In With 2010

Happy New Year. Bee Happy.

Bo Bunny paper

Stampabilities stamp colored with copics and Stickles

Making Memories Stickers

4 days Off - Yeah

a long 3 days of work and today a virus took over my computer at work and just went to town - oh my - and the help desk couldn't come - it is one of my busiest times - oh man - I was ready to have a glass of wine about 11 this morning.

I needed to make Shari her weekly monkey card and of course I had to tie it into the new year. Isn't that monkey just the funniest. I stamped him on Basic Grey and colored with Copics. I am hoping to go to Madison tomorrow - I have some coupons burning a hole in my purse and I just need to get out. Everyone have a lovely evening.

Paper - Basic Grey

Stamp - Crackerbox Palace - Janesville, WI

Tuesday is hump day

A three day work week so I guess today was hump day. I will take it - very busy at work - but the day does pass very fast when you are busy. Tonight the Badgers are playing in a bowl game so I am hoping for a win for them. Maybe I will putz while I listen/watch the game - thank goodness for replays. I do need to bake a cake. I found a recipe that uses lots of my leftovers - sour cream, cream cheese, ripe bananas. Yeah - and then a batch of banana bread tomorrow.

Today's card is based on the sketch at I{heart}2stamp. I changed it a little by just adding the strip of paper instead of 4 separate pieces of paper. The joy of a sketch.

Everyone enjoy your evening.

Stamp - digi stamp from Ildi Co. Digis It was a free image I got somewhere.

Copics

Stickles

Inky Antics Sentiment Stamp

Paper - My Mind's Eye

Thank You Snow Much

Happy Monday. 1 day down - 2 to go in this work week. I think I can - I think I can.

I actually got some creating done yesterday - wanted to use up some of this paper - I love the paper but you need to use it up. Come back tomorrow for another card using the same image and the same paper - totally different design.

This card is based on Sketch 74 at Card Positioning System. This week you can choose from any of their sketches from 2009. I knew the image I wanted to use so I needed to find a sketch that would work. I think this worked very well.

Everyone have a wonderful evening. I hope to do some creating. Maybe.

Stamp - digi stamp from Ildi Co. Digis It was a free image I got somewhere.
Copics
Stickles
Hero Arts Sentiment Stamp
Paper - My Mind's Eye
Ribbon - American Crafts

Hi Ho Hi Ho - Back to Work I Go

I have been on vacation/holiday break for a week and way too much bad weather and change of plans that I am looking forward to going back to work. It will only be a 3 day week but guess what - I think it is suppose to snow on the 31st. Yeah - we just haven't had enough.

I do have a house guest this week - one of my granddogs is staying with me while her parents - are in Costa Rica - how lovely does that sound. They are gone a week. The house will be hairy - she is a husky. She is a sweet dog. Hope she does well tomorrow on her own.

This is a card that was published in the December issue of Paper Crafts. It was in the critters section. One of the easiest cards I have ever made. I don't have the paper and sticker information handy.

Everyone enjoy the remainder of your evening. I even did some papercrafting. Yesterday I finished up some gifts and today I made a couple snowman thank you cards. Hopefully the sun shines so I can take a picture of each of them.

Happy Holidays

nothing to share tonight - busy preparing for a full house on Christmas day but the weather has put that on hold. Don't want people on the road.

I have lots of food in my house - anyone want to come for dinner tomorrow.

Hope your Christmas is merry and full of loved ones.

Holiday Break Starts

I have started my break for the holidays - of course - it is - getting ready for Xmas so not a real relaxing break but at least I have time to focus on getting things ready. I am clearing my cardmaking area because everyone has to eat in this area - I am a messy cardmaker - so it takes quite awhile to get everything cleaned up. I do see floor and table top so I am making progress. I did get a card made this week. I needed my monkey card for Shari and of course there had to be a Xmas monkey card.

Everyone enjoy your week end.

Stamp - Hampton Art colored with Copics

Paper - Making Memories (trying to use all of this paper up

Thursday

Happy thursday - one and half more days of work and then I am off for a week - of course - I will be working at getting my home ready for company over Christmas and cooking and traveling to pick up my Mom to celebrate the holidays at my house. I will probably work harder at home than I would at work. I think I am doing OK so far. Just a couple more cards to make - oh well - why hurry at that.

My card tonight was for my third student - she was looking through my cards and saw this snowman - and her favorite colors are pink - so Kristine's card was created.

Basic Grey paper
Penny Black stamp colored with copics
Bling - Hobby Lobby

Everyone have a wonderful evening. Need some rest - I know the next 2 days will be stressful for work but then I can relax a little.

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming way too fast. I am busily cleaning, trying to make a few last cards and a very busy stressful time at work. But I will make it - I always do.

This card was made for one of my student workers. Her favorite color is purple. The stamp is by Stampendous and colored with copics with some Stickles added for a little glitz and glamour. Add a few buttons and rub ons and you have a card. She told me the card was very special because I took into account her favorite color. It is nice to have someone appreciate your cards and that they are special to the receiver.

Baby It's Cold Outside

14 inches of snow and then a cold snap - we will be below zero tonight - the sun shines during the day but it is still miserable. We had a snow day on Wednesday so my week is all out of whack - I kept thinking I had my week end yesterday but no tomorrow is Friday. Been a very strange week with the weather and holiday happenings.

I helped a freind make peanut butter balls tonight - we made 4 batches but with 4 of us - it did not take long at all to get them done. Made some soup for us for dinner. It was very tasty and healthy also. I came home with one batch of peanut butter balls so I have something baked for Xmas dinner treats.

I am trying to get some cards made before Saturday for a gathering I am hosting. 1 done - 2 to go. This card is based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You - a fun sketch.

Stamp - Stampendous colored with Copics
Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye
Ribbon - Michael's dollar bin

Big Snow

Another card from the paper pad that won't go away. K & Co paper and tag. A little Stickles added for interest.

We have a big snow heading our way - suppose to start tomorrow - and continue into Wednesday - I imagine I will not be going to work on Wednesday. Now what to do at home - lots of things - besides snow shoveling. Hopefully the snowblower starts.

The Packers are playing tonight - hopefully they come away with a win.

Everyone enjoy your evening.

Ho Ho Ho

Another card made from the pad of paper that never seems to end. I am even using the patterned paper for the card base. On this card I added little dots of Stickles to the snowflakes in the background to add some shine to the card. Ribbon and button from the supply.

Everyone enjoy your Sunday. I need to grocery shop - we have snow coming this week and it sounds like the middle of the week may be miserable.

Happy Birthday Molly

Half the week end is gone - and did not accomplish nearly enough. I did get one present bought - braved Toys R Us - but they had a sale on Legos and my great nephew Avery loves his legos. I am not done shopping for him. Now onto the girls - I have Elaina's gifts in my head so she won't be hard to finish up - she is a budding artist so I am buying her art stuff. Molly and Lydia may be the hardest to get the last gifts for. But first we must celebrate Molly's birthday - the gifts are bought and were left with Grandma over Thanksgiving. Auntie Barb has to send her a special card though. Her favorite color is purple but there was no purple laying out - but this lovely orange grouping was laying there and it makes such a happy card.

I also put the insides in many Christmas cards. I need to finish the inside of my cards when I make them - I was doing pretty well at the beginning of last year with that but slacked off - must continue that new year's resolution.

The card is based on the sketch at I(heart)2stamp and then I used the Cuddlebug challenge which was to use glitter, sparkle and bling.

Size: 5 x 7

Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye

Stamp: Hampton Art colored with Copics

Bling - WalMart

Stickles

Flower and Happy Birthday chipboard - Target dollar bin - colored with Copics to match color of card

Snowman Choir

Aren't these the cutest little snowman. These are packets of starburst that have been covered and decorated. The idea was in a Taste of Home holiday issue - they also made reindeer out of sweet tart rolls but I haven't seen any sweet tart rolls so couldn't make those. Of course with all the years of craftinging, I had scraps to do everything. We took the easy way for the eyes, nose, mouth and buttons by just drawing - if you wanted them extra special you could use buttons, etc.

Everyone enjoy your saturday - I am working on a birthday card that should go in the mail today - but it might not make it. I have chicken boiling on the stove for broth and need the meat for hot chicken sandwiches for a potluck this week.

Happy Friday

Yeah it is Friday - 2 days to do nothing - yeah right - two days to not go to work - 2 days to work at home - ran errands tonight so maybe tomorrow I can just stay home and get some things done. Couple celebrations next week that I need to make food for so I need to get that together.

I made a card last night - it satisfies two challenges. Hero Arts challenge this week on their blog is to use a tag - you can kinda see the sizzix tag in the background which was embossed with the snowflake folder from Cuddlebug (the challenge on Cuddlege this week was glitter and bling) - i rubbed glitter (Stickles over the embossing on the tag). I also added Stickles to the snowman and to the snowflakes - aren't those cute snowflakes - I bought a package of foam snowflakes that are for kids to use for crafts - I guess I am just a kid at heart because I think these are some crazy good snowflakes.

Everyone enjoy the remainder of your friday evening.

Cardbase - Amuse

Paper - K & Co.

Stamp - Hero Arts colored with Copics

Sizzix tag

Cuddlebug embossing folder

Stickles

Snow - UGH!!!

The first snow fell today and of course the drive home was great fun. At least it stopped snowing the closer I got to home so at least I could see. The majority of the time I do not mind my drive to work but when the roads are bad with snow or ice - I don't. Winter in Wisconsin - I hope we don't have the snow we have had in the last few years. We need a break.

Have you ever had a pack of paper that no matter how many cards you make - it won't go away - well I decided to start using up this pad of paper from K&Co that I had from last year plus I had the coordinating tags. I think I have made 7 or 8 cards this week - today I saw a blog where a person had just gotten the pad and was making cards - she used some different combinations so maybe I am inspired once again. Come back again tomorrow for another card or two made from this paper unless I get a sketch done tonight.

Paper and tags - K & Company

Stickles

Ribbon - May Arts

Hump Day Wednesday

Good Wednesday evening. I left work early today and did some shopping - picked up my friend Shari and we had fun shopping in some different stores - called another friend who joined us for dinner. It was a very enjoyable evening. I hope everyone is as blessed as I am with such special friends.

This card is for Shari - something to make her smile - it is based on the weekly sketch at Card Patterns. The stamp is a new one - part of an acrylic set by Inky Antics. You will be seeing more cards with these cute monkeys on them.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - Badgers are back playing basketball so that gives me something fun to watch at night.

Paper - Basic Grey - Lime Rickey

Stamp - Inky Antics colored with Copics

Gems - Studio G

Cuddlebug Embossing folder

24 days till Christmas

I really do not know where November went and we have started the countdown to Christmas. YIKES. I need to get moving and get lots done. How are you doing with all your plans? My family comes here for Xmas dinner - my little house is bulging at the seams on that day but we somehow manage and have lots of good food and company.

My card tonight is based on the sketch at Card Positioning System. Beautiful sketch. I had this packet of Cosmo Cricket paper I had not used yet - oh boy do I love how this card turned out. The stamp is from a local stamp company in Janesville - Crackerbox Palace - they have a blog - and links on their blog where you can order their stamps. Check the stamps out - they are very unique. Tell them Barb sent you.

Paper - Cosmo Cricket

Stamp - Crackerbox Palace

Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan

Ribbon - Michael's

Rub On - K & Co.

Spellbinder's dies

Another work week begins

Good Monday morning – I thought I would post my card before I headed out the door for work today. It is based on the weekly sketch at Get Sketchy. Luckily I made the card on Saturday and the sun shined that day so I did get some pictures of my cards taken. A long week end was wonderful and now back to work. Busy time at work. Work is crazy and then all the holiday parties at work also. Today a co worker and I are going to make little snowmen out of starburst packets for the student workers. I will have to take a picture of them to share when we get them all done. I think it will take a couple noon hours to get them made because we need glue to dry. Luckily I have all the supplies at home.

I even started some of my cooking for Christmas dinner. My mom makes homemade noodles so – of course – you need to have homemade broth. I made one large batch of broth this week end. I will use the boiled chicken to make hot chicken sandwiches for the potluck at work. Yum Yum.

I imagine I really should go drink my first cup of coffee for the day, take my shower and get dressed and head off to work. Hopefully I make everyone happy today. Everyone have a good Monday.

Patterned Paper: Making Memories
Fabric Tag – Making Memories
Button - American Crafts
Ribbon – May Arts

Good Sunday morning

I am up early today - hard to believe my 5 day week end is almost over with - but I did spend 3 days on the road so I guess that makes a difference. Woke up to rain this morning - at least it is not snow - I know that will be coming soon - I just hope we have a mild winter in regards to snow - we have been hit pretty hard the last two winters. If they could figure out a way for it not to snow on the roads and my sidewalk and driveway - I might not have a problem with it.

I have been getting some holiday cards made so that is good. I really need to figure out how many I need to make- This card is based on the sketch at Stamps and Smiles. Every Thursday they host a sketch - I like a Thursday sketch because you have the week end to get it created. I had colored this image awhile ago and decided this was the perfect sketch for it. Caardvarks is also hosting a challenge for coloring - so this works perfectly for their challenge also. I hope you enjoy my design. Everyone enjoy your Sunday - tomorrow it is back to work. I don't think I plan on taking off any more time before Christmas unless I need some mental health vacation.

Patterned Paper - Bo Bunny (I think I have used all of this grouping up - just enough left for the insides of my cards)
Stamp – Hero Arts colored with Copics – stamped on patterned paper
Ribbon – Offray
Snowflakes – from my huge bag of snowflake embellishments – I know the bottom snowflakes are from a holiday garland

Believe in Santa

I am on a card making marathon so I wanted to post this card using the sketch from Mojo Monday - I don't often get to play along with their sketch but this week I was able to use the sketch.

Patterned Paper - Cosmo Cricket - Oh Joy

Stamp - Stamper's Anonymous - Tim Holtz - Christmas Miracle

Ink - ColorBox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan

Twill Tape - Wright's

QuicKutz scalloped border

Button - sewing supplies

Holiday Season

Happy holidays - Thanksgiving has passed so now we can put the holiday season in full gear. I listened to Holiday music in the car on my way home from celebrating the Thanksgiving festivities with my Mom, brother and sister and her family. It was great fun and lots of great food. Now I need to kick myself into gear because I host Christmas. Need to start cleaning and cooking. I started making homemade broth today - my Mom makes homemade noodles - so you must have homemade broth also. I plan on using the boiled chicken in some hot chicken sandwiches for the office building holiday party. I will share the recipe when the time comes to make it.

I came home and started making holiday cards - luckily the sketches triggered some creativity. This card is based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. I had bought this Quickutz embossing folder for the tree and thought it would work for the card - plus I wanted to used the folder and see how it worked. I was pleased - except I needed cream paint to highlight the tree and the panel it was on - the white is not quite right. (I did buy some cream today so the next tree will be done with cream.) I hope you enjoy my take on the sketch.

Paper: Making Memories - Fa La La

QuicKutz embossing folder

Ribbon - May Art

Stamp - Stampers Anonymous (Teresa Collins TC 8540)

Ink - Vivid! Dye Ink from ColorBox (the ink really does match in real life)

Ribbon - May Art

Bad Blogger

I have been such a bad blogger - I have been very busy with stuff - company, cleaning, cooking, shopping, etc. No creativity going on here. I did have a lovely visit from my friend Annie - a fellow cardmaker - we shopped at a Stamp Show and many other places. Helped stimulate the economy. I am off work now until next Monday and looking forward to the time away from work.

My card is based on the sketch at Card Positioning System. Very nice sketch. It also encompases the challenge at Caardvarks to color and I colored my stamped image with Copics. The Penny Black blog challenge was Winter Wonderland. I do believe this beautiful snowman qualifies. I stamped the image on the patterned paper and then colored it. Highlighted parts of the snowman with Stickles.

Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving - must now focus on the family and cooking.

Patterned paper - Bo Bunny
Stamp - Penny Black colored with Copics
Stickles
Ribbon - May Arts
Snowflake - Spellbinders
Brad - Hobby Lobby

Sweet Penguin Card

Good Wednesday evening - we have had road construction around our area - and tonight - in the dark and in the rain you had to drive down it - 3 round abouts - I can't wait to see what it looks like in the daylight - I hope it is light when I go to work so I can see - I just need to go straight down my street to the new light and across. It will be interesting.

My card tonight started as a sketch card but then - once again - my card decided to take its own path. I like how it turned out. That little penguin is so cute. I am still trying to learn how to color with the copics to get the dark image.

Everyone enjoy your evening - I am cleaning and clearing.

Stamp - Whipper Snapper Designs

Paper - scraps

Sizzix snowflake diecut painted and covered with glitter

May Art Ribbon

Sticker - Bo Bunny

Dust Bunnie for Sale

Well I guess Blogger is having issue or maybe I am having issues - who knows but I can't post a picture - I will try again tomorrow - I am cleaning my house - I feel like I am getting ready for Christmas - I have company coming this week end so I thought I needed to do some cleaning - so no card making for me - just stirring up the dust bunnies - tried to sell them on Facebook but there were no takers - seemed like everyone was trying to honr in on my sale with their own bargain dust bunnies.

I did start a card - it was for a sketch on one of the sites but it wasn't working and it has taken it's own turn and morphing into something entirely different - I hope it morphs itself into a final card tonight.

Can't wait to see Dancing with the Stars tonight to see who the final 3 are - I think Kelly or Donny will go home tonight - but only time will tell.

Well off to finish cleaning some more of the refrigerator - tomorrow is garbage day so it is a great day to be clearing/cleaning the refrigerator.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Why are Week End only 2 days long??

I was just getting into this week end - worked yesterday - so the week end was already short - and I sure could use that day to get some things done around the house. I have company coming next week end so wanted to start cleaning the house but also wanted to play with some paper. I got a little of the house cleaned, planted bulbs so I will have tulips blooming in the spring - unless the squirrels decide to have a banquet. I sure hope not. I love to see the tulips when they are blooming - you know spring is coming then.

I struggled with my card today. I was trying to do the sketch at Stamps and Smiles. It did not turn out when I first started so I went with this paper that had lines in in somewhat like the sketch. Unfortunately the sun did not shine in Wisconsin so it was hard to get a good picture.

Everyone have a good Monday. Want to start a layout of a card tonight so I can finish it tomorrow night along with some more cleaning.

Size 5 x 7

Paper - Graphic 45

Ribbon - Offray

Brad - Imaginisce

Thursday but Really Friday

Can you tell I am excited about not working tomorrow - of course - I put in a marathon 4 days but still not caught up. I keep plugging away at it. I am going to spend the day with my friend Shari tomorrow - she had her surgery on Tuesday - so I will see what I can do to help out tomorrow - I know I am going to make a nice dinner for them and me too - it is always a treat for me to cook for people. We are going to have an early Thanksgiving dinner - that way we will appreciate the taste of everything.

I made this card the other night - isn't this the cutest little snowman. He is by Penny Black and has such charisma - or so I think. The challenge on the Penny Black Challenge blog is a favorite song title - doesn't this remind you of "Frosty the Snowman" - sure does me. I love how the scarf looks like it has polka dots. I used the color removed marker from Copics and just dotted it on the scarf - polkadots.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - I baked a cake at 8:30 last night so my kitchen is a disaster. I do want to work on a card and get some things to work on at Shari's tomorrow.

Size - 5 3/4 square

Paper - Cosmo Cricket - Jolly by Golly

Stickles on the Snowflakes

Snowflake - I think I bought it at Hobby Lobby - it is actually a button

Busy Busy continued

Good Tuesday evening. I am on catch up mode at work - and I sure did not get very far - need to put it in even higher gear tomorrow. If I get everything laid out the night before I can usually make it into work and start work an hour ahead of time - I have no problems starting 30 minutes early but getting going and out in time to work an extra hour is harder but I must do it the next couple days.

I came home tonight and made some banana bread - that is in the oven baking - just a mix and I add over ripen bananas to the mix. Makes it even moister - that will taste good - I may take it to my friend Shari. She had her surgery today so I plan on spending Friday with her and make some food. Anyone have a good chicken casserole recipe - I have lots of chicken left from making my homemade broth.

I made this card on Sunday. It is a new stamp - I do seem to like the penguins this year - they make you smile. I stamped this with chalk ink and then did color the scarves with Copics - it did work. Added some Stickles for a little sparkle.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Stamp - Stampendous

Paper - Bo Bunny

Rub Ons - Me and My Big Ideas

Colorbox Chalk Ink

Stickles

Ribbon - May Arts

Sentiment - Fiskars

Busy Busy

Busy Busy - why is it when you are gone from work - the work just keeps coming in - so today was catch up day and not caught up yet. But I will get caught up. I at least got the dishes done tonight.

The card I am sharing with you tonight is the sketch from The Fresh Batch - Stamps and Smiles weekly sketch - they also have a call for design team members - I guess I will throw my hat into the ring. I bought this stamp at Hobby Lobby - it was on clearance for $2 something - I thought I would get that much money's worth out of it - a good stamp for a humorous card to pick up someone's spirits. I have used my Colorbox Chalk ink in grey on 3 or 4 cards lately - Grey must be the new black.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - I am going to see if I can make a card tonight - lots of other things I need to be doing - but heck after working so hard at work - I should relax.

Cardbase - Recycled cardstock

Stamp - Inkadinkado

Patterned Paper - Basic Grey - Marrakech Collection

Ink - Colorbox Chalk Ink

Twine - May Arts

Leaves Raked - Again

Good evening - I was out of town last week for a conference so have been spending time trying to catch up on everything. Raked leaves today with the help of the neighbor kids - they are great help and such fun. They work for popsicles so today they each got 2 - we need to eat them up because Winter is coming. Bought my turkey for Christmas dinner and made broth for Thanksgiving - my Mom makes homemade noodles and you need homemade broth for them to taste wonderful.

Well I must go and get things ready for the week - I am sharing a card I made awhile back - I don't know what the paper is. Unfortunately I spilled something on the card so I can't even use it now.

Stamp - Penny Black and Hero Arts
Ink - Chalk Ink by Colorbox
Twine - May Arts

Tuesday - not much else to say

Good Tuesday evening - most exciting thing in my evening was the monthly haircut. I think I have now had the same hair stylist for more years than my ex husband and I had him for over 20 years. She still gives a great hair cut. Ginny from Images in Janesville if you are close and need a good haircut - give her a call.

Last evening I helped a friend make scrapbook pages for a baby shower - as you know I am not a scrapper so this was a big stretch for me. I made 2 double page spreads - one had such giraffs on the paper that I just added one mat to each of those pages. The other one was a little more detailed. Ryan Michael was a "trick or treat" baby - he arrived 2 months early. The shower is going to be held this upcoming Saturday.

My card started out as the sketch from Get Sketchy - notice the long strip of paper - there was a strip on the sketch but because my card was smaller than a standard A2 - the sketch did not work so off my design went on it's merry own way. I like it and I know Shari will enjoy her weekly card from me. Isn't that stamp the cutest - he is from the Whipper Snapper Designs collection.

Everyone enjoy your evening.

Paper - Basic Grey - Lemonade Collection

Stamp - Whipper Snapper Designs colored with Copics - stamped on patterned paper

Flower Brad - Imaginisce

Stickles from Ranger added to wings

Ribbon - May Arts

Good Monday Evening

Good Monday evening - I had a wonderful week end - spent the week end with a group of very special friends I call "the Ya Ya's" - I have known some of them for 30 years. We ate, drank, shoppped and in the middle of all of it on Saturday - one of the Ya Ya's had to go to the hospital for the birth of her grandson - he decided to do a little "trick or treat" since he was 2 months early. All are doing well.

My card tonight is a thank you card for the hostess of our week end event -we stayed in her big RV. Barb is getting back in shape and has started to do biking so I could not resist using this image on her thank you card. The card is based on the sketch at Card Patterns. The lighting is not very good - I apologize. We are going into the dark months now.

Paper - Basic Grey

Stamp - Amuse colored with Copics

Rub On - Melissa Frances

Everything else is from my stash of supplies

Favorites

Favorite things is the challenge on the Cuddlebug Challenge site. I think my favorite things change every day or maybe it depends on whatever is happening that day. It seems sometimes in my creativity - there are favorites that spring up. Argyle - argyle is a favorite - love argyle sweaters or socks - how about argyle patterned paper or the argyle cuddlebug folder that I used on part of this card. This stamp - seems to be my go to stamp - for birthdays this fall. I think this is my 3rd or 4th card made with this stamp but it could be used for so many other occasions. I love this particular paper - it has some of my favorite colors for creating - browns, reds, greens. Those are my favorites for this particular point in time.

The card design is based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You - of course - it is a loose interpretation. The bow represents the circle on the sketch.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Patterned paper - Cosmo Cricket (all I have left are some scraps to use to finish the inside of the cards
Stamp - Hero Arts
Ink - Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan
Ribbon - I think is American Crafts
Cuddlebug embossing folder
5 x 7 size

Happy Hump Day

Yeah - we have made it over the middle of the week - on the downward slide to the week end - gee - I am going to be camping this week end - in a luxury RV parked in my friend's yard. Hopefully we don't get any trick or treaters.

I made a Christmas card last night. I based my card on the sketch at Taylored Expressions. Every Friday - a new sketch to help your creativity. Did not get a chance to play last week - I just hate it when work gets in the way of creating. I have a bag of snowflake stuff - buttons, soft snowflakes, etc - so when I go to make a card where I need a snowflake embellishment - I have to dig through everything in the bag - it then looks like I had a blizzard on my tabletop. Isn't my new stamp cute - stopped at Creative Pals in Milwaukee area (home of the Whipper Snapper stamps) and they were also having an unmounted rubber sale so I got 8 more stamps - a couple cute bunnies. The added snowflake on the circle with penguin - well there was an ink spot which needed to be covered.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - playing with a very late birthday card tonight - not coming together real well - I may have to just ditch some of the elements and see what I can come up with.

Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye

Bazzill Cardstock for cardbase

Stamp - Whipper Snapper Designs colored with Copics

Stickles

Ribbon - unknown - right colored scrap in the ribbon box

Snowflakes - who knows

Raking Leaves

I have huge oak trees in my lawn so every fall the leaves fall and they must be raked - luckily I can rake into the street. My daughter was home this Sunday and she raked up lots of the leaves - in one part of the lawn - we left a pile for the neighbor kids to play in. It has rained so the pile was not good to play anymore. I got it all raked into the street. Of course, I still need to rake more leaves but that huge pile is gone.

This week I used the sketch at Card Positioning Systems (CPS) - to make another Thanksgiving card. The scarecrow is a wood piece I bought at Hobby Lobby. I inked the edges to give it an antiqued look.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

5 x 7 card
Paper - Cosmo Cricket - Happy trails
Thankful Sticker - found in old supplies
Cardbase - Bazzill
Twill Tape - Wrights
Button - American Crafts

Rain

I spent today at a conference and will be there again tomorrow. Nice to get out of the office - but you always feel like you are so behind when you get back into the office. Hopefully all is going OK - at least there was not too much in the inbox of my e mail.

Another Halloween card I created on Sunday - this is based on the sketch at Get Sketchy. Somewhat of a loose interpretation but isn't that the joy of sketches.

Stamp: Stampendous colored with Copics

Paper - various scraps

Cuddlebug embossing folders

Another work week about to begin

BOO ..... it is Halloween week - so I guess maybe I should get a few cards sent out in the mail. How did it get to be the end of October - pretty soon it is going to be Christmas. And I don't have very many cards made.

I am attending a conference the first two days of the week for work so that makes the 3 days I will be inthe office very busy. I wanted to get some cards made today so they could go out in the mail. Sometimes there is no creativity during the week.

This is my weekly card for Shari - she needs to have a monkey themed Halloween card - I think she will be surprised by the fact that there is a a halloween monkey. The card sketch is based on the pattern from Card Patterns. I dug out the folder of Halloween papers - this is paper I don't buy too often so just scraps in there. I hope you enjoy my creation.

Everyone have a wonderful week.

Stamp - Stampendous - colored with Copics

Patterned Paper - Unknown

Cuddlebug embossing folder

Spellbinders

Recipe Page Exchange

I have joined a recipe exchange with 6 other ladies and we have all mailed out our first recipe pages - they are 6 x 6. I had done a couple of these with a Stampin Up representative so I have a nice start on a recipe book.

The bandana is actually a piece of fabric so looks like a hanky stuck in the denimn pocket.

Where has the week gone - I still have to make a wedding card for Saturday and now I found out one of my neighbor families lost their paternal grandfather. Will attend the wake on Friday evening. And of course - Work is crazy.

Here is the recipe that is on the recipe card.

SLOW COOKER PULLED PORK SANDWICHES

3 lb boneless pork shoulder (pork roast)
1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets
Onion Mushroom Soup Mix
1 cup ketchup
½ cup brown sugar
¼ c apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. hot pepper sauce

Place pork in slow cooker. Combine remaining
ingredients and pour over the top. Cook covered
on low 8 to 10 hours or on high 4 to 6 hours until
pork is tender. Remove pork; reserve juices.
With fork, shred pork. I put the juice in the refrig
and let the fat separate from the good juices.
Skim fat off, place juices in saucepan, bring to a
boil and thicken with some cornstarch. Pour over
meat, warm and serve.

Do not have to do the cornstarch – but it makes it a thicker consistency for holding pork together.

Leaf Raking

Good Monday evening - left work early today to rake a small portion of my lawn. The walnut tree has dropped its leaves but the Oaks are hanging on to their's. Hopefully they fall before it snows. I also tried a new recipe tonight for an apple dessert to celebrate the birthday of one of my workers - kinda altered a recipe - we will see if it is edible. It will be edible. Apple something.

My card tonight is based on the sketch at Card Positioning System - Card Sketches. It was for a long card but I wanted a 5 x 7 card so I just altered it a little. Would you believe all this paper is from My Mind's Eye Colorful Christmas - Sierra's favorite color is orange and she loves monkeys. Yes I know many of my cards are monkey themed but they are so cute.

Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye - Colorful Christmas
Stamp - Stampendous colored with Copics
Sentiment stamp - Hero Arts
Ribbon - Michael's dollar bin
Clear Stickles on the Frosting of the cake

Everyone have a wonderful evening

Another Week End Gone

Good evening everyone - I hope your week end was a good one. Mine was busy as usual. I did work outside a little today - have to do in little increments - or my old body will break down. I am still waiting for the leaves to fall off the old oaks in my lawn - and the kids are all waiting also.

I made a quick card last night to send to Shari this week. Went to a fundraiser for her today - I hope it brings a smile to her face.

This is based on the sketch that Beate posts on her blog Fresh and Fun on Friday. Haven't done one for awhile but I liked this sketch.

Stamp - Stampendous colored with Copics

Sentiment stamp - Hero Arts

Cardbase - Bazzill

Patterned Paper - Basic Grey

Thursday

Another exciting title to a blog post. I wanted to post my card. Last night I could not get to sleep so finally I got up at eleven and made a card I needed for a baby shower this week end - luckily I knew the paper I wanted to use and the images. I had colored these images before and they were already cut out. Now looking at them with a little more awake eyes - it looks like the monkeys may be two different colors of brown - Hmmmmmm - I will have to look at the card to see.

Card base - Bazzill scalloped paper
Patterned Paper – Piggy Tales
Stamp – Stampabilities colored with Copics
Buttons – American Crafts Twill Tape - Wrights

Frost is on the Pumpkin

so - I apoligize - no cards to share tonight - my friend Shari was over and I helped her make some cards for upcoming showers for her son and his wife for their new baby boy. Shari enjoyed herself and it was fun to help her with some cards. Next week I am going to help her put together pages for a scrapbook for a shower gift - Shari won't be able to attend that shower - she will be recovering from her surgery. I am not a scrapbooker - so it will prove to be interesting. We will just make it so they can add their own pictures.

I am going to share a recipe I made last week - it is from the Duncan Hines web site - very easy to do. Quick alternative to pumpkin pie. I took it to work - and we have a new student worker who is from Mexico - it was the first pumpkin he has ever tasted. He liked it.

Pumpkin Pie Crunch


1 (16 oz) can solid pack pumpkin
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
1 pkg Duncan Hines® Moist Deluxe® Classic Yellow Cake Mix
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
whipped topping

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom of 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan.

Combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt in large bowl. Stir until well blended. Pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over pumpkin mixture. Top with pecans. Drizzle with melted butter.

Bake at 350°F 50 to 55 minutes or until golden. Cool completely. Serve with whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers.

Brrrrr - cold too early

Good evening. The weather in Wisconsin has been so strange - very cool summer - and now fall is cold - we are in the 30's - I already had to turn on my furnace and normally I can hold out until November - maybe I am just turning into a woose. The leaves have not even fallen off my big oak trees - the neighborhood kids are waiting for this to happen - so they can rake leaves and play in them. We have the most fun and they look forward to it every year - don't tell anyone - so do I. Makes raking the leaves fun.

I found a little time to create last night - of course - I was trying to watch Dancing With the Stars - hmmmm - I wonder who will go home tonight.

This card is based on the sketch at Taylored Expressions - the sketch challenge which is posted every Friday. This week from the posts they are going to pick three new designers - everyone is bringing out their best creativity. Make sure you stop over and check everyone's creations. I agonized over the placement of the three items next to the rectangle. I think I had every snowflake I own and a few other 100 things out trying to find the best thing to place there. I finally ended up these 3 snowflakes. Still don't know if it was what I wanted - but at some point - you have to put it down and walk away. Taking pictures of my creations is becoming a challenge - getting dark, cloudy etc lately. I need to get something set up at work (shhhhh don't tell anyone).

Paper - Kaiser Scrapbooking

Stamp - Whipper Snapper Designs colored by Copics

Scallop - recycled white chipboard cut with the QuicKutz Scallop border (adhered paper strip to the back of the chipboard border and then rubbed Stickles over all the paper) Love the little glitter.

Pom Pom trim - May Arts

Stickles was added to the middle of the snowflakes on the pink patterned paper

Snowflakes - Darice

Good Monday Evening

Good Monday evening - I hope everyone had a wonderful week end. We celebrated my Mom's 91st birthday. It was a nice family gathering and lots of good food. We even made her bake the pies for the party. She can still make a wonderful apple pie and berry pie. My brother had picked the blackcaps in his woods this summer and then Mom made the pie and froze it. Yum Yum. She makes her pies and bakes them just like you were going to eat it, cools it and then wraps it up very well and freezes. It goes directly from freezer into the oven and bakes about 30 minutes - tastes just like it was just baked.

I did manage to do a little paper shopping on the way to and from. Surprise, surprise - on Sunday just as I was checking out in walks an online friend who I have gotten to know in person - she lives in Dubuque and they were in Madison shopping. So, of course, I had to stay and shop with her - well I spent $30 - more than I spent the first trip through. She is such an enabler.

I needed to make my card for Shari for this week so I managed to get that done yesterday. I used some of the new paper I bought. For a cardmaker, I have found that the 6 x 6 pads are wonderful - I do wish more companies would do that - I found two Sassafras 6 x 6 pads - fun paper in fun colors. Monstrosity and Sweet Marmalade

The card is based on the weekly sketch at Get Sketchy - #9. I hope you enjoy my interpretation of the design.

Paper - Sassafras Lass

Stamp - DRS colored with Copics

Rub on - Melissa Frances

Everyone have an enjoyable evening.

Yeah It is Thursday

Happy Thursday evening - one more day in the work week - yeah!!!!! I have many birthdays in October - so this is for one of the birthdays. I love this cute little stamp - I have only just stamped it for the couple times I have used - I imagine you could do some coloring also but I am feeling quite lazy.

Paper - Basic Grey

Stamp - Hero Arts

Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan (my most favorite ink)

Accordian folded some paper for the trim across the bottom of the card

Blah Blah Blah

Had one of those days where I felt very blah, blah, blah - nauseated - so stayed home from work - not for sure I feel that much better - but I will return to work.

Made this card over the week end - this is from scraps laying next to the paper cutter - Both are double sided papers. I have these smaller envelopes so this card will fit into those envelopes. Luckily the scraps worked just fine for this card. The red pin dot is My Mind's Eye and the stripe - I don't know - sorry.

Stamp - A Muse - stamped with red for the bird and brown for the branch. I highlighted the berries with a Sakura glitter pen.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Look Ma - No Cavities

Had my semi annual dental check up - always glad to go and there are no problems. I think I would rather have a baby than dental work. But I did get to leave work early so there are some pluses - already home, done with the dentist and now I can do some things around here - like play with paper.

My card tonight is based on the weekly sketch at Taylored Expressions. I did mine a little different in that I had my image hang off the edge of the card so I could see more of the cute cupcake paper. The paper is from Bella Blvd. The stamp is either Hero Arts or Inkadinkado - and I am too lazy to find out which. I colored the image with my copics. I used some of the paper from Gina K for stamping on - wonderful paper - but I always have to practice on a sample before I color on good paper.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Monday

Good Monday evening - big news in Wisconsin - the Packers are playing the Vikings who now has Brett Favre as their quarterback - lots of controversy in the date - I will be channel jumping because I have to watch the dances on Dancing With the Stars. Can't miss that. Did some cooking tonight - actually did two new recipes - one for tomato soup (might change it a little) and a pumpking dessert - that is cooling - hopefully that tastes good - I will take it to work for a treat - I suppose I should stop and get some cool whip to go on top.

Tonight's card is based on the sketch at Card Position Systems - new sketch every Sunday. Lots of layers and I do love layers. I have shown you a close up of the button and also of the monkey I used. Another card for my friend Shari to boost her spirits and make her smile.


This is a iron on applique from Dritz - I love to use some of the sewing notions such as appliques on cards. Very fun and dimensional.

Everyone have a wonderful evening. Go Pack Go.

Card Size 4 x 8

Paper - K & Company

Applique - Dritz

Button - Fancy Pants

Twine - May Arts