Serenity Now

Whew, I am running around like a crazy woman today, so I think I need to take a deep breath and quote that line from Seinfeld....."serenity now"...!  LOL!  I haven't had time to stamp yet today, so I am just showing you a couple quick photos of the cards we did for my last Christmas Card Stamp Camp.  Again, I always make these cards kind of simple so that the brains aren't drained too much!

Alas, the card on the left here looks like it has a black panel, but it is really Handsome Hunter!!

Just a hint for using the Patterned Pines stamp set, shown on the right card:  I cut the trees apart into three separate stamps; pulled off the original foam backing and remounted them on EZMount.  Now I can use them on an acrylic block and get a lot more use from them!  Not rocket science, but I used to be afraid to cut up my stamps and do something different!  This way, I could position one tree pointing up and one pointing down on the block--they "nested" together ---and stamp them on one piece of (smaller) cardstock.    Then my customers just cut them out and layered them on the Bravo Burgundy.  I really like this color combo, too!

Well, off to my chores and hopefully some stamping later on!  Thanks for visiting today!

Color Throwdown Challenge #69

Cathy is our hostess with the mostest this week, and I couldn't wait to play with these wonderful colors of Cream, Dark Red, Chocolate and Olive! 

Be sure to check out the CTD blog where you can see all the details about today's sponsor and giveaway!!  Link your own card there via Mr Linky so we can see everyone's wonderful creations as well.   You never know, you may be chosen as our Featured Stamper!  So on to my card:

Oooh, I just fell in love with this Santa the minute I saw him in all his vintage-y sweetness!  To fit him all in, I made my card a bit larger than usual size,  6.75 x 4.5".  He is stamped on Naturals Ivory in Memento  Brown and colored lightly with SU pastels, then cut out with the Top Note diecut.    I sponged the edges for some more of that nice vintage look.  The background papers are from a MME's scrapbook paper kit called The Merry Days of Christmas; this is one sheet, both sides being used.  I added some retired SU Riding Hood Red ribbon, a button and some glittery greenery.  Too bad you can't see it so well, but Santa's beard is snowy and glittery too:

Well, take my word for it......it's glittery!

 

 

 

 

Santa and the sentiment are both from Flourishes; I finished the sentiment on the inside:

 

by stamping the words on another Naturals Ivory panel, cutting it out with a Nestie, then mounting it on a panel from the scrapbook kit that I "antiqued" to go along with the vintage feel of Santa.  I also stamped an envelope I had left over from some old Christmas cards.  Yep, that's me.....green (or should I say red!).

 

 

So stop on over to the CTD blog to see what the other designers have come up with!  If you have any questions about anything here, just shoot me an email!  Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!

Gosh, I just love this card....I think I'll just keep it for myself! :D

Diva Coffee Break Challenge #154

Welcome, everyone!  Today's challenge is a color challenge:

Well, this card gave me fits all the way! First, I realized I used the wrong color of blue.....AFTER I had finished the card, photographed it and set up my blog post.  SO....back to the drawing board.  Then, photographing the second one....I just could not get the colors true!   So just bear with me if it's not the best!  I think I am still recovering from my Stampin' Around Philly weekend! 

For my simple little card today I used the set Always:

 

The heart and little flowers have been stamped in Bordering Blue craft ink and embossed with clear embossing powder; I also shaded the heart a little with some pastels.    I have also stamped the berry in Real Red around the edge of the circle, but you can barely see it here.  My sketch is  from  Everything But the Kitchen Sink:

Very cute cards on their blog, too!  But make sure you also check out the DIVA blog, where you can link your very own card to Mr Linky there, and possibly be chosen as our Featured Stamper!  So let's see what you can do with these colors!!! Stamp on!

• Stamps:  Tres Chic, Always, Short & Sweet
• Paper:  Sage Shadow, Night of Navy, Bordering Blue, Real Red, Whisper White
• Ink:  Real Red, Night of Navy, Craft Bordering Blue
• Acc:  Clear EP, Heat Tool, Circle Nestie, 1/2" Circle Punch, Pastels, Gingham Ribbon, Playground Button (my last red one :o) 

Lazy Cards

This is what you make when you are :

• lazy
• behind schedule
• mojo-less
• in a hurry

You grab Pocket Silhouettes, cut up some 4x5 note cards, a pad of Patterns DP and a couple of punches and make some lazy cards:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I apologize for the terrible quality of these pictures...I don't know if it is my camera or my DH's computer---everything just looks awful to me.  In case you can't tell, the colors are Mellow Moss and Really Rust with Always Artichoke and Dusty Durango accents.  Now I am off to set up for my stamp camp!  Be sure to come back tomorrow for some Color Throwdown---and something a tad bit more exciting than this!!! :D

A Couple Challenges

I squeaked out another card this afternoon; this one fulfills the JUGS7 technique challenge, which is to use dry embossing on a birthday card, and the Saturday Sketch Challenge from Stamping 411:

 

 

 

 

 

 

My dad's birthday is on Thanksgiving this year, and as much as I would have loved to put a turkey on his card (and he would have laughed about it) I decided to make a "nice" card for him:

Now I don't have to worry about making a card along with my pies and all my other Thanksgiving goodies!  Enjoy!   If you have any questions, just shoot me an email; all products are SU!

Vera Bradley Christmas

Today's SCS challenge is to use a Vera Bradley pattern as your inspiration.  Vera Bradley bags are VERY popular with all the girls and women at my church, but I have not been "blessed" with owning one....somehow the cost offsets the desire!  But I admire them and love the paisley patterns she offers!  So I used this pattern, Frankly Scarlet,  as my inspiration for my little chickadee Christmas card:

Both the DP and image are from Crafty Secrets; sentiment is from Flourishes.  The DP has been embossed with a CB folder (the name escapes me!) and my image was lightly watercolored.  I am not sure how "clean & simple" this is, but it didn't take me very long! 

My computer's wireless router bit the dust yesterday--at least I am hoping that's what it is, since everything else works fine, so I am running up & down the stairs to the basement to use DH's!!  If anything, I should be in better shape (!!!) by the time I get my computer guy to check it out!  Plus his is MUCH faster than mine!  What a difference...hmmm, maybe it IS my computer.  Just a shout out also to all my stamp club girls who met yesterday for a little party/get-together at my home.  No, of course I didn't take pictures.....too busy feeding my face!  But I will show you a cute little goodie one of my clever stampers gave me:

I know this is not a very good picture, but it is a GIANT chocolate bar, made into a snowman, complete with a black knit cap made from a pair of gloves!  I NEED those gloves!  Isn't he cute?  She is so clever!  Thanks, MaryAnne!

 

 

 

 

 

And here is a quick peek at the gift-wrapped packages they received:

 

I wheeled the brown paper packaging that comes in my SU boxes with Chocolate Chip ink and various wheels, then wrapped them in the wide striped ribbon.  Oops, forgot to show you the tags:

 

 

Cut with a Nestie label die using a folded piece of Kraft cardstock.

 

 

Hey, the sun is finally shining here in SE PA, so I think I'll hang some laundry on the line!  Thanks for visiting today!

Thankful for Friends of Faith Blog Hop

Hi everyone!  I was asked to participate in a "Thankful for Friends of Faith" Blog Hop!  Of course, I said yes!  So here are the details:

Welcome to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine's A Faith Perspective Thankful for Friends Faith Blog Hop. Today, we're out in force on the internet -- showing our faith and giving the glory to God. United, we stand as Christian paper crafters and blog owners to make a presence on the internet for all to see. We're celebrating the theme of friends and we're happy to share our projects with you based on the verse:

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. " Ecc4:9-10a

If you're just joining in on the fun, you can find the start of the train here.  First, we would like to take a moment to thank our generous co-sponsors: Layers of Color Stamps, Gina K Designs Stamps and Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps. Together with Scrapbook News and Review Magazine, these companies have donated some wonderful prizes for today’s blog hop.

Prizes? Oh, yeah! There will be three lucky grand prize winners for today’s event.

To enter, simply hop to the blogs of all of the participating staff members of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine, take note of the staff member’s name, and leave a comment on their posts. Then send us an email at
games@scrapbooknewsandreview.com listing each of the staff members who participated in today’s hop. It’s that easy. All entries must be received by Monday, November 16, 2009 at 12 noon, EST and three winners will be randomly chosen to win.

What are the prizes?

One $100 gift certificate from Layers of Color Stamps AND a 6 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.

One basket of goodies -- four stamp sets from Gina K Designs and a 6 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.

One set of digital stamps from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps and a 3 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.

In addition, every participating staff member of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine will offer a free one-month subscription to the magazine to one of their lucky visitors by simply  leaving a comment on their blog. That's a lot of chances to win, so let’s get to the Hop! 

So here's my card:

I chose to use some bright, fun DP from Cosmo Cricket sewn to a Certainly Celery mat, then adhered to a So Saffron card base.  Since the patterns are busy, I kept my design very simple.  The computer-generated scripture theme verse was die cut with a Nesties 4 label; the mat behind it is simply two of the same Nesties layered in a staggered fashion--a great way to get some extra mileage from your Nesties!  I also made my own button to top off my gingham bow:

I cut it using SU's Button diecut, then layered it on a couple more cardstock buttons and added some Crystal Effects!  Three little brads on my sentiment finish my card.  And here's the inside, using a sentiment from PTI's Quilter's Sampler Sentiments:

I have a pretty good idea where this card will be sent!  Thanks so much for visiting today!!  The next stop on this blog hop is: Lorie Souther.  Be sure to stop by and see her project and say hi!!  Blessings to you all!