gourds get inked!

I mentioned to my buddy Mary that I'd picked up a used stamp that I thought complimented this Fall Harvest stampin' around. I used it on the front of this vellum piece, then embossed the berries and outlines of the gourds and watercolored it from the rear, making it appear very muted IRL ... tho' I must admit I don't have a clue as to what color these gourds should be ... let's call it taking artistic license, LOL! I'm assuming that large one's zucchini but what's with that rough-textured gourd, eh?! The card's layout is based on sketch #36 challenge at the Whiff of Joy blog, and I'm a sucker for the TT borderline stamps and probably have 4-5 sets - they're addictive.

PB's brothers were on the receiving end of the square Thanksgiving cards and the largest card size I generally tackle - these measure 5-1/2" square. PB's brothers are twins, and one lives pretty close to us while the other's in New York and we don't see nearly as often as we'd like. My Thanksgiving cards were late to them; we'll see how well I do on sending Christmas cards in a timely manner. PB (my other half) offered to drop them at the Holly MI post office this year so they'll potentially have a Christmas-y cancellation stamp. I'll have to mail one envelope to our home address to see whether the village of Holly makes them special.

stamps: PSX K-3183 gourds, SU's Fall Harvest, studio g's series 20, Technique Tuesday's Borderline: Holidays; paper: graphic 45 Botanicabella Collection, SU's More Mustard, Really Rust, Vellum and Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black, SU's Always Artichoke, Close To Cocoa, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust; accessories: eyelets from a previous eyelet share (Heidi of Hedgehog Ink blog fame - if you order any tell her Sue sent ya and she should reward me by sending me some brads! hey, it could happen!)

merry Christmas Micki!

Micki led us in making this card back on the 3rd at a get-together at a buddy's house, and I'm just getting it posted ... BAD blogger that I am. It's funny sometimes where we find accessories, tho' - the cardinal in the tree was part of a frequent customer card punch from a LSS that closed a year or so ago. My Mom collects cardinals so I couldn't just toss the bird out - I'd cut it from the card and it's been on my PC's keyboard all this time just waiting to be placed in a good home. Today I noticed it and thought it'd be nice to use on a Christmas card ... then I remembered I still hadn't posted THIS card, and voila!

stamps: CTMH's December Word Puzzle, Evergreen, studio g series 22 (inside sentiment); paper: SU's Kraft, Whisper White cardstocks; ink: CTMH's Garden Green, New England Ivy, Holiday Red; accessories: cardinal from frequent stamper card, unknown red ribbon

Black Friday

"Black Friday," besides being referred to as the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season, is the topic of today's challenge at Stamp Something's weekly challenge blog and Saturday's OCC's snowmen/snowflake challenge. Me? I prefer to lay low the day after Thanksgiving and have picked up presents thruout the year, tho' I'm not done shopping yet by any means.

did you know? ... the busiest shopping day, both in terms of traffic AND money exchanging hands in the U.S., is usually the Saturday preceding Christmas!

stamps: unknown 4-sided snowflake cube, Hero Arts Solitary Snowflake; paper: Paper Reflections' black, SU's Vellum, Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: unknown organza ribbon

edited to add: My heart goes out to the family of the temporary worker at the Long Island NY Wal-Mart store who was trampled this morning moments after the store's opening, and of the shooting victims at a Palm Desert CA Toys 'R' Us store. Reports differ on news of injuries at these and other stores but it appears there were other injuries as well. Their families are in my prayers.

Thanksgiving & Tom Hanks?!

Check out the cute poem at Cosmo Cricket's Thanksgiving post (here)!

Speaking of movies, we broke from tradition and rather than Miracle on 34th Street (I'll have to pull out my Miracle DVD for later this evening), watched Wall-E this afternoon w family (it's on my eldest son's wish list and he doesn't know we've picked it up for Christmas. We rented it this past weekend and he's planning on asking Santa for it.).

happy Thanksgiving!

here's wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving! my brother and Mom are on their way to my house after dropping my eldest brother, who's been visiting since Sunday, at the airport. it'll be a small gathering at our house this year since my sis is working and my bro'-in-law is at his wife's family's home. we picked up the smallest turkey I think I've ever cooked (a 15 lb'er) but I think there'll still be enough for left-overs. good thing, 'cuz my niece had to work today too, so she's not coming up w her Dad.

this is one of my couple remaining turkey day cards to still share, based on the CPS90 sketch.

stamps: studio g series 20; paper: graphic 45 Botanicabella Collection DP, A1 Natural and SU's More Mustard, Really Rust cardstocks, ink: StazOn's Jet Black, SU's Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust; accessories: some small fall leaves I had on hand, Cuttlebug and Textile embossing folder

make your season bright!

Here's a Christmas card based on this week's SplitcoastStampers' SC204 sketch challenge. Now I don't recall what I'd stopped by to pick up last weekend at my LSS with my son (who waited in the car, mind you ... the pressure, eh?!) while out on errands, but this DP had been right by the entry ... and the rest, as they say, is history! I still made it a QUICK stop and didn't even run to try my hand at quickly matching it to their cardstock which they store on a separate floor. I was being a GOOD Mom as I knew he wanted outta there in the worst way and probably anticipated the worst but was most appreciatedly not complaining when I mentioned we'd be making a quick pit stop, LOL ~ it must be nearing Christmas-time!

stamps: studio g series 22; paper: My Mind's Eye Be Merry Trim The Tree DP, SU's Kiwi Kiss, Kraft, Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: CTMH cranberry brads, SU's Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla satin ribbon; tools: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities and crimper

things I've done ...

I found this list on Toners' blog and thought it'd be fun to play along, so here goes. If you want to play, just copy the list and highlight or underline the ones you've done :)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (it's a mental health day, right?!)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Fostered a rescue animal

happy b'day Pat!

My buddy Pat's b'day is approaching and her daughter's in town under somewhat false pretenses ... as she's bringing Pat to a restaurant this evening where we hope to surprise the begeebers outta her (don't 'cha just love blogs' scheduled post option? this is safely being submitted for my Sunday post so Pat doesn't see the post if she's online today)!

A few of her regular lunch buddies went in together on a group gift - the "sewing basket" pictured here and a Hobby Lobby gift card - and I made the group card, based on the CPS71 sketch. Recognize the DP? I scanned the fabric from the storage box to use on the card - so proud of my resourcefulness, I am (Yoda-speak)! It's SO matchy-matchy, eh?!

stamps: Kitchen Sink's Ready 4 Any Holiday, SU's Pocket Silhouettes, Short & Sweet; paper: SU's Bordering Blue, Rose Red, Whisper White; ink: SU's Bordering Blue, Rose Red

Nov 21 class pix

These are a sampling of a few of my fav projects from yesterday's stampin' get-together. I've been joining about 20 or so friends and acquaintances at a monthly get-together hosted by a CTMH and SU rep (Micki and Mary, respectively) who take turns hosting and leading us in crafts. Yesterday evening was Mary's turn. Thanx, Mary! I loved 'em all!

Gorgeous, eh? No deets to share other than they're mainly SU supplies. Mary and I share SO MANY common likes - for instance, I'd picked up the same 2008 calendars last year from the same vendor - stamp on this! 'tho I seem to recall they offered more color and style options last year. They've lots of other goodies too - I've been pleased w their chipboard coasters, not sure what else I've ordered in the past ...

t'is the season

"t'is the season" is from one of my studio g stamp sets. I made a quick card by repeatedly stamping it using Versamark for the background, and on white for the main sentiment. I'd picked up the stars border punch recently at Mike's using a 40% off coupon that'd been burning a hole in my pocket. Easy peasy!

stamps: studio g series 22 stamps; paper: SU's Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White cardstocks; ink: Versamark and StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: JoAnn's black satin ribbon, Heidi Swapp's snowflakes ghost shapes, Martha Stewart's star border punch

ho ho ho!

Here's another quick card featuring some $1 bin glitzy cardstock dies from JoAnn's that I picked up this past weekend.

stamps: studio g (inside) sentiment; paper: SU's Green Galore, Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: unknown green/white polka dotted organza ribbon from a ribbon share, Cuttlebug and snowflakes embossing folder (possibly my all-time fav folder!)

Creative Memories files Ch11

Read more about it here in the Wall Street Journal's Market Watch weekend edition. I've not scrapbooked in a while but they've been one of my main suppliers for adhesive and albums ... hope all goes well with the restructuring.

peace

After lunch w friends Saturday I stopped by my local JoAnn's to support the local economy (we've a new Hobby Lobby in town and I ALMOST supported the local economy THERE, but learned they don't accept competitors' coupons! Whazzup w THAT?!). FWIW, both the local JoAnn's and Mike's accept each others' coupons, and I had 5 coupons burning a hole in my pocket that all expired yesterday so you'll be glad to know I made good use of 'em, LOL (40% off 4 larger priced items and 10% off the rest of my order)! Our JoAnn's is a big anchor store, and for the stuff I was looking for, their selection was a whole lot better than that at Hobby Lobby. The new kid in town was the clear winner in number of customers in their store, and I'm looking forward to scoping out their stamping selection in the near future. I'm hopeful that the new competition has our Mike's thinking of refurbishing their local store; I've read some nice stuff in blogs lately of those Mike's that've taken the plunge already.

This glittered chipboard piece, "Peace," was among the dollar bin stuff I picked up while in the checkout line (I know, I'm as bad as my kids). It made me think of my Dad - he used to greet and end conversations with it and I'd picked up a peace sentiment stamp a few years back, thinking of him. So here's wishing you all peace this early Sunday morning!

stamps: studio g (inside) sentiment; paper: SU's Real Red, Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: SU's Real Red grosgrain ribbon

CAM make-'n-take

I dropped my youngest son off at MCC so he could work on a project and went to meet a few friends for a birthday celebration dinner ... and had about 20 minutes to spare. Rather than risk the chance of anyone having a heart attack on account of my being 20 minutes early, I dropped by my LSS to scope out the Saturday make-'n-take.

My Christmas cards are well under way now! Tho' it's hard to tell from the pic, the ornaments are cut out and popped up. The ribbon's matted on black cardstock. All materials provided by the store; I don't know any of the deets!

so thankful for you

I'm lovin' this DP from the kind folkes at Graphic 45 - it plays SO NICELY w my my fav SU color collection, the Earth Elements family (and old olive my most often reached for cardstock yet)! I based the card on this past Saturday's Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT) from Jen del Muro's I{heart}2stamp blog.

I stamped the window and used a craft knife to cut out the window portions, then sponged creamy caramel on the edges of the mustard cardstock I double matted it to. I'd meant to add clear acrylic as windows but forgot 'til it was all glued together ... and decided to leave it as is and just move on! The acrylic sentiment is from Ali Edwards' site - she'd posted some Thanksgiving freebie sentiments on her blog a while back. Ali's also posted a freebie font download on her blog, one I use frequently ... but then, I'm a fontaholic, and seem to collect 'em. That and needlepoint projects. I'm not saying I have lots of FINISHED needlepoint projects, mind you! sigh ... just ask my DH, whose closet floor I've taken over for that particular hobby!

the deets - stamps: SU's Window Dressing, studio g's series 20 (inside sentiment); paper: Graphic 45's Botanicabella Collection DP, SU's More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black, SU's Creamy Caramel, Brilliance Graphite Black, Tri-C watercolor markers; accessories: JoAnn's champagne organza ribbon, Making Memories' black mini brads

SheetLoad's Blog Candy Blow Out

I SHOULD be busy card-making ... after all, I DID take a 1/2 day off work today to do just that and start on some Thanksgiving cards. Instead, I've been checking blogs. Here's a post that I HAD to share, tho':

The kind folkes at Sheetload of Cards' blog are having a Blog Candy Blow Out! See the booty pictured? Four lucky winners will split that! Interested? See this post asap!

These are the same kind folkes offering entire sets of studio g releases that I've been picking up lately. Stop and visit ... and tell 'em Sue sent ya! later, 'gators!

life's a beach

... and then you retire! I made this card for my boss to give to our CIO who just retired. No stamps were damaged in the making of this card; it's a paper and digital crafted item ... ok, with some Jolee's items tossed in!

Does the idea of the Silhouette intrigue others besides me? When I lifted the title text from a Jolee's title wave I was thinking I could print whatever titles I liked IF I'd purchased one by now ... sigh ...

I lifted the overall design from his farewell party invite and retired-life-cards he distributed at one of the parties folkes threw for him at work.

My DH suggested the "sand" - it's Canadian steak seasoning, so after Jim reads the card, he can eat it ... nah, I actually ended up coating it w Mod Podge, so I wouldn't recommend eating it later! The sun is sprayed w Gold Glimmer Mist. I did a "This is You Life" for the inside of the card, w 6 pages showing pics lifted from his college yearbooks, pics from the frat house he was in, added logos of different places he'd worked before becoming our CIO, etc. so it's more like a mini photo album than a card. Hope he likes it!

sharing class pics

A few friends and I got together this week to stamp, and Micki led us in making an assortment of 8 Christmas and seasonal cards including the 4 pictured at left. I'd spotted this cute elf set a couple months ago but put off ordering the set 'til now. We got to color these cuties, then pick and choose from Micki's stash to use whatever sentiments we liked ... FUN! Thanx, Micki!

(all products CTMH) stamps: Christmas Scripts, December Word Puzzle, Merry Pursuits; paper: Evensong Collection; ink: Archival Black; accessories: Colonial White ric rac and Holiday Red grosgrain ribbons, Holiday Red and New England Ivy brads, Prisma glitter (yes, the snowman's not REALLY pink; it just photographs that way!)

America Votes!

They're talking about probable record voter turnout in Michigan, where I live. It was my youngest's first experience voting, and we made it a family affair this a.m., voting before we headed to work and classes.

I'd purchased these specialty QuicKutz dies last month, thinking of making a card for one of my fav peeps, a political junkie of sorts, so this one's headed to her in the a.m. It's based on Laura's sketch #12 at the 2 Sketches 4 You blog. The acrylic piece, America, was a find during a sale this past summer at my fav LSS, and I dotted the "i" with a specialty star brad using my Crop-a-dile (cut thru that thick acrylic like buttuh, baby!). The color of the original picture wasn't true so I took another pic in daylight before delivering the card ... to Pat (did those who know me guess its intended recipient?). The dark blue at left is actually CTMH's Outdoor Denim, which is a medium-to-dark navy that I'd originally picked up LOTS of to use in my youngest son's album, but it almost looked like Royal Blue in the fluorescent light above my printer ... It'd been past 10 p.m. when I finished the card, too lazy to pull out my portable photo studio.

stamps: n/a; paper: CTMH's Outdoor Denim, SU's Real Red and Whisper White; ink: n/a; accessories: My Mind's Eye's Parade "Celebrate" America Title, SU's Real Red grosgrain ribbon, I Voted sticker from the polls

happy Nov 1st!

FYI, I just learned from Linda at just-a-scrappin of the Michaels Scrapbooking/Paper Crafts Sweepstakes. Apparently the kind folkes at Michael's and CreatingKeepsakes.com have joined forces, holding a monthly contest running from May-Dec 2008. The grand prize is $100 and they're also awarding ten prizes of $20 each month. To enter, submit your creative ideas (scrapbook pages, cards, decorations, home dec and gift ideas) on the Michaels group (to date, 34 members strong ... let's join 'em, eh?!) on CreatingKeepsakes.com, a community for scrapbookers and papercrafters.

The remaining monthly themes are: November – Thanksgiving, and December – Winter & Winter Holidays. Hey, better late than never, right?!

p.s. To check out the other groups on CreatingKeepsakes.com, see here.