Today's Christmas Card

It is feeling a little like the 12 days of willow's Christmas cards... LOL... so, here is today's card.  It's another take on Tim's tag.  I once again stamped on the embossing folder but this time I used a speckle stamp from The Angel Company (my new most favorite stamp!!).  I hope I was able to evoke the sense of peace I feel when it is snowing and swirling in the middle of the night.  Let me know what you think...

One More Card Done!!!

Thanks Michele for your kind words and letting me know I am not alone... LOL... So, here is my take on a Technique Junkies Warhol technique.  The papers are from Reminisce, Paper Wishes, and of course that gorgeous red is from Paper Temptress.  The tree stamp is a Hero Arts stamp and the greeting is an inexpensive clear stamp of unknown origin...

Oh, I forgot to mention that I had such good success with the craft knife yesterday, I decided to give it another try... LOL... not too bad I'm thinking...

Slowly, I create

At the rate of 1 card per day and having just started, I am thinking I am not going to get many Christmas cards out in the mail this year!!!  Oh well... I am having fun once again, so that is encouraging!!  Yesterday, I watched Beate's tutorial which you can find here on Splitcoast Stampers  and was inspired.  She made a beautiful Z-fold card and I just had to give it a try (quite interesting seeing as I am more than a clutz with a craft knife).  I managed to create a card for my son and his family and I am happy with how it turned out (and I suffered no injuries from the knife...LOL).   The paper I used is some "old" Bo Bunny it is from a page kit called Cherry Pie Family Ties, but I thought it looked very Christmas-y... The stamp is from The Angel Company and the die cut bow is a sweet little punch from Martha Stewart.  I hope you enjoy it and better yet, give it a try...

I realize now that I should have taken a photo to show the "swinging" part of the card (the tree with the large bow) but if you watch the tutorial, you will see the mechanics of the card.

Just a Couple of Cards

For this first card, I did my take on one of tim's tags this year.  I just love the idea of stamping on the embossing folder.  So, I gave it a try and here it is:

And here is a card for my BFF Carole:

Thanks so much for looking!!! 

Day 2 and 3 of tim's 12 tags of Christmas

Well, to my loyal follower Terry, LOL, thanks so much sweetie for your kind comments, here are the tags I managed to create.  I really want to do yesterday's tag but haven't had the time.  Terry and anyone else who stumbles on this blog, enjoy!!!

I'm Back, sort of...

For anyone who wonders, I am still around.  I have been busy losing over 36 pounds...LOL... I feel better than I have in most of my adult life and I'm not done yet.  Unfortunately, at the same time, I was not feeling particularly creative, though I did make a few things. 

But now, I am in the middle of watching tim's 12 tags of Christmas and have a couple to share.  For today though I want to share a never-ending card I made for my son and daughter-in-law's anniversary (thanks to Christie Hund's instructions) and a simple birthday card for a friend (thanks to Gina K. I believe).

Here's the Never-ending card (created with K and Company papers):

Here is the birthday card:

I appreciate all comments and would love to hear from whomever comes across this post...LOL!!!  I will post my tim tags tomorrow....

Challenges

Hi again!!  I have created an arch that fits the CCC #18, the Gingersnap Creations Arches challenge AND Simon Says Stamp's, anything but a card!!!  So, hey I am going to enter it into each one... 

I used a template that I had from somewhere.  The beautiful lady comes from I Brake For Stamps, the flourish stamp is from The Angel Company, and I got that beautiful lace and the pearls from Scrappin Deals n Steals.

WOW!! It's Been A While

I didn't realize it had been so long since I blogged!!!  My vacation was so awesome... it was great seeing my family and watching my grandson head off to kindergarten!!!  He is just sooooooo cute!!!  I loved my week on the coast with all my sister crafters!!!  We had a great time and Penny and Bea did an incredible job organizing everything!!!  I met some wonderful women and had such fun learning new techniques and completing a ton of shoebox projects!!! I also got to eat my favorite seafood... steamed clams!!! Yummmmmm

Maybe the most important thing that happened to me while I was in Oregon was to learn about Medifast from another crafter, Donna Downey, who lost a ton of weight and now coaches others on their Medifast journey.  I have been on the program for just over 2 weeks and have lost a total of 14 pounds and feel healthier than I have in years!!!  I still have 34 more pounds to go but I feel so free of the dependence I had on food.  It has been my "drug of choice" for all my life and I finally feel like I have a solution!!!  Thank You, Lord!!!

Now on to a card I made for my friend, Carole.  I used the texture duet technique from the latest Technique Junkies newsletter.  The stamp is from Inky Antics (isn't she adorable??)... The sentiment is from Stamps of Life.  I actually put the "trick or" on the envelope... LOL... both embossing folders are from Cuttlebug and I got the pattern cardstock from Scrappin Deals n Steals.  I will be back with more later this weekend... thanks for looking!!!

Heading Out of Town!!

Well, next Wednesday I am heading to Portland, Oregon and then the following Sunday, to Depoe Bay on the Oregon coast for a week of relaxation and crafting with old and new friends!!  It is going to be an awesome retreat and I just can't wait!!!  I am traveling with my girlfriend, Carole, and we just keep calling each other saying, is it time yet????  Are we there yet??? 

For now, I have had some things other than cards to share and just haven't gotten to posting them, so I am going to today...  One is a bamboo domino pendant to which I added some beautiful Washi paper, wire and beads, and Diamond Glaze.

The next piece of jewelry is a pendant and chain I made using chip board, an image, and glossy accents.  And, yes, the chain design is asymmetric.  It looks much better when worn than on a board.

Lastly (and definitely least... LOL) I tried my hand at a technique I saw on you tube.  Here is the link, RachO113 and here is my interpretation.  Unfortunately, I chose to use a cardboard cheese container  LOL not quite sturdy enough for this technique, but it was fun to try...

And as always, I love to read your comments and if I don't get back to you with a personal thank you, please know that I love all the love notes you each leave... I sometimes cannot figure out how to let you know I read your comment, especially if your email is not on your blogger profile... but please know I read and love every one of them!!!

Scraplings...

Gingersnap Creations is doing a scrapling swap.  What in the world, you say, is a scrapling???  Well, it is a 1-1/2" x 8-1/2" (folded at 4-1/4") piece of art.  I am not even sure if using a paint chip is an integral part of the definition but that is what was asked of those participating in the swap.  I am not joining the swap but had to give this a try and so, this is my first (and quite possibly only) attempt at a scrapling...

Fossil Stone

This week we were challenged by Diana and Beth to create something using the fossil stone technique from Technique Junkies Apr/May 2006 newsletter and yes, all the issues are available to paying members.  It is wonderful to just browse through them all!!!  Ok, so here is my card using fossil stone as the background and an Innovative Stamp Creation stamp, Martha Stewart punch and PEARLS... I know they look silver but they are very pretty white pearls, a touch I thought went well with the underwater image, sorry they didn't show up that way on the scan..

Thanks for visiting and I'd love to hear from you...

Junior's Birthday

My youngest grandchild will be turning 6 in Sept. and I can't believe I am ahead of the game in making him a card!!  I loved the fold of this card, which was the online bonus technique from Technique Junkies...I used Stampin Up stamps to make the card.  I "suspended" the frog and dragon fly by attaching them to a piece of acetate... Now I have another one to make for my great niece Ella who is 3 days older than Junior...will post it once it is done...Here is Junior's:

I added a second photo, as I added the forgotten snail and to hopefully get the color more in focus.

As always, your comments are greatly appreciated!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THIS CARD ALSO FITS THE GINGERSNAP CREATIONS 3-D CHALLENGE WHICH YOU CAN FIND HERE  Go check it out.  It should be great fun to see what everyone comes up with...

Incredible Blog Candy

We are all lucky enough to try to win not just the blog candy in the button on my sidebar but another somewhat smaller prize, still all Tim Holtz!  Just click on the blog candy button and follow Stacy's directions and you too might win a huge stash of Tim!!!  Good Luck!!!

Pinwheel Drawer Box

It has been a while since I've posted.  I have been working a lot.  I have a wonderful Oregon coast retreat/vacation coming up in Sept. (email me if you want to know more about it, especially if you love Trish Morris from Club Scrap).  Anyway, I have been working on this box and on making pinwheels which is a Technique Junkies tutorial and had the brilliant idea to put them together.

Not the best photo ever but you get the idea.  I love how it turned out.  The papers are from The Angel Company.   The beautiful crochet trim and barely seen brad, in the center of the flower, is from my fave, http://www.scrappindealsnsteals.com/  They have some incredible deals daily!!!  Check them out!!

The directions for the box can be found here complete with a video! Enjoy!!!

I Am a Ginger Gem!!!

It is hard to believe but I was chosen as 1 of 7 Ginger Gems for the Shades of Blue challenge on the Gingersnap Creations blog !!!  I am beyond excited and so proud to wear my Ginger Gems button on my blog!!  Thanks to those who voted and congrats to all the other winners!!!

Play Date Cafe Challenge

I thought I would give this color theme challenge a try.  Here's the inspiration

And here is my entry:

My main image is a TJ technique called cracked glass using an I Brake For Stamps stamp.  The ruffle around it is made with a Stampin' Up medallion stamp (you can find video instructions here ) The ribbon is black twill and I used Word to write out Cherished and used a Stampin' Up punch to cut it out.  Finally, I added pearls, from Kaiser.   They are white though they don't look it.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS LEFT ME COMMENTS!!!

I totally appreciate each and every one!!!

Tag Tuesday Challenge

I thought I would jump in... Even though my style is rather different ... LOL... This is Reach for the Sun.  The theme is faces, and I have 3 on my tag...

First I used scraps to create the faux quilting on the tag background!!  The person stamp is from Stampers Anonymous and the bird stamp is from Stampin' Up.  I picked up the sun and ribbon at my local Scrapbook store.  I hope you like it!!!  You know I love your comments...

Shades of Blue

Hi everyone!  I got these adorable 2x2 canvases from http://www.skybluepink.com/ and decided to use my first one for the shades of blue Gingersnap Creations challenge .  I love that blog (and yahoo group)!!!  Such creative, caring, and sharing artists are part of this group!!  Check them out...okay back to my creation... 

It's a mini wall hanging!!  I used Broken China distress ink direct to canvas and then a Tim Holtz ATC stamp in Chipped Sapphire. I also added some Chipped Sapphire direct to canvas and sprinkled peacock extreme embossing powder (impossible to see on the scan).  I then embossed silver Glue Foil and cut it and attached it to the sides of the canvas frame.  I then stamped the same distress colors on white card stock and cut and rolled them into paper beads.  I colored some twine with the Chipped Sapphire, strung the beads, glued them to the back of the canvas, added the hanger and covered the back with more of the stamped cardstock!!  Ta-Da!!!  Oops I also used a dab of acrylic paint to give me a surface on which to use a gel pen and write ART.  I also used some white gel pen to highlight the "streams of light" coming from the heart..  I hope you like it and I would love to read your comments!!!  Thanks for stopping by...

Soar Album

Hi everyone, I am participating in an ATC swap on Gingersnap Creations with the theme of Soar.  I don't want to share my ATCs until they have been sent out to whomever gets them but I did want to share the album I made to hold the ATCs that I am lucky enough to get in this swap!!!  I had seen a Hero Arts video on bookbinding using the Japanese stab technique.  So I thought I would give it a try.  Here is the result...

For the cover, I used a Ranger Dauber and then a piece of cardstock from Tim Holtz's Lost and Found paper pack.  I distressed it, after using his Alteration edge die, with Vintage Photo distress ink topped with a Zia stamp butterfly that I distress embossed with Terra Cotta distress embossing powder!  The word soar is from Tim's Sizzlet alphabet.  For the bookbinding, I used ribbon.  I used acetate envelopes inside to hold the ATCs I get.  I covered the back cover and inside of the covers with patterned cardstock.  I can't wait to see the ATCs I receive!!  It's kind of like Christmas in July!!! 

A Tribute to Debt

I lost my 13 year old granddog, Debt, yesterday.  He was really a grandchild of mine like any of my 2-legged ones.  I loved him so much.  For a lot of his life, he was King!!  He ruled the neighborhood wherever he lived, herding and nipping anyone who didn't follow his directions!!  LOL... At home, he did the same thing!  The kids (Shani, Simone, and Nate) loved him but no one loved him more than Nate.  Debt was there before Nate's birth and no matter what other dogs came and left (my daughter Drea fosters for a stray- rescue organization), Debt was his dog!!  I think it was a blessing that Nate was in GA this week.  Though we all knew Debt was getting old, he became acutely ill while Nate was gone.  Lately, Debt just laid around.  The spunk was apparent only when another dog got on his nerves... LOL... see, he ruled the roost right up until the end!!  I think my most favorite memory of him is when he would take a blanket and wrap himself in it!!  I loved to watch him do it and I loved how he looked all wrapped up with just that long nose of his and his eyes showing!!  Such a character!!! (I will post a photo that shows him wrapped up as soon as I can find it!)

So, Shani gave him his last bath, which he obviously loved (that's the photo above) and Drea let Debt sleep with her his last night (he usually slept in his own bed!) and then, this afternoon, after millions of hugs, kisses, and pets, he was put to sleep, with Drea, Shani and I present.  Drea held him, while he looked at me, and the vet (who was absolutely wonderful) gave him an IV medication and within seconds he was gone... I realized then that he was once again healthy and whole and very happy!!  So we felt a little bit better, but as with any loss, the pain is for ourselves and the heartache of not having our loved one around anymore!!  His memory will live on forever!

This photo is dreadful of us humans but Debt once again looks happy!  This was taken outside the Humane Society where we had him put to sleep...

Brazen Brilliance Wings

I have been wanting to participate in the Try That Technique challenge that Beth and Diana do each week and I finally got a chance to.  It's a shame that the technique does not really show up on a scan because it turned out pretty.  I also wanted to be sure to get in on the Wings challenge from Gingersnap Creations. I definitely like how it turned out.  The butterfly is from The Angel Company.  The background stamp is a world map from Flourishes though it is difficult to see.  To gather the crepe paper ribbon I used thin Score Tape.   I first taped one side of the tape to my craft sheet (where it won't stick) then laid the crepe paper down on the tape, gathering as I went.  Then I lift the whole thing up and put it on my card.  That was the first time I had tried that.  Anyway, without further ado, the card, Wings:

Background Whimsy using dye ink

This was a tough one for me.  I am not very good with detail work and this technique (from Technique Junkies) required me to outline some of my stamped image with white gel pen... eeeeek!!  I gave it my best shot and this is the result.  I would love to read your comments!!  Thanks for looking.  Oh, by the way, this card is going with a stack of cards I am sending to Operation Write Home, and organization who ships handmade cards to our military overseas, for them to send back home to their loved ones... an absolutely great group!!!

For My LJ

I have been horribly sick but I was able to put this cute clown together for my youngest grandchild, Lance Junior, who loves getting cards from me...  I saw this on youtube.  It was done by Stampfest and I just thought LJ would love it!!  (I did get to the doctor today and hope to feel better very soon!!)

Another Faux Dominoes

I forgot that I wanted to post this card, though I know the shimmer will not show.  I am hoping you get an idea of how it looks.  The stamp I believe is Sunday International and on it I used Judikins extreme peacock and the result so far has been different every time I use it.  It also changes with the length of time it is heated!!  It provides a gorgeous result that is not easily caught in a scan...

Another TJ Technique

So sorry I haven't posted in a while, I have had some kind of bug!!!  I just now read a bunch of wonderful comments... THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!
This issue of Technique Junkies is just filled with great techniques !!  The background on this card is called Antique Wallpaper and it was so easy peasy and I like the results.  The stamp is an old one I got on ebay and I'm not sure who the seller was.  The sentiment (which I love) is from Stampendous...

Stamp Zia Workshop

I was blessed to be able to attend a fun workshop led by Zana Clark of Stamp Zia.  It was great fun and I learned some great new techniques!  Thought I would share my creation. Thanks for looking and I would love to read your comments!

The Card I Posted

I should mention that the card I posted uses 2 Technique Junkies techniques.  From the latest newsletter, the faux dominoes technique and the background on the dominoes is called washed color from an earlier newsletter!!  If you like trying new techniques, Technique Junkies will keep you busy forever!!

I DID IT!!

Well, I created a blog.  I never thought I would but here it is and here is the reason I created it; so I can post crafty creations, especially for challenges!