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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Have a Rice day!


So that wasn't my last post for 2014!  This one is!

A sweet little birthday card...

SPIES:
STAMPS: Image and Sentiment - Rice Rice Baby (SugarPea Designs).
PAPER: White cardbase.  Yellow and Red cardstock; Background - wrapping paper.
INK: Copics on Image; Sentiment - Black Onyx (Versafine).
EXTRAS: Small tag die (Reverse Confetti); Stitched round mat (Lil' Inker Designs); chat balloon (Taylored Expressions); Striped emboss folder (Sizzix).

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:

Little Red Wagon #269 - Happy Birthday

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The PINK Elephant Challenge# 279 - Week #4!

There's still time to play

The PINK Elephant Challenge #279!



Come play with us!

Challenge goest til 11:59 pm January 4, 2015!

PINK Elephant Blessings!
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Monday, December 22, 2014

Merry Trees

One of my last posts for 2014...

SPIES:
PAPER: White, olive  and red cardstock; DP - Sparkle and Shine (Papertrey Ink).
EXTRAS: Tree die (Papertrey Ink); Merry die sentiment (Taylored Expressions); stitched rectangle mat (Lil Inker Designs); heart gems.

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:
Little Red Wagon #268 - Anything Goes

Merry Christmas Blessings!

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Saturday, December 20, 2014

Craft Buddy Tribute

Cricket Jack Salkeld
June 16, 2003-December 20, 2014

I lost my crafty buddy today. 

So, I felt I had to pay a little tribute to her here on my blog.  

She was pretty much glued to me 24/7 at home for the past 10 years.  She was suppose to be my youngest son, Ben's dog but the first night we adopted her she latched on to me and well, as they say...the rest was history!

She stayed with me in bed when I was ill, after my surgeries and knew anytime I was sad or upset.  She knew she could count on me for treats and scraps and cupcakes on her birthday.  

She laid at my feet in this little pink bed during all the long hours and late, late nights I crafted.  Many times it took her getting up, going towards the door and just staring at me as to say "Mom, it's time for bed" to get me to go to bed at times.

Even my going to the restroom alone sent her into whining fits on the other side of the door.  My family tells me when I would leave the house, she would sit and whine incessantly for me and that she knew the sound of my car so much that even before I pulled in the driveway she would get VERY vocally excited, as only Jack Russells can do, and could not be settled or consoled until I came through the door and hugged her.  

I did nothing in the house that she was not involved in if in no other way than to sit beside me and watch.  Her bed sat on the floor on my side of the bed.  However, the nights the Hubs worked (usually 3-5), she slept in my bed cuddled beside me.  She was the only other female in our household.  She pretty much became the  "princess" of the family and was truly the SOUL of our home.  She was loved like a daughter and a sister.  She was my best girl!

She is missed and will be missed beyond words.


Love you, Crickey!

Cricket Blessings!
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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

...Must Be Santa!

Ok, so I got my other cards I had hoarded all posted I think.  One more to go but I am waiting until the recipient receives it tomorrow to post it.  I still have time for it.

Now, I have a new card and wow, going from hoarding and delaying to fresh off the press, or at least it was done earlier today.

I think this took me all of about 10 minutes to make...

SPIES:
STAMPS: Sentiment 
PAPER: White cardbase (Core'dinations); Red, black and gold cardstock (Recollections).
INK: Tuxedo black (memento)
EXTRAS: Decorative square label (Spellbinders).

Well, I think that's my last post for tonight...literally!  There's only about 18 minutes left in today from where I am.  See you tomorrow in crafty blogland!

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:
Cardz 4 Guys - #49 Santa

SOS#181 - Red Alert

Santa Blessings!
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Playtime Winter Penguin

Hello again!

I told you I was back-logged.  What I didn't tell you is that I did an epic FAIL, you know like in one of those photos on Facebook?  The digital image on my card (below) was the freebie on the 2 Cute Ink Newsletter this month. I'm on the design team for 2 Cute Ink and was SUPPOSE to have my card done earlier last week.  I did it about five days ago but it got piled in a stack to post online and well....the Facebook challenge ended yesterday.  Winners were announced today. Um, clearly I need a new organizational method come the New Year....that will be at the top of the resolution pile!  lol

SPIES:
STAMPS: Playtime Winter Penguin Digital stamp (2Cute Ink).
PAPER: White cardstock base (Core'dinations).  Cotton candy pink cardstock (Bazzill).  DP -Secret Santa (K&Company).
INK: Onyx black on sentiment (Versafine);  Copics on image.
EXTRAS: Doily die (My Favorite Things); Tag die (Sizzix); Stitched circle mat (Lil' Inker Designs); snowflake emboss folder (Cuttlebug); white sequins; snowflake button; Frosted Lace Stickles; white flocking powder, hammer.

Anyway, here it is and just in time too for the challenge I made the card for.  Thank goodness it's still going on !  

I used one of my fave techniques with my embossing on it.  If you haven't seen this technique, I put just part of my cardbase in my emboss folder, took a small craft hammer and lightly pounded the folder in random areas to emboss just parts of the card.  I love this look.  I got it from Arielle Gordon a while back on her blog.  She's one of those trendy go-to gals I'm always being inspired by!

At any rate, stop by 2 Cute Ink and sign up for the monthly newsletter.  Each month there is a free digi that everyone is encouraged to use and enter the monthly challenge on Facebook.  Check it out!  

For Following Challenges:

CAS on Sunday - #48 Sketch

Holiday Blessings!
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Belief

Happy Tuesday!

I'm hoarding cards again and forgetting to post.  I'm really not forgetting, there's just not enough time in the days right now.  But I now need to to submit them to their proper challenge into which I'm entering!

The first one is a one layer card ---

SPIES:
STAMPS: Image & Sentiment (Stampendous).
PAPER: Kraft & red cardstock.
INK: Versamark and white emboss powder.
EXTRAS: Gold star enamel dot (Teresa Collins); gold enamel dots (stash); mini red bow die (Paper Sweeties).

I love this stamp set.  It's always so elegant.  It's really one layer if you don't look at the bow.  lol  Yeah, I'm stretching it, but it just called out for something and the red bow just seems to be so fitting when you really think about the whole meaning of Christmas!  Like I said, I know, I'm stretching it! 

For Following Challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - #224 - One Layer Card

That Craft Place - Christmas Challenge

Christmas Blessings!
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Monday, December 15, 2014

Peace, Hope, Love- Week 3 of TPE #279


Just a reminder ---- there's still LOTS of time to play at

We are having a MONTH long challenge
using this
gorgeous inspirational photo ---

So stop by and check out Ellas's original post with all the Design Team's scrumptious projects and then play along with us by linking up your project!  
We love having you play along!

Some added inspiration from me:

SPIES:
STAMPS: Sentiment (Fiskars).
PAPER: White card base; Silver & Red glitter paper (Recollections).
INK: Versamark and silver emboss powder.
ETRAS: Tree die (Papertrey Ink); Christmas holly swirl emboss folder (Sizzix); banner die (Lil' Inker Designs).

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:


PINK Elephant Blessings!
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Blessed Christmas 2


Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  Can you believe it's the middle of December now?  
And 10 days til Christmas!

If you aren't finished with your Christmas cards yet,
we have a great way to help over at 


We are a bi-weekly challenge that gives you a choice:

Color OR Sketch OR BOTH!

Look at the new colors -- perfect for Christmas cards!  
And that sketch has so many possibilities!

Stop over at Lesley Croghan's blog, Always Playing with Paper and check out the rest of the Design Team's projects for more inspiration.  


SPIES:
STAMPS: Sentiment (Momenta).
PAPER: White cardbase (Core'dinations); Gold cardstock (Recollections); Chocolate, cherry, evergreen cardstock; DP -Christmas (Recollections).
INK: Tuxedo Black (Momenta).
EXTRAS: Leaf die (Taylored Expressions); Label die (Spellbinders); Decorative oval die (Spellbinders); Decorative circle (Spellbinders); red jingle bell.


Challenge Blessings!
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The Stinker

Good early Monday morning!

A quick card.  I couldn't resist playing the Muse card challenge yesterday.  

Here is the muse card:

Muse #97

Here is my card:

SPIES:
STAMPS: Skunk, Gas cloud, Sentiment (Sweet Stamp Shop).
PAPER: Grey, white and yellow cardstock.
INK: Versafine.
EXTRAS: Polaroid die (Taylored Expressions); pop dots.



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Sunday, December 14, 2014

Happy Hanukkah

Good evening!
I'm happy ---- The Patriots won!  

So, did you know Hanukkah begins on Tuesday? 

This year, I bought a couple small sets of Hanukkah stamps. I wish I could have found a menorah stamp -- next year.  I love this Star of David one.  The light burst is a separate stamp in the set.  I just love the effect!  So, did anyone else, non-Jewish that is, notice the Star of David is a six-point star while most of the other star stamps/dies are only five points?  I had to fussy cut one of these so I could pop it up because my regular star die did work.  Oh well.  I learned something!  I think I knew that but just haven't paid attention to it much (until working with stars).

It's been a busy day of laundry, a bit of cleaning, raking leaves (again) and getting down the rest of the Christmas decor.  I promise it will ALL be done before this Friday, even fixing the tree lights finally too!   And...look at this little imp!


Why do cats like attics?  Everytime we open the door, he literally runs and tries to go all the way up.  Well, tonight he finally did----twice and ran all the way to the other end of the attic away from Dave!  We both were so pre-occupied we forgot how much he loves climbing up there!

Anyway, here is my Hanukkah card I made using the sketch from Technostamper's challenge.


SPIES:
STAMPS: Festival of Lights (Papertrey Ink); Sentiment - Keep it Simple-Hanukkah (Papertrey Ink).
PAPER: White cardbase (Core'dinations); Navy cardstock; DP - Jack Frost (American Crafts).
INK: Midnight Blue (Staz On); Light blue (Hampton Art-no color name).
EXTRAS: Stitched rectangle mats (Lil' Inker Designs); Thin banner (Lil' Inker Designs); larger banner (Reverse Confetti); clear hear gems.

 FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:


Hanukkah Blessings!
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'Tis The Season


 Happy Sunday!

Just about 11 days til Christmas!  

Well, take some time for yourself today 
and 
play along with 

Our sponsor this week 
is


Deasy Designs will provide our randomly chosen winner a generous prize!

Here is this week's inspirational photo:


And this week is a THEME:

WINTER WONDERLAND

Stop by the Cupcake blog and check out the rest of the design team's fabulous projects.  Then, don't forget to link up your own "winter wonderland" projects to share with us.  We love to have you play along!

Here's my project:

SPIES:
STAMPS: Digital images - Tis The Season (Deasy Designs).
PAPER: White cardbase (Core'dinations); Fireball (Bazzill); Olive - stash. DP - Be Merry (My Mind's Eye).
INK: Copics on digital image. 
EXTRAS: Stitched rectangle mat (Lil Inker Designs); Postage die (Simon Says); Banner die (Taylored Expressions); Red baker's twine; red bells; glitter, white flocking powder, twine.

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:

Sweet Cupcake Blessings!
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Jolly St Nick

Happy Weekend!

It's been a busy week here.  Making cards like crazy!  Sold 18 of them so far, not all Christmas though.  So grateful to my Hubby's coworkers for being such great customers!  

Here is a Santa card, well, part of Santa.  I used my mustache die, but I don't have a beard die.  So I improvised, using a label die, cutting it in half. 
SPIES: 
PAPER: White cardstock base (Core'dinations); Gold & Silver cardstock (Recollections). Berry Cardstock - stash.
EXTRAS: Chevron emboss folder (The Paper Studio); Mustache die (Taylored Expressions); Label die (Lil Inker Designs); Jolly die (Lil Inker Designs); red ric rac ribbon; red enamel dot.

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:
Jolly Blessings!
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Friday, December 12, 2014

Floral Noel

Hello again.  
I've got another card ---
SPIES:
PAPER:  White cardstock (Core'dinations).
INK: Lagoon, turquoise, mist (SEI); Summer sky (Memento).
EXTRAS: Leaf die (Taylored Expressions); Poinsettia die (Poppy Stamps); Noel die (Spellbinders); Stitched rectangle mat.

When I saw the challenge photo at Less Is More, I decided to sponge.  I love sponging.  It's easy and effortless.  It always comes out beautiful (I think).  And since I sponged, I can enter it in Shopping Our Stash challenge too, which is use your favorite technique.  I have several favorites, but this one is one of the quickest for a nice effect.  I used a stitched rectangle mat to cut my opening in the card.  And, yeah, I did use a new die, the poinsettia.  I sometimes forget SOS is for your current "stash".

 FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:
Less Is More - #201 Color Challenge


Shopping Our Stash - #180 Favorite Technique

Noel Blessings!
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