Stuck..

Did you ever feel stuck? Comfortable with what you do but not thinking of something different. I decided to try mixing some different colors plus a plaid with non-typical Christmas pattern. This is the first of several ideas. The plaid DP is from the scrapbox(unknown) as are the bolder brads.The image is from Gina K and was colored with Zig markers. The cardstock is discontinued SU.
Happy Crafting!

Be Happy Every Day

I needed a new home card in a hurry and finished this one in time to get it into the mail today. I used the CHF Primitive House(unfortunately they recently closed their business), along with Be happy from Hero Arts. I liked the casual unevenness of the sentiment. The panel was edged with Distress Ink Spiced Marmalade and double mounted with a scrap of Bazzill Tangarine. I got the SU Slot Punch at the recent swap and it is so helpful with ribbon placement. The ribbon is from May Co. and the image was stamped with Memento London Fog.
Happy Crafting!

Santa's Back

One of my favorite Christmas stamps is Rubber Stampede's Country Santa. I have had it a long time and every few years I reinvent him..change him to look different. This year I am adding a Swirly Doodle from HOTP #7326 sheet. I lightly traced the swirl from the sheet and then added Zig marker on it. Finally, I went over the design with Picket Fence Distress Stickles. The final touch, a piece of the antique lace trim from my stash. A Fiskars border punch created the design on the panel.
Happy Crafting!

Another Store "Garage Sale"

My favorite LSS store had another of their bring it and sell it sales. It's a 1 day event, the sellers mark their own prices using a letter assigned by the store signup list and for their sales get paid in store credit. Each shopper pays the store directly for their purchases -easy peasy ...and fun for the shoppers in particular. I have been going to these for a couple of years now and it's always interesting to see what is hauled in and placed on tables in the workshop area for sale. I did find some goodies(of course). I got a package of 8 acrylic blocks for cling stamps for$1.00, New Inkadinkado Winter Shapes clear stamp set - $1.00, Memory Box Vintage ornaments stamp set-$2.00,SU cling set Bouquet Bunch new-$2.50 plus a package of SU Purely Pomegranate paper -$1.00 (I assume it's discontinued but it will be perfect for holiday cards).I also found a slot punch from SU for $2.00 and a package of 40 8mm brads for 25cents. Great buys and the store was packed as one could imagine. All items left over are donated to a local women's shelter . Check out any sales like this where you live. It's a good thing and a chance to get "new " stuff for yourself at bargain prices.
Happy Crafting!

One Kind Word

I won this Petal Press IHP set last year, and it didn't even get inked. It included 4 toppers for the sled and 3 phrases. I pulled out my 3D Snow paint to create the puffs of texture on the border. Just added a flower in the corner, and water colored the images for an old fashioned look. It is from Tracy Schultz/Petal Press.
Happy Crafting!

Papercrafting Group

At church, we have a monthly papercrafting meeting. This month,I was in charge of creating a 2 page scrapbook project. I thought about the idea of remembering family recipes. We had fun as we worked on the pages and people spoke about their memories of cooking with their Mom, or Grandmom or a loved one.
We used Recollections -Mom's Diner DP for the banners(on clearance at $.09 per sheet), the 12x12 cardstock was from Big Lots at $.50 per package of 20 sheets). I brought my Sidekick and people could cut out the corners with dies and MS embossed heart punch was used also.The Cricut From the Kitchen cartridge was used to cut Stir and the oven mitt.I copied old family photos on my copy machine to include on my pages.I also copied two family cookie recipes written by my Mom to include on the pages too.
Happy crafting!

Ask,Seek and Knock

I had an order for book marks for a church school class. I made the book marks but forgot to take a photo of them. The children were receiving their Bibles and my friend wanted a special book mark for each of them as a gift. I made the card to thank her for her order. The stamp is from a set from ODBD(Ask, Seek, Knock) ,along with the die from Nellie's Multi Frame's. The ribbon is from the scrap box and the flower is from a swap.It was stamped with Memento's Sepia ink.
Happy Crafting!

New Challenge

I noticed a autumn card challenge to use fall colors ,on Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog and thought I would try it out. I used an oldie Peddler's Pack leaf stamp along with a stamp from ODBD Lift up our Hands set. The leaf image was sponged with a variety of Distress inks as well as was the sentiment . The Die is from Nellie's Multi Frames. A bit of twine and a thinking of you card is ready for the mail in the morning.
Happy Crafting!

Pumpkin Time

I forgot that I bought this autumn folder last year from CB but it is a great start for any seasonal cards. I thought just a pumpkin on the front would look nice using the oval shape from the Windows Sizzix set. Older items do come in handy on the budget. The flower was made from two circle punched papers crumpled and sprayed with Glimmer Mist . Just a kraft paper card and scraps of paper,a brad and ribbon were used to create this card with a hint of Distress Ink and Stickles.
Happy Crafting!

Something old, something new

Several blogs are promoting old things are new again... In this case, my Too Much Fun Stamps Reindeer stamp is a vintage one. I have had it a long... time. It was stamped, watercolored, then Diamond Stickles were applied on the stars. The Cuttlebug folder is new from Oh My Crafts(brickyard). The silver ribbon and brads added for a touch of shiny and I liked it combined with the Kraft folder.. Happy Crafting!

Autumn is coming!

One of my favorite times of the year in Michigan is Autumn. The gorgeous leaves turn beautiful colors on the trees and it will be apple picking time. I got this set recently from Clear Dollar Stamps (Pumpkin Blessings).Using kraft card stock, some beautiful ribbon and simple twine along with some distress ink, the card was complete. Just some brass brads to add an accent to the ruffled ribbon and my first Thanksgiving card is completed. I enjoy sending cards to friends to let them know I am thinking of them throughout the year. Happy Crafting!

I don't understand...

my computer <8-(>... I had several separate viruses attack it over the last few days and finally it is better( after using a variety of scanning spyware programs on it )according to my husband... I try to be careful where I visit but I guess I will be more cautious for now. He didn't want me to use his computer to avoid problems for himself so I have been staying away from blogging for days now. I had a friend from church ask me about ordering Christmas cards yesterday so I guess I better get busy with that when I can do , I am working on some projects for the Holiday Bazaar at church. I will be sharing them soon.
Happy crafting!

Have a magical day!

Before we know it, it will be Halloween. When I was a child, no one focused on anything but a day of dress up time and fun for the occasion. We went trick or treating for UNICEF and homemade treats were given out like popcorn balls made by the neighbor down the block. Times are different and our church is holding a Autumn Festival with face painting, costumes, hot dog roast and special desserts to keep our children safe.A storyteller will be there to tell spooky stories, and maybe a fun video will be shown. I'm wishing a fun time for all and thought this CAS card would be fun to send to my family members with small children.The front panel is a Cuttlebug Haunted Halloween folder. After embossing, the front was sponged with a variety of Distress Inks.A ribbon tie was added to the card beneath the panel to keep the card closed. The inside has a popout BOO! The children should enjoy it.
Happy Crafting!

Something New!

As I read my emails over the weekend, I noticed that there was a sale at Clear Dollar Stamps.The prices were excellent but they only had a certain number of each special stamp sets and when they ran out the prices would return to the regular prices. I carefully selected just 4 sets, although I was tempted to order more, and they arrived today.This set was perfect for a Halloween idea I had with the addition of a portion of a Studio G clothesline stamp I already own.The image was stamped with Mementos Tuxedo Black ink and then watercolored. The" house" was sponged with Distress Ink Pumice. The "roof line" was cut with a Fiskar's punch and then Stickles Black Diamonds were added for an accent. The image was masked to add on the "cat clothesline". The sentiments included are cute and I chose this one , Friends are never a pane.
Happy crafting!

Mystery Stamp

Another unmounted stamp from my box of unknowns was this one. I stamped it, embossed it (haven't done that recently), and colored it in with my Zig markers.The piece of corregated sage paper was from the scrapbox. The fall ribbon was a clearance find last year at Target(-75%!). The cardstock was sponged with Pumice Distress Ink.The Hello stamp was from SU and both were inked in Mementos Black Tuxedo. Happy Crafting!

Happy Labor Day

weekend for those in the USA and in Australia..Happy Father's Day. We are away visiting family and will be back on Tuesday. Keep safe!Happy Crafting too.

Tidings of Great Joy

The Uptown Stamp Company sold a line of stamps by Sandi Gore Evans (too many years ago).This was one of my favorite Christmas stamps from her stamp line. When I made the card originally, I hadn't included any lace, nor thought to modify the colors as were indicated in a stamping magazine I bought. Today,I made it again and included some of the antique lace I bought at an estate sale and used it as a partial frame.It was watercolored after being stamped with Mementos-Tuxedo Black Ink.Next it was mounted on black card stock before being attached to a pale blue card. Another card for the Christmas card box. Happy Crafting.

Happy Harvest

While cleaning, I ran across a small box of my older stamps much to my delight. I had forgotten about them so it was like rediscovering an old friend.Among them was this SU set from 1994. I combined the truck from the Loads of Love set with a Studio G sentiment to give it an autumn theme. I cut a road for the truck to ride on and then watercolored the white paper . The sky was sponged on using Versacolor Sky blue. The flowers are a separate stamp from the set, and colored in using the Zig markers.My sunflowers are in bloom in my garden.These flowers on the truck were colored as I was thinking of them.Happy Crafting!