A Cheerful Snowman

Hi Everyone!
I'm still showing cards made awhile ago, and looking back, why I didn't use the snowflake embossing folder on this card I will never know! Maybe that means I should make another one that is better than this... (sly smile)
I love images of snowmen (as long as they have hats... Without hats they're just naked and missing something.) and this is a favorite one. Easy to color and embellish with some glitter...
to highlight the snow.

Have a great weekend and the details are below.

Details-Stamps: Stampin up, Ink: Versafine, Marvy Markers, Stampin Up Pastels, Glitter: Joann's Paper, Ribbon, and Brad from my stash of stuff.

Happy Halloween

Hi Stamping Friends!

I haven't had a chance to create anything new because there have been so many things to do since I got back. This time of year requires a lot of outside yard time, with all the leaf raking and winter prep, so I am still showing you things I made before I left for vacation.

Candy Corn. It's a weird thing right? Very sweet, not all that good tasting, yet I buy and eat it every year. Not really sure why... Maybe it's that perfect little triangle shape. As a kid, I remember biting off the tip first, and eating each color separate to see if they tasted different. They don't, but I still eat them that way sometimes...

I was digging the Clean and Simple card style one day, and stamped a bunch of different ones. This is a Halloween card, with the big "Ta-Da" being Glossy Effects on the candy corn.

I think it's just tradition to have candy corn around...Besides, look how cute it is...

Thanks for the visit and I hope you have a sweet day!


Details-Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Marvy Markers, White gel pen of unknown origin, Stamps: Inkadinkadoo and Happen Stamps, Brads:Making Memories

Mummy Votives

Good Morning!

This is not a card, but I made these after seeing something similar at the craft store around here.

I made them before vacation, and they have been on my table ever since...So cute!!!!

I used gauze torn into strips and wrapped it around two old votive candle holders I had. After securing it with glue, I took a brown ink pad (don't remember which brand!) and scummed up the material to make it look aged. I bought googlie eyes and used a glue dot on those to secure them. The craft store used tall cylinders for these, but I had these votive holders on hand and thought I would recycle, so in this case I am using the battery operated tea lights for safety. Thanks for the drop by and hopefully I will get to posting new stuff later in the week!

And The Winner Is...

Hi All!

I am back with the Blog Candy Winner! I was going to use the random number watchama- hooker thing, but some people got more than one entry and I didn't want to take the time and figure out how to make that fair for everyone. Soooo...into the pumpkin candy dish everyone went.... And the winner is...

Yahoo for you!!!! You can visit her blog here!

Congrats...I have contacted the winner by email. (I just realized I spelled your name wrong! Me, of all people, who has had my name spelled Karen my whole life! So insensitive of me...Sheesh! I'm blaming it on jet lag...) I really to thank everyone for playing along and sticking around while I was away.

I'm looking forward to getting back to creating, visiting all your blogs and my craft fair date is creeping up real fast! I even sold 15 cards while I was gone and got an order for "as many Christmas cards as you have on hand"....So exciting!

Happy Crafting!

I'm Back!

Hi Everyone!
Well, I'm back to my blogging routine...If you were wondering why I took a break, it was because I was on a sweet vacation with my husband! Woo-Hoo! A fabby and generous relative gave us their timeshare outside San Diego last week, so we took advantage of the opportunity and saw the sights...I haven't unpacked yet, (I have no idea where the camera is!) but I took a couple of photos with my phone... Here is us at the San Diego Zoo...

One of our best friends lives in California, so he drove over and met us and enjoyed the day too...The weather was great in southern Ca., and if the leaves here in Ohio weren't doing their splendid fall color show, I would be really depressed that the vacation had to end!

Thanks for sticking around and I will be back later to let ya know who won the blog candy!

My First Blog Candy!

Hi Friends, Family and Visitors old and new!

I have decided to take a blogging holiday for a week or so. While I am busy with other things, in a shameless ploy to gain followers and blog hits, I am offering some humble candy which consists of stamps and a bit of bling. (Scroll a bit, it's further down :) )

How do you win this candy?

Do any one or all of the following things:

1.) Leave me a comment here. Maybe something you like about my blog or something you have seen here...Or something completely random...Up to you!


2.)If you are a follower, or become a follower, I will enter you a second time. (Just let me know in your comments.)


3.) If you post this or mention this on your blog, or send people this way, I will enter you a third time. (Again, let me know in your comments.)

Sorry to any visitors from across the pond, but I can only ship to Canada & the U.S.


That's it...So thanks to my faithful friends and visitors I can't wait to pick the one lucky winner! (Probably on 10/19/09)

Good Luck!

Shades of Purple

Hi Everyone,
I didn't think I would be making many cards this week, but instead of watching TV last night, I managed to squeak one out...The best part of all this? It fits 2 challenges and it's going in the mail for a thank you today! Yippee! I am always thrilled when something leaves my home after being made.
I used the Mojo Monday sketch for the layout and chose a monochromatic color scheme to fit the challenge over on Jessica's blog, Encourage Joy.I have brads in 3 different colors of purple, yet all of them were slightly off color-wise when it came to using them here. So, instead I used my Crop-O-Dial and punched out matching circles using the biggest hole, and glued them on with my 2 Way Glue Pen. The image itself was stamped twice, once in Stampin Up's Perfect Plum and second in Elegant Eggplant. A cool little shadow technique. Certainly not new, but I forget about doing it sometimes...

Thanks bunches for the drop by today...See ya on the Internet!

Details not listed above-Stamps: Stampin Up, Paper: Stampin Up, Joann's and an unknown source, Nesties, ribbon from my supplies.

Fall Fun

Good Morning!

It sure is fall like around here, but we have had some sunshine the past day or so...Hurray!


I made this card for the challenge over at Digital-Ink Co. (Make a fall themed card) and One Day At A Time where we were to use something from the mail in our creation. I was saving junk for a couple of days, so sure I was going to have some great plan and be super creative, but instead I wimped out and used a picture of some grapevine pumpkins from the Crate and Barrel catalogue. I couldn't help it....they were calling to me! A bit predictable, but very festive none the less. I liked the distressed stripes from the Cuttlebug folder for a background; just adds a great texture. I had a bunch of leaf brads I purchased last year at Target that I had not used yet, so I thought they fit the theme of this card well.

Thanks for peeking in today...

Details: Stamps: Inkadinkado, Inique Boutique, Ink: Rubber Stampede, Paper: Bazzill and an unknown source, Brads: Target, and ribbon from my supplies

PTI's WCMD Challenge #1-Japan

Hi!



I caved in and decided to participate in this challenge of making cards inspired by countries around the world. This first country is Japan and I decided to use Tea Bag Folding (a type of Japanese paper folding) as the focal point of my card... The colors of the card were chosen to compliment the patterned paper used in the folded image.

Thanks to my cousin who taught me this technique, and thank you for visiting and I hope you scroll down and visit my posts for the cards from the other countries!

Details-Paper: Martha Stewart, Michael's, Patterned paper and brad of unknown origin.

PTI"s WCMD Challenge #2-Mexico

Hi Again!



For my post for this challenge, where the inspiration country is Mexico, my offering is a little nontraditional. Instead of being inspired by the colors, or even patterns of the Mexican tiles, I chose to celebrate Dia de los Reyes. The past couple of years I have made cards for folks in the Hispanic community in my area who celebrate this holiday by sending cards. They have trouble finding what they call Three Kings cards and I am happy to oblige them by making some. So with that in mind, here is my Three Kings Day card.

The star was made using my Score-Pal and was highlighted with my chalks.

Many thanks for the visit and check out the next country coming up!

Details not mentioned above -Stamps: Inkadinkado, Ink: Stampin UP, Paper: Bazzill, Corner Punch: Fiskars

PTI's WCMD Challenge #3-India

Hi!



Thanks for looking a my card inspired by the country of India.



While I was racking my brain trying to think of what stamps I could use for this card, my husband said, "Why don't you use that big giant stamp you have? That looks like it could be Indian." I was just about to say, "Quit making fun of me and leave me alone..." (reflex :) ), when I realized he was actually on to something! So, inspired by the bright colors and adornments of the culture, I took his advice and inked up the Medallion stamp. WEE! So bright and fun!

And the close up of the bling!

I decided with the colors so bright, I could only give it to a female, so I made it into a general friend card. Thanks for looking!

Details-Stamps: Stampin Up, Hero Arts, Autumn Leaves, Ink: Kaleidacolor, Gemstones: Hero Arts

PTI's WCMD Challenge #4-Australia

Final challenge...I did them all! The country is Australia and I chose to use a rugged, brown color theme along with accenting my main image with white dots (See bottom middle picture here). The flower has a dotted theme itself, so I thought it would also pair well with the paisley embossing folder which has flowers embedded in it. I like the feminine bow mixed with the rough edges on the card too.

And the close up...

Thanks for taking a card making trip around the world with me!
Details-Paper: Joanns, Ink: Stampin Up, Nesties, Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbon and brads from my supplies

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

Hi Everyone!



Are you going to get crafty today? I must laugh, because I am probably not going to do anything crafty on this designated day. I have been making stuff constantly, and the November craft fair will be here before I know it, so I actually need a day off...LOL!



I will, however, celebrate with a post of another birthday card. My niece turned 20 yesterday and we'll celebrate with her later today, but I sent her a b-day text yesterday. (The young-ins text, there is no actual speaking I have found!) Anyhow, I said, "Happy you-are-no-longer-a-teenager Birthday!" She said, "Thanks, now I feel old." So, to help her regain her " long lost youth," I made her a girlie, youngish card.

Just a cute cupcake image in pastel colors... that opens on a hinge...(I took the photo before I stamped the inside)

and has a little sparkle on the frosting and Glossy Effects on the cherry.

I have really been on a cake, cupcake and assorted treats kick lately! I guess it's just all those birthdays I have to celebrate. I did send out a guy birthday card this week though, and on that one I managed to use the Trendy Trees set... :)

On a side note, I ran around to lots of places yesterday. Here, (great produce!) and here for lunch, but best of all here.

Stamplistic ( Last click) was amazing! Walking in there I was overwhelmed, my eyes didn't know where to look first! They had so many stamps from companies I have only seen online, and also ones I had never seen. Really amazing stuff and I am already trying to figure out when I can get there again. It was a bit of a drive (a little less than an hour) totally worth it though. I was getting tired of seeing the same old stuff at the chain stores, so this was refreshing and the employees were so nice!

Well, that's about it...Hope you are having a great weekend and below is the card info that wasn't mentioned above.

Details-Paper: Martha Stewart, Stamps: Inque Boutique, Ink: Stampin Up and the lone brad from my supplies

Accordian Purse

After looking at these pictures, I realized I didn't take a side shot. (It has the cute polka dot coordinating papers there and on the handle.) Oh well, too late now...I already gave this gift away...but this is what I mentioned I would post earlier in the week.

I wish I could remember where I got the instructions from, but I jotted them down months ago before I started blogging. It took me about an hour to complete and I used papers I purchased on sale last year. The flower embellishment was made using a small Cuttlebug embossing folder, punching it out using the Stampin Up scallop punch and finishing up with a circle punched from the coordinating paper. A magnet keeps it shut. ( I tried a Velcro dot, but I thought it held it too tight and was bending the card stock when I opened it.)

I decided to fill it with tea since the weather has turned chilly, and it fit the large Celestial Seasonings packets perfectly. When the tea is gone, it is perfect to organize receipts for the up coming holiday season.

Thanks for letting me share this today and here are the rest of the specifics not mentioned above.

Details-Paper: Bazzill, American Crafts, Red super sticky tape