Friday, October 29, 2010

OWH Blog Hop Time!

Hey everyone - I wanted to leave a post although I have been sicker than sick. . . I don't even know what kind of crud I have, but it is something evil and nasty! I got my flu shot about three weeks ago so I am pretty sure that it is not the flu??? Whatever it is, it has me down and out and I haven't even been able to make any cards lately (now THAT IS SICK.) Today, I think I might be feeling like half of a person again. . . and this is some TERRIBLY IMPORTANT NEWS. I have drug myself, snot and all, to the keyboard to post this just for you.

Won't you please stop on by Operation Write Home  and sign up to participate in their Veteran's Day blog hop (if you are a blogging type of person, that is. . . ) This is exactly the kind of blog hop that got me inspired to be a part of OWH and it is one of my favorite activities of the year. Lots of fun things will be going on here for the hop - so look forward to that. Meanwhile, Happy Halloween to you all. . . my Halloween is going out with a whimper and a whole lot of snot. Maybe I should be some kind of mucous monster . . . I wouldn't even need a costume for that.  Being sick sucks.



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Monday, October 18, 2010

Card Day Club!!!

The meeting of the Card Day Club is back up in full swing again for the fall / winter season and I couldn't be happier. . . what could be better than a bunch of card-making friends getting together for cards and coffee and yacking and more coffee and making cards and talking and glitter and coffee and making more cards? Here's how it works - everyone brings an original card and enough kits for everyone to make one of their card. . . in the past we have each brough up to two or three cards with kits and we have made everything from cards to tags and even gift bags - when you go home you have a treasure trove of great creations. . . the hardest part about this is sending those cards away. :)


Here is this month's takings and a little bit of how they were made.


This is one of Jan's cards - the front is a patchwork pumpkin cut with Cuttlebug and the sentiment "Sew" and inside is "Thankful for You!"  I was thankful that I didn't have to cut and piece all of those pumpkins. :D Jan did that for us! What a fun card, very fallish!!!


This is one of Hanna's "Thanks" cards - very pretty autumn colors and the ink pad that she brought to share was AMAZING - it has several different colors that separate and then slide together when you use them to give a fusion of different colors to stamp with. . . I forgot to ask where I can get my hands on one of those stamp pads. . . they are very cool! Zoom in on those stamped leaves on the envelope to see what I am talking about. They turned out so pretty!


This one is Tiffani's cards - perfect for a friend. The inside reads "While taking a moment to count my blessings I thought of you and what a blessing you are in my life!" What a neat card - card day just wouldn't be complete without a pink and brown Tiffani card. This one is actually more of a deeper reddish pink than is usual for Tiffani. . . way to go Tif, I am proud of you!!! ;)

Here is Tiffani's Halloween card made on this great black and purple glittery paper - adorable! Those bat wings were cut from an oval shape - one wing from each side of the oval. Google eyes. . . they are the best!

Stephanie made these great witchy cards with a digi stamp she found of the shoes - The background papers are embossed with Cuttlebug and Steph used her iRock tool for the little blings on the sentiment . . . so cute! I love this card!


Hanna has been holding out on us. She found these card bases at Artco and bought ALL OF THEM. :)  The embossed leaf paper base is beautiful - and the inside leaf paper is vellum with a sentiment stamp "So Thankful For You."  Hanna always finds these cool little touches like the leaf punches that are tied to the tag on the front. I am going to have a super hard time sending this card away. Thanks Hanna!!!

Here is another of Jan's cards. Since October is breast cancer awareness month, Jan made this card with the pink ribbons. The sad part about this card is, I think that each one of us has someone appropriate in our lives to send this card to. I wish it weren't so. Jan was inspired by her very own Mom who is going through her own struggle right now, back in Minnesota. Big hugs to Jan's Mom and to Jan for bringing this card!


Here is my card - I printed a digi image of the Grinch and was inspired by my stamp set from Close To My Heart called "Peace On Earth."  The sentiments read "What if Christmas doesn't come from a store. . " (front) and "What if Christmas means a little bit more? - The Grinch"  (inside)

The next meeting of the CDC is slated for Friday November 12 at Jan's house - there has been talk of having a "Mom's Day" at the CDC which means that you get to bring your Mom to card day and they get to take part in the fun. My Mom is in Tennessee, and i'm not so sure that my Mom-In-Law is the card making type, so I will be needing a Mom to borrow for the occasion. Any takers? :)

Thanks ladies for a fun day!

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Thursday, October 14, 2010

October Expressions!

It's time to showcase some projects done with this month's Expressions kit from Express the Moment!

First a few cards - quick and easy to make with this cute papers and embelishments from the We R Memory Keepers Black Out collection!



I have to admit. I am loving the papers and colors for this month but I am soooooooooooo carded out! I don't need any more Halloween cards! But Halloween is a great time of year for treats and small gifts for friends, co-workers, teachers, family members. . . so here are a few embelished project ideas that are quick, cheap and super easy to assemble. Just add candy!



On the left is a "test tube" or plastic container that you can get at the craft store for about a dollar. I wrapped the tube with a strip of leftover paper and added a pre-made chipboard tag from this month's kit. A little ribbon and some candy inside - what a fun gift. :)

To the right is a glass candle holder. I added some of the rub-ons to the candle holder and added a great autumn scented candle to the inside. Fun for someone who isn't into candy. Sugar free! Woot!



Here is a simple 8x8 page for my album this year. On the backs of the WRMK papers, there are squares of 6x6 patterned papers - I thought this one would be fun for a photo mat.


Those 6x6 papers are also the perfect size to wrap candy bars with - this makes an extra special treat for someone for Halloween - just buy some regular or king-sized candy bars and cover them with the 6x6 papers by taping the paper first to the back of the candy bar and wrapping around. Add some ribbons and tags and you have a really fun treat for your favorite monster!


Here is a "You've Been Boo'd" bucket made from a paint can - also available from craft stores for around a dollar. You could also use an empty coffee tin or mason jar. Decorate the outside with patterned paper, and attach a pocket or envelope for the "Boo'd" poem. Attach tags, buttons, brads, ribbons or any other embelishments. Fill the jar with candy and you have a really fun thing!

The "You've Been Boo'd" project is something that has been going around for quite a while - every year neighbors and friends exchange little tins or baskets of goodies for Halloween - the idea is to leave the gift for someone without them knowing that it was you - the recipient then has to "boo" two other neighbors and so on! You can find instructions for the game and templates to print the poem from lots of websites by searching Google - You've been boo'd. There are lots of different variations of the poem but here is one that I have kept in my files because it is one of my favorite versions - I'm sorry I do not know the original author!


You've Been Boo'ed!
Since this is the time for goblins and bats
Halloween spirits & ghosts & cats..
Weird happenings & witches brew...
These are the things I wish for you.

May the only spirit you chance to meet
Be the spirit of love and warm friends sweet
May the only goblin that comes your way
Be the neighborhood phantom, whom you'll want to give away.

So by tomorrow, pick two friends sweet
And give them each a Halloween treat.
You only have one day so hurry!
Leave the treat on the doorstep then flee in a flurry!

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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Time to tag!

Ok I am running a day behind, but here is more of that cute cute Santa from the Close To My Heart stamp of the month set called "Sharing the Magic."

Do you like to make your own tags for Christmas gifts? If tagging is up your alley, you won't want to miss out on this cute set that has all of these little stamps plus a handy "To:" and "From" for all of your tag making needs. I love this set - here are a few tags that I have put together to showcase how darned cute they turned out. I haven't added my ribbons yet - but here are the tags.


Here is a super easy tag tutorial:
Cut your card bases using Cricut, tag punches, or free hand. Mine are 4.5" tags cut using the tag on George and Basic Shapes. The colored cardstock in the background is cut as a shadow layer. The patterned papers (from the Mistletoe pack - CTMH) were cut using the 4.5" size. Mat your patterned papers onto the bases as shown. Then stamp away - I stamped all of the images on white cardstock and colored them using watercolor pencils and a blender pen. I used a lot of stickles and a glitter gel pen to add some sparkle. Go ahead, try making tags from a set with the word "MAGIC" without using glitter! I dare you! I distressed the edges of my patterned papers using sponge daubers and inks - Cranberry,  New England Ivy and Sky. I cut the stamped images out with small scissors and added them to the tags using dimensional foam squares to give them a little pop. I added the "To:"s and "From:"s as a last step, using coordinating inks (Cranberry and New England Ivy)

Here are a few close-ups of some of the tags so you can see. When I add them to my gifts, I will use some cute matching ribbons too!

Don't miss out on this stamp set - since it is the stamp of the month, it is only available in October. You can purchase it separately or you can earn this set for free with your purchase this month. Head on over to my Close To My Heart site to check it out. . . and thanks for stopping by!




I will be headed to Albuquerque this weekend to visit my grandfolks. AJ's birthday is coming up and I asked him what he wanted for his birthday - he wants a portable DVD player and a road trip to see his great grandpa again. . . I will come home with great photos I am sure. :)







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Monday, October 4, 2010

Sketch #37

Here's a quick one for this week's sketch #37 from Stars & Stamps. . .





This cute Santa is part of the Stamp of the Month set . . .more from him coming tomorrow. :)

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