Ribbon Candy

At the Ribbon Carousel, the challenge is "Peppermint Twist".  I've got a card that looks like candy ribbons, using Infinite Loops Trim punch by Martha Stewart:

The sparkly green tree is a gift tag attached to one of my presents last Christmas.  I saved it (and others like it) to use on cards.  Just don't look on the back!  ;)

The "ho ho's" are stickers from a DCWV alphabet pack.  I think the stickers are getting past their prime, because they were hard to extract from their page.  There are some fuzzy edges on the letters...and this teaches me a lesson:  GO BUY NEW STICKERS!

I made two of these cards, but only had one piece of the ribbon you see above.  My solution?

Use the back side of a polka dot ribbon, which I had PLENTY of!

This is such a busy season, and I appreciate the gift of your visit!  Thanks for coming by.  :o)

Colleen

Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red - SU
Punch:  Infinite Loops Trim - Martha Stewart
Other:  ribbon scrap; tree gift tag; rhinestones - Queen & Co.

Snowy Wonderland

My friend Sue at Splitcoast is the hostess for the December 11 Virtual Stamp Night.  You have to create a card in 45 minutes or less, and Sue chose A Blue Christmas as her challenge.

This card came together easily --

I bought the new Martha Stewart Himalayan Snowflake punch at Mike's last week - 40% off!  Whoo hoo!

I'm entering this at The Ribbon Reel, where the challenge is "Anything Goes" (long as you're using ribbon!).

There's my ribbon trio:  little white pom pom trim, a fluffy blue fringe (Michael's $1 bin), and silver cording.

By the way, if you haven't picked up your copy of the Paper Crafts January/February 2012 issue yet, look for me on page 65.

I found out on Friday that Paper Crafts accepted one of my projects for Card Creations:  Volume 10 (hits newsstands May 8, 2012)!  That made my weekend.  :)

Well, we've got company coming, so I've got to scoot.

Thanks for visiting, and hope you have a great day!

Colleen

Stamps:  Sleigh Ride - Flourishes
Paper:  white - PTI; navy patterned paper - SU
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Punch:  Himalayan Snowflake - Martha Stewart; corner rounder - SU
Other:  silver cording, blue fringe ribbon - Michael's; pom pom trim - Offray; rhinestones; Big Shot; Fancy Tags die cut - Spellbinders

Christmas Greetings

Hey, everyone!  I want to show you a card of mine that was published in this Paper Crafts special edition this past fall:

Here is my card:

The patterned paper is Anna Griffin, the sentiment from Flourishes' Sleigh Ride, and the trees from Stampin' Up!'s Patterned Pines.

I'm entering this over at Create: cards blog, and the Splitcoast Clean and Simple challenge #147, to use twine.

I've got a couple of new Christmas projects to show soon, but they're not quite ready to blog about.
We're putting up our tree tomorrow and have visitors on Sunday, so it looks like a fun weekend!

Take care and thanks for coming by.  :)

Colleen

Stamps:  Patterned Pines - SU; Sleigh Ride - Flourishes
Paper:  kraft; Anna Griffin patterned paper
Ink:  Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Old Olive, Always Artichoke - SU
Other: twill, twine, gold embossing powder - SU

Play Date Cafe 110 - Gift Tag

Welcome to a new week at The Play Date Cafe!  These bright colors just said "Christmas" to me.  With  stamps I received from our sponsor, DRS Designs (thank you!)

I created a gift tag:

I stamped the image of "I Scene A Stocking" and colored it with Copics.  I tried to stick closely to the colors in the challenge, but needed to add some neutrals or my floor and mantel would look weird, not to mention the dog.

The ornaments on the tree were dabbed with Ruby Red Liquid Pearls (thanks, Andrea!), and the candle flames and star on the tree have gold Smooch Ink on them.

The cuff of the stocking has a texture you can feel thanks to DecoArt Snow-Tex.  I applied it with a popsicle stick, and while it was still wet, I sprinkled glitter on top.  Love it!

On the back of the tag, I used a DRS Filigree Star and sentiment.

I know it's a super busy time of year with Christmas approaching, but we hope you will play with us this week.  There's a great prize being offered by DRS Designs; go check it out at The Play Date Cafe.

Thanks so much for your visit!

Colleen

Stamps:  I Scene A Stocking, Merry Christmas, Filigree Star - DRS Designs
Paper:  Real Red - SU; white - PTI
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Tempting Turquoise - SU
Other:  Big Shot; oval dies - Spellbinders; ribbon; Copic markers; Snow-Tex - DecoArt; glitter; Ruby Red Liquid Pearls - Ranger

Christmas Tulips

These Christmas tulips are for my mother, who lives very far from me.  I can't wait for her to see this card, enclosed with her holiday gifts.  She truly appreciates my craft/addiction, and like most moms, she thinks her kid's artwork is just terrific!  Even if her kid is, well, let's just say, "middle-aged".  ;)

This tulip stamp is from Blockhead Paper Arts, and I have the pleasure of designing for them now.  Before owner Stacey Dunning and I met, I had never heard of her company before.  When I visited her webstore, I found myself making a LONG list of all the stamps that made me ooh and aah.  This full sheet of stamps I worked with today, Flower Garden, was at the top of my list.

Poppies, marigolds (also known as Calendula) and tulips - they're such gorgeous images to color!

I used a sheer ribbon, so I did not completely cover the beauty of these tulips:

I used Copic markers R14, R24, R29 and R39 for the blossoms, and G40, YG63 and G85 for the stems.  What a pleasant break from the busy-ness of Christmastime, to just color.  It soothes me.

I used Spellbinders' Classic Frame die.  In one stroke, it cuts a frame and a center.  I stamped the tulips on the center, colored, then mounted on the card base.  The frame is popped up on foam dimensionals right over the image.  You can see it best here:

Thanks so much for joining me today.  I know you are busy, so I really appreciate your visit!

Colleen

Stamps:  Flower Garden - Blockheads Paper Arts
Paper:  white - PTI
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Other:  Copic markers - G40, YG63, G85, R14, R24, R29, R39; Big Shot; Classic Frame die - Spellbinders; Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder - SU; white sheer ribbon - Stamp Simply Ribbon Store; pearls

Wish Big Birthday

I imagine you've all been looking at Christmas cards almost non-stop lately.  How 'bout something different?
I need a birthday card for someone special this month, and I chose the sketch from Mojo Monday to help me out.  I picked the square version.

The papers I used are from DCWV's Lemon Flower stack.  It's happy to be taken off the shelf!

The sentiment panels were made from Floral Doily Motif, circle and Beaded Circle dies (Spellbinders).  The stamp is Verve's Birthday Phrases.  I stamped the word "wish" first, then "big" underneath.

Amidst all these holiday cards, it's nice to see a butterfly - even if it's a paper one:

There is some shimmer to a few of the flowers on this paper.  This photo does not quite do it justice, as we all know how hard it is to photograph shiny things.

I'm off to do some Christmas shopping, online.  That's my FAVORITE way to shop.  I get to shop in my comfy clothes, with no crowds to battle.  Ahhhh....

Colleen

Stamps:  Birthday Phrases - Verve
Paper:  white - PTI; Basic Gray - SU; patterned - Lemon Flower - DCWV
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Punch:  Dotted Scallop - EK Success; Monarch Butterfly - Martha Stewart
Other:  Big Shot; Floral Doily Motif, circle and Beaded Circle dies - Spellbinders; daisy lace - Walmart; pearls; gray velvet ribbon - SU? can't remember

Play Date Cafe 109 - Girly Gift Enclosures

Smoky purple, blush and champagne - these are the new colors this week for The Play Date Cafe!  I love how soft they are.

Our sponsor, Sweet Stamp Shop, gifted each of us on the design team with a cute set.  Thank you, Nicole!!  I received  "Hello Beautiful" -

I used the nail polish bottle stamp and created some mini gift enclosures.  My 13 YO used one of them to include with a friend's birthday gift recently.  She gave her friend two Essie nail polishes, Beach Bum Blu and Power Clutch:

Here's the gift enclosure duo --

The card stock base is Blush Blossom from Stampin' Up!, the patterned paper from DCWV's Once Upon A Time.  It had just the right smoky purple swirls on there.

You can see the purple swirls better in this close shot, as well as the shiny layer on the bottles, made with Crystal Effects (SU).  And I just LOOOOVE pearls, so I threw a few on there, too!

Check out the creations made by the rest of our design team at The Play Date Cafe.  They've got lots of Sweet Stamp Shop inspiration brewing for you!

Thanks for coming by today.  :)  I always appreciate your visit!

Colleen

Stamps:  Hello Beautiful - Sweet Stamp Shop
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Blush Blossom - SU; Once Upon A Time patterned - DCWV
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Dusty Concord Distress - Ranger
Other:  Classic Scalloped Ovals, Floral Doily Motif dies - Spellbinders; Copic markers; Crystal Effects - SU; pearls

Viva La Verve - Sketch #4

Hello everyone!  Can you believe we are just days away from December??  Wow.  My kids keep reminding me how many days are left until Christmas, just like the little girl on the Hallmark ornament commercial.   ;)  Apparently there's an "app" for that on the iPod.

Photo Credit

We went to see my in-laws in North Carolina for Thanksgiving, and stayed four days.  We had a good time, except for someone breaking into my car (while it was parked in their driveway).  My husband forgot to lock the car because it was raining while he unpacked the car on Wednesday.  Sometime in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Day, a guy robbed another neighbor's car and mine as well.  Apparently, he was spooked away by my sister-in-law as she went down to her car for something, and he left in a hurry.  The neighbor was missing some DVD players and a GPS, and then called the police.  My car had two DVD players and two GPS units, but he left them!  Amazing.  He took my emergency car kit, the one that holds flares, jumper cables, etc.  Weird, huh?  And he took my husband's golf shoe bag, but not the contents inside (guess he was going to fill that bag like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas).  A funny note - the thief left behind his Bail Bond receipt, with his name and other info on it.  Something of an inadvertent calling card, wouldn't you say?  LOL  Hope the cops catch him.  I am thankful he only took those few replaceable things.

Okay, on to my card.  This is the fourth and final sketch for Viva La Verve in November.  Here is the layout:

I thought this was the hardest of the four.  (Check out my versions of #1, #2 and #3, if you want)  I decided to combine this with The Shabby Tea Room challenge, to make things 'easier' on myself.  We are to use whites, creams, silver and glitter, as in the inspiration pic:

When faced with a difficult challenge, I often resort to using lots of 'white space'.  In this case, the whole card is covered in shades of white and cream, with some dashes of silver thrown in.

I could NOT get a really good shot of this, and believe me, I tried.  So here are some close-ups for you to appreciate it better:

This little clear die cut corner from K & Company is actually gold.
I turned it over to find a silver side...just what I needed!

This beautiful little charm is new to me.
Isn't the green stone pretty?
I shopped at Tuesday Morning in North Carolina
and found AMAZING steals on Girls' Paperie kits.
They usually go for $55. I got mine for $19.99!
It's got ALL kinds of goodies inside.  :)

I'm also entering this at 4 Crafty Chicks, where the theme is "snowflakes".  My friend Victoria Lavender is the guest designer there.  :)

Thanks a bunch for coming by today.  Let me know what you think of my card today!

Colleen

Stamps:  none
Paper:  white - PTI; patterned - Lost & Found Blush - My Mind's Eye; patterned - SU specialty wedding pack;
Ink:  Antique Linen Distress - Ranger
Other:  Big Shot; Floral Doily Motifs, Fleur De Lis Motifs dies - Spellbinders; Diamonds and Dots embossing folder - Lifestyle Crafts (formerly Quick Kutz); tinsel glitter - Martha Stewart; clear glitter - SU; charm, crochet trim - Girls' Paperie; pearls; silver corner clear die cut - K & Co; lace - Walmart; snowflake die - SU; silver twine - Michael's

Viva La Verve - Sketch #3

I'm back with the third card of the day, completing my Viva La Verve challenge cards....until the fourth and final sketch is released this coming week.  Each month, there are 4 sketches, one per week.  If you complete all four, you are eligible to win a $100 gift certificate to the Verve store.  I really wanted to give it a try!

If you haven't seen my other posts today for this VLV challenge, you can see them HERE and HERE.

This is Sketch #3:

And here is my card:

I stamped my background with a floral spray from Elements of Style (SU).  The smaller panel with text was stamped with Old French Script (Hero Arts).

I used the same flowers as the background to adorn the circle die cut, and used a Verve sentiment from Joy For The Journey. The roses were colored with Copic markers.

The cotton lace is from Wal-Mart, of all places!  (Great prices in the ribbon department)

I can't wait to see what the final November sketch will be.  :o)

On Friday, I discovered one of my cards has been published in the Dec/Jan/Feb 2012 Take Ten magazine, a Stampington & Company publication!  I'm on page 75 with a clean and simple Christmas card.  The Stampington Company lets you know if you've been published by sending you a copy of their magazine with your creation in it.  I had submitted about 5 cards to them in the summer (you actually have to mail them, and you never get them back), and just crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.  So, this made me happy.  :o)

Thanks for visiting me today, and for letting me know what you think of my creations.  I always appreciate it!

Colleen

Stamps:  Elements of Style - SU; Joy For The Journey - Verve; Old French Script - Hero Arts
Paper:  Basic Black - SU: white - PTI
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Punch:  Scallop Dot border - Martha Stewart
Other:  Big Shot; circle die - Spellbinders; Copic markers; pearls - Recollections; black ribbon (recycled); white cotton crochet lace - WalMart

Viva La Verve - Sketch #2

I'm back with Sketch #2 of the Viva La Verve challenge over at Splitcoast.  As I had mentioned in my earlier post today, I am participating in this challenge for the first time.  You have to upload a creation for each of the four sketches in a given month to be considered for a $100 gift certificate to the Verve store.  Yummy!

My entry for Sketch #1 can be seen HERE.

I adore this sketch.  I guess it's the traditionalist in me, liking things to be balanced.  So.....I made two cards.
I am also entering these at Just Us Girls, where the challenge is to use Red, Green, and White.

This was my first creation --

You know how I buy those $1 Scrap Bags from my Stampin' Up! demo?  All of the papers you see here, minus the pine cone die cut (from K & Co.) and green paper, came from those bags.  That kraft panel was already embossed and distressed, too.  It sure made this card come together quickly.

To fit the rustic feel of this card, I used three different ribbons to make my bow.  There's some bona fide bakery twine on there, too.

Even though I was pleased with the result, I felt I could kick it up a notch, and created this:

I like this one better, because I don't feel comfortable doing rustic cards.  Many of the same elements are used here, but I added Doily Lace Trim punching in ivory to coordinate with a more feminine ivory bow.  I also added a Verve sentiment from Bright Spirits.

The poinsettia and holly leaves die cuts are from K & Co.

I need to do a bit of tweaking on my card for Sketch #3, then I'll be back here to post it.

Oh, a quick note -- THIS card earned me a Top Spool from Ribbon Carousel.  Thanks, gals!

Thanks for joining me!  I am always grateful for your visit.

Colleen

Card #1 
Paper:  Crumb Cake cardstock, patterned papers - SU
Other:  pine cone die cut - K & Co; bakery twine; lace - SU; gingham ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon; pearls; Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder - SU

Card #2
Stamps:  Bright Spirits - Verve
Paper:  Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, patterned papers - SU
Ink:  Walnut Stain Distress - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Punch:  Doily Lace - Martha Stewart
Other:  die cut tag - SU; poinsettia and holly die cut stickers - K & Co; ivory ribbon - Stamp Simply Ribbon; pearls

Viva La Verve

Tomorrow marks four weeks since my hysterectomy, and I'm grateful to have come such a long way in my recuperation.  This past week, with some help from my girls, I cleaned the house top to bottom, did some laundry, and put away the Halloween decorations (they were driving me crazy this late into the year).  After looking at what I did, in print, it really WAS too much.  And now, I am paying for it.

They say that when you have any kind of major surgery to "take it easy" and "don't do too much".  Well, when I felt so good, I wanted to get my normal routine back in place.  And I didn't realize I was doing too much until my body said, "WHOA!"  I've spent a good many hours lying down this weekend, to rest up.

I did manage to fit in some crafting for a challenge I've never done before.  It's Viva La Verve, over at Splitcoast.  They offer a sketch per week in a given month, and you have to do all four sketches to be entered for a $100 gift certificate at the Verve store.  That sounds reaaaallly good to me!  I'm entering late in the game, so bear with me while I throw several individual VLV posts your way.

First up, Week 1:

I've hoarded this Stampin' Up! patterned paper for a couple of years, but finally cut into it for this challenge.  You know how you pull out your best china, silver and crystal for a special guest?  That's how I feel about the Verve challenges.  They can be intimidating, for sure, so I am using things that haven't seen daylight in a while.

More hoarded stuff:  Little Felt Flurries by SU.  They came in a pack with red, Baja Blue, and white.  Well, the white didn't exactly look clean and white to me, rather a bit grayish and dirty.  So I took the snowflakes down to a workbench in the cellar and wanted to use spray adhesive and glitter to dress them up.  Guess what?  The can of spray adhesive was empty!  So I used Clear Acrylic Matte Sealer instead, then sprinkled the glitter on top.  Worked perfectly.  When the snowflakes were dry, I glued on pearls.

This sentiment comes from Bright Spirits, the set I won from Verve last week. And the blue ribbon comes from a Baby Gap shopping bag, which had ribbon handles.

I'm off to write my second Viva La Verve post now.  See you soon!

Colleen

Stamps:  Bright Spirits - Verve
Paper:  white - PTI; Sahara Sand, patterned paper - SU
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Punch:  Double Link Trim - Martha Stewart
Other:  ribbon - Baby Gap bag; Little Felt Flurries - SU; pearls; glitter