You take the...

CUPCAKE!  I made this card using Roxie's Sketch of the Week at Splitcoaststampers.com.  Used loads of Pink Persimmon stamps on this sugary confection!  Paper-pieced Vintage Cupcake, then added the banner from Vintage Greetings, and the sentiment from Sweet Greetings.  Used Basic Grey Lemonade paper (colored a bit with a yellow marker) and PTI Plum Pudding, Lemon Tart, and white cardstocks.  The dotted paper is a piece of Whitewash Coredinations paper, and when you run it through your Cuttlebug and then sand it, these happy YELLOW dots appear!  Hope you are having a sweet and sunny New Year's Eve EVE wherever you are!

PTI Blog Hop

Time for another PTI Blog Hop!  This month's theme was to be inspired by one of your Christmas ornaments or decorations...

I chose this adorable crackled snowman ornament I got for my birthday long ago from my sister Kris!  I used the snowman from Holiday Tree by Heather Nichols for PTI.  I actually painted the stamp with Tim Holtz Crackle Paint in Picket Fence, then stamped onto PTI kraft paper.  I went over the snowman with Tim Holtz Distress inks when it was dry.  Cut it out and added extra buttons (mini brads) like my ornament!  The star was also painted with Crackle Paint in Scattered Straw and then distressed further with inks.  That ribbon is from a gift someone gave me (also from long ago), and I have been saving it for just the right occasion!  I tied the star to the ribbon with twine, and added a torn paper snowbank using Vintage Cream paper.  I added some Sakura Stardust glitter pen to the center of the stamped snowflakes so they TWINKLE...just like my ornament does!

Thanks so much for stopping by on the HOP!

Merry Christmas to all!

 And to all a Good Night!

Peace to you...

This card is for the Card Positioning Systems Sketch of the Week!  I have never made a circular card before, and it was very fun!

 This also fits Julia's Ways to Use It Challenge at Splitcoaststampers, to use a background stamp.  I used Flourish Pine from Hero Arts.  The beautiful angel is Earth Angel from Waltzingmouse Stamps!

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Holly Jolly WOW #17!

Time for the Word of the Week Challenge!  Can't believe we are on week number 17!  How about one for the holidays...

festive:  1. of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival  2.  joyous; gay

Upload a very festive card to Splitcoaststampers using the keyword WOW17, or link back your festive card in the comments section of this post.

Have a festive Christmas Eve EVE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TRAVIS!

This little Mousekateer turns TWO today! 

Trick-or-treating at Grandma Jill's house...

Christmas Party at Disney World with his Mom and Dad (Melyssa and Tyler)

Sliding with Eva and Claire this past summer...

Happy Birthday oh lil' great nephew, Travis!

Lots of...Mittens!

For the Featured Stamper at SCS, Benzi aka Brenda...I cased her adorable card here:  Lots of Love

Kept layout and stripes...changed theme from hearts to a wooly mitten theme (for my East Coast relatives!!)  Used Cornish Heritage Farm's Winter Signage set from the Rummage Bin, and Ticking Stripe Backgrounder.  Then used loads of retired SU stamp sets including the mitten from Holiday Frame Fun, Linen background, and Wonderful Weaves. 

Needed a warm fuzzy card because Brenda is SUCH a great stamper, always leaving comments to encourage others besides having a fantastic gallery of her own!

WOW #16!

Welcome to the Word of the Week Challenge!  Can you make a card featuring this word?...

parquetry:  work in the form of usually geometrically patternedwood laid or inlaid especially for floors

Ohhh exciting!  I see use of a certain fave stamp set of mine in the near future!  Upload your card featuring parquetry to SCS using the keyword WOW16 or link your blog sample back here in the comments section!

Deck the Halls

Tried a sketch at Card Positioning Systems today since I haven't done one in forever!  Used Vintage Picnic from Papertrey Ink again...Nichole Heady asked on her blog what we wished for from PTI next year...and I put that PTI  will come out with an addition set of alllll fun Christmas things to add to these Vintage Picnic Baskets!  Also used my fave snowflake background ever, Filagree Snowflakes from Peddler's Pack, and the Pretty Pattern backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms!

SNOW!

Our first big snow of the year!  Eva's school didn't close...the plows are BIG here in Avon, NY!  Here are some pictures when we were waiting for the bus...

Catch a flake!

SnoWOW 16!

Oh dear...I am a day late!  It is very SnoWOWy here in upstate NY...a snow WOW day!  Here is your Word of the Week!

bluster: 1. to blow in stormy noisy gusts.  2. to be windy and boisterous 3. to talk or act with noisy swaggering threats

Okay, so that is not a random WOW...but it sure seems to fit the weather EVERYWHERE this week (okay, except for Florida).  Since I am home on a "snow day", maybe I can finally get to some of the challenges that I have been missing.  Oh yeah, and some paperwork....and laundry....

Cut to later...sooooo I did do laundry and some other stuff, and then it was time to get inky!  I made this card for some of the other SCS challenges...today's Ways to Use it challenge was to be inspired by a Christmas carol so I picked Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!  Used Pink Persimmon's Oh Dear (Silhouette) for Rudolph, the star from Little Cuties for the background, and the sentiment from Little Christmas Cottage.  This card also fits the Clean and Simple challenge to use red, brown, and vanilla for colors, and I made the card with Roxie's SCS sketch of the week!

Don't forget to upload your WOW15 card at SCS or link back here in the comments section!

Believe!

Today was MY Birthday!  We got to see Santa come into town on the local fire truck.  Seeing all of the kids get so excited was the best present ever!

 I love that Macy's commercial...and I do believe in the magic of Christmas!

Almost forgot my WOW!

Welcome to a later in the day Word of the Week, #15!

fulgent: dazzlingly bright

There that was a quick and simple one!  Can't wait to see what kinds of fulgent, and maybe even fulgent holiday cards that you come up with!  Link back here in the comments with your creation, or upload to SCS using the keyword WOW15!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A little something sweet before I head off to bed.  Another card with the Earth Angel set from Waltzingmouse Stamps using Roxie's sketch at SCS.

It's Black Friday tomorrow, whoopee!  One of my fave days of the year!  I am meeting my niece and friend at 6:30 am after a quick stop at Starbucks, of course.

Hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving...and thanks to all of you who stop by to visit!

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

Time for another PTI Blog Hop!  This month's theme was to come up with a quick inexpensive wrap or tag for the holidays.  I made a set of "Mish" notebooks for friends, but in a smaller size for purses.  I call them "Black Friday Notebooks", and added some "school fundraiser" candy bars that were leftover...you know if you get hungry waiting in those long lines!

And do you know what?  They were so pretty on their own, I felt like it didn't need anything but a cheap cellophane bag for the "wrapping part"!  I would even do this with a gift...wrap the gift in tissue, put a cool PTI card in front, and then tie the whole thing up in cellophane!  Very cheap, you see the cute card that you made, and it leaves your recipient ohhhing and ahhing over your hard work!  Thanks for stopping by on the hop!

Word of the Week #14!

Welcome to another Word of the Week Challenge, affectionately known as my WOW!  Here is the next installment:

parure:  (derived from "parer" to prepare, adorn) a matched set of ornaments (as jewelry)

Ahh sounds seasonal!  Make your card featuring parure and upload it to Splitcoaststampers using the keyword WOW14...or upload to your blog and link your card back here in my comments section.  Remember, there are NO rules and NO time limits for my WOWs, hee!  Take it from someone who always uploads her own cards later than some of the players.  Maybe some of you can find time to play during this short week/holiday weekend!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks for taking time to stop by and visit me in this neck of the Blog!

Little Angel

For today's Color Challenge "with Dessert" by Betty (gbedwright) at Splitcoast. We were to use Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, and Pretty in Pink...and for dessert...add plaid!  Used my new Waltzingmouse Earth Angel set (LOVE LOVE this set, Claire Brennan!), flourishes from The Angel Company (hee!), and sentiment from PTI.  Used PTI Ripe Avocado and Sweet Blush as color substitutues, but did have Bermuda Bay and this Top Note Die cut from SU in VeryVanilla from my friend Kris aka "Krischir".  My dessert plaid was an old SU plaid background which you can faintly see on her dress!

Three Cheers for Birgit!

Today's Featured Stamper is probably my fave stamper of all times, Biggan aka Birgit Edblom!  I chose to case her  "Candle" card.

I kept the general theme but changed the images, sentiment position and added some ribbon.  The whole time I made this card that song "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" from "The Sound of Music" was playing in my head except the words were "How do you a case a card made by Ms. Birgit?"....I am serious!  Her cards are works of art!

Here's another one entitled A Piece of Cake, HA!  This is one of my fave cards of all time...when Birgit saw that I wrote that during a challenge, she SENT me the cake stamp by Stampelgarden all the way from Sweden?  Sweeter than sweet, for sure!

If they open a Biggan Card Museum in Sweden, I am hopping a plane!  CONGRATULATIONS BIRGIT!  Please be sure to visit her blog...the link is in my sidebar!

Raspberry Wishes

For Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #19!  Here are the colors:

Here is my card:

This was the hardest one yet for me...all those pastels!  Used PTI cardstock, Versamark ink, and 2 new PTI sets, Background Basics: Diamonds, and the sentiment from Giga Guide Lines.  My aqua was added last (and is a bit difficult to see)...the little rhinestones!

Time to "Get Sketchy"!

Pink Persimmon is hosting another sketch challenge this week at the fabulous blog, Get Sketchy!  Be sure to visit and link up a card with this sketch, because there is a $25.00 Pink Persimmon gift certificate up for grabs!  Here is my sample with their sketch of the week:

I used the Little Christmas Cottage set from Pink Persimmon, Cosmo Cricket (music) and Reminisce (gingham) patterned papers, red embroidery floss, and lots of Crystal Snow by Stampendous!  Cardstock is by Papertrey Ink...and I added lots of Tim Holtz Distress Inks and a gingham bow (of course!).

So what are you waiting for?!  Hop on over to Get Sketchy to see what Bree and her Design Team cooked up...and visit Kimberly Crawford's blog to see her awesome sketch sample, too!

Background Fun

When looking at my cards, you have probably noticed that I am a little obsessed with background stamps!  I love the big ones, I love making my own with little ones, and I love layering backgrounds stamps over each other to create new ones.

Yesterday I got my new Papertrey Ink "Background Basics: Diamonds" set in the mail.  I had some fun with it while the girls were still at school!

For this card, I paired it with Love Dove from Pink Persimmon.  I was inspired by all of the beautiful colors and patterns of the Vera Bradley handbags/totes chosen as inspiration pieces for the Clean and Simple Challenge at SCS.

And another Santa card.  I am really loving my Santa stamps this year!  Another makeover attempt...I am SURE that he is getting tired of wearing the same red suit year after year, hee!

Hop on over to the Pink Persimmon Blog...a few other of my obsessions are being featured today...crackle paint and liquid pearls, woo hoo!  And you have until Monday to get those sketch challenge cards in to be eligible for the prize giveaway!

Word of the Week #13!

Today's word of the week is......

limbus:  a border distinguished by color or structure
      
(they gave the example "esp. the marginal region of the cornea of the eye by which it is continuous with the sclera"...but for card-making purposes we'll leave that part out and stick with the rest of the definition!)

Here is my sample...my "limbus" is an old retired Stampin Up border!  Other stamp sets on this are Holiday Tree, Papertrey Ink, and a Flourishes set from The Angel Company.

I did add another border, too...a furfuraceous border of coarse silver glitter (furfuraceous is WOW12!).  This card also fits 2 other challenges at SCS this week...Roxie's sketch challenge, and Betty's color challenge of Real Red, Always Artichoke, and Chocolate Chip.  Don't tell Betty, but my "greens" don't look very artichoke-y, hee! 

Also used a gift from my friend Kris (krischir)...she sent me an old piece of window screen and ordered me to ink it up!  That's the first pattern on the "cream" piece of paper!  Isn't that so cool?

Now YOU go and have fun with the WOW!  Be sure to link back here with your card/blog post, or upload you card at Splitcoaststampers using the keyword "WOW13".

Pink Persimmon Sketch Challenge

Pink Persimmon is hosting a sketch challenge on their blog today!  Here is the very cool sketch created by Creative Team Member Julie Detlef!

And here is my sample using the sketch....

Used Pink Persimmon's new Holly Wreath set, some Basic Grey and Paper Company papers, and hand- stitched my sentiment.  Stamped Santa on watercolor paper, then rosied up his cheeks and lips! Popped him up over the wreath, which was colored with Martha Stewart watercolor markers, then added Stickles.  His hat didn't look complete until I made it all fuzzy with white Fun Flock by Stampendous!

So stop on over to the Pink Persimmon Blog and play along!  If you play, your name will be entered into a random drawing for a giveaway, ho, ho, ho!  Can't wait to see the projects that you create with Julie's sketch!

Citrus Snowman?

Today's Featured Stamper of the Week at Splitcoast is Dawn aka TreasureOiler!  I chose to case her adorable Frosty card.

I love this AMuse juggling snowman!  I got him this summer at One Little Spark in Tuckerton, NJ!  I wanted to keep Dawn's citrusy color scheme, so I made the polka dotted paper using Polka Dot Basics from PTI and tried my Orange Zest cardstock for the first time!  Stamped the Canvas Backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms over the polka dots and the orange cardstock to "tone" it down a little (it IS supposed to be a Frosty card, hee!).  I used the "fa la la" sentiment from PTI's Holiday Tree set, but didn't ink up the "fa" and just added some more "la la la's"!

More fun at VSN!

VSN (Virtual Stamp Night) continues on through the weekend at SCS!  This challenge was from Vonnie...the CASE of the Cracked Glass.  You were to "Case" (meaning "copy and share everything") another stamper's card and add the cracked glass technique.  Lucky for me, I had just seen this awesome card by Michelle aka "JustPaintingAround" with the technique and loved it. 

 I tried to copy the patterned paper she used by using PTI's Background Basics Retro grid and a snowflake from Hero Arts.  Kept her general color scheme and much of her layout.  Dug out one of my fave sets of all time "Happy Winter", a retired Stampin' Up set.  This was one of the sets that got me hooked on stamping.  Back when I had limited supplies (ummm that seems long ago!), I think I used this snowman on just about every Christmas tag I made!

Virtual Stamp Weekend is here!

Come on over to Splitcoaststampers Virtual Stamp Night Forum, as the hostesses throw a Masquerade Ball!  I am hosting a challenge myself tonight entitled...."Tonight We're Gonna Party Like it's 1999!"  Squee, PRINCE!

For my challenge, you are to visit this site "Top 100 Songs of 1999" and chose a title, and make a card.  Of course I picked the #1 Song of the Year, "Believe" by Cher!

I chose to use the "Believe" set from Papertrey Ink!  I wanted to "bling" out my Santa to make Cher proud!  I used Basic Grey Wassail paper, Stickles, White Opal Liquid Pearls, shimmery ribbon, and rhinestones!  Come on over and check out the 4 challenges tonight (Friday)...and then on Saturday challenges will be posted all day starting at 11:00AM through 10:00 PM (EST)!  You have until Sunday, November 15th at 10:00 PM to upload your creations!

Stylin' Santa Sketch

For Roxie's sketch (and Flowergal36's) over at SCS!  Santa called...he has been watching "What Not to Wear" on TLC.  He's a little worried that he has packed on some pounds during the off season, and the red suit will exentuate his curves.  I suggested this plaid outfit by Cosmo Cricket!  I thought it would camoflauge his full figure nicely!  And the plaid...very manly!

A Dozen WOWs!

Welcome to Word of the Week 12!  This one made me giggle...

furfuraceous:  consisting of or covered with flaky particles, hee!

Have fun making a furfuraceous greeting!  Upload to SCS with the keyword WOW12 or link back to the comments of the post!

Joyful Snowman

For today's Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers...to use Kraft (yay!), Very Vanilla, and Bravo Burgandy.  I substituted the PTI colors Vintage Cream and Scarlet Jewel...

 Used PTI's Holiday Tree set for that cute snowman and the border, and the Pine Flourishes Background from Hero Arts.  Loaded some Crystal Snow by Stampendous along the bottom of the image for some sparkle.  That big gingham bow is actually covering up some mistakes....see, gingham fixes EVERYTHING!

Sensational Chrisations.ink!

Today the Featured Stamper of the Week is a fave of mine, Chrisations.ink aka Chris!  I chose to case her lovely Poinsetta Glitters card.

I kept the same overall theme, but changed the stamps and some of the layout.  Some people have been commenting on this card over at Splitcoast, and asking if I stitched the flower.  Sadly, ummmm, no. Lucky for me I have a retired Stampin' Up set called "Sew Seasonal" and the images just look like they are stitched!  I also used SU's Aida Cloth background to add to the fabric look.  Pine Flourishes Background new from Hero Arts.  Congratulations, Chris!  She is just the sweetest person, always leaving wonderful comments on everyone's cards...when SHE has a gallery chock full of amazing cards herself!

Taking Notes

I hop-hop-hoppity-hopped on the "altering a notebook" wagon!  I was so inspired by Mish Wooderson and all of the PTI girls and their fabulous notebooks that I decided to alter some myself!  I used PTI's "Holiday Button Bits" and some smaller 3.5x 5 notebooks from Staples.  I scored some kraft cardstock around them, and taped the notebooks down with Terrifically Tacky Tape (courtesy of Walmart) on the inside "back" flap..also made a pocket inside the cover for coupons as shown by Nichole Heady!

Here are some "Black Friday" Christmas List Makers/notebooks for some friends...

Warning...these are highly addicting to make!  You may be seeing quite a few more samples before December 25th...and beyond!

Word of the Week!

Welcome to the Word of the Week Challenge, #11!  This word was chosen on Sunday, and I have to say, it is similar to Betty's Color Challenge at Splitcoast yesterday!

achromatic:
1. Refracting light without dispersing into its constituent colors:  giving images practically free from extraneous colors  2. not readily colored by the usual staining agents  3.  possessing no hue; being black, grey, or white:  neutral  4.  being without accidentals or modulation; diatonic

I chose a snowflake image from Cornish Heritage Farms, Smokey Shadow (grey) and White cardstock from PTI, and rhinestones to finish off this achromatic card.  And this snowflake was NOT made with the usual coloring agents...I stamped it with achromatic Versamark ink and heat embossed with white puff embossing powder!
So upload your achromatic card to Splitcoaststampers using the keyword WOW11 or come back here and link your creation to the comments section.  Can't wait to see what you come up with!

You better watch out...

For Clean and Simple Challenge at Splitcoast...to use the sketch provided by Latisha! 

Well looksee here!  Someone is making an early appearance...to let you know that he is always watching!  Stamps:  Holiday Button Bits and Holiday Tree sets, Papertrey Ink; Weave Backgrounder, Cornish Heritage Farms

Holiday Chickadee

This week for the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoaststampers, guest host Anne chose beautiful Franz Porcelain pieces featured at the online store Precious Possessions.  I chose the Chickadee Collection seen HERE.

This card is perfect for Halloween, too...the Love Dove is all dressed up in his chickadee costume!  Made the holly paper myself using images and sentiment from the new Holly Wreath set!  All stamps available at Pink Persimmon.

And HELLO November...it might be all out Christmas cards from now until January 1st!  They are my favorite kind of cards to make, and now I feel like I can really get going on them!