Wonderful Friend

My last card for today is one I finally completed for the JUGS Color Challenge #8, and the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch #126:

I had an embossed heart from Always laying on my desk (I am in clean-up mode) from a Diva challenge where I used the wrong color, so I thought I would incorporate it into my card:

An interesting sketch; I struggled a little with it and the colors, although these are some of my favorites!!  The heart was stamped in Bashful Blue craft ink, then embossed with clear embossing powder. I used Bashful Blue ink and an aquapainter to wash some color over the embossing for shadowing & depth.   Papers are from the Hostess Patterns III pack; you may be able to see the floral pattern from Boho Backgrounds stamped on the Bashful Blue panel at the bottom.  I was asked in an earlier post what white ink I use, but there was no email address to which I could reply; I almost always use SU's Craft White ink, which is what I used here and on my Top Note snowman's snowflakes!  The sentiment is also from Boho Backgrounds, it is not a set I use very often, but I should!  The three little flowers have some non-SU bling added to the centers.

Thanks for visiting today, I am so glad you did! 

Just Foolin' Around

My Curves manager had a little "craft show" at her facility yesterday, so I took some cards and did pretty well, for an impromptu event!  I also took along some new Waltzingmouse sets that I won at Stampin' Around Philly and played around with them a little bit.  My supplies were limited, and I got some little fuzzies on Mr Snowman here, but I was able to redeem him a bit and made him into a quick little card once I got home, using some bits & pieces I had laying on my desk:

 

I didn't glitter him up, but I did use some little tiny crystals I also won at SAP, and added them to the little snowflakes that I stamped on a RAK panel that I received from Carol!  Thanks again, Carol!  Unfortunately, I cannot link back to Claire's Waltzingmouse site, but if you have trouble locating it, just shoot me an email.

Here's another, using the holly image, a scrap piece of Real Red, and some Jolly by Golly DP:

Again, these were done with limited supplies & colors, but I really had fun with this set and look forward to playing with my others!  Stop back tomorrow for some CTD and DIVA fun!!!

One Fast Turkey

The CAS challenge at SCS today was to do sponging.....one of my favorite "vintaging" techniques!  Yippee!!  I needed a quick T-day card for a special someone, so I printed out a digi image from what has to be one of the most generous artists, Cathe Holden.  Thanks to Dana and Elise for their shouts of praise for her!  I quick printed it out, used a Nestie to cut it out, sponged it and mounted it on some new BG paper, Nook & Pantry.  Stamped the sentiment, added a ribbon, sponged around the edges of the DP and it was on its way!  Thanks for visiting today---I am back to a little craft show my local Curves is having, and I am having a good time!

Casing Old Favorites

I had a SU party today and wanted to make these to show the gals.....they both use the Top Note die and I am sure you've seen them around, but it's always fun to see them again!  Here is the Top Note box from the SCS tutorial by Angie Tieman found here; I used almost everything the same as she did (why reinvent the wheel?:

And here is Mr Snowman:

Doesn't he just make you want to smile?  I used a Button die for his eyes and a holly embellishment from SU's Christmas Jingle set.....a little snowy glitter would have looked good here, but I was in a hurry!  Thanks for looking---I am too tired to stamp anything today!!  Maybe tomorrow!  Have a great weekend!

A Pity Party

I don't even feel like posting today....ever have one of those days (weeks)?  My computer is wonky; I slept on my glasses and broke them (you know what NEW ones cost); I went out to breakfast yesterday with some friends, came home and got immediately got sick; and today my Pumpkin pooped on the carpet RIGHT NEXT TO THE LITTER BOX.  What's up with that?  Okay, now that I have that out of my system, I'll show you my little post.  First up is the PPA17 Challenge.  I loved Ann Schach's submission here.  And I saw another cute card somewhere in blogland yesterday that gave me an idea (can't find it now---didn't write it down).  But when I tried to put them together, I failed.  So while this is okay, it is not what I started out with---another pity party.  Here's the sketch challenge:

And here's the card:

The ribbon looks saggy here---but it is not really; and there is a nice little line of sparkle around each square that is not apparent here.  This is a nice, subtle, not-in-your-face card, but not what I was really going for.  So I'll try again another time.  I did have some fun with some digi vintage postcard  images I had purchased a long time ago off eBay, but since I didn't knew how to isolate a single image from the sheet, I never did a thing with them.  While at SAPhilly, my wonderful gifted friend Kristin showed me how to crop those images---oh happy day!!!  I played around with them and although this was my first attempt and it was done very quickly-my prototype, if you will--I will be making some more of these vintage postcard ornaments.  They are really easy and I CASEd this idea from another stamper---again, I didn't write it down, but I know she did Halloween images--maybe someone can tell me.  Anyway, here is my first attempt:

 

 

It looks so much sweeter IRL!  Remember, these are supposed to be vintage---I coated it with a nice sparkly MS snow glitter and mounted it on a copper nestie, then glued on some tinsel.  Does anyone know if they actually make & sell vintage tinsel? 

 

Here is a closeup:

 

And my dear sweet friend Carol also sent me some stamped images of Christmas words, so I made another one of the little images and mounted it on a card:

I feel so much better now....have a wonderful weekend!

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