Saturday, December 11, 2010

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Inside

There is a song running around in my head as I made this card - I think Elvis may have sung it - "Blue Blue Christmas" - to be kind to all of you - I won't sing. It is not pretty - and something I avoid doing - well ok - I avoid doing around other people - of course - you sing when you are alone.
Hard to believe Christmas is so close - I still have some more holiday cards to make - I have some left in my basket but sometimes - none of them seem appropriate for the person you want to give them to. We will see if it happens - and then I thought it would be nice to give my hair stylist - 4 handmade cards - I probably have some but do I know where the coordinating paper is so I can finish the insides - no - so it is almost easier to make new cards.
I was giong to make a new recipe for dinner - well - it was suppose to go in the crock pot - so I guess tomorrow I will make it. I am sure I can find something to eat. We are in the midst of a storm - so far we have just had rain - but I am sure the snow is coming and then winds and bitter cold. Some parts of the state are under blizzard warnings. YUCK. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.
My card today is for a special young lady in my life. I asked her her favorite color and she said it was blue - so thus the blue card. Caardvarks (their last challenge - thanks for all the inspiration) is to make a monochromatic card. This is pretty monochromatic - or pretty blue. It is also the sketch at Unscripted Sketches. It is a combination of papers. I had bought the blue snowflake stickers at Michael's - they added just the perfect finishing touch to my card and of course, those foam snowflakes I found at Michael's. They just dress up so nicely with the addition of Stickles. I had some already Stickled (is that a word) but the glitter was pinkish so I had to Stickle some new ones with a Stickle that had a blue cast to it. I also paper pieced the cup.
Everyone have a wonderful evening - stay warm.
Card Details:
Size 5 x 7
Paper: Die Cuts With a View and Momenta
Stamp: Whipper Snapper Designs colored with Copics
Foam Snowflakes: Michael's
Snowflake die cut: Sizzix
Sentiment Sticker: SRM Stickers
Snowflake Stickers: Michael's
Ribbon: May Arts
Pop Dots
Inside Verse: Hero Arts

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Good Thursday morning – I have a thank you card to share with you today. JoAnn Fabrics had a contest this last fall called “Craft for a Cause.” Operation Write Home banded together to get the organization into the final three and we did it. It is amazing what you can do as a group. The final three were then voted on by the public - Operation Write Home won second place. For winning second place they received $25,000.

This thank you note is for JoAnn Fabrics. It is made with product from their stores. We have a super store in Madison that is great fun to shop at. In fact, I was there today and bought some holiday gifts.

Moxie Fab has a challenge for Thank You cards in celebration of their new magazine Card Creations so I am going to enter my card in that challenge.

Everyone have a wonderful day.

Card details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Paper: Die Cuts With A View
Crepe Paper flower
Sizzix Die Cut
Stamp: The Paper Company
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink by Clearsnap
American Crafts button
May Arts twine


Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Good Wednesday morning - I am going to go do my Christmas shopping today - I did not want to do it on the week end and looking ahead to work - this was about the only day I could take off. I only buy for 4 children so hopefully I will find some good stuff - I like to buy some clothing and something fun also. I buy for my Mom also - it is hard for a 92 year old to get out and do much shopping.

Have you noticed my cardmaking is slowing down - it always does over the holidays. Last night I spent the entire evening getting my Christmas cards ready to mail - one done - throw it in the basket - the basket is filling - I just have a few more to get done and that job will be finished. I know the post office hates to see me come in because each card needs to be handled individually. But I do believe I help keep them in business with my oversized, bulky cards.

Good news - Operation Write Home - won second place in the JoAnn Fabrics Craft for a Cause - $25,000 to help them with their worthwhile endeavors. I am very proud to play such a small part in this organization. Thank you JoAnn's - I guess today shopping - I should stop and buy something - I do need to send them a nice thank you card (of course - it should be handmade).

Today's card is for my niece Molly - it is pretty bad - when people put in their request for what they want on their cards - Molly wanted a dog on her card - so I had this wonderful digital image that Sandy Allnock - founder of Operation Write Home, had created. It worked great. Some fun paper and some great stickers and Molly will get her doggy birthday card. I did not put any Stickles on the card - shame on me - all little girls love glitter - there is a little piece of bling on the snowflake.

Moxie Fab is having a celebration for their new magazine Card Creations - and one of the categories is birthday cards - so I guess I will post this card in their challenge - I know it will make someone smile.

Well everyone have a wonderful day - wish me luck shopping.

Card Details:
Size 5 x 7
Image: Sandy Allnock
Paper: My Mind's Eye
Stickers: SRM Stickers
May Arts Ribbon
Bling - Canadian Dollar Store
Snowflake: Michael's

Monday, December 6, 2010

Monday, December 6, 2010

Good Monday morning – yes it is Oldie Moldie Monday. Time to show some love to some paper that has become well aged.

Amongst the holiday preparations – I have birthdays to celebrate also. I have a card to make this week for my niece Molly – I have the image and paper picked out – now color the image and make the card. Both my son in laws have December birthdays – but they usually get their cards late.

This card today is for one of my Ya Ya’s - my special group of friends –after we lost Shari this last year to breast cancer – has made our friendships even more important. Bert is the third Ya Ya to turn 60 – I will turn 60 next – but that is not until May. The other two are younger by several years so we won’t have to celebrate any more 60th birthday for a few years. Moxie Fab World is also celebrating their new magazine - Card Creations - and have a birthday challenge. This card fits perfectly into that challenge.

This image is from I Brake for Digis. I thought the chicken was hilarious wearing her little party hat. Add a touch of bling to her hat tassel and she is ready to party. If you want to purchase this lovely young chick – just pop over to I Brake for Digis. Remember if you decide to shop, you can use this coupon code SAVE10BARB to receive a discount. Everyone loves a savings and digis are so reasonable. $10 might buy one rubber stamp but you could get at least 3 digi stamps for that price and if you figure all the different sizes you can print the images in – you have a wonderful bargain.

I had to have this paper pad – and I think this is only the second card I have made out of it. It has glitter on it so I can’t use it for Operation Write Home cards. I love the colors so I don’t know why I have not created with it. Of course, I have quite the collection of 6 x 6 or 8 x 8 pads, so there is always something new to create with and the old paper gets forgotten.

Well I must go and get ready for work. Everyone enjoy your Monday.

Card Details:
Paper: My Mind's Eye
Stamp: I Brake for Digis colored with Copics
Ribbon: May Arts
Stickers: SRM Stickers
Bling: Canadian Dollar store

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Saturday, December 4, 2010


Good Saturday evening. We had our first snow of the season - luckily it was not too heavy. I went to get my snowblower ready to go - filled the gas tank - primed the engine - went in the house - I know I need to prime the engine awhile before it will start. I started smelling gas - all the gas - drained out of the snowblower onto the garage floor. Yuck - it was not on my list of things to scrub the garage floor. My car probably reeks - I will have to move it outdoors tomorrow and open up the windows to air it out. Now I need to get the snowblower repaired. Not something I wanted to do.
I needed a gift card holder - so put together one - it is the challenge at Caardvarks - the challenge ends today. Boy I made it under the wire.
I am not too talky tonight - tired - had to shovel the sidewalk and driveway - but little Mr. Hunter - 9 year old neighbor - came over to help me shovel and then another neighbor showed up and helped and we had it done. It only cost me some hot cocoa.
Hopefully I will be able to find some time to create - I need to get Christmas cards in the mail and I need two birthday cards. Gotta get busy.
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Patterned Paper: The Paper Loft
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
Inks: ColorBox® Fluid Chalk Ink by Clearsnap
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous – Teresa Collins
Trim: American Crafts
Treat bags: Target
Distressing Tool: Tonic
Pop Dots by All Night Media®

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Tuesday,December 2, 2010

We are on the downward slide to the week end – but we have snow coming – so I guess that means time to get the snowblower gassed up and ready to go and pray it starts. I will get my stuff done on Thursday and Friday nights so I can stay at home and enjoy the snow.

I need to get my Christmas cards finished this week end and out the door. I need to clean up my crafting area. Maybe I will just keep out some paper and a few stamps, etc. to make some cards for Operation Write Home. Try to use up some of my paper. Of course, I will be making my cards using the wonderful images from I Brake for Digis. I already have them in my head – maybe that is why I have not been able to sleep at night.

I got this new stamp last week – sometimes I like to be a lazy stamper – one color stamping – no coloring. That is my definition of being a lazy stamper. I did try to add some red to the cardinal. Creative Corner has a challenge this week to use a tag on your card. I cut my tag using a Sizzix die. I was using paper from the Basic Grey holiday collection from last year but it was not coming together for me – I then went to this year’s collection and found the background paper. Enough color variation to make the background come to life. I believe the pretty brads are from Michael’s or from the dollar store in Canada. My personal shopper in Canada Ivanka finds the best stuff at her dollar stores.

Everyone have a wonderful day. I am heading to Hobby Lobby and the scrapbook store tonight - let me know if you need me to pick up anything for you - maybe I will stop at the liquor store also so I can relax and sip some wine over the week end and watch the snow fall.

Card Details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Stamp: Unity Stamp Color
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink by Clearsnap
May Arts Twine
Brads: Michaels

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Yeah it is Wednesday – hump day – I think I can make it to the end of the work week.

I do have some exciting news to share today. I am now part of the I Brake for Digis Design Team and today is my first day. If you check on the sidebar you will see all the members of the very talented design team. Stop by their blogs and see what wonderful creations they have to share with you.

I am fairly new to working with digis – but the versatility of being able to size them to fit the card you are making is a great bonus. How many times have you gone to make a card, and the rubber stamp you have is just too small or too large for what you want to do. With a digi, you can make it the size you need. I have to work on that though – I tend to make them too big and so everyone is getting a big card when I have been using my digi images. You can flip or rotate your images – you sure can not do that with a rubber stamp. I know I have lots to learn – but it will be fun with all the great images you can purchase on the I Brake for Digis site. Just think – no shipping costs. Have you ever ordered something – and the shipping cost was more than the item you ordered – so you had to order more to justify the cost of shopping or buy enough so you got free shipping. I see you all shaking your heads in agreement.

I even have a coupon code for you to use when you go shopping at I Brake for Digis. Use this code SAVE10BARB and you will receive a 10% discount on your order. I know I like to save money. Digis are inexpensive compared to rubber or acrylic stamps. If you have questions on how to use digis – many questions are answered on the Frequently Asked Questions page.

My card today is for a very special young lady for the holidays. Purple is her favorite color. I love being able to make my cards personal – cards that reflect the recipient’s favorite color or animal. The snowman on this card is so cute. I think we would all love to go play in the field with him. I think he would give Frosty a run for his money. He only costs $2.75 and you get an infinite number of sizes. I have him printed out in a smaller size – now to find the paper I want to use and color him to coordinate. You can find him on page 1 of the Holiday Stamps.

My new year resolution for 2010 was to learn how to color better. I have invested in many Copics and I think my coloring has improved. But I will keep coloring to try and make that part of my cardmaking better. I wonder what would be a good cardmaking resolution for this year - I don't make personal ones anymore - but crafting ones I will make - and I usually can accomplish those.

I invite you to visit the other team member’s blogs; check out the selection of digital stamps at I Brake for Digis – use that discount code – and have some fun. If you make a card using one of the digis – stop by and leave me a note so I can check it out. There is even a blog for I Brake for Digis – stop by often and see what the team is up to.

Everyone have a wonderful day. Hope there is some creativity in your day.

Card Details:
Size: 6 inch square
Digi stamp: I Brake for Digis colored with Copics
Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Sticker: SRM Stickers
Ribbon: from my supplies
Bling: from my supplies