A TASTE of DC

TH 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 11

2011-12-11T22:16:00.000-07:00

And we're almost done with the 12 Tags of Christmas. I've had so much fun doing the tags this year, that I don't want the fun to end. But as all good things .... must come to an end!

I'm loving all of the techniques, but once again, I have to use whats in my stash.

Take a look at Tim Holtz tag #11:

http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-11.html

And now, here is my rendition of tag #11:

TH 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 10

2011-12-11T03:38:00.000-07:00

Ooohhh... and I thought there was nothing else that could be conquered. Boy, was I wrong at that. Tim Holtz is still dazzling us with more techniques. This is bringing back techniques that I've done in the past , but haven't played with for a little while. I'm loving every minute of this journey.

Here's Tim Holtz day 10 tag:
http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-10.html#comments

And now, for my day 10 tag:

TH 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 9

2011-12-11T03:36:00.000-07:00

And for today's tag, Tim Holtz showed the technique of double embossing. I will have to try this more often. I emboss a lot, but never 2 embossing. I like the look of this.

So, here's Tim's day 9 tag:
http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-9.html

I'm using my stash... and the one thing that I don't have are the Halloween dies. But I can see some of them in my future. So, without futher ado, here's my rendition of tag #9.

TH 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 8

2011-12-11T02:43:00.000-07:00

And its a Steampunk Christmas tag. I'm in love with what Tim Holtz has done with todays tag. Very nostalgic. I don't have a few of the elements that he used, but I'm going to work with what I have.

Here's Tim's Tag:
http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-8.html

And now, here is my rendition of Day 8's tag:

TH 12 tags of Christmas - Day 7

2011-12-10T12:33:00.001-07:00

Yep, I'm still at it. Taking me longer than I wanted , but I'm getting there slowly but surely.

Tim Holtz is at it again. I'll have to wait til after he's done to pick my favorite.
Here's today's tag that he created:
http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-7.html

And now, for my tag. I didn't have the stamp set that he used nor some of the distress stains... but its all about using what you have in your stash.

TH 12 tags of Christmas - Day 6

2011-12-10T10:27:00.002-07:00

And onward we go. What a ride Tim Holtz has been taking everyone on. I'm in love with the techniques that he is sharing. Some things aren't for everyone, but I am trying them out to see how I can incorporate them into my everyday... lol.... crafting.

Ok... yes, I'm a wee bit behind. but the weekend is here and I'm hoping to catch up with the last 4 tags before the weekend is over.

This is Tim's tag:
http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-6.html

While trying to figure out how I was going to tackle this tag given that I didn't have that embossing folder, I still wanted to try out the techniques that was shown. I dug through my stash and pulled out the embossing folder that was previously used .... the Christmas words. I was going to make it work.

I gathered all of the acrylic paints that I have in my stash and went to work. I think it came out pretty nicely.

TH 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 5

2011-12-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

And moving right along. I'm only 2 days behind now, but by the time I post this one, I will be back to being 3 days behind. LOL! Oh well... life is grand.

Todays tag was another wonderful creation.
http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-5.html
But after realizing that trying to use alternative method for the creation of this tag, I went with the alternative tag. I think I like it even better than the first one he displays.

This is the original tag:

This is the alternative tag:

So after working on the first tag and deciding it was not coming out as I wanted it to, I nixed the tag and went for the alternative. Here's my version.

TH 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 4

2011-12-07T23:54:00.002-07:00

I'm trying to catch up, but work keeps getting in the way.
So here goes. Tim Holtz keeps amazing us with all sorts of techniques. Some that I remember from last year , along with lots of new ones. The Alterations dies that he has created are fantastic and very versatile that I had to go buy some that I'd not planned to buy. But after seeing what he did with them, they were a must have.

Check out his day 4 tag: http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-4.html

So after getting the rest of my supplies, I have now created this tag . I think I did a pretty good job in creating it. Its very time consuming because of the crackle paint and having to let that dry. But that gives you a chance to make all of the other components and get the tag ready for the snowman.

I used most of what he showed, and improvised on what I didn't have. Here's the final outcome:

TH 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 3

2011-12-06T01:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm a little bit behind due to work and other things that are busy on my schedule, but I'm determined to get these done.

Here's Tim's Day 3 tag:

I know I have some bells and jute cord in my stash, but it is eluding me tonite. So, I'm going with what was out in the open. LOL!

Recipe:

Shipping Tag

TH Christmas Background Embossing folder

TH Season Silhouettes Christmas Background Stamp

Various Distress Reinkers

TH Bauble

Rhinestones

Ribbon

MS Holly Leaf Punch

MS Branch Punch

Shimmerz Spray

TH 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 2

2011-12-04T01:23:00.000-07:00

Ok.... we're off to a great start. I completed my day 2 tag and had to do a little improvising. As I stated in my day 1 post, I'm trying to use what I have in my stash with minimal purchases for supplies that I absolutely must have. LOL! Thats what I keep telling myself.

So here is Tim Holtz day 2 tag: http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-2.html

So in scrounging up my supplies, I found I didn't have half of the items he used in this tag, but I'm going to do like Tim Gunn says "Make it work". LOL!

So for my tag, I went back to my Cricut cartridge and cut the Reindeer from Very Merry Tags, as I had done last year. I used Grunge paper to cut it out and then inked it with Frayed Burlap. The Holly leaves were cut from the MS Leaves punch. While talking to another Tim Holtz fan, we discussed how to make the paper using our stash. So I took a piece of Kraft paper and stamped it with the Recollections Musical Note stamp using a black permanent Archival ink. I then embossed some holly leaves and the words "Christmas Carol from TH Christmas stamp set.

I didn't have any of the Picket Fence ink that he used, so I lightly used my Snow Cap Paint dauber and rubbed some off before it dried. I think my Kraft resist version came out really nice. I used a TH On The Edge die to cut the bottom piece out of grunge paper. I inked it with Gold Paint dauber, and then inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress ink. I added some brads to the bottom after adhering the grunge paper to the tag. For the final touch, I added the "Believe" charm to a piece of ribbon from my stash. I'm proud to say that all the supplies used were from my stash. Yea me... WTG!

And now, for my tag:

Recipe:

Kraft Paper

Recollections Musical Note Stamp

TH Christmas Carol Stamp

Holly Leaf Stamp

TH Brads

TH Ornate On The Edge Die

Andironak Snow Cap Paint Dauber

TH Grunge Paper

TH Frayed Burlap Distress Ink

TH Vintage Photo Distress Ink

TH Seasonal Distress Ink

Cricut Cartridge Very Merry Tags - Reindeer

MS Holly Leaf Punch

Red Rhinestone

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas - Day 1

2011-12-04T00:22:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!
Its that time of year again. I played along last year and I'm going to attempt to play along this year.... all dependent on my work schedule.

So, Tim Holtz is at it again, charming us with his 12 Tags of Christmas. He is off to a fantastic start. I'm a few days in posting my first tag, but I hope to catch up and post the days tag by midnite of each day.
His first tag is simply amazing.

Here's his day 1 tag: http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/11/12-tags-of-christmastag-1.html

In my opinion, the point is to create the tag, but not necessarily exactly as its displayed unless you want to. I get a kick out of using whats in my stash and putting my own twist on it.
I started off by embossing a tag with the Tim Holtz Tag Die and made from the Coredinations paper using the Sizzix Snowflake folder, embossing ink and white embossing powder. I used the Storybook Cricut Cartridge and welded Noel together on Grunge Paper. I added glue and sprinkled the MS silver glitter all over it an set it to the side to dry. I created the banner from the Cricut Cartridge out of Kraft paper. I stamped with a Recollections Musical note stamp and then inked the edges with Frayed Burlap. The branches were cut with the MS branch punch from brown Coredinations paper. The leaves were cut with the MS leaf punch from Green Coredinations paper, folded down the middle and sanded. The edges were inked with the Snow Cap dauber. The ribbon was borrowed from a friend at a crop (thank you Karina). And lastly, I loved the pinecones that I stumbled upon at Michaels.

So, heres my tag:

Close up details of the bottom.

Close up details of "NOEL"

Recipe:

Tim Holtz Coredinations Paper (Blue)

White embossing powder

Sizzix Snowflake Embossing Folder

TH Baubles

TH Grunge Paper

TH Frayed Burlap Distress Ink

TH Distress Embossing Ink

Andirondak Snow Cap Paint Dauber

Mini Pinecones (Michaels)

Red Stickles

MS Leaf, Branch Punches
MS Silver Glitter

Kraft paper Banner cut from Cricut

Noel cut from Cricut Storybook Cartridge

CTMH Card Box Workshop

2011-10-16T15:49:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine is a CTMH consultant and is trying to get her business going, so she is having these weekend workshops. Decided to take some time out of my busy life and go to the one she had this weekend. Funny thing... she told those that were coming that I was coming and you know how creative Helen can be. So if you need some ideas, you might want to come to this workshop vs waiting for the next one. Gotta love em!

This weekends project was the card holder box and 4 cards. We were told to only bring glue... so I brought my Scotch Quik dry glue, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and Ranger Glossy Accents. Since I'd seen the partially completed project, I wanted to use a different glimmer mist than what she was providing. I tend to try to dress things up when I can. So... on went the day. I was allowed to use my own glimmer mist and sat out to do the box as instructed. I had a little booboo (yes, I do make those on occasion) and one of my fellow scrappers followed me and did the same thing. No problem! We just got an extra piece of paper and finished it up correctly.

Then we had 4 cards to make. Some of them were a bit plain for my liking and ... lol.... yes, I had to dress it up a bit. I asked for the punches, some bling, flowers, etc. She pulled out the new CTMH cricut cartridge and cut some other embellishments for all.

Terri's (consultant) MIL sat next to me and while I was finishing up a card that I'd embellished a bit more decided she liked what I did. I had accidentally covered up the card and she said "how can I copy it if you cover it up".... LOL! I just handed it to her. It was a fun day.

I think my box needs some lace on the bottom and a few flowers on the top. I will do that later. But for now, here are the final products.

The box and the 4 cards.

Top of box. I added the Ranger Glossy Accents and Pearls. Need to add the flowers to the top also.

Used an EK Success punch and inked all the edges.

This one needed some fancy borders. Used an EK success punch on this one also. We were originally given 3 pieces of paper - the patterned paper, and the 2 layerd pieces for the sentiment. I added the longer purple sheet that I border punched. Added some bling and dressed it up a bit.

This one begged for the corners to be rounded along with more border punches on the patterned paper.

This was the exact paper, but again, I chose to use an EK success border punch for the papers. Added some punched flowers that were pop-dotted up and a leafy branch from the CTMH cricut Cartridge.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2011-10-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

This is Breast Cancer Awareness month!
This is a month in which we honor those who are Survivors and keep strong in our hearts those that have passed on.

My mom is a double mastectomy survivor and November 2nd marks her 12th yr since she had her surgery. I am truly blessed to have her with me.

Since 2007, I made a vow to keep alive the memory of those that have passed on and those who have survived this battle. Back in October 2007, I walked in the National Susan G Komen 3day 60 mile Breast Cancer walk. I made it a commitment to walk each year for as long as my legs will allow it. When I became unemployed in 2009, unfortunately, I could not keep my commitment, but made a promise to myself that when I was fully employed again, that I would make the journey happen.
This year, I am proud to say that I am walking in my 3rd 60 mile walk.

Today I have a fundraiser to help me reach my goal. In order to walk, I have to raise $2300. I am 78% of the way to my goal as of today. I walk on November 18 -20, 2011 in San Diego. I decided to bring back my bowling fundraiser and hope that it is successful. Given these economic times, my donors have not been able to contribute as much as they have in the past. Go to my page to learn more about this walk.

I created some glass etched mugs for sale today along with some other things that I hope will bring in some extra funds.

Hope

Survivor

Walk for the Cure

Wear Pink

Sympathy Cards

2011-10-14T00:04:00.000-07:00

There have been so many passing of loved ones lately, that I find myself making more and more sympathy cards. So to those who have lost a loved one recently, my condolences to you and your families.

Writing what I feel.............

2011-10-13T22:32:00.003-07:00

But... I think I'll keep my thoughts to myself for right now before I say something that will piss off someone else. LOL!

ATC's and .........

2011-10-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

Of course, they were swaps. Did you think otherwise?
These were done over the past 2 months... but ... lol.... I'm a wee bit behind in posting.

So , the first one, you were to pick a lesser known holiday. The theme is ... FUNDAYS of August. Celebrate the un-known holidays of August.
You can find a full list of Lesser known holidays in August at the link below.
http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/august.htm

While browsing, I also want to really make it interesting in finding about something in history. I chose August 24th. Curious to know....he he. Well, lets take a look.

Isn't this just too adorable! Its Mt Vesuvius Day! It erupted on that day. Oh gosh... why can't I think of the movie in which this was a Jeopardy question. Things that start with the letter "V" . It was the movie in which he won the lottery and her ambition was to be a contestant on Jeopardy. Somebody give me a clue! When I remember , I'll come back and update this. LOL!

And on to September's theme........TEA TIME!
I remembered I had this perfect patterned paper in my stash. So I used that along with a Cricut cut.

Cigar Box Swap - Sewing Themed

2011-10-13T19:16:00.001-07:00

So, I keep joining all of these swaps , but keep forgetting to post to my blog about everything that I've been doing. This one was also on Stampin' Dymonz Scrap Shack.

In September, the theme for the cigar box was Sewing. I knew just the paper that I was going to use and started gathering the embellishments that I needed to make this a good one. You also had to include the colors Aqua Blue and Red, along with 2 handmade items , one of which should be a pin cushion. We had all sorts of fun with this. The pin cushion that I wanted to send, I didn't get it finished in time and needed to get the box to its recipient.

The person that received it took some fantastic pictures which I included with mine.
Here's the box:

Front of the box

Inside with the dressform notepad.

Top of the box

Another view of the top of the box

Closer view of inside with Dress form notepad.

This is how it was all packaged.
I had posted this in an earlier post, but didn't want to show the actual box until after the recipient got it. I hope she enjoyed it and all the things that went with it.

Sabino Canyon

2011-09-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

So, I'm training for my Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3 day 60 mile walk thats coming up in November. I called my teammate to say lets go out this morning because I needed to do some hills. We're doing the walk in San Diego and I've been told there are quite a few hills during the 3 days.

Sabino Canyon is 3.7 miles to the top. Hills are not my friend and never have been. I have asthma and its always slowed me down. We were going to play it by ear this morning to see how far I could get up that mountain, and I'm not one much for defeat. So I pushed forward. On the way up... I forget where we were in the journey... maybe around mile 2, we heard a hiss and a rattle... so I jumped away from that edge. Yep, it was a rattlesnake. We stayed our distance, but went back to look at it.

Then we proceeded on up to the top. If you get to 3 miles, you might as well continue the last .7 miles to the top. Yes, I did it. Here's the proof.

This is me with my teammate Wanda.

Then on the way down, we ran across this in the middle of the road.

Yep... its a snake. It wasn't a rattler, but I just waited for it to slither on away. Don't you want to come join me for some adventure?

Cricut Cartridge Storage

2011-08-31T00:04:00.000-07:00

So, I'm trying to get my scraproom organized... like really organized.... so I can actually scrapbook in here vs all over the house. I've been slowly trying to do things and do them right. What I actually need is a professional organizer to just come, do it and get it over with. Wishful thinking!

I have amassed quite a bit of Cricut cartridges. I love using my Pink Expression , and no, I can't leave out my Create. I usually take my Create when I go to my crops. In talking with one of my good scrapbooking buddies Karen (check her out on Still Young and Croppin ), we were discussing space issues. She challenged me to get rid of the cricut cart boxes because they were just taking up space. So, I posted on my local scrapbook group website that I had boxes to give away and people emailed me to say how many they wanted. At the next crop, I loaded them up in the car and off they went. Now, I had valuable space for something else.

I had bought a Gypsy which I'm trying to use more often and have no need to carry all of those carts with me everytime I go to a crop. I have them in 2 separate storage containers... one being the Cgull cartridge bag. This was not working for me, so I set out to find a better system.

My dear friend Shirley ... who's head is big enough, so lets not even brag too much on her... with all of her awesomeness... has created some wonderful .cut files for Design Studio over the years... created a cut file for cartridge boxes. Check her out on Okieladybug . You'll be amazed. I had the good fortune to meet here a little bit back and boy did we have fun. I have the pictures to prove it (blackmail... lol) . She found some storage at Staples for these boxes called "Really Useful Box" in the 9L size. They will hold 84 of these cartridge boxes. If you go here , you'll even see the video that she put together. Didn't I tell you she was awesome!

I thought to myself... self, I think this is going to work. I pulled out that old crappy paper that I've had for years from when I first started scrapbooking and didn't know any better... lol ... and decided to create my boxes out of that paper. It's called "using your stash" .... and yes, I have lots of it. But that was a lot of cutting to the point where I actually wore out a blade on my Cricut.

So, without further ado... here are my cricut cartridges in their new home.

Yes, there are some empty spaces. I seem to have hidden some cartrridges in my room from myself. And I created space holders for some new cartridges that I have on order.

I also found these labels that fit perfectly on the boxes. They are the Avery 5422 Multi-Use Labels. There are 42 sheets for a total of 840 labels.

One last thing, I store my overlays and books in those photo boxes that you can get at Joann or Michaels. They work out perfect for me.

Cigar Box Swap #2 - Sewing Theme

2011-08-22T22:42:00.000-07:00

We've been having oodles of fun over at Stampin Dymonz Scrap Shack . A second cigar box swap was announced and I snuck in barely. Who could miss out of the fun! Surely not I. This one really took off. One of the requirements was to make a pin cushion to go with the goodies to your swap mate. Again, you don't know who has your name, but you can add a comment of your wants and needs, etc.

Along comes Ms Dee from Dee's Special Things with so much enthusiasm and creativity. I don't know where she gets the energy nor the time. She had shared some creations she'd done in the past on making hat pin cushions, and that just got everyone to creating. So I went searching for a video on how to do them, posted it and Ms Dee put one together for us to view. She put dimensions in her video which made it quite easy to follow. And, of course, we all had to try our hands out at this. So I put together these:

So of course, I had to see if I could make it smaller and off I went and produced the little purple one. They are too cute.

Then, back to the task at hand. I needed to decide on how I was going to create this cigar box and make it worthy of giving to someone. I think it turned out quite well.

Then Lia, had to show us what she was creating for a pin cushion in the form of a dress form. So amazed at the talent that these ladies have. You can find Lia here . I'm planning to bottle up these ladies energy. Seriously. So off again I went to create my dress form pin cushion. I haven't finished the final details on this, but want you to see it.

I burned the crap of my finger with the hot glue gun. Word of advice... watch what you're doing when there are holes in what you're gluing, for hot glue will come out of the other side. LOL!

Well, I found all sorts of goodies to buy for my swap partner. I can't say who is getting this box because she hasn't gotten it yet and I want it to be a surprise. I'll update this post later with the actual pics of the box, but for now, here is what she is getting.

LOL! I know thats mean , but I just love my packaging.
I posted this little video as a teaser.

A Vintage Cigar Box Swap

2011-08-21T23:57:00.001-07:00

I've been crafting, but no time to post what I've been up to. So, I'll try to play catch up this week.
Recently, I've been doing some swaps over on Stampin Dymonz Scrap Shack and having lots of fun. Although work has been keeping me busy, I've been trying to make time for myself as time permits.

I signed up for an altered cigar box and had a wonderful time doing it. It was an anonymous swap, so the person whom you were creating for did not know who had their name. You were asked to send in your favorite colors , along with a wish list of things you'd like to have.

Wouldn't you know it. I was given the blog owners name and really wanted to do something special for her. I had originally met her on the Cricut messageboard and have corresponded with her since she first started scrapbooking. She really took off flying on her creativity. I'm not sure where she gets the time to do it all, but I'd sure like to have some of her energy.

Her favorite color is green and I found this awesome K& Company paper that just had her name written all over it. Then I sat out to find an authentic cigar box. I found one at one of the local smoke shops here and have been going back from time to time to get more to add to my stash for future alterings.

I should have taken a before picture of the box, but I forgot to do so.
Well, here are the pictures of what it all looked like at the end.

This is the box prior to finishing it up.

Showing the side of the box

I used the Tim Holtz feet to lift it up

Final outcome of the box. I think it was tastefully elegant.

Inside of the box.

Recipe:

Original Cigar box

Tim Holtz Feet

Fringe ribbon from local fabric store

Flowers from local fabric store

Lacy Trim

String Pearls

K& Company patterned paper

Recollections Rhinestones

Paint

Mirror

It's Been a Long Time

2011-08-21T20:58:00.000-07:00

Work is interfering with my leisure life. I have been crafting, but not having time to update my blog. I will try to do better.

Distressed Tag Swap

2011-05-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

I hosted a Distressed Tag Swap on the Scraps Of Color website and gave some links for people to look at for inspiration.
The tags are amazing and now I have to figure out how I'm going to display them since they are too pretty to put in a book.

The tag that I created is posted here:

An Altered Letter Swap

2011-05-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

I really have been crafting, but trying to find the time to actually post my creativity on my blog has been the challenge.

So without further ado, here is another swap that I just completed.
The themes for the swap were:
Classic - Elegant look that is crisp and clean. This design is simple yet timeless.
Contemporary - The look is clean and may include a few strong accents or embellishments.
Romantic – Anything from floral patterns, velvets, lace, script or lots of embellishments.
Playful Charm - Complementary colors in muted or bright tones, 3D dimensional and whimsical accents.
Naturalist - Incorporate texture by using handmade papers, fibers such as jute, ripped torn or sanded edges.
Spontaneous – (WIld, FUNKy, FUN----Anything goes)
The letters would have to be made of wood in a large size about 8 or 9 inches tall.

After the sign-up, the name assignment was made really easy. The person that signed up after you was the person's initials that you were tasked to create. My letters were VB. She stated that "I like natural colors, but my style is a combination of the six identified by the hostess."
I found some swirly letters at Joanns and proceeded to look through my stash for patterned paper.... afterall, I am trying to use my stash.

So here is what I came up with. I don't remember who's patterned paper I used, but I thought it was very elegant looking to go with the swirly letters. I painted the wood with gold, applied the paper with scotch quik dry glue and cut off the excess. I Mod podged both the front and the back to preserve the papers. The Rhinestones were gold and clear Recollections rhinestones. The flowers were an assortment of flower parts. The leaves were cut off of some flower picks and have a wire cneter. The flowers were made up from Prima flowers with the centers being the smaller Recollection flowers. After putting these elements on it, I decided the other elements were going to take away from the patterned paper and stopped there. On the back of the letters, I used some Bazzill cardstock in a golden brown to finish it off. I added a small butterfly to the bottom of the "V" along with the recipients name. On the "B", I added a metal plate that reads "Beauty Comes From Within".

My letters were created by a wonderful scrapbook artist FranCine Green. I asked for Vintage look ... and she was amazingly creative.

Birthday Card Swap

2011-05-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

I'm a little behind again in my postings, so I'll try to catch up.
I joined a birthday card swap on the Scraps of Color website. My stash of cards for birthdays was dwindling and I needed to get some more in there so that I would have some for when I need a card at the last minute to send out. And its always good to see what others are doing, for you never know what inspiration you'll get.

So my birthday cards were done with an image from Robert Jackson ... he is a local artist here in Tucson that has been doing digital images of African Americans. Finding digital art to use of African Americans is not as abundant as other digital art, so when he was approached about doing these images, he stepped up to the plate and is also taking requests for images that one would like to see. The image that I used is called "She's Fierce".

Since I'm trying to use up my stash, my goal is to use what I have and not go out and buy anything. It's become a challenge because someone is always creating some new and wonderful papers that I just have to have.

I used Coredinations Cardstock, patterned paper from my stash, pearl accents, lacy ribbon, stickles, copic inks and inked the edges. So as not to buy anything new, I ended up using 3 different patterned papers.

All 3 different colored cards.

Peach Card

Brown Card

Lime Green Card

Recipe:

Coredinations Cardstock

Patterned Paper - DCWV Rustic Stack

Robert Jackson Digital Image "She's Fierce"

Stickles

Studio 112 Pearls

Lacy Ribbon

Copic inks

Memento Chalk inks

Sentiment - Fiskars Make a Wish Quotes (Acrylic)

Tim Times Ten Challenge Grand Prize Winner

2011-05-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

No... it wasn't me. LOL!
Everyone did such a great job.

CONGRATULATIONS MS DEE! She is the challenge winner.
If you don't know who she is or have seen her blog... run quickly to http://dees-specialthings.blogspot.com/2011/05/tim-times-ten-stampin-dymonz-grand_08.html

Tim Times Ten Challenge - Day 10

2011-05-07T18:03:00.001-07:00

And I've made it to Day 10 of the Tim Times Ten Grand Give-A-Way Challenge. And this has definitely been a journey for me. Given that I'm back to work now... yes, I'm counting my blessings... I came straight home and had basically 1.5 hrs most nights to create a tag, take pictures, blog about what I did to create the tag and post to the challenge post on time.

Our last challenge is to make a Brag Book of the nine tags that we created over the last nine days. It can be bound by rings, as displayed by Dymonz, or by using a Cinch or BIA or other wire binding device. The tags must be in the Brag Book in the order in which they were created over the nine days. There must be a way in which you display/provide the recipe for each tag. You must have at least one cut from a die-cutting device -- Cricut, Cuttlebug, MS Punch, etc. -- whichever one you use doesn't matter. You must create a cover which utilizes a sentiment and an image stamp and the acrylic paint resist technique.

Check out http://www.stampindymonz.com/2011/05/tim-times-ten-grand-give-way-challenge_07.html for the final display of the brag book that Dymonz created and also to see the pictures and links of the other participants.

For my brag book, I cut chipboard and covered it with Prima Marketing Paper CoIllection. I used an Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber in Snow Cap for the edges. I inked the sentiment with Frayed Burlap, the flourish in Faded Jeans, then inked both the front and back covers with Wild Honey. On the words "Enjoy the Journey, I used Glossy Accents over them. I double stamped the sentiment phrase on the patterned paper and adhered it to some chipboard and pop-dotted it off the cover. I added some rhinestones and mulberry flowers layered with a brad. To bind my book, I used Tim Holtz Grungeboard hinges fastened with brads.

For the inside of the brag book, I made pocket inserts that I cut patterned paper , used a MS border punch for the edge.

I made one pocket for each of the 9 tags and taped them together with red liner tape. I also made recipe tags for the pockets so the that I can write down how I created each tag. If someone wants to look through the book, the can find out how each tag was created.

I attached a Metal Key that says "Journey" with Hemp Cord.

You can see it in the left of the picture of the book below.

Showing all of the tags in book. There are in the order that they were created and labeled on the back of each tag.

Back of the Brag book showing the rest of the hinge.

Tags 1,2,3

Tags 4,5 6

Tags 6,7,8,9

Recipe:

Chipboard

Prima Marketing Collection Patterned paper

Hemp Cord

Pop Dots

Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive

Glossy Accents

Rhinestones

Red-liner Tape

Clear Embossing powder

Andirondak Acrylic Paint Dabber - Snow Cap

Tim Holtz Distress inks:

Faded Jeans

Black Soot

Wild Honey

Victorian Velvet

Frayed Burlap

Tattered Angels Flimmer Mist - Spanish Moss

Tim Holtz Visual Artistry Acrylic Stamps:

The Journey

Flights of Journey

Tim Holtz Grungeboard - Elements

Tim Holtz Elements - Word Keys

Brads

Rhinestones

Prima Marketing Mulberry Flowers

Tim Times Ten Challenge - Day 9

2011-05-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

Just 2 more challenges and this fun is over. The tags that everyone has created have been so unique. I hate to see this fun come to an end.... but you know the saying. LOL!

For day 9's challenge.... How high can you go? Today's challenge is to create a dimensional tag. At least two elements must lift up off the page. The edges of the tag should be inked. At least one dimensional flower and 3 buttons should be incorporated in the design.

Check out the challenge website at:
http://www.stampindymonz.com/2011/05/tim-times-ten-grand-give-way-challenge_06.html

So for my tag, I decided on a distress technique using the distress powders. (Take a look at http://www.timholtz.com/vid_distresspowders.htm for the technique) I used the embossing ink with Black Soot Distress powder on the tag. I wanted a worn and aged look of the images. I think inked the entire tag with the Aged Mahogany and Scattered Straw distress inks.
I used a combination of Tim Holtz Visual Artistry stamps - Life's Possibilites and Flights of Fancy. I inked the umbrella man with Frayed Burlap and then used clear embossing powder to make it stand out, then pop-dotted the cut out image off the tag along with the layered flower.

To show the Umbrella man lifted offf the page in detail.

Recipe:
Tim Holtz Visual Artistry Stamp Collection:
Flights of Fancy
Life's Possibilites
Tim Holtz Distress Inks:
Frayed Burlap
Chipped Sapphire
Scattered Straw
Embossing Ink
Tim Holtz Distress Powder - Black Soot
Buttons & Ribbon from my stash
Prima Flowers - layered
Pop dots

Tim Times Ten Challenge - Day 8

2011-05-05T18:30:00.001-07:00

Its day 8 and our journey is almost over. This has been quite fun seeing that I'm having to rush home, think of something that is acceptable to post and get it all done in @1.5 hrs.

So here goes......
The challenge for today is to create a distressed tag. You must use a minimum of 3 colors of ink. You must use at least 1 image stamp and 1 sentiment stamp. You must color your sentiment stamp using two different ink colors and stamp -- this should be one press on the tag and not "stamp one color, clean stamp, stamp second color." A unique piece of ribbon or other embellishment should be used for the hole in the tag.

Take a look at the challenge website for more creations:
http://www.stampindymonz.com/2011/05/tim-times-ten-grand-give-way-challenge_05.html

For my tag, I used a combination of Spiced Marmalade and Shabby Shutters. I didn't want a dark background so that my image and sentiment stamps would show up nicely. I went with one of the Tim man's stamp sets - FairyTale Frenzy. I inked the flora with Bamboo Leaves Memento Ink and the sentiment with Aged Mahogany and Forest Moss. I used some embossing powder on the sentiment to give it some depth. I inked the edges of the tag in the Aged Mahogany, which gave this just the right touch that I was after. I added a layered Prima flower and a rhinestone to finish it and some coordinating ribbon from my stash.

Closeup to show the embossing.

Recipe:

Tim Holtz FairyTale Frenzy Collection - Sentiment and the Floral

Tin Holtz Distress Inks:

Spiced Marmalade

Shabby Shutters

Forest Moss

Aged Mahogany

Craft Sheet

Mini Mister

Memento Bamboo Leaves Ink

Prima Flowers

Rhinestone

Ribbon from my stash

Tim Times Ten Challenge - Day 7

2011-05-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

And the countdown continues.............

Today's challenge is to create an acetate tag. The acetate must be dry embossed. It must be inked. Your tag must be two-layered, include an image, and you must use some type of "dimensional" product to embellish your image -- fun flock, flower soft, heat embossing, etc. The weather, unfortunately, is supposed to be cold here today; therefore, your tag should depict a cold scene -- could be winter or fall and does not have to include snowmen/snow, just ensure you make a good representation of colder weather. The acetate should be from some packaging that you may have at your craft spot in order that you recycle the plastic and help prevent us from killing our own planet with non-biodegradable materials such as plastic...

This past year, I took part in Tim Holtz tag challenge in which he used the snowman on a tag with acetate. It was so fun to do. I didn't have his snowman, but I created my own from using the cricut. My challenge is to not use the snowman again... but to find something else that will work.

So, I decided to use a Reindeer. LOL! Santa wasn't cutting it for me seeing that it was 95 degrees here in Tucson. I used the Tim Holtz Mini Holiday Collection. He had done a technique this past year in which he painted the border of the tag... so I went with that and used Silver Andirondak paint dabber. I stamped the reindeer with Rusty hinge Distress ink and embossed it. Believe was stamped with Walnut Stain Distress ink. I inked the rest of the stamp with Pine Needles and Frayed Burlap Distress inks.

For the acetate, I embossed it with a snowflake sizzix folder. On the debossed side, I swiped it with the silver paint dabber and rubbed off the top part to leave only the snowflakes covered. I applied a little bit of Andironak Alcohol ink in "Stream". I wanted the tag to be moveable, so I added a brad to it so that it could be pushed to the side. I also added some snow.... but its not dry yet to give that snowy look... but I wanted to get it posted before time ran out.

Check out the challenge at:
http://www.stampindymonz.com/2011/05/tim-times-ten-grand-give-way-challenge_04.html

Tag Closed

Tag open

Tag open to show the difference between this one and the previous picture.

Recipe:

Sizzix Snowflake Embossing folder

Tim Holtz Mini Holidays Rubber Stamps

Distress Inks:

Rusty Hinge

Pine Needles

Walnut Stain

Frayed Burlap

Andirondak Alcohol Ink - Stream

Andironak Paint Dabber - Silver

Glistening snow

Tim Times Ten Challenge - Day 6

2011-05-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

And on to day 6 we go.

Today's challenge is for you to make a gift card holder tag. The gift card pocket must have at least 2 of it's corners punched with a corner punch. You must show in your picture the "card" in the pocket. The tag must contain at least 3 handmade flowers (meaning no Primas or other pre-made flowers -- you must make the flowers yourself with paper/scissors/glue), a sentiment, and the background of the tag must be inked -- not covered with paper. You may use Color Wash or other spray type ink, or pull out your stamp pads and sponges. The inking technique for the tag background is your choice; however, the background must be created using only ink.

Check out the website for more details and to see the other creations:
http://www.stampindymonz.com/2011/05/tim-times-ten-grand-give-way-challenge_03.html

For my tag, I used Coredinations Brown and Blue Cardstock. I use a MS punch ..Laurel Leaf PATP . My background stamp is one of the new TPS rubber stamps - Secret Garden Collage which I stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I inked all of the edges with the same ink. The flowers are ones that I made with a flower punch and layered them about 6-7 flowers, rolled the edges under for the look that I want. They were sprayed with glimmer mist. I'm not sure if the shimmer shows up in the photo. I had to add a little bling. I created it so that it has 2 pockets versus one. The blue cardstock was left with the top open so that you could put the giftcard there, or it can go under the patterned background paper.

This shows the full tag with the gift card tucked under the background paper.

Now who wouldn't want to get a Michael's gift card.

Here is a close-up of the flowers with the glimmer mist.

Recipe:

Coredinations Cardstock - Blue and Brown

TPC Rubber Stamp - Secret Garden Collage

Rich Cocoa Memento Ink

MS Laurel Leaf PATP punches

Flowers created by me

Glimmer Mist

Rhinestones

Ribbon from my stash

Tim Times Ten Challenge - Day 5

2011-05-02T07:10:00.001-07:00

Yay! We've made it to the halfway point. Good job everyone for keeping up. I know how hard it is to do a daily challenge. So kudos to all of us who have been diligent in getting it done.

Today's challenge is to create a Card Tag. It must be created with one sheet of cardstock, scored and folded. No cutting two individual tags and adhering them... On your card, you must have an image that you colored by hand. You don't have to use Copics if you do not own them; however, some type of craft markers are a requirement for this challenge. Your coloring should be use at least 2 different colors and you should shade your image to the best of your ability. You must mat your image with a mat that has been distressed by sanding.

Seeing that I had to do this tag before work at 6 am, its not my best work... but it will have to do. LOL!
Check out the website for the challenge:
http://www.stampindymonz.com/2011/05/tim-times-ten-grand-give-way-challenge_02.html

Tim Times Ten Challenge - Day 4

2011-05-01T19:41:00.001-07:00

Wow..... we're almost halfway done. And this has really been a good challenge for me. Being that I'm hours behind everyone else and trying to get this done on time with all my other activities.
So, here we are on Day 4. Today's theme is Spring Break!Todays challenge is to create an accordion tag. The accordion tag must have 4 panels like the picture above. The accordion must be a folded accordion using one piece of cardstock to create the 4-paneled tag. The accordion tag should be embellished to depict Spring/Spring Break fun, sun, and activities. Lastly, your tag should include at least one cut out word which has had its edges inked.

I pulled out my old faithful sizzix letters... yes, I'm still using them. The font is "Big Top". I cut the letters in white glitterstock paper and inked the edges in a pink chalk ink for some definition. I used the word "FIESTA" ... since here in the Ole Pueblo, its Fiesta season. Cinco de Mayo is coming up, so this little tag is just in time for the activities to come.

The paper used was from a Tim Holtz paper stack.
Take a look at the challenge website to see more of what its entailing and what the others have created:

http://www.stampindymonz.com/2011/05/tim-times-ten-grand-give-way-challenge.html

Recipe:

Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Cardstock

Coredinations Glittered White cardstock

Coredinations Pink Cardstock

Recollections Adhesive Rhinestones

Versa Magic Pink Petunia Chalk Ink

Sizzix Big Top Letters

Fabric flowers (CKC purchase)

Tim Times Ten Challenge - Day 3

2011-04-30T19:56:00.001-07:00

Ok... I'm still at it. I was out all day trying to find me a new computer. My 3 yo laptop died on me and I was not happy. I'll blog later about my efforts in getting one later on.

So without further ado, todays challenge tag was to create a Steampunk Tag. Your design must incorporate a key, 3 arrows, and a pointing hand. At least one of the elements listed must be a metal embellishment and one stamped image must be manually (hand) cut out.

Check out the site and look at the creativity of everyone:
http://www.stampindymonz.com/2011/04/tim-times-ten-grand-give-way-challenge_30.html

Tim Times Ten Grand Give-Away Challenge - Day 2

2011-04-29T19:42:00.001-07:00

Ok... here we are with day 2's challenge. You are to create a tag using the masking technique and one of the masks had to be a bee.

Here goes..........
I used the Tim Holtz mask for the flourish and a bee stamp that I had.... and masked the image. I misted with Glimmer Mist in Meadow Green and Oriental Poppy. Then I went back over the bee with my embossing pen and embossed with red embossing powder. I inked the tag with Peeled Paint and Barn Door Red Distress inks. Added a few clear rhinestones, and some Prima flowers.

You can find the challenge site by going here: http://www.stampindymonz.com/2011/04/tim-times-ten-grand-give-way-challenge.html .

Recipe:

Tim Holtz Distress Inks:

Barn Door Red

Peeled Paint

Tim Holtz Mask

Rhinestones

Glimmer Mist:

Meadow Green

Oriental Poppy

Prima Flowers

Tim Times Ten Grand Give-Away Challenge

2011-04-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

Ok..... I've been gone for far too long. Work has really gotten in the way of my playtime.

A scrapper friend , Stampin' Dymonz, opened up a studio for hosting crops and hanging out with friends in Baltimore, MD a year ago. This is the anniversary of the Scrapshack. So in honor of this anniversary, she has created a great challenge which is right up my alley......... Nostalgic tags , ala Tim Holtz style. The grand prize is a brand new Tim Holtz Vagabond. Now who wouldn't want one of those puppies!! Me, me, me!

So, for my tag I use a shipping tag and inked it with Tim Holtz Distress Embossing ink using a Travelogue stamp from TPC Studios and overlayed it with Distress Vintage Photo Embossing Powder. I inked the edges with Vintage Photo and Faded Jeans Distress inks. I tore a piece of paper from the Retro Grunge stack and inked the edges with Faded Jeans Distress Ink, stamped part of another stamp (RAVEL) in Fired Brick ink. I added a little piece of ribbon to the bottom of the tag.

I love the gritty feel of this tag. It will go quite well in a travelogue scrapbook that I'm working on. You can find the challenge site by going here: http://www.stampindymonz.com/2011/04/tim-times-ten-grand-give-way-challenge.html .

Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3-day 60-mile walk

2011-03-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow bloggers/readers. I just wanted to put a word out about the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3-day event. You can find out more about the event at http://www.the3day.org/ . Its a 60 mile walk to raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer research. It's an event that I have taken part in 2 times over the past four years and one in which I hope to do until I can't walk those 60 miles. For the past 2 yrs, I have only been able to participate in the local city event, because I've been unemployed. I had always stated that once I was fully employed, that I would keep my word and return to this event.

Well, I am not fully employed. Yay me! This week, I registered to walk the San Diego event with my former teammates on Nov 18-20, 2011. You might say, wow, thats a long ways away. But it really isn't. There is a training schedule to get one in shape to do 60 miles over 3 days. Just think about it. Thats like doing 3 marathon races back to back. It can be done... and I'VE DONE IT! Not once , but TWICE! The event has developed a training schedule for you to follow if you choose so that you can be fully prepared for the event. I became a training walk leader right out of the starting gate, and met lots of wonderful people who had the same goals as I did. But, I will say, you are never fully prepared.... because Mother Nature has a mind of her own. You just really can't predict the weather. My first walk, on day 2, it was 98 degrees in the Phoenix, Az area. And walking through the desert is no joke when its that hot. I was able to walk all but the last 2 miles on that day before my feet gave out. You know when you can't do any more.

Why do I Walk? I walk so that there can be a cure found for Breast Cancer. I walk for my mom, who is a double mastectomy survivor of almost 12 yrs. She will have her anniversary on Nov 2nd and its been a blessing to have her in my life at 92 yrs young. I walk for family members who have passed on. I walk for friends who are survivors. I walk for those that I don't know who have both passed on or are still with us today. When I walked in Phoenix, AZ 2007, I had a very short list of people in my life who were touched in some way with breast cancer. The following year, my list had doubled. One of the women that I met and walked a few training walks with was diagnosed in 2009. She is a survivor!!

So please take a moment and visit my event page. Make a donation so I can walk. Every dollar counts!
Let's help save the Ta Ta's!!!

Me at Washington, DC 3-day 2008.

I've been Blog Hopping Again!

2011-01-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

There are so many talented people out here in the art community. I get inspiration from all over.
I stumbled upon this one blog today... I might have been there before... because it looks familiar. I now have it bookmarked for inspiration.
Go take a looksee. She is also giving away some blog candy.. but hurry because she's picking a winner real soon.

An Art Soul

I just love Tim Holtz products!!

My Blog Has Attitude

2011-01-14T15:09:00.002-07:00

I was browsing a scrappy friends blog for information since I'm participating in a cricut image swap. While reading up on what I've not seen before, I noticed that she had nominated me for a blog award. Thank you so much Christel. She does some amazing work. So after you've finished browsing here, go spread some love on her blog at Scrappin' Sista .

The award requires me to tell three things that make me different from anyone else.

1. I now have my mom living with me. She will be 93 yrs old this year and I am truly blessed.

2. I have one son who has blessed me with a grandson who was born on Valentine's Day.

3. I have been unemployed since May 2009 and am hoping that I will soon be fully employed once again.

Now, I have to nominate five blogger for the award who have A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E. So, here are the five bloggers whom I am nominating this blog award.

1. Dee - I've not met her personally, but we do talk on the phone every so often. I met her on the Cricut Messageboard a while back. She's an amazing mother, grandmother and friend who creates some spectacular works of art. Check out her blog at Dees Special Things .

2. Karen - She is one hellafied math teacher, mother, friend, confident and scrapbooker. I had the pleasure of meeting her for the first time at CKC Mesa 2009.   Check out her creations at Still Young and Croppin.

3. Shirley - Now, if you ever need a good laugh and someone to put a smile on your face, this is one lady that you need to meet.   She does some amazing cards and scrapbook layouts. I've been fortunate to meet her in person and am a recipient of her talents. Run... don't walk ... for fantastic work at Okieladybug's Scrap N' More .

4. Qadirah - This is one person whom I hope to meet in the coming future. If you want to see some amazing digital scrapbooking ... she's the one. She's now getting into traditional scrapbooking and cardmaking and doing a wonderful job. Check out her blogspot: She's Crafty

5. Audrey  - Now she is one creatively talented person. I get a lot of inspiration from going to Audrey's blogspot just to see what she's come up with. Have fun browsing her blog at Cute and Some .

Please enjoy your blog awards.
With this award, you are now entitled to enjoy a $5 gift certificate from the  Digi's With Attitude store .

A Tim Holtz Charm Swap

2011-01-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

I decided to participate in a Tim Holtz Charm swap. One of the criteria was that you had to use some Tim Holtz element ... and it couldn't be ink. LOL! That would just be too easy to do. Not trying to go out and buy anything, but to use what I had on hand.... I found that I had a lot of the "fragments" ... so that is what I went with. I wasn't too sure as to how this charm swap was going to work, but I gave it my all and I hope that the recipients like what I've created. There are 21 charms for this swap.

I found some postage stamp paper and used that with the fragment charms. Glossy accents was used to adhere the paper to the fragments. Next, I wanted to see what other elements that I had on hand to pretty this up some. Since I used to do the craft show circuit, I had a lot of things left over from my jewelry making days. I pulled out some sterling silver head pins, swarvoski crystals, swarvoski pearls, bali spacers and sterling silver jump rings. I wire wrapped those components ... and wow, it felt good doing that since I'd not done any jewelry making of any sort in a long time. I applied some lobster clasps that I found and put everything together.

I'd treated myself to some Tim Holtz Alterations dies for Christmas, so I used the Baroque die for the tag that I'm shipping them with. I wanted the paper to be a little bit sturdy and used Kraft Cardstock. I embossed the tags with the Script Sizzix embossing folder and then inked the edges with Tim Holtz Wild Honey Distress ink.

I hope they like my charms.

Recipe:

Charm:

Tim Holtz Fragments

Glossy Accents

Recollections Patterned Paper - Money

Sterling Silver Head pins

Swarvoski Crystals - Rose

Swarvoski Glass Pearls

Bali Spacers

Sterling Silver Jump Rings

Lobster Clasps

Tag:
Tim Holtz Wild Honey Distress Ink

Tim Holtz Alterations Die - Baroque

Sizzix Script Embossing Folder

Happy New Years

2010-12-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet

For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,

And pu'd the gowans fine,

But we've wander'd mony a weary fit

Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl't in the burn

Frae morning sun till dine,

But seas between us braid hae roar'd

Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,

And gie's a hand o' thine,

And we'll tak a right guid willie-waught

For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint' stowp,

And surely I'll be mine,

And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet

For auld lang syne!

Happy New Year Everyone!!

For auld lang syne, my dear,

Happy Kwanzaa

2010-12-26T09:09:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of Kwanzaa - Umoja. It's not a religious holiday, but a celebration of Family, Culture and Community. You can find out more about Kwanzaa by going to the official website.

Umoja means Unity.

To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community and nation.

Follow along to the E:spire Giveaway.

And the Cards are Finally Finished!

2010-12-23T01:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know I'm not in this boat alone. I procrastinated in doing other things vs getting my Christmas cards created and ready to mail out on time. I started a while back, but other things just got in the way. So tonite, I finally got all of the cards signed, put in the right envelopes, Christmas letters tucked inside, mailing addresses applied and the envelopes sealed. Then the fun began.

I went to look for the baggie of the 80 stamps that I had purchased and lo and behold, they were not in my bag. Oh no! What did I do with them. I was in a card exchange with another group of ladies. We decided not to do a secret santa, but instead, we all sent each other cards. Since I had done those early, I put them in the mail almost 2 wks ago to get them out of the way. I must have never put the stamps back where they were to go. So here I go on the hunt for the envelope holding those precious stamps. I tore up the living room looking for them ... and hours later, still no stamps. Decided to start picking up the mess I've made with my late nite creating. Moved a stack of unused cardstock and underneath were the stamps.
YIPPEE!!

So, now, most of the envelopes have stamps on them. Yes... most of them. Funny story... hahahaha!
I was in this WinterWonderland Tag Swap. I wrote an earlier post about them being lost somewhere at the post office. Well, 2 days ago, they turned up in my mailbox with a little sticker placed across the "to" address stating that there was postage due. Ok, heres where I get upset. You know those self serve kiosks that they have at the PO? On this particular day almost 2 month ago, I mailed 3 packages using that kiosk. On that same day, I bought the Kwanzaa stamps that I lost here in the house. So I handed the postal clerk the 3 packages that I had just weighed and applied postage to. 2 of those packages arrived at their destination, while this one envelope was held for ransom..... for $.34 . You know I'm pretty pissed. To make this long story short, I sat down 2 nites ago and created 14 new cards to mail out with the tags that were just returned to me. They are just too pretty for me to keep them all. So to make sure that I have enough postage on those envies, I'm taking them to the PO to have them weighed to make sure that I do have enough postage on them this time around.

So.... here's the 80+ cards that I have created for this year. I turned them over so that the addresses wouldn't show. But if you look in the middle... I left one card up to show my address label and the Kwanzaa stamps that I found.

Studio 3 Solutions Christmas Wish GIVEAWAY!!

2010-12-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

I was out blog hopping and saw this giveaway!

So hop on over to the Wee Memories blogspot and sign up to win this color cubbie.
I could really use this to store all of my copic markers.

I Had to Take a Day to Myself

2010-12-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

So, the 12 Tags of Christmas creating is over. No , I didn't win anything from the Tim man ..... and am I bummed out... you betcha. LOL!

There was so much creativity. I know it was a hard job to choose 12 people at nite... then sort thru those names that had posted on all 12 days for the grand prizes. There were 3000 messages posted so I hope they had some kind of name sorter.

Anyways, I'm trying to keep my blog interesting so that people will want to come an look to see what I've been up to. I've been staying up late at nite to get my Christmas cards done. I'm almost there. I have 20 more to go. I made more than I usually have done in the past since I now have my mom living with me and I need to send out cards for her.

I'll be back later with the cards I've created.

One World One Heart

2010-12-13T02:39:00.000-07:00

I was out blog hopping tonite or shall I say early this morning when I stumbled upon this event that has been going on for the past 4 yrs. This makes the 5th and last year that it will be held. So , I figured, why not try it out and meet bloggers from all over the world.

IT WILL BEGIN ON SUNDAY JANUARY 3OTH WITH THE FINAL DAY BEING FEBRUARY 17TH, 2011

http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/2010/12/annoucning-the-fifth-and-final-one-world-one-heart-event-.html

For more information and details about this event , go to Lisa's blog.

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 12

2010-12-12T21:37:00.001-07:00

And last but not least. Tim Holtz graced us with the finale tag of the season. And what a wonderful way to end these last 12 days. Not with one tag, but ideas on how to use the tags in different ways, including a gift card type tag. Fantastical!!!

So as you know, I don't own his entire line of products... but if Santa is listening... I put a list out for you to see just what I NEED! Its not a want... its a NEED! I hope you are listening closely.

I logged on at 1 am my time to see just what he had created for us and to see if I might be lucky enough to win a prize from him. But it wasn't meant to be. But he is doing some grand prizes afterwards, so all is not lost just yet. Wouldn't it be great if I could win that Vagabond!!! Then I could bless someone with my manual embossing/cutting machines. Yes, I would indeed.

Ok, I'm just going on and on. So here is what I did to create my tag. I had to sleep on this to figure out how I could make it and indeed, I came up with a good idea. Once again, I put my cricut in action to design an ornament that was worthy of me creating and putting on this final tag. Then I remembered that someone on the Cricut Messageboard had created an Ornament cutfile using the George and Basic Shapes cartridge. Since half the work was done, I just needed to modify it to make it similar to the ornament that Tim used. Denise Hill is who I need to give credit to, so if you know her, tell her I mentioned her on my blog. The one thing I had problems with was welding the words in the middle of my ornament. I have had troubles in the past doing this and went back to Diane aka Capadia's blog for some assistance. But my patience was wearing thin and it was getting the best of me. So Diane, if you're out there and see this... kudos to you to for your helpful tutorials.

I cut my ornament using 2 layers of grungepaper since my grungeboard has designs on it and I didn't want that for this ornament. After gluing them together, I inked them with Fired Brick distress ink and used my clear Distress Rock Candy Crackle Paint and layered the ornament with it and set it to dry. The background paper used is Graphic 45 Christmas paper that I had no idea what I was going to use it for when I bought it... but it was perfect. I didn't want to loose any of the image, so I cut a shipping tag from a folder. I don't have a paper distresser, so I just left the tag as is, but I inked it with Walnut stain around the edges.

I just happened to be able to purchase Tim Holtz mini Christmas stamp sets, so I was all set for the December calendar stamp. For the final added touch, I was going to attempt to make some pine cones since I don't have any. But this is all about being creative and using what you have, so I used a MS branch leaf punch and cut out a few and glued them down adding some Xmas Red Stickles as the berries.

And finally, what you are waiting to see, my final Day 12 Tag:

I think I did a beautiful job!!

My ornament crackled nicely I think.

How do you like my leaves and berries??

Recipe:

Shipping Tag

Graphic 45 Christmas Paper

Xmas Red Stickles

MS Leaf Punch

Ribbon from my stash

George and Basic Shapes Cricut Cartridge

Base Camp Cricut Cartridge

Tim Holtz Grunge Paper

Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint

Distress Inks:

Walnut Stain

Fired Brick

Vintage Photo

Frayed Burlap

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 11

2010-12-11T21:35:00.000-07:00

Ok.... so I got a funny story for ya before I get to the tag. On Tim's blog, after each days postings, he selects 12 comments to the blog and sends them a prize of some sort. So I've been making sure that I get my comments in each day. Well, this morning as I waited for him to post todays tag at 1am, I finally log on and look through the entire post and the last name that he has posted is mine. But the time that it was posted to his blog was very late. I can't remember when I posted or what I said. LOL! I got CRS. So, anyways, I send them a note to see if its me because I know that I wrote something similar... but what the heck did I write. I'm all psyched out thinking, yeah I've won, I've won... finally. I log on to my email this morning to find that it was someone else. Oh well.... I got another chance at it all.

I tell ya, Tim Holtz is having me fall in love all over with this craft and finding out what I can use for substitutions for the items that I don't have. Now today, he's used those book plates. I've looked at those over and over again saying naw... I will never use those at all. And wow... the way he's used it on this tag makes me wanna go out and get them just so I can use it on this tag. But the saver in me... what an understatement.... is saying oh, get up and get dressed and go get those elements. What to do, what to do?? Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Darn Tim and those dies of his. I want them all.... but alas ... I'm not rich and I'll have to make do. So once again, my cricut to the rescue. I know theres gotta be a pine tree on there that I can use. Hmmm... nothing that is just right, so I merged 2 trees. Yessirree bob I did. I used Camp Out and Dreams come true and came up with my own tree. I didn't have that Sparkly Fluff that Tim used, but I used some MS Flock.

I started writing this post earlier today while I was working so that I could get everything down that I used on this tag. But I had an itching to go out... so I did and go the Book Plates. LOL!
I want the tag stamps that he has, but they don't have them in the store... so.......... I made my own sentiment in Word. Yep, where theres a will, theres a way.

I didn't have any supplies to make the stamp like he did, so I just used a snowflake stamp that I have and inked the area to emboss. I think it came out pretty darn good.

And alas, my tag is now finished. Bring on the last tag TIM!!!

I just noticed that I forgot to add the raffia to the bottom of the tree. I may ha ve to go back and change that up a bit.

The top of the tag showing the snowflakes and the embossing technique.

I made my own sentiment to go inside the book plate using Tim's words.

And I think my tree is pretty decent too.

Recipe:

Shipping Tag

Camp Out Cricut Cartridge

Dreams Come True Cricut Cartridge

MS White Flocking Powder

Tim Holtz Word Sticks

Tim Holtz Adornments

Tim Holtz Ornate Plates

Tim Holtz Fasteners

Tim Holtz Grunge Paper

Andironak Paint Dabber - Snow White

Distress Inks:

Walnut Stain

Dusty Concord

Stormy Sky

Peeled Paint

Distress Embossing Ink

Distress Embossing Powder Peeled Paint

UTEE

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 10

2010-12-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

Frosty the Snowman... was a ........ ok... you get the gist.
Todays tag is quite cute and would make a good tag to put on a child's present... but I'm not. LOL! These are all for me. I will use them on a tree stand to display them for everyone to see.

So again, I don't have some of the elements... but I'm not going to let that stop me. Take a look at Tim's day 10 tag. It's really cute. He's come up with some of the neatest dies. But alas, my cricut to the rescue. I found a culte little snowman on my Joys of the Season cricut cartridge and used it instead. I cut it out using grungepaper. I stamped the Sentiment and then took it a bit further by embossing it with some UTEE so it would stand out more.

And here's day 10's tag:

Here's the top of the tag. I like the embossing acrylic on top.

And I embossed the sentiment so it would stand out. I went back and used Black stickles on the broom making it look more like a lamppost.

Recipe:

Shipping tag

Joys of the Season Cricut cartridge

Tulle and Ribbon from stash

Black Stickles

Acrylic sheet

Sizzix Snowflakes Embossing folder

UTEE

Tim Holtz brads

Tim Holtz Grungepaper

Acrylic Paint Dabber - Snow Cap

Distress Inks:

Faded Jeans

Stormy Sky

Walnut Stain

Black Soot

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 9

2010-12-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

Doncha just love it when things go a lot better than you planned them to? Well, after staying up til way after midnite working on my Day 8 tag that was trying to get the best of me, I got it done and was in bed at an unreasonable time. Then I was back up less than 4 hrs later to cook a peach cobbler. So lemme tell ya... things were smelling some kinda good when I went to check on it and realized that I had used the regular flour vs the self rising flour. Yep... that make a big difference.

So I digress... lets get back to day 9 tag. Tim Holtz decided to take it easy on us by giving us a simpler tag to do. Its only simple if you have all of his supplies... which he has at his fingertips.... including that adorable Vagabond . So he also used this new die of his ... .to make rosette's. No, I don't have that either. I can't emphasize enough to anyone that wants to give me some Tim Holtz supplies some of the items on my wish list. Hint, Hint, Hint! LOL!

First off, I decided to make my own paper..... pulled out a sheet of craft cardstock. I stamped the entire paper with my musical notes stamp with archival ink. I heated it to make sure that it would not rub or smear when I started manipulating the paper. So then, I pulled out my Scor-Pal and went to work. I cut the first one and had it all assembled to realize that that was one huge rosette. Ok..... so I miscalculated. This time I cut the strip 3/4" x 12" and then used the Scor-pal to score this strip in 1/2" increments. I cut off 1/4" from one end and turned the paper over, then scored the opposite side at the 1/2" marks again or in between the original score marks.... making each score mark 1/4" in width. I cut 2 circles out with my paper hole punch... but ended up free hand cutting them down to the size to fit the rosette. If you don't understand any of this... take a look at this Rosette Tutorial.

I pretty much used what I had on hand for this tag and made substitutions as necessary. Again.... my cricut to the rescue. I used the Blackletter Cricut Cartridge for the sentiment on the tag. I use my Glimmer Mist vs the Perfect Pearls. I had the clear hearts in my stash from my jewelry making days. Unfortunately, I gave most of my sewing supplies away .. including buttons. Yep, I know... but I wan't scrapbooking then and knew that I could use them for this craft.

So without further ado, here is my Day 9 tag:

Closeup of the Rosette

Closeup of the bottom of the tag

Recipe:

Shipping Tag

Blackletter Cricut Cartridge

Ribbon and Fun Fur from stash

Coredinations Cardstock

Musical Notes Rubber Stamp

Archival Ink - Black

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Walnut Gold

Tim Holtz Trinket Pins , Adornments and Brads

Glossy Accents Paper Glaze

Distress Inks:

Wild Honey

Walnut Stain

Tea Dyed

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 8

2010-12-08T23:30:00.001-07:00

I am oh so struggling to come up with something tonite so I can complete this tag. I have cut out so many masks and I'm not having any luck with something that I'm finding acceptable.

Whoa is me!

Ok.... over 2 hrs later..... I have finally come up with a tag that I am almost happy with. Thank you Tim Holtz for the challenge. Boy, I really wish that I had all the embellishments , rubber stamps, ink pads , ok... lets just say the whole darn line of what he has come up with.... including the new Vagabond embossing machine that he has created. But since its not in my budget anytime soon, I will just oogle and google and gloat over it. Take a look at Tag 8 that he created.

So here's what I did with my tag. I made my own mask using my cricut machine. I used the Christmas Cards Cricut Cartridge and cut out the couple in the sleigh pulled by the horse. I then inked up my tag using the Fired Brick Distress ink pad. After getting it to a color I was happy with, I then used some black archival ink and stamped with the musical note rubber stamp and some snowflakes. I removed the mask and then following Tim's instructions, I heated the tag so that the inks were nice and dry. Then I covered that image up with the other part of the mask and inked with the other distress inks that were shown in the instructions.

I don't have the metal corners. I was going to make my own, but decided not to do so in the end. Now what to do about the house? I don't have that die. Ah... my cricut to the rescue. LOL! Theres gotta be a house on one of the many carts that I own. Presto... I found one on the Jubilee Cricut Cartridge. The "village" had no windows but the words "Merry Christmas " on it. Since I was cutting it a bit on the small side, I hid contoured the words and the really small windows. I cut this out with grungepaper x2 and glued them together. EK success has this neat little punch that punches out a tab... so I used that to cut out windows on the village houses. How neat is that! Then I painted it with one of the dabbers that I have on hand.

Everything came together quite nicely and I like what I've created now that I've written this all out. I just realized that I didn't add one of the final touches to this tag... the key. I'll do that later on. Enjoy!
So here's the tag:

I like the effect seen around the sleigh (white border) .

Isn't my little Village House the cutest!!

Recipe:

Shipping Tag

Jubilee Cricut Cartridge - Village

Christmas Cards Cricut Cartridge - Horse Drawn Sleigh

Ribbon from stash

Crystal Stickles

Copper Wire

Music Notes Rubber Stamp

Snowflakes - Tim Holtz holiday mini stamps

Hand written sentiment

Tim Holtz Time Piece

Acrylic Paint Dabber - Pool

Distress Inks:

Fired Brick

Tumbled Glass

Chipped Sapphire

Walnut Stain

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 7

2010-12-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

We're winding down to the homestretch. Today is day 7 of the 12 Tags of Christmas .... following along with Tim Holtz. I'm so proud of myself in able to keep this up. Nothing else is getting done.... lol.... but at least I know that I will have accomplished this task at hand. I am learning all sorts of new techniques that I've never tried out before. You really need to go to his blog and see the tags that he is creating. So go here.... Tim Holtz.

So today's tag used a lot of different techniques, and again, I'm without a lot of the items that he used. Now if someone would like to gift me with any Tim Holtz supplies.... I would graciously accept them. He cut flowers and leaves using sticky backed canvas ..... now where can I find some of that locally. I had an appointment to take my mom to, so on the way home we have to pass Michael's... so I stopped in there very quickly. They didn't have that, but what I found was some Canvas paper by Strathmore and thought I could see about making this work as an alternative. The other thing that I didn't have is the wood grain folder that Tim used to emboss the tag with. But have no fear, I used another one..... "Rays". I should have taken a picture of the tag before I embellished it, but oh well.... I'll have to remember to do that next time.

I'm still in search of the Rock Candy Distress Stickles. It's on my wish list.
Again, I used my cricut to cut out different elements that I needed for this tag. This time, I used the font from Hannah Montana cartridge, and the flowers were cut from Accent Essentials.

So without further ado once again, here's my day 7 tag.

Closeup of Bottom of tag.

Closup of flower to show a bit more detail.

Recipe:

Cricut Cartridge - Flower and Leaves

Hannah Montana Cricut Cartridge - Joyful

Shipping Tag

Ribbon from stash

Button from Joanns

Rhinestones

Crystal Stickles

Glimmer Mist - Meadow Green, Burnt Red, Cherub Pink

Tim Holtz Embossing Folder - Rays

Tim Holtz Grunge Paper

Distress Inks:

Walnut Stain

Vintage Photo

Forest Moss

Fired Brick

Crushed Olive

Frayed Burlap

Alcohol Ink - Cranberry

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 6

2010-12-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

Ok... Tim Holtz is really pushing things here. Out of all of the elements that he put on todays tag, I had 2 of the items. Nope, I didn't go out and buy anything. I used what was in my stash and I think I did a pretty good job of it.

I pulled out my cricut once again and let it work its magic. I recut the deer that I used in the missing holiday tags that I made. I also cut a tree from the Cricut Cartridge - Camp Out, out of grunge paper. I took this cut out and embossed my tag since I didn't have the embossing folder that Tim used. I don't have any of the pine stuff to make a wreath, so I used some ric-rak . The tissue tape was replace with some fabric leaf ribbon that I picked up from my LSS (local scrapbook store).

So here's my Day 6 tag:

Close up of bottom of tag.

Recipe:

Cricut Cartridge - Camp Out (Tree embossing)

Cricut Cartridge - Very Merry Tags ( Deer)

Ribbon, Ric-Rak

Shipping Tag

Tim Holtz Grunge Paper and Grungeboard

Tim Holtz Ideaology Word Sticks

Distress Inks:

Walnut Stain

Vintage Photo

Forest Moss

Frayed Burlap

Tumbled Glass

Paint Dabber - Pool

Journaling Tickets

Studio G stamp - Seasons Greetings

Stampology Clear Stamp - Flourish

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 5

2010-12-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

Wow! I don't know how he comes up with some of these ideas, but he sure is pushing me to my limits. There are details that Tim Holtz is doing that I had no idea you could do. I guess it helps if you just think outside the box.

Well, I didn't have a lot of the elements that he used, but again, I used what I have and I think my tag came out just as nice. I didn't have any metal numbers, so I cut my numbers out of grungepaper ... painted and embossed them. I don't have any of his dies yet... so my cricut comes in handy for finding similar accent pieces. I used Blackletter for the numbers and Lacy Labels for the scallop tag.

Here's the final outcome of the tag:

Close up of Santa!

Close up of bottom of tag embossing.

Recipe:

Blackletter Cricut Cartridge - numbers

Lacy Labels Cricut Lite Cartridge - tag

Tim Holtz Foliage

Tim Holtz Grungepaper

Tim Holtz Christmas Mini Stamps - Santa

Distress Stickles - Fired Brick

Glitz Stickles - Green

Paint Dabber - Snow Cap, Lettuce

Rock Candy Distress Paint

UTEE

Distress Inks:

Fired Brick

Barn Door

Vintage Photo

Distress Embossing Powder:

Fired Brick

Peeled Paint

I AM QUITE BUMMED OUT!!

2010-12-04T23:41:00.000-07:00

I love doing swaps whenever I think I'll be able to do a good job and meet the deadlines. Last month, I participated in an over the top holidiay tag swap... you can see it here. Because of Thanksgiving week, I got busy and didn't get to the Post Office to mail it on the day that I was going to and they didn't get out until the Saturday following Thanksgiving. I handed my package over to the PO Clerk and everything went well.

As of today, my tags have not arrived at their destination! It's been 8 days and it shouldn't have taken that long for them to reach the hostess. I could just sit here and cry my eyes out.... but instead... I am cutting out 14 more deer to use on some new tags.

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 4

2010-12-04T20:29:00.001-07:00

Its Day Four. And I'm still running with the show. I gotta say, I am having a fun time and loving making these tags. I actually started working on it about 1:30 am since I was still wide awake. He is really pushing me beyond my limits. I'm going thru my stash and making things works. He used some faceted fragments and I don't have any of them, so I used the regular ones. I even dug into my jewelry beads and found a few things to add that I thought would look cute.

This tag used a vintage Santa. So I scoured the net for free vintage images and came across this site... Hub Pages . I found all kinds of neat things on there.

So here is my day 4 tag:

Here's the Tag......

Close up of the fragment. I finally figured out how to get it done. It's not perfect like Tim's, but its good for a first time at trying something like this.

Recipe:

Vintage Santa from HubPages

Ribbon

Rhinestones

Tim Holtz Fragments, Swivel chain

Tim Holtz Adage Tickets

Tim Holtz Mini Holidays Stamp Collection

Distress inks: Fire Brick Red

Andirondak Alcohol Inks:

Cranberry

Rust

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 3

2010-12-03T19:13:00.002-07:00

Ok, third times a charm. This is my third attempt at making this post for my Day 3 tag. I kept hitting something and wiping out everything that I just written. That just sucks big time. Not going to do that anymore.

My goal is to get each days tag done on that day and have it posted to my blog by midnite before Tim Holtz posts the next days tag. I'm having so much fun doing this. Now, I could go broke trying to buy every single element that he has used in the creating of his tags..... ok, I am broke since I'm still unemployed... but who's counting the days. But it would be great to be able to just go and shop at his store and buy every single thing he has designed... including that new "Vagabond" embosser. If you've not had a chance to see todays creation from Tim, then go here to view Day 3.

So, without further ado, here is my Day 3 tag:

The Day 3 Tag

Closeup of the Bird

Closeup of the bottom of the Tag

Recipe:

Home Decor Cricut Cartridge - Bird

Hero Arts Tree Stamp

Inkadinkadoo Script Stamp

Star Dust Distress Stickles

Ribbon, Fun Fur and Ribbon Flower

Andironak Paint Dauber - Snow Cap

Distress Inks:

Bundled Sage

Forest Moss

Peeled Paint

Vintage Photo

Walnut Stain

FireBrick Red

Jet Black Archival Ink

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 2

2010-12-02T19:34:00.001-07:00

Ok... here goes. I was able to do the tag earlier than last nite. My goal is to get each days tag done on the day that Tim Holtz posts it. So far, 2 days in, and I'm 2 for 2. LOL! That's not saying much. Got 10 more days to go. We shall see how this goes.

I had to go to the Aaron's Brothers on the opposite side of town to pick up the Christmas collection set because they ran out at the store closest to me. So while I was out, I stopped at Michael's and bought the metal tags for todays tag, then made my way home.... stopping at Walmart to pick up my Cricut Lite carts that I ordered on line and had shipped to the store... then it was off to the next Michaels where I picked up the enamel..... ok..... I pass it in my travels home..... and I just couldn't be satisfied til I went to Joann's (needed more paper). I know , I know... like I really needed that paper.

So without further ado.... Day 2's tag:

Look how pretty it turned out!!

Close up view of the tag.

Close up view of the embossing.

Recipe:

Shipping Tag

Inkadinkadoo Sketchy Flourishes

Hero Arts Pine Cone Stamp

Martha Stewart Acrylic Stamps - Happy Holidays

Stampendous - Music Score Rubber Stamp

Inkssentials Black Enamel Accents

Tim Holtz Adornment Charms - Bird

Tim Holtz Distress Inks:

Stormy Sky

Antique Linen

Walnut Stain

Frayed Burlap

Forest Moss

Peeled Paint

Victorian Velvet

Barn Door

Pumice Stone

Vintage Photo

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 1

2010-12-01T23:56:00.002-07:00

So I decided to take on Tim Holtz 12 Days of Christmas Tags and see if I can keep up. Oh Boy! This is a big undertaking for me. If you don't know what I'm referring to, go take a look at Tim's Blog and you'll see the insanity in which I speak. I have a lot of the distress tools needed and am going to try to refrain from buying anything just so that I can put it on these tags. Wish me luck.

Here's my first tag. I think it came out rather well with the elements that I chose to use.

At first I was just using the grunge paper, but it was a little thin.... so I switched over to the grunge paper. I used my Cricut Heritage Cartridge for the house and the fence.

Here's the completed tag. I even used music paper like Tim did. LOL!

A close up view of the fence and my ivy bush. I thought that was a cute added touch to make it my own.

And a close up view of the top of the tag showing the snow capped roof and windows.

Recipe:

Heritage Cricut Cartridge

Shipping tag

Ribbon from Stash

Distress inks - Black Soot, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass

Tim Holtz Grunge Board - Dots

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adage Tickets

Tim Holtz White Crackle Paint

Craft White Acrylic Paint

Glimmer Mist - Denin Blue

Martha Stewart White Flocking Powder

Martha Stewart Branch Punch

Glossy Accents

A Holiday Gift Guide

2010-12-01T19:59:00.002-07:00

A local scrapbook friend of mine has a neat blog. Right now, she has lots of giveaways going on.... take a look and sign up for the giveaways. Got some neat stuff on there.

http://www.thepixelboutique.com/2010/11/2010-holiday-gift-guide-and-giveaways/comment-page-1/#comment-12852

Santa Suit Christmas Cards

2010-12-01T13:55:00.001-07:00

I don't know why I do this to myself every year. Christmas comes around on the same date every year... December 25th. So why do I wait til the last minute to get my Christmas cards done. I procrastinate and then I'm rushing trying to get them done and in the mail before Christmas day. Last year, I didn't make it. So, I have to laugh at myself, I didn't call them Christmas cards, but holiday cards. Since the holiday runs through the 1st of the year, I figured if I got them in the mail before January 1st, I was good to go.

I have been scouring the internet and different blogs for inspiration trying to decide if I will make all 80 cards the same or mix them up this year. So to change things up, I am doing sets of 10 of the same cards. I only have to come up with 8 different designs. This is going to be a challenge.

So here is the first set. There is a site that I go to all the time by a cardmaker named Susie. I just love her white on white cards. She has a great gallery of all sorts of inspiration and I love going there for inspiration. You can check her out at Heart Prints . I was also perusing Split Coast Stampers for some inspiration.
This is where I came up with this first set of cards that I created. I think this Santa Suit card is too stinking adorable.

The Silver Buckle was cut at 1.5 inches from the Fabulous Finds Cricut Cartridge. The White cardstock was cut to length at 7 inches after punching. The Black cardstock was cut at 1 1/4 inches (width) by 5.5 inches (length). I used a 7 x 5.5 cardstock base.

Recipe:

Coredinations Glitter Cardstock

Cricut Cartridge - Fabulous Finds (Buckle)

Martha Stewart Deep Edge Linked Border Punch

The inside sentiment reads: Santa Claus has the right idea…visit people once a year!

My First Set of Christmas Cards

2010-11-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

I am way behind in making my Christmas cards this year. This is the first batch. I had 16 to do. A group that I belong to decided to do a card exchange vs Secret Santa since the economy is so bad. I don't know what I was thinking when I signed up for this exchange, since I normally do @80 cards to send out each year. So what was doing another 16 . Yeah right!

I had another great idea, but it didn't pan out for me.... so I scrapped that and pulled out more paper, punches, and everything else that I could get my hands on.

I'm trying to use up what I have in my stash, but its not working too well because I keep finding that I need this or that. LOL! Or maybe its because I just like to shop.
So this is what I came up with for this set.

Recipe:

Plantin School Cricut Cartridge - Noel

MS Punch Rings

Coredinations Red Glitter Cardstock

DCWV White Cardstock

Holiday Inspirations Ribbon - Joanns

Patterned Holly Paper - Heidi Grace 2006

Happy Hanukkah Card Set

2010-11-30T15:29:00.000-07:00

I usually try to send out Hanukkah cards to my Jewish friends. And this year is no different. I had intended to do another technique, but I couldn't find an element that I needed for the cards... so I switched gears. I hope my friends like my creativity.

Recipe:

Cricut Cartridge - Joys of the Season (Sentiment and Menorrah)

DCWV Glitter Stack (Silver and White)

DCWV Shimmer Stack (Blue)

Yellow Stickles (flames)

Ribbon - Holiday Inspirations (Joanns)

More blog Candy

2010-11-23T20:38:00.000-07:00

Did you not win the last blog candy for the Promarkers? Well here's another chance to win some.
http://bevscrafts.blogspot.com/2010/11/promarker-candy_23.html

More Copic Coloring for the Christmas Season

2010-11-21T23:30:00.000-07:00

Tis the Christmas season, so I've been scouring the net for Christmas Digi images that I can use and also practice my Copic coloring. I want it to look professional.... lol... and not like a grade schooler coloring. I've got a lot to learn and hope to do so in the upcoming weeks. I'm doing an online Copic Class over at Simply Scrapping Crafts.

So a while back, I had found this Bratz doll image off of one of those coloring book pages. I'm not a big fan of the Bratz dolls and their big eyes, but I thought this one was cute. So I blinged her up a bit.

Recipe:

Ribbon from stash

Copic Inks

Stickles

Image - Bratz Doll from Coloring Book Pages

American Crafts Patterned Paper

Computer Generated Sentiment

Holiday Swap Tags 2010

2010-11-21T23:01:00.001-07:00

I've been enjoying doing different swaps over on Scraps of Color website. We've done different images, cards for all sorts of seasons and now the latest one.... a Holiday Tag Swap.
Earlier this year, someone had hosted an Over The Top tag swap, but I missed out on that and didn't know what was expected for this one. Upon inquiry, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. It was going to be complicated since we were going to be making at the maximum 20 tags. And if you know me, I don't do anything half arsed.

I started searching the net for inspiration and nothing was really talking to me. Then I remembered the 12 Days of Christmas tags that is done by Tim Holtz , so I went there for inspiration.
I used one of his ideas from the 2008 tag series. Its not exactly as his is done.... but I really like the job that I did in creating these.

I pulled out my Cricut Expression.... ok... its always out.... .lol ... and opened up Design Studio to see what kind of Christmas images that I could use for my tags. I really wanted mine to be over the top and leave a lasting impression. I used grungeboard to cut out the images and I think I'll be making more to share. I embossed them and inked them with Glimmer mist for a bit of shine. The first two that I did.... I used distress ink , but that was taking up too much time. So out came the glimmer mist. I really like the way they came out. I cut a mask for my tags and glimmer misted and dried them. Then I used distress inks to color them in. Wow... they are so glimmery shiney.

Then to find the right paper. I am a paper hoarder and even went as far as going to the craft stores for more paper to use, when I found the right piece in a DCWV Christmas stack. I computer generated the letters used for the sentiment on the tags, painstakingly cutting them out and inking them. The hardest thing to find was a flower to match . Ok.... back to the stores... Michael's nor Joanne's had any Christmas flowers or anything that I wanted to use. What now? You would think with my in-house store, that I would have the perfect flower... but noooooooo. Then I thought , use the glimmer mist. LOL! I just love that stuff.

So I sat out to start assembling the tags. I'm putting them together and oh no... a tag has mysteriously disappeared. We only had to make 14 tags... and I have 13 . Now where did that tag go. Ok... no problem. Get another blank tag and mask and ink it up. Easy Peasy. Hmmmmm..... where did that come from.

So tags are all assembled and ready to go in the mail tomorrow for the hostess to receive and then divide up to all the participants. I hope they enjoy my tags as much as I enjoyed making them.

**I wrote earlier that the deer was cut from JOTS .... but after looking again, I realized I made a mistake. It was cut from Very Merry Tags and the tag part was 'Hide Contour'd".

Recipe:

Shipping Tags

Cricut Cartridge - Very Merry Tags (Deer)

DCWV Christmas Stack 2010 (Patterned Music Paper)

Computer Generated Letters

Zing Gold Embossing Powder

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Antique Linen and Forest Moss

Glimmer Mist Colors - Walnut Gold (Tag), Candy Apple Red ( Deer)

Bazzill Flowers - Glimmer Misted with Walnut Gold

Studio 18 Rhinestones

Organdy Ribbon - Michaels

PLEASE VOTE FOR ALEXSIS!

2010-11-13T22:08:00.000-07:00

So while reading my email, I saw this contest for pet pictures. I entered my sneaky dog.

Please take a moment and vote for her so I can win a new camera and a trip to Aruba. I really need a vacation right now.

CLICK HERE..... Petcentric

Win an Entire Set of Promarkers

2010-11-02T16:19:00.000-07:00

Can't afford Copic Markers!!
Want a chance to win an entire set of Promarkers?
Then browse on over to http://going-buggy.blogspot.com/2010/10/win-entire-range-of-148-promarkers.html

Breast Cancer Awareness Blog Hop

2010-10-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

One of the ladies on the SOC website is participating in a blog hop in honor of one of the scrappers that was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

So, hop on over to Sharon's blogspot and follow along to see the beautiful artwork that each one of the participants has created to honor Sherry Goodloe.

Breast Cancer Awareness ATC's

2010-10-15T14:09:00.000-07:00

I also made these up to give to friends to put on their refrigerator doors.
Images by Bugaboo Stamps ... and I just love this image.

Stella

Breast Cancer Awareness Cards

2010-10-15T13:58:00.001-07:00

I'm still making and creating all sorts of things to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness. Every year, I usually send out emails to all of my female friends with reminders to do their monthly breast exams and to also have their yearly mammograms if they haven't already. This year, I decided to do it differently. I've created some cards that are going in the mail to put the reminders right in their face. This way, they just can't delete it... hopefully they will put the reminder where they can actually see it and take action.

I found these cute Breast Cancer Digi images from Bugaboo . It was a series of 7 with matching sentiments. For this set, I colored the skin tones with Copic Markers , but for everything else I used Glitter Puffy Pants. The patterned paper is from Making Memories Slice Breast Cancer line.

Ruby

Vivian

Meg

Penny

Beth

Twyla

Recipe:

Bugaboo Breast Cancer Digi Stamps and Sentiments

Making Memory Slice Breast Cancer Paper

Bazzill Cardstock

Glitter Fabric Puffy Paint

Copic Markers

Tim Holtz distress ink

Ribbon from my stash

Another Challenge for Breast Cancer Awareness

2010-10-11T11:14:00.001-07:00

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I will be participating in as many things as possible to keep Breast Cancer Research and Awareness in the forefront of everyone's mind.

Another challenge was posted yesterday on the Scraps of Color website to create a layout scrapping Breast Cancer Awareness. The details are as follows:
Scrapbook a survivor, someone who has gone before us, someone in the struggle or perhaps just a page to encourage your sistahs to get mammograms, do self-exams or just to honor BC Awareness in general. You decide.
Layouts must:

use the color PINK!
have a title.
have at least 2 cardstock and 2 patterned papers.
Must include journaling.
Must include ribbon and bling.

Here's my spin on the challenge:

Breast Cancer Challenge Card

2010-10-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

October 1st marked the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month. I am a big supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness and I try to do my part in any way that I can. Unfortunately, I'm unable to walk in the state Susan G. Komen 3-day 60 mile race, but hopefully next year, things will go my way and I'll be able to particiapate once again.

On the Scraps of Color website, a challenge was issued this past weekend to use a free digi background that was put out by Two Peas In a Bucket and to create a card.
This is my take on the card:

Recipe:

Digi stamp background from Two Peas in a Bucket

Prima and Bazzill Flowers

Ribbon from my stash

Rhinestones

Coredinations Gemstone Cardstock

Cricut Cartridge - Pink Journey