Fa-la-la-la-la....

Christmas is drawing near, and many of you may have heard that I recently lost my father. This holiday will definately be a difficult one,

but with grown children of my own and a grandson who still believes in Santa,

I am trying to enjoy the season and all that goes with it!

 

 

I put up my tree this weekend, including my Dad's Lionel train set, and felt my family room fireplace needed a bit of the traditional mood,
so I made this chipboard stocking banner.

 

Starting with a KaiserKraft mini board kit, I covered the stocking shapes with
DCWV

"Heirloom Christmas" papers.
I then cut out dozens of poinsettia blooms with my Spellbinders die.  It made the process so fast and easy!

The chipboard letters were old Colorbok ones I'd hung onto for years, simply painting and glittering them with Stampendous, "Red Tinsel" embossing powder.
 

 

 

                                                                

 



It's not much,but I intend to add more before the 23rd.
 

Perhaps some pots of poinsetties along the bottom the fireplace!

 



Winter Friends!

What little girl didn't grow up dreaming of getting a pony for Christmas!

 

When I saw this new stamp from the
Crafter's Companion,

Pawfect Pals Stamp Collection,

 I immediately recalled those early days and thinking I could actually have a horse in the suburbs!

  

"Champion"

Wrapped up like a package, and sporting my favorite boot charms, this little
Christmas card would have been the perfect one for a little horse-lover like me!

My dreams and wishes are more realistic now, but I did finally get my horses and, while it lasted, enjoyed having them every day!

Spectrum Noir colors used:

 

I hope all of your dreams and wishes come true for the holiday season!

~Jan~

 

Crafter's Companion Giveaway!

It's Friday again, and that means it's time for a giveaway! This week they're giving you the chance to win this sweet Party Girl stamp set, from the fun Strawberry Kisses range:

 

Go to their blog at Crafter's Companion USA

and become a follower (if you're not already!) and leave a comment!

I would love to see one of my followers win this adorable stamp!

 

I'll be back tomorrow with a new project!

~Jan~

Hol-ODD-day Hop at Some Odd Girl!

 

Welome to the 3rd annual

Some Odd Girl Hol-ODD-day Hop!

 

 

This is a card I made and entered for the very first Some Odd Girl Hol-ODD-day Hop

when I first began coloring with my Copics markers!

It brings back so many memories;

struggling with highlighting hair, coloring the darling eyes, skin tones...

These SOG images are so great to color or to paper piece!

 

I love joining all these terrific gals this year and

being a Some Odd Girl "hopper"!

 

Happy Hol-ODD-Days!

~Jan~

 

 

 

 

In the Christmas "Spirit"....

Normally NOT a wine drinker, or any kind of drinker for that matter,

I recently took a trip to Iowa to visit an old high school friend. While there, I discovered this amazing Apple/Cinnamon dessert wine that I could sip all evening!

It tastes very much like apple cider with a bit

of spice and a punch.

So, I suppose now I can call myself a "wine-drinker"!
 

(Unfortunately, the Iowa winery does not ship to Arizona, so it has caused some difficulty in ever getting more!  She and I are working on it!)

 

This season there are so many choices of gifts out there, and just as many ways to wrap them.
 

 I used the very beautiful stamp set from

Crafter's Companion's

"A Little Bit Scenic" line from Sheena Douglas,

"Provence".

 

Sheena's complete line is simply gorgeous!

 

 

Here's a hanging gift tag I made for that special bottle that should I find and want to "present" as a present, I am ready....

 

 

Yes, I know, ...this bottle isn't quite full. 
I may have used a teeny weeny bit in a recipe the other day...hmmm...I think...

Since I am new to the Wine Scene, I have no idea what true colors wine comes in, but I know red is in there somewhere!   My favorite, the Eve's Apple from the Santa Maria Winery in Iowa, has little color, so this card would not have popped like it did had I used it as a sample!

Merry Christmas and Green pattern papers are DCWV, wood grain pattern paper is
My Mind's Eye, and the sentiments were borrowed from my old stamp stash.

This tag has also been entered into the RED challenge at
OOzak Blog.

Peek-a -boo Moose!

Here's another of my 15 minute holiday cards

from

DCWV!

The stack I used for this little card was

"The Winter Holiday"

 

The objective was to make a cute, easy card in less time than it takes to hard-boil an egg (Yes, I still make homemade egg salad on a regular basis!)

 

First, I determined I wanted a card that fit in a 6 x 6 envelope! I'm tired of trying to customize each and every envelope (not to mention the postage!)

 

So, this card base is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2,

which was easily cut from 8 1/2 x 11 heavy cardstock.

 

I then scored 1/2 inch from all four sides of the front to give a bit of texture to the white-on-white.

Next, deciding that my image needed at 2 1/2 inch square opening, I measured center and cut out my "window".

With the  moose paper, I chose to extend the image across the inside of the card. It just seemed more finished than putting a square in the middle of the card.

 

 

And I can always add an appropriate sentiment, depending on the recipient.

 

 

Simple, that's the ticket!



Just "belt" it out!

Happy Everything!

 

Ever wish you had a card for an occasion that falls in December, like a birthday or Anniversary that reflects the season but not necesarily the Christmas holiday?

 

I love the limey green and the trendy chevron!

These papers are part of the

 "Heirloom Christmas"

stack from

DCWV.

 

 

How many occasions can you think of that you could combine this card for?

 

 



Just BELIEVE...

The new "Crafty Christmas" paper stack

from

DCWV

has so many cool papers!

 

Some of which are these wonderful clear and light blue embossed

snowflake craft pages!

 

And so many cute embossed images papers!

Like these little ornaments that I cut out and dangled on the card with the tiny gold chain from

Blue Moon Beads!

 

I simply couldn't RESIST inking up that craft paper!

 

 I also felt it needed a bit of "snow" to show off those beauties...

 

This stack has so many possibilities! You could make dozens of cards without switching stacks at all!

 

 

 

HAVE FUN!

Is it a card? Is it a bag?

No, It's "Gift Bag Card"!

 

When I started out looking for ways to symplify the holidays this year, I decided that with so many great paper stacks from

DCWV,

I would see how many individuals I could make in only 15 minutes time.

 

With the terrific images already printed on them, all I had to do was utilize each in its' own way.

 

"The Crafty Christmas" Stack

This is simply a top fold card with the "handles" attached with brads.

I added some little snowflakes and the darling tag that is also part of this paper stack.

 

 

The inside is a simple pocket for the gift card.

 

 

Just remember, your holiday cards don't have to take hours to make!

Sometimes the simpliest are the best recieved!

 

You are my true North....

Ever feel this way about someone?

Someone who can make you feel better when all else fails?

 

I love this stamp by

Stamp-It Australia

"A Map"

available at Crafter's Companion!

 

 

I heat embossed the stamped map image with Stampendous' Bark embossing powder.

 

The stick pin I hand made and inserted it through the center hole where I had placed a red metal eyelet. It really adds some pop and texture, along with the wrapped twine!

 

Simple, fast, but elegant at the same time.

 



Skipping Stones Sketch Challenge

This challenge at SSD was particularly fun for me!

I love the "split" background.

 

And, additionally, since I have no holiday specific SSD stamps,

I had to use my imagination.

 I think this floral medallion from the

"Victorian Summer" set

works perfectly.

 

I colored the image with my Copics and then clear heat embossed the entire thing to make the colors really pop!

(It is actually colored and cut out twice and layered, but you can't tell in the photo.)

The gold button and the bling on the sentiment added the elegant, holiday feel and serve as my three little embellies under the main focal point.

 

The pretty Christmas papers are from the new DCWV stacks.

The sentiment was embossed with Stampendous, Aged Green powder.

 

Thanks for looking!



Snickerdoodles Frame

 

 

 

This is the old recipe that my mother and grandmother used for my favorite Christmas cookies for many years.

I've been asked for it over and over again.

 

 

This project is being entered in the Gingerbread challenge at:

Pixie Dust Studios



Doodle Dragon's Holiday Release!

 

 

Dustin Pike's done it again! He has released his Holiday images and are they ever cute!

 

Check out the store HERE!

 

 "Melted"

 

Just in case you're thinking something's missing, you're right!

The weather in Phoenix was just too warm for this guy!

 

 

I die cut both the matted, colored image and the acrylic layer out with Spellbinders,

and hinged both with rings.

 

They were then attached to the front of a square card.

 

 

 This image made me laugh so hard!

My husband thought it rather sad, but then he often doesn't get the humor here at Doodle Dragon!

 

There are also some terrific goodie toppers at the store!

 I can't wait to make some of those up for the holidays!

Crafter's Companion goes Hedgehog WILD!

The SWALK release this month "Pawfect Pals",

at Crafter's Companion is all about PETS!

 

I have always loved animals and owned quite a collection over the years.

My household is pretty tame at this time, with only 2 dogs, 2 parrots, and a fish tank.

 

I feel in love with this little image of the little "Prickly" guy and his freinds.

 

 

 

Colored with Spectrum Noir markers

 

Some gingham ribbon, and weathered wood pattern paper make this just country enough to fit into the hedgehog mode.

 

 

Check out all of the new pet-friendly images at Crafter's Companion!

They're adorable!



Santa's been framed!

 

These new vintage papers from

DCWV

"The Traditional Holiday"

are the prettiest ever!

I love the way they capture the feeling of an old Victorian holiday!

 

 

 

 

 

I took a repurposed frame and crackle painted it, highlighting the raised areas with gold.  I used the Spellbinders, "Poinsettia" die and cut the flowers, edging them with gold paint.

 

The gorgeous green and gold pendant is from Blue Moon, along with the gold chain that supports the little sentiment/date hangings.

 

This stack has quickly become my favorite Christmas paper!

 

See the video of all of the new release stacks at

Michael's here!

 

 

 

 



Vintage Holiday House...

I don't know if anyone likes vintage as much as I do...

No, I'm sure some of you do!

 

So, I also know that you are going to love these new

DCWV

Christmas papers as much as I do!

Old vintage images on kraft paper, soft holiday colors...

I love everything about this stack!

 

  

 

 

The beautiful house image is printed directly onto the paper and surrounded by this gorgeous gold embossed frame. Along with swirls, snowflakes, and borders in gold, these papers make your holiday cards so easy to make!

 

I also had to grab some Blue Moon Beads for my bow embellishment!

Aren't those yummy?

 

 

Just wait until you see the other perfectly vintage images on these pages!

Santa, Christmas trees, gifts, the list goes on...

this is my favorite stack of the season...well, so far...  lol!

 

"The Traditional Holiday" is available at Michael's now!

Entered in the "Homeward Bound" challenge at
"Scrap It With A Song..."

 

 



Hoppin' off to school!

I have been trying to be in several places at one time this past few weeks,

and my scrap time has been greatly reduced.

(Translates to "I have little time to color".)

 

So, this week I took out my Crafter's Companion,

Beatrix Potter, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" CD-Rom.

 

How cool are these!

 

The Decoupage sheets contain several versions of the same image, with various sections seperate from the image so that you can fussy-cut and layer making an adorable 3-D project!

 

My bad for not having discovered these sooner!

 

 

Because so very often I need a card for an unplanned occasion, I leave them blank or don't add a sentiment on the front at all!

 

I can think of many ideas for this little card.

 

 

The details literally just POP off the card!

 

 

I have been a longtime Beatrix Potter fan, and these character stamps, CD's, and pre-colored images are perfect!

 

 

Check out all of the wonderful options that Crafter's Companion offers at their store here!