Happy November!

Hi again ... it's good to be back so soon!  I've enjoyed this past weekend staying lazy at home and playing with my papers.  Tomorrow is a day out with my daughter since she has the day off from school.  A bit of shopping, lunch, a stop at the craft store ... I'm looking forward to some quality time (just us girls).  I treasure these days because I know they pass so quickly.  She's already talking about colleges and I just can't bear to think of her gone.

On to happier thoughts ... I hope these make you smile.

I'm still working on my photography skills.  There is certainly room for improvement.  How do you take your photos?  Do you use a photo tent?  Do you decorate your background?  How about camera settings?  What one do you use?  There are so many I get confused.  How about editing software?  What attributes do you work with .. Contrast, Sharpen, Crop?

Linda R and Cherry are incredible photographers.  I absolutely LOVE how they put together their scenery and capture just the right angle and lighting.  It makes me "feel" the photo rather than just "see" it.  They are both amazing ... stop by their blogs and I'm sure you'll agree.

Good night.

A Chill in the Air

We have nothing planned this weekend.  That's right ... NOTHING!  It's glorious!  There are few things better than hanging out at home with the wind whistling outside a fire in the fireplace and you're still in your pajamas at 1 o'clock in the afternoon.  Am I right?

How about another "wintery" card?  Created with scraps of Christmas colors, a stamped image and greeting, and a bit of lace and ribbon.  I'm tempted to make a trip to my local craft store but to be honest ... I have sooo much stuff now!  You know how it is, "just one more die set" or "gosh, I need more beads".  I'm trying hard to resist and still wearing my pajamas helps!  

Wishing you treasured memories

Hello friends.  A quick post to share with you this evening, my son is patiently waiting for me to join him.  A baseball game is on, cookies are in the oven, he has his summer reading book in hand (we're on Chapter 22) ... and I have a doily half done.  The simple joys of life are those to be treasured most.

Today's card began with Crumb Cake card stock layered in prints of red and black.  Polka dots and herringbone - pure shabbiness.  A glassine envelope with vintage sheet music tucked inside ... as if it holds a precious carol.  A vintage St. Nick ... something I just "had to have" - it was love at first sight.  Can you blame me?

Layers of embellishments create a charming tag ... more polka dots from Four Frames stamped in the perfect Christmas shade of Riding Hood Red (so easy to create with the Decorative Label Punch), a scrap of natural burlap and two bright red buttons on top ... tied on with white string.  The bow is dyed seam binding, wrinkled to a shabby texture, and the bell is from my "where do I store this?" jar.  (You know the jar ... we all have one.)  Some more vintage goodness is added with Twine and a decorative star pin.

I have another project waiting to be shown .. but for now, I'll finish my doily while I listen to a story ... read by my favorite boy.  Wishing you treasured memories ...

Just Because

Hello friends.  Occasionally you need to do something ... just because.  No challenges, this time I'm creating for friends.  A wonderful group of ladies that spend the afternoon playing with papers, talking and laughing together.  It's our local "artist guild" and we have such fun.  August is our chance to get a head start on the holidays.  I wish you could all come over!

This project never made it to my blog when it was created long ago.  Since our "guild" has already created this beauty, I share it with you here and later on ETSY.  The flower is crocheted and you'll find more corduroy buttons on the Clearance Rack.

This next card uses scraps in shades of red and black along with Crumb Cake card stock.  The stamps are from Winter Post and the sentiment from a retired set.  Some stitching here and there adds interest and a button with Bakers Twine texture.

 

Before I go, thank you Sylvia for the little bird card ... it's adorable!
And thank you all for stopping by.   (Time for some banana bread!)

Holidays ...



Aren't Holiday's a wonderful time of the year?  Any Holiday is fine with me.  It's a reason to gather with friends and family...to celebrate a special occasion ... to talk, laugh, and enjoy each other.  I look forward to the upcoming Holiday season!

I have another Christmas card to share with you.  Strips of Designer Series Papers (Love Letters and Deck the Halls) cover the front of the card.  I am lovin' this look!  The wreath from our Northern Hearts Hostess Set is stamped in Always Artichoke.  Little pearls from our Basic Pearls add dimension.

My seam binding has been dyed with Riding Hood Red ink.  The button is a stray that found it's way into my button drawer.  ("Can I keep it, Mom?")  I used Linen Thread and a Merry old greeting stamped in Riding Hood Red ink (our Jewelry Tag Punch made it easy).  Once again, the Distressing Essentials kit helped soften the edges.

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you visit again soon!  You can see more inspiration at these sites ...

The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge ... the Design Team is featuring "distressing techniques"
The Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge ... has the cutest sketch with a horizontal sentiment and a "centered feature".
Crafty HOs ... red, green, and brown are our color combination this week!
The City Crafter ... they are celebrating Holidays!

Supplies ...
#117162 - Love Letters Designer Series Paper
#120810 - Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper
#120833 - Northern Hearts (wood mounted)
#121145 - Northern Hearts (clear mounted)
#105219 - Always Artichoke Classic ink pad
#111927 - Basic Pearls
#111839 - Riding Hood Red ink refill
#111836 - Riding Hood Red Classic ink pad
#104199 - Linen Thread
#117190 - Jewelry Tag Punch
#118762 - Distressing Essentials


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Red, Cream, Gold and dreaming of Christmas



Hello friends.  I'm so glad you were able to stop by today.  The design team at Colour Create Challenge selected a combination of Red and Gold paired with White or Cream.  Such richness!  I just couldn't resist.  It put me in the mood for Christmas ... which was perfect to participate in the "Christmas colors" theme challenge over at Fussy and Fancy!  Here's what I came up with ...

Aren't the papers just gorgeous?  The main print is from the Deck the Halls paper collection in our Holiday Mini Catalog.  The patterned strips are part of Jolly Holiday papers.  The Cherry Cobbler color was pulled out with the "Merry Christmas" greeting ... it's actually called Christmas Postcard.  I inked the edges a bit with Sahara Sand and Very Vanilla inks.  The image is just beautiful ... maybe the next projects I'll add some coloring!  On to the details....

I'm loving the Big Designer Buttons in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  They are larger than typical and just one is perfect for a project of this size.  Here I used the Cherry Cobbler color from the Deck the Halls collection.  I also used Mini Vintage Tags (in shimmery gold) stamped the letters with Cherry Cobbler and strung them on Linen Thread.  Another challenge this week at All Sorts Challenge was to use three punches.  That's exactly what was used to create my Very Vanilla flower.  Fancy Flower Extra Large, 5-Petal Flower Extra Large, and a small flower punch that has since retired from the Stampin' Up catalog.  After creating the flower, I sprayed it with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz and added a Basic Rhinestone gem.  You can really see the sparkle in the photo below.

Before I go I have to share with you one of my favorite sites.  The designers at Etsy Inspired have found another talented artist.  They feature a new Etsy Shop every week and this lady is "over the top" when it comes to hair accessories.  Just look at these! 

These images are among my favorites.  Do you see that hat?  Can you just imagine OWNING that?!  There is so much more to see at Pegasus Maiden ... I know my daughter wants one of everything!

Thanks for stopping by today.  It's late and time for bed ... sweet dreams!


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Joy ...

I was so inspired by some of the challenge blogs I visited this week, I just had to create another Christmas greeting.  After making Sabrina's banner (see earlier post) I wanted to play with my glitters and this time I had to use red ... it was calling to me.

I started with Whisper White cardstock layered with Old Olive.  My new Distressing Kit came in handy again to antique the edges.  My papers and ribbons are scraps from the drawer.  I think they are the perfect Holiday combination.  A little white button helps to visually balance the flower on the left.

The chipboard frame (from On Board Mix & Match) was first painted in red, then a layer of Mod Podge, and finally topped off with our delicous Chunky Essentials Glitter.  I love it!  I dragged the seam binding across my Chocolate Chip ink pad to give it a shabby look.  JOY was stamped in Cherry Cobbler and punched out with our perfectly petite Jewelry Tag Punch.  See it peeking out from behind the flower?  The flower was hand made with Whisper White cardstock.  I used three different punches - Fancy Flower Extra Large, 5-Petal Flower Extra Large, and a small flower punch for the center.  Misted with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz it really glistens ... click on the image for a better view!  I so enjoy creating these flowers!  What a perfect embellishment for a card wishing loved ones a joyous Holiday Season!

There is more to see at these challenge blogs.  Be sure to pay them a visit and leave a comment or two.

Simon Says Stamp has a terrific sketch to follow ... thanks for helping me put all this together!

ABC Challenge is on the letter Z and they are featuring Zig Zag .. it's not just a stitch!

Stamp Challenges is asking for flowers this week ... I don't think I could do a project without one!

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge is celebrating Christmas ... thanks ladies for the inspiration! 

Tuesday Throwdown is celebrating Christmas ... lots of Holiday spirit at this blog!

Tuesday Taggers another blog that's ringing in the Holidays ... be sure to visit!

I hope you enjoyed today's visit.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ..

#100730 Whisper White cardstock

#100702 Old Olive cardstock

#118762 Distressing Kit

#108797 Chunky Essentials Glitter

#100908 Chocolate Chip Classic Ink

#119669 Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink

#117190 Jewelry Tag Punch

#118073 Fancy Flower Extra Large Punch

#119880 5-Petal Flower Extra Large Punch

#118772 Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz

#119240 On Board Mix & Match Chipboard

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Love the Tulle ...

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Hello everyone!  Today was my Christmas in July Stamp Camp!  Time spent with friends - talking, laughing, and creating our own works of art ... a perfect afternoon.

Here is a simple Holiday card we created today.  It uses Very Vanilla as a base and prints from our Jolly Holiday collection.  Aren't those papers just wonderful?  I've used them time and again as you can see from my earlier posts! 

The sentiment is from Christmas Classics and is stamped in Cherry Cobbler.  Simple red buttons with ribbon ... a few of my favorite things.  And the tulle - LOVE IT!  Ok, so maybe my bow is a tinsy bit big but hey - it's the Holidays and a time to celebrate!

Thanks for stopping by today and I'll see you again soon.

Supplies:
#111566 Christmas Classics
#119669 Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink Pad
#103683 Glue Dots
#117159 Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper


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Strawberries and Creme

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The ladies at Winter Wonderland came up with a delicious challenge this week ... Strawberries and Creme!  Being a "wintery" blog, the projects should be appropriate to the season.  So, off I go digging through my goodies looking for red, vanilla, and white.  What fun!

I used Whisper White as my card base.  Distressed with River Rock ink and stamped with a cute border image from Pedaling Past.  Some old but adorable Holiday paper was also distressed and shaped along one edge with our Scallop Edge punch.

Some lace from my closet and our Real Red Polka Dot ribbon dressed things up a bit.  Two shiny silver jingle bells, some red hemp, a sparkly rhinestone, and a tag created with our Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware was the icing on the cake.  Or should I say "on the strawberries and creme"?  Thanks for the inspiration, ladies!

I hope you enjoyed your visit today, I appreciate you stopping by.  Be sure to see all the yummy Strawberries and Creme at Winter Wonderland.  I'm off to Eclipse this evening ... Team Edward!


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From Our House to Yours

I did it!  I FINALLY am going to mail some Christmas cards!  Of course this brings challenges that I am not used to.  I typically give my cards to people.  Sometimes on the top of a gift, or dropped off at a desk at work, or handed over in person at the school.  But mailing?  No way!  (I'm sure some of you are grinning right now ... and I deserve it!) 

You know how I like to layer and embellish!  "Just one more layer of pattern paper."  "Another button would look great in this corner."  Or ... here's a famous one ... "that bow just isn't big enough!"  No wonder I run out of dimensionals all the time!

You'd be proud of me.  I held back and came up with this.  I admit the house is raised on dimensionals and so is the greeting.  The button might add some bulk too.  Our Stampin' UP buttons lay so nice and flat that I hope it's not a problem.  And look, no big bow!  What do you think?  Does the card "lose" anything?

I'll let you know how it goes at the post office tomorrow.  Wish me luck!