Yeah it's the weekend!

Hey there!  I know I have been missing this week with posts but life calls.      ;-)  I am really starting to fret over this holiday coming upon me too fast!  I am such a procrastinator with shopping.  I keep thinking, well I'll get it later.  But it's later and I have not one person checked off my list.  I have sent exactly 5 Christmas cards.  That's it.  Pathetic huh?  I make them and yet I have not sent nearly enough out.  This weekend I am booked with Christmas engagements so it might be New Year's cards I will send.  I am still waiting to get the "perfect" shot of my daughter for a card.  She has the Pageant of Peace next week where the National Tree is and will be singing with her choir which means ideal picture opportunity. 
Two cards to share today.
First is my Penny's [Paper-Craft creation using a really cute penguin from Fairy Dust Crafts.  I just started working with the design team at Penny's and let me tell you these ladies are fantastic!  Super fun and talented!  Courtney is so organized (a 2012 goal for me)and has all of challenges for the next year laid out.  Wow!  Pop over here to see the cutest and loveliest designs created using these images here.

I kept this really simple and sweet because I think the image is just too cute to distract from.  I actually used some paper scraps for this one which made me happy because the tiniest of pieces are being used and not wasted.  I colored the image with a grey marker and highlighted with white gel pen.  I used Martha Stewart fine glitter for the ice accents.  His ear muffs are covered in blue flocking but you can't see it too well.  Lots of texture on my snowy friend.  I cut him out and popped him up with pop dots to give a shadow effect. 
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
A Spoonful of Sugar: #144 A Christmas Card
Creative Card Crew: Anything Goes
Daring Cardmakers: Snow Much
Digital Tuesday: #88 Tis the Season
Lollipop Crafts: #19 Welcome Winter
Penny's: #44 Merry Christmas
Pixie Dust: #52 Let It Snow
Tuesday Throwdown: CAS

My last card I did with lots of color so be forewarned.  I was feeling a little daring and thought it would be great to mix prints and colors.  This week at Crafty Creations, Purple Panda Designs offered the design team really cute teddy bear images to work with.  The designer of PPD is Kayla, a 16 year old with lots of ambition!  You can find her amazing artwork here. I chose this one because it reminds me of Garfield's Pooky with a mix of Alfa from Little Rascals. :-)  You should see the rest of the design team's designs.   Go here to view.

So I decided to print my little fella on red and pink polka dot paper and cardstock and paper piece.  I used Creative Imaginations papers mixed with some cardstock pieces I had in my spare draw (again) and then stitched around the edges for some texture.  I added an orange bow for because everything looks better with a bow right?  He's all wrapped up and ready to go. 

The challenges for this card are:

Card Patterns:#93 Sketch

Craft Your Passion: #35 Anything Goes

Crafty Creations:  #97 Bear

Digi Doodles: #37 Animals

Stamp Something: Digi

Totally Papercrafts: #46 Paper Piecing

I almost forgot my advent swap pix!

#6 is a clever box indeed!  It comes from Marcia. 

This was inside Marcia's box:

 isn't this beautiful?  She hand stamped repeatedly the sentiment and brackets on this linen fabric!  Love it!

Number 7 is gorgeous with it's silver and gold details!  Kelly made this beauty with a resin pin as the gift inside. 

The fabulous #8 came from Jan and she altered the tiny puzzle piece for the inside.  It will make a great pendant on a necklace. 

#9 is from Pam at with these two cute ornaments (which my daughter thinks are the sooooooooo cute!)  and a really cool bead at the bottom. 

and that's it.  Yep, I am done for the night.  I so need to get caught up on my house and decorating.  Take care!

My "Odd" Christmas card and advent boxes

Hey, I am back with a card to share and some advent matchboxes.

I won over at Raise the Bar a few weeks back and was asked to design a card for this week's challenge which was "trees".  I pulled out some odd papers to use because I refuse to buy more Christmas papers and seriously need to make a dent in my paper collection.  I also decided to use an older stamp set from last year.  I used 2S4Y sketch this week and went to town creating this.  I was a little unsure about how the card would turn out. The bright green cardstock was too harsh so I used my PTI distressing inks to tone it down.  I cut some circles with my pinking shears and then layered for a dimensional effect. 

My card is for the following challenges:

2S4Y: #67 "Sketch"

Artful Inkables: #34 "Punches"  I used my circle punches

Challenge Up Your Life: "Christmas"

Paper Cutz: #70 "2 pattern papers"

Raise the Bar: #46 "Trees"

The Paper Players: #27 "Christmas"

Totally Stampalicious: "Anything Goes"

 The 3rd box is from Jenna at Corgi Pants

I like these little Christmas stamps she included.  The fabric is really sweet with wooden toy soldiers on it.  She also included the resin star ornament.

#4 is from Michelle and Ashley:

Is that snowman ornament not the cutest?  I love the silver leaves they used to adorn the box.  Inside the box they lined the box with gold glitter.  So sparkly!

#5 is from Sherry:

Now this little stocking just made me smile to the nil degree!  I love miniature items. I can't imagine sewing these!  Wow!  The outside mimics the inside gift perfectly! 

That's it for now.  Off to do some shopping.  Ugh.  Why can't I stay home and shop online like everyone else?  Because I am total tactile person and need to touch the item and be sure it is of sound quality.  :-)  I know, I am an odd one.  ;-)

Holly Joy and Advent Swap matchboxes

Okay the week has really gone by faster than imagined! We are knee deep in Christmas at school and at my home...well not so much. I think I honestly get overloaded with it at work and then when it comes to home I am like, "eh." I know, how terrible is that? DD has been promised this weekend the tree will go up so I will be doing that and changing out some Fall decorations before she returns. She's on the Disney Cruise right now enjoying some sun. I just spoke with her and she said she had been swimming and was heading to the Golden Mickey's show. I miss her and it's only been a day. Whatever will I do when she leaves for college? I am reminded of the book "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch with the Mom climbing in the boy's window to rock him at night and sing her song. I think most people have read the book and if you haven't then please do but bring a few tissues if you are the sentimental type.
My card for MSW's card challenge this month is one of joy. Literally entitled, "Joy" and I used lots of different companies to compose it. I like when I do this because it makes me think a little more. I remember when there weren't collections of paper, just a single sheet for and they weren't distressed or two sided. Anyone been scrapping that long to remember those days?

Okay so this card uses craft cardstock, Martha Stewart and Hero Arts stamps, a Uni Ball white pen, Queen & Co. rhinestones, and AC buttons.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Christmas Stampin': #72 "Anything Goes"
Crafty Sentiments: #45 "Christmas"
MSW: Sketch
Paper Playtime: #27 "Christmas Carol" (Joy to the World)
Stamp and Create: #7 "Tis the Season"
Stamps R Us: #10 "Christmas"

I participated in a Advent matchbook swap hostessed by Linda at A Swap For All Seasons which was lots of fun.  Thanks to Linda for organizing this huge swap and including some goodies!  Here is day 1 made by Wendy:

Not pictured is the cute little rocking horse ornament found inside. The box is covered in fabric and then pleated gold lame ribbon on ends accent with a gold wire hanger Very cute! Thank you Wendy!

Day #2 is made by Jan:

How elegant is this? I love the little violin on the front. Inside she padded with fabric and included these angel ear rings. Just beautiful! Jan you truly make beautiful pieces!

I am going to do my best to post all 25. I know I won't everyday but will try and do multiple posts like this. :-) What a fun swap this was!

Season's Greetings

Happy Wednesday!  Or should I say Happy 1st day of December!  Are you ready for Christmas?  I'm not!  I will admit it gleefully.  Okay maybe not so happily because I do have tons to do before it arrives.  I promised DD that I would set the tree up and she could decorate it this weekend.  I just couldn't muster the energy last weekend.  Instead, I procrastinate by spending time designing cards and altered items.  In my mind, I have been on Christmas for months now.  I am trying to remember the reason for the season so to speak and focus on family.
This is a gift card I made for a Not So Secret Santa swap I am in.  My partner loves vintage and I knew the Melissa Frances papers would be perfect.  I used craft cardstock as my base and then piled on some MF goodies.  Of course I needed some shimmer!  The blue star is AC cardstock.  I put a ribbon of Martha Stewart glitter around the journal tag and then cut down a MF ticket sentiment for the center. 

Here is the inside of the card laying flat:

I made a pocket which you kinda see better in this picture but it's turned on it's side so be forewarned.

My card is for the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.: "Christmas Presents"

Card Patterns: #92 "Sketch"

City Crafter:#33 "Blue Christmas"

Crafty Creations: #96 "Gift Card Holder"

Paper Play: #47 "Stars"

Pollycraft: "Chipboard" Journaling tag

Tuesday Throwdown: "Embellish"

Warm Winter Wishes

Hey there!

It's Sunday and I am back with another holiday card.

Our latest challenge at Sentimental Sundays is 3 designer papers, 3 buttons, and ribbon.  Since I am addicted to pattern papers, I had plenty to select from.  I grabbed another Graphics Fairy image and merged it with a Raindrop Echo sentiment.  FYI: next week several new digital sets will be released at Whimsy Stamps and they are amazing!  A few designers used them this week for their cards so you can get a sneak peek at here. 

I used Jenni Bowlin papers paired with Recollections kraft paper, Autumn Leaves clear buttons, a snowflake punch and scallop border punch, Martha Stewart baker's twine, and a piece of navy grosgrain ribbon. 
I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
The Pixie Cottage: #46 and "Let It Snow"
Crazy 4 Challenges: #65  "Use Script"
Sentimental Sundays: #31 "Recipe"
Cupcake Inspirations: #87 Photo
CES Challenge: 'Vintage Christmas"

Thanks for coming by!

Joy and whoopee pies!

Hey everyone!  It's Friday so that means I have a few days to kick back!  No Black Friday shopper here.  I feel very fortunate to say that there was nothing I needed to be up at 3:00 AM and waiting in line for this morning.  My daughter put 3 items on her list for her Secret Santa we do every year with my family: coat, piano music, candy.  Interesting huh?  I knew she wanted piano music because we have been searching the net looking for sheet music to various Christmas songs.  The candy I am not so sure about.  She seems to think I limit her intake of this too much.  We just went to Trader Joes' and I  bought her  peppermint whoopee pies .  Okay, maybe they were for both of us.  I would eat one of these over candy any day!
Pretend there is a picture here of the whoopee pies.  I hope to get one before they are gone!  Instead I share a yummy gingerbread card I made.

I made this today with the holidays on my mind.  I really like to bake cookies, breads, and muffins at Christmas time.  I am gearing myself up for this with a card using a gingerbread stamp.  What a delightful smell gingerbread omits while baking!  My DD loves to decorate the people when they come out.  We usually make a gingerbread house as well.  Strangely she does not care for the candy we use to construct a candy wonderland though.  I was just thinking, we have never used Nerds though.  I guess we need try that.  :-)
My card for today was created with no holiday paper.  I love when I can muster the mojo to do this.  It seems I sometimes get stuck and think I can only use Christmas paper when. making a Christmas card.  So not true. 
I need to get some things taken care of quickly and just realized the time.  Eeek!  More later! 

Challenges for my card:
2S4Y: # 66 sketch
A Spoonful of Sugar: #131 "Anything Goes"
Belli Challenge: #105 "R embellishments" ribbon and rhinestones
CR84FN5:  color scheme using this photo
Lollipop Crafts: "Christmas"
Papertake Weekly: "Cut It Out"  cut image out and used punches
Stamp and Create: #7 "Tis the Season"
Stampin B's : #86 "Holiday card"

Thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Sunday

A glorious Fall weekend here!  I hope it's the same where you live.  :-)  In less than a week my family will gather to share a feast of thanks for all the good Lord has bestowed upon us.  I feel incredibly blessed knowing my family will have a lovely dinner but always feel for those that are struggling to meet ends.  I like to support a local food drive for those in need.   I often wonder where my donations will end up but mostly I hope it brings a smile and nourishment to those receiving.  I encourage you to support a food drive in your area.  Most churches and schools will provide a box or pantry to drop goods off.  We have a local organization in Northern Virginia, Food for Others, that will accept, food, funds, or time.  So no need to fret if you can't give a dollar amount.  Your time is appreciated.  I love this! 

Today my card  for Sentimental Sundays features a sentiment from Raindrop Echo Designs  (of course!) that is incorporated onto a digital image from The Graphics Fairy.

I used a leaf doily in a burnt orange, olive green and cream cardstock, and MME Lush flocked pattern paper.  I did a little stitching and distressing with ink and scissors to make a vintage inspired card.  I found some seam binding I bought ..6 years ago.. gasp!  Talk about unused products.  I found it at MJ Designs.  Does anyone remember when Michael's was called this?  It may well  be over 6 years!  I just know I bought it at my old house and that's been quite a bit of time ago. I tied a double bow with an orange Autumn Leaves buttons.    I then used Platinum Stickles to accent the mum. 

My card is for the following challenges:
Creative Stamp Friends: #12 "Vintage" Mum image
For Fun: "Turkey Day Every Day
Gingersnaps: #79 "Stitching"  around the olive green cardstock
Papertake Weekly: "Autumn"  what says Autumn more than a  beautiful mum? 
Raise the Bar: #45 "Grateful"  sentiment
S2G: #83 "Thanks with leaves" leaf doily and sentiment
Sentimental Sundays: "Thanks or Thanksgiving" sentiment is from "Gratitude" set
Stamp Something: "Something with Thanks" sentiment

Thank you for stopping by!