MERRY CHRISTMAS!

~ Wishing you all a very Merry CHRISTmas! What a wonderful time of year to share our blessings with all of our loved ones and feel the blessings in return just being around them. May the remainder of the year bring you new blessings and the new year be a very prosperous and happy one for all! ~

Peaceful Wishes

Here is the card I made for this year. I did manage to get a few out but not a whole lot. I don't know why I was so lazy this year. Anyway, I like this card because it is simple and can be made in a very short time.

Stamps: Peaceful Wishes, A Wish for Peace
Inks: Bashful Blue, Versa Mark
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue
Embellishments: Winter White Embossing powder, sponged ink

Kiwi Kiss with Houndstooth Purse

What an adorable little gift bag! It measures 5-1/4" length, 4-1/4" height and 2-1/4" width. I used the Bigz Top Note die and attached the top flap with 3 small black brads in the back. The front is closed with a Hodgepodge Hardware piece and it fits nicely over a square Rhinestone Brad for the closure. The rhinestone brad is sticking out about 1/8" so the other piece can slip over it. I placed a cute little 4" crystal bud vase in this as a hostess gift for a Christmas coffee and cookie/gift exchange today. I could have made 2 and given this as the gift also!

After having MANY requests for the instructions for this purse I just decided to post it! =] Glad it's a hit.

Here's how to make one:

Take an 8-1/2 x 11 piece of card stock and cut off a 3" X 11" strip and score 1/4" along the 11" sides. Score at 3-1/4 " from each end and snip where the corners will meet. Taper the edges from 1/4" at the bottom to about 3/8" at the top so the top of the purse with the flap will be a little thinner than the bottom. Place Sticky Strip on the outside edges. Attach a jumbo eyelet on either side to make the handle. Take the 5-1/2" x 11" piece and score at 4 -1/4 " from each end. Cut the top (from 1/2" in at the top) at a diagonal to the score to make the angle on the sides. Center and adhere the 3" x 11" to the inside of the 5-1/2" x 11" piece. Use the Bigz die cut for the flap and front decoration. Trim the 'stitched' part off the hounds tooth or piece that will lie on top of the solid Bigz die cut. Sponge the hounds tooth piece edges with Basic Black ink and the base color should be sponged with it's color (Kiwi Kiss on Kiwi Kiss) then adhere together. Score the Bigz die cut at about 1/2" and 2-1/4" then attach to the back of the purse with 3 brads. Adhere the other set of Bigz Die Cut to the front of the purse. Use a piece from the Hodgepodge hardware for the flap closure hook and a brad for the front of the purse closure post. Cut the ribbon to 16" and tie knots on the inside of the jumbo eyelets to secure. Be sure to cover the brads on the inside of the purse with a narrow strip of cs and circle punch to cover the one in the front of the flap! Decorate on fill with a gift or chocolate would be nice, too.

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Night and Day DSP, Basic Black
Stamps: Oval All
Inks: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss
Embellishments: Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Hodgepodge Hardware, Square Ice Rhinestone Brad, Bigz die, Soho Designer Hardware, Large Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch

Groovy Guava Lives

I still love this Groovy Guava cardstock! I think the color is fab so I decided to make my Secret Stamper a neat little card box and 4 gift cards to go inside it. Envelopes included, of course! The colors that I used are Groovy Guava, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White and Soft Sky with sentiments from Trendy Trees, Sweet Little Sentiments, All Holidays and Pocket Silhouettes.

Extreme Skater

Here is my first card with the Extreme Elements set. I love it and just now got it. I was (most of the sets I like do me this way) intimidated by the set thinking I would surely screw it up if I tried it and wouldn't be happy with any of the patterns I made with it but, alas! I got the set, mounted it and this is the first attempt! I absolutely love it! You can't really tell in the photo even when it's enlarged, that the skater is black embossed. Looks much better in person.
Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Basic Black, Baja Breeze
Inks: Mellow Moss, Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black craft, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, VersaMark
Embellishments: Soft Sky Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Amethyst Square Ice Rhinestone Brads, Black Embossing Powder
Stamps: Extreme Elements, Extreme Skateboard, All Holidays

Tis the Season

I had a friend order some Christmas cards so I made several different ones. It is nice to able to put together a lot of simple cards and some look so elegant. Just goes to show that you don't have to overdo things to make them beautiful.

Happy card -
Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White
Inks: Basic Black, Real Red stamp pads, Real Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write pens
Embellishments: 1-1/4" Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Yellow Fire Rhinestone, White Signo pen
Stamps: Big on Christmas
Stamp an extra tree image and cut it out and color it then add Signo popcorn and red decorations then with a few dimensionals adhere it to the original stamped image to make it stand out a bit. Easy and cute!

Peaceful Wishes 1 -
Cardstock: Very Vanilla
Inks: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Soft Sky
Embellishments: Black Embossing powder for the greeting
Stamps: Peaceful Wishes, Snow Swirled
Very simple!

Sparkly and Bright 1-
Cardstock: Real Red textured, Merry Moments and Candy Lane DSP, Chocolate Chip
Inks: Whisper White Craft, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Embellishments: Alpine Ribbon, Red Rhinestone, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch
Stamps: Sparkly and Bright, All Holidays

Sparkly and Bright 2 -
Cardstock: Real Red Textured, Chocolate Chip, Candy Lane DSP
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White Craft
Embellishments: 1-1/4" Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Red Rhinestone, 1-3/4 Circle Punch, 1-3/8 Circle Punch, Eyelet Border Punch
Stamps: Sparkly and Bright, All Holidays

Acetate Card -
This card is a little tougher than the previous ones. Making the cardstock line up just right is always a bit trying!
Cardstock: Acetate, Silver, Orchid Opulence, Whisper White
Inks: White Stazon, VersaMark, Orchid Opulence
Embellishments: Silver Cord, Purple Rhinestones
Stamps: Snow Swirled

Shaker Card -
These cards always intimidated me until I made one. They're fun and so worth it!
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Night of Navy, Acetate
Inks: Whisper White Craft in, VersaMark
Embellishments: Micro Beads, Silver Cord, Silver and Whisper White Embossing powders, Blue Rhinestone Brad, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch
Stamps: Snow Swirled, Best Yet

Teal Trees -
Very easy and appealing!
Cardstock: Taken With Teal, Whisper White, Holiday Lounge DSP
Inks: Taken With Teal
Embellishments: 1" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Soft Suede Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon
Stamps: Delightful Decorations

Peaceful Wishes 2 -
Another easy but beautiful card!
Cardstock: Vellum, Bashful Blue
Inks: White Stazon, VersaMark
Embellishments: Silver Ribbon, Silver Embossing Powder
Stamps: Peaceful Wishes, Snow Swirled

Groovy

I got a little carried away with this card once I got inspired. It's for my sister's birthday this Thursday and I hope she likes it. Main background c/s is textured Kiwi Kiss. Other c/s is Perfect Plum, Yoyo Yellow, Pink Passion, Green Galore. The same color in inks were used. The stamp set is Groovy and many embellishments from many places. Also used beads on the lower peace sign. I think it turned out pretty groovy after all the time I spent on it!

Secret Stamper

Hi everybody. I have a Secret Stamper and look what I received this month! One of the little scary purses (CUTE!!!) m&m's are mysteriously missing. =] Be sure to click on the picture so you can see every yummy detail. I love my last quarter SS already and will have the honor of these type gifts until the end of December. Who's jealous?

A Few Fiends Stopped By . . .

I made a few cards to send and thought I would share what I have made. I will probably do a few more before it's too late to send them.
Twick or Tweet stamp set for the top card using Basic Black, Old Olive and Whisper White cardstock. Cast-a-Spell DSP, Black and White Gingham Ribbon, Basic Black, Old Olive inks and Close to Cocoa Stampin' Write. Sponged Old Olive around the stamped image. Scalloped Oval Punch for the bite mark.
From the Crypt Stamp set. I love it!!! Very creepy but very pretty. Here the main card is in Basic Black cardstock with Pumpkin Pie cardstock and Ribbon. Night & Day DSP. Basic Black ink. Bats are cut out and I used a MS bat punch for a couple also. Orange rhinestones for eyes.
The Twick or Tweet little chick card is a creation from my upline Penny Thomas! I will give the recipe as best as I can. Basic Black cardstock for card and a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Basic Black cardstock to adhere everything to before adhering it all to the card base. Take 2" squares of each Dusty Durango, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry cs and cut in half diagonally for the triangles behind the Night & Day printed window sheet. You will also need the Word Window, Scallop, 1-1/4", 1-3/8" and1-3/4" circle punches. Add White Signo Pen dots to the scalloped edges, 1-1/4" Basic Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and a Mini Library Clip and you now have an adorable Halloween card!

Black and White Man Card

A quick card made for a man birthday. Basic Black card stock with Night & Day DSP, Window Sheet polka dots. Celebrate Everything, Thinking of Father and Sense of Time stamp sets. Whisper White Craft ink, Black Craft ink and Black Embossing powder, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" punches and rhinestones.

One More Butterfly . . .

And here we have a . . .BUTTERFLY card!!! LOL. I am not apologizing for loving the butterflies. This card is for a friend of mine who has anniversary #17 coming up next Saturday. Her wedding was gray and lavender. I used Almost Amethyst and Whisper White. The ribbon is the White Organza I just used the Almost Amethyst Stampin' Write marker to color the edges. BE SURE TO LET IT DRY COMPLETELY BEFORE APPLYIING IT TO YOUR CARD!!! If applied to soon the ink bleeds all over your wonderful creation, ruining it. Yes . . . from experience. Inside is Perfect Details Texture Plate. The acetate is from the Word Windows and of course the butterflies are Bigz Dies Beautiful Butterflies. Ahhh.

Butterflies!!!

I cannot put the butterflies away! Here is another version of the Butterfly Punch card used with Flight of the Butterfly stamp set. CASE-d. I added a little money holder to the inside. I know it looks juvenile. It's for one!!!

Oh, Mummy

I saw this idea on splitcoaststampers and had to give it a try! Sahara Sand card stock makes an old mummy and sponging Sahara Sand ink on the edges makes it even older! Make 3 Pillow Box cuts with the Pillow Box die and the Big Shot. Sponge around all edges. Cut the top so all edges look the same and remove all the tabs from the bottom side. Place Sticky Strip on the long tab and connect the 3 "boxes" together. Make 3 - 5" x 1" strips and adhere 1/4" from the bottom with Sticky Strip. Cut 2 - 4" circles and Sticky Strip them on the top and bottom of the support strips to create a nice finish. Tear strips from the Sahara Sand card stock and sponge the edges then Sticky Strip the end pieces only to the basket. For his eyes I used Bravo Burgundy and the 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Sahara Sand with the 1" Circle punch then I slide these across with Bravo Burgundy ink to make them bloodshot and finally in Basic Black punch with 1/2" Circle Punch. SNAIL these together and adhere where you like them. Punch slits on the sides with Horizontal Slots Punch. It has to be ounched then scooted over a bit and punched again to make a nice opening for the 11" x 3/4" handle. Slide the handle through the slots then bend and secure with large eyelets or brads. Place a nice ribbon like the 1 1/4" Stripe Grosgrain in black, fill with candy and VOILA! A yummy mummy!

Priceless Butterflies

I had lunch with my Bako ladies yesterday and in the chat that flew around discovered that one of them has a birthday on the 7th just like my dad! Well, I had to get busy and make her a card you know. I had run across a similar concoction on www.splitcoaststampers.com and decided I would just steal that idea and torque it around until it was mine so here it is! I used Old Olive card stock and embossed Priceless swirlies in winter white. I got the Butterfly Punch and went to town on the Bali Breeze DSP punching 2 butterflies from each page until I had a butterfly from all the color choices and attached them using the mini glue dots. Bend their wings up so they look like they're flying. On the inside I embossed with winter white again with Flight of the Butterfly and stamped the small butterfly and flowers in Old Olive for a nice background. Sorry I failed to get a shot of that before I mailed the card. It looks nice. Maybe I can get her to upload a shot of it when she gets it. =] I like how this card turned out and it was so simple and quick! I may make a few more for giggles.

Lovely as a Tree

My Dad has a birthday on the 7th and after I made this card for him I realized that the last card I sent him was also a tree themed card. He was in the lumber business for most of his life so I guess it is fitting for me to gravitate toward trees when I think of him. This is a More Mustard card stock stamped with the Weathered stamp in Chocolate Chip. The tree is embossed in black and colored with Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Markers and water dabbed over then blotted off. I distressed the edges then moistened them to create the aged effect of the paper and sponged More Mustard and Chocolate Chip sparingly over the image after it dried. Chocolate Chip card stock is the shadow and I used 4 orange Circle Fire Rhinestone brads one in each corner and adhered it to the card stock with Sticky tape because of the brads and I didn't want to use dimensionals here. Chocolate Chip satin Ribbon makes a nice bold background for the More Mustard punched with a 1-1/4" circle punch and sponged with Chocolate Chip ink then topped with a Very Vanilla 1" circle punch and the greeting from Save the Date is stamped in Chocolate Chip and sponged in More Mustard and a tad of Chocolate Chip and applied with Stampin' Dimensionals. Inside is more images from the Lovely as a Tree set stamped in, you got it, Chocolate Chip! I hope my dad likes this one!

Congratulations!

This will not happen often but it did happen and I like it although it uses non- Stampin Up! DSP and ribbon. I apologize for that but I really like this card anyway. This card was inspired by one of my good friends passing her American nursing exam on the first try! I am impressed when anyone can do anything on the first try and succeed. The card stock is River Rock and Regal Rose. Gold embossing with Great Grads and a River Rock stitched grosgrain ribbon. Inside Basic Black was used to stamp the greetings also from Great Grads. Gold brads embellishments.

Thinking of Father

So here I go again. I remembered very late that I had 3 birthdays zooming into the coming week and had to get to getting to get these made and sent on time. This is a man card for my nephew made with a gold embossed Print Pattern background on More Mustard card stock. Bravo Burgundy adds colorful back drops for Very Vanilla card stock stamped with the Thinking of Father stamps in Chocolate Chip and sponged over in Bravo Burgundy and More Mustard inks. A metal edged tag has the same effects on it. I used 2 gold eyelets to secure the twine and a 1/2" circle punch for the extra support behind the eyelet.

I'm baaack

Alrighty, then. After 17 1/2 hours of travel yesterday I have finally arrived at my cozy little home! The travel included a 3 hour train ride, 1/2 hour train ride, 6 hour lay over, 2 planes and a truck to get home. I really enjoyed the train rides. Not at all what I expected and I think I would love a cross country trip on a train. Very pleasant. I know, I know get on with the cards! I shall and will post as they emerge.

I'll be back

One of my best friends passed away Sunday evening so I will be in Texas for a couple of weeks. I'll post new things in October.

Cowabunga Bears

Here's another spin on da bears.
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Ink: Mambo Melon, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Blush Blossom, Pink Passion, Basic Black, Craft White
Other: Filigree brad blossom with yellow Circle Fire rhinestone brad, 2 - way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Stampin' Dimensionals

Imperfections

You know, I thought I was a perfectionist, but when I see my card photos close up I see things that I didn't when taking the photo or making the card. I can't believe I made a card that a dimensional is visible. Boy, my inner perfectionist must be on vacation. I see a spot on the pink card but after seeing it I was able to blow it off because thank goodness, it was a ribbon fray but then, what the heck? I see streaks on my bear card and haven't an idea what would have caused that unless I had glue streaks or something on my wrist when applying the 'stars'. Ok, I fixed it. It was some glue streaks so you should not see them now. Maybe I'll fix the rest and repost the new photos and delete this blog altogether. =] Then again, no, it wouldn't be fair to let you think that I, a flawed individual, was absolutely perfect. This note is to let you know that, yes, I do see the sloppies and I promise to NEVER post a card less than perfect on this blog ever again. Witches honor! If I do please feel free to call me on it, I mean, it should be no less than gorgeous,right?

Under the Stars

I LOVE this stamp set. I have seen so many things done with it in entirely different areas. I will make a few more later today to show what I mean. I have a BIL having a bday later this month and he likes to camp so I thought I would do something with the bear and racoon. I need a tent! This is my first play with this set so if you're not crazy about this card just hang on there, I may do something that you like later!
Cardstock:Handsome Hunter, Sahara Sand, Going Gray, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery
Inks: Basic Black, Night of Navy, Craft White, Sahara Sand, Brocade Blue, uni-ball Signo Gel Pen (teeth and eyes), Mellow Moss
Stamps: Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Under the Stars, Lovely as A Tree, Just Beachy
Embellishments: 2 - way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Stampin' Dimensionals
All products from Stampin' Up!

Eastern Bella

A simple card. I bought the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder a while back and just used it for the first time here. I think I like it. I saw an item while web shopping that had this fab color combo and knew I had to make a card with it!
Cardstick: Pink Passion, Basic Black, Whisper White
Inks: Pink Passion, Basic Black
Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Bella's Bloom
Ribbon: Black Gingham
Embossing Folder: Elegant Bouquet

Direction of Your Dreams

So, I have this dilemma: I love Decor Elements but I was not so sure about putting them on my wall because if I ever had to move, which is possible since my dh is in oil and gas, then I would have to leave my beautiful creation behind. That made me think again. Off I went to find a frame of a strange size that no one would make unless they wanted to frame the Decor Elements that I did so I had to compromise. Turns out it was a good compromise. I did buy a photo frame that had spots for 4 pictures so out came my Exact-o knife and the 3 dividers were cut away. It was very nerve racking but I managed to do a pretty god job. I'm pleased with the finished product but it still needs a little something, I haven't decided what . . . feel free to suggest here!
Decor Elements: Direction of Your Dreams (small) in Chocolate Chip
DSP: Kaleidoscope
Ribbon: Soft Sky Stitched Grosgrain (retired)

Cork Shadows

Here is an 8 x 10 shadow box - add some Whisper White cardstock, cut a 2" frame all around, stamp with the French Script stamp in Basic Black. I added a Pretties flower and punched 3 5-Petal Flower punches in Real Red then punched a 1/2" circle of Night & Day DSP and stuck it to a Build-A-Brad for the center. The ribbon is Real Red Grosgrain. The corks are Velcro-ed and can be repositioned or changed.

Something for wine corks

Since moving to California I have become something of a wine drinker. ;) Now with all this tasting and all these corks - I can't seem to be able to throw the darn things away. It's like a souvenir or something or just bad karma to throw them out, so I keep them. All. I've been in California for a little over a year and have a significant supply of corks. These are the ones that we have drank at home with friends or a bottle with dinner or a bottle with a bath or - you get it. The ones that opened with a meal out with friends goes home with whoever buys the bottle. Ok to the point! What am I supposed to do with these little corks? I'm thinking then one day I get an idea and I am putting it together tonight so you'll have to wait until the sun comes up so I can get a good shot of it. I like it and it's inexpensive and it looks good. Now, I didn't use all of them, in fact, I only used 8. Just so you know.

DVD Calendar

Here is a little something I made for family and friends and of course, I had to make one for myself! You get a DVD case and take the movie stuff out of it then take a piece of Basic Black cardstock and place it on the back cover. The calendar pages go in the front cover and I made them so I can print off calender months for the next year so they can be replaced and used indefinitely. Just use you imagination and the months will all be so cute! I love them all. The background (DSP) for each month and back cover (in Basic Black) measures 5-1/8" x 7-1/4". Calendar is 2-1/2" x 3-1/4" shadows are 2-3/4" x 3-1/2" and 3" x 3-3/4". Be sure to highlight the holidays and maybe use a single different color for birthdays throughout the year.

Circles Tree

This is my original design that I used for the Convention swap this year. (If you CASE this please give me credit and a link. ) I made 100 of these buggers so I am a little weary of the stamp sets used. They'll come back into my heart just not too soon. The main cardstock is So Saffron, and the accents are Always Artichoke, Old Olive and Very Vanilla cardstock. Background is stamped in So Saffron with the Print Pattern large stamp. The tree is from Thoughts and Prayers and is stamped in Chocolate Chip. Stamp a bunch of images from Circle Circus in Old Olive on Old Olive then punch out with the punches that coordinates to the size of the circle image. Add a stamp of your choice for the sentiment. Here I used the HB from It's Your Birthday in Chocolate Chip. You can add embellishments such as the rhinestone brad or a ribbon or both. The more stuff the better! I put a Stampin' Dimensional under the rhinestone circle to make it stand out more.

For A Friend

These colors just compliment the snot out of each other! (This DSP will probably be used well in my craft room.) The cardstock it's made with is Orchid Opulence, Old Olive, Whisper White and DSP Cottage Wall. The sentiment is from All Holidays and it is embossed in clear then Orchid Opulence is sponged over it. I then added some Elegant Eggplant and Old Olive grosgrain ribbon.

Pocket Silhouettes

I saw these cards on Splitcoast and had to make them. They are sooo cute and easy! I thought they needed a little something extra so I added the ribbon. =] These will be my next Coffee and A Card project. I think the ladies will love them. I know I do and I can spit these babies out very quickly. They are great for spur of the minute cards, don't use much of anything and look great being minimalists!

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, DSP Night & Day Specialty
Ribbon: Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery all 1/4" Grosgrain
Punches: 1-3/8" Circle, Scallop Edge