Jingle-Jangle-Jingle

Okay, so I guess the Christmas Bug has officially bitten me!! I did a BUNCH of Christmas shopping last Saturday (and I have to admit I have been listening to Christmas music since Halloween) AND I was able to come out of my Mojo Funk long enough to make this Christmas-y card!!

This came as an inspiration from my dear friend, Kittie Caracciolo (aka Kittie747 on SCS). I totally {{{heart}}} her card!! Here it is:

Kittie's Christmas Wreath

I swear that little MS branch punch is brilliant!! It looks good no matter WHAT ya do with it!! (Wish Stampin' Up made one!!)

Stay tuned this week ... I have a BOATload of stamp sets for sale ... Bargain Basement prices, too!! (Gotta make room for MORE!)

Happy Monday!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Deck the Halls DSP
Ink: Always Artichoke
Accessories: Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Pearl Stickers (colored with Cherry Cobbler marker), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, MS Branch Punch, Paper Piercing Tool/Mat

Silhouettes

Every three weeks I get the opportunity (which I LOVE!) to hostess a challenge over on SCS. To be specific, I hostess the Free for All Challenge on Fridays (it used to be a "Limited Supplies" challenge, but I actually came up with the idea to change it with the other hostess - and I even came up with the name myself!). I have to admit that I was stumped as to what to do this week ...

As I am considering doing SOME sort of silhouette-type of card as my Christmas card this year (still have NO idea what exactly I am gonna do THERE!), I thought it would be fun to do that as this week's challenge - to make a card that featured silhouette-y images. So, there ya have it ...

Still feeling a bit mojo-less as I struggled to put these two samples together ... I'm not sure WHAT my problem is, but I spend a lot of time STARING at my stuff, not sure WHAT to do lately!! Glad I was able to put these samples together, at least. This first one uses the prettiful "Peaceful Season" stamp set ... and the sentiment is too bit for almost ALL the punches I have, so I ended up punching it out with the 2 1/2" circle punch and cutting off the top part of the circle ...

Stamps: Peaceful Season
Paper: Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Versamark
Accessories: Snowflakes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Dimensionals

And THIS sample was made with my trusty ol' Cricut ... I think the images from the "Child's Year" cartridge are amongst my faves (and I couldn't help pulling out a really OLD stamp set - Cold Play - for the sentiment). It's been sooo cold here this week that I pretty much have snow on the brain (as you can see!).

Stamps: Cold Play
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Basic Black
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Scallop Square Bigz Die, Marvy Double Scallop Corner Punch, Decorator Label Punch, Child's Year Cricut Cartridge, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Snowflakes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Happy Weekend, everyone!!

Mojo No-Go ...

I have been trying for DAYS to make a card. I actually tried THREE separate times yesterday to do something ... NO GO! I felt like I had COMPLETELY lost my mojo ... kinda like FOREVER!!

Today's challenge on SCS was for this color combo - Poppy Parade, Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White. There was a "dessert" option to add a butterfly. Well, y'all KNOW how I feel about BUTTERFLIES, so I feel like someone has unlocked the Prison Cell and let me out (even if it is only temporary ... which I HOPE it isn't!!).

This card is pretty ironic because there is SNOW all over the place outside. I'm already colder than I wanna be, and we STILL have MONTHS and MONTHS to go ... sigh ...

Stamps: Butterfly Prints, Autumn Days, Great Friend
Paper: Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Poppy Parade, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black
Accessories: Martha Stewart Double Loop Border Punch, Finial Press Textured Impressions Folder, Nestabilities Rectangles, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Butterfly Punch, Dimensionals

Beautiful Green River

Our recent trip with friends this past July to the Green River was amazing. Beautiful, relaxing, fun ...

While I was doing exit polling during the elections this past Tuesday I had a LOT of time to just sit ... sooo glad I brought my laptop with me so I could play with MDS. I really love how this layout came out ... I just wish I coulda fit MORE photos on it!!

Have a fantastic Friday!! YAY! The weekend is almost here!!

Lovely Fall Trees ...

Sometimes (okay, well maybe more than just sometimes!) I come across a card while I am cruising the 'net or looking through the gallery on SCS that I KNOW I am gonna HAFTA "case" ... what I HATE is when I cannot find the original to give credit where credit is due. That is what happened to me with this card. I had remembered seeing the loveliest card, but couldn't find it again to get reinspired.

So, I pretty much did this from the picture in my head (which is all good, since I don't literally copy cards exactly, anyway!). Sooo happy that after I posted it in my gallery on SCS that I was directed to this beautiful card by Heather T. It is the one I had remembered!! YAY!!

Heather's Beautiful Trees

I used the colors for CC295 to change her idea to a more fall theme - Peach Parfait, Early Espresso and Cajun Craze (with a little Daffodil Delight thrown in!). That's pretty much it!

Soooo glad Election Day is over. I was doing exit polling ALL DANG DAY, which made for an extra long day. AND I know that I won't miss the political ads, the political JUNK mail, AND the political phone calls!! Sheesh!! This election seemed to go on FOREVER!!

Enjoy your day!

Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Ink: Early Espresso, Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Scor Pal, Dimensionals

Happy Halloween!

Can't believe we are already so far into fall!! I had a GREAT Halloween-y weekend! It started on Friday with our school's annual Halloween Carnival ... what a blast! We had a wonderful turnout and everything ran really smoothly. This is probably the 13th or 14th time (maybe 15th??) my friend Holly and I have put this carnival together. We're still not tired of doing it ... yet!! The costumes were great, the people were happy and good times were had by all!

On to this spooky card ... I couldn't resist making at least ONE card with my super-fave Halloween set - Best Fiends. One of the BESTEST Halloween sets EVER made by SU (in my humble little ol' opinion). This kinda got away from me ... didn't turn out quite how I had planned, but I got 'er done, anyway!

Stamps: Best Fiends
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Night and Day DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler, Bashful Blue, Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Pear Pizzazz, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Circle Cutter, Spiderweb Textured Impressions Folder, Bat Punch, Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge

And, as promised, here I am in my Maleficent costume! I have been dressing up in my Wicked Witch of the West costume for years and years (still love it, in fact!), but I couldn't resist buying this costume (which is crazy for me, since I have always made all of ours!). It was on a super-duper sale from the Disney Store online, plus it had FREE SHIPPING!! It arrived Friday morning just in time for me to be able to wear it to the Carnival. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't scare too many kids with it ... in fact, so many of them were excited to see me as a character that they recognized. It was really fun! Now I have TWO costumes I really like, so it's gonna be hard to choose which one to wear from now on!! Sheesh!!

One more dramatic pose ... my daughter took these pictures for me ... I don't really like having my picture taken ... but I thought that this costume was just too cool not to share it. I have to admit that my vertical challenged-ness almost made it so that this costume was too long (in actuality the hemline is supposed to fit about mid-calf). I was just glad that it wasn't dragging the floor too much - with my arms down at my sides it was dragging a little, but it seemed to work out well - just had to be careful going up and down the stairs - coulda been a Evil Queen Wipeout!!

The Big 5-0 for Kathy!

One of my mostest BFF's, Kathy, is celebrating her 50th birthday today. I started to make a creepy-ish Halloween card for the sketch challenge over on SCS this morning (SC304), when I got the giggles. As I stared into the dark and dreary skull image I was about to stamp I thought it would make the PERFECT card for Kathy to help her celebrate such a milestone ... so that is what I did!! Happy (Creepy) Day, my friend!!

I am gearing up for our annual Halloween Carnival at the neighborhood elementary school. ANOTHER one of my BFF's (Hey, Holly!) and I have been putting this carnival on for years and years (I know it is well over 10!). I totally LOVE it!! I even ordered myself a new costume this year (I have been the Wicked Witch of the West forEVER - will probably still wear it at some point this weekend), but I am really excited for my new look. I'll post a pic for ya on Halloween!!

Have a spookalicious Day!!

Stamps: From the Crypt, Best Fiends
Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Night and Day DSP
Ink: Basic Black (Craft and Classic)
Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Oval Large and Small (S4-110 and S4-112) Nestabilities, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Black Twine, Bat Punch, Spider Web Textured Impressions Folder, Vintage Brad, Paper Distressing Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

Computers and Friends ...

I know many of us hate to admit that some of our bestest friendies are people we have met on the 'net ... but it's true, RIGHT?? I feel so fortunate to have made so many great friends and met so many awesome people during my journey on the WWW!

I made this card a couple of weeks ago for Dawn's F4A challenge over on SCS. The challenge was to make an "ode to the computer" of sorts, and this is what I came up with (don't really have "computer-y" lookin' stamps, so I kinda made my own image with punches).

A couple of other things ... first of all, can I say I LOVE VERIZON??!!??? After my phone fiasco at Disneyland, I was sure I was TOAST and was gonna hafta revert back to my old phone (a Blackberry, which is a great phone ... but I love my new Droid oh-so-much!). Needless to say, they took GREAT care of me and I am a happy Droid user once again!! WOOHOOO for VERIZON!!

Second ... I am tryingtryingtrying NOT to be a LEMMING!! I have had SOOO many people ask me if I am on Facebook ... when I tell them "NO!" I am met with shock and then given a BUNCH of reasons why I should just join. I have to admit my resolve is waning, BUT I still haven't gone there. I went so far as to start the sign up process a few days ago, but then cancelled the whole thing, deactivated the account and just backed out. Two of my kids are even workin' on me ... HELP!!

Happy Sunday! The fall colors here are simply beautiful! I may just go on a little hike later this afternoon (if it's not raining!!)

Stamps: For All You Do, Baroque Motifs, Crafty Taglines (There She Goes)
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, Basic Gray
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Blushing Bride
Accessories: 2 1/2" Scallop Circle Punch, Extra Large Circle Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Decorator Label Punch, Bitty Punch Pack, Corner Rounder Punch, Perfect Polka Dots, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Pearl Stickers

Flap It To Me, Baby!

Do y'all remember "Laugh In"? (If not, then I am feeling pretty darn old!!) If so, then the title of this post will make at least SOME sense to ya!

It was once again my turn to hostess the Free for All challenge over on SCS today. I LOVE making flap cards ... my mom gave me the most gorgeous card for my birthday (even though it was "store bought"). It was a tall, thin flap card. Very nicely done ... and ever since then I have been hankerin' to make a flap card, so here ya have it!

Yesterday was one loooonnnnng day!! Took my daughter to school, ran to the middle school to teach a western line dance, came home and cleaned and did some laundry .... THEN ... had my stamp club over, put the post for the challenge together and got it going over on SCS ... THEN ... cooked a German feast with my daughter for her to take to school this morning to share with her German class for extra credit (she had BETTER get a stinkin' "A" out of that class, I tell ya!). Sooo glad the weekend is almost here!!

Stamps: Happiness Shared, Because I Care
Paper: Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Black, Regal Rose, Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Folder, Always Artichoke Seam Binding, Large Oval Punch, Pearl Stickers, Smooch Pearlized Illuminate Accent Ink, Paper Distressing Tool, Dimensionals

It's Beginning to Freak A LOT Like Christmas!

I know, I know ... just TEN more weeks 'til Christmas!! Can you STAND IT??? Every year it seems to come around faster and faster ... BUT at least the Freaks got it goin' on!! You should have just come from the blog of one of our newest Freaks, Renee Van Stralen ... AWESOME, isn't she??

I love making framed art. I also love making wreaths out of unexpected images and shapes ... hence, the "ornament punch" framed wreath you see here. Sadly, I used up all of the red glimmer brads I had left, so it looks like I'm gonna have to buy MORE, right???

Stamps: NONE
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Old Olive
Ink: Very Vanilla
Accessories: Ornament Punch, Petals a Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Glimmer Brads, Join in the Cheer Die, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Frame

Next, I am moving on to a kinda non-traditional card. I LOVE the Woodgrain background stamp!! It is so much more versatile than I had originally thought (and of course I bought it anyway). It is one of my faves, for sure!

Stamps: Woodgrain background, Tags for Christmas, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake
Ink: Early Espresso, Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Decorator Label Punch, Northern Frost Die, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals

And (finally!) I made this quick little card. I just think the Santa Belly tag stamp is sooo stinkin' ca-YOOT!! Had to use it, baby!! Now, I just gotta go finish putting up my Halloween decorations ...

Stamps: Tags 'til Christmas, Winter Post
Paper: Basic Black, Shimmery White, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Accessories: Large and Small Tag Punches, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Whisper White Satin/Organza Ribbon, Silver Fox Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink, Silver Brad, Dimensionals

Next on the list is the ever-amazing Liz Scultz!! Be sure to check out HER fabulous Christmas projects by clicking on the link ...