What is Hot Fudge?

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I hardly remember what hot fudge is. I have been living the healthy life with huge changes in thinking, diet and exercise for about ten years now. I've never felt better and I'm more healthy than ever!

But, I still think this great image on a 2004 Stampin' Up stamp is hilarious. I got the stamp at a used stamp sale years ago and haven't been able to part with it. Because the image is the star, I've kept the card simple with (an equally old) embossing folder by Cuttlebug and some Copic coloring. Makes me smile.....

Sure hope you are having a good week. I'm off to treat on some healthy popcorn. Thanks for the visit!

Glow On!

Hello, dear Bloggin' Buddies!

My husband's best friend (since 2nd grade!) - he's my friend now, too - recently had a milestone birthday so I thought I'd make him a card. I don't really like to make masculine cards, but one of Larry's hobbies is collecting antique and vintage lanterns. When I found this perfect stamp, I knew I had it handled.

This lantern stamp is from a San Francisco Bay Area (Berkeley) company from which I have bought stamps for over thirty years - Leavenworth Jackson. Very cool and unique stamps! I haven't bought many from them recently since I am trying to avoid wood-mounted stamps, but this was worth an exception!
I sure wish you could see this in person - I just haven't figured out the best spot for natural light photographs in our new house.
The Hero Arts gold embossing powder seriously glows.

For the background I used Hero Arts Shadow Ink, Cup O' Joe, and a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The lantern is cut with Spellbinders Labels 4, and the sentiment is from Hero Arts "Birthday Messages". On the insdie I used Hero Arts "Glow Girl" set and stamped "Keep Calm and Glow On". Perfect!


Thanks so much for the visit - have a glowing weekend!

Another Thanksgiving Card!

Happy Tuesday bloggers!

This is one of the three designs I made for Thanksgiving cards this year. We send/deliver quite a number and I don't like mass-producing too many of one design.

 Actually, for the cards of this design that went to our neighbors (hand-delivered) I made this into a cute shaker card with an assortment of fall-colored beads and sequins behind the leaf. Very cute and fun! The weather wasn't cooperating then, so I couldn't take a photo of them.

This gold-embossed sentiment is an old one from Stampin Up that I got at a used stamp sale. The leaf die is also an old one, from Cuttlebug.

I am trying to remember to use embossing folders more often - I have a huge collection and they add so much, especially on a flat card. This one is from Sizzix.

Things are getting busy around here. I love seeing the families of the neighbors arriving with all of their goodies and love. We will be packing up our car tomorrow. What a joyous time of sharing!

Take care and thanks for the visit!

Hello X 3

Hello, my bloggin' buddies!

Yep, I am taking baby steps back to blogging, so I thought I'd say "hello"! For these cards (no stamping!) I broke out what is my new favorite "go-to" general die - The Custom Panels Dies by Avery Elle. When you see it, you think "what on earth would I do with that?". But, oh, it is magnificent. If you have any doubts, check out Jennifer McGuire's video here, or the one by the designer, JJ Bolton. LOVE!

I also used the Simon Says Stamp "Big Hello" die with 2 layers of 120# paper plus patterned paper. Love the punch & depth! The same was done for the hearts using an old favorite Cuttlebug die - and I added some Wink of Stella.

I am usually not a pastel-kind-of-gal, but this just felt cool and summery. Good thing, as we are expecting temps over 100 degrees the next few days. I am still trying to find the perfect morning photo location here at the new digs - sorry, these are not great!

Thanks for the visit and, yes, the comment function is turned off.

Bee Mine, Valentine!

Ah, this is such a grand time of year - so many hearts and flowers; so much love. I {heart} hearts! I have a huge box of heart goodies and I love to dig in.

This little card celebrates love with the cutest love bug, Paper Smooches "Giddy Bugs". I also used "Geo-Graphic" for the honeycomb. Two Cuttlebug embossing folders, Hero Arts Frame Cuts DI008, and googly eyes complete the supply list.

Normally using vellum scares me (adhering it is always a puzzle), but I had fun with it this time. Love it embossed like this!

This is going into the current Paper Smooches SPARKS Designer Drafts Challenge challenge.

I am so excited to see some of the great new products Kim shared at CHA. Fun to come!

Have a glorious weekend - spread some love around! We have the promise of sunshine and huge ocean waves here in the SF Bay Area.

Black and White T.V.

Yep, as a child of the 1950's, I grew up with it. And with the Mickey Mouse Club, Hoowdy Doody and Captain Kangaroo. Am I old, or what?

I made this card to celebrate those great times. I used a Paper Smooches stamp from the "Boob Tube" collection, a cool Cuttlebug embossing folder, and some black and white paper (do you remember t.v. test patterns?) from my stash.








For the sentiment, what could be better than using my vintage typewriter? Hubby said that it sounded like  Ernest Hemingway was in my craft studio!

I am submitting this to the Paper Smooches SPARKS  Trend Watch Challenge to make a card with a vintage theme.

This is also going to the Simon Says Stamp current challenge, which is  Black/White + a Splash of Colour.

Thanks for the visit. Have a great weekend. I'm going to set up the t.v. trays and put a t.v. diner in the oven........and remember the good times! Or, make some new ones.

Another SPARKS Challenge!

I had a chance to take on the current Paper Smooches SPARKS Picture Perfect Challenge.

When I saw this inspiration photo I have to say that I groaned. To tell the truth, I have had my fill of cute white snowmen on light blue paper, which is the first image that came to my mind.

But I resisted my initial reaction and returned to my "roots" - the ocean! I made this fishy-themed card with a real porthole window (complete with acetate) for one of my swimmingly special friends.

Santa brought this new "Geometric Rings" Cuttlebug folder.The Paper Smooches stamp sets are "Surf and Turf" and "Pretty Phrases".

Since I buy most of my Paper Smooches from Simon Says Stamp, I'm submitting this to the current SSS "Anything Goes" Challenge".

I hope that you celebrate today and have a great weekend. Thanks for peeking in.

One More Bling Thing

Happy Cyber Monday!

We had a glorious long holiday weekend - gratitudes, family, sunshine, fall colors (yes, we DO have them in California!), prayers (especially for those still struggling with the wrath of Sandy), bocce ball, yummy food, friends, and the Christmas tree is up (but not decorated). Hope you are all doing well.

I have one last "Bring on the Bling" card for the Hero Arts current contest. This little gem has lots going on.

The stamps are Hero Arts CL148, CL383 and 331065. I also used the Small Tag Frame (DI006), a MS punch and a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Now, get shopping!

Thanks for checking in.

Beep Beep

Here is a fun card I made for our grand-nephew who is currently really into robots. Lots of action on this one! I started with orange (a color I don't often use) cardstock and some robot designer paper. Next, I ran some aluminum foil with an embossing folder through my Cuttlebug to make the "electrical panel" - cool, eh?

The robot is actually from a Hero Arts Christmas Set ("Far Out Holiday") - he had Christmas tree antennae that I cut off and replaced with green pearls. I colored him with Copic pens and matted him with 2 layers (one of which I punched with a square and a circle punch) of cardstock.

I bet you've guessed what the mechanical part is that I added to the card with some stiff metallic ribbon. Finally, the sentiment is made with my trusty old Dymo label maker. Life's too short not to have fun!