Floral Medallions Thank You

My creative mojo seems to have taken a holiday, so I'm trying to regain a hold on it with just a quick/easy thank you card for a neighbor for a Christmas gift. Simply ran the embossing folder through my Wizard, lightly sanded same, and added a bit of Stickles and Dew Drops. Stamped a scalloped floral medallion twice, cut out each medallion, stamped my phrase & attached both with pop dots. Short and sweet. Think I'm going to need a bit more creative fairy dust sprinkled my way very soon!

Paper: Double-sided white-core cardstock from Costco; white cardstock from stash

Stamps: Inkadinkado's Round Frames

Ink: PTI's Pallette Noir

Embellishments: Christmas Stickles; Dew Drops

Tools: Spellbinder's Wizard

PTI's Blog Hop December, 2008

I felt this beautiful Noel Christmas card we'd received would make a gorgeous wedding or anniversary card. I also knew that PTI's Shimmer cardstock would be a perfect compliment to this patterned paper. After backing a 1 1/8" strip of Shimmer with black glossy cardstock, I added the sentiment from Heartfelt Basics in Pallette Noir ink and a tiny red heart from a dollar store purchase.
For the "ribbon candy" I started with approximately 48" of sheer 5/8" black ribbon. I simply began with the tail at center back & folded my 5 loops, decreasing in size with each succeeding loop while holding the ribbon in the center. When I had my 5 loops done, I merely folded the ribbon diagonally at the center front, secured with a tiny glue dot and looped it around twice to cover the fold, secured it again on the back with another small glue dot and then a large glue dot to attach it to my card. Quick, simple and ready for a future recipient's enjoyment!
Waste not; want not - except we'll always want more PTI!!! ;~)
Paper: PTI's Shimmer cardstock; black cardstock scrap
Stamps: PTI's Heartfelt Basics
Ink: PTI's Palette Noir
Embellishments: Ribbon & heart from stash

Merry Christmas Future Neighbors!

We've been house hunting for dear friends of ours from MN, who had hoped to close on a winter home near us before Christmas. As I was driving into our little town recently, I noticed the sign to the neighborhood they'd hoped to buy in had been decorated for the holidays! I thought a photo card would be perfect for them. Alas, due to the ridiculousness of our current banking industry, they still don't know if their offer on the home will be accepted, but the holidays being upon us, I HAD to get a card off to them. I decided since they should eventually close on a home in this same golf course community, I'd go ahead & send it. Who knows, maybe they'll be lucky enough to have a positive answer by the time my card gets there -- here's hoping!!! ;~)

Paper: Bazzill
Punch: Martha Stewart's Embossed ZigZag
Embellishments: Krylon Gold Leafing Pen; Gold Cord

White/Silver Elegance

I just loved this elegant Papertrey Ink card when I saw it and I spent hours trying to find the website where it was originally posted. Finally went back to the Design Team's blogs & it's here on Lauren Meader's post! You do have to scroll down about half way, as it's a long post! Why it doesn't show up on the Papertrey Gallery for Silent Night, I'll never know, but I just loved her design! So I totally cased it once I received my Silent Night set from PTI and wanted to share it with those who may have missed it! I certainly had a very diffficult time re-finding it!!! It's very pretty in real life, but if you click on it and enlarge the photo, I think it helps! I ended up only making one of this exact card since I cut my list down this year, but may make more next year!
Paper: PTI's Shimmer (white) & silver cardstock scrap; vellum from stash
Stamps: PTI's Silent Night
Tools: Wizard & Nestabilities

SEI's Holly Lane Christmas

I used some SEI Holly Lane Christmas paper for the scalloped border on this card and then laced gold cord through the holes in the scallops. The PTI Merry Christmas sentiment was stamped on Bazzill & added over a chipboard tag from the paper pack and secured with velvet brads. I felt it needed more, but couldn't decide what from my stash that should be. Do you ever start out with an idea and end up not quite sure how to proceed? I often wish I had someone here who could make a suggestion or two when I'm stuck on what to do with a card; four eyes would certainly be better than my two!!! Fortunately, my sons's GF received this card, and she's always gracious!
Paper: SEI's Holly Lane "Sugarplum" & Bazzill Cardstocks
Stamp: PTI's Silent Night
Embellishments: Gold cord & velvet brads from stash

Spellbinders' Design Team Contest

Okay, all you very talented crafty ladies. . . here's your big chance to become a Design Team Member for Spellbinders -- you know, the creators of our fav tools, Nestabilities, etc.!!! Click here for the important necessary information!!! Good luck to all!!!

Birthday Definition Card

This card was cased from one I saw on the Hero Arts blog here posted by Kelly. Her color combination is perfect. To go with my dotted flower, I used handmade paper and the birthday definition stamp from Hero Arts. I also accidentally discovered that PTI's Shimmer (white) cardstock I stamped my definition on is a perfect complement to the Bazzill Bling white in my background! Going to need more of that Shimmer real soon -- LOVE it!!!

Paper: Bazzill Bling, PTI Shimmer & Black cardstocks; Pink handmade

Stamp: Hero Arts

Tools: Fiskars Threading Water Punch; Nestabilities

Oh Holy Night!

Another Papertrey Ink Christmas card partially cased from Debbie Olson's creation here. I have the same stamps, but cased her star idea for my previous Christmas card, so changed the star on this one, mainly for simplicity sake! I really like this star a lot though!!! It's actually from the Stampin'Up set I used on the PTI Christmas card I posted 12-11. I totally love the swirl on this card - it could be used in so many ways for so many occasions!!! So delicate!
Paper: PTI's Vintage Cream & Cream Linen Cardstocks
Stamps: PTI's Silent Night & Stamin'Up's Nativty Silhouette (Retired)
Ink: Tsukineko's VersaMark & Encore Gold
Embellishments: Gold Ribbon form stash
Tools: Stampin'Up's Ticket Corner Punch

The Eagle Has Landed!

I've finally got the family birthdays for this year done (just need DDs created/mailed by mid-Jan.), so I feel great! This eagle is going to fly off to Tulsa to my stepson in the near future!!! I "accidentally" rediscovered him stamped and embossed in copper on a piece of cork paper. He's been laying around for a long time, as I don't even own this stamp. I'm quite sure I probably intended him for my stepson in the first place, as his home out in the country is decorated in red/white/blue & eagles, which is why I think he's perfect, even though not red, white or blue! His Dad liked the card, so that's the true test! Now to get those Christmas cards signed, addressed & sent!!! ;-)

I'm ready to do anything BUT a Christmas card right now!!! Christmas tins or something like that's okay, just not cards -- I might consider one or two that are unique & not to be repeated over & over!!! Hee-Hee!!!

Paper: PTI's Kraft Cardstock; cork, velvet & copper metallic papers from stash

Embelllishments: Copper Metal Corners & brads from stash

Wise Men Still Seek Him. . .

This is the "main" Christmas card I've decided to mail this year. I just love Papertrey Ink's gold cardstock; it has just such a subtle shimmer! I just felt the Wise Men phrase needed to be paired with the Wise Men and my friend, Ilene, had this Stampin'Up stamp, which perfectly fit the bill! I just love this star and all the phrases in PTI's Silent Night clear acrylic stamp set; such a very beautiful set that can be used in so many ways!!!

Paper: PTI's Vintage Cream and Gold cardstocks

Stamps: PTI's Silent Night; Stampin'Up's Nativity Sihouette (retired)

Ink: Tsukineko's VersaMark & Encore! Ultimate Metallic Gold

Tools: Wizard Nestabilities

Free-Standing Pop-UP Birthday Wishes

I'm struggling to come up with masculine birthday cards for our son & my stepson, who were born on the same day in December, sixteen years apart! I resorted to my favorite pop-up card. My husband's comment on this card was that it was "kind of juvenile", so I guess I'll give it to our son, who's sixteen years more juvenile than his older brother -- LOL!!! We have 4 kids between us, his daughter & son & our son, all born in December and our daughter in mid-January, so I struggle each year at this time to come up with cards for them, along with getting my Christmas cards mailed "in a timely fashion"! Sigh! Luckily, none of the kids are very picky, so it's really my issue, not theirs! Actually, the card we sent 10 days ago to my husband's daughter has never arrived, so I'm really frustrated this year! Hopefully, this won't become a trend!!!
Paper: WeRMemoryKeepers Coppered Out - Rivets, Tiles & Corks

Stamp: Hero Arts
Embellishments: Making Memories Metal Washers; Tandy Leather
Tools: Stampin'Up Punch

"Festive" Seasons Greetings

This DP from the Festive line by My Mind's Eye reminded me of this previously uninked holly/berry stamp on the left that I got several years ago on a clearance rack! I'm afraid the subtle Perfect Pearls on my holly leaves won't show well in my uploaded photo. Some cards are just so much prettier IRL, aren't they?

I'm so thrilled that Michaels is now carrying paper by My Mind's Eye and Basic Grey, because I don't already have enough paper - LOL!!! Ironically, even after the 275 sheets of Bazzill I got at their warehouse sale, I struggled to find colors to compliment this DP! If I could figure out how to get paid for the time I spend searching for papers that coordinate, I'd be a wealthy woman!!! ;~)

Paper: Bazzill Green & PTI Vintage Cream CS; My Mind's Eye Festive Line DP

Stamps: Rubber Stampede (holly); Annette Watkins (greeting); Inkadinkado (small holly)

Inks: VersaMark & PTI Ripe Avacado

Embellishments: Ranger Perfect Pearls; Stickles; ribbon from stash

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Even if you don't live the in the United States or celebrate your own Thanksgiving with a special day, we all need to take a few moments from our busy lives to acknowledge and be thankful for all the blessings in our daily lives! Wherever you are, I wish you all a blessed day and am ever thankful for all you wonderful blogger friends out there!!! `~) Be safe!

Blog Hop November, 2008

Welcome everyone! I decided to use a favorite fold of mine, a Spring card by Sandy Hulsart, found here. I used PTI's Stamper's Select White Cardstock and after folding my card, I covered the bottom & front with 2 different PTI Pink Patterns papers. Due to our unusually dark/cloudy weather, I was unable to get a decent photo, though not for lack of trying! ;~{ If you click on the photo, you can see the detail much better!!!

For my floral embellishment, I altered a felt flower from the $1 bin @ Joanns. After punching a center hole with my Crop-a-Dile, I added "veins" to it using six-strand DMC embroidery floss. For the flower center, I used sheer green ribbon, doubled it over & tied a knot at the fold. I pulled it through from the top of the flower, securing it on the back with a large pop dot. For my stem, I pulled the cotton from both ends of a Q-Tip and bent it slightly. I then wrapped the stem from top to bottom with the same sheer ribbon, securing at top & bottom with a small glue dot. I also folded a small piece & glue-dotted it to the stem for a leaf.

Papers: PTI Stamper's Select White CS; PTI Pink Patters DP

Stamp: PTI's Birds of a Feather

Embellishments: Island Blossom Dew Drops; ribbon & floss from stash

Tools: Crop-a-Dile; Scor-It

Hero Art's Scrappy Thank You

The challenge on Hero Arts Blog this week was to use a stamped scrap & Hero Arts stamp to create a Thank You card. My entry includes the stamped flower scrap, a punched-out stamped flower as an accent and scalloped edge scraps. An added bonus for me is they've added an additional winner for a total of 4, a "fresh face" (someone who's not yet won a contest) -- I certainly qualify there!!! So I got to use several scraps and I have a thank you card when the need arises!!!

Paper: Bazzill and darker purple cardstock from my stash

Stamp: Hero Arts Graphic Letter Messages; Technique Tuesday's Kabloom & Wild Vines sets
Ink: VersaColor's Grape & Heliotrope

Tools: Square Nesties; Fiskars Threading Water Punch; Stampin'Up's Spring Flower Bouquet Punch

Blog Candy!!!

If you're like me & you'd love to try Copics, but never seem to find the cash to puchase them, go here for not only a chance to win Copics, but MORE!!! ;~) Good luck to you too!!!

Chocolate Cake Card

As my entry for CardVaarks Chocolate challenge, I created this card which is nothing like I'd imagined in the beginning! Due to circumstances beyond my control, it's now dark, so my photo will not be the best either! I'll try to re-upload in morning light tomorrow. The challenge ends @ midnight tonight, so here goes!

I couldn't really think what else chocolatey to do but a cake, so I made it 3-layer cake with pearls and white roses. I envision it for a birthday, but guess it could work for a chocolate-lover's wedding too!

Paper: PTI's Shimmer and Bazzill cardstocks

Tools: Square Nesties; Fiskars Threading Water Punch

Embellishments: Martha Stewart Rub-Ons, pearls & ribbon from my stash

Simple Merry Christmas

Between my quest for simple, elegant Christmas cards for this year & a challenge I saw yesterday for a simple one-layer card, I dug through my stash and came up with this one. Sadly, it's too late for the challenge, but I do like its simple elegance. I've had this stamp since 2005 when I took several DeNami classes @ a local LSS and bought most of their Christmas stamps. Sorry to say that I've not used several . . . yet! :~) The gold/deckle-edged cards & matching gold-lined envelopes have been in my stash for several years also! I merely inked the stamp in two colors, added green Spica to the leaves & went over the phrase in red Spica. Though not discernible in the photo, in real life, it's so pretty! Simple & easy, yet elegant -- exactly what a Christmas card should be, I think!!! I'm sending a special "thank you" to Gwen too for recommending the Spica Pens -- they're AWESOME!!! ;-)
Stamp: DeNami Design
Ink: PTI's Ripe Avacado & Pure Poppy
Tools: Spica Green & Red Glitter Pens

Merry and Bright

I decided it was time to break out this Stampendous set from my purchase this summer. Only after I'd spent the time paper piecing "merry" did I attempt to stamp "and bright" -- only to "wiggle" my block that's too large for this dainty phrase! I was so bummed, but I just let it lay on my table for a couple days. Knowing I had nothing to lose, I decided to add some glitter with my now beloved Red Spica pen, not even thinking it would cover my error! I was beyond thrilled when it did -- just another reason to love those pens!!! My husband tried to tweak my camera settings for me today too, so we'll see if this helps capture the Spica glitter. Hope springs eternal!

Paper: PTI's Basic White; Bazzill cardstocks
Stamps: Stampendous' Mega Merry
Ink: PTI's Hybrids: Pure Poppy & Noir
Tools: Fiskars' Threading Water Punch; Scor-It

Witchy-Witch

Though Halloween is long gone until

next year, I realized I never posted this card I made in a rush the day before Halloween. When my sweet friend Kelly sent me a RAK with SU shoe verses, I just had to quickly make a card for my friend Ilene, who dresses up as a witch every Halloween & just got new "witch" shoes & my BBGF (best blogging GF) Gwen, who never fails to comment on my posts in spite of working many long hours every week! Luckily they both live locally, so their cards arrived on Halloween Day! I've had this witch since I first began stamping back in '95 & still love her! I added Lavendar Spica for a bit of glitz, though it's hard to see in a photo!

Cardstocks: Black, Orange & white from stash

Stamps: Witch (unknown); verse: SU's Humor in High Heels

Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black

Other: Tombow Markers; Spica Lavendar pen; Martha Stewart Ribbon

Tools: Spellbinder's Wizard & Long Rectangle Nestabilities

Happy Fall Card II

I finally did a paper piecing, though it's a bit late now for our SBS22 challenge which was for last month!!! My card is fairly simple, since the various Basic Grey Mellow papers give it enough detail, I think! It could work for a male also.
Papers: PaperTrey Ink's Kraft cardstock & pumpkin cardstock from stash; Basic Grey's Mellow 6" x 6" cardstock pad
Stamps: Stampendous Mega Happy & Seasonal Swirls acrylic sets
Ink: PTI's Dark Chocolate Hybrid Ink
Tools: Scor-It Board

Card Toppers RAK

Pictured are the card toppers along with a card Tina sent me for our SBS22 RAK exchange this month -- aren't they just awesome?!!! I love them, Tina, and will be gearing up here soon for my annual Christmas card-making extravaganza! I'm not one who terribly enjoys making more than 2 or 3 of one particular card as a rule, so getting 45+ Christmas cards done is always a big undertaking! Unfortunately, it's very hard for me to make many different designs and then make up my mind who to send them to, so I eventually decide on 1 design & make them all the same. I usually lean more towards "elegant", which means more work embossing, etc., so at least this year I already have 2 cards practically done, thanks to Tina! **U**

Bazzill Stitch'z Flower Card

I got this Bazzill Stitch’z Flower cardstock at their annual warehouse sale in September and had been wanting to try a card with it. I decided not to do any stitching this time. Instead I used my Cuttlebug Bloom Dots folder on the top of the card, added a bow, a little Stickles and a flower-shaped gem to the flower center -- easy!!! I wanted to use these #9 envelopes I've had forever & got the idea to emboss part of the envelope to match my card, since it's color doesn't. Hope the postal machine can handle it!!! **U**
Paper: Bazzill; Orange cardstock from stash
Embellishments: Orange Peel Stickles; flower gem from stash
Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard; Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

RAK from Kelly SBS8

My sweet friend Kelly from our SBS8 Sisterhood sent me this adorable card after I commented on it on her blog here. She stamped all the fun phrases from the SU's Humor in High Heels set and enclosed them also! What a fun set of sayings!!! I'm so fortunate to have found so many nice "sisters" to treasure in life after being shortchanged in that department in real life!!! This way I got wonderful brothers in real life & never had to share my clothes! LOL!!! Now I get the "benefits" of sweet sisters I've found over the years through various avenues including SBS; I'm a lucky girl!!!
Paper: Heidi Grace Designs (I have this paper too!)
Stamps: SU's Humor in High Heels set (current catalog)
Embelllies: Stickles

Halloween Crafting 2008

I made some Halloween decorations for my kids to use in their respective homes this holiday. The door hanger was for my DD's roommate (couldn't leave her out) and the witchy went to them for their apartment also. I made the cat for my son's GF for her apartment (because she has a cat) & the skeleton for my son. He said he and his roommates had the perfect spot for it & they were just decorating their house when it came. It's made of metal and I found it marked down to $1.49 @ Michaels -- couldn't believe the price! I would normally have made him something too, but knew this was perfect for him! Of course they each received a card from me also, among the many that I'd previously made and posted here! Beware of all the spooks & ghouls out there & have a Happy Halloween everyone!!! ;-)

Papers and Paints: Making Memories

Rubons: K & Company

Ribbons: Martha Stewart

Wise Owl Card for Blog Hop. . .

For my first Papertrey Ink Blog Hop entry I made this simple Wise Owl half-window-fold card using Bazzill's scalloped cardstock and a tutorial I found here. I just love finding unusual folds/shapes for my cards on all the awesome blogs out there. I also incorporated the "innie/outie" nesting idea from Alli Miles' post here for my red circle on the front, but I actually used 3 Nesties. My card didn't turn out exactly as I'd seen it in my head, but I was a bit short on time today. I can't wait to see what everyone else came up with for this month's challenge!
Stamps: PTI's Wise Owl & Wise Owl Bellies
Paper: Bazzill & cream cardstock from stash
Ink: VersaFine's Vintage Sepia
Tools: Scor-It; Crop-a-Dile; Spellbinder's Wizard
Embellies: WeRMemoryKeepers' Large Eyelet; American Craft's Ribbon

Wedding Congratulations Card

My friend announced that she recently got married, so I CASEd this card from Heather Nichols here. I hope she and her new husband have a long and happy life together!!!
The card uses Paper Trey Ink's Guide Lines stamp set with VersaMark Ink embossed with Pearl EP and since her favorite color is purple, I used Bazzill Bling and ribbon in a purple shade.
Paper: Bazzill Bling; white cardstock
Stamps: PTI's Guide Lines; SU (love)
Ink: VersaMark & VersaFine Black Onyx
Tools: Spellbinder's Wizard; Cuttlebug Concentric Heart Die; SU Word Window & Ticket Corner Punch
Embellies: Glitter, pearls, jump ring & ribbon from stash

New Holiday Rubber Stamp Idea

As my dear friend, Gwen, and I are discussing what we're making for a Christmas card on email tonight, my brother coincidentally sends me an email, saying: "Due to increasing age, forgetfulness, and my decreasing ability to send cards on time here is my card to cover every Holiday" with the accompanying photo! Too funny!!! Gwen & I both had the idea it should be posted here! Enjoy!!!
Gwen thinks someone needs to make this into a stamp -- we could spend our time making cards for every occasion BUT a national holiday then & save a lot on postage, huh?!!! I like the frig posting idea too!!! LOL!!! Aren't email and the Internet wonderful -- what did we ever do before we had them?!!!

Spooky Halloween Decoration

I found all the Halloween stuff on sale @ Michael's yesterday, so decided this would be for ME! LOL!!! I got other fun stuff to make & send my kids and I'll post those once I know they've received them, so as to not spoil their surprise!
It was so fun/easy to cover this with various scraps from my stash! I discovered I like using Elmer's Rubber Cement, because if I make a mess, it just rubs off, whereas with Mod Podge I always have a splotch I can't remove on the front of my project! I'll be stocking up on Rubber Cement next trip! Wish I'd have found more than one of these, but sadly this was the last @ the particular Michael's where I shopped! Maybe I'll be lucky & find more before they're gone at another store(?)!!!
Paper: Making Memories, Pebbles, Inc. & K & Company Halloween papers
Ribbon: Martha Stewart
Embellishments: Making Memories brad & sticker

Rest Your Bones

I promised my DD that I'd send her something I made for
Halloween, so this is the little creation I came up with. I based it on the dotted paper that had this shaped design on it from 2007's Making Memories 6" x 6" paper pad. I simply glued it to a piece of cardboard & then added K & Company glitter stickers and MM's Glitter Pebble Sticker on one side. For the other side, I used MM's Spellbound Die-cut Pumpkin paper and my embossing pen & glow-in-the-dark embossing powder inside the pumpkins' faces so they'll glow in the dark. I then used Halloween embossing powder on the chipboard letters, hung them from the bottom point & added a ring and orange chain for hanging.
Papers: Making Memories Halloween Papers (2007 & 2008)
Embellishments: K & Company Glitter Stickers; Making Memories Glitter Pebble Stickers; Chipboard letters; glitter & glow-in-the-dark embossing powders

Halloween Treat Basket

My friend, Ilene, was visiting today & working on a Christmas Treat Basket, so I decided to do a Halloween basket. Last year I made 2 for Christmas gifts and they can found under my Treat Holders label on the right. Again, the directions for making this treat holder can be found here on Splitcoaststampers awesome site! I liked both sides of this cardstock, so decided to keep it very simple and not add any patterned paper squares. I used a metal ring (actually a very large hoop earring I got for this very purpose at the $1 store last year) and added some chipboard buttons from last year and tied various Halloween ribbons around the ring! Pretty simple & it's ready for trick or treaters. Now I'll have to go hide the candy again or my DH will eat it all long before the 31st!!! Bet parents are glad it's a Friday night this year!

Paper: Making Memories Brocade Orange Spellbound Cardstock

Embellishments: Making Memories Chipboard Buttons (2007); Martha Stewart Ribbons (2007); black eyelets; silver hoop earring

Tools: Crop-a-dile II; Scor-It

Feeling Owly?!!!

I've been fighting allergy symptoms these past few days, so I'm a bit out of sorts (owly!), but I'm so excited to post my first Wise Owl card, having been fortunate enough to win both PTI's Wise Owl & the add-on set, Wise Owl Bellies, from Designer Alli Miles on WCMD! I'd been hoping to buy this set since it premiered in July, so I was really excited to receive it. This fabulous set allows you to create your owls in many different ways with all the individual owl parts and fun sentiments, and the add-on set includes 12 additional patterned bellies, expanding your options even more! So darn cute!!!
If you're not familiar with Papertrey Ink, go here to check out Nichole Heady's blog & online store -- you will NOT be sorry! She & her design team are fabulous and PTI rolls out several new stamp sets & coordinating inks, papers, ribbons & accessories the 15th of every month! Between their ingenious designs & uniquely creative examples on their blogs, you'll be truly inspired! It's very hard not to "want it all" -- I know I do!!!
Paper: Bazzill cardstocks; SEI's Madera Island DP
Stamps: PTI's Wise Owl & Wise Owl Bellies; Wordsworth (branch/leaves)
Inks: VersaColor's Orange, Bark, Umber & Narcissus; ColorBox Dark Brown Fluid Chalk

Happy Little Bird Card

Lacking creativity, I went blog hopping to find some inspiration and this card was inspired by one I found here. I used my cuttlebug embossing folder for the right side of the card and (once again) an Inkadinkado stamp from Costco for my little cut-out bird.

Paper: White cardstock; Green Bazzill; Colorbok DP

Stamp: Inkadinkado
Ink: VersaFine Majestic Blue

Embellishments: Colorbok Sticker; small pearls

Hey Turkey!!!

Once again, this darling idea (like my previous post) came from Vicki Hook here! She said: " Go ahead, try it! You know you want to!" She was right -- so I did!!! And I'm so glad I did; with the Nesties, he didn't really take very long to make either! Vicki's site is full of awesome ideas, so I've got to go back & look around some more!!!
He's so cute I've not decided whether to put him on a card or perhaps just make him a decor item for Thanksgiving. Wouldn't these be adorable as placeholders for your holiday dinner?! You could put the person's name on the front of him cut out with a scalloped rectangle - too cute!!! You could even use smaller Nesties for those; I used my largest.
Paper: Basic Grey's Mellow 6 x 6 Paper Pad; Making Memories' 6 x 6 Travel Paper Pad
Embellies: Wiggly Eyes from stash

Get Well Card for Norma

My SBS22 Sister, Norma, received and posted this card on her blog recently, but I wanted to go ahead and post it because this half-window card I found here on Vicki Hook's site was so much fun to make! Vicki has some awesome tutorials there! It was a bit challenging for me, because of the size of my scalloped paper (I wanted them on all edges!), but I really like how it turned out. Unbelievably, the only DP I could find in my stash that really matched the scalloped Bazzill was this tulip DP. Though it's NOT very fall-like, it's bright & cheery, which I think we need when we're not feeling well -- flowers always seem to brighten difficult days!!! The matching chipboard tulip sealed the deal!
Paper: Bazzill Scall0ped cardstock; DCWV DPs

Stamp: Hero Arts

Ink: Versacolor's Opera Pink

Embellishments: DCWV's spring chipboard elements

Tools: Wizard & Round Nesties

Special Day Card with Inkadinkado

Okay, I hope you're not tired of my screaming deal on Inkadinkado stamps from Costco, because I'm having fun inking them up!!! ;-) I need a bunch of special day/birthday cards in the next few months, so I'm keeping it simple (but hopefully classy) here with this little phrase, a Swiss Dots folder strip, velvet flower & a few gems.
Paper: Solar White Classic Columns & black cardstocks from stash
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black
Embellishments: Amanda Blu Velvet Chipboard Flower; Hero Arts Gemstones

Spooky Tree Halloween Card with Inkadinkadoo

My Spooky Tree card was based on the one on Inkadinkadoo's website here. I adjusted mine & added the narrow orange ribbon, as well as the Spica orange glitter on the tree & border leaves since I didn't have the beautiful K&Company papers they used. The glitter is probably impossible to see in my photo, but it is there! Love that little witch flying over the tree!
Paper: Scrap Works Formal Affair DP; black cardstock from stash
Stamps: Inkadinkadoo
Ink: Tsukineko's VersaFine Onyx Black
Ribbon: Martha Stewart
Tools: Spica Pen; Spellbinder's Wizard & Oval Nesties; Fiskars edge punch

Happy Thanksgiving Card with Inkadinkado

Ever have one of those times when even the smallest little card is so darn challenging you just want to throw it in the trash & totally forget the whole thing? Well, I'm "persistent" (now I know some might say that's a nice word for "stubborn", but I prefer persistent -- just like I'm sometimes "precise" but never "anal"!) Hee-Hee!!! Anyway, our Costco (YES, Costco!) had 3 sets of Inkadinkado stamps, each containing 128 stamps, an acrylic block & one black ink for $19.89 ! Who could resist?! I actually only got 2 sets, but since I just "blew my wad" at CKC, well . . . . The big problem with Costco's "seasonal" items is that if you don't grab it when you first see it, you'll probably miss out totally. They'll have wonderful scrapbooking items now through the end of the year & then "poof" -- they're mostly gone until next fall. So, after many mishaps & changes in paper choices, etc., here's my little Thanksgiving card!!! ;-)

Paper: Speckled Kraft Cardstock

Stamps: Inkadinkado's Holiday Seasons Clear Stamps

Ink: Tsukineko's Pigments: Bamboo, Paprika & Brown

Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard & Long Rectangle Nesties

SBS 22 September Blog Hop Challenge Card

Here's my entry for the first-ever SBS22 Blog Hop Challenge. It was fun to create, but did prove to be a bit of a challenge for me because I realized AFTER I had my squares all stamped, embossed & run through the Wizard that it would not fit on a 6" square card and still allow any of my colorful background paper to show! Necessity being the Mother of Invention (not to mention lack of time or the inclination to start over), I took creative license and made it 6 1/4" square! Yep, I cheated on my first-ever challenge!!! ;-} Since I had a couple of cardstocks larger than 12" square to cut a larger base AND a 6 1/2" black envelope to mail it in, I decided to just go with it! Rules were meant to be "bent" anyway - right?!!! LOL!!!
Paper: Strathmore Bristol Vellum (card base); SEI's Eerie Alley Nightmare Square DP; SU's cardstock (squares)
Stamps: Making Memories Spellbound Clear Acrylic
Ink: ColorBox's Raven Black; Tsukineko's Moonlight White Brilliance
Tools: Wizard Diecutting Machine & Square Nesties
Embelllishments: Clear & White Embossing Powders

Friend Card RAK Received

How dang cute is this?!!! I received this from Peggy, my SBS22 Sister in Canada, for our September friendship RAK exchange!!! It's just totally adorable, I think!!!
I have no idea what company that precious girlfriends stamp came from, but it's darling! Love the brown/blue color combo & how she used the Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background, which really compliments the circles she used for her stamped image & layers. I like the way she layered "friend" next to the girls too!!! I give it an A+++, Peggy -- thank you so very much!!! ;-)

Massive Blog Candy

RUN -- don't walk -- HERE -- NOW -- for the LARGEST EVER -- BLOG CANDY!!! You only have until Friday Night @ 8:00 p.m. CENTRAL time to post a card to benefit: Alzheimer's Association and in particular the caregivers who care for these very special patients. Cammie has put together an unbelievable post (which had to take many hours) in memory of her dear Grandmother and will draw a very lucky winner on what would have been her Grandmother's birthday.
It's very touching to see all the awesome contributions and read her post & all the comments from those whose families have been touched by this horrific disease. Papercrafters generally are the nicest folks with huge hearts and her post proves that! I decided to do a card for a male because I know there are many deserving men who are so vitally important in caring for Alz. patients. I'm sending this card to the caregivers who cared for Cammie's Grandmother as mentioned in her post, but if you know an Alz. caregiver you may send yours directly to that person.
Paper: Bazzill Cardstock; SEI's Madera Island cardstock & tag
Stamp: (Inside only) Stampin' Up! 2001
Ink: Color Box Dark Brown Fluid Chalk
Embellishments: SEI's Madera Island Rub-0ns & Ribbon; Making Memories Woven Label; Timeless Touches Metal Corners