We Create Halloween Blog Hop

I know I say this every month, but I cannot wrap my head around the fact that October has arrived! I didn't even know we were close to October! In many ways September flew by and it was also one of the longest months of my life.... but here we are! A new month and a new blog hop!

October always means Halloween to me, and while it isn't my favorite holiday, I do love the things that come with it, like pumpkin patches and baking with apples and cooler temperatures and falling leaves! Fall is my favorite time of year, and I wish it lasted longer!

Having said all that, as much as I do love the new Halloween products, I don't own them... So, I had to get creative with my Halloween project... I went more with the leaves idea and colors, and I made this, and I was really happy with it... 

Supplies:

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree

Ink: Memento Black, So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Whisper White & Daffodil Delight card stocks

Accessories: Black Glittered Organdy Ribbon, Twinkle Builder Punch, Sponges, Glue Dots

but then you know what?  I guess my brain turned on, haha... because you don't see stars and sunsets at the same time!! What was I thinking?!

So! I had to whip up another card!! Thaaat's exactly the kind of week I've been having, so hopefully this new Monday and new month go just a little bit calmer...! 

This card looks more like a spooky Halloween night to me, haha! Perfect for staying in with a fun Halloween movie! My personal favorite is It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree

Ink: Memento Black, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Fresh Fig, Blackberry Bliss

Paper: Night of Navy, Basic Black & Whisper White card stocks 

Accessories: Black Glittered Organdy Ribbon, Metallic Sequins, Glue Dots 

Also, these cards qualify for the Create Your Own Background challenge at TGIF Challenges! It's been a while since I sponged a background like this, or sponged anything really, but I love how both turned out! 

Now hop on over and see what Cheryl has made for you. Then hop all the way thru, and leave us your thoughts! Everyone loves comments! 

Purple Autumn Trees

Hello again!
Late post today but this one is short and sweet. Card #4 from my latest class was also short and sweet!
I am really loving Fresh Fig! I think it lent itself very well to this autumny card. I also discovered today how I'm going to incorporate Fresh Fig into Christmas cards, so that's exciting, haha!
This card was so simple- we stamped the background and the tree using Sahara Sand ink, then sponged the Fresh Fig leaves! Couldn't be quicker!
There absolutely are purple trees- I call them apartment cherry trees. I swear every apartment complex I have lived in has them. The cherries are no good, only good for staining everything they come in contact with... And the leaves are purple. That's what I thought of when I gave this a try. It is also not a 'thank you' card, the way I'd planned the class, but this phrase works so nicely on the card that everyone went ahead and used it too!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hardwood, Lovely As a Tree, Thoughts & Prayers
Ink: Sahara Sand, Fresh Fig
Paper: Sahara Sand, Fresh Fig, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Fresh Fig ribbon, Stamping Sponges

Blog Hop: Step It Up September Style!

Happy September to you! This is my favorite time of year- the back to school and cooler temperatures are coming and I am excited! I am done with the heat and ready to move on, so yeay for a new month and upcoming season! And the first of the month means a new, fun blog hop!

Again we're showing how to step up your cards. Last month, my card was all about how the Big Shot can step up your card making. It absolutely can, and it makes it so easy! And I love my Big Shot and use it all the time! But since it took me, a demonstrator, over a year to get to invest in the Big Shot, I wanted to take this month to show how to step up your cards with supplies any card maker already has!
So here is a perfectly nice, autumny card, with great autumn colors, and a timeless tree image. I like the little "how are you" and it can go to anyone, anytime. I used the latest sketch from the Viva la Verve blog.

Supplies:

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Honeycomb Hello

Ink: Soft Suede & Delightful Dijon markers

Paper: Delightful Dijon, Soft Suede, Tangelo Twist

Accessories: 1 1/4 inch circle punch 

However, with a different technique, a more interesting punch, a textured twine in place of plain card stock, and some fun designer paper- wow, it makes a difference, doesn't it??
For the above card I used two markers to ink up the tree. This time I stamped it in Soft Suede, and then sponged the Delightful Dijon for the leaves, and a bit of Mossy Meadow for some grass. I also popped the tree and greeting pieces up on Dimensionals for an actual pop, instead of a flat, mailable card, haha...

Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Honeycomb Hello

Ink: Soft Suede, Delightful Dijon, Mossy Meadow

Paper: Delightful Dijon, Soft Suede, Into The Woods DP

Accessories: Hexagon Punch, Old Olive Bakers Twine, Dimensionals

What do you think? How easy is that, to step up a card and make it more interesting, just by swapping out a few of the supplies! 

Now, click below to hop over to Cheryl's blog and see how she stepped up her projects. Then hop thru the rest of the blogs, and leave us your thoughts! 

Quick and Cute!

Since we just had Father's Day, my stash of masculine cards was diminished! I have seen this idea on Pinterest quite a lot lately so I thought I'd give it a try with some of my favorite images for masculine cards! And to keep it quick, I used last week's Freshly Made Sketch.

First up, this watery ship card! I stamped the larger swishy square in the two corners in Soft Sky, then I stamped the smallest swish in the new Mint Macaron- but I stamped that one off first! I was surprised how 'dark' it looked next to Soft Sky! Then I used a phrase from the Let's Get Away Project Life (PL) stamp set! I can't wait to put that set to more use very soon!

Supplies:
Stamps: Work of Art, The Open Sea, Let's Get Away
Ink: Memento Black, Soft Sky, Mint Macaron
Paper: Soft Sky, Mint Macaron & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Subtles Candy Dots

And how cute is that?! I loved it so much I tried again with a few more colors!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Work of Art
Ink: Early Espresso, Old Olive, Delightful Dijon, Cajun Craze
Paper: Cajun Craze, Delightful Dijon, Whsiper White card stocks

So there you go- a fun, quick way to watercolor and add backgrounds to anything!

Blog Hop: You're The Man!

Yep, its time for another Blog Hop!
Today's theme was selected by Cathee, and its all about celebrating the men in our lives! Be sure to stop by everyone's blog for plenty of masculine inspiration!

Many people struggle with masculine cards, I think because we crafters want to put ribbons and other pretty things on the cards that guys aren't really in to. *grin. I took this challenge and ran with it- I was surprised with as many of my favorite masculine sets retiring that I still had so many current! Hooray for that!

Today is also Day 1 of the new catalog so you know I'm going to have new products to show off!!
Starting with the alphabet set on this scrapbook page for my son, doing a manly project (re-shingling a roof!) with his dad, uncle and adult cousin! haha! Can't get much more masculine than that!

Supplies:
Stamps: ABC123 Sketch Alphabet & Numbers, Lovely As A Tree
Ink: Gumball Green, Basic Gray
Paper: Basic Gray, Epic Day DP
Accessories: Natural Ribbon, Vintage Trinkets, Staple

Next up, I have a very simple card using a recent Freshly Made Sketch. I love the woodgrain with the acorns, and of course Linen Thread has got to be one of my favorite guy accessories, hee hee. This features two of the new In Colors. I gotta say, the Baked Brown Sugar shade is a good brown. Its "warmer" and a bit gold-ish.

Supplies:
Stamps: Wonderfall, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Paper: Pistachio Pudding, Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar
Accessories: Linen Thread, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Big Shot

Finally, we have this card which was, ahem, inspired by a recent Retro Sketch. haha! I thought the map paper from the Epic Day DP went well with this ship! And the Natural Trim is another perfect-for-guys accessory. Its ribbon without being girly.

Supplies:
Stamps: The Open Sea
Ink: Basic Gray
Paper: Epic Day DP, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla card stocks
Accessories: Natural Trim

That's it for me, but I hope I've helped spark some ideas for the Father's Day cards, or birthdays, or whatever you may have coming up for the men in your life too!
Now go see what Julie has created!

Stamp Set Class: Lovely As A Tree

Happy Monday to you! Today we're supposed to be WAY above normal temps and it should feel like summer! I suppose that's not all bad, right? *grin

Last Friday was my May Stamp Set Class, and obviously from the title, I featured Lovely As A Tree. This stamp set was one of the first my mom bought from Stampin' Up! and she didn't even get it from me! haha! And! its going to be in the new catalog again, haha! I have plenty of samples here on my blog using this set HERE, but since it is neither autumn nor winter, I tried some new ideas with the set! Yeay for changing things up!
And again, with this style of class I'm sticking to the basics and working my way up to more tools and supplies, so that even a novice stamper can find ways to use their stamp set with what they have! We did make a retiring-supplies card, but two of them can go on my display board!

This card uses the sponging technique to make a springtime scene.

Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree
Ink: Early Espresso, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Stamping Sponges

This card uses the 'thumping' technique, which is just tapping different green markers all over the leafy area for a summery tree.

Supplies:

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree

Ink: Pear Pizazz, Gumball Green, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede markers

Paper: Pear Pizazz, Always Artichoke, Whisper White card stock

Accessories: Natural Ribbon

And this final card uses two accessories and the Big Shot! It uses the exact same layout I have for Christmas cards, but with the brown in place of red it makes a good thank you or masculine card.

Supplies:

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree

Ink: Old Olive

Paper: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip & Whisper White card stock

Accessories: Linen Thread, Natural Buttons, Big Shot, Woodgrain Embossing Folder

Christmas Cards #3

Well my cards are finished- addressed and everything, just waiting for me to drive to the Post Office and get postage! How are your holiday cards coming along?
Here is the third installment of my Christmas Card class, just in case you're still looking for ideas! *grin

You can see many of these are the same card, they just look different with the variation of paper. Sometimes we drew the "string" or "hook" and other times I used actual Baker's Twine!

Supplies:
Stamps: Delightful Decorations, Greetings of the Season, Come To Bethlehem (words over tree)
Ink: Basic Gray, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray, Old Olive, Simply Scrappin' Kit
Accessories: Ornament Punch, Cherry Baker's Twine, Crochet Lace Ribbon

Christmas weather, Christmas card!

Wow! I didn't share hardly anything last week because every spare minute I had was spent on prepping for a Christmas card class to be held Friday night.
However, I had to cancel at literally the last minute, because I could barely get out of my driveway, and frankly, the roads scared me! *Sad! The storm moved in Friday morning and we were supposed to get 1-3 inches of snow by Sunday afternoon. ....we had 3 inches by lunch time. By the time I needed to leave (around 430 pm) we had 5-6 inches, it was still dumping, and my parking lot complex and surrounding roads had not been cleared. Couple that with freezing temps, the sun setting around 5, and rush hour traffic, and you can imagine why I hesitated. Its just so darn disappointing when you have set a time for crafting, and especially with other people, and you have to cancel for something like weather! argh! 

The view from my window when my kids got home from school...

The bright side is, we were able to reschedule for later in the month (better late than never??) and I can now share with you a few sneak peeks for my Christmas card class...
These are all similar cards, and the class is designed using the Merry Moments Simply Scrappin' Kit (found on page 9 of the Holiday Mini).

Supplies:
Stamps: Come to Bethlehem, Lovely As A Tree

Ink: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler

Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive & Basic Gray card stocks, Merry Moments SS Kit DP

If you would like to make these cards, my class will be at my house, held on Dec 1. Or you can schedule your own class if you hurry! *grin

Autumn Thank You

Today was my Thank You card class! That means I got some stamping done and now have more to share with you! Yeay! This card comes from the class and is a quick and clean card, but just a little more detailed than my original design, which you can see HERE. At any rate, I am happy with how this one turned out!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: More Mustard, Early Espresso
Paper: Textured More Mustard card stock, Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories: Natural Buttons, Linen Thread, Mat Pack, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Card for a guy!

The final card from yesterday's class flipped the rectangles on the sketch to the other side. I used some great elements for a guy card so this works as a male birthday card or father's day, or whatever you may need. However, for the first time in my demonstrator career, I did use a retired item....the DP was retired this summer! gasp!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Tool Shed, Lovely As A Tree
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso card stocks, Well Worn DP (retired)
Accessories: Denim Ribbon, Natural Buttons, Linen Thread

Trees!

Here are two cards I made last week using the Lovely As A Tree set. One was shipped off for Father's Day, lol, and the other is on my display board!
They use almost the same supplies, and the very same technique - I stamped the whole tree into the Soft Suede ink, then tapped the marker edge sideways (like this: _ ) using the Always Artichoke, Gumball Green and Lucky Limeade markers to make the leaves green.

Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree
Ink: Soft Suede, Always Artichoke, Gumball Green, Lucky Limeade
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla & Old Olive card stocks
Accessories: Linen Thread

Supplies:

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Four Frames, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Always Artichoke, Gumball Green, Lucky Limeade
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla & Old Olive card stocks
Accessories: Linen Thread, Decorative Label Punch

December!!

I can hardly believe it is already December! of course the weather isn't helping...the wind is unusually crazy, the leaves are still falling and the sky has been mostly blue today. And right now there is no snow on the ground, which only helps the disbelief that it could be December...
I have wanted to post this project for a few weeks now, but I only got it finished tonight, which is later than it should be! LOL! I found a really great idea HERE and absolutely loved it! I thought it would be tons of fun to do with the kids too. I wanted to surprise my husband with his (he knew about the kids getting this) and he just might choose to read this blog the day I announce a surprise for him...hee hee

So, here you have it, three Christmas Countdowns! (husband's hanging over our bed, kids' hanging near the front door. and now you know why it took me til tonight to complete it........LOL!)

Here it is, as a work in progress, plus a closeup on the stamped images. I tried to use a variety!

This project could have been made simpler with say, single-sided DP folded in half instead of stamped card stock notes, but this was the cheapest way I could think to make it. I used non-SU 12x12 card stock that came from random scrapbooking kits and who knows where, but it was stuff I wasn't intending to use in my scrapbooks, so that's handy. And with stamped images, I didn't use up other product! Then I bought the wide holiday ribbon and clothespins at walmart.
Some notes held a surprise such as a family activity for that day (special movie, drive to see the lights, baking treats, game night, etc), lots were little love notes full of praise and thanks. I think it will make for a fun December and keep the excitement of the holidays going!

A change-up!

Its been a few days since I've had a chance to create anything, and then I made up for it yesterday and today! Love that!
Here is a quick Christmas card for my upcoming classes that I designed today! The idea comes completely from HERE, except that I used Perfect Plum instead of Wisteria Wonder, and mine is a simpler version. That means we can make it quicker! hee hee! I really loved the soft purply color that makes it like a very cold winter day in the forest.

Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Come to Bethlehem
Ink: Perfect Plum
Paper: Very Vanilla, Perfect Plum card stocks

Workshop Cards

We had a really fun workshop this weekend! These are the cards we made, tomorrow I'll share something else. First I showed this card, which is totally inspired and based on THIS card by Heather Telford. I *really* loved her white on white card. In my case, however, I stamped the image from Lovely As A Tree in two colors of ink and combined it.

Supplies: Stamps: Lovely As A Tree Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red Paper: Very Vanilla card stock Accessories: Chocolate Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals This second card was the make & take project. The workshop was outside and it was getting late, so I didn't get all the flowers colored in. And I photo'd it and then gave it away, so it never was completed! But you get the idea...! Supplies: Stamps: Ever After, Friendly Words Jumbo Wheel Ink: Chocolate Chip Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery card stock Accessories: Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens

Sympathy Sketch

Whoo! I got to play a sketch yesterday...even if it was for a sympathy card. (I don't know the person)

I used Jen's SSFYTT this week to make this:

Which I think turned out pretty nicely! It doesn't follow the sketch exactly, the sentiment piece is smaller and therefore not laid across the whole tree strip. But its close and this is what worked for what I had.

Supplies: Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Close as a Memory Ink: Mellow Moss, Close to Cocoa Paper: Mellow Moss, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla Accessories: EE Buttons (retired)

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!

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!

Mojo Christmas Card!

Seriously, do you ever feel like you've dropped off the face of the earth?! Man! I feel like I'm running a million different directions and I haven't even done anything! So today I took my things downstairs so I could do some serious multi-tasking! I got one card done (its noon) and that's gonna be it for now.....

So this comes from Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch. I really liked this one. I had several ideas in my head for what I could do but I knew I wanted to use buttons where she had the stars. I think this card turned out really well, despite crookedness.... *wink* Sorry the picture is so dark...it is snowing today. Do Sienna's boots fit? I dunno. I doubt it. Did I wait til November to find out? Yep. Its just that kinda week, I'm tellin ya..... Anyway, can you see the detail on the buttons? I threaded thin paper strips thru the button holes. Cute, cute.

Supplies:

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Holidays & Wishes Ink: Always Artichoke Paper: Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Ruby Red card stocks Accessories: EE Brads, Fresh Fav I Buttons

Three sketches!

Woohoo for me! I have THREE cards to show you today (enjoy -because tomorrow is all about the family stuff! LOL!)
First, I have a card for Lauren's Saturday Sketch *last week*! It took me most of the week to first of all come up with a plan, not to mention making the card. I liked the sketch so I'm not sure what made it hard for me but maybe just the plain rough week. Anyway, this card is for a sweet friend that I hope will brighten her day. A fabulous looking, non-frazzled mommy! hee hee!

Supplies: Stamps: Minivanabella (Stamping Bella Stamps) Ink: black, More Mustard Paper: Rose Red, Basic Gray, More Mustard, White card stocks Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens, EE Brads, Stamping Sponge, cherry blossom punch
Next is my card for Beate's Weekend Sketch. I sort of cheated and used this DP that has the three chunks of "paper" in one sheet. It comes from the Rock Star Card Elements Kit. The Old Olive textured card base and the blue star come from that kit too. I stamped a little gift on the star and then wondered why...any time I need a little boy card my son makes it anyway...hmm...maybe this'll be HIS! LOL!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lively Little Ones (retired) Ink: Whisper White Craft Paper: Textured Old Olive & Bashful Blue card stocks, Rock Star Card Elements DP
Then finally I have Taylor's Friday Cupcake challenge. This was a fun sketch and I got to use more of my Autumn Vine DP! Cuuute stuff!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree Ink: Really Rust Paper: Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White card stocks, Autumn Vine DP Accessories: 1/2 inch circle punch, EE Brads