Hearts a Flutter

I love the new "hearts a flutter" stamp and framelits from Stampin Up.  Actually, I love everything in the Spring Catalog.  Just wait till you see all the cool stuff.  You're going to want it ALL.  And ... I can help you with that!

I made a card using the "hearts a flutter" stamp set and a patterned paper from the comfort cafe dsp.  I'm still waiting for my 3rd shipment of goodies from SU, one of which has the new dsp.  Anyway, I rather liked the way this one turned out.  Here's what I designed:

So what do you think?  Cute, huh?  I have a whole lot of ideas flowing through my brain using some of the new stamp sets.  Stay tuned.

In addition, I thought I would post a heart ornament that I made last year. I used Cherry Cobbler and Real Red card stock, along with finial press, perfect polka dots, and petals a plenty embossing folders, then finished it off with red satin ribbon and basic pearl in the middle.  Take a peek:

Well, until tomorrow, may your creations flow easy and have fun every step of the way!

Happy New Year all of you crafters!

Christmas Thank You's

I know I said I would post some cards that I made using new stuff from the Spring Catalog, but I just finished my Christmas thank you notes and wanted to share them first.  Once I post these, the Christmas stuff is done for another year.  A new year, new stuff .... fresh and new.

Anyway, I made one design, four different ways, for my Christmas Thank You cards.  They were quick and easy.  My inspiration came from a card I found on the Stampin Connection, made by Susie Nelson.  I used the design but changed up the paper.  I used some paper I had left over from other Christmas' past and I think they turned out pretty nice.  Here they are:

I feel good that I finished them.  So until sometime next year, this will be the last Christmas posting for 2012.

See you tomorrow!

Thank you SNOW much

Today, it snowed a lot ~ we probably got about 4-5" or so.  It was so pretty coming down.  I really do love the snow, I must admit.  I'm like a big kid watching outside the window and getting all excited and hoping it just keeps snowing.  So in keeping with today's wintry weather, as promised, this is the other card I made last night.  It's a snowman "thank you" card.  I just love him.  Next time, I think I will elevate the snowman off the page with a dimensional so he stands out, but never-the-less, he turned out cute.  Here he is:

I'm not usually good at punch art or coming up with something on my own, but I do like this one that I made.  My inspiration came from Kittie Caracciolo.  Her snowman was holding a wreath, and in front was a Christmas tree.  He is really cute .. I think I found her on Pinterest.  So I improvised and made this card using SU products, since I'm an SU demonstrator.  Oh la la.  Love it and SU!!!  The only non SU item is the MS branch punch that I used for my snowman's arms and the accents on his hat and the present.  I hope you like my snowman.  I'm crazy about him.  I love this card and last night's card so much, I just can't part with them.  How bad is that?  O well, back to the drawing board to come up with my Christmas "thank you" cards.  Tomorrow, I'm planning on posting some cards I made using the new stuff from Stampin Up.  Oh just wait till you see these.  I made 20+ cards using ALL new stuff and had a blast making them.  We actually made the cards at my upline's house yesterday, but I made a few of my own.  You'll be seeing quite a lot of the new cards in the upcoming days, or maybe I should say, weeks.  So I hope you will stay tuned, and as always, I love reading your comments.  Stay warm, and thank you again for taking the time to stop by and view my blog. 

Beary Merry Christmas

I know, it's crazy, but I still have the urge to make more Christmas cards.  I will make a few more and save them for next year.  I made two this evening ~ a bit of a challenge, but they are oh so cute.  The first one I call "Beary Merry Christmas".  I found some cute bear cards from CKS Paper Scraps, and I tried making the bear myself.  Mine doesn't look quite like hers, but I got it fairly close.  Here's the card I made tonight:

I'm so tickled pink that it turned out as cute as it did.  I love it, and I sure hope you do too.  It wasn't real easy to make, and I probably should have written down the instructions, but I can try and do that in case you want them.  All the products I used are Stampin Up with the exception of the "batting" I used on the santa hat, and I used MS's branch punch for the branches on the hat.  Did you also see that I used the top of the mitten from SU's mitten punch for the bear's hands?  How cool did that work out?

Anyway, I hope you like it as much as I do.  Let me know, ok?  Have a great night, and stay tuned tomorrow for the other card I made.  It's a snowman ... and that's all I'm saying right now.  Until then, happy stamping, and thanks for stopping by.
 

Christmas Gift Card Holders

I made a few Christmas gift card holders for my nieces, my son, and my husband.  They turned out pretty cute, if I must say.  Here they are:

I made Rachel and Megan's gift card holders exactly the same, and then I changed up the design for my son and husband.  The belly bands added the perfect touch to keep the gift card holders closed.  They were easy to make and I was pleased at how they turned out.  Hope you like them.  Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas Tag-a-Rama

Merry Christmas everyone!  It's been a little while since I've posted anything.  I've been so busy with getting ready for the holiday, and now that Christmas day is winding down, I thought I would post something for you.

First, Christmas Day was so wonderful this year.  Everyone was happy and it was so much fun getting together with my family.  My sister Nancy didn't feel well though, and that wasn't fun for her, but we're so glad she came and hope even more that she gets well super fast!  I managed to get a picture of all of us by my Christmas tree this year.  It's a little dark, and when my cousin used the flash, we got washed out.  So ... here's the best we could get:

That's me in the front to the right.  My sister and I wore the same sweaters, do you believe it?  I'm holding my little Maltese Barney, and my sister Linda is holding his brother, Bandit.  How funny is that?  The people in the picture are:  back L-R:  my brother John, my brother-in-law Chuck, my husband Tom, my sister Nancy, then center L-R:  my father, my niece Rachel, and my son Tj.  Front row L-R:  my sister Linda and me with the pups.  My cousin David took the picture, and my Aunt was trying to help him out.

Well, as promised, I told you I would post something, so I decided to post the last-minute tags I made yesterday for me and my son, Tj.  I was on a roll, and they all turned out pretty cute.  It was a Tag-a-Rama.  Have a look:

Fun, fun, fun!  I even have some left over for next year.  Oh la la.  Well, I hope you liked them.  They were a hit with everyone.  It made me feel good.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas.  It's a beautiful time of year as we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with our dear family and friends.  Here's to you and yours!  Hugs ...

Coloring Down the Lines - Pool Party

Welcome back to our blog hop this week.  It's been a busy week with holiday lunches, making cards, holiday parties ~ you name it.  But of course, I still had time to take on my challenge for the week.  I'm sure you've been to the other blogs before mine to figure out what the challenge of the week is:  yes, you guessed it; it's pool party.  The color combos are:  pool party, so saffron and not quite navy, or pool party, wild wasabi and chocolate chip.  Well, since I've been doing these challenges, I try and select the color combo that I normally wouldn't choose, then go for it.  Carol, of course, always hits the mark with her card, doesn't she?  Well, here's what I've created for the challenge.  I hope you like it.

What do you think?  Do you like it?  I think it's a happy card, and someone special will get this card when it's their birthday.  I actually think I may make several of these.  You can never have enough cards when you need them.

Well now that you've seen mine, let's pop over to Liz's blog and see what she's created for us.  I just love seeing what everyone has come up with.  I can't wait for Wednesday's.  I also follow their blogs daily so I get my "creative fix" seven days a week.

I hope you've enjoyed blogging with us this week.  Stay tuned ... we're not stopping now.  Thanks for checking us out.

Scentsational Season Gingerbread Fun

It's been a few days since I've posted anything, and that's because I've been busy making my Christmas cards.  I have a lot of cards I make for my co-workers, and of course, family and friends that I send to every year.  It seems that I never make enough for some reason.  I think I should make out my list ahead of time, then make the cards.  O well .. live and learn to perfect the process!

One of the cards I made has a bit of a masculine flare.  I actually CASed it from Kasrine Cartier on Stampin Connection.  I loved the colors she put together, and I would have never thought of the blue and brown striped paper from the Festival of Prints paper pack  to use for Christmas cards.  Thank you Karine!  Anyway, I made two variations, and here they are:

I liked them a lot and made a few.  I think I'll make a few more just to have on hand if I get short on my cards, which I believe I will.

Anyway, until tomorrow, have a wonderful evening.  I do hope you will stop by for the blog hop this week.  It's a pool party week!

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I'm a Winner

One of our local television stations, CBS 3, a Philly television station, had a contest for the "word of the day" from the months of October and November.  Well, I played every day, as I always do each year, and the day before the last day of the contest, I WON!  The word was "BOGUS".  Of course I got ripped by everyone because they said my notification was "bogus".  HA HA on them.  It turned out legitimate, and I won a $100 Visa gift card.  How cool is that?  I hardly ever win anything.  Here's my card with my notification:

I just wanted to share.  I was so excited, and I was so glad I won.  I get to use the card on "ME".  So I'm sure I'll purchase something special.

Thanks for sharing in my joy!  See you tomorrow ...

Coloring Down the Lines - Lucky Limeade

Hi Everyone!  Welcome back again to our blog hop.  I hope you had a wonderful weekend, and I know you'll enjoy our blog hop this week.  Carol was busy with her creation for the hop, and I was so ambitious, I made 2 of the same card.  I just changed up the colors a bit.  Here they are:

I like the color combo on the first one, but I like the center piece on the second one.  Either way, they were fun to make, and easy!  I hope you enjoyed them.  Now, as always, Joni has something cooking over at her blog, so let's go take a peek.  We're so glad Joni decided to join us.  Isn't she so creative??? 

Thanks for stopping by, and hope you have a great and inspirational week!  Hugs ...

Scentsational Season Bake-a-Rama

I saw a card like this on Pinterest and just had to make one.   I just couldn't resist, and the card came out so cute.  It brought back memories of making cookies with my mother when I was young.  My mother is no longer with us, and oh how I miss those times.  I remember a funny story when mom made a bunch of cookies and laid them out on the kitchen table to cool. Our Irish settler, Cocoa, thought she'd help herself to some cookies and took her paw and swiped a bunch of them right into her mouth.  All we could do was laugh.  So this card is for my mom ... I miss her dearly.

Can't you just feel the heat coming off the cookie sheet?  The cute oven mitts make a sweet touch to the card.  And not to mention, the gingerbread men look so good, you just want to pop them off the cookie sheet & eat them.

Well, I hope you enjoy my card as much as I do, and thank you ladies for the sweet inspiration.

Happy baking ...

Jewish Celebrations

I worked on some Hanukkah cards this evening; one for my son-in-law, Josh, one for his parents, and one for his grandparents.  This is the first year I finally have a stamp set for Hanukkah, so I had fun making the cards.  Here are the (3) I made tonight:

First one is for Josh and Aileen:

This next one is what I made for Josh's grandparents, Rhoda and Richie:

And last, but not least, this is one I made for Josh's parents, Cindy and Rich:

And there you have it.  I also worked on the inside sentiments for my Christmas cards, and I have a few more to complete, and hopefully, I'm done.  I'm sure I'll make some more though, but they might just be one of a kind cards, because I still have a lot of creativity just itching to get out.  ha ha! 

Well, hope you had a wonderful weekend, and here's to a better week ahead.   Hugs ...

Christmas Tree from the Lodge

I've been making some Christmas cards using the Christmas tree from the Christmas Lodge stamp set from Stampin Up.  I love the tree, just as I love the stamp set "Lovely as a Tree".  It's funny how you can have a stamp set and use it a couple times, and then later, just love it.  Well, here's a card that I made using the "tree".

You want to know something about this card?  Can't believe I'm sharing this .. but this started out to be a "prototype", as I was practicing with the background and sponge daubing the sky.  I quickly stamped the tree onto to the card, then added the bird and some cherry cobbler dazzling details, then added some glitter and liked it.  I used the "textured" white paper because I didn't intend to use it, but ended up liking it, so I added some card stock for matting and whola!  Hey, not bad, huh?   So you never know if the prototype will turn out to be the "real deal" or not.  Hope you like it, and I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.

Ciao for now!

Mittens and Hot Cocoa

The weather has been very mild so far this December, but  I know that won't last forever.  We've had the first snow already, so why not get prepared for more, right?

I've been really liking the mittens stamp and have been making some cute cards with them.  Here's one I made with some DSP.

Can't you just feel the hot warm cocoa in the mug?  Just look at the steam coming out ~ don't you just want a cup?  Warm winter wishes, warm cup of cocoa - oh how comforting.

Hope you have a night full of comfort and joy.  Until tomorrow ... thank you for your time in stopping by.

Coloring Down the Lines - Island Indigo

Welcome back to our blog hop this week.  Our color combination is:  Island Indigo, More Mustard, Lucky Limeade   OR   Island Indigo, Baja Breeze, Rich Razzleberry.  Well, I decided to do the later one.  I challenged myself to come up with something fun. Of course, Carol has come up with a winner, so keeping up can sometimes be quite a challenge.  Now, without further ado, he's my card:

So, what do you think?  I was wondering if I should have used a bit more whisper white on the card, but then I decided not to.  So there you have it.  Let's take a look at Joni's creation and see how she put her choice of color combination together.  As always, the gals never disappoint.

Hope you had fun hopping around our blog this week.  Thank you for your comments and especially for giving us so many reasons for doing what we do.  Have a great rest of your week!

Glimmering Snowflake Soiree

I've been hard at work making my Christmas cards, and after looking at all the pretty cards I made, I realized I hadn't really made many cards using the snowflake die, or even using the color blue.  So, before I ended for the evening, I thought of a card to make that was simple enough with a bit of "WOW' factor.  Using night of navy, the snowflake die, and some silver glimmer paper, look what transpired ...

For the snowflake, I used white embossing powder and then punched out a silver glimmer snowflake for the center.  I used the pennant die circle to encase the snowflake for a pop out look.  The smaller snowflakes were punched out using silver glimmer paper and night of navy and I topped them off with a rhinestone jewel. Finally, using the lacy brocade embossing folder, I embossed the white background, and there it is!  I was really pleased with how it turned out.  I hope you like it too. 

I hope you'll keep visiting.  Wednesday is our blog hop, and I'm sure you're not going to be disappointed.  Until tomorrow, enjoy every day to the fullest!  Thanks for stopping by.

Down the Chimney Santa goes ...

I CASed this card from Patti Bennett, but I changed it up a bit with the colors.  I added some snowflakes and glitter, and whola, here it is:

I had a lot of fun making Christmas cards this weekend.  I made many different designs, and still have to get moving on getting all of my cards made before it gets too late.  I just love making different ones, but I think I've narrowed it down to the ones I want to make for sending out to everyone. 

Well, I hope you enjoy my cards, and would love to know what you think.  See you tomorrow!!

Lamppost

I saw a lamppost that was done by Brenda Rivera and it was so nice, I thought I would try it myself.  I changed the design up from hers, but the lamppost was fairly easy to make and turned out cute.  Take a peek:

I used the Lovely as a Tree stamp set in the background, and the tree from Christmas Lodge.  I took midnight muse ink and used a sponge to get the  background, and you can't really see it, buy there's glitter on the snow on the horizon. 

I hope you like it as much as I do.  I think I'll try another one with a different scene.  I have one in mind, but just have to wait and see if I can get it on paper.

Well, hope you had a wonderful day.  The weather has been letting up a bit and tomorrow is supposed to be around 60 degrees.  WOW, 60 degrees in December!

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you'll drop by again and leave your comments.  I love to read them and thank you so much for taking the time to comment.  G'night!

Snowflake Soiree

I'm loving the snowflake die from SU, and the champagne glimmer paper is the best.  Love Love Love!  I made a quick and easy card using the snowflake die ... check it out:

It really looks much prettier in person.  Wish the camera phone could capture the card the way I see it, but o well, you get the idea.  Hope you like it. 

Also think I'll try and find some challenges to enter this weekend.  I could use a good challenge.  I might take my two little Maltese over to have their picture taken with Santa, but only if they're good.  Now I know it's going to be hit or miss with them.  O well, why do I torcher myself?  Guess that's just the way it is.

Well, stay tuned for more Christmas cards this weekend.  Need to get a move on!  Thanks for stopping by.

Scentsational Season Christmas Tags

I had fun making some Christmas Tags for the benefit for Brad, the young man I work with who is battling a brain tumor.  I also made a floral "to/from" tag using Christmas DSP from Stampin Up, and I rather liked how it turned out.  I want to try another pattern to see how that looks.  Anyway, here are the tags I made:

And here's the floral tag using the Christmas DSP:

 I also included some stocking gift tags, and two stocking "gift card" holders.  Here they are:

And lastly, here's the whole ensemble I made for the benefit.  It turned out cute.

Well, that's it for tonight.  Until tomorrow, happy evening!!

Coloring Down the Lines - Calypso Coral

It's blog hop time again!  WOW, time flies, doesn't it?  Did you just come over from Carolscards-rchelix?  Another awesome design from her, right?  This week's challenge was either one of the color combos:  calypso coral, delightful daffodil, and baja breeze, or calypso coral, basic gray, and riding hood red.  Well, I couldn't come up with anything for the later combination, so I chose the first one.  Here's my masterpiece (well, for lack of a better word ...)

I have to say, I had a tough time coming up with a design for this one.  I didn't have problem with the colors, but what to make with the colors was a mind boggler.  Maybe because I'm in Christmas Card mode, it made it a bit more challenging, but at least I figured it out.  Well, I'd love to see what Joni made.  How about you?  Let's hop on over to joniinthespotlightstamping and see......  Thanks for stopping by and playing with us this week.  Cheers!

Pennant Christmas Trees

I got a later start today making my Christmas cards.  I made ten of one design.  I made  5 of each in different colors for something different.  I would have made more, but I spent time putting together a bucket of 50 cards, Christmas gift tags, Christmas gift boxes, and gift card holders for a benefit on December 7th for a young man I worked with who has an inoperable brain tumor.  It's so sad.  Brad just got engaged and had the world at his feet.  We are holding the benefit for him to help pay for his medical bills.  We also bought a toy to bring to the benefit so Brad can hand out toys to all the young children who are hospitalized.  So first, here is one of the cards I made with the pennant die, and then I took a picture of the basket of cards & goodies I made for the benefit.

I CASEd this card from someone on Pinterest, but I changed it up a little bit.  I added the champagne glimmer snowflake for a bit of interest.  Now here's the bucket of cards with all the other goodies I made for Brad's benefit:

It was fun putting the basket together and making all the gift tags & boxes.  I sure hope the recipient likes them.

Well, I have a very busy day tomorrow.  6 presentations in one day!  Can you believe it?  I'll be happy when they're over.  How in the world did that happen?  I have no idea.  O well.  I'll make it through as I always do.  It was nice to have the long holiday weekend to get ready for tomorrow.  So until tomorrow, have a restful night.  Thanks for stopping by!

Ornament Keepsake Christmas

Now that Thanksgiving Day is over, it's a mad dash to get the Christmas Cards made.  I made a few today ~ all different styles.  Once I figure out which ones I like best, I will make a bunch of them for my cards.  Here is one of the ones I created:

I usually like to make my cards using one or two stamp sets, and then make random cards with the other stamp sets I bought.  I love making Christmas cards.  I  found some awesome cards on Pinterest.  I've made some of them, but altered them a bit.  There are some really talented stampers out there.  WOW!  So stay tuned ... I'll be sharing some with you. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Gobbler Favors

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving.  It's a wonderful time of year to spend with family and friends.  Our daughter and her husband live in New York and hardly ever get to come home and spend the holidays with the family.  Between their work schedules, it never permits them enough time to spend with us, and I sure hope someday that changes.  But for now, I'm grateful for what we have and our family and friends.

I made these cute hershey nugget turkey favors that I saw on Pinterest from Jill's Ink.  They were so cute, I had to make them to take to my sister's house for Thanksgiving.  I changed up the face a little, but basically, the rest of the favor is exact.  How cute are these ....

I love to make little things like that for the holidays and actually, for any occasion.  These were a great find.

Well I wish you a wonderful holiday weekend to relax and shop, whichever tickles your fancy.  I'm just going to make some Christmas cards, finish the basket of cards & gift tags for a benefit, and put up some Christmas decorations this weekend.  I sure hope I manage to get it all done before Sunday so I can catch up on some work I have to do for Monday.  (yes ... have a boat load of work to do that must get done).  Then I can relax the rest of the week ... well, maybe!

Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Black Friday to you!

Coloring Down the Lines - Perfect Plum

Welcome back to our blog hop!  It's been a busy week, and of course, it's Thanksgiving this Thursday, so I hope you're all excited and ready for a great time with family and friends. 

We are light this week, but I'm sure you're going to enjoy all the creative cards we've made.  This week's challenge was Perfect Plum.  The color combos were:  Perfect Plum, Marina Mist, and Rose Red, or Perfect Plum, Riding Hood Red, and More Mustard.  I chose the second of the two color combos for my card.  As always, Robbie over at Inkedx2 is the leader of the blog, and she just has the best ideas around.  Don't you agree?  I love the way she puts the color combos together with no effort at all.  Well, without further ado, here's what I made for the challenge:

Do you like what I did with the center of the flower?  I took a piece of pleated red riding hood red SU ribbon and tied it in a knot, then cut the ends off and glued it in the center.  Cute!  I was pleased with how it turned out.  I hope you like it too. 

Now, let's hop on over to see what Joni of joniinthespotlightstamping created for us!  She's our recent newcomer and we just love having her on our team!  Doesn't she do some nice work?  Hope you enjoy it.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and we'll see you back after turkey day.