Monday, December 31, 2012

2012 Flew By~!

As 2012 comes to a close, it just amazes me at how fast time goes as you get older. It seems like I was just taking my daughter to college, and getting ready for my son's wedding, and both of those things were two years ago. Do you think time seems to pass more quickly as you age? I would like to make some days last forever!

In honor of 2012, I have posted some of my favorite cards of 2012 on my Pinterest page, which you can see here. I haven't added them all yet (couldn't narrow it down to just 12, and am still adding!), but you can take a peek now -- and later!

I thought this little CAS design using Lawn Fawn's Flying By was appropriate for the last day of 2013:
My designer paper is from Echo Park's This & That Graceful Collection. I stamped my paper airplane using Memento Tuxedo Black and the trail and sentiment in Memento Elderberry ink. Click on the photo for a close-up!

My adhesives are ISP tape and Zva Dimensionals. Love 'em! Be sure to check out all the supplies ON SALE(!!) at i {heart} papers!
Challenges for this card:  
Artistic Inspirations - Always Anything Goes  
Crafty Cardmakers - Inspired by the song "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce 
(Time flies/"If I could make days last forever")
Kaboodle Doodles - Anything Goes 
The Pink Elephant Monday Card Challenge - cards - Anything Goes

Saturday, December 29, 2012

A Favorite Color Combo

I think red and black always look so classy together. Today's quick creation uses hearts2diefor, the December Club release at The {Stamps} of Life. With the new year around the corner, it's time to create some valentines~!

I stamped the heart using Stephanie's Premium Strawberry ink, and then stamped the little "LOVE" sentiment with Licorice ink. I cut it out using the Hearts #2 Framelit set, and matted it with the Hearts Scallop #2 die set.

The background is from a Sizzix embossing folder set called Love Set #2 - on clearance at Sizzix right now!

Have a wonderful weekend~!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Wishes For You

Today's Splitcoast Featured Stamper Challenge honors Sylvia Blum. Congratulations Sylvia!! What a lovely gallery she has! I love her work, and kept my case almost exactly the same because I loved this card so much.

I changed image, and papers, and pierced the edge rather than stitching. I changed the border punch, and added rhinestones around the sentiment instead of in the middle.
My image is from the Holiday Sentiments Collection by Whimsie Doodles. The snowflake behind it has a beautiful glittery sheen. 
Other challenges for this card:
The Ribbon Carousel - The Holidays (fab prize!)
One Stitch At A Time - Use a Digi 
Sentimental Sundays - Focus on the Sentiment 
That Craft Place - Snowy Christmas
The Squirrel & the Fox - Christmas 
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything goes as long as it is Christmas 
Di's Digis Designs - Christmas  
Card Crafter's Circle - Christmas 
Pile It On - Embellishments 
Quirky Crafts - Last Minute Christmas 
Scrapper`s Delights Paper Crafts - Snowflake
Dream Valley Challenges - Christmas
Gingerloft - Christmas or Winter 
Glitter n Sparkle - Christmas/New Year or Use a Digi
  
Stamps: Holiday Sentiments by Whimsie Doodles
Paper: Ivory Naturals, Out of Print DP (Basic Grey), Ooh La La For Her DP (MME)
Accessories: MS border punch, Zva Creative rhinestone flourish CRX-05CB-101, crinkled seam binding (Bluebird Lane), button (Buttons Galore) blue rhinestones (MME), jute string, Mambi Chips snowflake (Me & My Big Ideas), paper piercer
 

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Ten Minute Thursday Holiday Card

Here is a quick and easy, but elegant, ten minute holiday card using some of my favorite things. I love pearls, shimmer, and die cuts, so that is what I chose for the basis of this design. My wreath is a Memory Box die from i {heart} papers called Breezy Wreath Die.
I added some Wild Orchid roses, Zva and Kaiser pearls, and some satin ribbon and sparkly curly ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

The cute little sentiment is from a Flourishes set called Strawberries and the tag die cut is from Tailor Made Classic Tags by Spellbinders - made just for Flourishes sets. Both are available at IHP.


On a fun little note, this holiday card won the ProMarker prize at Sketchy Colors! Woot!

Have a wonderful day~! 
Challenges for this card:
ABC Christmas Challenge - Favorite punch/die
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Christmas Goes
 
 
Stamps: Strawberries (Flourishes)
Paper: Pearlized Silver (The Paper Studio), Naturals White, Mellow Moss, Perfect Plum, Winter Wishes DP (Echo Park)
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Breezy Wreath die (Memory Box), white mini roses (Wild Orchid), Pearl pearls (Kaiser), Pearl Flourish (Zva Creative), tag die (Spellbinders), satin ribbon and curly ribbon (RRR)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

i {heart} papers December Team Challenge

This month's i {heart} papers Design Team challenge was to create a project that was related to food! Yum! Since so much about the holidays revolves around food, our challenge this month is to make a food related project.  A recipe card, food gift presentation, table decor, kitchen or food related product....as long as it is related to something edible, it counts!
I chose a beautiful image from Flourishes' Dreaming of Florence stamp set and made a recipe card to go with a gift of wine. 

I stamped on Canson watercolor paper using VersaFine ink, and then watercolored my image using dye inks and a watercolor brush. I stamped my sentiment from the same set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. The pearl flourishes are Zva Creative CRX-05CB-131 and CRX-05CB-110. Everything is adhered with ISP tape and Zva Creative Adhesive Dimensionals. The lace trim is Ivory Crochet Lace from Really Reasonable Ribbon.
I love making easy recipes around the holiday times (and any time!) for dinner, and my crockpot is such a timesaver when I am working and wanting something delicious! So I am sharing one of my favorite chicken recipes.

Inside my card is this printed recipe:
CROCK POT RED WINE CHICKEN

Ingredients:

  • 4 to 5 chicken breasts & thighs
  • 8 bacon slices, diced
  • 1 1/2 cups sliced green onions
  • 8 small white onions peeled
  • 16 small new potatoes, scrubbed, or 1 to 1 1/2 pound, quartered
  • 8 ounces small whole mushrooms
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • chopped parsley, for garnish
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons each, water and flour, optional
In large skillet, sauté diced bacon and green onions until bacon is crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels. Add chicken pieces to skillet and brown well on all sides. Remove browned chicken and set aside. Put onions, potatoes, mushrooms and garlic in crockpot. Add browned chicken pieces, bacon, green onions, salt, pepper, thyme, and chicken broth. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. Add the wine about 1 hour before done. Remove chicken pieces to serving platter. If desired, thicken juices with a combination of 1 to 2 tablespoons each flour and cold water. Arrange vegetables around chicken and pour juices over all. Garnish with chopped parsley. 

Enjoy!


Check out what the rest of the team made 
and find some delicious recipes to try along the way!
Don’t forget our 12 Days of Christmas Savings! Now through Christmas Eve, each day a new sale item will be posted at a steal of a price. Sale items valid until sold out or until Christmas Day, whichever comes first! (Sorry, no restocks or rainchecks!) Inventory is low on some items but be sure to join us each day for the IHP 12 Days of Christmas! Today’s special is all Washi Tape 35% off! 

Here’s what we’ve had so far! 
12/13 – Stickles/Liquid Pearls $1 
12/14 – Scor-Tape 1/8” - $2 
12/15 – Spellbinders 35% off 
12/16 – BoBunny Flexi-ruler $9 
12/17 – Scor-Bug tool $5 
12/18 – Washi Tape 35% off




Stamps: Dreaming of Florence (Flourishes)
Paper: Prima Moulin Rouge DP, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Purely Pomegranate (SU!), Canson watercolor
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaFine Onyx Black, Purely Pomegranate, Mellow Moss, Wild Wasabi, Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa, Going Gray (SU!)
Accents and Tools: Zva Creative Pearl Flourishes, distressing tool, Lifestyle Crafts Zig Zag embossing folder, Ivory Crochet Lace (RRR)

Other challenges for this card:
Crafty Cardmakers - Inspired by the song "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Vintage/Shabby Chic - Inspired by Gift-giving
Try It On Tuesday - Lucky Dip  Pick 2 items from list: Die Cuts, Ribbon, Sentiment, Pearls, Distressing, Stamped Image (I chose sentiment, pearls, distressing and stamped image)
Cards und More - Pearls 

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Hopping With Clearsnap and The {Stamps} of Life!


The {Stamps} of Life and Clearsnap are having a blog hop featuring The {Stamps} of Life stamps and Clearsnap inks and other fun products. Be sure you comment on all the stops along the hop because prizes will be randomly chosen among the comments!

The {Stamps} of Life will be giving away a prize to 3 lucky people – one stamp set (of the winner’s choice) per winner. Clearsnap will be giving away an assortment of Stephanie Barnard Colorbox Premium Dye inks. Enter to win using the widget on the Clearsnap blog and by leaving a comment on each blog in the hop.
Here is the complete hop order:



My card is made with Stephanie's Mittens/Snow Globe Stamp and Framelits set. I stamped my images with Licorice ink, and then colored in with a little brush using Strawberry, Banana, and Artichoke inks. The outline and trunk were colored with Copic markers.
The snow drifts were hand cut and then the edges sprinkled with Sprinkles! Glitter. Each drift and tree is popped up.

Be sure to leave comments all along the hop for a chance 
to win some fun prizes from TSOL and Clearsnap!
 

Thursday, December 13, 2012

A True Friend

It's time to hop with Really Reasonable Ribbon! This month's Ribbon Club Assortment has a delightful spectrum of color and is sure to bring some great eye candy from the RRR Team. I hope that you will join us today and hop along!
If you arrived here from Trudy's blog, you are in the right place! If you just happened along, be sure to start at the beginning at the RRR Blog (I am the third stop, so you don't have far back to go!) so you don't miss out on the awesome projects, fun news, and a prize from Really Reasonable Ribbon! Our hop goes live at 6:30 AM CST.
Each 13th of the month it's the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog hop where we highlight the Ribbon Club! This month, Bonnie's choices for the December ribbon club package are just so fun! Lots of great ribbons to use with winter themes, as well as other occasions, as you will see on my card! If you really love ribbon and would like to have a wonderful assortment of ribbons sent to you automatically each month, just join the Really Reasonable Ribbon Club! Monthly ribbon club assortments are selected and pre-packed to reflect a specific theme, color, or holiday season. The assortments vary from month to month, but an average assortment has 5-9 different ribbon styles and consists of 10-15+ yards of ribbon.  You will love it! Tell Bonnie that Judy sent you!

My card today is made using some beautiful die cuts from K & Co. and Cheery Lynn, and some fun embellishments and trims. I decided to take a break from holiday card-making and move on to Valentine's Day for the hop today. That is one of the things I love so much about the Ribbon Club Assortment -- it can be used for all sorts of seasons and occasions!
I chose the Light Blue Checkerboard Satin from the Club Assortment for my card. I wanted a pretty color that would stand out from the rest, and pick up some of the really subtle blue in my background paper. I wrapped it around my card, and then tied on a vintage button to finish my bow. The doily die cut is sprayed with Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist.
 
Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to comment along the way for the awesome prizes from Really Reasonable Ribbon! Like what you see? Become a Follower! I am looking for my 400th Follower for a little prize!

Now off to Heidi's blog, for some amazing eye-candy!
 

Paper: Madeleine (K & Co.), Rose Red  
Accessories: Rose Pearls (Kaiser), Canadian Kaleidoscope Doily Die (Cheery Lynn), Light Blue Checkerboard Satin (Really Reasonable Ribbon), Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), vintage button, crocheted flowers (Prima), Breezy Wreath Die (Memory Box)

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Friday, December 7, 2012

Robots Make Me Smile

Yep. They do. Not sure why. Maybe it's remembering "Lost in Space" and Dr. Smith. I loved that robot! So when I saw this new set from The {Stamps} of Life, I knew it would be fun to make cards and tags with. 
Doesn't that just make you smile? My "little" boy is 24 years old now, but I would still send this to him, or to another friend. The set is called robots2build2 and was just released today! You can see the details and more samples HERE.

I stamped my robot using Stephanie's Premium Licorice ink and then colored him in using Copic markers. The sentiment panel was sprayed with Banana Sprays! and then stamped with Licorice ink.
Club members pay only $7.99 for this adorable set. Not a Club member? Check out the perks HERE!

My ribbon is Tangerine Double-Face Satin from Really Reasonable Ribbon. I love this color! A button with some twine, and it's ready to go!

Off to do some Christmas shopping this morning. I live in a small town, so I will be driving to the "bigger" town about 40 minutes away today to see what treasures I can find. Have a great day!
Stamps: robots2build2 by The {Stamps} of Life
Ink: Copic markers, Stephanie's Premium Licorice and Banana Sprays!
Paper: PTI White, SU! Certainly Celery, Basic Black, DCWV DP 
Accessories and Tools: ticket corner punch, button, twine, Tangerine Double-Faced Satin (RRR)

Challenges for this card:
Daring Cardmakers - Color Challenge

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Some Fun News ~

 
I am excited to announce that I will be joining the CottageCutz Design Team beginning in January! If you know their dies, you know that is awesome! And if you don't, you should check them out. A whole lotta dies for every occasion -- and I am thrilled to be asked to be a part of this very talented team:



Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Need a Little Love?

The first of every month marks the release of a new Club Set at The {Stamps} of Life! December's release is now available and I love it! The many sentiments are perfect for Valentine's Day, as well as other times when you want to send a little love note to family or a friend. Take a look at hearts2diefor here.

Stephanie has a great video showing how the matching Sizzix Heart Framelit Dies can be used with this set, as well as some fun examples, including mine above.

I stamped the two hearts using Stephanie's Premium inks in Cornflower and Artichoke. I then cut them out using the Hearts #2 Framelit Die Set. The sentiment was stamped in Cornflower ink (LOVE these inks!) on Authentique designer paper.

I added a doily and some fun Olive Mini Pom Poms from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

If you aren't yet a Club Member at The {Stamps} of Life, now is the time -- there are so many fun perks and great prices too!
On a final note, this card won Top 5 at Eureka Stamps for their "Let the Holiday Fun Begin" challenge! Yay!
Challenges for this card: 
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Use a Doily
365 Cards - a daily challenge - Polka Dots (on my heart) 
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
Card Mania Wedding/Anniversary 
Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything Goes 
Crafty Boots - Anything Goes

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Snowy Trees and a New Featured Stamper Challenge

I love browsing other stampers' galleries and blogs and seeing what awesome things they make. I get so many ideas and am so inspired by others' work.  Today's Featured Stamper Challenge is just one of those times. Sharri Seffens is the FS this week and I chose her pretty Christmas design HERE to case (copy and share everything).
I kept a lot the same: her layout and theme, but changed papers, trees to a die cut, and moved the sentiment. I changed the main panel to a circle and used a different embossing folder for the background. My sentiment is Let It Snow - 1518 by Hambo Stamps.

My lace trim is 1.5" Ivory Crochet Lace by Really Reasonable Ribbon. I LOVE this lace so much and have used it on so many projects. I like how it adds a hint of lace, but is very open to see the design underneath. The glitter is on the tree branches is from Sparkle N Sprinkle.

I hope you will stop back tomorrow to read some fun news and see my next holiday creation!
Other challenges for this card:
Amusing Challenges - Die Cut 
Pile It On - Embellishments 
Sketchy Colors - Color Inspiration (Red, Green, White)
The Ribbon Girls - Christmas Projects
The Squirrel & the Fox - Summer or Winter
My Sheri Crafts  - Tis the Season 
Totally Gorjuss - Anything goes with Glitter
2 Sisters - Christmas Sparkle 
Challenge Up Your Life - 1st Snow  
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - To Die For
Crafts 4 Eternity - Christmas Chaos
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Christmas
Fussy and Fancy - I love Christmas
Lexi's Creations - Christmas
Tuesday Throwdown - lots of layers
Simon says Stamp - anything goes
Wags n Whiskers - Christmas
Partytime Tuesdays - anything goes

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Take Time To Chill

Oh my goodness, it's December first! Hard to believe. I suppose it would be more believable to me if we had typical Nebraska weather right now. But like much of the country, it is unseasonably warm. But I am sure winter is coming!

Being the first of December, there is a new challenge at Really Reasonable Ribbon: White on White with one other color plus ribbon/trim! Bonnie always has a great prize, so come play along!

I used images from Flourishes Snow Day. I stamped them on white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored in a bit with Copic markers. I added Clear and Pink Spica Glitter pen to the pom poms and laces. Layers are popped up with Zva Creative Adhesive Dimensionals.
The cute mini pom pom trim is perfect since the skates have pom poms too! Happy December to you!
Stamps: Snow Day (Flourishes)
Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics C1, C3, C5, R81, R83, Clear Spica Glitter
Accessories: chipboard glitter snowflakes (WM), pink rhinestone gems (Studio G), Cuttlebug embossing folder, Spellbinders dies , white pom pom trim (Really Reasonable Ribbon) 

Other challenges for this card: 
Charisma Cardz - Christmas with a twist, No Green, Gold or Red
Cute Card Thursday - Snowflakes
Crimbo Crackers - Anything holiday/festive goes
Stampin' For The Weekend - Use Some Texture
SCS Inspiration Challenge