It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I'm not positive, but I think this may be the first time I have combined two challenges in one card (yay me!). I used Mercy's Tuesday sketch challenge and the Color Throwdown challenge. That being said, there a couple of things I would do differently on this card. For one, I think I would group the white brads closer together (the proportion seems off to me) and the other you may not have even noticed was a problem. I clear embossed the "merry christmas" sentiment from the Christmas Greeting set at the bottom of the card. I thought it would show up nicely against the Always Artichoke color. How wrong I was! I can barely see it, and I've got the original in hand!! I like this card enough to make it again, but I will definitely stamp first and emboss later. I'm not sure it shows in the photo, but I also clear embossed the ornaments, cut them out and popped them on dimensionals. Thanks for stopping by and here's the complete recipe:

Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Christmas Greetings,

Paper: Kraft, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Wintergreen

Ink: Always Artichoke, Soft Sky, Dusty Durango, Versamark

Accessories: Brads, Clear EP, dimensionals, sponging

MOJO111

These snow buddies are adorable. I really didn't think that I would like these little guys so much, but I do! I made this card for the MOJO111 sketch challenge. I consider it a major feat that I managed to get this card done on the Monday it was issued. (Working really interferes with my stamping!!). When I first saw this sketch, I really didn't know what I wanted to do. I started out thinking of something floral, but quickly decided to change to a winter theme. (That may have to do with the fact that I am WAY behind on my christmas cards this year). Thanks so much for stopping by. Here's my recipe:

Stamps: Snow Buddies, Serene Snowflakes
Paper: Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Cottage Wall
Ink: Black Stazon, Silver Encore, Versamark
Accessories: Brads, SU! Snowflake Punch, SU! Markers, Silver EP

PPA14 Challenge

The latest Pals Paper Arts challenge is in honor of breast cancer awareness month (which was actually in October). The challenge was to use pink on your project. I decided to make a card which hopefully would inspire a breast cancer fighter. I am fortunate to know four courageous women who are breast cancer survivors. They are so inspirational to me (in so many ways). This is the absolute LEAST I could do to honor them. Thank you so much for looking.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho It's Off to Work I Go...

Alas, my vacation is at an end. It's been a very busy two weeks and I'm not ready to go back to work, but unfortunately I have to. Work on my new stamping studio has been progressing, but there's still quite a bit to go. I know it will get done eventually, but I'm impatient (and I want my dining room back). Since I've been on vacation I've been able to get quite a bit of stamping in. This card is for the MOJO110 sketch challenge. It's been nice to get these challenges done the same day they are issued, and I hope I can keep it up. I'm going to send this card to a friend of mine who moved to Florida a couple of years ago. I've decided that I'm going to launch a campaign to remind her of all she gave up when she moved to a warmer clime. My diabolical plan is to send these winter-inspired cards to her every couple of weeks. I'm mailing the first one tomorrow. Hopefully, she'll get a chuckle. Thanks for stopping by. Here's the recipe for this card:

Stamps: Non-SU! (Sorry, I can't tell you which one)
Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Ski Slope
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Little Felt Flurries, Chocolate Chip Ribbon

Let's Celebrate MOJO Style!

I have been dying to use the Thoroughly Modern paper and today was the first chance I got. And of course, since it's Monday, I decided to use it with today's MOJO sketch challenge. I think this may be the first time I've used Bermuda Bay, and I've got to say that I love it. The color is so vibrant and cheerful. Now I've got to spend some time thinking of how I can incorporate it into my Christmas cards! Thanks so much for stopping by! Here's the complete recipe for this card:

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, On Your Birthday

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Sahara Sand, Rose Red, Whisper White, Thoroughly Modern

Ink: Black Stazon, Rose Red, Bermuda Bay

Accessories: Blender Pens, Ribbon, Punches

Snow in October!

When I made this card on Thursday it was cold here in Massachusetts, but certainly not snowing. I thought I was safe from the white, fluffy stuff for a while yet. But then Sunday afternoon I turned on the tv to watch the football game that was being played in a town about 15 miles from where I live and it was snowing like crazy there! The field was covered in snow and it looked to me like there were several inches on the ground. Ugh! I'm not a big fan of snow, winter or cold weather, but I do think these little snowmen are kind of cute! They seem to be happy anyway, smiling despite the cold wind that is whipping their scarves around. Brrrrrr. I colored in those little guys with a bunch of SU! markers: going gray, basic gray, basic black, real red, glorious green, summer sun, certainly celery, and pumpkin pie and used the Pals Paper Arts sketch challenge for my layout. Here's the rest of the recipe:

Stamps: Snow Buddies, Warm Words
Ink: Black Stazon, Real Red
Paper: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Merry Moments
Accessories: Punchs, Markers, Ribbon, Dimensionals

Bella Bleu Birthday

I've been on vacation this past week and despite being busy around the house, I have managed to get quite a bit of stamping done. What I have not been very good about is posting pictures of what I've been doing! This card was made for my sister-in-law's birthday which was on Sunday. I used the very pretty Bella Bleu paper and Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge for my layout. I seem to be using Kraft quite a bit lately. I just love how it seems to go with everything. Thanks for looking! Here's the complete recipe:

Stamps: Matchbox Messages, On Your Birthday
Paper: Kraft, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Bella Bleu
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Dimensionals

Fall is in the air

It is downright chilly here in Massachusetts. I actually turned on the heat in my house. :( I'm on vacation this week so I broke down and turned it on since I didn't want to be stuck in a cold house. Although, as you can probably guess, I'm not a big fan of the winter, I do like autumn so I was happy to do an autumn themed card for the latest MOJO sketch challenge.

I embossed the leaf in some rather odd-looking embossing powder that I found in my stash. I thought it was sort of a burnished gold, but it came out looking sort of olive. I colored in the leaf with Really Rust and More Mustard markers and the effect (in real life) is kind of cool. The acorns are embossed with dark brown embossing powder and colored in with Close to Cocoa and a blender pen. Thanks for looking, and happy autumn! Here's the complete recipe:

Stamps: Autumn Splendor, non-SU sentiment

Paper: Chocolate Chip, River Rock, Really Rust, Very Vanilla, Apple Cider

Ink: Really Rust, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: EP, markers, ribbon