Holly Jolly Christmas

Hi everyone,

Today's card combines three challenges from SCS this week (count 'em ... three!!!):

Monday's Technique Lover's Challenge (TLC401 - woven ribbon)
Tuesday's Color Challenge (CC399 - cherry cobbler, old olive, very vanilla)
Wednesday's Sketch Challenge (SC409)

I'm pretty proud of myself to combine that many challenges ... and with those colors, I HAD to make a Christmas card. :)  Besides I still need quite a few more Christmas cards for this year. 

"Holly Jolly Christmas"

Stamps:  Handy Christmas Greetings (Amy R)
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler (SU!)
Ink:  Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Curly-Q Border die and Holly & Berry die (C.C. Designs), sponges, 5/8" Old Olive satin ribbon, 1/2" Cherry Cobbler seam binding, sticky strips, glue dots and dimensionals

I cut two border dies from C.C. Designs (Curly-Q) and wove ribbon through (one Old Olive satin; one Cherry Cobbler seam binding).  Love how it turned out ... makes for a pretty border and will probably use this again on another card.  The holly leaves and berries are also a C.C. Design die and I just sponged around the edges to give them more depth.

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One more quick thing ... my Room with a View card from Oct. 25 was picked for "A Cut Above" by Jaydee at Paper Players.  Thanks Jaydee!!

Happy Birthday to You

Hi everyone,

Today is the start of the latest fun challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More - Bingo Challenge #4.  Here's the bingo card and rules:



Your entry must follow the Bingo card provided.  Choose a line - vertical, horizontal or diagonal.  When there is a free box in the line, try not to use any of the other elements already provided on the bingo card (just the two elements in your line and any others that aren't listed).  Use your imagination!

I chose the vertical line on the right-hand side (B'day, Stripes, White) to create a fun and cheerful birthday card.

The cupcake was created using a die from C.C. Designs, with Martha Stewart's Sparkle Texture Effect for the frosting (love the texture and glitter accents).  I glued together three each of the cupcake paper and the frosting die pieces to give the die more thickness and umph!  I then used dimensionals to pop the pieces up and create even more depth.  I love the whimsical font of the Paper Smooches sentiment.  Added a 1 1/4" strip of the same designer paper to the bottom inside of the card to give it some interest.

Hope you like.

"Happy Birthday to You"

Stamps:  Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White (Neenah), Hello Sunshine DP (Bo Bunny); Riding Hood Red and Daffodil Delight (SU!)
Ink:  Riding Hood Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Sweet Treats Set Die and Candle Border Die (C.C. Designs), Nestabilities Square die (Spellbinders), Martha Stewart Sparkle Texture Effect, small paint brush, Stripes embossing folder (Sizzix), glue, adhesives and dimensionals

Here's a close-up of the cupcake:

Hope you'll join in the fun challenge ... check out the other wonderful creations from the Design Team at Addicted to Stamps and More!

Lovely Sunset

Hi everyone,

First of all, my thoughts are with those on the east coast of the US and Canada, who are having to deal with Hurricane Sandy.  I hope that everyone is safe, and the storm passes through quickly without any devastation. 

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On to today's card ...

This card is for a very special 9-1-1- operator who helped save my husband's life four weeks ago.  I didn't get a chance to thank him that night, so I'm sending a card to let him know we are eternally grateful.

I used my favorite stamp set from Stampin' Up! ... Lovely as a Tree.  I never get tired of using this set.  It's so versatile and so ... ummmm ... lovely! :)

I used the sketch from this week's Less Is More Challenge (LIM#91) to create a fall scene of trees and a sunset.  (I turned the sketch on it's side.)  I have always loved triptych cards and am really happy with how this turned out.  Hope you like too!

"Lovely Sunset"

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree (SU!); Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Early Espresso, Old Olive, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponges, and adhesives

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to create the row of trees first.  Then I sponged on the other colors before dividing the panel into three.  Quick and easy card that has a lot of punch because of the bold colors of the sunset.

Christmas Moose

Hi everyone,

I have some exciting news!!  As you know, I am a member of the Design Team for Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge blog.  There is now a new "sister" Challenge Blog to ATS&M .... Addicted to CAS.

The first challenge for the new blog is on Nov. 17th ... with challenges running every other Saturday.  Kylie (founder) has secured a prize for the CAS PERFECTIONIST for each challenge.  I told you it was exciting news!!  I hope you'll check out the link above to the new challenge blog and take a look.  And ... I hope you'll join in on the new challenges which start in three weeks.

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On to today's card ... which combines two challenges from this week ... CAS-ual Fridays (CFC76 Kraft On) and CAS-ology (#16 - Cue word:  Wild).  I couldn't think of anything for the wild card ... but then I remembered that I bought a Kittie Kit last year called "The Moose Is Loose".  I think the moose wrapped up in Christmas lights is simply adorable!  Love the grin on his face! :)

I love Kraft (or Crumb Cake which is what I used) and red together.  Such a great color combo.  I added some green stickles to the Christmas lights, but not sure it shows up well in the photo.  It's very dark and rainy here today ... and hard to get a good picture.  IRL I'm happy with how this turned out.  Hope you like too!

"Christmas Moose"

Stamps:  The Moose is Loose (Kittie Kits - Rubbernecker Stamps); Merriment (SU!)
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Real Red (SU!)
Ink:  Black, Soft Suede, Gumball Green, Real Red, Whisper White (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Blender pen, Stamp-a-ma-jig, green stickles, 3/8" red stitched ribbon, adhesives, glue dot, and dimensionals

I used the blender pen and soft suede ink to color in the moose.  I also used the blender pen with Whisper White ink to color in the fur on his hat and his eyes ... wasn't sure that it was going to work, but it did!  Added stickles to the lights to make them shiny ... hard to see, but better in the close-up view below.

Here's a close-up of the moose:

With gratitude

Hi everyone,

Today's card is a thank you card for the doctors and nurses of the Intensive Care Unit who looked after my hubby.  They are dedicated, caring individuals and I wanted to send them a thank you card and some goodies to show our appreciation.

I used my Cameo Coral Stampin' Write marker and a blender pen to color in the rose on the card.  Love this color ... too bad it is long retired and no longer available.  For now, I use it sparingly, hoping the ink will last a bit longer. :)

"With Gratitude"

Stamps:  Garden Oasis (Fiskars); Chit Chat (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Watercolor paper (Arches); Black Polka-dot DP, Old Olive (SU!)
Ink:  Cameo Coral, Old Olive, Basic Black (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Leaves Die (Sizzix), 1/4" Basic Black grosgrain ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, blender pen, sponge, adhesives, glue dots and dimensionals

I used the Marker Layering technique to color the rose (see link to tutorial on Tutorial page).  I didn't have an appropriate leaf stamp to match with the rose, so I used a die-cut and Old Olive cardstock with more ink sponged on the edges to create some depth.  I'll have to find a leaf stamp that will work with this rose because I think it would be a lot better with a watercolored leaf to match.  Note to self:  time to go shopping! :)

Tip on fussy-cut images ... after I cut an image rose out, I run a Stampin' Write marker (same color as the stamped image) along the outside cut edge to give it a nice clean look.  I used the Black marker with today's rose ... it covers up the white edge from the cut and also disguises any mistakes I made when cutting.

Room with a View

Hi everyone,

I'm looking forward to joining in on some card challenges this week.  I have a list of 19 different challenge blogs that I frequent --- wow, that's a LOT!! --- never counted them before. :)

I look over the challenges throughout the week and then pick and choose the ones that interest me the most.  If possible, I'll combine two or three different challenges with one card - that in itself, is another type of challenge for me.  I was getting better at combining over the summer, but now that I've had a three-week break, it might take me a while to get back into the swing of things.  :)

Today I'm starting off with the Paper Players challenge (#118 - Frames).  I recently purchased the new Small Madison Arched Window die from Poppy Stamps.  Love this window frame!

Back in the spring I held a workshop with some friends to show them how to create a scenic card with sponging.  I demonstrated the technique to create a main panel and filed it away, hoping that I'd use it someday ... and today was the day!  It's the sunset view through this gorgeous arched window.  Hope you like.

"Room with a View"

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree; Elements of Style (sentiment) (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Whisper White (SU!)
Ink:  Early Espresso, Always Artichoke, So Saffron, Bravo Burgundy (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Small Madison Arched Window die (Poppy Stamps), adhesives, glue and dimensionals

As with most dies, I cut three layers of the Arched Window and glued them together to create a thick die.  The instructions on how to make the outside scene can be found in a previous post here.

Here's a close-up of the "view":

I'm Back! :)

Hi everyone,

I'm so happy to be back on-line and spending time in my art studio.  I was humbled by the outpouring of good wishes and prayers during my time away - thank you to everyone!

This is what happened ...

In the early morning hours of Oct. 1st, my hubby had a heart attack.  Thankfully, everything since that horrific event has gone extremely well and he is now at home recovering from open heart surgery.  Everyone from the 9-1-1 operator, firemen, paramedics, doctors and nurses in ICU and the Cardiac Ward, have taken part in his amazing progress.  There's still lots of healing to do, but he is well on his way to making a full recovery!  We are blessed ...

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I have started making cards again the past couple of days ... cards that have never meant to much to me before.  I'm posting two that will be sent to people mentioned above who cared for my hubby.  Hope you like.

With hubby now home, my main focus will be looking after him, but I plan to find a little time to have fun in my studio. :)  I still have several 'thank you' cards to make - stay tuned.

Just before this happened, I became a member of the Design Team for a fairly new challenge blog called Addicted to Stamps & More!  :)

Kylie is the founder and I emailed her to let her know what happened.  She has been so supportive and I have also received encouragement from the rest of the design team.  Kylie and team ... your support and prayers are so appreciated!

Prior to Oct. 1st, I had created a card for an upcoming ATS&M challenge - Addicted to [Halloween].  The challenge is now closed, but I wanted to post the card I made ...

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I used a cute digital image from Bugaboo and paper-pieced the "Pumpkin Witch".  Before printing off the image onto my white card front, I took some time to blank-out the existing broom that the pumpkin witch was holding.  I wanted to create my own broom using a wooden skewer and twine.  Hope you like.

"Happy Halloween"

Stamps:  Pumpkin Witch (Bugaboo Digital Stamps); sentiment is computer generated
Paper:  White (Neenah); Pumpkin Pie polka-dot DP, Basic Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:  Soft Suede (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Wooden Skewer, Hemp Twine, Black Twine (Doodlebug), Mandarin Twine (The Twinery), Crystal Effects, glue, and glue dots

I paper pieced all the layers for the image.  The hat is actually three layers (the main layer of polka-dot, another layer of plain black and then the top layer is black cardstock covered with Crystal Effects to add depth and shine).  The shiny hat layer was popped up to give more depth, using rolled glue dots.  The eyes and tooth are also covered in Crystal Effects.

I sponged the wooden skewer with Soft Suede ink and then made the broom from twine and glued to the handle.

Signing off for a while

Due to a family emergency, I will be signing off the blog for a while.

Hope to be back soon.

Loll