did somebody say FREE?!

walk - don't run - to Liz's Cornish Heritage Farms Blog for a chance to win A Perfect Summer’s Day free stamp! I just did! 'nuff said!
later, alligators!
- SueB

Christmas inchies

Inchies? Well, sorta! These are some 1-1/4" shapes but it's the same concept, right?!

I first heard of inchies from my buddy Claudia, and made this card at Crystal's "Punch It Up" card class this past October. I love this snowman stamp set and can't believe it's soon to be retired! Last year I only had a half dozen or so remaining stamp sets of my SU wish list on the retired list; this year there were SO many! At last count I'd picked up 3 of the 14 on my "A" wish list via eBay or demo sales tho' ... making me extra glad for that Christmas cash I'd received!

stamps: SU's Bold Snowflakes, Cold Play; paper: SU's Bashful Blue, Real Red, Whisper White; ink: SU's Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, unknown Black and White; tools: SU's 1-3/8" and 1-1/4" square punches (those are on my wish list, Crystal!)

a stampin' poem

Ode to My Wife (A Stampin' Poem)
Ode to My Wife
by Author Unknown

She learned to stamp on Monday
Her embossing was quite fine.
She forgot to set out dinner,
So we went out to dine.

She brayered backgrounds Tuesday
She says they are a must.
They really were quite lovely
But she forgot to dust.

On Wednesday it was birthday cards
She says that chalking's fun.
Shading, blending, and watercoloring --
But the laundry wasn't done.

Her card swap was on Thursday
Using green and blue and red;
I guess she really was engrossed,
She never made the bed!

It was shaker cards on Friday
Using techniques she just adores,
But she never seemed to notice
The crumbs on all the floors.

I found a maid on Saturday!
My week is now complete
My wife can stamp the hours away;
The house will still be neat.

Well, it's already Sunday,
And my forehead's feeling damp.
I cursed, I raved, and I ranted --
The MAID has learned to stamp!

I've recently discovered Colleen's blog (see above link) where I lifted this poem, w credit to Rush'd Lady at Splitcoaststampers for posting this and several other wonderful stamping related poems for sharing.

peace

it's a simple word my Dad would use as a holiday greeting or parting gesture - peace - and I think of him whenever I use this stamp.

stamps: GinaK's peace, Studio g's Merry Christmas (inside sentiment); paper: American Traditional Designs' Snow Day - Earthtones' Big Snowflakes, Happy Snowman, Snowflake Sky DP, SU's Brocade Blue cardstock; ink: Brilliance Jet Black; accessories: sparkly organdy from one of Jody Morrow's ribbon shares

Merry Christmas!

Sometimes simple's best; I purchased this soon-to-be-retired stamp set used from Crystal and though I've colored in the images in the past, I think it looks wonderful just stamped too!

My boss gave me a cash gift for Christmas this year (God bless her! She knows I'm into stamping and needlework and USED to give me a local mall gift card, but as the mall had nothing to fulfill either addiction she's since seen the light and I'm SO pleased! Thanx, Susan (wink)!) so I've been hitting eBay auctions and blog posts of Stampin' Up! reps who I admire scoping out their "for sale" posts, and supporting the local economy! What a blast! ... more about that later!

I celebrated with family and friends today and we had a wonderful time. If you've not tried the Portabello mushroom and black pepper rubbed pork loin from Sam's, run - don't walk - and pick some up! Everyone raved and I thanked 'em all graciously ... but quite honestly, all I did was wrap it in aluminum foil and set the stove at 350 degrees! My sis' brought up her Cheesy Potato Supreme, my youngest bro' brought up rolls, and I made green bean casserole and opened a can of cranberry jellied sauce. For dessert one niece brought muffins and cut fruit, my Mom brought my fav dessert - her raison spice cake (it's recipe is on an earlier post) - and Boston creme pie (had I mentioned I hail from Boston? we have some family property that's located next to some cranberry bogs just outside Kingston and cranberry sauce is a staple in my family get-together meals). Another niece brought up some light blush wine but I'd supplied 3 bottles of sparkling cider that we went thru and we all forgot about the wine ... so it'll wait 'til we ring in the new year!

Hope you all had a merry Christmas too!

stamps: GinaK's believe script, SU's City of David; paper: SU's Whisper White, Prism's Road; ink: Brilliance Jet Black and Ranger's Walnut Stain (BTW the combo looks AWESOME in person! I MUST pick up more of that cardstock!)

is it Cuttlebug ... or?

You've seen that Cuttlebug full-page spread in various papercrafting mags, haven't you, where it shows 4 pears in a row on the front of a card? Three are punched out of cardstock with the cardstock edges roughed up a bit, and one is the negative - the punched out pear shape. I've made a couple cards based on that format, but this one borrows the layout from one of Tricia Ulberg's cards in a recent Papercrafts mag.

stamps: Impress' Hope Your Holidays (inside sentiment), SU's Loads of Love; paper: SU's Old Olive, Bazzill (dunno name - was from Stella Ruby collection); ink: SU's Old Olive, American Crafts blue glitter marker, Tri-C's watercolor markers; accessories: dotted swiss organdy ribbon

little things mean alot

You know the old saying, "little things mean alot?" I think the card from the previous post looked fine in person ... but decided to add the black border.

The little change seemed to make it "pop!"

a change of venue

I've not posted in a week's time (sorry 'bout that - busy with work, Christmas preparations, just plain life, and too pooped lately to accomplish much else lately) and have a few new cards to share!

My Mom's birthday is fast approaching and I made this card for her yesterday. We'd planned on a visit, beating out a winter storm due to hit us Saturday evening but it ended up beating us to the punch. We started out but, what with the condition of our car's tires, we were sliding around before we left our neighborhood and eventually turned back for home. So ... I did what any of us would've done, what with unexpected free time, right?! ... pulled out the card-making supplies and got busy! I played, making cards, while my youngest did homework on the PC.

I'd picked up the stamp this year from A Muse to use in Christmas cards but think it's appropriate for birthdays too - don't you think?! It's their "Wishing you laughter and cheer throughout the year" sentiment. I made the card to look like a wrapped present but it also meets the requirements of a couple challenges - Stephanie Mayne's Black Tie and also loosely fits Jen del Muro's Nov 3rd sketch. It was going to be a one color with white card based on some plates my Mom likes ... can't recall by who, though ...

stamps: A Muse's Laughter & cheer; paper: Prima Marketing's Iron Orchard, unknown black and white cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black; accessories: Deja Views' Birthday rub-ons, Jo-Ann's snowflake bobby pins, and dotted swiss black organdy ribbon

CAM Christmas Cards

Here are a few more cards made at Capture-a-Memory's Christmas Card class last Monday. The DP's from Penny Black and the top left card has a QuicKutz poinsettia flower. Other than that they all were embossed in advance of our class.

Pretty paper, eh?! It wasn't 'til I got home that I realized the music notes were upside down! Such is life!

I purchased a Krylon 18kt gold leafing pen at the store used for the top right card. I may have used it a bit too heavy-handed though. It reminded me of a couple paint pens I used to have in gold and silver that you shook to mix before using; you shook this one before using also. This pen was different in that it had a hard plastic chisel point whereas I recall those paint pens from my olden days' points eventually wearing down.

Frosty the Snowman

Today's card is based on a challenge by Lauren Meader, a new sketch find for me. I picked up these cute DPs at Capture-a-Memory this past week after the Christmas Cards class I'd taken there and found a cardstock to match in my stash at home. There's a 3rd DP also, with cute snowmen, and I'd originally used it where I now have the solid blue, but it seemed a bit much.

Only 18 more days 'til Christmas, folkes!

stamps: SU's Warm Words (inside sentiment); paper: American Traditional Designs' Snow Day - Earthtones' Big Snowflakes, Snowflake Sky DP, SU's Brocade Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Shimmery White cardstocks, vellum on hand; ink: SU's Brocade Blue, Brilliance Jet Black; accessories: Deja View's Holiday Fun rub-ons, Hedgehog Ink white eyelet share; tools: QuicKutz w Snowman die (isn't he adorable?!)

Santa's Coming to Town

Isn't this stinkin' cute? It was one of my favorite cards at a Christmas Card workshop at Capture-a-Memory, one of the brick 'n mortar shops I frequent.

The card uses a couple of Cuttlebug dies - the mittens, for one. I'm not quite sure WHAT the shape was that we used for the beard ... but it looks like a swirly pinwheel. I thought it may be useful to cut in white and back on red for peppermint candies.

recipe: unknown red, white, dark green cardstocks; black ribbon for belt; cute brass piece for the belt buckle

got chipboard ornaments

I picked up a few chipboard ornaments the other day and here's the first card I made with the teardrop one. The dp is flocked and absolutely stunning. This layout's CASEd from Julia Stainton's Be Merry Ornament card that I saw in a Papercrafts magazine.

stamps: SU's Short & Sweet, Warm Words; paper: Heidi Grace Jolly & Bright flocked dp, SU's Mellow Moss, Color Mates' Spring Green; ink: SU's Mellow Moss, Color Box Olive Pastel; accessories: unknown brand chipboard piece, SU ribbon; tools: UTEE (2 coats)

it's beginning to look alot like

I started decorating for Christmas a week or so ago. This is a departure from cards, I know, but Maria over at Stampin Inspirations wants to see how we're decorating lately. Well, I have some favorite decorations that show up annually, but I like to shake it up a bit ... that's why I have boxes of asst'd Christmas decorations in the basement. One consists of the ornaments I've collected or made or rec'd as gifts over the years for the tree, another holds the decorations I place on the tables around (mainly) the living room, and another for those I'd used in recent years that I may recycle back into the group. I'm lately more drawn toward rustic-looking items. Christmas and Halloween are my favorites, but I like to add touches around the room for various holidays.

This pic is how the mantle's set up this year. I have a string of lights with twigs and rusty red 'n white berries that stays up year round ... over Halloween it was joined by small jack-o-lanterns ... I've picked up metal 'n berries 'n stars for patriotic holidays, and I don't recall what for others ... but it gets added to for whatever holiday's closest. The tiny grill is last year's tree ornament I picked up for my DH; the small pumpkin is my eldest son's addition to the mix (you never know what he'll add to the mix next - it's kinda cute - you oughta see all the stuff he's pulled together for my sofa table - grins). Happy holidays, folkes!

retiring Stampin' Up! lists

FYI - the stamp sets retiring on January 2, 2008 are posted online, and the wheels will be posted on December 10th!

I made it out pretty okay this year - of those I'd earmarked for future purchases, there's only one that I MUST have!

later, alligators!
- SueB

mama's got a brand new toy

Hey, happy December!

Speaking of Jody Lynn (yesterday's post), I rec'd a new toy in the mail this past week! Jody'd made reference on her blog to a 1-day sale on the Janone Mini Sew sewing machine. I'd scoped 'em out before (normally $59.99, often on sale for $49.99) but they'd been out of stock when I went seriously looking for them on the Hancock Fabrics site. Well, now they were reduced to $39.99, and I dunno whether it was just late and I was tired, or the lure of the sale, or WHAT (I'm NOT the domestic diva type!) ... but I ordered one!

It's mini, alright - measures only 11x9x5" and weighs less than 5 lbs, but it has 4 straight stitches and 3 zig zags.

I told my DH it could be a Christmas present from the kids and he could put it aside, but we opened the carton to make sure it arrived all in one piece and it's still sitting on my kitchen table. I dunno ... maybe I'll check it out this weekend ... or put it away for a month. Time'll tell! But I like the look of stitching on cards, so we'll see how often it gets pulled out!

Time to hit the hay! later, alligators! - SueB

happy b'day, sue!

This card's for a buddy of mine who's got a December birthday. A few friends and I are getting together to celebrate it tomorrow early with dinner and a movie. I just got these stamps this past week and was itching to use 'em! The card's based on a sketch from Rae's site.

stamps: The Cat's Pajamas' Polar Holiday, PAPERTREYink's Green Thumb; paper: Creative Memories' baby blue, SU's Almost Amethyst, Memory Box's d/cardstocks; inks: Brilliance Graphite Black, asst'd watercolor markers; accessories: May Arts ribbon share from TexasJodyLynn; tools: Cuttlebug w Happy Birthday embossing folder

he skates, she skates

I dunno whether I've mentioned it before here or not ... but I LOVE A Muse Artstamps. I also love checking out challenges for card inspiration, and did this Christmas card based on Jen del Muro's last weekend's challenge here. I'm making different designs for cards this holiday rather than one design for all. I don't send very many hand-made cards out ... mainly just for family, but we'll just have to see how many I complete!

I love the inside sentiment - it's one of my latest from the kind folkes at Impress - and reads "hope your holidays sparkle and glisten." Kewl, eh?! I'll add some sparkle to the tree in the way of snow glistening tomorrow ... right now my youngest is clamoring for the PC and my tummy's rumbly!

stamps: A Muse Artstamps' He Skates, She Skates, Karen's Creative Stamping's unknown name snowflake trio, Impress' unknown name bare tree and Hope Your Holidays sentiment; paper: SU's Old Olive and Shimmery White cardstock, a couple BasicGrey's Figgy dp; ink: Versamark, Brilliance Graphite Black and StazOn's Jet Black, asst'd watercolor markers; accessories: SU's Old Olive ribbon; tools: Kuretake's watercolor blender

2 posts in 1 day?!

I've had a pretty darn good day, all things considered. My job keeps me busy and I'm always working on different kinds of projects ... enuff to keep me out of trouble and off the streets most days! This morning I heard I'd won blog candy from Angel for a recent Thanksgiving card post (excuse me a sec here - yahoo!) ... and then we celebrated Pat's birthday (see past post) ... and then I came home and found a recent order from the kind folkes at The Cats Pajamas RS had arrived! They had a 25% off sale a weekend ago and I deffinitely took advantage! Woo hoo!

Angel's looking for weight loss buddies - I'm motivated, and if you are too, head on over to her blog post to scope it out!

I really should start inventorying my stamps - I've only just once had the misfortune of ordering a stamp set when I already had it, but they're starting to grow and multiply on their own in the deep recesses of the dark corner in my bedroom where I keep my stash! Anybody have ideas besides a spreadsheet?

Enough ramblings ... I'm outta here!
later, alligators!
- SueB

happy birthday, pat!

My buddy Pat's birthday was this past Saturday, but we celebrated at work today. Yummy donuts from Donna's Donuts in Swartz Creek and a mixture of girl and boy brownies someone made. Anywho, I made this card to buck around our work group and have fought the temptation to add it to my blog 'til after we'd celebrated so she didn't see it here if she visited.

I picked this format 'cuz I liked the flower and colors for a fall birthday and this layout for Beate's WSC27 challenge! I used a sentiment from SU's Small Sayings for the inside sentiment - the "Happy Today, Happy Tomorrow, Happy Everything" and corresponding flower stamps.

I used the Cuttlebug to emboss the berry cardstock which ended up being too large to fit into the folder. I ended up embossing most of it in one pass, then turned the cardstock around and embossed about 1-1/2 inches on a 2nd pass, putting the card and folder thru the machine sideways to let the first already embossed part pass thru outside of the folder ... boy! that's harder to write than explain in person!

stamps: SU's Small Sayings, Gina K Designs' For You; paper: Paper Co berry, unknown dark and med browns; ink: StazOn Jet Black, watercolor markers; accessories: Hedgehog Ink's eyelets, Prima Carnival Flowers Autumn LVS, ; tools: Cuttlebug w Happy Birthday embossing folder; technique: dry embossing

you're my cup of tea

I've been wanting to make a teabag holder for my buddy Mary for some time now, and she visited this past weekend so this was the perfect opportunity! Besides, Splitcoast Stampers had a teabag holder challenge ... what timing, eh?!

stamps: A Muse Artstamps' What's Brewing; paper: Paperloft Co Well Worn Collection - Queen's Garden, unknown black, light brown, and wine cardstocks; ink: Brilliance Graphite Black; accessories: Hedgehog Ink's wine eyelet, Jolee's Pot of Tea, Reminisce's Grapes of Wrath rub-ons

a neutral Christmas greeting

Hi folkes! I spent a productive day decluttering my bedroom and basement and decided to play a bit while watching one of my fav movies on t.v. - The Hunt for Red October with Sean Connery, who, correct me if I'm wrong here, seems to be one of those actors who improves with age ... sigh ...

This one's in response to this challenge on Splitcoast Stampers. Sorry the white cardstock's so washed out ... it's late and I'm not using natural light.

stamps: SU's Warm Words; paper: SU's Kraft, Whisper White cardstock, an unknown black cardstock; ink: Brilliance's Graphite Black; accessories: Stickles' Platinum; tools: Cuttlebug with Snowflakes embossing folder

T'day weather forecast

In the pre-Thanksgiving rush, we have received an early weather report from our in-house weather reporters. This is one, you should be sure to email your Mom.

Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190F. The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder.

During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates. Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other. Please pass the gravy.

A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway. During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator.

Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.

- anon

aside from Sue - Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

FREE Copic markers?!

Run - don't walk - over to GinaK's blog and post a comment on THIS POST! She's going to pick one lucky person to receive a 36-count set of their choice of Copic CIAO's (valued at $150)! If I don't win, I think one of my regulars readers should!

later, alligators!
- Sue B

tom turkey

I made this card for my brother - it's a little bit goofy, like him! I'd picked up the cute ribbon at my local stamping shop, but don't know the maker, and the turkey from the dollar bins at Jo-Ann's.

stamps: SU's Small Sayings; paper: unknown medium and dark chocolate cardstock; ink: StayzOn Jet Black; accessories: Jo-Ann's fall felt craft pieces; tools: Creative Memories' circle cutter

Try it ... you'll like it!

I don't generally have multiple posts per day, but Laurie Schmidlin has some wonderful blog candy at her blog today. It got me thinking about my Mom's raison spice cake, and I thot I'd post the recipe here. I LOVE this stuff, and her hermit cookies ... and ... well, suffice to say I love my Mom's cookin'!

Raison Spice Cake - from the kitchen of my Mom, Sylvia

Simmer 1 cup seedless raisons with 2 cups water and 1 stick margarine for 10 minutes after being brought to boil.

In large bowl, combine 1-3/4 cups flour, 1 cup granualted sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, and 1/8 tsp each of salt, cloves, cinamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Add raison mixture and mix well (I'd use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula rather than a mixer for the entire recipe)

Add 1 egg and beat well.

Bake 35 minutes at 375 degree oven in 8x8x2 pan.

Optional glazing: add a few drops of boiling water at a time to 1/2 cup confectionate sugar.

I'll add a picture here in the next few days - my sister's asked Mom to bring it Thursday - unless I'm bitten by the bug to make it earlier for my clan!

Thanksgiving week

The family pretty much fended for themselves yesterday while I finished the cards. Here's one I created for Beate's weekend challenge, using one of the sticker sets I picked up at this past May's Great Lakes Mega Meet and CASEing Laurie Schmidlin's card. I LOVE her stuff!

stamps: SU's Small Saying, paper: Karen Foster's Family Spanish dp, unknown dark olive cardstock, SU's Kraft cardstock; ink: StazOn Jet Black; accessories: Bisous stickers - Fall; tools: Creative Memories' (retired) Handi Adjustable Round Circle Cutter (isn't that redundant?! ... LOL!)

ramblings ... this and that

It's Sunday and one of my Sunday traditions is to watch CBS's Sunday Morning show. I love it and have watched it since before Charles Kuralt retired, and since passed away. It's got a nice neighborly feel to the news and pieces of interest, and is on right now in the background as I update the blog.

On today's card, I dusted off an older tool. Beate's weekend challenge called for a circular piece mounted on a card, and I didn't have any large circle punches, so I pulled out my old Creative Memories' circle cutter. Now, they'd long since quit selling the old version that I used in favor of their more recent custom cutting system (which, yes, I admit I also have ... it's all about the toys, right?!). Originally offered with circles and ovals (and, using the different blades provided, this version cuts up to 18 different size circles), they now also offer a gemstone and wavy version. The older version was the first one I found in my scrapping stash and I pulled that out, but I've used this one lots also, and it's easy to use also. I recall when they offered the original cutter that cut only circular cuts telling my CM demonstrator that she should tell her engineer hubby to design something to cut varying sizes of oval mats, but someone beat him to it!

Have you watched the Inside Scrapbooking video available at MockUTV.com ? If you haven't, click the link to check out their preview. A spoof on all things scrappish, the kind folkes at MockUTV are donating $1 from every DVD sold through January 1st towards Autism Support Daily. Betcha PB didn't know he was a "scrubby!"

Thanksgiving's coming ...

Are you ready? ... a little bit of history ... I tend to procrastinate. OK, I guess that's an understatement. Last weekend one of my brothers was teasing me about it, recalling days gone by when I'd run to the bedroom to wrap a present when it's intended pulled up in the driveway.

Well, I've done it again. I stamped Halloween cards way in advance, then forgot to mail 'em 'til Halloween eve. This month Thanksgiving seems to have snuck up on me! Here's a card I made in response to Splitcoaststampers' sketch challenge SC150 - hope you like! I love the fall colors!

stamps: SU's Stem Silhouettes, paper: unknown brand burgundy, rust, yellow, white cardstock, Sandylion's Fall dp; inks: SU's Bravo Burgundy, VersaMark; tools: used crimper on rust cardstock

Happy Thanksgiving!

Angel's started a weekly challenge, and for this first one, there's absolutely NO STAMPING! I picked up the sequin ribbons in 3 different colors - gold, rose sheen (looks more like dark brown to me!) and white iris) from a recent outing to Jo-Ann's and the antique gold stickers from a Nat'l Scrapping Day road trip with some friends.

stamps: none; paper: a really pretty medium brown textured cardstock and white cardstock from stock on hand; ink: none; accessories: Stampendous Class A-Peel Stickers - Thanks Leaves, Fall Trees; CTMH White Daisy organdy ribbon, Novtex's gold 6mm sequins ribbon

happy b'day, ed!

One of my joke buddies, Ed, retired last year and his birthday's fast approaching. I made this card to buck around thru our workgroup and send out in time to make it to him for his big day. What's up with that, my friends are asking? Inquiring minds want to know - as I'm USUALLY right down to the wire making cards or wrapping presents the night before the event!

Maybe I've changed my ways! ... or maybe I just wanted to use the cute tool stickers! Or maybe I wanted to play with Julee T's Mojo Monday Week #10 challenge! ... or a combination of all of the above!

stamps: SU's Short & Sweet, Small Sayings (inside sentiment); paper: no-name-on bright yellow, dark grey and white; ink: StazOn Jet Black, ColorBox Silver pigment; accessories: Karen Foster's Construction Zone cardstock stickers and Creative Imaginations' Swatch Book impress-ons; tools: Cuttlebug and Happy Birthday embossing folder

Zero the Hero

I recall when my youngest attended kindergarten (back in those days I was a SAHM and the classroom helper Mom) that they had a series of math lessons based on Zero the Hero. It was cute - them making the zero out to be a wunderkid - and it's always stuck in my head, made me grin ...
Well, the kind folkes at the C-Thru Ruler Company have struck gold, in my opinion, with their Zero Hero Centering Ruler! Tho' it's not actually a "new" toy for me -- I've used it about a year or so now -- it's a staple I've kept with me in my traveling tool bag. I used it to find the center of the stamped items in yesterday's post.

product review: I know it's not THAT MUCH of a pain to hold a ruler to find the center of something; this just makes it SO much easier to accomplish! With this one being see-thru, you simply place it over while approximating the center of the item you're trying to center, then slide the ruler left/right until you have the same amount of space measured on either side of the zero ... and voila! You've found the center of your piece!

Isn't modern technology wonderful?! Later, alligators!

Angelosity's Sketch 11

This has been SO much fun! I only wish I'd found Angelosity's blog earlier, but it's deffinitely one I've added to my blog roll and Google Reader account. If you're not familiar with Angel, she's one incredibly talented stamper who's had a birthday blog candy roll of sorts on her blog, adding items to her basket of blog candy each day and posting a challenge.

So, happy birthday, Angel! Hope you keep running a weekly challenge as this has been SO much fun! I'm still checking who submitted what and scoping out all the links to others' blogs.

Side story to this stamp - I thought I'd lost this stamp, and was pretty much tearing up the house searching for it for at least a couple weeks; I thot I'd searched EVERYWHERE and finally broke down and ordered another set last month. Well, probably a week after receiving the new set (I'd still not cut the stamps, figuring it COULD still show up) I, naturally, found the original set! I'd told my lunch buddies my story and a couple are interested in the set now, having seen my last couple postings. It's SUCH a nice stamp set! Gotta love it! Sorry it's a bit washed out - I work an 8-5 job and it's now after 7:30 p.m. by the time I take pics to upload and the flash blasts a portion of the card - not enough hours in the day, y'know?!

added 12/18/2007 - stamping this in blue 'n white reminded me of some blue delft plates my Mom has ...

stamps: my all time fav, SU's A Tree for All Seasons; paper: CTMH's Outdoor Denim, SU's Brocade Blue, and white card stock I had on hand; ink: CTMH's Outdoor Denim; accessories: Deja Views' Rub-Ons - Holiday Fun; tools: EK Success' Stamp-a-ma-jig, C-Thru Ruler Company's Zero Hero Centering Ruler

Angelosity's Sketch 31

Just making this post under the wire ... with 15 more minutes to post during this day ... here's my post for Angelosity's daily challenge. I WAS just checking blogs before hitting the sack and then the circles down the center of today's sketch spoke to me. You see, I'd just picked up this ribbon from Michael's this past weekend!

Short on details 'cuz I just tossed everything back into it's storage ... stamps: Stampendous' Santa Trio, PAPERTREYink's Green Thumb; paper: red and white card stock from stash on hand; ink: Brilliance's black, waterbased markers on hand; accessories: Artic Antics ribbon

mama's got a brand new toy

OK, so I took liberty with the title - it's not a brand new toy. I got the Cuttlebug this past Mother's Day from my sweetie. I'd expressed wowisms for it's stylized flowers embossing tile and after checking the various embossers and their tiles decided this was the best fit for me. It was the only item on my wish list with the exception of some embossing tiles I'd have loved to receive with it. Problem is, every store the guys checked stock at were out of those I liked so they got me the Cuttlebug but no plates!

product review: I'd used the Ellison system since my kids were small (having volunteered at their schools since kindergarten days) so I understood the concept of die cutters. In the case of the Cuttlebug, setup is a piece of cake. Take the machine out of the box and place it on a flat surface. The machine input/output platforms are packaged folded up to the center, so you grip them and push down to lower them from a vertical to horizontal position which also makes the suction cups adhere the Cuttlebug to your flat surface. Put card stock between two pieces of an embossing folder if embossing, or above a cutting die with the cutting die facing up if die cutting. Place the item you're embossing or die cutting between two cutting pads and place all of this above a spacer pad, place everything on the machine platform, and turn the handle to make it pass thru the embosser. Other makers' dies and embossing plates can be used on this machine, which comes with an adapter cutting pad for that purpose. Want more info? Read more at the Provo Craft site.

Voila! Isn't modern technology wonderful?!

Angelosity's Sketch 29

I'm submitting this card for Angelosity's blog candy - she's been posting challenges daily leading up to her birthday and my card's submitted for this post/sketch. It's twisted around a bit ... and I suppose I'm taking liberty to do that. I THOT about taking it apart and regluing but worried that I'd bend it.

I made a triangle tri-fold card using one of my favorite stamp sets for this challenge. The smaller pic is the inside, and the larger pic shows the outside of the card, closed.

These pics are kinda washed out - I'll try and replace them tomorrow when it's brighter outside.

stamps: SU's A Tree for All Seasons, SU's Snowman Fun, Technique Tuesday's Borderline: Holidays; paper: CTMH's Outdoor Denim, SU's Always Artichoke and Shimmery White; inks: CTMH's Outdoor Denim, StazOn's Jet Black, asst'd waterbased markers; tools: Cuttlebug and its Snowflakes embossing folder

celebrating Sue's b'day

We got together today for a movie and eats - the three Sue's and Barb ... aka the 4 amigos! Sue celebrated a milestone b'day this past month and was out of town at the time. Now that she was home we scoped out John Cusack's latest movie, The Martian Child. Everybody seemed to agree it was pretty good, as was food later!

stamps: SU's Stem Silhouettes; paper: Bazzill's coordinating set to BasicGrey's Stella Ruby, Harvest's patterned vellum; ink: StazOn's Jet Black, few coordinating watercolor markers I had on hand; accessories: May Arts dotted swiss ribbon in unknown color

Mike's belated b'day

I've been neglectful... it's been over a week since I've posted - dunno what's up with THAT and promise to return more frequently! I'm also past due in shipping some b'day cards to my sister's house. Her favorite season's autumn. I dunno; do you think it could be because she had 3 children in the month of October!?

stamps: SU's Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories; paper: Bazzill's cardstock set coordinating the Basic Grey's Stella Ruby, The Paper Company's white vellum, Harvest's printed vellum, SU's Whisper White; inks: StazOn Jet Black, some watercolor markers I had on hand

added 11-04: This and tomorrow's posting use printed vellum from the same pkg - Harvest -which may be brand and may be style name ... don't recall where I picked it up but this one's scattered with fall leaves ... LOVE it!

eek - a Halloween card!

No stamping was done in the creation of this card. However, an earlier Halloween card used larger googly eyes and made me think of this concept ... so, voila! The only question that needs answering now is ... what the heck do I do with the other 394 eyes that came in the package?!

stamps: none; paper: some no-name-found black and purple card stock, some no-name-found green-to-purple dp - both that I had on hand; ink: none; accessories: Westrim Crafts' wiggle eyes, Making Memories' halloween rub-ons

all that glitters

Not a card, per se, but a Halloween decoration that I made at my last QuicKutz club meeting for today's post. Jan, one of our club members, led the group in making this cutie. She was able to pick up a take-out box that could be covered by a single 12x12" sheet of paper. The Boo and flowers are all aglitter!

Some folkes painted the sticks black; I may paint 'em orange at some point ... so much to do, so little time!

stamps: none; paper: Karen Foster's Boo, don't recall the others; ink: inked edges in SU's Pumpkin Pie; accessories: QuicKutz's witch hat and cat (hidden, on sides), Accucut diecut lg flowers, Stickles in Platinum and Black Diamond, Glitter Writer in purple, Mod Podge, green glitter, ghost puffy ribbon cut apart, shredded papers and styrofoam box filler

trick or treat!

Splitcoast Stampers' Sketch Challenge #145 was the inspiration for this card ... but I wanted to make it in a landscape format - my thinking that both the stamps and DP didn't really lend themselves to a portrait format.

The bottom front of the card base is cut away and the fence stamped on the inside of the card, and the house, witch and tree stamped and double-matted then popped up and affixed to the front of the card. I'd picked up the ribbon late last year and this was my first time using it.

It may not be entirely clear that the candy corn, sentiment, dots and orange squiggly on the DP are all slightly raised and sparkly; the house etc are also stamped on SU sparkly cardstock.

stamps: SU's Home Is Where the Haunt Is; paper: Heidi Grace's Jeepers Creepers Candy Corn Shimmer Glitter, SU's Shimmery White, and no-name black and orange cardstock; ink: Brilliance Graphite Black; accessories: Bobbin Ribbon's Seasons and Making Memories' halloween rub-ons (for inside sentiment)

ho! ho! ho!

While I SHOULD be working on Thanksgiving cards, I've been being lazy and instead took a 1/2 day vacation today and went golfing with my DH and next door neighbors, then picked up pizzas and watched a movie with my son.

Last year I mainly used different versions of cards made from SU's Loads of Love stamp for Christmas. In response to a post at Janine's 2bKrafty blog, I used one of my favorite stamps on this card, which I made last year but didn't send out. Methinks this'll be this year's Christmas card.

stamps: SU's A Tree for All Seasons, Hero Arts' Solitary Snowflake; paper: SU's night of navy, handsome hunter, and some white linen cardstock I had on hand; ink: SU's night of navy; I then colored in the image w pencils I had on hand

boss's day 2007

just a LITTLE bit strange, but I didn't actually make a card for my boss this year, but one for our controller, Beth. I picked up a Hallmark "hail to the chief" song card for my boss this year. I made one based on a couple pieces of inspiration for Beth (see below post). I'd recently shared a sample of Debbie's with her and we both admired it; I planned on making a card using the Pier 1 giftcard as inspiration and the two just sorta evolved ...

stamps: SU's small sayings; paper: asst'd SU and CTMH scraps, and plain white vellum; ink: Brilliance's moonlight white; accessories: Hedgehog Ink's eyelets

boss's day inspiration

... the inspiration to the making of my boss's day card - a card by Debbie Severino and a Pier 1 gift card (pardon the flash)

;-}

(sheepish grin)

belated b'day greetings

My niece Jenny's b'day was this past Friday and my Sis' often calls her "Princess." I so HAD to pick up this iron-on when I spotted it in the dollar bin at Jo-Ann's!

stamps: SU's small sayings; paper: My Mind's Eye's Party "Sisters" Paisley, SU's Rose Red cardstock; ink: SU's Rose Red; accessories: My Mind's Eye's confetti grosgrain ribbon, Crafty Productions' iron-on applique

Happy Belated Birthday, Jen!

Life isn't about finding yourself

A rub-on that made me think of my niece Jessy was behind this card - "Life isn't about finding yourself; it's about creating yourself."

stamps: SU's Stem Silhouettes; paper: Paper Loft's Queen's Garden from their Well Worn collection, SU's creamy caramel and bravo burgundy cardstock, misc black cardstock; ink: SU's creamy caramel, bravo burgundy; accessories: Delish Designs SHE snack pack rub-on transfers

I simply rolled around the stamped image in the burgundy ink to add a tinge of color to the fern. It IS fall, after all!

World Card Day - Oct 6

So, how'd YOU celebrate World Card Day?

I'd signed up for a QuicKutz club project at at my LSS. Just as I was about wrapping up my piece - more on that later - and making plans to hit some local craft stores w my buddy Pat, my DH called telling me to call another bud, Claudia. Claudia in turn suggested a field trip to a few stores south of us that I'd not yet visited, so Pat, Claudia, and another card-makin' bud, Katy, got together for a whirdwind tour of 3 shops in the Troy area.

This is my favorite make-and-take project, which we completed at the Archiver's located in Sterling Heights MI.

stamps: Stampendous; ink: Brilliance graphite black; accessories: black flocking; tools: 2-in-1 glue pen

Mom's Overture by Anita Renfroe

this and that ...

A little bit of this, a little of that ... fall AND Halloween! Here's two cards I made recently in a Halloween card class that Karen from Capture-a-Memory taught.

Short on specifics ... the spider, e-f-k letters, and exclamation mark were die-cuts. We cut the "f" out of cardboard stock, then paper and glued together, and the a-l-l of "fall" were from a Technique Tuesday stamp set. The rest of the leaves were from various small punches.

Isn't the spider cute with the googly eyes?! Ooh! That gave me an idea for another card!!

back to halloween

In random fashion as is generally the way I think, I'm back to thinking Halloween, so here's another card I made recently ...

I spotted this paper at my LSS a few weeks ago and don't know WHAT possessed me to only pick up one page!! When I returned a week later to pick up more, they were out of stock - bummer!

stamps: SU's home is where the haunt is; ink: ColorBox's peach pastel, charcoal; paper: Colormate's desert dune, black I had on hand; accessories: Hedgehog Ink eyelets; tools: Fiskars eyelet setters

Crystal's Christmas class

I went to Crystal's Christmas card class yesterday, and here's my favorite of the cards we made.

The landscape version is the one offered in the class; the other is just a different "take" on the card that I made. Usually my buddy Pat and I like to make one of each, altering one or the other and compare our results afterwards.

product - all SU - stamps: Big on Christmas, Christmas Chatter (jumbo roller); ink: soft sky, purely pomegranate, pumpkin pie, basic black, mellow moss; paper: soft sky, purely pomegranate, whisper white; accessories: dazzling diamonds stampin' glitter

another halloween card

I made my halloween cards early this year, along with some fall ones ... but generally I'm a procrastinator and am making cards the week I'm sending them out! Here's another, using snipped ghosts from some t'riffic "ribbon" I picked up from a LSS. I didn't get the name of the supplier, but they had strings of tiny puffy bats, ghosts, and one other item (hmmnn ... was it jack-o-lanterns?) joined together. I've used the bats on some other cards.

stamps: SU's home is where the haunt is (inside sentiment); ink: Brilliance's graphite black; paper: no-name bright orange, black I had on hand

gotta love this orange!

This is my husband PB's favorite of this year's Halloween cards. He leans towards minimalist cards and in fact told me "less is more" when I asked him what sort of pic I should use on this one.

stamps: SU's home is where the haunt is, spooky skyline; ink: ColorBox's peach pastel, Brilliance's graphite black, Versamark; paper: Colormate's desert dune, black I had on hand; accessories: Making Memories' halloween mini rub-ons; tools: SU's jumbo roller