2 Sisters Challenge and a little Thanks!

There is a fabulous challenge going on over at 2 Sisters this week! Check this out!

From Stacy Walker:
This week's challenge is a very special one for me. Thirteen years ago I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and two years ago this coming February 6th I had a bone marrow transplant and had to be away from home for a month. What we would like to do is collect cards for the patients at the Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston MA (this is where I had my bone marrow transplant).


To enter this challenge we are asking you to create a card that has a theme of THINKING OF YOU. You can also use HELLO, JUST FOR YOU, & JUST A NOTE as sentiments on your cards. We are asking that you refrain from using the sentiment of get well. Once you have your card(s) made and posted to the challenge we are asking that you write an encouraging note in the card and address the envelope to "ANY PATIENT" and then place the card(s) in a package addressed to me.
(The rest of the details are on Stacy's blog at http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/.)
Please, those of you who are routinely making challenge cards, use them for a great cause!!!  Whether it be a cancer center, a children's hospital, or any that tug at your heart! Thanks!
These are the cards I am sending to Stacy today.

Jeweled Bird Card is entered in:
Woodware Stamps (Anything Goes)
City Crafter (Stamped Image)

Thanks, gotta run to the mail box and get these out to Stacy!

ALSO:

Finished up this card this morning for a little challenge at PapertakeWeekly!
Such a nice switch from the usual holiday cards!  The last fairy "Thanks" I used my Copics ona nd made her a beautiful red-headed Irish gal. Can you tell I am practicing my hair and skin tones with my markers?

The stickles on her wings show up so much better in person!

Thanks for looking!

Mad Hatter Christmas

I really wanted to find an appropriate "Alice" image for this card, but I think this guy makes a good replacement.

"Oh, Alice" is having a card challenge, and I wanted to include a Wonderland image!  Perhaps I'll win some images on their blog!  Anyone who knows me, knows I love everything from "Alice in Wonderland" !
For this quick card, I fussy-cut the Mad Hatter from my Graphic45 paper. I changed the Hallowe'en label on his hat to Christmas, and set him in front of a Christmas tree. He looked so darn surprised, that I thought the sentiment appropriate.  The white background was run through my Cuttlebug with the Mistletoe embossing folder.

Season's Greetings!

This weekend was a long, exhausting one. But I think I'm ready for Christmas! Found a drum set for the grandson (ha ha, won't his mother be pleased?) And have everything purchased for my Dad's fruit cake. Yes, my dad loves fruitcake!  He's the only person I know who actually looks forward to it!
I wanted to make a project this morning, but knew I wouldn't have time to do anything too time-consuming. So, I opted for a tag. MY GRAFICO is sponsoring a ChristmasChallenge at http://mygraficocrafts.blogspot.com/p/christmas-challenge.html


I printed the bird image and then stamped the sentiment and the cage (which is faint and is difficult to see in the photo).  Wish I'd had some smaller pearls. Note to self: add that to wish list.

Bazzill cardstock base; MY GRAFICO freebie bird image; Paper Studio, pearls; bird cage stamp, Jillibean Soup; Flower brad, Creative Imaginations; sentiment, Paper Company; stock gold and black ribbon; and red netting from produce wrapper!
Also, this tag is entered in the challenge at:
2 Sisters Challenge (Christmas)
City Crafter (Vintage Christmas)
Critter Sketch Challenge (Christmas)
PaperPlay Challenge (Anything but a card!)
I Did It! (Anything Goes)
Lexi's Creations (Glitter and Pearls)
Penny's Paper Creations (Merry Christmas)
Papertake Weekly (Anything Goes)

Wish me luck this week!

All I need...

I'm the first to admit I have a rather strange sense of humor.  And I am a product of the 70's. (Very dangerous combination!) When I saw this digi stamp from Sassy Studios Stamps, I immediately thought of how serene and calm this gal looks.  I pictured myself sitting in that big, overstuffed, comfy chair, and thought of Steve Martin's quote from his movie "The Jerk", "All I need is this chair...." and I thought, that's it!

Inside reads, "AND YOU!"

(Well, his exact quote was slightly different)
"Well I'm gonna to go then! And I don't need any of this. I don't need this stuff, and I don't need *you*. I don't need anything. Except this.

[picks up an ashtray]
And that's the only thing I need is *this*. I don't need this or this. Just this ashtray... And this paddle game. - The ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need... And this remote control. - The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need... And these matches. - The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control, and the paddle ball... And this lamp. - The ashtray, this paddle game, and the remote control, and the lamp, and that's all *I* need. And that's *all* I need too. I don't need one other thing, not one... I need this. - The paddle game and the chair, and the remote control, and the matches for sure."

Well, anyway, I got a bit sidetracked there and digressed..
Ok, so I think Steve Martin was one of the funniest comics around. It's one of the side effects of growing up in the 70's with Saturday Night Live. I have no other excuses...

This slightly insane card will be entered in the challenge for:
FELT at The Shabby Tea Room
FOOD/DRINK at Flourishes
Quick and Easy at Fab & Funky Challenges
and I'm throwing it on
Card Makin' Mama's  and
Crafty Ann's
(ANYTHING GOES Challenges) just because I think they'll appreciate the humor!
                    
Pattern background paper is from DCWV, Citrus Collection; the chair is paper pieced using a scrap I found in my stash; and the felt flowers were cut from trim that included butterflies (I didn't like it the way it was). Again, I ramble....
I hope those of you that are old enough to recall "The Jerk" can relate, or at least forgive me, for going on and on....
And for those who are too young, rent the movie! It's dumb, it's stupid, and you'll laugh!

Winter Wishes!

Outside the box...  anything NOT a square or rectangle. (Paper Sundae's challenge this week!) Ok, with a snow globe image that makes it pretty easy.  But I wanted my card to stand up and do it differently than just a regular one.  My card is folded at the bottom and is a stand-up card.

This is being sent to a friend with a young child, so I think she'll like this. They live in Florida, so they are about as likely to get snow as we are here in Phoenix!  Lots of sparkle and shine, though it's hard to see it in the picture. I also had originally put clear mylar over the globe and it looked even more real. But the plastic reflected the camera flash, so I removed it for this picture.  Happy Wednesday everyone!  Halfway through another week!
Challenges:
PaperCutz (Snowman/Snowflakes)
WoodWare Stamps(WINTER)
Scrapbookaholic-Gaby Abby SEI (Snowman)

Never enough cards for men!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm always caught off-guard when it comes to having a card for a "guy-friend" whether it be for birthday or any occasion.  So when the challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps called for "manly colors", I took it as a sign that perhaps it was time to add a few to my stash.
I used the sketch over at Waltzing Mouse as my inspiration, and made it quick and simple.

And so I made "Enjoy the Journey".

I pulled out the Tim Holtz stamps because these always make the perfect masculine project. I stamped the clock faces lightly with Distress Ink to make a sublte background. The chain, the key, and the black corner brad are all metal, so I will include Paper Romance in this week's list of challenges.  I also love the fact that the blank card is already black, so it makes a great base for a basic card!



Products used: Recollections Black Card; Bazzill cardstock; Tim Holtz, "The Journey"; metal keychain, brad, and the key were in my stash box; and pattern strip is SEI, En Route.

Thanks for looking at tonight's card! Time to call it quits and get some shut-eye!

"Fairy" Christmas

I wanted to really grasp at the non-traditional color palette and decided to choose orange! Now, what to color orange?  I think this little Irish fairy says "Happy Holidays" wonderfully! 

And the Magical Monday Challenge was the perfect inspiration!   Use something magical!  I think I will include some green "fairy dust" inside when I go to send this Chirstmas card!

I pulled a piece of scrap paper out of my old stash for the polka dot background. I ran the white cardstock through the Cuttlebug with the Devine Swirl embossing folder, and colored the cute little image with Copics. Her wings are made extra special with Lime Green Stickles and clear coated. A dab of baby ribbon and pearls from Simon Says Stamps, and she's ready for the holidays!
I also entered the little cutie in the challenge over at Papertake Weekly, Kaboodle Doodles, Incy Wincy Designs,  Lexi's Creations, Stamptacular,and Pixie Dust Studios!

Let it Snow!

Looks like these guys are having a great time in the snow! Living here in Phoenix, it's been a few years since I've had the opportunity (and I'll confess, the urge) to play in the snow. But this brings back memories of what it was like to slide down hills, and roll 'round in the cold, wet stuff!

You can't tell in the picture, (hence the reason for the odd angle) but there are tons of glitter and sparkle on this card! The SEI paper has glitter added to each snowflake, plus I added Stickles to each plastic snowflake! The sentiment is heat embossed in silver sparkle also.
Paper, SEI, Glitzmas;  image is Cat's Pajamas, "Sledding" colored with Copics markers; Stickles, Lace Frost; sentiment stamp, The Paper Company, Snowflake.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamps (No Red or Green)
Dancing in Pajamas (Holiday)
Shirley's2Girls (Lots of Sparkle)
There She Goes (Use Your Stash)
Penny's Paper (Merry Christmas)
StampsRUs (Anything Goes)
Catch a Bug (Winter Wonderland)
City Crafter (Let it Snow)
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge (Winter Scene)
Digi Doodle Shop's Best (Animals/Insects)

Prairie Fairy Candy!

Prairie Fairy Designs is having a great giveaway!! Go to http://prairiefairy.blogspot.com/ to find out more! Just look at the wonderful prize! And all this to let everyone know they on back on blogger! 

And don't forget to join them for "Fairy Fun Fridays"!  Glad they're back on Blogger!!! 

I HATE DRINKING ALONE!

Yep, seems like everyone is busy these days, preparing for the holidays!  Not that I have time to sit for hours sipping on (in my case) a hot cup of tea, but I miss meeting a friend or two for afternoon Starbucks. 
Some Odd Girl's challenge this week is "Girlie", and what better way to tell someone to miss them than to send a darling little SOG card!  They are also having an Early Bird Challenge, with Flowayz! So if you can hustle it, you can get in on that challenge, too!

These little SOG gals are so darn cute! 
I actually tried my hand at paper piecing for the challenge over at Totally Papercrafts! I am attempting to add more techniques to my rather limited knowledge. Boy, those TINY little pieces can really drive a gal to drink (Oh, yea, here we go back to the tea again!)  I found the paper for her little leggings in my scraps, so I have no idea what line it is. I just liked the satrburst pattern!

The background is Co'Ordinations cardstock, run through my Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dot embossing folder and sanded; flower, Stampendous (Petals Plus); Some Odd Girl, "Coffee Kaylee" image partially colored with Copics; silver t-shirt and barrettes colored with Sakura Silver Star pen. You can't tell in the picture, but her shirt is very "sparkly".

This card has also been entered in the following challenge:
In Style Stamps (Purple and Silver)

Tea-Time Snickerdoodles!

I have had a long-time favorite holiday cookie that my great-grandmother, my "grandma", and my mom all made when we were growing up.  Nothing fancy, but they would simply add a bit of anise extract to a regular snickerdoodle recipe, and it would make them SOOOO much tastier with a cup of hot cocoa or hot tea!  I am told by my coffee-drinking friends that they are delicious with that, too!
Digital Delights is sponsoring a challenge on the SNR blog that requires a favorite "sweet" treat recipe for the holidays, combined with a [project using the adorable little gingerbread image (provided by Digital Delights!) 
Here is my project that I made to give to my mother. She loves to remember the old days and her mother's recipes!

I love the 50's look of the papers and doilie. The sketch I used was from this week's challenge over at Skipping Stones.

The papers used were the Paper Studio's, Heartwarming Holiday; Doily is from Sunny Side Up; Bazzill scalloped edge; and the adorable little metal cookie cutter and rolling pin is "Dress It Up".  The Digi Delights image , "Oopsy Daisy" is colored with Copics and highlighted with Stickles and white fabric paint for icing. The "buttons" are from The Stamp Doctor.
This project is also entered in the following challenges:
Easy Crafts (Christmas)
Your Next Stamp (clean and simple)
Penny's Paper Crafts (Merry Christmas)
Stamps R Us
Crafty Ho's (Red and Green)
Oh Alice in Wonderland Challenge! (Red, Green, and in my case, Brown)
Top Tip Tuesday

Snowflakes!

Now that I have 90% of my shopping done, I was able to take time out and make a card or two.  Some folks meditate to relax, some jog, I scrap!!

I loved this poem when I saw it and knew it had to go on a card!  The sketch challenge is from Mojo Monday, and the color inspiration is WHITE from Creative Inspirations.

I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder, Mistletoe Kisses; ribbon from Magic Scraps; tree brads and plastic snowflakes(?) ; Bazzill cardstock for framing; and the delightful poem I printed from the internet.

This card will be entered in the following challenges:
Stamptacular (Blue, Blue, Christmas))
City Crafter (Let it Snow)
Delightful Challenges (Embossing)
If the Shoe Fits (Texture)
Pixie Dust (Snow)
Simon Says Stamps (Let it Snow)
Bugaboo (Winter Wonderland)
Stamps R Us (Holiday)
Wags and Whiskers (Snowflakes)
Penny's Paper Crafts (Merry Christmas)
Incy Wincy (Non-traditional Colors)
Critter Sketch Challenge (NO Pattern Paper)
PollyCraft Monday Challenge (White)

MORE CHRISTMAS CANDY!

Sarah A is offering this fantastic candy to one lucky commenter on the Creative Craft World blog post! There are loads of goodies for you to play with – Dovecraft 6 x 6 Bumper pack of Christmas papers, coordinating ribbons, card toppers and stickers. Pink Gem Clear stamp “Mimi Skating”, pot of flower soft, pack of mini roses, pack of hand made papers, manila tags for altering, die cut tags, pop up card blanks, brads and much more…

Just look at all of the greeat stuff you can add to your stash!  I know I have my fingers crosssed!  I still have tons of Christmas projects to make, and there's ALWAYS next year!  Yummm!!!!!
Go to the above link and find out how, if I don't beat'cha to it!  Ha!

Ho Ho Ho!

When my grandson gets a gift of money or a gift card his reaction is always, "oh, yeah....!" Even at the age of 5, he has figured out that this means he can get something he picks out himself!  Pretty fantastic.
So when I saw the challenge at Crafty Creations was a Gift Card Holder and over at There She Goes the challenge was "KIDS", I knew I could easily combine the challenges!

I used, yes, once again, SEI Glitzmas paper. The two-sided heavy patterned paper worked perfectly for this project.  I tri-folded it and cut the pocket for the inside card holder. I ran ribbon through and around the front of the pocket to hold the metal buckle.
Ont he outside, I used an old image I had of the snowman (sorry, no idea where it came from) and colored it with Copics markers. Added a bit of dimension with white fluffy paint, and gave him a star cookie button.
My grandson will understand the sentiment, for sure! 

This card also entered on these challenges:
Crafty Ho's
Paper Romances
Digi Doodle Shop's Best

WOW! A KRAFT blog site and sale!

I just happened to be blog hopping this week and found out that Kraft Papers has a blog challenge site!  Yep! One more way to enable my "addiction"! Sure some of you are saying you've known about this for ages!  Well, new to me!
Go to
http://www.thekraftjournal.blogspot.com/ and check it out! 
They are having a great Holiday Challenge right now!

Click here for the full Challenge Details!

Challenge SUMMARY:
To enter to win one of the two (2) $20.00 vouchers create a holiday inspired project, card, tag, layout or altered art featuring the use of Kraft cardstock. Enter your projects using the Inlinkz below between now and December 18, 2010 at 6:00 AM Eastern Time. Enter as many times as you like with as many projects as you wish, just make sure they feature Kraft cardstock (the cardstock doesn't have to be purchased from Kraft Outlet, but we'd love it if you did!). Every project you enter gives you more chances to win! (We'll accept projects that you've made new or any time within the last month too, just make sure you link to the post on your blog so people can see your entry to vote for their favorite).



Don't have any Kraft cardstock in your stash? No problem! Just go shopping at the Kraft Outlet online store and enter this promo code, HOLIDAY10 to receive 10 percent off your entire purchase from now until December 31, 2010.

My Little Christmas Star!

Christmas is so much about children, that it's hard NOT to include them in your holiday cards!  Just Magnolia lends itself perfectly to the dreams and desires of children around Christmas. I thought abot all the kids out there who are wishing for a better Christmas than the past year they have seen.
This is my "Wishing On A Christmas Star" card.
It's hard to see in the photo, but I popped up the girl and had her stockings dangling out underneath!

Kerri's inspiration card - 'Tis the Season

For the sketch, I went to Waltzing Mouse, and found this perfect card challenge, which matched nicely with Just Magnolia's this week also! And I was fortunate enough to be scanning through Kerri's blog who is on the DT for Your Next Stamp, and lifted her "Tis The Season" card with the images extending over the edge of the card!  Loved it!

Paper:  Basic Grey "Figgy" Star sticker and cardstock;  Copics markers; and stock ribbon. A bit of white fluffy fabric paint on her hat!

Contests also entered:  PaperTakeWeekly

Visions of Sugar Plums!

I really enjoyed playing with this challenge over at Polka Doodles (Twas the Night Before Christmas). It opened the challenge for any number of directions! I chose "While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads..."  Of course, we, today, do not eat plums dipped in sugar, but CANDY is always a big part of Christmas. At least around our house! 
For the sketch, both Simon Says and Pixie Cottage had sketches so similiar, I decided to go with BOTH! Kinda tilted and mixed the elements of each.

Great minds think alike, right?
Now, here is my card:

These "sugar plums" from MYGRAFICO were painstakingly fussy cut and glued together. One of my first "paper piecing" projects in years!  I am happy with the results, but will choose a much larger image next time!  LOL! The fantastic prize of a beautiful stamp set from BlackLeaf Stamps was enough to convince me check out the Grafico images. How adorable!
I used papers form my long-time stash of Daisyd's and Provocraft. The little gingerbread guy is a button from "Dress It Up" (JoAnn's)

SEI and Skipping Stones

This card I made with my SEI favorite collection, Glitzmas (Gaby Abby is having a SEI Challenge and giveaway!) and for the Skipping Stones Sketch Challenge using their dragonfly stamp from Skipping Stones Designs. I love the beauty and quality you get from their clear stamp sets. It matched up perfectly with the challenge this week at Stamps R Us, create a HOLIDAY CARD.

Paper used was SEI, Glitzmas; punched with Fiskars Lace punch; journaling box cut with Nestabilities Label 4; and the very gorgeous dragonfly stamped with Staz-On ink onto the glittery white Glitzmas paper! I added just a touch of Gunmetal Stickles to the body to add extra sparkle!

I received the SEI pack around last Christmas from my dear friend Liz, and have been using it on EVERYTHING!  I love that paper! (Don't worry Liz, you won't see a lot more.  I've almost exhausted it!)