What A Nice Surprise!

I woke this morning to find this surprise waiting for me! I was awarded this sweet badge from Geri Utterback over at Geri's Cards. She is an amazing paper artist that never disappoints with her creations. Please go check out her blog! Thank you so very much, Geri!

I see I am supposed to tell you 5 things you may not know about me.........

1. I have been a supervisor for Goodwill Industries for the last 13 years. I am an on-call employee for the last 2 years.

2. I am the mother of a severe spinal cord injury survivor for the last 9 years, which has made me a much stronger person. (Gonna get killed for telling this one.)

3. I have 2 grown children, Denise (Dee Marie) and Ken.

4. I love to buy lots of unmounted stamps on Ebay and that is why I never know the maker.

5. My favorite place to vacation is the Outer Banks in NC but I am a very poor traveler.

I may have to duplicate on my 5 people as I don't have a large following:

Linda Payne: because she gets my humor.

Patti: because she has such a bubbly spirit.

Jennie Harper: because she has creative determination and gets hold of a new stamp set and masters it.

Olga: because she always has kind words. She makes me giggle!

Selma: because she creates beauty with all her work.

Please consider visiting all of their blogs! Hugs to you all! Thanks for all the special things you bring to my life. Go Phillies!

I Am Branching Out

I decided it was time to try a new challenge to fill up my empty slot on Tuesdays. There is a new challenge posted every Monday. So many of the girls do this wonderful Mojo Monday challenge, that I thought I would give it a try. This is their week 110 and quite an interesting sketch. I think I may become hooked

My dp is from DCWV. I layered with a textured black card stock. I used a piece of a pre- embossed metal border that was made for a 12 inch scrapbook. I Cuttlebugged a white panel with my swirl folder. I used Nestie circles to cut my unknown angel stamp. The sponging was done with Memento's london fog. I embellished with smoky grey gems and b/w gingham ribbon. My sentiment is from Theresa Momber's "Very Merry Christmas" set over at Gina K. Designs.

I had so much fun with this sketch! Maybe you should give it a try! It seems to be very popular.

Combo Challenge

I decided to combine challenges for this entry. Over at the Just Us Girls website, the JUGS4 challenge was to create a paper flower. At Stamp TV, the color challenge is for Green Apple, Cranberry Tart, and Ivory.

I was lucky enough to find some green striped tissue paper in my gift closet. Where it came from, I have no clue. I folded it into about 18 layers and ran it through the Cuttlebug using Spellbinders, Flower Creations 3, Shapeabilities. It cut the flowers like butter. I used a brad to secure the center and then Glue Dotted a cranberry button to the center.

The rubber stamp that was used is from Hero Arts. It was stamped with Memento, tuxedo black. I colored the image in spots using OMS and pencil. I added flourishes by cutting them with a Sizzix Sizzlet. Cranberry organza ribbon and touches of Stickles were used to embellish.

Thanks for looking!

What has Santa Been Up To?

The more I look at this image, I wonder what Santa and Rudolph have been up to! I am beginning to think that they have hidden a bottle of joy juice in the pine trees! What do you think? I wanted to create another card for the color challenge over at Stamp TV, but decided to use a stamp from my vast collection of unmounted stamps that have never seen ink. I had to stick to certain colors, (blue, olive, and bright yellow) so I decided to dress Santa in anon-traditional suit. The pines stamp is a very old D.O.T.S. stamp and the Santa image is from RBBB. My dp had dots that did not fit into my color scheme so I covered them with punched circles and a tiny snowflake stamp for Theresa Momber's new set "Very Merry Christmas". I trimmed the fur on his suit with diamond Stickles and also put a wee bit on the snow. I used a simple button and bow to embellish.

If it were not for all these challenges, I don't think I would be so far along with my cards to send. I think this will be the first year that everyone gets a handmade card! That has me excited!

I've Been Slacking......

I am so sorry that I have not posted in almost a week. The only good excuse is that I had to stay up late most nights to watch my Phillies win their way into the World Series. I have been sleep deprived! These late night, nail biting games are exhausting!

This card was created for the technique challenge that Gina has posted this week on Stamp TV. She challenged us to do a tone on tone card. Some of the creations have been so beautiful, being done on metallic and such.

My card was created on soft sand Pure Luxury card stock. I used Ranger clear detail EP and then embossed around my image with an oval Nestabilities. My Father Christmas stamp is an older PSX stamp and my greeting is generic. I added piercing and ribbon and a single decorative snowflake brad for embellishment.

I am planning to use today for a catchup day, so I may see you again later.

Created for JUGS3

I was so excited when I saw the colors that the designers came up with over at Just Us Girls, for the color challenge this week! I have never worked with these colors before. They really look so wonderful together!

I was even more excited because I finally got to ink up my new Gina K Designs stamp set. It was designed by Theresa Momber and is called "A Very Merry Christmas". I used the jingle bells from the set and they are just pure perfection! I stamped them in Memento black and used a blend of marker and colored pencil to color. My sheet music is a shrunken google image that has been inked and stamped with snowflakes form Theresa's set. My red patterned paper is digital. The blue card stock is SU, Bermuda Bay. Some red organza ribbon, pearl studs, and some Diamond Stickles were used to embellish. Thanks so much for looking!

Doin It Right!

Here is my creation with my head screwed on tight and not a stamped image in sight! The words are my focal point. This will be a nice addition to my Christmas cards that I have made so far. I think we always need cards for those very special friends. My dp is a quilted print. My sentiment stamp has been hanging here for years. Sorry I do not know the source. The sentiment is stamped in Forrest Foliage from SU. I used the red sateen flowers and MS branches with amber gem centers as flower sprays. I made tacky spots and sprinkled them with chunky glitter to look like snow. A polka dot bow completes the card. I hope this now is correct for this weeks potluck challenge on Stamp TV.

I Made An Oops!

Yipes! I knew the concept and embraced the challenge but my hands were working faster than my foggy, morning brain. I thought I was being on the ball and now I have to remake the card for this challenge. You see, The potluck over at Stamp TV, is to use words as your focal image. You may not use stamped images other than words. Well oops, I didn't even think about the fact that I stamped the ornament shape. You can use a Nestabilities shape for your words. Ha Ha..... I was thinking shape, not stamped image. So, I need a new plan but I figured I would share this here on my blog. The ornament stamp is from the one free with three set at Gina K. Designs, this month. It is called Holiday Hospitality. I paper pieced using silver card stock and added silver cording and green gems for my embellishment. I kept my background simple with a snowy white snowflake panel. It is rainy, cold and miserable here today and sounds like the same for the next few days. I hope to return later with a new idea, but until then, get inky!

Getting Side Tracked!

I had every good intention of sitting down and getting right to making my DH an anniversary card. Tomorrow will be 32 wonderful years! We have been very blessed.

Well, the bottom line is that I started doing the Hip To Be Square blog hop over at Gina K. Designs, first thing this morning, and I heard my set that was cut out but never inky, calling my name! It was saying "Pssst!, you over there, don't ya think I would be fun to play with?" It was more than I could take so this is what I made.

The only real part of this card that is from the HTBS set is the window grid. It is such a great part though, because it gives you that blank canvas to start on. I layed post it notes around the inside frame and sponged with Versamark Aegean Blue chalk ink. It is funny, because I had it all over my hands and it was very blue, but as you can see, it sponged like a dark snowy sky. Go figure! I added a little snowman from the Tags & More set and a line of trees from Lovely As A Tree. Both are SU sets. I used Liquid Applique to show dimensional snow. The trees were lightly outlined with diamond Stickles for sparkle. My sentiment is an unknown. I used white, cranberry tart, and onyx black Pure Luxury card stock for my my layers. I used an iridescent ribbon for my bow to tie in the glitz of the trees.

Time to make that card for hubby! Have a great day!

Card for Just Us Girls Challenge Week 2

Here is the card I came up with for the new Just Us Girls Challenge site. This is week 2 for this fun place to do challenges. I received an invite from Pam over there to come join in the fun which was so sweet!

The challenge is to use paper piecing and include pink in the creation if possible. I have had this purse stamp for ages and have never used it. Who doesn't like a pretty purse? A pink glitzy one is even better IMPO. LOL! Hope everyone likes what I came up with.

The purse stamp is from Peddlers Pack Stampworks. The sentiment is from OTH. The flourish stamps that I used stamped in Going Gray from SU, are from Fancy Pants. The Dp that was pieced is from Basic Grey's Sultry collection. White satin ribbon, many pink gemstones, and silver Stickles were used to embellish my bag. I think it looks pretty if you enlarge the photo, hee hee. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for this fun challenge. Go see the girls at the new site. http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/

Running A Wee Bit Behind

Well my friends, it has certainly been a wild and woolly week
in my household! A few weeks ago, my DH went for a checkup to the Dermatologist and was informed he had skin cancer. This week he had his surgery to have the area taken care of. The procedure he had done was called MOHS. They do everything in one day, including the reconstruction. I am happy to say he is doing well but was very sore the first few days. Praying now that the stitches heal properly and he has minimal scaring.
I was finally able to sit down and do a bit of stamping. I made this kick stand card for Lori's potluck challenge over at StampTV. I had never made a card like this before and I love the look of it! The stamped image is from the Eclectic Summer stamp set from Gina K. Designs. I double stamped the flower basket and added lots of pearls for dimension. The multicolored dp is from Basic Grey's, Sultry collection. I love the feel of satin ribbon, so I could not help but use it in two places. I left the card free of inside sentiment for now as I think it could be used for a multitude of different occasions.
I truly hope you are keeping war and having a wonderful Sunday! I plan on sticking a roast in the over to keep the chill out of the house and keep out tummies full!

Stacking Revisited

A few posts ago I explained how I found some inspiration
from my current Take Ten magazine and created the hoot owl card. I have come to realize that you can pretty much stack any of your holiday images into a tree shape. My first card was created by stacking snowflakes. These are ones I had from my large Christmas set from Fancy Pants. The sentiment and birds are from 2 separate sets from Inkadinkado. I had been hording this embossed metal edging from my scrapbook stash. The star topper is a tiny punch. I added lots of clear gems for bling. My second card is a bit
more whimsical. For this card I stacked a cute penguin stamp and added a star topper. I added Fancy Pants swirls and sponging. The swirls were outlined in Stickles for shimmer. I added some Crystal Lacquer and sprinkled chunky glitter to simulate snow around the penguins. My dark card stock layer, was sanded to give it some dimension. I pulled my decorative scissors out of hiding to jazz up my blue layer. My images layer was distressed around the edges. I added ribbon and Dewdrops for embellishments.
Give it a try, you may come up with something very surprising!

Chocolate Snowman

Goodness, I must have sweets on my mind! I think this snowman from the Stampin Up set, "A Beautiful Season", is going to be one of my favorites to make quick cards this year. I just loaded another to the gallery at Stamp TV, that was made is olive and yellow colors for their challenge. This guy, went together very quickly! He was stamped on ivory with Memento, rich cocoa and placed on a layer of chocolate kiss card stock. My base layer of dp is from an older holiday collection from Cosmo Cricket. My sentiment is from Inkadinkado, and was cut out on an oval Nestie. I added some gold cording (another go to item this season) and some gold foil snowflakes that I punched.

Well we got our first load of fuel oil this morning! The temperature was in the high 30's this morning on my front porch. Good grief! I sometimes think it is colder being next to the lake. That sure wasn't the temp that the guy on TV was saying. Brrrrrrrr!

Natures Offerings & A Recipe

I just had to share this wonderful photo that my DH took yesterday. This is right next to our driveway. He took many, but this was my absolute favorite! Living on a lake has so many rewards. The wild life abounds and now that I have this blog, I might be able to share some of the wonderful sights we are able to capture around here. Nature is not always kind though, we also saw a huge hawk snag a small animal or bird and have dinner right outside my bay window while we were having our dinner. Not the most appetizing dinner company. Missed that photo. DH snuck out the back door as not to alarm the bird, but my pup started barking cause she just knew daddy was up to something. That was the end of that shot!

I hope you were able to be creative for World Card Making Day. I was able to get a few more images colored after we came home from the farmers market. This is just the best time of year for veggie deals. Red bell peppers which you usually have to sell your soul for around here were selling by the basket for $2.00. They had heads of cabbage for $1.25 that were bigger than a basketball! I got a whole basket of lemons for $2.00. These will be used to create some wonderful Rosemary Garlic Chicken! If you have never tried this it is amazing! Get a nice plump whole chicken. Mix minced garlic with butter and slather it on the bird. Rub some salt in the birds cavity and then insert 3-4 halved lemons and a few sprigs of fresh rosemary. My family swears it is the juiciest chicken they have ever had. Roast in a medium oven. Yum, yum! So easy peasy! I have also heard this called Engagement Chicken. This is what Howard Sterns new bride made him to get him to propose. Have a great Sunday. No football game for the Eagles this week so I will have to just play all afternoon......awwwww!

Happy World Card Making Day!

Morning everyone! I wanted to make at least one post on this special day for card makers. I hope you are finding your creative juices flowing and are doing something to commemorate World Card Making Day!
I created this Christmas card for the shimmering background challenge over at Stamp TV. That is Gina's technique for this week. My card base is red textured card stock from DCWV. I embossed layering weight white with one of my new Sizzix folders and then used diamond Stickles over all the raised areas. I set that aside to dry and proceeded to stamp my images which are from one of those very large Fancy Pants clear stamp sets. I used 2 sizes of scalloped circle punches to create the dove part. I used a long scalloped Nestabilities for my sentiment. My sponging was done in Ridinghood Red by SU!. Red organza ribbon, red brads and MS branch punches are my finishing touches.
It was supposed to rain all day today and the sun is shining brightly. Thank goodness for small blessings! DH is home today and I have to keep him from getting bored so I think it would be a good time to take a break, and go for a ride. I am thinking that a farmers market sounds just perfect today! Have a wonderful day!

Hoot! Hoot!

I really wanted to make a card for you all today, before I went to work. Do you find yourself buying these expensive magazines on stamping and cards, looking at it and then setting it aside? Well, what I have done with my Take Ten magazine, is to shut my eyes, flip the pages and point to something. Where I landed is the inspiration for this card..... silly? Maybe, but it worked for me!

I had purchased the Gem Stone Birds set from Inkadinkado, on sale, and it contained this adorable owl. I stacked and stamped him in Saddle Brown, Stazon. I added amber gems for his big old eyes. The sentiment was from an off brand valentines day set I found at AC Moore, which also was owl themed. The rest of the card was just scraps from my bin. The wood grain is a stamp I have had for a bit that just frustrates me to no end. It's a wood mount from All Night Media and I have yet to get a clean print from it. I have even tried changing stamping surfaces to get the middle to stamp clean but it is useless. I love it, so I can only cut strips and strategically place them.

Well that is it for now, and I will hurry back from work so that I can be ready for the Gina K Designs release party tonight. Have a great afternoon!