Leah, the Orange...

Something sweet happened to me today and I'd like to share it with you.

Leah (The Chronicles of Orange) made my crafting day today. I'd won during a Humble Pie "blop hop", which was really cool. Leah is a "humble pie baker" there! I love blog hops and theirs was a blop hop, which made it even more fun - lots of lovely cards by talented people and of course, Leah was there so I hopped, hopped, hopped along. :p

The package arrived today and you should see the card she sent me!

Isn't it just gorgeous? You should see it in person - she really did an outstanding job. Don't you just love that button in the middle of the flowers? Look how she did the ribbon on the side like that. The letters..and three different papers - just fabulous! Check out the image (paper pieced - too cool for words...it's Diana Ross, the one singer I would pretend to be when my sisters and I were younger and we entertained the troops...er, the rest of the family, that is..heehee).

She also sent me some stamped images, some bling, and rub-ons - all things that were not already in my stash; how cool is that?

Leah's a wonderful crafter and very cool lady - check out her blog. She always has some fun going on! Thanks again Leah! ;)

Glitter, Red and Green and Snowman...

I didn't dare go out to the stores with Black Friday being extended to today; so did some challenges. Instead of making an additional posts for followers/e-mail recipients, I'll combine the two cards on one link.

This card is my first - no second paper piecing. I tried doing one with pumpkins and a rubber stamp. Yeah, it's in the trash on some land field now. But this one, I just printed the digital image in the patterned paper that I would be using as my background and there you have it. I have to admit - I like it easy. :p My snow man is from Stamps & Smiles. I bought a few at a really good bargain and there's newer ones, so go check it out!

I love snow "folks" and this little guy is so cute, he gets to go into these challenges:

Creative Card Crew - #38 Your Favorite things: Snowman and glitter
Something Completely Different - Red and Green Snowman
Crafty Creations - Christmas Theme (you get a bonus if you include cracked glass technique)

Each blog has samples from their DT that are bound to rock your world, so go check 'em out!

My next card is also an image from Stamps and Smiles. I used the sketch at The Fresh Batch challenge, which is incredibly adorable. After seeing the great sketches the DT provided, I couldn't wait to color my little cupcake and the tree with the cute little ornaments. I added die-cut ornaments and my ticket sentiment is from my favorite place: Allissa's Paper Town. She has new sentiments, which I had to get - ovals, vintage - it's amazing! You better head on over there.

Digi's...where've you been all my life? ;D

Happy Thanksgiving...

Okay, I haven't been much of a turkey crafter this year - with all the challenges focused so much on Christmas, I just sort of pushed it to the side.

Happily, Project Tuesday had a cute little challenge: Post-it-Note holder, with a tutorial. How could I pass that up? I have a cute little image from Stamps and Smiles store (better check them out because there was a great sale going on...hope you didn't miss it!). Isn't Mr. Turkey the cutest? I colored him with Copics, distressed the edges with scissors and ink distressed him with Versa Magic pumpkin.

Inside, I didn't have a small pencil, so left it out - but it's a cute little gift for a person starting a new job - you know how we love our post-it-notes. I'm giving this one to my cousin - she likes to use them at home.

So check out the samples at Project Tuesday; the DT always has some great samples to share.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving Day!

Fun, Fun, Fun...

Well, since I wasn't busy cooking, I did some crafting. Wanna see?

So, this card with Edward and Ally holding stockings is one that Tellen's Place will be using one day in the challenges, so you might want to go check it out. I used the Creative Inspirations sketch and the ABC Challenge, which was "I is for Indigo." Now, that's a hard color to find on papers in crafting - well, at least in my stash but I think I came close enough (had to google it).

The samples at the ABC challenge were so nice and so inspiring. Isn't it great to enter a challenge and have so many talented women ahead of you with the craft so you don't have to think too much about it?

Creative Inspirations DT samples were just incredible with this sketch - I almost passed it up but I love to do sketches. I distress inked the scalloped circle, added the snowflake pearls, the sentiment is from Recollections and put a little stickle on the stocking cuffs - cool beans! ;D

Craft Critique is looking for New Reporters

Guess what - Craft Critique is looking for new reporters. I've applied and thought you might be interested too!

This is a great place to learn about new products and such. It has been huge in helping me decide on investing in Copics. It doesn't just report on things we use for paper projects, but on things - quilting being the most recent article. So, no matter what you're doing in crafting, someone here will have something about it (no doubt).

If you would like to be a reporter, click here and read how to get in the groove!

Round, Round, Round...

You know, once I was tempted to make a round card - I did....it did not turn out quite right, so I trashed it. Then I tried again and it was great...but I sent it to someone for a blog hop.
So this time, I went over to Squigglefly and they want you to make a card that is not square, but a circle. Now when you get over there and see that cute little turkey with the gifts, you'll want that image! Wait a minute - that's a goose (I'm a little daffy at times). But check out the store because they have oodles of images that you'll just crave! Plus, the samples are just lovely and you'll be inspired to do your circle of love too! :)

I embossed the front because I honestly didn't know what to do with this circle. I made a smaller circle and added a tree that I downloaded from my kit from The Creative Cottage. See, it's not just about paper - they have the cutest images. Stay tuned because you're going to see a lot more of these babies from me!

The inside was covered using DCWV patterned paper and I used my trusty MS snowflake punch for those lovely snowflakes and added the pearls to make them prettier.

I'm Thinking Wintry Days...

A lot of the challenges are looking to the spirit of Christmas and thinking how people probably have long lists of people to make cards for. I don't but I'm enjoying the challenges. :-)

This card is for three challenges:

365 Cards: Day 266: Color Me With This - anything but markers
Sketch Saturday - #78
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps - Merry Christmas, Happy Winter

So, I love all this snow stuff because I get to use the digital image from Heather's Coffee Break. Aren't these the cutest little images - makes you think of the snow and look at the baby...it is so adorable, isn't it?

I miss my Copics...oh no...what's happening to me? Well, I will have to color another image with Copics because I'm having withdrawals. I used my MS punch instead of the circles on the sketch. I love that I can do something different and this is a stretch for me. :p I added gems to the snowflakes and a little stickles. I printed some sentiment tickets (Alissa Paper Town) on different colored paper and this one matches one of the ones I'm using - how cool is that? Speaking of which...she has designed circle ones so you should hop on over and get yourself some...you can use these with your circle punch!!

Yep...I'm hoooked!

Simply Put

I really like the challenges on 365 Cards. Often, these are cards that I can make and the challenge is interesting to boot. This time, for Day 265, 365 Cards has a challenge called, "Simply Put." This is one patterned paper, one embellishment and one sentiment. Sophie, one of their design team members put together a lovely card, all red and white with a lovely snowflake, so it makes you think..cool, let's do this.

Can you believe this was hard for me? I'm a simple, clean cut kind of crafter but I've learned to add embellishments here and there to make the card "sing" so to speak. So, to do this, I was like, ugh, it's naked! (lol!) I simply adhered paper to the white cardstock, added a candy cane embellishment and a sentiment ticket (from Allissa Paper Town). It's as simple as that.

But I do hope you like the simplicity of it and check out 365 Cards - there's something to do everyday. Don't you love that?

Let's Play...

Okay, I know you're thinking...oh no, a second post...well, I couldn't help it. The folks at The Play Date Cafe' have a color combo challenge going on. The design team rocked a bunch of samples and as soon as I saw the vintage card by Julie, I knew I had to play. Then I saw the rest and thought...oh, yeah...try it...

So, here is a double treat -- this door thingy is a freebie you can find on Jacqui's blog, Crafty Cardz. In fact, you can find a lot of freebies there or you can go to another blog she started called The Freebie Gatherers...everything there is FREE - go take a lookee-loo!

So, I made this a welcome sign to hang on the door knob, added some real lace, ribbon and punched up some purple flowers that matched the paper. I popped up Edward and Ally on a coaster that I found at the dollar store. You get a bunch of these little scalloped goodies with a bride and groom on them. I turned it over, embossed it, inked it with Versa Magic eggplant, stuck more flowers and pearls on it and called it a day. The gray in Edward's shirt help make the challenge over at The Play Date Cafe'. How cool is that? :-)

Hello Dolly....

Remember that song by Louis Armstrong...Hello Dolly, I'm so happy you're back where you belong..? Something like that...well, the Design Dollies has a challenge on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and a Triple Threat Trifecta Thingy....on Sundays. My friend Leah is on their design team and encouraged us to try the challenge, so I'm doing the Tuesday thing.

Um...I didn't wait for the sketch that came on Thursday....should've...my little Mandy is struggling with the stocking (argh...I didn't even put stickles on it...sigh)...well, the challenge was "A Pocket Full of Posies" -- remember that little song, "Ring around the rosies, a pocket full of Posies (I think we said tosies)...so, it's flowers - at least 7 to 10...and I can't resist flowers...though I needed a good sketch to follow. But still, I did the flowers thing and the card doesn't look too bad. I used my favorite sentiment from Lisa's Paper Town - notice I printed it on patterned paper this time- pretty cool, huh?

So head on over to Design Dollies and take your pick or do it all --- really great samples from the DT - these ladies know how to craft your socks off!

Delightful Friend

You know, when I first came to the blogging world in August, I was amazed by the magnificent creations. I was in awe of the talent and felt like I'd finally reached a happy place. I knew this place would keep my mind off being unemployed while looking for work. With each rejection, entering someone's blog gave me joy and helped me withstand this continuous storm.

This is difficult because I have to keep starting over. Instead of just showing you what I wanted to show you, I keep making this post longer and longer, yapping. So, long story cut short: I met a beautiful person, Lisa, of Allissa Designs Cabin, whose talents are incredibly magnificent, we became friends and it's been one of the best experiences ever. She has taught me so much in such a short amount of time.

She also just sent me the loveliest gift. She'd featured vintage on her blog and I LOVE vintage. Whenever I see it, I'm just in awe that people can put this together! So she sent me this incredibly beautiful note board to hang on my wall. Isn't it the dreamiest? I'm like, no one better touch it - no, you can't use the notepad...it's for looking at! *you know the drill when you get something you want to use but it's so cute, you don't dare.*

She also sent me the cutest embellies!! I was screaming with delight and hubby sat in his recliner, laughing because he knows what Lisa means to me. I just loved that she picked such lovely things for me to craft with and of course, I'm like, I can't use those...because then they would be gone (silly me!). These will go on the best creations for some really good people in my life. :D

Thank you so much Lisa! Way across the ocean..a special friend she is to me.

Another....

Um...yep, I've been busy...do you have those days when the crafting bug won't let you go and you spend so much time crafting you don't realize you've made so many projects? Well, I didn't make a ton - but the crafting bug bit...and I couldn't stop. But you know what - I had a good night's sleep last night! :p

This card is going into three challenges:
365 Cards - Day 258: Put a lid on it (a hat)
365 Cards - Day 259 - Imagine this: Snow
Car Patterns - sketch 41

This was a great sketch! I have new paper and you know how it is - you want to use it all. Well, with this image, I needed some blues and found some that coordinate well together. DCWV - my all time favorite plus Me & My Big Idea. Having three different papers gives options for lots of snowflakes - woohoo!! :D I love the snow ball on Edward's head - he's got his hat on, which fits perfectly with the two challenges - lucky me! :)

365 Cards is great because there is a card every day to inspire you. You can always find great samples from their design team too. Card Patterns is fun because you have lots of samples that will also give you a boost because everyone is so talented.

This is what makes blogging so great. Crafters love to share their tricks, their techniques and their designs. It certainly has opened doors for me in this paper crafting world and I love it! It is a very nice way to stay sane in a crazy world. ;P

Let it Snow...

I've been trying to concentrate on Thanksgiving but snow and Christmas keeps on creeping in. I wonder why... ;P

Stamp Something challenge has a real fun sketch as well as samples you'll love from their design team. It's like going into a card shop and finding all sorts of beautiful cards and you can't make up your mind which one, so you start thinking of ALL the people you want to send a card so you can take most if not all. :D Why not head on over there and see what you can be inspired by?

When I asked my son to draw a snowman or two, this one gave me a giggle. Isn't it rather cute? It was easy to color and I like the characteristics. I tried to implement a matching color scheme and think it's at least complimentary. I can't get enough of snowflakes. Martha Stewart nailed it with the punches, didn't she? I mean, how cool is that?

Pink, Yellow and Red

At Heather's Coffee Break, it's snow day and there's another blog hop! So, check this out, if you do the sketch and the colors (pink, yellow and red), and leave a comment, you'll be entered into a drawing for a fabulous prize! Also, check out the new images in her store - mmmm, yummy! I have to add to my "coffee collection." ;-p

So I am using one of Heather's images because it's so cute. I was a little afraid of the color combo - you know me and colors do not work well together. But I think I managed to pull off the yellow with pink and red, don't you? I even had some green, red and yellow paper - woohoo!

So I colored little angel with Copics and added stickles for her fur, punched snowflakes and added pink buttons to kind of tie in those colors. I followed the sketch...I believe. So, now I'm going to hop onto the other blogs and see their samples of the new digis Heather has!


Later: So, I did the hop and found out that my interpretation of the sketch was way off base. I hate to do a half done job, so I thought, I need to do another one. Isn't that how it goes sometimes? The design team puts on such a show of beautiful samples, you realize yours just isn't up to your own standards...so back to the drawing board.

Now...tell me - what do you think of this one. I like them both, but I did follow the sketch better. Heather made each person in the hop a snowman family based on the things that person's family was all about. You should see how cute it is! Check out her blog - she can do one for your family too!

I had my son do the same thing at Tellen's Place for my design team - it's really cute having yourself portrayed - hubby and I have one too (one I did awhile back - might have to have my son draw another). I'm definitely going to have Heather draw a snow family of me and King Mufasa - THAT's going to be a hoot! ;P

No Cards Allowed

Uh-oh...no cards allowed. Talk about being out of a comfort zone! Well, Pollycraft Monday Challenge invites you to a challenge where you can do anything except a card. How delicious does that sound? Well, check out what the DT made and you'll be uber excited and inspired!

I follow Stampin Inspirations by Maria and she is always creating something new and providing a tutorial! This is one in which the details are great! The thing is, she is super talented and she puts more effort into what she did than I did. She consistently makes the most beautiful crafts. My box turned out cute though - simple, but cute.

I won't tell you I had to do the top three times because me and 7/8s just don't get along! :)

I put Edward (Tellen Designs) on the front because the sides have stockings - isn't that cute?

I finally got the top right, punched it with MS lace and tied ribbons on the corners where my other papers didn't quite meet - a nice way to hide mistakes, eh? :D Shhh...Don't tell anyone!

Let it Snow...

This week's challenge over at Cupcake Craft Challenge is Snow Much Fun. How cool and creative is that? There's a lovely little goody as a prize and the best thing there - the samples provided by their fabulous design team. Aren't those cards gorgeous? It'll make you wanna go out and play in the snow!

So my card is one with my favorite color blue. I also used one of Heather's beautiful digital images. She'd featured a lovely blog hop last week at Heather's Coffee Break and these darlings were so cute, I had to have some of my own, so went shopping at her cute little store. Look at that cute little heart shaped mouth! ;p Delightful, isn't it?

So I did a bit of coloring with Copics, added some stickles to brighten and glisten, popped it up on foam dots and added some snowflake stickers I found in my stash that I'd had from last year. The snow flake ribbon really sets it off, doesn't it?

Listen to me go on and on about my card...but you know, I'm happy to see some improvement here. Some days, I mostly make messes and have to start over - especially with the coloring. Oh well - have a lovely one ladies!

Punch It!

The design team over at The Digi-Kitty really made some great creations for their challenge this week: Punch it! So I thought I'd wander over and check them out to see what I can do to spruce up my work.

My card is with the Tellen Design image Ally, who is actually holding corn with a big wallop of butter on it. But I hid it with this daisy die-cut. Have you ever started a project and when it was finished, you knew it really wasn't going to work? But you knew it had potential and you could easily fix it. That's what I did with this card. I hid the corn-on-the-cob and added a bow (got rid of some other junk) and now it looks like it can be useful. ;p

I was able to use my flower punch and my lace punch. The big layered daisy (and small one) is by K & Company. I used my ticket sentiment that I got over at Allissa's Paper Town. I really am hooked on these. I layered my background papers and used my circle punch on the corners to give it the same look.

So go check out The Digi-Kitty and punch along! There's a great prize and a chance to be a guest designer there - how cool is that?

Paper Bag Album

Happy Crafting Tuesday!

Haven't you visited other crafter's blogs and wished YOU could make something as delightful as they did? Are you inspired when you see all of that beautiful stuff? I sure am. In fact, every time I am at Dee Dee's blog, Brown Paper Packaging, I drool over the fabulous paper bag albums she makes. She is such a talented lady with such a great writing ability, you can't help but enjoy the things she shows you. Right now, she has a beautiful Santa paper bag album on display and it's gorgeous! Perfect gift for someone special. Go check it out.

Then, Sandy of Details by Sandy did a beautiful album made from envelopes! She'd found a tutorial on You Tube and you should see what she created! I loved it.

So, inspired, I set about You Tube and looked for the video she mentioned. I think my brain was too excited because at first I couldn't find it. There are a ZILLION videos about crafting on You Tube, which is a good thing but not all are tutorials - more showcases, which is fine, but not when you want to know "HOW". *smile*

Unfortunately, the mess I made did not turn into an album at all. It was called frustration packaging. So, I remembered that Dee Dee's albums were paper bag though I thought, no, they don't look anything like a paper bag. So I scoured the many tutorials and finally found ten or so that helped me put one together. YES, I actually did it! I made myself get out of my comfort zone and tried it. Oh, it was NOT easy. When you look at Dee Dee's and you see mine, just keep in mind, it's my first one (and probably last - jk!).

Now, it was fairly easy to put together and I'm changing the ribbon ties to the rings so that it would be easier to open and lay flat when putting photos in it. As you can see, the front is sort of plain...I was "craft brain overload". I did this over the weekend but should have rested more in between. Thinking of tags and dressing it up...that took a lot of mind power.

So, you decorate the page with tags so the person can put small photos on or do journaling. I added Prima flowers to help make it look festive..

The fun part about the paper bag albums are the pockets where you can put more tags. ;p

I made a pocket on the tag on the left. You decorate the front and back of the tag.

This is a tri-booklet that I should've taken a pic of so you can see the three places to put photos - it came out really cute (another You-Tube tutorial). Then there's that small insert with a plain blue tag (at this point, I was really getting tired).

The book was three sets of two bags which equals four pages front and back and two insert pages - 15 pages to decorate! Notice, I had to fix my paper sizing errors (added paper lace, strips so the paper bag didn't show).

All and all, I really had fun and plan to make a smaller Christmas one and one for a friend I met through my husband's best friend who lives in Morocco. On her visit there, the two of them thought of me and my upcoming birthday and sent me a really nice gift card to my fav restaurant to celebrate. I'm going to surprise them with a mini album of the photos they sent us when she went to visit him. I will take my time and rest in between thinking of what to decorate each page with. :D

I hope you enjoy this new venture I went on. ;p