Santa Suit Christmas Cards

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

Can't afford Copic Markers!!
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Breast Cancer Awareness Blog Hop

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

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

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

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

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

Some Birthday Cards

I can't get off this card kick that I'm on.  I know its probably because its so much easier for me to make a card than it is to do a layout.

While browsing one of the magazines looking for inspiration, I saw these cards and decided to make them up.  It featured paper packs that I had and thought, what the heck. The magazine is called Paper Creations and this is from the Fall 2010 edition.

The cards that I created are from page 48 - Elegant Birthday Classics.  There were 3 cards and a scan and print sentiment that was found in the middle of the book.
Here's my take on the cards:

Black Velvet Flower and Diamond Birthday

Birthday in Paris (without Paris... lol)

White Floral and Striped Happy Birthday

Recipe:

DCWV La Creme Stack

Rhinestones

Tsuneiko Chalk Ink

Preprinted sentiments

Fiskars Basket Weave Corner punch

First Day of School

My grandson is now 5 years old and started Kindergarten this year.  So Grandma had to be there for the big event.  He's so big and think he's grown.  I've not worked on any layouts in a while, so while I was attending a scrapbook retreat 2 weekends ago, this was one of the things that I had planned to do.   I remember when it was announced that there was going to be a little one in my life, I didn't want to be called "grandma".... but now, I proudly wear that title.

Recipe:

DCWV Grade School Stack

Bazzill Cardstock

Cricut Cartridge - Locker Talk

Halloween Card - Curler Lady

On my SOC website group, we had did an image exchange of African American images.  As you know, and if you don't, you know now.... there aren't a lot of African American images in production.  Trying to find them can be quite challenging.  I've been thinking hard about having my son design new ones for me to have made up.

This past wkend, there was a challenge to take this one image and have everyone make a card from it.   Ok..... I take that back... it was 2 wkends ago.  LOL!  So, I wanted to do something different and out of the ordinary from me.  I had found the MS Halloween paper at Big Lots a while back and taken it with me, not with the intent to do this card, but to work on some Halloween cards.  Needless to say,  it was the only thing that I completed that night in 3 hrs.  Yes, I said 3 hrs.  I got there late and then I was so wound up that I spent most of the night talking to friends and shopping at the garage sale (sale of merchandise you no longer need in your stash).  Ohhhh, the things that I bought and yes.... I needed also.  But thats a story for another time.

So... here's the card.  I laugh when I look at this.

Recipe:

MS Halloween Paper (double sided)

Gemstones Orange Cardstock

Rhinestones

Glitter

Ribbon (from girlfriends stash)

Cuttlebug embossing folder - SpiderWeb

Stamped Image - Curler Lady

MS Border Punch

Copic coloring

Re-Tweet T-shirt

I'm so far behind in posting and I guess that has to do with the fact that I've not done much this month.  I'm in the midst of moving my mom in with me and having to do a major downsize at my house.... which means, clearing out the spare bedroom for all of her stuff.  I'm also having to pack up her apartment and really downsize a lot of her stuff because there is no where for it to go at my place.  So needless to say, packing two places has been a chore in itself.  I've had a little help with her bedroom from a dear friend.  She's been getting mom to give away a lot of unnecessary items as we go thru her belongings.  I've not had the patience it takes to do it with her, and this friend has been a God send indeed.

So without further ado.... I had already saved up and paid for a weekend scrapbook retreat with my local monthly scrapbook group.  This is going to be 55 non-stop hours of scrapbooking with friends at one of the hotels here.  I am oh so ready for this weekend.  I invited a friend from Northern AZ to join me in this madness.  She knows who she is and I'm so grateful to have a maniac friend like her to come down and spend some time with me.

My group is called the Scrapbook Chicks.  So the retreat is called the Scrapbook Chicks Re-Tweet.  How stinkin' cute is that.  LOL!   I found this most fitting material at Joann Fabrics and Crafts to make up our special t-shirts for the event.  It was Debbie Mumm material... and it couldn't have been more perfect if I had designed it myself.

Then I threw in this little surprise on the back.

Don't ya just love it!!!

Wall Hangings

So I decided to try my hand out at putting images on Canvas .  I think they turned out nicely.   I have some friends with little ones and thought I needed to do something special for their bedrooms.
I had gotten some images from Mo's Digital Pencil and went to work.  I enlarged them to an 8.5 x 11 inches and then cut them done to fit the canvas.  I picked up the canvas from Big Lots.  Painted the canvas with paints (  Making Memory brand) .... and then applied the copic colored pictures to that.  I mod podged the entire image and canvas so that the little ones can actually put their fingers on the prints.  I didn't embellish them a lot because I didn't want little things to get in the mouths of the babes.

Sorry for the glare of the images... but I forgot to retake them before they were given away.  The Gymnast..... for some reason I can't find what I did with the image for that completed canvas.  It's pissing me off.  LOL!

A Birthday Card Challenge

Over at one of my favorite websites ... Scraps of Color ... this weekends challenge was to make a birthday card.  There were no directions or restrictions... just make a birthday card.

So I was looking through my stash of rubber stamps and saw this one that I had bought earlier this past year.  Since I've been really playing around with my copic coloring,  I decided to color it in and use it on a card.  I chose an easel type card and went to work selecting the cardstock and patterned papers to go with.

And opened up:

Recipe:

Popcorn the Bear Rubber Stamp set (Crafters Companion)

DCWV Patterned paper

Plain Cardstock from my stash

Rhinestones

EK Success Cupcake border punch

Copic inks

Smooch ink on the balloons 

Wow! Let's win a Silhouette Machine!!

Hey Everyone!  I found out about an online contest in which one can possibly win a brand new Silhoutte.
Check out this blog ... free-silhouette-craft-cutter-giveaway