Skipping Stones Design Blog Hop!

Today there is a special blog hop at Skipping Stones Design to feature their newly-released stamp set Victorian Christmas!  It is such a lovely set with gorgeous details.  Today is also my last sketch as the November Guest Sketch Artist.  With Thanksgiving already over, I decided it would be high time for tags ...what better way to feature a new Christmas stamp set AND get ready for the holidays!

I decided to try my hand at two monochromatic tags...

The first uses the gorgeous Christmas tree from Victorian Christmas and a sentiment from Christmas Song.

I used some lovely paper from Authentique's "Festive" Collection.  The pretty trees and scrolls in the design made me think of the stamped image itself.  I had such a hard time with my own sketch!  Didn't know what to put in the right corner that wouldn't steal the show.  I decided a fussy cut sentiment would do the trick. This tree is so much fun to embellish!  I used a combination of red adhesive pearls, Ruby Red Liquid Pearls, and a red gem.

For my second card, I used a snowflake and sentiment from Victorian Christmas...

I used more Nordic print paper, this one from the "Christmas Wish" collection by My Mind's Eye. I could NOT add a little "doodad" in the corner on this one!  I just loved how clean and elegant it turned out and decided it best to leave it ALONE!

Thank you SO much to everyone at Skipping Stones Design for allowing me to be part of their team this month.  It's been a blast!

Now off you go to see what the Design Team Members and Guest Designers have made with this sketch and Victorian Christmas!

Judith Gowdy

Cyndy Bundy

Jennie Harper

Wendy Price

Megan Aaron

Rochelle Washington

Ivanka Lentle

Stephanie Mino

Karen Baker

Tesa Broman

Glenda Wyatt

Katie Gehring

Supplies:
Tree tag:
Stamps:  Victorian Christmas, Christmas Song, both Skipping Stones Design
Paper:  Authentique "Festive," PTI Rustic Cream, tag
Ink:  Stampin Up Real Red
Other:  ribbon, red pearls and rhinestone, and Liquid Pearls in Ruby Red
Snowflake tag:
Stamps:  Victorian Christmas, Skipping Stones Design
Paper:  My Mind's Eye "Christmas Wish," PTI Rustic White, tag
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: ribbon, clear rhinestones

Nordic Deer Sketch

The sketch this week at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog is by the amazing Jean Martin!  I never tire of visiting her blog and seeing her lovely creations!  The sketch this week is no exception...

I chose to use the 2011 Holiday Ornaments stamp set paired with some new paper that I found on Black Friday :)

The paper is "Christmas Wish" by My Mind's Eye.  How could I pass it up knowing that I had lovely Nordic stamps to use at home?!  The sentiment is also from 2011 Holiday Ornaments.

Since I was at JoAnn's at 6:15 AM, I decided to add the Spellbinders Tear Drop Circles Nestabilities to my collection.  I thought they looked positively snowflake-y!  (I also scored my first little table Ott Lite at 80% off since I was there for the doorbusters.  It pays to have your birthday 2 weeks after Black Friday...no guilt in buying things for yourself.  Happy Birthday to ME!  LOL!!)

Upload your creation with Jean's sketch HERE by Friday, November 30th.  If you include at least one Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your project, you will be eligible to be the randomly-selected player who will win a WMS stamp set of choice!

REMINDER:  Sweet Cathy Weber has organized the second annual "Waltzingmouse Stamps Holiday Card Exchange!"  I participated last year and it was SO much fun to get some WMS happy mail.  Sign up in the forum HERE.  You have until Monday, December 3rd to add your name to the list!!

Supplies:
Stamps:  2011 Holiday Ornaments, Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  My Mind's Eye "Christmas Wish" collection, PTI white
Ink:  Fresh Ink in Red Currant, Memento Tuxedo Black
Other:  Spellbinders Tear Drop Circles Nestabilities, A Muse Studio ribbon and black pearls

Papertrey Ink November Blog Hop

This month at Papertrey Ink, the blog hop theme was to be inspired by cover art from books and magazines!  I went straight to the children's section at Amazon.com to search for holiday books, and found this adorable Toot & Puddle book by Holly Hobbie.   (One of my favorite books of all time is Toot & Puddle's "I'll be Home for Christmas.")

Something about that big red bow and the layout got me!  Since PTI doesn't make any skiing piglet stamps, I decided to use Holiday Button Bits!

I stamped the snow using Polka Dot Basics.  I used VersaMark ink, then heat embossed it with white powder.  The sentiment is also from Holiday Button Bits.  The big red bow was made with Pure Poppy cardstock using the L'il Inker Designs Bow die (small).

This is one of my most used stamps of all time!  I stamped him in VersaMagic Gingerbead ink (of course!) and added some plaid paper buttons cut with the Buttoned Up #1 die.

I can't wait to see all of the entries today...this was SUCH a fun theme for a blog hop!  

Thanks for stopping by :)

Supplies:

Stamps:  Holiday Button Bits & Polka Dot Basics, both Papertrey Ink

Paper:  PTI White, Pure Poppy, &  Simply Chartreuse cardstock, A Muse Studio Slate cardstock, Authentique "Festive" patterned paper

Ink:  Stampin Up Real Red, VersaMark, VersaMagic Gingerbread

Other:  L'il Inker Design Bow die (small), PTI Buttoned Up #1 die, A Muse Studio white embossing powder, twine

Skipping Stones Design Sketch #3

I have a new sketch posted at the Skipping Stones Design Blog.  My time as the November Guest Sketch Designer is FLYING by!  Well you know what they say...time flies when you are having FUN!

Here is the sketch for this week (don't tell the other sketches, but I think this is my favorite one)!

I used the wonderful Christmas Song stamp set for my card...

As if I wasn't obsessed enough with the music print birdie and leaves from Heartsong 2, NOW I have music print Christmas trees for my collection, yay!

There they are!  Stamped the trees first and then used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dot folder to emboss the whole piece to create a snowy wilderness kind of look.  The sentiment was cut out with a Spellbinders Ribbon Banner and placed in a Classic Scalloped Heart.

Join us next week for my last sketch of the month.  It will be featured in a very special way that you won't want to miss!  Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Christmas Song, Skipping Stones Design
Paper:  PTI Rustic Cream and Kraft, October Afternoon Holiday Style paper
Ink:  Memento Espresso Truffle, Fresh Ink in Tuscan Olive, Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink
Other:  Spellbinders "Classic Scalloped Hearts" and "Ribbon Banners" Nestabilities, D'Vine Swirls embossing folder, wooden buttons, red satin ribbon and twine

Waltzingmouse Stamps November Blog Party!

This month at Waltzingmouse Stamps the blog party theme is "gratitude." Add your creations to the Mr. Linky set on Claire's blog HERE.  You have until Sunday Nov. 18th at 1:30 PM.  Claire will be highlighting projects on her blog on November 20th.  She will also announce the randomly-selected participant who will win a WMS set of choice!

I chose to make a harvest lantern card!

Bright Season is back in stock at the store, as well as some other Christmas and recently released sets!  Check out Claire's blog post here and here for the full list.  It is such an awesome set!  I paired my lantern with papers from Simple Stories "Harvest Lane" Collection and a sentiment from Teeny Trees.

I have been so inspired by all of the "decorated" lanterns that I have seen everyone making!  I thought I would try one with some mini felt roses in rich autumn colors.  My felt is from an Etsy shop called "Benzie Bazaar."

Marlena left me a comment and she is right....these flowers must have popped in my head after seeing this week's Tuesday Trigger "Fantasy in Fall" at Moxie Fab World!  I love when subliminal stuff like this happens, LOL!

Since it's time to say thanks, I wanted to say thanks to all of YOU who visit my blog each week.  A few kind words about a card seem like such a small gesture...but I know how much they can make me smile when I am feeling blue or having "one of those days."  I am grateful for having a crafty hobby that lets my mind wander to a creative place...and for all of my crafty friends who know exactly what I am talking about :)!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Bright Season, Teeny Trees, both Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  PTI Rustic Cream and Kraft cardstock, Simple Stories "Harvest Lane" papers
Ink:  Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler, Fresh Ink in Honey, A Muse Studio ink in Bellini, VersaFine Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Antique Linen and Tea Dye Distress inks
Other:  My Favorite Things Mini Rolled Rose Die-namics, felt from Benzie Bazaar (etsy.com), twine

Want to be Karin Sketch!

Amazing artist and Mischief Maker Karin Akesdotter is the creator of this week's unique sketch at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog!  It's SO cool...

I took her sketch even further...I tried to BE Karin!

At first I was a bit stumped.  Then I thought...what would Karin do?  Hmmm...maybe kraft paired with soft hues?  A sweet little scene made with Teeny Trees?  That sounded right to me!  I also used the new Vintage Christmas Backgrounder and sentiments from Very Vintage Christmas and Seasons of Love-Tags on my card.  The snowflake medallion is cut from vellum using the Memory Box Woodrow Rosette die.

I used the stamp kiss technique and stamped the snowflakes from Nordic Winter right on to the Teeny Trees stamp before pressing it on the paper.  The mini snowflakes floating in the background are from Very Vintage Christmas.

Upload your creation with Karin's sketch HERE by next Friday, November 23.  You may use any stamps, but if you include at least one Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your project, you will be eligible to be the randomly-selected player who will win a WMS stamp set of choice!

REMINDER:  See you back here today at 1:30 PM EST for the Waltzingmouse Stamps November Blog Party!  The theme this month is Gratitude.  You will have 24 hours to link up your project to the Mr. Linky set on Claire's blog.  She will highlight some special projects on November 20, as well as announce another randomly-selected player who will win a WMS stamp set of choice.

Supplies:
Stamps:  Teeny Trees, Vintage Christmas Backgrounder, Very Vintage Christmas, Seasons of Love-Tags, and Nordic Winter, all Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  PTI Rustic Cream, Vintage Cream, and Kraft, A Muse Studio vellum
Ink:  Fresh Ink in Birch and Blue Sage, A Muse Studio in Pistachio, Memento in London Fog and Espresso Truffle, Tim Holtz Pumice Stone Distress Ink
Other:  Spellbinders Petite Ovals Large Nestabilities, White Opal Liquid Pearls, Memory Box Woodrow Rosette die, Stampendous Crystal Snow glitter

Skipping Stones Design Sketch #2

I am the Guest Sketch Artist for November at Skipping Stones Design, and a new sketch has been posted today!  Visit HERE to see the wonderful samples made by the other guest designers and the Design Team Members.

My sketch for the week...

I thought it was high time to get out those patterned paper scraps and use them up :)  I chose the adorable Skipping Stones Design stamp set Heartsong 2 to feature on my card...

I also used sweet papers from Simple Stories "Harvest Lane".  The middle stripe is more of that linen washi tape that I love, and I tied on a tag with a sentiment from the set.  Can't get enough of those teeny musical note leaves to match the birdie, so included just a peek along the bottom of my tag.

Chirp!!  I am having so much fun already...until next Tuesday!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Heartsong 2 from Skipping Stones Design

Paper:  Simple Stories "Harvest Lane" Collection, PTI Rustic Cream and Kraft cardstock

Ink:  Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler, Memento Espresso Truffle, Fresh Ink in Birch

Other:  Spellbinders Lacey Circles Nestabilities, natural linen washi tape from wishywashi.com, Tiny Tags die from Papertrey Ink, button, twine, thin linen ribbon