A Blog Award

Sherri (of Roses in My Heart) nominated me for this Butterfly Award! Sherri makes beautiful artwork and leaves such sweet comments on my projects! (Thanks Sherri!!!)

The rules for this award are to 1. Pick 10 people to pass this award to them 2. Contact them and let them know that you have chosen their blog for this award 3. Link to the person who gave this award to you

Wow...narrow it down to 10... Well, here goes! These are *some* of my favorite stamp blogs because these women are so creative and their projects really inspire me! (Plus they're all really sweet people who I would love to meet! LOL!) Go check out their blogs! It'll get you stamping too!

1. Lindsey at Stamp With Linz

2. Julie at Out To Impress

3. Eve at This Is Bliss

4. Susan at Rainy Day Creations

5. Beate at Fresh & Fun

6. Kelly at Atomicbutterfly

7. Lauren at My Time...

8. Bev at All The Things I Love

9. Melanie at Hands, Head & Heart

10. Heather at Heather's Heavinly Stampations

Also...Bev & Heather have some blog candy going on...!

And Katharina has a Whiff of Joy Advent Calendar, which means giveaways every day til Christmas!

Other Christmas Cards

Since I was at my mom's this week, I helped her make serious progress on her Christmas cards. I didn't DO much, but she had purchased both of my classes (since they were different this year), and I helped her find some awesome inspiration online and cut some supplies for her. But these are two cards I did make.

The first one is my favorite. It was intended for thefirst day of the PCP 12 days of Christmas challenge, and this is my "Partridge in a Pear Tree" card. (a bird or a tree or both)

Supplies:

Stamps: Trees Three (retired) Ink: Close to Cocoa, Whisper White Craft Paper: Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss, misc vanilla Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon

This one turned out differently than it was supposed to (in my head, ya know) but that's ok. Mom liked it and that's what matters! LOL!

Supplies:

Stamps: Snow Angels (retired), Small Script (retired)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Markers

Paper: Sage Shadow, Whisper White

Thanksgiving Crafts

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a wonderful day! I was exactly where I should be- with family! Yeay! But I did get a little stamping in! I made 12 of these for the place cards. And then I helped my kids and my cousin's kids make their own! The kids enjoyed their one and only little craft, especially about getting to put their names on it. :)

So the point of the day is to remember the things we are thankful for. I am thankful for my family. Each and every one of them. I am thankful for the many basic blessings we have such as my husbands job, our home, food storage... I am thankful for my faith and beliefs. I am thankful to live in the United States of America. I am thankful for so many of the little things...

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and if you live somewhere else, I hope you had a wonderful day too!

Pick me, pick me!

haha! Well, I have now joined Paper Craft Planet, have you? (Probably. *wink* I think every other stamper out there has by now, just not me...) I've seen plenty of blog chatter about the give-aways and contests and things, but I have enough to do online, and that barely even touches oh, the rest of my life? hee hee, so I kept putting it off.

Except.....there's a new Whiff of Joy design team call.....and you have to post it to PCP.

Okay, okay!!! haha!

And here's my entry: (tho I am definitely considering doing more...it says as many times as you want...!)

What do you think? I think its pretty enough...I just hope its involved enough and colored "right"! LOL! I just love this little girl!

Supplies: Stamps: Lizzie with Muff (Whiff of Joy Stamps) Ink: Basic Black Craft Paper: Pink Pirouette, retired DP, Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pen, Brads-Sticker (word)-Ribbon & Pink DP all from Chatterbox

Lots of Weekend Challenges

It was a nicely productive weekend!

First up is Jen's Saturday Sketch card. I've had this RAK'd image sitting here a while so I thought I better use her! (My daughter watched me color this and kept asking things like "why does she want a blue dress? Why is she hugging a dog? Why are her shoes brown?" ohhh I love the "why phase"!)

Supplies: Stamps: Sarah Kay image-unknown to me Ink: Black, Not Quite Navy Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy & So Saffron card stocks, Sarah DP (retired) Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, heart punch

Now we dive back in to Christmas cards! For this one I used Beate's weekend sketch. I think it turned out fun!

Supplies:

Stamps: To You & Yours, Holiday Tag Team (retired) Ink: Real Red, Glorious Green, Yoyo Yellow Paper: Glorious Green, Whisper White card stocks, All The Trimmings SS Kit (retired) Accessories: Stamping Sponges, 1 3/8 inch circle punch

Next I have the OCC Challenge which was a sketch! I think I do best with that kind of challenge.

This time I watercolored with my aqua painter. Yep, It really works best on watercolor paper! So that's what I have here- our watercolor paper. I used the classic ink squished onto the lid of the ink pads for the color, except the Blush Blossom on their faces- for that I colored with my watercolor crayons. I think I decided you need to start with the lightest colors and work your way thru...so you don't get purple ears... Also, each color has to dry first. Maybe I'm still using too much water with my aqua painter...I'm not sure yet! LOL!

Supplies:

Stamps: Merry Little Christmas (retired)

Ink: Basic Black Craft, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Basic Gray, More Mustard, Handsome Hunter, Elegant Eggplant

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Handsome Hunter card stocks, Watercolor Paper

Accessories: Aqua Painter, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon

And finally Taylor's Friday Cupcake Challenge. No cupcakes here today, but Christmas gifts! That's at least as fun, and probably healthier...*wink*

Supplies: Stamps: Sarah Kay- unknown to me

Ink: Black

Paper: Ruby Red, Old Olive, White card stocks

Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, EE Brads, Clear Buttons

Annnd that puts me at 53 cards! Only 28 more to go.....

Scrapbooking!!!

Truly, this is my love in the craft world. I have been scrapbooking for almost half my life! haha! So this weekend I think I literally stole some time to get some scrapping done. I completed 3 12x12 pages and have most of an 8x11 spread. I need to go to my moms' and borrow a punch to finish it! (Good thing its Thanksgiving this week!) So here are the three that are done: This was so quick to whip together! I think 12x12 may end up my favorite size. I think you can do more kinds of layouts.
Supplies: Stamps: Taffy Alphabet, Spooky Skyline jumbo wheel (retired?) Ink: Basic Black Paper: Basic Black, Lavender Lace, Pumpkin Pie card stocks Accessories: Black buttons This one definitely looks like more work than I usually put in. I tried to trim all the photos to the same size, but that didn't QUITE happen....I don't know what I did wrong! LOL! Soo, to cover it up, I did a sort of latticey-quilty look with the gingham ribbon. I think its a fun touch and I think its unique... and a close up... Supplies: Stamps: ABC Upper & Lower Alphabets, Haunting jumbo wheel, Tag Time (retired) Ink: Lovely Lilac, Only Orange Paper: Always Artichoke, Only Orange & Whisper White card stocks Accessories: Black Gingham Ribbon This page has been half done for about a week, so I finally glued it down...I think its really cute!

Supplies: Stamps: Bugs & Kisses, Taffy Alphabet Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Brocade Blue Paper: Close to Cocoa, Brocade Blue, Only Orange & Very Vanilla card stocks Anyway, lovin the part about getting back to scrapping! woohoo!!

Tangerine Bugs!

Today's card comes from Jen's Saturday Sketch. All week I've thought about it and wanted to put bugs in those circles. I was also thinking about Beate's Inspiration Challenge and these colors stood out to me. Soo last night when I decided to make a card for my son's lunchbox, I threw this together!

Supplies:

Stamps: Bugs & Kisses

Ink: Tangerine Tango

Paper: Tangerine Tango, Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, Whisper White card stocks

Accessories: 1 3/8 inch circle punch

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that my husband has a job!!!

I am thankful that my son wanted to know how many minutes there are in a day? Just incase you wondered, I decided on 1440. 60 mins in an hour, 24 hours = 1440. I hope! LOL!

I am thankful that I made my kids go outside to play. Not my personal favorite way to spend an hour, but they needed it!

I am thankful that my daughter wants held alllll day. I need to enjoy it while I can, right?

I am thankful that we have so many left-overs I haven't had to cook anything in a few days.

I am thankful I do not have a headache today!

Christmas!

Have I mentioned my love of Christmas? Here are two lovely new Christmas cards I managed to squeeze in yesterday, using suspiciously similar supplies..... Hooray!

First is Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch. It's a retired set but this image is so cute.

Supplies: Stamps: All God's Children Ink: Basic Black Paper: Real Red, Always Artichoke & Whisper White card stock, Real Red Prints DP Accessories: Square Rhinestone Brads, White Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens

This sketch is from the Whiff of Joy Weekly Challenge. And yes, I did actually buy this stamp!!! *gasp* I know!!! (I bought two of them. Can you say "early Christmas present?" That's right!)

Supplies:

Stamps: Lizzie With Muff (Whiff of Joy) Ink: Basic Black Paper: Real Red, Always Artichoke & Whisper White card stock, Real Red Prints DP Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, White Taffeta Ribbon, BB Buttons, Fresh Fav Buttons

Hooray!

I *did* manage to get two cards done! So hooray!!! (I'm battling another migraine (and my husband has a cold!)...good thing yoga is tomorrow!)

So! First I have Lauren's Saturday Sketch. Rather valentiney, but I like it! :) This Parisian Summer DP is my new favorite. I LOVE it!!!

Supplies: Stamps: Priceless, Sending Happy Thoughts Ink: Bravo Burgundy Paper: Pink Pirouette, Bravo Burgundy card stocks, Parisian Summer DP Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Word Window Punch

And this one comes from Taylor's Friday Cupcake Challenge.

Supplies:

Stamps: Annie Lapoint- Lavender (My Favorite Things Stamps)

Ink: Black

Paper: Elegant Eggplant & White card stock, Certainly Celery Prints DP (retired)

Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens

Pink Chocolate!

This card uses Beate's sketch and a silhouette stamp for the OCC challenge too! Love it. I had hoped to accomplish more challenges but this weekend did not allow for that. Maybe I'll get some done today... (don't hold your breath! LOL)

Supplies: Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes Ink: Chocolate Chip Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Banbury DP Accessories: 1/2 inch circle punch, 1/16 inch circle punch

Ah scrapbooking, my old friend!

haha! Seriously, I got into stamping because it was a more affordable way to scrapbook than trying to constantly find stickers and patterend paper for every page. But hello, when was the last time I got any done?! SO, I got tons of pictures yesterday and got to work on a little last night! Page one: Supplies: Stamps: Taffy Alphabet Ink: Only Orange Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive & Whisper White card stock, Halloween Night DP (retired!) Page two: Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Really Rust, Cameo Coral, Creamy Caramel Paper: Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla, Bravo Burgundy Note: Page 2 is framed and hanging on my wall, and replaced this autumn page from another year: So fun!!! can't wait to play some more!

Friday Favorites!

This one takes the place of my Thankful Thursday and uses Eve's idea of listing your favorite items for the week.
My favorite thing for today is that my daughter slept til 840!!!


Christmas!! Holy cow, I love Christmas! I know many of you aren't ready yet, (including half of my house!) but I just love it! Even the cracker aisle is all decked out for holiday gift giving and snacking! Holiday ice cream flavors, the baking aisle...its lovely! :D (But I promise to wait til after Thanksgiving to subject my family to 100% Christmas music, movies and decorations...)
I love that gas is down to $2.13. I think its dropped about $1.30 in the last 5-6 weeks. I'm not kidding.
I love our new bread maker machine! Burt has made three loaves now and is going to make cinnamon rolls whenever his job calms down. YUM!!!
I am bouncing-off-the-walls excited to go pick up pictures today. Just snapshots that we never get developed (and therefore scrapped). I am going to be scrappin' soon!!!
In the last three days, I have seen three new sets that will be in Stampin' Up!'s Spring-Summer Catalog! Have you? Do you wish you could?? You can always sign up to be a demonstrator! The starter kit always makes it feel like Christmas full of all those fun new stamping supplies...! What a great gift to yourself! A box of stuff to get you going and a 20% discount to keep! Woohoo!

More with the pink snow...

Here is another cold, pink card! I've been trying to get my Christmas cards ready to be mailed. Last year we sent out just over 100 and I now have 50 DONE. Hooray!!! Here is one that you haven't seen (exactly) yet:

Supplies: Stamps: Big on Christmas Ink: Black, Pretty in Pink Paper: Pretty in Pink, White card stocks, Banbury DP Accessories: SS Brads, Blender Pens, Watercolor Wonder Crayons

Basically, any chance I get to stamp is spent on making Christmas cards. Except for the time I'm spending on blogs. And re-doing my whole iPod, especially the part about loading Christmas music! I know, I know, I'm a little nuts about the whole thing...but that's ok, it could be something bad...! LOL!

A two-fer!

I love combining challenges and sketches! This is Jen's Saturday Sketch with a few colors from Beate's Inspiration Challenge! (even purple) Hooray! But I have got to get back to stamping "the night before" so I can take pictures while the sun is still up! Hmm....

Supplies: Stamps: Rose's Garden (Sarah Kay Stamps) Ink: Black, Creamy Caramel Paper: Lavender Lace, Old Olive, Pixie Pink, White Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, EE Brads, Stamping Sponge, cherry blossom punch

November Stamp News

ridiculously late... Considering my blogging has been hit and miss, I think you ought not be surprised....*wink*

Stampin’ Up! has several promotions going on right now to help you afford your holiday card and gift making. Stamps and stampign supplies make excellent gifts too! (that's usually *my* favorite gift!)

Once again, Stampin’ Up! has partnered with Country Living magazine. This year they are featuring a Holiday Collection Stamp Kit for $49.95. This includes a 6-piece stamp set, and everything you need to create your own holiday ornaments!

And for an extra perk this year? Subscribe to Country Living for 75% off list price and get a bonus stamp set FREE!

Now, who loves rub-ons? Well, from today til Nov 30, once you spend $20 you get any and all rub-ons for 20% off! ($8.76 instead of $10.95) These are such a fun, quick addition to any project, and this is a great time to stock up on your favorites!

If you host a $350 workshop before Nov 30, you will qualify for a bonus hostess benefit- you can choose a set from the Fall-Winter Sampler for free, on top of everything else you get! Please let me know if you’d like to host a workshop! Calendars fill quickly during the holidays so lets hurry and set the date!

Don’t forget to ask for the Big Shot for Christmas! I got to play with my friends’ Big Shot and it ROCKS!!! Look for a lovely snowflake on my blog in the next week or two…! This would be an awesome thing to have in your craft space! So quick and easy! Love it!

If you need any ideas for holiday cards, my blog has been accumulating many. To narrow it down, you can look on the sidebar under “Find My Stamps” and click on Christmas Cards. That will pull up all the Christmas cards I have on there! I don’t have enough yet for my own holiday needs so more will keep coming!

ETA: Supplies:

Stamps: Big on Christmas, Snow Burst

Ink: Black, Baja Breeze

Paper: Baja Breeze, Real Red, White

Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens, Mat Pack

More stamping!

Another late post! Well, here's my card for the OCC Challenge! I went with the colors and the Christmas theme.

Supplies:

Stamps: Big on Christmas, Holiday Tag Team (retired) Ink: Black, Green Galore Paper: Green Galore, Whisper White Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, stamping Sponge, Zingz (fiskars)

Here's my card for Lauren's Saturday Sketch. I just love it (the sketch) and I can't believe I almost forgot about Baja Breeze for holiday cards! Not only is it a great "water" color, its also nice and chilly for wintery cards! (however, if you're going to color your own white taffeta ribbon -using classic ink pads- I would let it dry before you tie it around white card stock. Just a thought.... )

Supplies: Stamps: To You & Yours, Snow Burst Ink: Versamark, Baja Breeze, Whisper White Craft Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stamping Sponges

There is some great blog candy up for grabs on Suzanne's awesome blog. Sorry its in the nick of time... I just saw it myself! (See what happens when you don't get a chance to blog hop?!) Bev has some more great candy on her blog too. I knew about that one, I just forgot. SORRY!

Also, I have a few cards in my Splitcoast gallery that I haven't shown here, if you want to see more!

Christmas Card Class Part B

These are the cards we made at my local Card Class. One of them is very similar to the first set, and others that are close to these have already been posted. But here's just a few more Christmas card ideas!

This first card uses Ballet Blue rather than Brilliant Blue, and we used the Dazzling Diamonds Glitter with a 2 Way Glue pen, instead of embossing with Iridescent Ice Powder.

This card has different card stock colors and ribbon...

Here we used the Bright Bulbs Wheel, Best Yet hostess level 1 set, and Watercolor Wonder Crayons with Blender Pens!

Check out the Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon with the whitish edge. Looks very festive!

I think my favorite card....!
Have a great weekend!