Thanksgiving

There will be no card with this posting. I've been reading on other blogs about what you're thankful for on this special holiday ...... FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT ...... I'm so thankful for my family. I have three amazing daughters who have been lucky enough to be paired with two great husbands and one great fiance'!!!! They have also blessed me with 7 wonderful grandchildren (5 girls and 2 boys). All three of my girls are wonderfully talented and smart (and they are all stampers/cardmakers/scrapbookers/web & blog designers).
I'm also thankful for all the friends I have in my career and hobby world who have enriched my life with their gentle friendship.
Lastly, I'm amazed with my wonderful boss of 26 (going on 27) years!! He and his family have become my second family and upon whose friendship I depend a lot.
All in all, it has been a WONDERFUL LIFE and hopefully will continue for a looooooooooong time more!!!
HUGS TO ALL WHO HAVE BLESSED MY LIFE!!
Linda

Lindsie's Birthday

Ingredients:

Paper: SU's Pink Passion/Close to Cocoa/Chocolate Chip/Prints Sampler, Papertrey White

Stamps: Stampingbella Cuddly Cat, AMuse Hey Cupcake, SU Short and Sweet

Ink: Pallette Black and Brown

Accessories: Copics, SU Horizontal Slot Punch, Liquid Applique', Scribbles 3D Paint, Prima Flowers, Dashes/Dots/Checks Ribbon from Michaels, Cuttlebug Birthday Emblossing Folder, Dimensionals

It seems that our family's birthdays all bunch up from the middle of the year to around the holidays. My granddaughter, Lindsie, is having hers this week-end with a party/sleepover with a few of her school friends and all the cousins --- What fun!!! The last time this happened, these little girls were up until about 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning!! I begged off on the sleepover as it is waaaaaaayyyyyy after my bedtime!! Anyway, I have been thinking about using all of these stamps and finally woke up at 4 a.m. (having gone to bed at about 8:30 the night before) and had to start on the card. The layout was a little difficult vowing to use ALL of these elements. I don't think I missed any of my embellishments on this one .... MORE IS BETTER in this case, don't you think? I know Lindsie will like all of the "stuff" on here. The theme of the party is movies and film .. guess what I got for her?!?! Kung Fu Panda and Wall-E!! Thank you for stopping by this morning and come back real soon ... I'll probably have yet another birthday card to post!!

Hugs to all .................. Linda

Home for the Holidays

Ingredients:

Paper: SU Ruby Red, Mellow Moss, Kraft, Handmade Holiday Dec paper, Papertrey White

Ink: Pallette Cognac, SU Ruby Red and Creamy Caramel, Colorbox Cats Eye for Edging

Stamps: To You and Yours from SU and Linen Background

Accessories: SU Handmade Holiday Die Cuts, Old Olive Check, Fabric Applique', White Gel Pen, Copics, Dimensionals

This is Taylor V's Cupcake Friday layout that I adapted to this card using SU's Handmade Holiday die cuts and papers. I thought this was a really serene setting for these elements. I used by Copics again for coloring and accents. The dots along the right corner and bottom edge were created with fabric applique' paint. I stamped the "peace" on the die cut sticker on top. The linen background creates a "canvas" look to the image.

I hope you enjoy looking at my card and come visit me again real soon!

Hugs ............. Linda

Lily and Billy

Just got Lily and Billy Winter stamps in the other day and this is the inking!!! This was a challenge layout that I thought would fit this stamp. It did not qualify to enter into the challenge since I used a stamp other than Pink Cat, but I totally love this layout and card!! I also used SU Season of Joy to Versamark the background on the base card. I then went back over it with Spica turquoise glitter pen and white gel pen for the same background. I used Copics to color in the image and outlined it in Copic Wheat to make it pop. The Happy Snow is from Stampendous. I did a little detail with an ultrafine pen on the image. Finally the SU Horizontal Slot punch hold the turquoise ribbon.

Ingredients:

Paper: Tempting Turquoise and Taken with Teal / Close to Cocoa from SU; Papertrey White

Ink: Pallette Black, Colorbox Cats Eye Turquoise for edining

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Lily & Billy Winter, SU Season of Joy (snow background), Stampendous Happy Snow

Accessories: Turquoise Ribbon, Spica Glitter Pen, White Gel Pen, Copics, Ultrafine Pen, Marvy Corner Scallop Punch, SU Horizontal Slot Punch, Dimensionals

Hugs .............. Linda

Red Poppies

Ingredients:

Paper: SU Real Red, Basic Black / Papertrey White, Imaginisce Black Tie Dec Paper

Stamps: Stampendous Poppy Stems / SU Tiny Talk

Ink: Pallet Black, Pallette Red

Accessories: Michaels Dashes Bits & Checks Ribbon, Copics, Fabric Applique', Dimensionals

I've been thinking about this layout for a while. I've seen similar ones on Splitcoast and wanted to try it (again). I was deciding on what image would look best with the layout and thought of these poppies. I really like the drama of this card. I hope you like it, too.

Thanks for stopping by and come again.

Hugs.................. Linda

Season of Joy Pocket Card

I have been working on this card off and on for a couple of days. I leave it alone and come up with another idea and incorporate it into the card .... does that ever happen to you? Sometimes it is best to leave a project alone until inspiration hits you and you add another element; and then, while adding that you come up with something else!! This is just what happened to this card. I had purchased some of these textured pocket pre-scored cards from SU and have finally gotten down to the last couple of card. The stamp set I had packed away from last year's Christmas sets and thought it would be perfect for this. I only used the one set (from 8 stamps within the set). I added the flower accent last and it just was the right element needed to dress up this card.

Thank you for stopping by and come back again soon.

Hugs .............. Linda

Ingredients:

Paper: SU textured pre-scored pocket card, SU Real Red, Papertrey Holiday Vintage Prints Collection, Papertrey White

Stamps: 2007 SU Season of Joy

Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Always Artichoke

Accessories: SU Markers (to color the message on the insert), White Gel Pen (faux stitching), Brads, SU Scallop Edge Punch, Marvy Scallop Corner Punch, Dimensionals

Partridge in Pear Tree

Ingredients:

Paper: SU Mellow Moss and Old Olive, SU Simply Sent Handmade Holiday Decorative Paper, Papertrey White

Ink: Pallette Black, Colorbox Cats Eye for edge Shading

Stamps: A-Muse Partridge, SU Tags on Board

Accessories: Ribbon, Horizontal Slot Punch and Scallop Edge Punch, Copics, Scallop Edge Die Cuts from SU Simply Sent Handmade Holiday Card Kit, Dimensionals, Fabric Applique

I really like the simplicity of an A-Muse stamp and this one is no exception! After coloring with my Copics, I did a shadow effect all around the image with C opic Wheat. The dimensionals were used to make the stamped image pop. I used Fabric Applique in green to accent the dots on the decorative paper.

I hope you enjoy seeing this card and let me know how you like it!! I hope to see you back here real soon

Hugs .................. Linda

Magical Santa

Ingredients:

Paper: SU Mellow Moss, Old Olive, Holiday Designer Paper, Papertrey White

Ink: Pallette Black, SU Always Artichoke, Colorbox Cats Eye for Shading

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Santa Angel, Papertrey Believe

Accessories: Dotted Organdy Green Ribbon, Copics, Marvy Scallop Corner Punch, Glitter Glue, Decorative Scallop Edge Die Cut, SU Scallop Edge Punch, Fabric Applique', Brads

I use this stamp image a lot for Christmas ... isn't he just the cutest ever!!! I colored him with my new Copics and highlighted him with a white gel pen and glitter glue on his magic wand. I outlined him in Copics Wheat to create the shadow. The sentiment was stamped with SU's Always Artichoke and I repeated the shadow on the letters also with the Wheat Copics. I love all the green tones (my favorite color) on the card. Who said that Christmas cards need to be green AND RED anyway!!!

Thanks for stopping by and come again real soon ... the week-end and card making time is coming up!!

Hugs to you ........... Linda

Rustic Snowman

Ingredients:

Paper; SU Old Olive/Close to Cocoa, Papertrey Holiday Vintage Prints, Papertrey White

Stamps: Inkadinkadoo Snowman, SU Tags on Board (sentiment)

Ink: Pallette Black, Pallette Brown, Colorbox Cats Eye Shading

Accessories: SURibbon Originals Alpine, SU Scallop Edge Punch, Dimensionals, Copics

I'm loving this little snowman. He is just so much fun. This is a simple quick card to make, but I think makes a great impression!!

Thank you for coming over and come check me out again!

Hugs .............. Linda

Winter

Ingredients:

Paper; SU Bashful Blue/Night of Navy, Textured Silver from Stash, Papertrey White

Stamps: Country Pleasures (retired SU), Tiny Talk (SU)

Ink: Pallette Black, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue

Accessories; Pearls, Silver Organdy Ribbon, Copics, Dauber for sky, SU Horizontal Slot Punch, Dimensionals

This is another stamp from the Country Pleasures (retired SU) set I found the other day. These are fun to color and layer onto a card. I used some textured silver paper from my stash and put that on the Night of Navy with some silver organdy ribbon. The little pearls that my Susan gave me look great against the Navy paper.

Thank you for visiting.

Hugs .......... Linda

Fall at the Farm

Ingredients:

Paper: SU Old Olive/Close to Cocoa/So Saffron, Decorative Paper from Stash

Stamps: SU Country Pleasures, Sweet 'n Sassy Turkey Day (Sentiment)

Ink: Pallette Black, Bashful Blue (sky)

Accessories: SU Horizontal Slot Punch, Copics, Fiskars Deckle Edge Scissors, Ranger Frayed Burlap Distress Ink Pad, Dimensionals, Orange Grograin Ribbon, Dauber

This stamps set was re-discovered during my reorganization of my sets. I really like it and will definitely use it more!! This is a smple card for either Thanksgiving or as a Thank You card. I really like the country theme.

Thank you for visiting.

Hugs ............. Linda

Turkey Day

Ingredients:

Paper: SU Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, Various DP

Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Turkey Day

Ink: Pallette Cognac, White Pigment

Accessories: Ribbon, Copics, Brads, White Gel Pen

I had made a little witch Halloween card for a friend of mine to give to her granddaughter and SHE LOVED IT!! My friend asked me to do a Turkey card ('cause she calls her "her little turkey"), a Christmas card and a Valentine card. The hard part was coming up with a turkey image (turkey's are about the ugliest fowl there is on this earth)! Sweet and Sassy had this goofy looking turkey that I fell in love with and just had to get him (or is it a her??) I used some left over decorative papers, punched out squares and used them as a background with faux stitching around them. I colored the image with my new Copics (still learning how to use them correctly). I like the way this turned out and I hope my friend's granddaughter is as excited to get it as she was with the little witch.

Thank you for stopping by the ol' blog homestead, and ya'll come back real soon, ya hear!!

Hugs ............... Linda

Christmas Choir

Ingredients:

Paper: Bashful Blue, White, Basic Black, Music Dec Paper from my Stash

Stamps: Sarah Kay's Choir Boys from Sweetnsassystamps.com

Ink: Stazon Black

Accessories: Grograin Black Ribbon, Gold Buttons, Markers, Colorbox Cats Eye Shading, Dimensionals, Gold Glitter Pen, White Gel Pel

Don't you just love these little choir boys?! I had a lot of fun coloring them. I remembered having this muscial paper in my stash from a long time ago and just had to use it on this card. Alas, this is the last of it and will have to go find more ... it certainly adds to a lot of cards ... especially this stamp set which I must use again!

Thank you for stopping by to see my blog and come again real soon.

Hugs ............. Linda

Share Happiness

Ingredients:

Paper: SU Barely Banana, Old Olive, Purely Pomegranate, Papertreyink Holidy Vintage Prints decorative Paper, Close to Cocoa, White

Stamps: SU Everyday Celebrations

Ink; Stazon Black, Always Artichoke

Accessories: Marvy Scallop Oval Punch, SU Scallop Edge Punch, Dotted Green Organdy Ribbon, Marvy Oval Punch, SU Crimper (on Close to Cocoa Paper), Markers, Copics, Flower Fusion, Brads, Dimensionals

I love this SU set and haven't used it in a long time. It surfaced again during my reorganization I did this weekend. What a happy card this made! I hope you like it.

Come again real soon.

Hugs .......................... Linda

Building a Snowman

Ingredients:

Paper: SU Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, Snowflake Dec Paper from Michaels, White

Stamps: SU Sweet Seasons, Stampendous Happy Snow

Ink: SU Bordering Blue, Versa Mark, Apricot Appeal

Accessories: Black Embossing Power, Heat Gun, Ribbon, Pom-Pom (for cap), Stipple Brush SU markers, Copics, White Gel Pen, Dimensionals

I read a blog last week that passed on a tip to pounce a stipple brush loaded with a light yellow behind a snowman to make it pop. I took that to heart and, guess what ... it worked. I embossed this image on the white and then colored it. I added the tiny pom-pom to the little boy's cap (thought that was really a cute element to add). I only used dimensionals on the Happy Snow element so the flat surface of the main image I thought needed the dimension of the pom-pom.

I hope you like my little card (actually it is a little card ... 4-1/4 square).

Hugs .................... Linda

Swining In to say HELLO

Ingredients:

Paper: SU In Color Pacific Points, Dec Paper from Stash, White

Stamps: Elybells Girl on a Swing, A-Muse Fence, SU Lots of Thoughts

Ink, Stazon Black, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Copics, SU Markers, Colorbox Cats Eye Shading, Marvy Scallop Oval Punch, Fabric Applique', Pearl Accents, Ribbon, Marvy Corner Scallop Punch

What a fun card to make. I love this little girl -- she looks so happy on her little swing. I thought the fence background went well with my little girl. My daughter gave me the pearls and, of course, just had to use them. The ribbon was the perfect compliment to the dotted decorative paper.

Come back and see me soon!

Hugs ............... Linda

Note of Love

Ingredients:
Paper: SU Old Olive, Purely Pomegranate, So Saffron, White
Stamps: Elybells "Feeling Poorly", SU Lots of Thoughts
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: Ribbon, White Gel Pen, Copics, SU Markers, SU Flower Fusion, Brad, Dimensionals
I have very few Get Well cards and wanted to practice with my new Copics. I did find it a little hard to keep the color inside the Stazon lines without it bleeding into the black; however, I don't think it is too noticeable (on the face); however, I did use the SU markers on the rest of the image just because they match all of the other elements on the card. I still like the way it turned out and appreciate the simplicity of it.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs .......... Linda

The Thanksgiving Table

Ingredients:

Paper, SU More Mustard, Black, Purely Pomegranate

Stamp: SU's Lots of Thoughts

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Fabric Applique', SU Corner Photo Punch, Dimensionals, Purchased Card Front

My company sends out Thanksgiving cards every year instead of Christmas cards. In addressing them for my boss's customers, there was one that failed to get printed on the inside. I thought the picture was lovely and brought it home to cut it down to a size that would fit on a 5-1/2 x 4-1/4 card. I added the black along one side accented with fabric applique' dots and did two corner photo punches. I then stamped the "Many Thanks" to the upper corner.

Hugs to all and come back and visit again!
Linda

Organizing

Yesterday (Saturday) was a day of re-organization in my craft room. First came my stamp sets. I have a shelving unit from The Container Store that is 7 shelves high by 24 inches wide that was stacked to the hilt with my sets. They were originally organized by flowers, kids, etc. and when put back got totally out of this “theme”. The bigger (longer) boxes stuck out over the smaller ones making them hard to find. When I get my Stampin Up sets in, I cut them, mount them, and then label them with their names on the end along with the number of stamps for that particular set in case one strays from its home in clearing up my stamping space. I reorganized my shelves with the “hardly ever used” ones on the top shelf and then organized the rest by the size of the box they’re in …. A totally awesome idea as they can be scanned and pulled down so much earlier! Then, I decided the way to stay organized is to put the set back right after making the project that used them in (dangling participle).

Have you ever made a purchase for something to use in your crafting and that something leads to making a space to store it which leads to a new look for your space? That happened to me when my purchase of Copics came in the other day. I had NO space to put them on my desk that they would be in easy reach. I had to then reorganize my desk! I’m so glad I did! Everything was moved around, downsized, and reorganized to make my stamping a lot easier. I tore off the used up desk pad paper and got a fresh new “scratch” paper to mount on my CM cutting pad. Everything is all clean & organized giving me a rejuvenated attitude and got the creative juices flowing. It’s amazing how cleaning up a space also tends to clean your mind and your outlook!!

I’ve some cards to post, so enough of this “drama” and time to get to the fun stuff! See you in a minute.
Hugs ………. Linda