Unplugging

Hello, my friends!

Every year I make lots of tags for friends and family. My fingers have been busy! This year I made four different styles plus some unique ones for certain special folks. I am sharing one design today - a modified origami style. After making twelve of these my fingers were crazy sore the next day.

The technique is a fun one that I learned recently in a wonderful class. The perfect sentiment is Hero Arts CL465 and the label is Spellbinders Labels 14. The background is a Cuttlebug embossing folder and the paper is one I had in my stash.

I am going to be unplugging and walking away from the computer for the Christmas season. I hope to spend more time with friends and family, do some traveling and relaxing, and take time to work on some other crafts.

I promise to sneak in once in awhile to check in on what you are all up to - wonderful stuff, I know!

Wishing you and yours a most joyful Christmas and great happiness for the New Year.

I hope you won't forget me! I'll see you next year. Thanks for the visit.

Happy Thanksgiving

to all my USA friends. What a blessed time of year! I wish everyone safety, warmth and
lots of happiness.

Today I am sharing table favors that I made for our family gathering. We will be enjoying family and friends for a few days and then, this weekend, our house will become a (modified) winter wonderland.

I don't like mass production, but we needed 15 of these, so I kept them simple with the box die from Sizzix and Tim Holtz, Spellbinders Labels  and a greeting from an old CHF set by Kim Hughes.





Have a happy holiday and a great weekend!

Chalky Fingers

As you know, I am always last to try out a new trend. The JustRite stamp (Autumn Labels Twenty-two) that I used in my last post just seemed to cry out for the hot "chalkboard technique", so I gave it a try. It sure results in an entirely different look. I used Tim's Holtz's version of using actual chalk to distress the background.

That's a Lawn Fawn die cut pumpkin. Other supplies are from my extensive stash.

Have a wonderful weekend! We have had lots of much-needed rain, but there promises to be sunshine ahead.

Take good care and thanks for the visit!

Count Your Blessings

Happy Monday, dear friends!

A quick post today to share another card that I made with the JustRite Autumn stamp set that coordinates with Spellbinders Labels Twenty-two. This has an entirely different look.

I added a sentiment from an old Crafty Secrets set which was stamped on a Hero Arts Frame Cuts tag. Dressed it up with some burlap, ribbon and a vintage button from my stash. These were pretty quick to make, so I made a few. I never have enough Thanksgiving cards! This is going into the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday blog challenge.

The weather here is finally changing and there is rain on the way - Yay! So sorry about all the devastation the weather recently caused in the the country and the world - my thoughts and prayers are with you who are affected.

Have a good week!

Giving Thanks

I was just delighted when I learned that some JustRite Stamps coordinate with Spellbinders dies. For this card I used the "Autumn Labels Twenty-two" stamp set. It goes with the Labels Twenty-two Spellbinders Dies. Cool?













I wish you could see the layering - the dies make it so easy. It was fun to color, too.  This will be going in the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge "Thanks/Thanksgiving". So, for all my pals who are well on their way with Christmas cards, it is going to be awhile for me........

Have a great weekend!

Thanks, Vets!

Today is Veteran's Day here in the US. I protested the war in Vietnam and I am still very opposed to war, but I sincerely support our troops and appreciate their service to our great country. A million thanks to the service men and women and to their families.

This beautiful rock was painted by a dear friend's super-talented daughter - I love it!

The card is made with Paper Smooches and Lifestyle Crafts dies.

Have a banner day!

A Moxie Fab Adieu

My French teacher used to always say not to say "goodbye", say "adieu" because it has less finality -  "until we meet again" or "the door remains open for a continued relationship".

This week we say "adieu" to the amazing Cath Edvalson of Moxie Fab World. You can read her eloquent post about leaving here.

To say that Cath has been a brilliant light in my crafting world is an understatement. She has taught me so much about seeing and using colors and textures, crafting trends, appreciating beauty, overcoming trials and having lots of fun! Her love of life and her brilliant insights have colored my world for so long. She has had a tremendous impact on so many of us.

I know we haven't seen the last of her and I wish her nothing but sunshine in her future endeavors. Bless your moxie fabulous heart, Cath, and thanks ever so much. 

As for this card, it was inspired by the current Paper Smooches SPARKS picture perfect challenge. I broke out my new stencils (Stampers Anonymous Polky Dots) and paste for the background and used PS "Loopy Leaf" and "Thanks" dies.

Have a wonderful Moxie Fab week!

Smoochin' Pooch

Good morning! Just home from a little trip in time for a quick post.

Of course, I couldn't get a good photo for the life of me - indoors or out. The light is so weird this time of year. So, sorry in advance.

This is for the current Paper Smooches SPARKS Picture Perfect challenge  and the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday blog challenge for anything goes.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.



PS Chubby Chums stamp and die, Geo-Graphic stamp, Thanks die, Sizzix/Tim Holtz Scallops die

All Choked Up

I'm taking a break today from holiday cards for this silly card using an Art Impressions stampset. Gotta love it.

This is going into the following challenges:

Art Impressions - 3 patterns/textures (I used restraint on these - a subtle application so as not to detract from the great image).

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog - anything goes.

Speaking of challenges, my Halloween treat box got a "top honor" over at Decorate to Celebrate. This is a super-fun site with lots of great inspiration for partying. Check it out.

We are headed to the Napa Valley for a very cool children's Halloween parade and short visit. The fall is extra-beautiful there with the changing colors of the vineyards.

Have a safe and fun Halloween and I'll see you next week. Thanks for the visit!

Owl-oween

Hi, friends!

Just one more Halloween card in under the wire for the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog challenge - Halloween.

You know how I love critter cards and this one brings new life to some old favorite stamps - Hero Arts CL239. The paper is Graphic 45.

I  had fun distressing and dressing these guys for the big night. You can't see the dimension, but it is there.

Hope you have nothing but treats - no tricks allowed! Thanks for the sweet visit.

It's begining to look

like Christmas at my house! Sort of.

I have just finished making lots of holiday things for my friend's Christmas boutique - fun holiday earrings, vintage button Christmas trees, necklaces......but, I forgot to take pictures before delivering them to her. Ah, well.

I envy so many of my blogging buddies who have been producing beautiful Christmas cards for weeks. Ain't happenin' here, folks!

I have a couple more Halloween cards, then many Thanksgiving cards (I send more of them than any other type of handmade cards) before I even think about Christmas cards.

Gary found me sitting on the floor of my craftroom yesterday, surrounded by boxes. I just had to look at my Christmas stamps and dies........trying to get into the spirit.

Lucky for me there are a couple more days for the  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog challenge - Halloween.

This card uses a Whipper Snapper scary image and the sentiment is Hero Arts CL118. Paper scraps from my desk and some vintage rick-rack from my stash.

Hope you had a happy weekend! Thanks for the peek and have a great week.

Treats

Hello my friends! Today I have a cute Halloween party treat (there is a Snickers bar inside!!!). I learned about this fold-up box at a class at my local scrapbook store - thanks, Jeanne! It is fun and it can be decorated simply or with as much detail as you wish. I love my Martha Stewart Score Board!

The haunting paper is Tim Holtz and the stamp is Hero Arts CL118.

This will delight some special little goblins.

This is going into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog - Halloween
Decorate to Celebrate - Ghostly Goodies
Craftin Desert Diva's - Halloween

Hope you are having a super week! Thanks so much for the visit.

Waving

A rare Saturday post with one more for the current paper Smooches SPARKS Designer Draft Challenge.

There are lots of sailors in hubby's family,  so there is always a need for a nautical card. I love this boat with a matching die ("Wicked Nauticool") - and I taught myself how to make this sailor knot!

I am prone to seasickness and the "action" of this card has me on the verge. Hang on!

I do hope you are having a spectacular weekend - I'll catch up with you next week.

News Flash

I have made a fun card for the current Paper Smooches SPARKS Designer Draft Challenge for which this sketch is the inspiration.

Lots of possibilities. You know how I love these great Paper Smooches stamps and I had fun combining stamps from several different sets for this card.

A little crazy, but he makes me smile!

Take good care - thanks for the visit!

                                               PS Stamps: Boob Tubes, Little Fella, Surf and Turf

Put a cork in it!

Good morning! I'm home from a little trip in time to post another card for Moxie Fab World's Handmade Cards Week, this one for the metal, wood and cork challenge.

Cork has such great texture and it's perfect for fall cards. I've had some in my stash for ages. Thanks, Cath, for inspiring me to use it.


I paired it up with a Hero Arts stamp (Tress of the Season, CG208) and some pearlescent watercolors from Yasutomo. The embossing folder is Sizzix and the sentiment is from an old CHF set (by Kim Huges).

I sure hope you are having a wonderful week. We have some amazing Indian Summer weather!

Thanks for the visit.

VIP

A quick post before I unplug and we head out of town for a few days.

This was inspired by one of the great challenges for Handmade Cards Week over at Moxie Fab World. This one is for using ready-made embellishments.

I put together some paper and chipboard pieces from Basic Grey's cool  "Fact and Fiction" collection.

The tag (Hero Arts Frame Cuts DI046) is made from some of the paper and the metal heart is from my stash. Don't you just love those chipboard screw heads?

Sure hope you have a wonderful weekend! We are going to explore the area around Sacramento, which is our state capital - about 3 hours north of here. A fun fall adventure.
Thanks for the visit!

Toasty

I have been going through my supplies, trying to purge. I came across this Memory Box die (Loom Circle) that I don't think I have ever even used. So, I gave it a twirl (through the Cuttlebug!). I figured it was perfect for the current Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge for "Lace".

I sort of ruffled the feathers on this cute "Chubby Chums" guy.

I decided on a monochromatic scheme with some fall patterned paper as my inspiration. In retrospect, it could probably use a little more contrast, but it looks cozy.

I am going to enter this into the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog challenge, which is to use a rubber or a clear stamp. Almost every card I make qualifies, as I rarely use a digital stamp......I love ink on paper! 

Thanks for the visit!

What the CLUCK?!

Hi, all. The current challenge at the Art Impressions blog is "Fun Folds". I have done easel cards, tri-pod cards, twisted cards, gate fold cards......I wanted to try something new. I made a "Center Step" card.

I had so much with this. Can you tell? I love the Art Impression image.......that chicken gal has it goin' on, eh? I used Spellbinders Labels Two, papers and embellishments from my stash and I did the sentiment on my computer.
I may not be able to give this one up, my friends.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are having a wonderful week.

ZAP!!

Good Monday morning, my pals! Hope you had a fun World Card Making Day. I spent the morning at my LSS making six fun Halloween projects and having a serious blast. Thanks, Geri!

Today's card was inspired by Moxie Fab World's Handmade Card Week's Ready-made Embellishments Challenge.

Our nephew is crazy for robots and I have been hoarding these cute papers and matching chipboard stickers from October Afternoon's Rocket Age collection. I put them together with some splashes of silver (foil, metallic pen and rhinestones), Stickles and a phrase bubble I made on the computer.

It should bring a smile!

Have a wonderful week and thanks for the peek.

TGIF!

It struck me that I need to get cranking on some Thanksgiving cards. I make lots of them, so I keep them simple and flat.

I used the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog challenge, "We're Going Dotty" and the current Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge, which is "Anything Goes" as my inspiration for this simple card.

The Paper Smooches stamp is from the set "Falling For You", the metallic paper (it really sparkles) on the stem and leaves is from Sizzix and the sentiment is an SRM sticker.

I am heading out for a busy and fun weekend, hope yours is the same!