Beading It!

I'm today's hostess for the Splitcoaststamper's Ways To Use It challenge and I chose to challenge folks to use beads.  I have lots of beads that are just collected dust. Finally, I have them out and have used them a bit.  These microbeads were really fun and I used them to fill in the perimeter of my Verve butterfly!  

I also used a Mojo Monday sketch to kick start my card.  I tried to pull all three colors from my little microbead collection. 

Happy Thursday, thanks for stopping by and I hope you will think about playing with me today!

(Sorry for the short post today, my daughter is home and is anxious to paint my nails!)

Details - Stamps: Chicks Rule (Verve), Fluttering By (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberrry, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz; Ink: Tuxedo Black; Accessories: Flutterby die (Verve), Loopy Blooms die (Verve), crystal effects, microbeads, pretties kit, Sakura clear star gel pen, stampin' dimenisonals, Rich Razzleberry ribbon, pear pizzazz seam binding, pool party ruffled ribbon, glue dots, scor-tape.

A Blue Monday

But, it's not blue like you would expect it to be.  I'm not sad or anything...it's just time for another challenge with the Friends of Speedy TV.  Today's challenge is to make a winter card or a mostly blue card.  I have had my fill of the holidays (and they were quite enjoyable!) and wanted to do something a little different.  I decided for a mostly blue card and came up with this.  I decided to try to make a mirror that looked a cracked to go with the sentiment rest of the sentiment which reads, "But, you are still in one piece!  Happy Birthday!".  I have a couple of girlfriends who appreciate funny birthday cards every once in a while. 

My card was pretty simple once I decided on how to make my mirror.  I embossed and sponged the background a bit and then devised the "wallpaper and the doily".  The lovely lace came from my Friends of Speedy TV team mate Melisa Waldorf.  Thanks Melisa!!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a fabulous Monday!

Details - Stamps: Background Fun (Mark's Finest Papers); Paper: Soft Sky, Soft Suede, Brushed Gold, Afternoon Tea dsp; Ink: Soft Suede, Soft Sky, Going Gray, Versamark; Accessories: Nestabilities, large oval punch, scor-tape, lace, corner chomper, stampin' dimensionals, gold ep, heat tool, sponge dauber.

Using Digis

It's Thursday again and that means it is time to Use It!  Hannah has us going digital today and that left me a little bit limited.  I'm behind the times and don't have many digital images to choose from.  I was too lazy to search up any freebies and went for some Verve images I did have.  I think these were eventually made into stamps, but I swear these are digi images!  With all the holiday prep going on right now, it's important to give yourself the gift of relaxation and enjoyment.  Won't you sit down and stamp a bit?

I hope you are having a fabulous Thursday!  Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Winter Mittens digi (Verve); Paper: White, Basic Black, Night & Day Specialty dsp; Ink: Pink Pirouette; Accessories: Copics, Nestabilties, sponge dauber, paper snips, M's rhinestones, stampin' dimensionals, Sakura clear star gel pen.

A Furry Happy Birthday

Today's card is brought to use today in the name of something other than Christmas.  I'm not tired of Christmas, but I just don't need another card for this weekend.  What I am short of is birthday cards, so I decided to whip one up.  Touch Twin Markers & More is hosting a "Furry Friend" themed challenge.  I found these to Gina K cuties and stamped and colored them.  After I die-cut them out, I found a great sketch to work them into.  The clean and simple stamping blog posted this sketch last week and I have had it printed out since then.  I'm really glad that I got a chance to use it. 

I think I will make this brief, as my darling daughter is napping upstairs and I want to get a little more stamping done today.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great Wednesday!

Details - Stamps: Warm and Fuzzy (GKD), Garden Silhouettes (GKD); Paper: Pool Party, Chocolate Chip, GKD white, Crate Paper Mia; Ink: Early Espresso, Rich Cocoa; Accessories: Touch Twin Markers, Copics, Nestabilities, scor-tape, pool party ruffled ribbon, stampin' dimensionals.

Friends of Speedy Go Clean

We are going Clean and Simple this week over at the Friends of Speedy TV.  I broke out this fabulous poinsettia wreath by Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company.   The set Christmas Wreath mini contains both the image and the sentiment.  I combined those with a little embossing a mat and some gold cord.  Voila, a Christmas card. 

I have read recently about households being ravaged by flu.  I missed the last two days of my work week due to what had to have been a flu that my daughter had.  My husband had an annual party that he hosts to complete on Saturday, so that left me to care for her.  I have never used so much Lysol Disinfecting Spray in all my life.  My daughter had a raging fever and was vomiting and I did not want it.  The good news is that she is better now and I think I have just about passed through the time period for incubation of a germ and may have escaped!  Cross your fingers!  Sorry about the grossness of the last paragraph, but that will explain my absence on my blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Miniature Winter Wonderland sketch challenge

I hostessed a challenge over this weekend at VSN (Virtual Stamp Night).  My challenge was called Miniature Winter Wonderland and it was a sketch challenge.  This was the very first sketch I have ever drafted.  I think I did okay for a first time.  I based my sketch on the idea of a snow globe.  My little girl keeps snow globes on her desk all year long.  I can hardly blame her, they are magical.  So for my card, I added a fabulous frosty guy, colored up lightly and dotted the whole globe with my Sakura Stardust gel pen.  Of course, it's hard to see in the photo, but in real life, it really sparkles!  I recently saw this older designer paper used on a winter card and thought it was totally appropriate.  I love that design looks like multicolored snowflakes.

I hope everyone is having a Happy Tuesday and thanks for coming by!

Details - Stamps: Warm Winter Wishes (Flourishes), A Season of Celebrations (Flourishes); Paper: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Delicate Dots dsp, Certainly Celery dsp; Ink: Stazon Jet Black; Accessories: Watercolor pencils, SU jewels, Sakura Stardust gel pen, white taffeta ribbon, Nestabilities, stampin' dimensionals, glue dots.

Christmas with Speedy TV

Happy Monday!  It's time for another Friends of Speedy TV challenge with Mark's Finest Papers A Heinrich Company.  Today, we are making Christmas cards.   I opted to go relatively easy with my card today.  I was inspired to make this card by one of my fellow hostesses at VSN this weekend.  Michelle offered up a challenge to create a winter scene type of challenge and made a black and white sample with a pop of red!  I was hooked and new immediately what kind of Christmas card I was going to make.  Despite the few layers, this one was pretty easy to make.  I stamped and sponged one layer and embossed another. 

I'll keep this short and sweet today!  Hope you have a great day!

Details: Stamps: Country Church mini, Greetings of the Season mini; Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red; Ink: Basic Gray, Tuxedo Black; Accessories: sponge dauber, red satin ribbon, M's black rhinestones, score-tape, stampin' dimensionals. 

We Are In A Winter Wonderland

A VSN Winter Wonderland, that is.  We played five challenges tonight and have all kinds of challenges for players tomorrow.  I hope you can stop by and take a look or play a few.  It's really quite fun!  This challenge was the first one out of the gate.  The Amazing Lydia led us off with an inspiration challenge of sorts...create a card about what gives you the warm and fuzzies.  I opted for the smell of cookies baking and some snuggle and reading time with my girl.  The current reading topic in Kindergarten is the traditional story and variations of The Gingerbread Man.  We also completed a family homework assignment to decorate our own construction paper gingerbread man.  Our gingerbread lady was complete with designer paper, embroidery floss, rhinestones, googly eyes, embossed lips, rhinestones necklace and earrings, chalk blush and Pearl Ex eyeshadow!  My girl had a fabulous time raiding Mommy's craft room. My husband even got in on the action trimming some designer paper shoes and adhering embroidery floss with 1/8" scor-tape!

Anyway, I hope to see you at VSN tomorrow.  It's sure to be a ton of fun.  Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Got Treats; Paper: Whisper White, AC Merrymint; Ink: Versamark, Creamy Caramel; Accessories: Nestabilities, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals, sponge dauber, clear ep, heat tool.

Stencils for Thursday

Today it is my turn to hostess the Ways To Use It challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  My challenge, Stencil Love, is all about getting out those stencils and putting them to work.  For my card, I used the stencil function of Spellbinder's Nestabilities.  I die cut my snowflakes and then sponged some Soft Suede ink onto my snowflakes.  Then, I covered each flake with Versamark and embossed with sparkling embossing powder.  Other than that, my card is super simple. 

It was finally a busy day today for me.  Soooo....that means I have to get busy and ready myself for the Winter Wonderland VSN main event. It starts tomorrow at 2PM EST and is sure to be fun.  I hope to see you all there!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details: Stamps:Meet Me Under the Mistletoe (Flourishes); Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa dsp; Ink:  Soft Suede, Versamark; Accessories: White ep, Iridescent Ice ep, heat tool, Nestabilities, stampin' dimensionals, corner chomper, sponge dauber.

A Merry Little VSN Card

Yup, this little card is from the last VSN mini.  Since the main event is coming up this Friday and Saturday, I thought I would show you a little VSN love.  This card was for Kelly's challenge called Jingle Bell Rock.  Kelly challenged crafters to make a card representing your favorite holiday song.  For Kelly's challenge you were to use at least two layers and two embellishments.  I fudged a little and used two different colors of Stickles.  The VSN police didn't come after me, so I assume it was okay.  I had a hard time choosing a favorite song.  So when I spied this little sentiment and I was off to the races!

I use sketches almost exclusively when I play along with VSN so that I can make the time limit.  I was inspired by this Fall To Layout for today's card.  I say inspired because I didn't stick to the sketch exactly.

Happy Wednesday folks!  Thanks for coming by!

Details - Stamps: Ornamental Christmas (Verve); Paper:  Whisper White, Island Indigo, Old Olive, AC Merrymint; Ink: Early Espresso, Old Olive; Accessories: paper snips, Stardust Stickles, Lime Stickles.

Silhouette Monday

That's right, silhouette Monday with the Friends of Speedy TV.  Today's challenge is to use a silhouette on your card.  I couldn't resist this new image from Ice and Snow.  This is a set that will be released this month by Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company.  Isn't it gorgeous, don't you just wish that you could take a stroll down that moonlit lane with your sweetie and hot beverage of your choice?  It's doing it for me!!!

I sponged my sky first and masked out my moon.  Then I stamped my trees and lined the path and some branches with my Versamark pen.  Finally, I embossed the Versamark with some Iridescent Ice embossing powder to give it that magical sparkle that snow really does have.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will play along with us this week!

Details -  Stamps: Ice and Snow (MFP), Greetings of the Season mini (MFP); Paper:  Basic Black, Whisper White; Ink: Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Tuxedo Black, Versamark; Accessories: Iridescent Ice ep, heat tool, scor-pal, stampin' dimensionals.

In case you are still with me...I wanted to add a proud Momma moment.  My mother and I took my daughter Christmas dress shopping and she was less than patient.  However, we did end up with a cute dress.  I goofed up the photo a little, but I also like black and white photos.  In real life, the sash and a third of the sparkling polka dots are red.  The other two-thirds of the polkas are silver and the rest of the dress is black.  She will finish the rest of her ensemble off with a black velvet shrug and some "Dorothy" shoes.  Thanks for indulging me!

Guest Designing with Scor-pal!!

In October, I made a couple of treat boxes for my daughter's kindergarten teacher and her classroom aide.  I submitted it as part of Scor-pal's Guest Designer Challenge for that month.  Lucky me!  (My husband always says I should be a lottery ticket!)  I was chosen to be December's Guest Designer and this month's theme at the Scor-pal blog is "last minute gifts".  This is surely 'the challenge' for me, as I do lots of things at the last minute.

This covered notepad is really quite easy to do.  The first time I made one of these, it took me less than 45 minutes.  I'll break down the steps for you here.  You'll need a 5" x 8" junior legal pad, 3 pieces of card stock (8 1/2" x 11", 5" x 8", and 2 1/8" x 5"),  your Scor-pal or Scor-buddy and some strong adhesive.  I used Scor-tape on my project here. 

 

Step 1:  With your 11" side of the 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of card stock on top, score at 4 1/8", 9 1/4" and 9 1/2".  Place the 8" side of your card stock on the top and score at 1/2".  Trim off the shaded portions above.  

Step 2:  If you prefer to stamp the base, now is the time to do it.  Then, burnish your score lines.  

Step 3:  With the 2 1/8" side of the 2 1/8" x 5" piece of card stock on top, score at 7/8" and 1 1/8".  (I used my Scor-buddy and scored at 7/8", then slid that score line over to the 1" groove and then scored at 1 1/4").

Step 4:  Burnish the score lines on this piece and adhere to the top of the junior legal pad with the 7/8" section on the front of the pad.  (This photo shows how you are covering up the label on the legal pad).

Step 5:  Adhere the 1 1/2" x 8" section of the largest piece of card stock to the back of the legal pad.

Step 6: Fold flap up and adhere to the next section on it's right (which measures 5" x 8").  You have now created a pocket and the front cover of your note pad.

 Step 7: Adhere your 5" x 8" piece of card stock to the back of the notepad for a finished look.

Step 8:  Embellish as desired.

I want to give credit for this design as it is not my own.  I first encountered this covered notepad through Virtual Stamp Night on Splitcoaststampers.  It was featured in a May 2009 Virtual Stamp Night challenge.  The design is originally credited to Julie Ebersole. 

Thanks for reading all the way through my first tutorial.  I hope you enjoyed it and have a fabulous day!

Details - Stamps: The Artist In You (Unity Stamp Company), Blue Skies (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Thoroughly Modern dsp; Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Rose Red; Accessories: Black Satin ribbon, Black Lace, Black Grosgrain ribbon, SU tag sheet, Sakura Clear Star gel pen, sponge dauber, glue dot, stampin' dimensionals.

A Sketchy Monday with the Friends of Speedy TV

Happy Monday to you!  Today's challenge at Speedy TV is to use your favorite sketch.  If you have read my blog for any length of time, you have seen this sketch before.  I love this sketch for many reasons!  First of all, look at all that patterned paper you can use.  Second, it has a lovely CAS look to it.  Finally, it really lets the sentiment stay in focus and isn't that why we send a card?  I would love to take the credit for this sketch, but I can't.  It comes from the fabulous Jessica Witty.  She had this sketch published in Papercrafts Go To Sketches, Volume 1.  Seriously, it is my favorite.  I think I will make a few others cards with this sketch will I am at it and replenish my stock.  Since this is a Speedy TV challenge, you will notice that my sentiment comes from the newly released Peaceful Nuthatch set.  I love the font!!

Well, back to work for this girl.  Although, I don't know for how long...I have a jury summons and a low number.  Have a great day!

Details - Stamps: Peaceful Nuthatch (MFP); Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Studio G dsp; Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: circle punch, linen & canvas impression plate, stampin' dimensionals.

Trading Rain for Snow?

I am willing to trade today's rain for snow.  We had snow a couple of weeks ago, but I want the kind of snow that comes in heavy and blankets the ground.  We have had some really gusty winds today with our rain and that makes me worry about losing power.  I just have this feeling, so I got my stock and rice going early this morning to make sure all I would have to do is just combine everything in a pot on the wood stove for tonight.  My daughter is watching her cartoons this morning and we'll read and craft later this afternoon.  My girl likes to get crafty any chance she gets.  Her teacher told me about the homework for this week and I know she will be in Heaven.  The kids in her class get to decorate giant paper gingerbread men.  She will be itching to raid Mommy's craft room for this look.  Look out glitter!

Anyway, this snowy card is another one of my mini VSN cards from earlier this month.  Anita challenged crafter's to create your own snow.  I used some flocking on this one.  That stuff gets everywhere, argh!

Hope you long weekend has been wonderful!  Thanks for coming by.

Details - Stamps: Solemn Stillness, Occasional Quotes; Paper: Whisper White, Soft Suede, BG Mistletoe and Pear; Ink: Versamark, Always Artichoke; Accessories: White Fun Flock, Alen's glue, May Arts ribbon, scor-tape, glue dot.

A Little Thanksgiving

I wanted to fit a little Thanksgiving in here before I take off straight into Christmas.  I made this candle sleeve for the November Scor-pal Designer challenge based on a theme of "give thanks".  I took a piece of mustard card stock and score every 1/4" and then used my scor-tape to adhere this pretty snug to the candle.  It does slide up and down for safe burning.  I then added patterned paper, ribbon, raffia and a sentiment with leaf accents.  I sponged the edges of the scored base for extra definition.  While I was at it I sponged the leaves, the sentiment and the patterned paper. 

This would have made a lovely centerpiece for my Thanksgiving table, if only I could get myself organized.  I really don't have much of an excuse as I cooked dinner for 8 and 3 others brought dishes.  I can offer one little excuse...my grandparent arrived 2 hours early.  I love my grandparent and they always arrive early.  So I just let them know the time we would be eating and assumed that they would be about an hour early.  As it turns out, my grandmother failed to adjust her watch for daylight savings time.  I only discovered this as she was complaining to my Mom about how late dinner was and she quoted the wrong time to my Mom.  (It probably didn't help that I am known throughout the family for my lateness!)

Thanks for stopping by!  Hopefully, I will get some Christmas up on the blog tomorrow.

Details  - Stamps: Holiday Best; Paper: More Mustard, Spice Cake, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, River Rock; Ink: Soft Suede, River Rock, More Mustard; Accessories: Scor-pal, scor-tape, Nestabilities, Pool Party ribbon, raffia, leaf punch, sponge dauber, glue dots, stampin' dimensionals.

I Miss You

On this Thanksgiving Eve, I can't help but think of who will be missing from our table tomorrow.  My sister just moved to Florida and I will miss her for sure.  Only one of her sons will make it tomorrow, as the other one decided to fly to Germany yesterday.  It will be strange to have just one of my nephews...and without his mother, but we will make do.  I have plenty to do yet, so I will make this quick.

This is one of my VSN mini cards.  The main event isn't too far off now.  We'll be playing December 9th and 10th.  I hope you can join us.  Back to my card, this one was for Theresa's challenge called Head in the Clouds where she challenged us to get clouds on our card.  In the interest of saving time, I broke out some designer paper with clouds and stamped on it.  Quickly, I matted it and tied some linen thread around it.  I popped it up off of the base and called it done.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow.

Details -  Stamps: All Year Cheer II; Paper: Crumb Cake, Rose Red, Welcome Neighbor dsp; Ink: Crumb Cake; Accessories: stampin' dimensionals, linen thread.

Tuesday Snow

Oops, I am late again in posting my Ways To Use It challenge card.  Hannah was our hostess last Thursday and she challenged us to make a winter card.  I busted out with the faux snow.  I had never made the do-it-yourself flower soft and decided it was time to try it.  It worked like magic and I am sooooooo ready to throw out my Fun Flock!  I stamped my little snowman and colored him just a bit.  I drew in my hillside and went to work on creating my faux snow.  I began rubbing two styrofoam balls together over a paper plate.  Of course I was doing this is the living room while my hubby watched television.  I got the evil eye from him and then my little helper wanted to have her turn.  After all chaos I created settled down.  I spread some tacky glue down on the hillside and the snowball and got to sprinkling and pressing my faux snow.  I just love how it turned out.  It totally looks like powder!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps:  Snow Much Fun, Christmas Greetings; Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Ski Slope dsp; Ink: StazOn Timber Brown, Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler, Bordering Blue; Accessories: Baja Breeze seam binding, stampin' dimensionals, styrofoam snow.

Monday Thanks

It's Monday again and that means another Friends of Speedy TV challenge.  Today we are making Thanksgiving cards.  I struggled with this one a bit and I don't usually make Thanksgiving cards.  Once I got my mind wrapped around a thank you card, it was all go.  I had a fabulous sketch by Lisa Arana on my stand.  (I use my music stand from school when I played an instrument to hold sketch and various lists of crafty projects I am working on).  The sketch worked quite naturally into this card that I am thoroughly pleased with.  I love the warmth and simplicity of it.

It's raining and windy here today and my hubby told me that there may be a chance of flooding over the holiday due to all the rain we have received.  I'm hoping that maybe some of that rain will wash away the remnants of snow from last week.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Details: Stamps: Autumn Glory (MFP), A Walk in the Woods (MFP); Paper:  Very Vanilla, Spice Cake dsp; Ink: Soft Suede, More Mustard, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz; Accessories: Square Lattice ef, paper snips, square punch, stampin' dimensionals, sponge dauber. 

Happy Birthday Speedy!

It's not really Speedy's birthday or Speedy TV's birthday or Mark's Finest Papers birthday.  But today's Friends of Speedy TV challenge is all about making a birthday card.  I'm peeking a  new set by Mark's Finest Papers called A Trip To Lancaster.  I really liked the rustic and masculine feel of this image, so I opted for a masculine birthday card.  I never, ever has enough masculine cards.  I embossed my vanilla layer underneath my focal image, added a couple ribbon tabs and smudged up my card base with some Versamark for interest here. 

Sorry to have been such a stranger in blog land lately.  I got a whopper of a cold that knocked me out just after dinner time almost all week.  I recovered enough to get ready for VSN and then could only just post at VSN and not blog about them here.  But....that will leave me some cuties to post in anticipation of the main event coming next month!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details: Stamps: A Trip To Lancaster (MFP); Paper: Mellow Moss, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Going Gray ; Ink: Soft Suede, Mellow Moss, Soft Sky, Going Gray, Versamark; Accessories: Nestabilities, Candy Cane stripe ef, soft suede grosgrain, stampin' dimensionals, glue dots.



Speedy TV Monday with Tea

Good Monday Morning!  I'm here today with my card for the Speedy TV challenge today all about ribbon.  (I'm posting it a bit late due to one little sickie who is home from school).  I kept my ribbon very simple by folding it once and cutting a "v" shape into the end of it.  Otherwise I let my ribbon help me with my transition from a busy pattern to my white space. 

The rest of my card is pretty simple because, well, I like it that way.  I embossed my teacup, colored it and cut it up.  I popped that up on my die cut circle and then popped that up over my ribbon border.  I stamped my sentiment and then rounded some corners for a bit more interest. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Details - Stamps: Floral Tea (MFP); Paper; Whisper White, Basic Gray, Ginger Blossom dsp, A Walk in the Park dsp; Ink: Versamark, Basic Gray, Calypso Coral, Certainly Celery; Accessories: Nestabilities, Groovy Guava double stitched ribbon, corner chomper, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals, scor-tape.

Using It Today

I will not be late.  I will not be late.  I will not be late.  I will not be late.  I will not be late....Late has been the story of my life recently.  Not today.  I am going to share my Ways To Use It challenge with you folks right here on my blog on Thursday!  So here is my challenge for today:  use newspaper or newsprint.  That's easy right.  Well, I thought it would be easy!  This is my third try at this challenge.  The first one didn't get cut out of the newspaper.  The second got cut out, but didn't make it anywhere close to a card and finally this little guy stuck!

Not to much to this card.  I did a little stamping, masking and coloring.  Next I tied on some string and applied some stickles and I was finished.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Home Is (GKD); Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Skagit Valley Herald; Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: colored pencils, yellow stickles, Xmas red stickles, white baker's twine. 

Using Leaves

I'm so late in posting this as it was for last Thursday's Ways to Use It challenge.  Hannah challenged us all to use leaves on our card...so I had a little fun with my leaves.  I don't really know what this technique is called, but I love it.  I stamped my leaves, trimmed them up and glued them down to a piece of card stock.  Then I ran that piece of card stock through my Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  I adored the texture I came up with so I left it shine.  I matted it and wrapped some cording around it and called it good. 

I can barely keep my eyes open, so I will call it right here.  Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: French Foliage; Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla; Ink: Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Old Olive, Soft Suede; Accessories: Square Lattice embossing folder, copper cording, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals. 

Free For All Monday

It's a free for all Monday with the Friends of Speedy TV.  I have been wanting to start on some Christmas cards and also wanted to showcase some of the stamp sets that are on sale during the inventory sale at Mark's Finest Papers.  Get them while you can folks!!!  For my card, I borrowed this week's Fall To Layout from the clean and simple stamping blog.  It worked perfect for me to hang my ornament and highlight that fabulous font.  I'm still working in this years Hope You Can Cling To challenges.  I'm hoping that I get more done this year than last year, as it looks like I am not going to be able to finish.  This HYCCT challenge is hostessed by Wanda and is called Hang In There.  My hanging element is of course the gorgeous ornament that I have colored with some Copic markers.  I have been practicing in hopes of getting better with my markers.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Details  - Stamps:  Seasonal Poinsettia (MFP); Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pretty in Pink; Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive; Accessories:  Snowburst ef, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals, Copic markers, silver cording.

Some Saturday Coloring

For such a long time, I have resisted coloring as it is not my strong suit.  Well, I suppose it is time I get right on over my issues with that.  Today, I played around with some colors that were not exactly in my comfort zone and I colored with them too!   Touch Twin Markers is currently hosting a color challenge.  The colors they have selected are Melon Yellow, Olive Green, Brick Brown and Rose Red.  I don't happen to have those markers from Touch Twin, so I went looking for something to substitute. I opted for Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa with Cherry Cobbler over it and Rose Red to match the Touch Twin colors.  They aren't perfect, but I think I have done the best I could. 

I went digging through my scraps for some Olive colored designer paper to back up my image and I found this polka dotted paper.  I have always thought it looked like snow so I went with it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Snow Much Fun; Paper: Watercolor paper, Rose Red, Bella Rose dsp; Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Close to Coca, Cherry Cobbler, Bordering Blue; Accessories: Nestabilities, MM brads, stampin' dimensionals.



Hopping with Mark's Finest Papers

 Speedy the Cat at Mark's Finest Papers likes to get a head start on special Christmas gifts and memories for friends and family. He gathered the design team at Mark's Finest Papers to bring you 12 days of exciting paper crafting gift ideas to get that holiday mojo flowing. The hop runs for 12 consecutive days, starting October 17th! Begin your holiday hop at Speedy's home base, the Mark's Finest Papers blog and relax with a cup of eggnog (or sprig of catnip, your choice) as Speedy leads you though a short, daily hop. You'll find your holiday paper crafting ideas and supplies at Mark's Finest Papers.

Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop! We have four samples each day for our hop! Please visit each of the following blogs for holiday inspiration! Start off tomorrow on the MFP Blog for more inspiration!

Pam

Patty

Carol

Dawn M





Here is the altered legal pad that I created for today's sample to be posted on Mark's Finest Paper's blog. I just love to make these notepads.  They are super easy and make great gifts!  Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you check out what the other ladies have posted for your pleasure today!





Friends of Speedy Halloween or Harvest

This is my sample card for this week's Friends of Speedy TV challenge to make a Halloween or Harvest card.  I chose to make a harvest themed card.  I took the Greet the Day with Gerber stamp set and tried my very best to make them look like Mums.  My favorite Chrysanthemum is the rust colored type.  I adore them as they are just the perfect color for Fall.  For these flowers, I embossed with gold embossing powder and painted them with my ink and aqua painter.  It was quite fun and I got a few colors on the petals.  I also wanted to include a Hope You Can Cling To challenge as Mark's Finest Papers is sponsoring this great Splitcoast event.  This card is for Libby's Paint Your Heart Out challenge.  I'm thinking I qualify as I painted with my aqua painter.  I love doing that after I have embossed as the image then contains the paint for me.

I hope you stop by Speedy TV and play along.  Thanks for coming by and have a great day!

Details - Stamps: Greet the Day With Gerber (MFP); Paper: Watercolor paper, Soft Suede, Patterns Pack III; Ink: Versamark, Ruby Red, Really Rust, Old Olive, Summer Sun, Early Espresso; Accessories: Gold ep, heat tool, Nestabilities, aqua painter, stampin' dimensionals.

A Ways From Thursday

Well, Thursday came and went.  That meant we had a Ways To Use It challenge and Collette was our wonderful hostess.  She challenged folks to find a way to use faux tiles.  Here is what I came up with.  I really do love how it turned out.  I used color pencils to color this little scene and then cut it up.  I then painted crystal effects over the top of each little tile and let it dry.  Then I pieced it back together on some black card stock.  I love the sharp look of it!  I wanted to let the subtle coloring come through so I only used black and white for the rest of the card.

I hope you had a fabulous weekend.  I did.  I got to have a nice dinner with my hubby on Friday.  I was crafty on Saturday and saw my nephews, parents and grandparents today.  Good times!!

Details: Stamps: Floating Along (MFP); Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black; Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black; Accessories:  Top Note die, black gingham ribbon, crystal effects, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals, finial press ef.

Here's to the Weekend

I am so glad that I made it to the weekend.  This was a very long week and I'll bet that next week will feel just as long.  Sometimes the beginning of the school year can be ultra busy.  But....you didn't come here for that.  My card for today is for a couple of challenges.  First, Touch Twin Markers is challenging folks to color up some "florals.  You had better hurry, today is the last day of the challenge.  I finally summoned up enought courage to give my Copics a try and it's not half bad.  I'll have to practice coloring to achieve the beautiful blend that others can do, but I have to start somewhere.  Second, this is for Jessica's Hope You Can Cling To challenge to use pink ribbon.  I'm glad that she offered up an easy challenge so that I am one card closer to completing all the challenges.  It may not happen, but I have one more card to send now.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have a fun filled crafty weekend!

Details - Stamps: Echoes of Kindness, Kind and Caring Thoughts; Paper: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette; Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Pink Pirouette; Accessories: Nestabilties, sponge dauber, argyle ef, pink satin ribon, stampin' dimensionals, glue dots, copics.

Friends of Speedy TV Challlenge 3

Good day!  Today's Friends of Speedy TV challenge is all about the Sweetest Day.  I was not familiar with this little holiday, so I had to look it up.  It seems the origins of the Sweetest Day began in Ohio in 1922 when one gentleman wanted to bring happiness to others less fortunate. Now, the sweetest day has evolved to a day to express romantic love and appreciation of friends.  I thought this card could really bring happiness to another and tied in the sweet theme pretty well!    My card is a pretty simple one with some embossing on my card base and some glitter on my cupcake.  A couple of rounded corners and some stampin' dimensionals finish it  off.

In other news, Mark's Finest Papers is bringing you a fabulous blog hop.  Today is the first of the 12 days of Christmas blog hop at the MFP blog. 

Start here

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous day!

Details - Stamps: Oh Boy, It's a Girl; Paper: Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Pixie Pink, DCWV The Sweet Stack dp; Ink: Close to Cocoa; Accessories: Swiss Dot ef, Scalloped circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, MS cupcake punch, word window  punch, corner chomper, Xyron, Pink Paislee coconut glitter, stampin' dimensionals, pink spica pen.

My Beaded Butterfly

Yup, I beaded this one myself.  I'm a rookie when it comes to beading.  It's been kind of crazy around here this weekend.  When my hubby got home from camping, I had 4 projects started and 0 finished in my craft room.  I was able to complete 3 of them after he started playing with Sweet Pea.  This card was the first project I finished.  My beaded butterfly was the result of this month's Get Your Diva On challenge hosted by Diva Andrea.  After I finished my butterfly, which is felt and backed by some die cut tulle as well, I whipped up a super simple card to showcase the butterfly.  I did some vertical scoring and die cut a couple of circles.  I stamped my sentiment below my focal piece and called it done!

That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Fluttering By (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Unknown pale green, vellum; Ink: Going Gray; Accessories: Flutterby die (Verve), white felt, white tulle, pastel beads, thin guage wire, Nestabilities, scor-tape, glue dots, stampin' dimensionsals, scor-pal.  

A Technique by Julie

Hello there and Happy Friday!  Indeed it has been a happy Friday for me.  I did have to work, but it was a non-student day so it was quite productive.  I got to take an honest to goodness lunch break today.  I am featuring a card today that I made for one of the noontime challenges during Flourishes release week.  This challenge was called Just Show Me.  Crafters were challenged to find a technique via the Flourishes blog and have a go at it.  I picked a technique offered by Julie Koerber.  It just so happens that Julie is the Featured Stamper this week on Splitcoaststampers.  Hooray for Julie!  I altered her technique just a bit.  I used my aqua painter instead of a blender pen to soften the color and then added a layer of vellum to soften it even more.

I am in for a fun Friday night with my girl tonight.  It's just the two of us and who know what kind of trouble we will get in!!!  Thanks for stopping by.

Details - Stamps: Fine Herbs (Flourishes); Paper: Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, Watercolor paper, vellum; Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive; Accessories: Pear Pizzazz seam binding, embroidery floss, stampin' dimensionals, scor-tape, sponge dauber, Nestabilties, aqua painter.



Ways To Use Pink

Hello folks!  It's my Thursday to host the Ways To Use It challenge on Splitcoaststampers and I have chosen "pink" as our theme.  It's a most obvious choice, yet I had to do it!  I really adore this Memory Box paper and wanted to use a couple of pieces of it.  I worked in a Viva La Verve sketch and Teresa's Hope You Can Cling To challenge to include at least one heart on your card. 

I hope you will find a little bit of time to play along with me this week and help turn the Splitcoaststampers gallery pink!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Blue Skies (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette, MB Gossamer; Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso; Accessories: Jotted Heart die (Verve), Nestabilities, 1/8" early espresso taffeta ribbon, white button, stampin' dimensionals, glue dots.

A Case of Amy

I had hoped to get this posted yesterday, but alas it didn't happen!  I was a wee bit too busy at work and then was more than happy to head out to girl's night for some super-yum chicken tacos and cupcakes!  The white wine was delish too!  Oops, I got a little carried away about my yesterday and forgot to mention this little old card I have pictured.  This is the card I mad for Verve September Diva Dare.  The challenge was to case-a diva and I let my girl pick the Diva.  She picked Amy Sheffer and I picked this card that Amy made.  I also worked in a Hope You Can Cling To challenge hostessed by Lori.  I used some gigantic bling by my own standards.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Kind Words (Verve), Sunny Days (Verve); Paper: River Rock, Whisper White, Prima Annalee dp; Ink: River Rock, Old Olive, Early Espresso; Accessories: Top Note die, Nestabilities, Ivory Organdy, Pear Pizzazz seam binding, silver cording, BG button, SU rhinestone, stampin' dimensionals, glue dots, sponge dauber.

Another Monday with Friends

Good Monday morning and welcome to another Friends of Speedy TV challenge.  This week we are making Anniversary cards as our fearless Design Team coordinator celebrates nine years of marriage with her husband!  Congratulations Debbie!  For today's card I started off with Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday as I knew I wanted to work in  a flower and a sentiment.  The larger background is from my new letterpress plate.  I just inked it up with some Versamark ink and had a go with it.  I'm quite please with how it turned out.  I stamped my Gerbera on the vellum circle and turned it over to color it and remembered Lori's Hope You Can Cling To challenge to use the green, yellow and brown.  Quickly, I found a couple of markers that I liked and began to color. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will make some time to play along with us this week at Speedy TV!

Details - Stamps: Greet The Day With Gerbera (MFP); Paper: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Certainly Celery, vellum; Ink: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Versamark, Certainly Celery, So Saffron; Accessories: Fancy Fan Letterpress plate, M's celery satin ribbon, Wilton Doily, Ivory Organdy, stampin' dimensionals.

Looking Back

Wow, looking back I realize that I have only recently started making tags.  This is the oldest tag that I could find in my gallery.  It first appeared on my blog in March of 2010.  Since then, I have enjoyed many tags.  I don't seem to make them in advance.  I usually make them to coordinate with a gift.  You might wonder why I am posting a tag from 2010.  Well, I decided to play along with the Flashback Friday challenge this month and tags are it!  There is one amazing prize this month too!  You may want to check  it out!  There isn't anything too crazy about this tag.  I'm sure it was from an old SU tag sheet and I dressed it up with some scallop borders, patterned paper, vellum and TE flowers.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous rest of your weekend!

Details - Stamps: Leaves (Verve), Because of You (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Regal Rose, Vellum, Print Pack dsp; Ink: StazOn Cotton White, Regal Rose; Accessories: Scallop edge punch, TE flowers and leaves, unknown pink satin ribbon, MM pink eyelet, crop-a-dile, J's thin white satin ribbon, Pretties kit, mini glue dots, scor-tape.