SANS DSP - One Layer Color Challenge

It was really hard coming up with a one-layer color challenge card for the SANS DSP - Morning Chat Challenge this week.  You think it's a no brainer, easy peasy, and when you sit down and try and come up with something, oh boy, the challenge begins.  It took me a week to come up with something for this challenge.  I tried a whole bunch of ideas that just looked like, well, let's just say, not worthy of posting.  So in keeping with the Fall theme, here's what I came up with.

I couldn't decide which one I liked better, so I decided to do both.  You decide.  Happy stamping, and thanks for stopping by.

Christmas Gift

Well, I am so excited to share with you what I made for my Christmas Gift exchange present for next weekend.  I'm going to the Remarkables Weekend Retreat from October 5-7 in New Cumberland, and we each have to bring a Christmas Gift to exchange with someone, and it has to be under $10, and hand made, of course.  I riddled my brain trying to come up with something, and then lo and behold, my friend Pam was over today hanging out in my craft studio making stuff, and we came up with the most awesome idea. 

I found a box on Pinterest that I was going to make, then had a brilliant idea to make it a little different.  Pam thought of a box with hot cocoa inside, and using the hot cocoa mug stamp from the Scentsational Season stamp set, along with the framelits, and I had the design in my head on what I wanted it to look like, and whola ... are you ready ... I'm over the top loving this ... here it is:

Here's a slightly tilted view so you can see the bow on top a little better.

 And here is a view of the top with a paper bow & a very vanilla flower-type brad in the center.  I learned how to make the paper bow at Convention this past year.  Isn't it darling?  It's so easy peasy to make!

Can you just imagine getting this with some nice hot cocoa packets inside, along with some mini marshmellows?  Oh how devine, if I must say so myself.  I can't wait to give it as my gift, and I'm so loving it that I'm making one for myself.  I hope you like it as much as Pam and I do.

Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by.  See you tomorrow!

Four Seasons - Fall

I was trying out the new "Four Seasons" stamp set and decided to make a card using the "Fall" design.  It was a bit time consuming coloring all the leaves and such with different colored markers, but all in all, I don't think it turned out too bad.  I love the leaf stamp that comes with the "Fall" stamp, so I decided to use it as a background on my base paper.  Here's what I came up with:

So what do you think of it?  I like it.  I think it looks very Fall and festive. I hope you like it too.  Until tomorrow, as always, thank you for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment or two, if you so choose.  Happy Stamping!

Falling Leaves

The weather was a big warm and balmy today after a few days of cool breezes.  Summer is still trying to hang on, but Fall is here and fighting to come in.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been in to making Fall cards this year, and here's another one I CAS'd  from Tara Bourgoin.  Although I tried to do mine a bit different, I wish I would have put the "thank you" on the top vs. the bottom because the top looks a bit empty.  O well, see what you think.

 

See what I mean?  It's a little barren on the top and you really can't see the "thank you" at the bottom.  Well, so much for trying.  We'll see what I come up with tomorrow.  Stay tuned, and as always, thank you for stopping by.

SUO Challenge #54, Candy Wrapper - Hallowed Treats

I wanted to participate in another challenge, so I found the SUO Challenge #54 – For the Kids! over at  SUOChallenges.com.  Since Halloween is just around the corner, I decided to post these cute little candy wrappers which I call "Hallowed Treats".  They are just so cute and so fun to hand out at Halloween.

The challenge is to use ONLY Stampin UP products.  Well, this certainly fits the bill.  I hope you like them as much as I do.  I enjoy participating in Challenges, as I am fairly new to this and hope to participate in many more.  Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you'll visit me again.  Happy Halloween!!!

Coloring Down the Lines - Pretty in Pink

Hi everyone.  Welcome back to our blog hop.  Did you just come over from Carols Cards - RChelix blog?  What did you think?  This week, the color challenge was one of the following:  Creative Combination - Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, and Bashful Blue or the Getting Started Combination - Pretty in Pink, Marina Mist, and Daffodil Delight.  I chose the Creative Combination for this week.  Here's what the color combination said to me:

The colors this week felt like either an "Easter" theme, or "Tea Time".  Since Easter isn't until next year, Tea Time it is.  I'm glad you stopped by to have tea with me.  Now, let's have a cup of tea and hop on over to Ladeedahday's blog.  Oh I bet there's something really, really awesome in store for us.  Let's go see ...

Holiday Frame Ornament

Well, it is getting to be that time of year when we all should start thinking about our Christmas cards.  Here's another card we made at my team meeting this past weekend.  All our projects were quick and easy, and I love that.  Here .. take a peek:

We added the ornament keepsake to the card, and whola ... it turned out pretty cute, don't you agree?  I don't  know if you can see it, but the wreath has glitter on it and it really makes the card pop.  It's much prettier in person.  I hope you like it.  Until tomorrow, thanks for viewing my site and our card.

Goulish Treats

Here's a great idea to make with those empty SU brad containers.  We made these at our team meeting this weekend and they are so cute.  You can fill them with individually wrapped life savers, or any type of wrapped candy.  Great Halloween Trick or Treats . . .

These were so easy to make.  The tops just flip off and you can add the treats inside.  Have fun trying these.  I bet you can make something really cute for Christmas too.  We'll have to wait and see if I come up with something.  Until tomorrow ..... enjoy!

Halloween Treat Bag

Today at out team meeting ,we made four make and takes:  two Halloween, and two Christmas.  I thought I would share the Halloween Treat Bag we made.  It's really cute.  Out of all the embossing folders I have, I do not have the spider web.  Every time I use it or look at it, I intend to order it, but when the time comes, I just put it off.  Humm ... wonder if that tells me something???

Anyway, straight to the goods.  Here's the treat bag we made:

Now mind you, it's not filled yet.  Jill had hers filled with a candy treat and two halloween pencils.  SOOOOOO cute.  I just love the little treat bags.  I think I'm just going to have to get them.  LOL. 
Until tomorrow ... happy crafting!

Fall Orchard Harvest

For some reason, I've been into creating a lot of "Fall" cards this year.  Last year, I only made a couple of them because all I wanted to do was create Christmas cards.  Weird, isn't it?

Anyway, here's a card I created this evening and I'm really liking it.  I hope you do as well.

What do you think?  I thought I would use the square scallop die, since I've only used it once since I've had it.  And I'm totally into the postage stamp punch too. Who knew?  Sometimes nothing comes to mind until you get an idea into your head and it just might look pretty cool using the dies / punches you have.

I made a few more cards tonight for Fall, so you'll be seeing them over the next few posts.  Until next time, thank you for stopping by.

Make a Cake - Birthday

This is the first time I've ever used the "Make a Cake" stamp set, and I like how it turned out.  I was unsure about it with the pennants over the top of the cake, but it actually doesn't look too bad.  So here.s the card I made with it:

I'll have a couple more birthday cards coming up, so stay tuned for those as well.  I hope to have time this weekend to just sit and create.  I'm getting anxious to get back into my craft studio, so expect to see the fruits of my efforts.  Until tomorrow, thanks again for taking the time to view my creations.  It means the world to me. 

Googly Ghouls: BOO

Since it's getting close to that spooky time of year, the googly ghouls are right around the corner waiting to come out and play.  So Mr. Mummy wanted to say "BOO".

I love the googly eyes.  They are so fun.  I'll have to make more cards using them.  Let's see what I come up with next.  Until then ... "boo".

Coloring Down the Lines - Rose Red

Yes, it's that time again ... our "Coloring Down the Lines" Blog Hop.  This week, our challenge, should we chose to take it, was to come up with something using the following color combinations:  Rose Red, Not Quite Navy, and River Rock, or Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant, and Baja Breeze.  This week was a bit hard for me to come up with something.  Usually, once I know the color combination, I have an idea in my head and just create.  This challenge, well, I had an idea, and had to make it work.  So, I chose the first color combination.  What did you think?  Having just come from Carol's blog, I hope you find mine just as nice.

I incorporated River Rock into the flower color combination, and it turned out pretty cute.  I hand cut the flowers out, embossed them with clear embossing powder, and then adhered them with dimensionals.  I love the mason jar, so this is my first creation using it.  Now let's go check out what Teri did this week.  I know she said she was working on it for a bit, so let's take a peek.  Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Ornament Keepsake

I made this card originally for my workshop last month and decided not to use it.  So since I made it, why not share it ...

I wasn't real thrilled with it at first, but it's kind of growing on me.  I'll probably try some other variation of it at some point when I start making my holiday cards.  Keep watching for them.  Thanks for stopping by!

G's Birthday Card

My friend, Greg, turns 49 tomorrow.  I made him a card and I hope he likes it.  I wanted to make something festive and masculine, so I came up with this:

It's pretty cool, isn't it?  I made the card using not quite navy since he loves navy blue.  It was a fun card to make.  Until tomorrow, have fun creating!

The Berlin Wall & 9-11 Tribute

I've been getting very brief emails from Tj as they start to wind down their European trip.  Tj and Drew are now in Holland visiting some guys they met on their travels.  The just left Berlin the other day and I expect to hear more in a few days when they plan the remainder of their travels.  They will be home in no time ... 2 more weeks!  In the interim, I thought I would share the picture of the Berlin Wall that Tj sent me.  It's totally not what I expected.  You take a look and see what you think.

There's a lot of graffiti - nothing like I thought.  Well, maybe being a work of art will take away the thoughts of what it used to signify.

On another note ... I forgot to post a picture of the 9-11 tribute that Aileen sent me from her apartment window in Brooklyn.  What a moving picture, and how cool is it that she can see perfectly from her window.  Here it is:

This is very touching and especially significant for me.  I lost more than 14 friends and acquaintances that horrible day, 11 years ago.  Let's NEVER forget!

Glitter Fall - Morning Chat Challenge

Our Challenge over at Butternut Sage's Morning Chat Challenge was to create a card with glimmer / glitter with a Fall theme.  I had a bunch of ideas in my head, but wasn't sure where to start.  Then, I had a thought and was hoping I could make it work, and guess what .... it did.  Here's what I came up with:

The title of my card is "First Frost - Fall Foliage".  It's a little hard to see the glitter, but I used iridescent ice over top of the pumpkin, as well as three of the leaves:  the two cajun craze leaves toward the bottom, as well as the more mustard oak leaf off of the tree.  If you look hard enough, you can catch the glimmer on the oak leaf and the pumpkin.  I really like it.  I hope you do too.  Until next challenge ...

Tracy's Birthday Card

As promised, here is one of the birthday cards I made for Tracy, one of my co-workers.  The more I look at this card, the more I like it.  I sure hope Tracy does too.

That's it for tonight.  See you tomorrow.

Always Thankful

Sorry I missed you yesterday.  It was my birthday, and by the time I got home from my birthday dinner, it was rather late and I ended up going straight to bed.  We went to the Yellow Springs Inn for dinner, and guess what?  We were the only ones in the restaurant.  The restaurant is an old Victorian House that was just so quaint.  We had special attention, and I sat in a double Queen Anne's chair - cushy cushy, and we just had the best time.  I felt like a Queen!  Thanks to my husband who decided to go there as a nice treat.

So, here's my entry for tonight.  It's a very simple card using always artichoke.   I used the "Always Thankful" stamp set.  It was the first time I used it. 

I like it.  At first, I wasn't too sure.  I thought it was missing something, but as I have it sitting on my craft table and see it every day, I like it more and more.  Hope you do too.  Until tomorrow ...

Coloring Down the Lines - Garden Green

Welcome back to our blog this week!  Our challenge was to use the color combination:  Garden Green, More Mustard, & Chocolate Chip, or Garden Green, Bashful Blue, & Tangerine Tango.  I chose the first color combination.  Since you just came over from Carol's blog, let's see if I can measure up to her entry this week.  Here's my creation for the challenge:

I haven't used the "Broadsheet Alphabet" in a while, so I decided to design a card around it.  That was my inspiration.  I had fun with this card and was happy the way it turned out.  I hope you like it as much as I had fun making it.  Now, let's go see what Teri cooked up for this week.  Until next time ....

Fall for the Birds

This is the last of 4 cards we made at my upline's last Friday night. 

I don't actually have this stamp set, but perhaps I may decide it should be part of my collection.  What do you think?  Thanks for taking a look.  Until tomorrow ...

Day of Gratitude - Revisited

Here's another card for Fall using the stamp set, Day of Gratitude.  I love this stamp set, and there's no better time to bring out the set than the Fall.  Here's my creation using it:

The card is soft and simple, and oh so pretty.  I hope you like it.  Happy Fall!!!

Yet Another - Gently Falling Card

As promised, here' another one of the cards we made at my upline's house last night.  I really love this card and it also reminds me just how much I love the Fall.

I don't know if you can see, but there's a little dazzling details on the leaves.  It really looks so pretty in person.  Hope you like it as much as I do.  Until tomorrow ... thanks for stopping by.

Gently Falling Leaves

Tonight at my upline's house, we made some "fall" cards.  They are all really pretty, so I thought I would share one with you tonight.  Here it is:

Simple, but pretty, don't you think?  I'll have more tomorrow night.  Stay tuned.  

Flourishing Papillion

I created this card originally for the "Coloring Down the Lines - Always Artichoke" challenge, but instead, came up with another design earlier this week.  I thought I would share the other one I made with you tonight.  Here it is:

It's a clean and simple card.  They're always a nice treat once in a while.  Thanks for taking a peek.

Paper Players #111 "Fall" Theme Challenge

I know this is a bit unusual, but I found another "Challenge" I wanted to join in over at The Paper Players #111 challenge.  They have a lot of beautiful creations on that site I know you'll enjoy.  I hope you enjoy my "Day of Gratitude" as well.

Well, do you like it?  I hope so.  Thanks again for taking the time to stop by my blog. 

Quick update from Prague

I heard from Tj tonight via email and he said they are now in Prague. Today marks week 5; 3 more weeks to go!  They had just spent the past two days in Budapest.  Tj said they are finally eating good meals.  It's much less expensive in Eastern Europe, so they're taking advantage of that.  A meal would usually cost them $80 euro, and in Eastern Europe, it cost them $40 euro.  Not bad!!!

Tj was also telling me about the photos he sent while in Switzerland.  He said they took a series of lifts up to Schilthorn which is 10,000 feet high up in the mountains.  The houses in the valley behind him were actually 2,000 feet above where they were camping, so that's not even the bottom of the mountain.  WOW.  The houses look so tiny in the pictures (see last post).

Well, they're headed to Berlin after Prague.  Not sure how long they plan to stay in Prague, but he will email me then.  I also upped his data package so that he has more 'mb's' to write and send pics. 

Well, that's it for today ... short and sweet.  I'll write later when I hear from them again.  G'night!

International Bazaar too

I promised I would show you the other card I made using the International Bazaar DSP, and here it is:

I was sifting through a bunch of papers and notes I had and found a sketch I drew of a design I made a while back. I looked at the sketch, and all of a sudden, this card was born.  It looks really pretty in person.  I don't know if you can see, but I used the postage stamp punch for the squares and topped them with squares of the international bazaar dsp.  I added some texture to the whisper white over the midnight muse card stock, punched out the mixed medley flower both stamped and on midnight muse, and whola!  Hope you like it.  I do!  Thanks for stopping by!

Coloring Down the Lines - Always Artichoke

Welcome back to our weekly blog hop.  Hopefully you just came from Carol's blog.  As usual, Carol always knocks your socks off with something nice, doesn't she?  It's hard to keep up sometimes, LOL.

This week's challenge was to come up with a creation using Always Artichoke, So Saffron, and Cajun Craze, or Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue, and Crumb Cake.  I actually created a card using both color combinations, but for this entry, I chose to show you a card I created that I CASed from Teresa Saathoff.  I selected  the Fall Foliage stamp set using the first color combo.  I changed up a few things and added a little texture, and here's what I came up with:

So what do you think?  Pretty, isn't it?  I'm happy with the way it turned out.  Although I really liked Teresa's card, I didn't have ribbon that matched to add to the card, so mine is a little different.  Never-the-less, it's still nice and I love the Fall Foliage stamp set.  This was the perfect opportunity to use it.  Now, drum roll, please ... it's time to head on over to see what Pam created for us this week.  I can't wait to see.  Let's go .....

International Bazaar

I decided to break out the International Bazaar DSP and see what would inspire me.  I was on a roll and ended up creating this:

I really like this paper.  It's got a lot of colors in it and there's endless possibilities.  This was one of the two I created.  I'll share the other one after my blog hop.  Stay tuned, and thanks for stopping by.

Rachel's Birthday Card - 19 Years Old

My niece Rachel turns 19 on September 4th.  My sister had a birthday party / cookout for her today, and it was nice getting together to celebrate.  Rachel is the youngest of my parent's grandchildren, so watching her grow up right in front of our eyes and turn 19 is unbelievable.

Of course I made her birthday card.  I pondered what to make for a 19 year old, and then I decided that pennants was the way to go.  Here's what I made for her:

I thought it turned out rather cute.  I let the pennants dangle from the string and it gave the card a little bit of flare.  Hope you liked the card as much as I do.  Until tomorrow ... 

Pictures from Europe

I received 4 pictures from Drew this morning and thought I would share them.  They are so beautiful, and it's so nice to see Tj and Drew so happy.  Check them out ...

It's so nice to see actual photographs with your son in them ~ you can actually see how much fun they're actually having and that things are ok. I'm not quite sure where this last picture was taken, but when I find out, I'll share.

I can't believe Tj and Drew will be entering their 5th week abroad.  WOW, time went by so fast.  This Wednesday, they will have 3 weeks left and then they'll be home.  I just can't imagine having all that time to be as "free" as a bird and enjoy traveling and seeing the beautiful country God gave us.  I'm so happy they had the opportunity to make this trip ~ a trip of a lifetime.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures.  I'll post more when I get them.

Dahlias, Dahlias, Dahlias

I saw this really cute card created by Judy Conroy and had to create one myself.  Mine is a bit different, as I used another stamp set for the leaves and added the new gumball green satin ribbon.  I like it a lot, however, looking at hers, then comparing it to mine, my dahlias are up a little high on the card.  Never-the-less, I'm pleased with it and thought I would share it anyway.  Here it is:

You know how much I love "dahlias" ... hummm, do you think that's why I named my blog Blue Dahlia Designs?  I just love the little dahlias from Stampin Up, and you'll be seeing more of them in the days to come.

I hope you like my creation.  Thank you Judy Conroy for your lovely inspiration.  Until tomorrow, happy viewing. 

Update from Tj

I finally heard from Tj today via email.  I was getting a bit worried since I hadn't heard from him in 8 days.  The last I heard he was camping in the Swiss Alps and they were expecting snow.  Well, here's what I know now... they are in Croatia.  He said they heard the beaches were awesome, and he said they were right.  There are storms predicted for the next three days, so they are heading to Budapest.  After Switzerland, they decided to to to Nice, France, which is located on the Southeast Coast of France.  They also quickly breezed through Northern Italy but decided that they would like to explore Eastern and Northern Europe instead.  All is going well with him and Drew and their travels, and still having a wonderful time.  They met "loads" of people and have a lot of stories and pictures to share when they return home.  Some of the places they are visiting do not have good "wifi" connection, so wherever he gets good reception, he writes me then.  In Croatia, the wifi is good, so that's why I got an email today.  YEAH!  Tj promised to send me more updates and hopefully some pictures tomorrow before they leave for Budapest.

One of the gals I correspond with on the Sunny Morning Chat is leaving for Europe tomorrow for 2 weeks, and she is headed to Budapest too.  Her and her husband are taking a River Cruise.  What fun.  Wouldn't that be even more fun if she met Tj while in Budapest?  I've never met Sandy yet, but will get to meet her when we have our "stampin weekend" in October.  I can't wait.

Well, that's it for Tj right now.  I'm still planning on posting another creation .. that will be next.

Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone.  Thanks for stopping by.