Let it Snow

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a good weekend.  We got to spend some time with my best friend from high school and her husband.  It was a beautiful evening spent picnicking under the stars, listening to the Cleveland Orchestra.  It's one of my favorite summer traditions.  Rod and I also went out for breakfast on Sunday and while I spent some time outside reading (Rules of Civility
by Amor Towels), I watched this butterfly flit around my flowers for a good 20 minutes.  I need to remember this weekend when I'm knee deep in snow come January...lol.

Now that you are caught up, I have to let you know that new stamps for the Christmas holidays were released over at DRS Designs, and the design team finally gets to show them off :)

This Large Snowman Portrait stamp isn't new, but I've never had the chance to use it....Isn't he the cutest?!  I have no idea what took me so long!  I layered him on the Circle Spiro and used the 4 in 1 Snowflakes for the background.

I dry embossed the bottom of the background, added a stip of washi tape, and the Let It Snow sentiment from the new releases as my sentiment for the card.

To see more cards made with the newly released stamps, check out our current Christmas card challenge at the DRS Designs blog :)

Have a good day!

Challenges for this card:

Addicted to Stamps-Christmas in July

Catered Crop-Washi Tape

Great Impressions-Coloring

2 Sisters-Christmas in July

Sweet Stampin-Christmas in July

Aud Sentiments-Sentiment on a tag

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Markers: Copic, Die: Spellbinders, Embossing Folder and embellsihments: Darice, Ink: Memento, Stampin' Up, Washi Tape: Martha Stewart

Santa Challenge

Hi Everyone,

I'm sharing the card I made for the current challenge at the DRS Designs blog.  We are still celebrating Christmas in July, and the theme this week is "Santa". 

I used the Open Plaid for the candy cane strip on the side and the Christmas Music for my background.  I die cut the Jingle Bell Greeting and fussy cut my Santa Face. Of course it wouldn't be complete unless I added Stickles to the hat :) 

 

The Single Jingle Bell was stamped on grey paper and embossed with silver embossing powder, and I used a silver gel pen to add doodle dots to the border along the side. I'll share a little secret.  That bell was an unused item from my holiday card making last year.  Score!  I knew it would come in handy sooner or later. 

So, if your looking to beat the heat in a no calorie way, join us for the Santa challenge at DRS and cool off by making a holiday card!

 

Have a good one :)

 

Challenges for this card:

Addicted to Stamps-Christmas in July

Quirky Crafts-Christmas in July

Marks Finest Papers-Christmas in July

Annabelle Stamps-Christmas

Jellypark-Christmas in July

Stampin with the Dragon-Christmas in July

 

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Dies: Spellbinders, Punch: Stampin' Up, Ink: Memento, Stampin' Up!, Twine from my supplies.

Bits of Business

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to pop in today to pass along some things that may be of interest to you crafty blog friends.

I didn't get a chance to make a card, but DRS Designs is the sponsor at the Play Date Cafe and there is still some time to play along with the following inspiration photo.  Full details can be found at the Play Date blog.

Also, I'm taking a bit of a hiatus from the Sparkle N Sprinkle design team, so while I won't be participating, I wanted to make sure you knew about the next blog hop.  There are always great prizes of glitters and stamps, so mark your calenders for the date and have fun!

Oh, and the DT call for Sparkle N Sprinkle is still open until the end of this week.  You can find all the details here.

Have a good day!



Bloggers Guilt

Hi All,

Yes, it's true.  I've had Bloggers guilt lately.  Not only is my mojo nowhere to be seen, I really haven't had much desire to say anything.  I've even been a lousy visitor/commenter.  I'm trying not to analyze it too, too much and I'm just hoping that when the summer wraps, I will feel like my old crafty self.  Crossing one bridge at a time.

Anyway, if you are still visiting me, I'm making a bit of progress with my ankle.  With the help of Motrin, I went on two short walks the last couple of days, and I'm knocking on wood that my first walk tomorrow with my dad, will go ok.  He hasn't said it, he's a man of few words, but I know by what he didn't say, that he's missed seeing me each morning these past three weeks.  I've come to realize that just like kids, he likes a routine :) 

Anyway, what seems like forever ago, I bought some stamps from Hambo with the best of intentions of making lots of stuff.  I even stamped off some images and had them on my craft table for when the mood hit. But, if you read that first paragraph, you know where I'm at. Well, someone that works in my hubby's department had a birthday, so I took that chance to finally use the Silly Birds image.

Thank God for a cute stamp and funny sentiment, (Also from Hambo Stamps) because that's all this card has going for it. "Can it BE any more plain?!" <--- Must be read in a Chandler Bing voice...

Their current challenge at the Hambo Hoedown is punches, so since I layered my sentiment with said punches, I'm linking up there. 

Thanks for popping in...Enjoy what's left of your weekend and I'll see you next week!

Other challenges for this card:

Great Impressions-Coloring

Joanna Sheen Challenge-Animals

Come and Get it -Bingo (Punches, Free space, bling-Stickles on birds hat)

ATC & Cards with Attitude-Anything Goes

Fat Pages and Cards-Anything Goes

The Stamp Man-Anything Goes with Summer Colors

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Georgia Pacific White, Ribbon: Offray, Embossing Folder: Provocraft, Circle Punches: EK Success, Markers: Copic, Stickles.

Blue Christmas/Winter

Hi Everyone,

We are continuing to celebrate Christmas in July at the DRS Designs blog with our current challenge.  The theme this week is "Blue Christmas/Winter."  Get a jump on your holiday card making and join us.  You might even win a prize!

For certain this will be my golf obsessed Dad's card this Christmas. When this was done, the first words out of my husband's mouth were, "So, did you make that for your dad?"  lol!

The Golf Ball Snowman really is cute, I just wish I had colored the tee blue too.  What was I thinking?  Oh well.

As usual, I used my DRS Designs background stamps to create my papers:

4 in 1 Snowflakes

Polka Dot Background

After stamping the polka dots across the top, I stamped the snowflakes off on a piece of paper first, and then back on top of  the dots.  I just wanted them a lighter shade, so that the dots would show through.

The Small Happy Holidays greeting was layered using my circle punches and I glittered up the bottom layer to make it look like a snowball.

 Well, lots of busy stuff  going on.  It's Vacation Bible School this week at my church, and as usual I'm one of the volunteers. I'm also on the hunt for some new lamps.  I promised my niece she could have my current ones for her new apartment, so let's hope I can find something I like in a hurry :)  Also, I'm still trying to nurse my ankle.  It's still not up to snuff, so my fingers are crossed that if I baby it a little more, I'll get back to exercising next week.

Have a good one!



Winners Announced

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to pop in to say, the winners from the Sparkle N Sprinkle Christmas in July blog hop have been posted over on their blog.  One of the winners came from my blog, so you may have been one of the lucky ones!  Check here for prizes and all the details on how to claim them!

Congrats to all the winners and thanks so much for all your sweet comments!

Have a great Sunday :)

Christmas in July Hop with Sparkle N Sprinkle

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle Christmas in July blog hop!

  If you hopped here by way of Marie, then you’re in the right place! Otherwise, you might like
starting from the beginning at the Sparkle N Sprinkle blog, to become eligible for one of the FIVE great prizes.     

Both of my card shares for the hop use stamps from the set named Christmas Flamingo ( #343)., which is on sale this month too :)   I added some pink glittery snowflakes, (made with Sticker Paper (99558) and Shell Pink Glitter (G1022)) and some seam binding ribbon for embellishments. 

And this photo shows off the Waterscape Glitter (G1108) I used on his santa hat and the embossed sentiment using Sangria (EP420) embossing powder.

This snowman reflects how I feel after the new year...lol!  When the holidays are over, and we are knee deep in snow and freezing temps, I want to head south too :)

Here I want to highlight a cool new product named Mudd Puddles, being carried at Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I used Blizzard Beach for my snow, and it added a great bit of grainy texture to my card.  Easy to use too, just scoop it out of the jar, put it where you want and let it dry. Comes in loads of colors as well.  

Full details for both cards can be found in my gallery right here.

Do you love glitter, stamps and embossing powder?  If so, Sparkle N Sprinkle is having a DESIGN TEAM CALL!  Check out all of the details here.

And a personal thank you and shout out to my friend Cheryl, I finally got around to using some of the paper I won in her giveaway awhile ago....I especially love how cute the pink non holiday paper looks on the first one! 

Thanks for visiting and remember to leave a comment to be eligible for a prize...Three of the prizes will be chosen from among the comments on the DT blogs....

The next stop along the hop is Angie and below is a list of the blog hop order, just in case there is a glitch along the way.

Karalee Ingram http://kareescardsandcraftsofcourse.blogspot.com

April Williams http://stampwillydesigns.blogspot.com

Jill Jacobsen http://www.stampinghands.com

Julie Zippel http://backtobasicsandbeyond.blogspot.com

Shanna Shands http://scsdesigns.blogspot.com

Barbara Bruder http://www.artandsoulcreations.blogspot.com

Shona Erlenborn http://shonasstampingstage.blogspot.com

Marie Berquist http://craftemarie.blogspot.com

Karin Martin http://karin-withaniforpaper.blogspot.com

Angie Blasingame http://hopemorestudio.blogspot.com

Gerlinde Townsley http://mycreativecorner-gerlinde.blogspot.com

Brenda Smalle http://rubberroomantics.blogspot.com

Sweet Summer Birthday

Hi Everyone,

How's this for a cute summer birthday card?! The minute I received the new Watermelon Border stamp, from DRS Designs, I knew I wanted to pair it with that daring little ant on the stamp named Watermelon and Friend :) Nothing says summer more than some cold, juicy watermelon, and the image just screams picnic. So, why not a picnic for a summer birthday party theme?

I created the background using various background stamps which are:

Interlocking Circles

Easy Dot Background

Watermelon Border (Yes, the same one from up the side, just not colored in!)

I layered up the Tiny Happy Birthday using a few circle punches and attached it with a pop dot for some depth. Other than that, this one is nice and post office friendly...lol!

Thanks for dropping in today and don't forget to join us every Thursday for the challenges, ath the DRS Designs blog!

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Georgia Pacific White, Ink: Versafine, Memento, Punches: Martha Stewart, EK Success, Markers: Copic

Stars and Stripes

Hi Everyone,

Stars and Stripes is the new challenge over at the DRS Designs blog.  It's perfect if you live in the USA and are making patriotic themed creations right now.

Here's my card share using the Proud Pledge Boy and the Stars and Stripes Forever stamp for my background.

Sorry I have to be brief.  Bad news on my end over here, I recently re-injured my ankle running the other day.  I went to the emergency room because I thought it was broken, so I guess it's good news that it's just degenerative bone disease that's causing it!?.  I'm going to the orthopedic doc for a follow up, so until then I'm on crutches with my foot up. Pray that I won't need surgery :(  The hubby said I should just ask for a leg transplant :P

Well, for all my USA friends, have a safe and Happy 4th and hope to see you at the challenge!

Other challenges for this card:
Amusing Challenges-Red, white and blue

Crafting When We Can-Summer Fun

Gingerloft-Red, white and blue

Kenny K-Patriotic

Sentimental Sundays-Be Patriotic

2 Sisters-Red, white and blue

Catch the Bug-Summer or 4th

My Sheri Crafts-I love America

Sweet Stampin-Scallops

Card Makin Mamas-Red white and blue

Bloggers Challenge-Patriotic

Chocolate Coffee and Cards-Anything Goes

Patties Creations-Red white and blue

Stampin with the Dragon-Red white and blue

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Georgia Pacific white, Ink: Memento, Stampin Up, Punch: Stampin Up, Markers: Copic, white gel pen, Pop dots, gems and brads from my supplies.