Fab Friday #177

It's Fab Friday ... YAY!! And why is it that SOOOOO many people I know already have all of their Christmas decor up and ready to go??? I mean, SERIOUSLY??? It's not even Thanksgiving yet!!! And I even am starting to feel myself wanting to CAVE and put up my Christmas tree this weekend ... something I have NEVER done EVER!! What do you think?? What do YOU guys do??? Poor Thanksgiving ... it gets lots between Halloween and Christmas!!

I had fun making this card. I haven't used much embossing powder for a very long time ... and the holly image in the Christmas Gleaming stamp set was just CRYING out to me for some, so I just did it! I used to "dangle" images off of twine/ribbon/sequin trim and the like a LOT way back in the day. It was fun to do that with this one ... the cute ornament just looked like it needed to be dangling from something!

Stamps: Christmas Gleaming
Paper: Whisper White, Shaded Spruce, Cherry Cobbler, Wrapped in Plaid Specialty DSP
Ink: Gold Delicata, Shaded Spruce
Accessories: Subtle Embossing Folder, Gold Embossing Powder, Metallic Pearls, 3/16" Braided Linen Trim

Super simple and easy ... LOTS of free space to add whatever you want!









Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so that you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

So I MAY actually try to put a tree up this weekend. At the very least, I will put my mama's Christmas tree up for her. I guess I am okay with it this year since Thanksgiving is SOOOO late in the month and we won't have much time left to have our "halls decked" to enjoy them!! Have a great weekend, y'all!

Walkin' in a Freakin' Wonderland!

Welcome to this month's edition of the Control Freaks Blog Tour! This week we are stamping "Winter Wonderland" creations. We are also welcoming two new Freaky friends ... Bree Renwick and Tami Hewlitt! They are both SO creative and talented! You should just have come from the blog of our new Freak Tami Hewlitt!! It's obvious why we asked her to join us, isn't it??? Keep hopping around so that you can see ALL of what the Freaks have created!

I am LOVING these "make your own scene" types of stamps ... this set is called "Snow Front". After stamping the images, I used my Aquapainter to "paint" over the images to give them a watercolor effect. It's SO much fun!! Makes me feel oh-so-fancy! I used my White Chalk pen and added some Shimmery Crystal Effects with a little Wink of Stella below each "dot" to make some stars in the sky. I wish you could see all the sparkly goodness ... it's VERY festive!

Stamps: Snow Front, So Many Stars (sentiment)
Paper: Whisper White, Pretty Peacock
Ink: Pretty Peacock, Mossy Meadow, Early Espresso, Smoky Slate, White Chalk Pen
Accessories: Rectangle Stitched Dies, Old Olive/Pretty Peacock 3/8" Reversible Ribbon, Glitter Crystal Effects, Wink of Stella

Oh MAN!! Nothing says "Winter Wonderland" like the "Feels Like Frost" Specialty Designer Series Paper. It - Is - STUNNING!! I love each and every pattern!! This card was crying out for a frosty Christmas tree, so I used the "Into the Woods" dies to build a little snowy tree ... I am really feeling the need for a little snow!

Stamps: Frosted Foliage
Paper: Night of Navy, Feels Like Frost Specialty DSP, Sparkle Glimmer Paper, Whisper White, Vellum
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Frosted Frames Dies, Into the Woods Dies, Clear Epoxy Droplets

Next up??? The lovely  ... super LeeAnn Greff!!

Monday Montage #152

Ok ... it happened ... and much sooner than I had expected. I wanna put up a Christmas tree!!! I wanna shop and wrap!! I wanna decorate and make Christmas cookies ... I wanna watch ALL THE CHRISTMAS MOVIES and listen to ALL THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!! And this has all happened in the past three days ... and it's not even THANKSGIVING yet!! I think it is because Thanksgiving is a week late this year, being on the 28th of November! I just need to run to Vegas or Wendover and win the jackpot!!!

It has taken me all the way until TODAY to crack open my Copper Delicata Ink ... and I am IN LOVE with it!! It is sooooooo pretty in person. As in GORGEOUS!! As in "why didn't I use this before?" beautiful!!! A few diecuts and some ribbon and it's done ... SUPER easy!

Stamps: Frosted Foliage
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pretty Peacock, Rose Gold Foil
Ink: Copper Delicata, Pretty Peacock
Accessories: Frosted Frames Dies, Old Olive/Pretty Peacock 3/8" Reversible Ribbon



Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange
Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

So now my dilemma is ... do I start setting up for Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving happens (something I haven't EVER done!), or do I wait until after Thanksgiving??? Christmas is only three weeks after Thanksgiving, so decorating a week earlier would allow the decorations to be up for a month (which would make it more worth it because I decorate a LOT!1 What do YOU guys do???

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill has created ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout's ... BEAUTIFUL!!

Monday Montage #151

Isn't the "fall back" into Daylight Saving Time supposed to give us an EXTRA HOUR of sleep so that we feel more rested?? HONESTLY!! Sheesh!! After this last week I feel like I could sleep for a week ... I am WIPED OUT!  Perhaps the HUGE swings in temperature here this past week are messing me up ... we got down into single digits for a few days and now we are back up into the 50's ... I'm SO confused!!  Welcome to Monday Montage ... this is at least ONE great way to start the week!

What could be more comforting that a toasty cup of cocoa topped off with whipped cream?? Not much, if you ask me!! I used some of the Whisper White Puff Paint to create the luscious creamy topping on this mug of cocoa.  Makes you want to go make one for yourself, right??? DO IT!!

Stamps: Cup of Christmas
Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Neutrals DSP, Wrapped in Plaid DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake
Accessories: Subtle Embossing Folder, Trio Corner Punch, Cup of Cheer Dies, Cable Knit Embossing Folder, Whisper White Puff Paint





Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange
Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

We are having company from out of town later this week ... hopefully I will get rested up enough this week to be able to keep up!

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill has created ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout's ... they are KILLIN' it!!