart; Fancy Tags Two, Floral Ovals dies - Spellbinders; rhinestones

New October Goodies from Inspired By Stamping!

All the new goodies we've been sneak-peeking from Inspired By Stamping are in the store!  Here's what's new this month --

Christmas Postcard Add On (designed to go with the Vintage Postcards stamp set)

Festive Frames 

December 25th Labels 

Holiday Ornaments 

Holiday Expressions 

Graceful Hydrangea - Free with any $50 purchase - October only!

Vintage Frames - Free with any $50 Purchase - October Only

Glitter Tape - Silver, Gold, and Blue 

Red and White Poinsettias 

White Seam Binding

Sage Seam Binding 

Scarlet Satin Ribbon 

There's FREE shipping today and tomorrow only, with a $25 minimum purchase.  You can visit the store HERE and begin shopping now!