Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as our family did! 

As this year is coming to a close, I wanted to take the time to thank you so much for all the support you've given me again this year.  I appreciate your taking the time to visit my simple little blog and for always leaving me such sweet and supportive comments.  I've learned a lot from all of you and I thank you for all the inspiration you've given me.  I look forward to another fun year in blogland with you!

Thank you to Christy of Tiddly Inks for this adorable image that she has given away as a freebie on her blog.   You can find her New Year Freebies here and her New Year's Card Event here.

A very safe and Happy New Year to all of you 

May 2011 bring you good health and much happiness!

Hugs,

Shirley

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!

  Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Hugs,

Shirley

Let It Snow!

Have you ever experienced a moment like this--being outdoors when it's snowing, trying to catch a snowflake?   My first time, I'm sure I had this same pose and was just as happy as Snowbaby!

This will be a short post, as I have a Christmas tree that needs decorating, etc, etc, etc.  I'm sure you're all saying the same thing and won't care to read about anything else I have to say anyway, lol!

Challenges entered:

B 'n W Challenge Blog - Glitter it Up

7 Kids College Fund Blog - Winter Wonderland

City Crafter Challenge Blog - #34, Let it Snow!

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Red & Green Must NOT be Seen

Simon Says Stamp!  - Christmas! BUT....NO red or green!!!

The Cuttlebug Spot - Christmas using Fav Embossing Technique

The recipe:

Stamp:  Belles 'n Whistles, Catch-a-flake Snowbaby and sentiment

Paper:  Magnolia, Something Old, Something New

Ink:  Copic Markers, Memento

Other:  Cuttlebug Emboss Winter House, Nestabilities Create a Flake, pearl brads, rhinestone stickers, Diamond Stickles, pop dots, Making Memories white paint

Take care everyone, hope no one's stressing out just yet.  And, thanks for stopping by even though you're busy, busy, busy!!!

Audrey

Hello, hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!   We had a fabulous Thanksgiving vacation, first in Maui with DH's side of the family and then in Vegas with my eldest son and his family.  

Got back a couple of days ago, finished loads of laundry, caught up on "some" of my Korean dramas, did a "little" Christmas decorating and this morning spent "hours" blog hopping.  Needless to say, I missed seeing all of your wonderful creations!  I needed you to get my mojo pumped up again and to inspire me (and you did, I saw some awesome creations!) to get back into cardmaking, as I've got a lot of Christmas cards to make and I'm in panic mode right now with Christmas coming wayyyy too fast!  

Here you can see from this picture that it's not a card but a notepad.  An acrylic embellishment at the top covers a screw.  The two embellies I used are from my old stash, hooray!   Two down, tons to go, lol!

This is what I used.  Remember this recycled notepad from Ben Franklin from a previous post?  Thanks Lynn, for all the heads up on what's new at BF.

My altered notepad along with some other little trinkets made for a nice goodie bag for my grandniece in Maui. 

Challenges entered:
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge 25 - Anything But a Card!
By the Cute & Girly December Challenge - Children

Recipe:
Stamp:  The Greeting Farm - WS Audrey - digi
Paper:  Basic Grey - Oliver
Ink:  Copic Markers
Other:  Nestabilities, Making Memories eyelet, KI Memories Ice Candy, pop dots

Appreciate your stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

Welcome Little One!

He's here! 

Baby boy, Asa Dean

born November 16,  6 lbs. 2.2 oz.

Congratulations 1LuvnMama and family!  So happy to hear the good news and to hear that Mama and baby are both doing well!

I made Mama a tissue box cover for the nursery, following the tutorial/video on Splitcoast Stampers but tweeked it just a bit by making mine without a lid.  
  

The papers are from Prima's Jack 'n Jill collection and I used a different DP on each side.



On the opposite side of the image is a picture frame.  If you look to the right of the bootie, you can see a little tab sticking out.   The picture of the bootie is meant to be pulled out and inserted with Mama's own picture of her and Baby Asa.  

The image I used is called Willow Holding Baby from the Whiff of Joy and the flowers are also from Prima's Jack 'n Jill collection.

Again, congratulations Mama on your little bundle of joy!  Can't wait to see some pictures of Baby Asa on your next post! 

Thanks for your visit, I really appreciate your stopping by!

Surprise RAK!

Unbeknownst to us, Lynn from Lynn's Craft Blog - Ben Franklin Crafts, had a contest going on last week.  Well, actually as she put it, it was a secret contest going on all year and to my surprise, I was one of four winners that was chosen for her very generous blog candy.  OMGosh, I just could not believe all that she had sent, even a gift card, too! 

Thank you so much Lynn!  Not only for your generosity but for keeping us up to date on what's new at Ben Franklin and for so many inspiring ideas!  It's my pleasure visiting your blog! 

Lynn's latest post is on making "easy thank you gifts".  Check it out for some neat Thanksgiving and Christmas ideas!

Let's Celebrate!

Hi everyone, I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

I made this card for a sweet blogging friend who's celebrating her birthday today and since the timing was perfect for celebrations, I thought I'd enter it in the following challenges and join in on their celebrations as well.

All That Scraps (ATS) is celebrating Sweet November's first birthday with a challenge to make a birthday card and they're also having a Sweet November Birthday Blog Hop to showcase Amy Young's cute new birthday stamps that'll be out on November 15th. 

And Lili of the Valley (LOTV) is celebrating the release of their adorable new stamps with a LOTV Blog Hop and a special LOTV Challenge with a theme, Anything Goes.

Join in on their fun blog hops and see the exciting new stamps that they have in store for us.  Can't wait to get them and ink them up!

Thanks for stopping by and for the lovely comments you always leave me.  Have a great day!

The recipe:

Stamp:  Kiki La Rue, Cupcake Kiki; Catslife Press

Paper:  Prima Jack n' Jill collection

Ink:  Copic Markers

Other:  Nestabilities, Making Memories buttons and rick rack, adhesive pearls, pop dots, glitter, Gelly Roll clear pen

Believe

I love my Sweet November babies.   My collection started with Amy's Easter babies, followed by her Halloween babies and now her Christmas babies just joined the family.   This adorable baby is named Cookie and Milk Boy and as you can see, he's got something special waiting for Santa.   I hope these babies never grow up, lol!

I followed the sketch from the Basic Grey Challenge and with snowflakes and a Christmas theme, it should fit the bill for some other challenges as well.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you're all having a great week! 

The challenges I'm entering:

Basic Grey Challenge 32 - Sketch by Heather

Charisma Cardz Challenge 44 - With Love @ Christmas

A Spoonfull of Sugar Challenge 129 - Snowflakes
ABC Challenge Blog - H is for Holidays

Top Tip Tuesday, Tip #9 - Coloring with Copics & Use an Image

The recipe:

Stamp:  CC Designs Sweet November Cookie and Milk Boy

Paper:  Basic Grey. My Mind's Eye

Ink:  Copic markers, Distressed Ink

Other:  Nestabilities; Snowflake punches, adhesive pearls, pop dots

Meet Sammie Snowman

This week's challenge at Lexi's Creations is "Anything Goes" and this is the card I submitted as the randomly-selected winner of their Guest Design Spot.    I don't normally enter design team challenges--just the thought of being on a DT terrifies me--so when I heard that I had won this spot, I was so relieved that at least the theme was an easy one, phew!

I got to chose a digi from Fairy Dust Crafts (there are so many wonderful images to chose from!), and decided on Sammie Snowman  1. because he is just so darn adorable and 2. he would give me a jump start on my Christmas cards, yay!

Thanks for visiting me again today.  I hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween!

The challenges I'm entering:

4 Crafty Chicks - Roll with the Punches

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Sparkly & Bright

Simon Says,,,,Punch Em'

ABC Challenge - G is for Glitter

Crafty Purple Frog Challenge - Anything Goes

Mark's Finest Papers #27 - Holiday Card

The recipe:

Digi stamp:  Fairy Dust Crafts - Sammie Snowman

Paper:  Magnolia, Best Occasions Glitter Paper

Ink etc.:  Copic Markers, Distressed Ink, Making Memories White Paint

Other:  Nestabilities Circle, Scallop, Snowflakes; Stickles; Flower Soft, Brads

Happy Halloween!

Hi everyone, hope you are all having a fun Halloween day!

I was going to be lazy and just make simple goodie bags with Halloween tags for my grandsons but after seeing Michele's adorable milk carton Halloween houses yesterday, I was inspired to make one too.   Thanks Michele, you come up with the cutest creations!

Here's another view of the house.  I don't know if you can see the light shining through the vellum window--I think you can see a little more in the photo above--but there's a tea light inside that lights up the house. 

My project is totally made out of spooky stickers, no cutsy colored images here, lol, they're boys after all.   And instead of candies, I decided to give the boys iTunes gift cards--they love those!  I altered the house so it would be tall enough to hold a gift card and I made a slot on the easel/side step card to hold a gift card as well.  

The haunted house on the easel card is a freebie from the Quilling Patch.   Sue used it on her card and shared this bit of information on her blog today.  Your card is so adorable Sue, TFS! 

Since I took a little more time making these things than I would have if I had just wrapped some candies in a bag, I'm hoping the boys would at least take a lingering look at my "GC holders" and not just grab the gift cards and toss these aside.  Is that too much for grandma to ask you think?   What if I gave them a little hint?

With my luck they won't even look underneath, LOL!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

  Have a Happy and safe Halloween!

Hallo Witch

Have you seen Kelly Booth's coloring video on Color Me Copic?   She did a fabulous job showing us her technique in coloring faces and applying eye shadow on her images.  I know I need a lot more practice but I was up for the challenge and had fun trying.   Thanks so much Kelly!

The challenges:
Color Me Copic - use Kelly's face/makeup coloring technique
Dutch Dare Card Challenges, #89 - Halloween
Anyone for Anya? - Halloween
Craft Challenge 73 - Spooky
Stamp Something - Digi
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge, #40 - So long as it flies!

The recipe:
Stamp Digi:  TGF Hallo Witch; Inkadinkado Sentiment
Paper:  Basic Grey
Ink:  Memento, Copic Markers, Distressed Ink
Other:  Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Punch

Thanks  for looking!

Sweet Thing

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you decide to make a card?  Is it your image, your layout, your papers? 

I knew I had to make a birthday card, I knew what image I wanted to use and I knew what DPs would go with my image, but I just could not come up with a layout.

 Sketch challenges to the rescue.  Once I decided on the sketch at Friday Sketchers, I was able to start. 

When you feel you've lost your mojo or hit a brick wall like I did, try looking through some challenges.  Not only are they challenging, they're also great for inspiration.  And if you need help in finding some challenges, visit Allison's blog.  She has an awesome list.

The challenges:

Friday Sketchers - Sketch #124

Wee Memories, #27 - Celebrate Good Times

Totally Gorjuss, #52 - Pink!

Incy Wincy Designs, #64 - Pink & Brown

Paper Play Challenges, Week 41 - Photo Inspiration (cupcakes)

Crafty Calendar Challenge, First Birthday Challenge - Birthdays

The recipe:

Stamp:  Penny Black - Sweet Thing; Stampin' Up! sentiment

Paper:  DCWV - Sweet Stack

Ink:  Memento, Copic Markers, Distressed Ink, Hero Arts Shadow Ink

Other:  Nestabilities, Ice Stickles, ribbon, flower, buttons, pop dots, twine, tag

Thanks for looking!  I really appreciate your visits!

Spreading Awareness

A week ago I received an email from Elise, a very dear and cherished blogging friend, with the most devastating news--she was diagnosed with having breast cancer after accidentally finding a lump while showering.  A day later, she wrote on her blog that after some debate she decided to share her news in hopes of spreading awareness (you can read her posts here).   She said, "cancer sucks".  It has latched on to the sweetest and loveliest young woman with the biggest heart.   Yes, cancer SUCKS!

Elise's story, and the fact that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is a good time for us to remind ourselves to get our checkups at regular intervals, schedule annual mammograms, do monthly breast self exams and to be aware of any warning signs.  

Please visit Elise's blog and give her your love and support and please keep her in your prayers.  

Elise, you will beat this!

The above digital image from Whimsie Doodles is called "Hope Fights"

and you can see it here.  Since Elise has not started her chemotherapy yet,

I asked and received permission from Whimsie Doodles to alter their image. 

Thanks Melyssa! 

Thanks for stopping by and let's all spread breast cancer awareness.

Halloween Tilda

Hello friends!  Can you believe Halloween is just around the corner?  So `spooky` how fast time is flying!

This will be a short post as I don't have much to say--of importance or interest, that is,  lol.  Just wanted to share this card with you, and to enter it in some fun challenges.   A lot of challenges, actually, since there were so many with Halloween themes!

The challenges:
Papertake Weekly Challenge - 3 of a Kind (DP, rhinestones)
Fussy and Fancy, #21 - Halloween
Stamp Something - Punchy
Basic Grey - Sparkle
By the Cute and Girly - Spooky
Cupcake Craft Challenges, #112 - Scary Creatures
Let's Craft and Create, #4 - Halloween
Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Sparkling
Card of the Week - Halloween
Crafts and Me, #15 - Halloween
Everybody Art Challenge, #112 - Halloween
Creative Cottage Challenge, #25 - Halloween
Lexi's Creations, #24 - Spooky

The recipe:
Stamp:  Magnolia, Tilda with Spider
Paper:  Basic Grey - Eerie; Best Occasions - Glitter Sheets
Ink:  Memento, Copic Markers, Distressed Inks
Other:  Nestabilities, McGill punch, Martha Stewart punch, spider embellie from stash, Crystal Stickers, Pop Dots, ribbon

Hope you are all having a great week.  The weekend is coming, yay!

Thanks for looking, your visits mean a lot!

Born to Shop

My inspiration for this card came from a picture of a teddy bear that I have on my refrigerator door--I especially liked the cute sentiment on the bear's apron.    That sentiment inspired me to make this swing (flip flop) card with my new Tilda Goes Shopping stamp.   This is what's on the flip side of Tilda when the card is opened...

 

   "my sentiments exactly!"  lol

...what inspired me (don't remember where I got this, think this was a page from a desk calendar years ago).    

If you're interested in making a flip flop card, you can find the tutorial/video here at Splitcoast Stampers.

The challenges:

Copic Creations, Challenge 35 - Shading on & Around Images

Charisma Cardz Challenges, #38 - Anything Goes!

Simon Says Stamp and Show Your Distressed/Sanded Projects

Ooh La La Creations Challenge Blog, #63, Sentiment

Sentimental Sundays, #22 - Let's See Some Dimension

The recipe:

Stamps:  Magnolia; Hero Arts Row of Houses

Paper:  Stampin' Up!

Ink:  Memento, Copic Markers, Distressed Ink

Other:  Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Die Vintage, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, buttons, ribbon, pearls, pop dots, Glossy Accents, glitter

  Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Easy Rider

Hello and a happy Friday to you!  

When I first saw this precious Penny Black image on Alice and Pam's cards, it was love at first sight and I just had to get her!  Ladies, your cards were just so darned adorable, you inspired me to make a card with her too!   (You two are always such bad, bad enablers!  LOL!   Just kidding, thanks for the inspiration!)

Since my sister-in-law was going on a business trip, I thought it would be fun to send her this card with a sentiment inside saying "have a great trip".  I used only one DP for this (another Mindy Terasawa), which made for an easy layout, and with just a rub-on bird, a die cut cloud, a button and an embossed background, she was good to go. 

The challenges:
Cupcake Craft Challenges, #109 - Transport
A Spoonfull of Sugar, #122 - Anything Goes
Penny Black Allsorts, September Challenge -Punch Away

The recipe:
Stamp:  Penny Black, Easy Rider
Paper:  Autumn Leaves, Cute World
Ink:  Memento, Copic Markers
Other:  Nestabilities, Sizzix Embossing Folder, PaperTrey Ink Cloud Die,  Pop Dots, Button, Rub-on

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Dance Like No One Is Watching

 Hi everyone, hope you're all having a great week!

My card today started with a sketch from Get Sketchy.  When I first saw this sketch, I initially thought of making a Christmas card.  But as I searched for digital papers on line and came across Mindy Terasawa's digital kit called Rock Angel, Ebony immediately came to mind and with that, my Christmas card plans flew out the window.   This is what I came up with instead.

I followed the design of the sketch by placing the guitar at the top of the card.  I tried the cracked glass technique on the guitar that I just learned from Pam's video tutorial.  You can also see a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers by Beate Johns here.  Unlike Pam's gorgeous card, mine didn't come out good at all because I didn't have the right embossing powder and it didn't get as thick as it should have.  I'll be sure to have the right ingredient (Glassy Glaze) the next time I try it.  I made the guitar as a separate piece in case Ebony didn't want to carry her guitar around, lol.

Ebony is dancing like no one is watching, can you see her rockin to the music?

The Challenges:

Get Sketchy - Sketch #55

Simon Says Stamp! - We Like to Move It, Move It!  (Ebony dancing)

"Just Us Girls" Challenge, Jugs #50 - Cracked Glass Technique

Paper Play Challenges, Week 37 - All Shapes and Sizes

The recipe:

Stamp:  The Greeting Farm, Ebony

Paper:  Mindy Terasawa, Rock Angel digital paper pack

Ink:  Memento, Copic Markers

Tools:  Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Heat Gun

Other:  Pop dots, embossing powder

Thanks so much for looking, your visits mean a lot!

Baby Trick or Treat Witch

Are you a Sweet November fan?  I am! and if you're a follower of Amy Young's blog, I'm sure you are too.    This image is one of six Sweet November Baby Trick or Treat stamps.  What's nice about these stamps is you can get them in either rubba or digi (this is a digi).  

I've been admiring everyone's shaker cards and I finally decided to make one, too (can you see all that stuff on the bottom of the card?).   I admit it was fun, but I'm not sure I'll be whipping these out like Joy and Teri, lol.   They're the experts at this!   Visit their blogs and check out Amy Rysavy's video if you want to have a go at it too.

Gotta end it here as I'm off to enter this in some challenges and one ends in a few minutes....

The Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp!, Stamp-tember Hop - Holiday Fun

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #75 - Distress it!  (distressed edges) 

Charisma Cardz Challenges, #36 - Try Something New!!! (shaker card)

The recipe:

Stamp:  Sweet November, Baby Trick or Treat Witch digi

Paper:  Basic Grey

Ink:  Copic Markers

Other:  Nestabilities, sticker, button, ribbon, rhinestones, pop dots, foam tape, transparency, distressing tool

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

The Spoon Theory

I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend as we did!  When I read your comments about my camping trip, I had to chuckle.  Guess I used the word "camping" very loosely as we rented a 2-story beach house with 2 kitchens, 3 bathrooms, electricity, hot running water, etc., and did not rough it as the word "camping" seemed to have implied.  Now I feel like I cheated, lol!

Moving on to a serious subject, are you or someone you know living with chronic pain or a debilitating illness?  I hope your answer is no.

However, if your answer is yes, you might be interested in reading the "Spoon Theory" written by Christine Miserandino.   It's her personal story and analogy for explaining to a healthy person what it's like to live with a chronic illness.  You can read about it here or see a short video clip here.

I was introduced to the Spoon Theory by my niece, who's been afflicted with MS.  She asked the family to read Christine's story so we could better understand what she and so many others struggle to explain to the people around them just how difficult a normal day can be.   My heart goes out to my niece and everyone else who suffers from a chronic illness.  I sent her this card wishing her an abundance of spoons and I wish you all the same.

I am also entering this card in some challenges, as I hope this will be a way to share Christine's story and be of help to someone.

The Challenges:

Just Magnolia Challenge Blog, Week 71 - Anything Goes

ABC Challenge Blog - C is for Charms

Totally Papercrafts Challenge, #32 - Charming

Ooh La La Creations, #62 - Stripes

Paper Sundaes Challenge Blog, #34 - Mixed Mediums! (copics, distressed ink)

The Recipe:

Stamp:  Magnolia

Paper:  Chatterbox

Ink:  Copic Markers, Distressed Ink

Other:  Nestabilities, leaf punch, flowers, buttons, charm, pop dots, ribbon, embroidery thread

 Thanks for stopping by!

At the Fair

Hello everyone!  Are you getting ready for the Labor Day weekend--will you be going to a fair, the beach, camping?   Whatever you have planned, I hope you'll have a safe and wonderful holiday.  We'll be going camping this long weekend and we're all excited since we haven't done this in ages!

The Cuttlebug Spot's challenge this week is At the Fair, perfect to get us into the Labor Day spirit.  I remembered I had some DP that would be great for this theme and was glad to get a chance to use it.  I  bought these papers years ago to make a scrapbook page but as you can tell, that never happened, lol.

The challenges:

The Cuttlebug Spot - At the Fair

The Cupcake Craft Challenges, #106 - Let's Get Digital

Crafty.Emma's.Store Challenges, #1 - Anything Goes

The recipe:

Stamp:  Chi Chi Memories Design digital

Paper:  Karen Foster Design

Ink:  Copic Markers, Memento

Other:  Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Stampin Up punch, pop dots, flower

May I also share with you a couple of thank you cards and RAKs that I received from two lovely and very talented blog friends.

  

 

A card and notebook from Brenda, the Queen of punch art!

 

A card and Pure Innocence stamps from Donna ,

the Queen of shaped cards!                                  

And I'd also like to thank Charlotte for the Stampin' Up punch that I used on my card today, yay!  Charlotte doesn't have a blog but if we all ask nicely, maybe she'll start one soon!  :)

                          

Thank you so much ladies for your beautiful cards, notebook, RAKs and most importantly--your friendships!!! 

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great Labor Day weekend!