Leftover Christmas Cards...

Leftovers anyone? Some of my Christmas Cards never made it into the blog - so I wanted to give them credit as darn cute!!! 2 Stamp Companies that I love - Unity and Amuse Art Stamps (among a few others sprinkled here and there)!

Card #1 - Unity Poinsettia Card
The cardstock is from SU, but the patterned paper is one of those scrap peices that is from "source unknown" - like from the land of misfit toys! Oh well, I'd love to give the patterned paisley paper credit, but it's simply not known. I absolutely {{{love}}} the ivory & burgundy mix!

Burgundy ink was from Palette Hybrid Inks, Bordeaux. Gold embossing powder looks elegant on the burgundy CS!

Gold wire ribbon was a little tricky! Wire sort of throws me AND my glue dots could be felt through the ribbon. I rubbed the sticky ribbon with a white eraser to dull the sticky. Rhinestone stickers (Walmart) came in handy for the Poinsettia flower center! Love the twinkle!

Card #2 - Country Snowflake Card
I cannot take credit for the idea for this card. Here is the blog, Alli Miles Card Metaphors, I saw this original card from and I was so inspired by it, that I tried my hand at it! White chalk ink by VersaMagic was used for the background snowflakes (The Angel Company Stamps).

Red, white and kraft cardstock all from Stampin' Up. The embossing folder is Provo Craft for Cuttlebug. The button is from DCVW that was sown with white floss by DMC.

Here is the close-up of the snowflake - the recycling-feel-good-warm-fuzzy you feel when you use the leftovers from using your scraps!!!

I am a ribbon NUT! This is a fun "bow" that is really folding into a loop, glue dots to close the loop, another glue dot to smash the loop into a flattened oval, then another small scrap of ribbon to go around the center of the flat oval. Adhere that bow to your ribbon running the width of the card. Ribbon: Bazzill.

Ink: Burnt Umber by Palette Hybrid Ink.

Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind. --Valentine Davies (Miracle on 34th Street)

Puppy Birthday Card

Howdy y'all!

I am posting this card in honor of my 5 year old neice. She is a real hoot! I am telling you the truth, she's the silliest kid I've EVER known! She loves puppies, actually, my sister and I think she may have some canine-like tendancies - somewhat like what Spiderman having spider-like tendancies!!! She plays "dog" and she follows her dog around like she is its sibling!

But what gives me the biggest kick is that she likes to play "hillbilly." I mean no disrespect to anyone out there, but when my sister told me this story over the phone one day, I almost pee'd my pants! Her adorable little 5 year old came downstairs crying because her sister and their other playmates would not play with her. When my sister questioned her about what "hillbilly" was she quite simply said, "you put all the hairclips in your hair and you talk real funny, Mom!" I'd love to know where she picked up that doozy!!!

Here is her birthday card! She oohhed and aaahhhed when she saw the puppies of course! Do you have a funny kid story?

I had to share the following song that just speaks to me and hopefully speaks to you...and the dog lover and God lover in your life!

Click this link in case the video doesn't upload here on my post! I promise you will LOVE this sweet song! Thank you Ms. Wendy Francisco for this sweet song of love!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY



Recipe: The Angel Company Stamps/Copic Markers/Palette Hybrid Ink/Bazzill Gingham Ribbon/Provo Craft Embossing Folder/Stampin' Up Cardstock.


"Truly wonderful the mind of a child is." YODA, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

OWH Bloghop & Blog Candy!!!

ETA: Blog Candy Contest is now CLOSED, as of Nov. 16 1:30 pm CST. Thanks to all who played along!

My 2 Cards for OWH Bloghop:

Welcome!!! Can you believe 75 stops (as of this post) on the bloghop tour for OWH?!??! How fun is this? November is such a great month for expressing your gratefulness!

I am thankful for the ability to enjoy my {{{free}}} life. Why? Because we have an amazing group of people who give their time and talent and life to ensure we all enjoy our freedom. Who are these people? Our military! Taking time to thank them is not only an honor, but using our talents to thank them is the least we can do for such people who give SO much more!!! So, I took a serious inventory of my stash - and donated over 200 cards to OWH in September - and proud to do so!!! This time my "Any Hero" cards only number 12, but my prayer is that 12 hearts be touched that someone in the U.S. cares and is truly grateful, eh hem, little ol' me!!!

So without further adeu, let's see the "Any Hero" cards - - and scroll down for my daughter's card, too!

Number 1 - (made 8 of these):

Here is what I usually like to write in my "Any Hero" cards - simple and to the point:

Number 2 (made 4 of these): Now my daughter's card. Sarina turns 6 on the 19th and she already has such a giving spirit! I just {{{had}}} to post this card - in her own handwriting!!! Isn't it sweet?

{{{Sources - Stamps: The Angel Company - set: Retired Quilt Flag T540/Cardstock: Stampin' Up/Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black & Palette Burnt Umber/Ribbon & Brad: unknown sources/Coloring: Copic Markers & Spica Markers/Embossing Folder: Stars by ProvoCraft for Cuttlebug}}}

Now for some Blog Candy:

Leave me a comment and one lucky winner will receive my Screen Door Card kit!!! See the left sidebar a picture of my Screend Door card.

With this kit you will be able to make one the A2 size Screen Door card + the chipboard template. The kit contains: instructions, card stock A2 card, a screen door cutout, a piece of vinyl screening, a brad, - and the template that allows you to continue to make these great cards for all of your friends and family for years to come! Good luck! Winner announced Monday, November 16!

Your next stop,

CLICK here>>>> Kelly @ The Weekend Stamper

Kelly is so cool; she's a military Wife & Mom of 2 (working outside her home as well as running a Stampin' Up home biz all from Bavaria, Germany! Wow, another hero - if you look around, God has placed them everywhere!!! Enjoy her great cards!!!

Have fun on the bloghop!!!

No One Diets on Thanksgiving. What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving? ~Erma Bombeck source: www.quotes.about.com

Swing on my front porch!

Now that it's officially Fall, my favorite time of the year, I thought I'd post a card I made with a dream in mind: to really have my swing hung on my front porch! Ahhh, a girl can dream, right? My DH is hoping to get it hung up for me soon! I love to let the day drift away while I swing in a cool breeze!!! {{{Sigh}}}

****Back to Reality****

Until then, here is my card that shows my Screen Door card featuring a cute stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps! They have the most adorable stamp, but I tweeked it a bit!!! See...

After getting out my supplies, I got down to work!

My wire is some leftover stuff I have no idea where it came, my garage???, from but I wanted it to look like the chains that porch swings hang from. I have a paper piercer that I used to twist my wire around with a pair of pliers, and then carefully glued that down to my card front.

The tedious job of cutting out the swing out with my X-Acto knife was, ummmm {{{{fun}}}}! I managed to color, glue it down and add my embellishments! Whew, that was fun! I also cut out the small potted plant on the same stamp for a cute embellie next to corner of my card. I was going to enlarge it, but it became extra out-of-focus! So you have a small pic - sorry!

Thanks for looking!!!

{{{{Front Porch Swing on My Screen Door Card Recipe}}}}

Cardstock: DCWV & HOTP

Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps & Impress Rubber Stamps

Ink: Palette

Markers: Copic

Misc. Brad from Memory Makers, wire (source unknown), Martha Stewart clear craft glue, Rhinestone accents by Best Ocassions Walmart.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Be Joyful Card

Want to hear something funny? I woke up feeling really good today! My fatigue has been better since my Iron Infusions (3 down, 2 to go) from my iron deficiency trouble. I'm not sure what to give credit, but all I know is that it feels really good to feel good!

So, how appropriate, my Screen Door card with the sentiment "Be Joyful" is the card I'm featuring today! Click my Etsy store link to order your very own Screen Door template! Just think of anything that is outside your door, and the card possibilities are endless! You'll {{{wow}}} anyone who gets a handmade Screen Door card!!!
Here is the close-up of that most adorable laughing daisy face! Too cute!

{{{Be Joyful Card Recipe}}}

Paper: GP Cardstock Walmart; Yellow "door" from DCWV sanded for worn look

Ink: Palette Hybrid Ink Noir

Stamps: The Angel Company Be Curious Set (TAC2634); Inky Antics Tiny Smile

Coloring Medium: Prismacolor Pencils & Blender Pencil

Misc.: Green brad source unknown; vinyl screen (any hardware store)

Door Template: See my Etsy Store for details

The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection. ::: Michelangelo ::: artquotes.com

Altered Journal

Hi everyone, I am first going to give a shout-out to Laurel's Place, a blog I follow, who is giving away some great blog candy....Check it out for yourself!

Secondly, drum roll please...........I will be featuring my first page by page layout on this Abundance Journal post. I made this for a dear friend. She has been so sweet and {{{real}}}}!!! Don't you just love it when someone is real and not phony or stuffy? I surely appreciate the great words of encouragement she's given me and the great connection we've made since our kiddies have been friends! Today is her birthday and I wanted to show you what I made for her...you rock!!!

It's more than a Prayer Journal or Gratitude Journal, BUT Abundance Journal. All the great things about our lives, our homes, our kids (she has 7!!! Mwahhh-love 'em all) - our creativity, our passion for this great art form, family, food, (yes, I've even fed hers and my family=16 total for a great Italian dinner this summer, we can still smell the basil in the air and taste the salt of the Lupini beans on our fingertips - Mama Polizzi @ her best!) - OK, get it? Am I getting the point across? We are more than just blessed, we are all living in the Abundance God has given all of us! I think its this attitude could help so many of those suffering in our current economy...I know it's more than atttitude, but maybe it helps with the mindset primarily!

Here's my journal....I altered a tabbed chipboard book measuring approx. 5 X 7 - it's only $4.95 (The Angel Company), so it's economical for a handmade gift. Of course, the book needs to be painted to allow a nicer backdrop to your pages you create....I used acrylic paint from Americana, Anita's & Delta - Lt. Ivory & Moon Yellow mixed and painted, make sure to get all your edges, too!! (Here's a Go Green moment: I like to use empty & cleaned applesauce or fruit & pudding cups to mix my paint and use it for a palette).

Each page that I made to adhere to the book's pages measures 4 x6 1/2 and to keep my pages in a uniform color theme, I used an 8 X 8 paper pack from Daisy D's Paper & Die Cuts called, Chasing Butterflies. Such awesome papers! Love them!!!!

Here's a close up of the front cover, the title is punched paper & stamped words. Look at your stamps differently, too! Have a fancier letter, replace it over the regular "A" for the fancier one, and it gives almost a drop cap feature like as in your MS Word documents, etc.

Here's a close up of the bottom tag of the subtitle embellished with coordinated die cuts & a punched heart w/foam pop up tape.

The Pages

Each page features stamped images, journalling lined blocks, unwritten decorated reference tabs, and stamped with flourishes. I keep my flourishes consistent throughout the book - again, goes back to that uniform look....

After all the pages are adhered down, I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch a hole into the front & back pages to add the large grommet (The Angel Company), making sure to catch the ribbon (source unknown) for a good closing medium. I like ribbon, it's more feminine! :)

Then, I will use an alphabet set to write the journal name on the spine. I like this touch, it's a quick reference thing again! Always sign your work (I used a stamp on the back cover, then signed my John Hancock in my artistic way...doesn't everyone do this?

Thanks for looking at my Abundance Journal, this is a great idea for a personalized, handmade but also a gift from the heart!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies used:

Inks: Palette Hybrid Ink, L'Amore Red, Landscape, Burnt Umber, Cognac; Tim Holtz Distressing Ink Tea Dye; VersaMagic Chalk Ink, Spanish Olive, Aegean Blue.

Embossing Folders: Provo Craft.

Stamp Sets from The Angel Company: More Abundance, Girlz & Boyz, Pray Hard, Be Authentic, F is for Family, He Loves Me GWP, Journalling Lines, He Said She Said, Trust in the Lord, Fruit of the Spirit, My Story, Spring Dream, It's the Little Things, Life is Short, Express Yourself, Peaceful Hearts, Autumn Memories, Everything Nice.

Stamps: Pineapple from Darcie's LLC, Matryoshka Dolls from My Cute Stamps, Enjoy Every Moment from SU, Foursquare & Primitive Beginnings from CHF, Hand-in-Hand from Gina K, Boards & Beams from PTI, Pointy Pencil from Whipper Snapper, Clothesline from Inky Antics, New Mom Bunny w/Baby Bunny from Art Gone Wild; Prayer Journal set from Clear Dollar Stamps.

Embellies: Brads & Large Grommets The Angel Company, Ribbon source unknown, button source unknown, Antique medium sized brads by Making Memories.

Punches: small heart by Martha Stewart, scallopped circle by Marvy.

Coloring Mediums: Spica Markers, Copic Markers, Prismacolor Pencils w/Blending Pencil.

Fishing line on my door?

Hi everyone!

I love to think of cards to make the guys out there! My very outdoorsy husband would love this card if he needed a "pick me up!" So, expand your ideas and see where your cardmaking takes you to include the men in our lives!

I really thought about putting real fishing line on this card, but getting it to glue down can get messy! So instead, I am pretending that its there! Isn't that what we are doing anyway with papercrafts? Well, these are always items I find at my door, thanks for stopping by!

Supplies used: Stamps: Inky Antics "worm on hook w/sentiment, lure in background; inks: Palette Hybrid, My Screen Door template (see below for my info on ordering info).

"If it is to be, it is up to me." Norman Vincent Peale

Softball Season Ends with a Note of Thanks!

Our very, very long baseball, softball & TBall seasons ended over the weekend and with that, out came my creativity! Our twins softball coach was such a great coach! So, I made him this card, hope you like it! Thanks for looking! It's really fun to sew on paper! I got my embroidery floss out and punched my holes first, then took the needle, gave it a thread, then went around the "baseball" to give it real looking stitches.

I cannot live without my Copic markers. I used these colors to color my baseball glove in a leather looking color scheme.
Supplies: Cardstock: Georgia Pacific White CS from Walmart, Navy & Real Red CS from SU; Ink: Burnt Umber Palette Hybrid Ink; Stamps: Baseball Glove from Art Gone Wild!, Box Words by The Angel Company; Misc.: DMC Floss #25, Emboss Plate for Big Shot by Provo Craft, Piercing Tool, Gold Star brads source unknown, Copic Markers