So I had a little time today...

I had a couple of girls over today for some cardmaking time! They were able to whip out 4 cards each this afternoon and I was able to get 2 done! WOW! I thought at first it was a no-go! Total stampers block like the whole month of December has been! BUT I got something accomplished! Here is one of the 2 cards I got done...

I used the new Filagree border from PTI as well as Stitches and Swirls.  After I attached the inside of the border, I tipped up the edges for a little dimension.  I wanted to leave the image black and white but added the red pearls to tie it all together.

Now I am off to make yet another Easy Bake dessert!  We are a full fledged kitchen at this point! The good thing about having backed Easy Bake goods around this house?  Each cupcake is probably only about 15 calories a piece!  :)  I did find a website with recipe for your own Easy Bake recipes!  I am sure that will save us money!  My dd wants to buy all of them!  Next up...chocolate chip cookies!  :)  Have a great evening! 

Enjoy!

Happy Christmas Eve!  I can't believe its here already!  My parents kept the kids last night so we got LOTS of stuff done!  Most of the presents are wrapped and ready!  I got a fun package in the mail so I had to unpack that and actually felt a little inspired to make a card!  Maile is most definitely one of my favorite designers!  I have really enjoyed her cards this release...well every release...but I am here today with a very Maile inspired card...

Can you believe I cut those flowers out?  GASP!  I know...why didn't I buy the dies?  I do have to say how easy they were to cut out tho!  I layered them with the TANL die.  I cut out several and then cut them apart, rearranged them, turned them over, curled some of the leaves.  I love this look!  Then I added in those gorgeous roses!  

All of this is on top of the card base where I used the Quatrefoil die to emboss the card front.  Super easy!  I added a Tiny Tag and a little Twinery twine and done!

I am going to turn this card in over at Wee Memories for their "Anything Goes" challenge!  

I know this should probably be a Christmas card today right?  But the sentiment says it all!  I hope you all enjoy your Christmas Eve!  I hope its a happy one!  :)

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #33

Welcome to a super fun CAS-ual Fridays Challenge!  First off, here is this weeks challenge...

This weeks challenge has LOTS of possibilities, that's for sure!   Our sponsor this week is Market Street Stamps!  We have some of their new stamps to share with you today!  I got all excited and had to make 2 cards!  Here is my first card using "Believing Butterfly"...

And here is my second using "It Takes Love"...

I can't wait to see your creations!  The DT has some pretty amazing ones this week too!  Go check them out HERE!  While your there, check out the prize for this week!  Thanks so much for coming by!

Merry Christmas!

Boy its quiet around here isn't it? I was just telling Jen yesterday that I haven't had the slightest desire to create a thing lately! Wishing that would change...BUT...my house is spotless! That laundry I complain about all the time? Done. And folded. AND put away! WHAT? Yep! I have done lots of hanging out with friends, baking, my family is in town so its just been a fun and busy time! I had to jump on with a quick card today just to say HI and Merry Christmas to all of my blog friends!

 I have been so blessed by the friendships that I have made here! Thank you all for taking the time to visit! I hope that each of you has an amazing Christmas season! 

I love love this patterned paper and I know you have seen it on a recent card, but I had to focus largely on this paper! I love it...already said that! But I do... This ribbon is some of my favorite as well. Its wired edge and from Hobby Lobby! It makes the best holiday bows!

 Well, I am off to work on the to-do list! Hope you all have a fantastic day! I'll see you Friday for the next CAS-ual Fridays challenge! 

 OH and one more quick thing....HERE is the link to the window card .svg file!  I posted THIS card the other day and I got a lot of emails! :)  It is a fun look!  If you make something with it, stop by and leave me a link!  I'd love to see it!

 

OH happy day!!!!

The reason its a happy day...or well it was a couple days ago because that is when I actually made this card...is because I recently got a fun new tool in the mail from the World Card Making Day contest and I finally figured it out!  It is the KNK Zing!  It was a little rough going at first but after some texts and a phone call with Stephanie, (Thanks Steph!)  I got my machine working!  I have a Cricut and have used SCAL for years so I have been saving those free .svg files whenever I can find them.  As I was playing, I found this adorable window card that I haven't used before and just had to make my first (well first usable...) cut!  :)  So here is my card...

I knew right away that DeNami's Pine tree stamp needed to go behind that window!  So fun!!  Now that I am sitting here typing up this post and looking at the card, I am thinking some acetate behind the window would have been cool too!  BUT, I just kept it CAS.  I added some red holly berries and some stickles too!    It was so easy to line the stamp up in the perfect place just by using my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig.  

I stamped the sentiment Season Greetings, and then ran the whole card through with the Lines Impression plate.  I should really stop saying this in every post.  I am sure you are tired of hearing about my love for that plate!  :)  

Here is the inside of the card.  I added a little tree trunk and some"snow" with a C1 Copic.  Just a little to ground the tree!  

Thanks for coming by today!  Hope you have a great day!

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge # 32

I hope you can play along this week! It's a fun one!  This weeks CAS-ual Fridays Challenge is to make a CAS card with a matching envelope!  I love to do this but I just never get around to the envelope! So this has really inspired me!  PLUS....I already saw all the projects made by the Girl Fridays this week!  LOTS of amazing cards and envelopes!!  Here is mine...

I used Clear and Simples, A Guy Thing for the sentiment and the shoes on the envelope.  After stamping the sentiment, I ran the cardstock through with the Linen Impression plate.  

 I added the basketball from PTI's Have a Ball.  I stamped the ball on Terracotta Tile cardstock, cut it out and then popped it up on foam tape.  

Easy peasy!  I wanted to say a huge thank you for all the kind words, emails, cards and texts about my Father-in-law!  I feel so lucky to have so many amazing online friends!  We have the greatest community of crafty friends here and I feel so lucky to be apart of it!  Hope you all have a great Friday!  

DeNami Product Spotlight

DeNami has a fun Thank You stamp to share today!  First off, here is my card...

The stamp paired with some gorgeous patterned paper, make a quick and easy card!  Stop over to the DeNami store because it's 10% off today!  

The rest of the DT has more samples to share!  Click HERE to check them out!  Hope you have a great day!

Clear and Simple: December Group Project

Welcome to Clear and Simple December Group Project!  This months project was just to make a set of cards!  Our stamp set this month is Celebrate which is a Limited Edition set, given to the CSS customers with a purchase made this month!  Check out the CSS site for more info.

I have a quick and simple set of cards to share today...

I used one sentiment on each card and lots of bright colors and some fun patterned paper to tie all the cards together!

Each card has matching red ribbon and some patterned paper from Lime Twist: Life of the Party.

This is a little cupcake die that came with the paper.   Just perfect for the "Celebrate" theme!

Go check out the other designers and their projects!  Here is a list...

• Lori
• Kim
• Dana
• Cristina
• Tracy
• CSS  

 

One more thing...I have an card up on the CSS iPhone App today!  Go HERE to check it out!  

Thanks for stopping in!  Have a great day!

Laughter....the best medicine!

I can't believe its been a week since my last post! And it's probably been longer than that since I actually made something!  The last time I was here, I shared that my father in law was in the hospital. Sadly, he passed away this last week.  It has been a blur for the most part but hopefully things will start getting back to normal.  I was super excited to get the news the other day that one of my cards is going to be published!  That was definitely a bright spot in the week!  I thought I would stop in right quick and share a reject....but I am not supposed to call them that....right Michele?  She says NO card is a reject!  :)

This card is so fitting today!  My husband has been telling me stories about his dad and really every time we end up laughing through the tears!  Laughter is just the best medicine!

I hope that you are all doing well!  Are you ready for Christmas?  I am not.  I must bust a move and get some shopping done!  As far as Christmas cards this year?  Yeah that's a no-go.  I am thinking of maybe sending New Year cards.  Maybe.  :)

Hope you are having a warm and happy Sunday!  Thanks so much for coming by!

DeNami Christmas Challenge

It's time for another DeNami Challenge!  

It's a Christmas Challenge!  Here is my card...

I made another one of those gorgeous Poinsettas!  I added that to a DeNami stamped background and greeting!  I stamped this Christmas Holly Vine in white ink and then colored in the leaves with green and the holly with red Copics.  You can find the Seasons Greetings HERE!

Stop over to the DeNami blog to see all the other DT cards!  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am keeping my post short today.  It's been a sad weekend here.  One of my dear friends lost her husband this weekend.  He was so young and they have 2 little girls.  My father in law is also in the hospital and it has been a very hard night.  I just feel like I am in a fog and am so sad for my friend and her girls.  My husband is having a hard time too. We just never know how much time we have left on earth.  Give your loved ones a hug and tell them how much you love them today!  (Sorry for the sad twist on the post!  I just had to share!) Thanks for listening!

 

Sending Christmas Cheer

In with a quick one today!  We finally got our tree put up tonight, which is WAY later than usual!  I love Christmas and usually have my tree up before Thanksgiving!  I know!  I am crazy but I love the feel of the holidays!  And this way we just get to enjoy it longer!   My kids were so happy tonight and we had so much fun baking cookies and talking about all the ornaments!  The holidays take on a different light through the eyes of children!  The most important part for me is teaching them the real reason for the season.. Jesus' birth!  I love Santa and all that fun stuff but teaching them the true meaning is so important!  It really does get overlooked with all that goes on anymore!  If you have any Christmas time traditions, you must share!  

Ok, so here is my card for today...

This was actually a card I turned in for WCMD.  I added some of my new favorite patterned paper and then some extra layers and a certain impression plate that you may or may not have seen me use from time to time!  ;)  This stamped image is from PTI's Holiday Photo Finishers. I stamped it with Jumbo Java and then punched it out with a circle punch.  I added some twine and some bling to finish!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope you have a great weekend!  I am going to be getting ready for our Christmas Home Tour.  We are going to have LOTS of amazing appetizers and soups and desserts and a hot chocolate bar!  WOW...it's gonna be good!  Not to mention 5 decorated homes to tour!  

Ok, have a great Saturday!  :)

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #30

Welcome to another CAS-ual Fridays!  We have a fun one this week!  It's a Tic Tac Toe Challenge!  I love these!  So many fun options!  I chose Green, Kraft and Chevrons!

I have a friend who asked for a card to send to a family member in the military.  What a perfect combo for this type of card!  She wanted it CAS, a guy type card and easy to mail.  I am thinking that this works out pretty well...

I made the Chevron using my Cricut out of Paper Temptress's Green Crepe Ruche Paper.  It has the coolest texture!  The card base is Speckled Kraft, also from Paper Temptress.  I added a "miss you" sentiment from PTI to finish off my CAS card.

Our sponsor this week, Paper Temptress, gave us a little sample of some gorgeous cardstock and papers.  Click HERE to check them out for yourself.  Check back to the CAS-ual blog to see more samples and to see this weeks Paper Temptress prize!

I have to share a couple FUN things about my week!  I spent Thanksgiving with my sister in Colorado and finally got to see that new little niece of mine!  

Another highlight of the week was getting to meet Michele and Laura from CAS-ual Fridays in person!   I also got to meet Lisa Petrella who is on my team over at DeNami and also a fellow World Card Making day winner!  Here is a picture of us together at Archivers!  We got to have a couple hours of crafty time!

And that is not all!  I got to meet Tenia too! And Alyssa Scritchfield, another WCMD winner!  

Fun right?  It was a packed week!  I even got to go to Ikea.  I am sure I am the last one to get to go see this amazing place, so all of you might know what I am saying when I say WOW!  I want to live there really!  Sadly there was not enough room in the car to take home what I wanted.  But let me tell you.  Trip #2 is planned and a bigger vehicle is already in order!  That place is amazing and I have my list made!  I did get several small things for my craft space and can't wait to get those put up!  I will share when I get some pics taken!

The organizing going on in that place was like a little piece of heaven!  LOVE!

Ok, I better stop chatting now!  I am already posting this!  I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving!  Thanks so much for coming by!  Have a great weekend!

Clear and Simple Stamps November Release

I have a fun little stamp set to share today! It's a stamp set called "Celebrate"!  First off, here is my card....

I just stamped the sentiment over and over using different color inks.  I popped on up on foam tape for a little dimension!  Here is the full set...

This is a great set for so many different types of celebrations!  The mix of fonts and sentiment sizes is really fun!

Please note: This is a limited edition set. Customers who have order a minimum of $100 during the year (through December 31st - so you still have time!) will receive this set free with their next purchase. 

Check out the other DT gals and their creations...

Amber 

Dana

Kim

Laura

Cristina

Lori

Tracy

CSS blog

Thanks for coming by today!