TGIF #405 - What Would You Do Without Stamps?

Snow, cold, rain, snow, cold ... this seems to be where we are going to be for a while! We have really been enjoying the gas log inserts we had put in our two fireplaces the first week of December ... I'm cold from about September to May, so they are my FAVE things!  This week's TGIF Challenge is one of my favorites - making a card withOUT stamps! Let's get star

I love being able to get two cards for the price of one, don't you??? By using the Alphabet A La Modes Dies to make a card, I had the letters leftover from cutting them for the card on the left, so I just glued them to the card on the right! I did the run little Stampin' Blends "tip flick" lid trick to add some speckle to the front of the white card so that it would match more the DSP on the Old Olive card! I also used my Stampin' Blends to color the ribbons on both cards ... the White Ribbon was dyed Old Olive (using a Stampin' Blend), and the White Baker's Twine was dyed Rich Razzleberry by dragging it across the RR ink pads LOVE how they both turned out! I trimmed the Old Olive dyed ribbon prior to tying it and adding it to the card front; and frayed the White Ribbon once I had tied the dyed Rich Razzleeberry Baker's Twine 

Aren't these looooooveely??? They were quick and easy to pull together ,,,, and they both turned out really fun!

Stamps: NONE

Paper: Whisper White, Dandy Flowers DSP

Ink: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Alphabet A La Mode Dies, White 3/4" Frayed Ribbon, Solid Faceted Gems, 2021-2023 In Color Gems (retired), Pastel Pearls

 

I need to learn not to prep my actual blog posts AFTER I take my ambien for the night! I ramble and don't make sense and have to type and retype everything with fog for brains!! A I'm done!

Monday Montage #229

 

Aaaaaand the temps are coming WAAAYYY down! We aren't supposed to get above 30 degrees until next weekend ... Brrrr! Monday Montage is marching on (some of us through more snow than others!)! I'm starting to try to "will" Spring to come by making flower-y cards (even though I know we are at LEAST 8 weeks off!)!

I am really enjoying using my Stampin' Blends! Coloring has always been very relaxing for me ... seems some habits stick with us from childhood, don't they??

I felt the need to add a BUNCH of baker's twine on this one ... couldn't help myself! 

Stamps: Full of Love

Paper: Whisper White, Gorgeous Grape, Hues of Happiness DSP

Ink: Memento Black, Versamark; Stampin' Blends - Highland Heather, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo

Accessories:  Deckled Rectangles Dies, Tailored Tags Dies, Glossy Dots Assortment, White Embossing Powder, White Baker's Twine

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

Bree Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange 

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance 

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU ARE HERE

We played some online Nintendo Switch games with our kids over the weekend (we got a Switch for Christmas). It was soooo much fun! The kids killed us in some of the games, but I was able to redeem myself with bowling (which I can't do in person!)! I may have found a new favorite game!

Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick... and "Back" to see Julie Warnick - very nice!!

MonM

TGIF #404 - Birthday Cards Theme Challenge

Sooooo ... most of the cards I create end up with a birthday sentiment or a generic sentiment that can be used as a birthday sentiment. I do this on purpose since I send birthday cards throughout the year to more than 100 family members (I have a BIG extended family!)!  This week's TGIF Challenge is perfect for me since it's all about birthday cards!! 

I set out to make some cards that could be used for ANYone ... and I ended up struggling with color combos ... so I just used a bunch!! There's also a LOT of layering going on with these ... if less is more, then MORE is MORE, right??!??

MANY dies were employed to get to the final product on these ... that's not a BAD thing, is it??

Stamps: Celebrate with Tags, Hand Drawn Dots

Paper: Whisper White, Fresh Freesia, Balmy Blue, Mango Melody, Calypso Coral, Granny Apple Green, Dandy Designs DSP

Ink: Versamark, Fresh Freesia, Balmy Blue, Calypso Coral, Granny Apple Green 

Accessories:  White Embossing Powder, Beautiful Shapes Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Alphabet A La Mode Dies, 2022-24 In Color Bakers Twine Pack, Whisper White Satin Edged Ribbon (retired), Pastel Adhesive-Backed Sequins, Pastel Pearls

 

I've made more cards in the last two weeks than I have in the past SEVERAL months (other than my Christmas cards ... which I STILL need to share here!)! Cleaning one's craft space does WONDERS for one's creativity!

Freaky Fun and Fancy Folds

We are Freakin' Foldin', my friends! Digging into our years of stamping knowledge, the Freaks are sharing their "Fun & Fancy Folds" this month! Bree Renwick's bright and cheerful card is not only beautiful, but "funly-folded"! I used to make unique folded cards all the time ... it has been FOREVER since I have made one, so this was a terrific challenge for me!

I am very super happy about the release of these super darling Conversation Bubbles!! It seems like they have so many possibilities ... MUCH potential going on here!

The base is made from a piece of cardstock cut to 5.5" by 10". You will then need to make score lines at 3.75" and 8".

I created the curved edge on the front flap by using one of the Basic Borders Dies, and then made an additional layer on top of the base layer of Pacific point by cutting a piece of cardstock from Balmy Blue and making it about 1/2" narrower than the front flap.

The little red "tab" was made by cutting a piece of Real Red cardstock to 6" x 1" and securing it across the base piece from the first score mark around to the front of the card, scoring the flap as you bring it to the front.

I placed the Whisper White circle on the Real Red tab using a Dimensional. I then securing a piece of Baker's Twine between the white circle and the Dimensional.  To close the card, wrap the Baker's Twine from left to right around the back of the card and then wrap the twine once more. Upon coming to the little circle the second time, wrap the remaining twine around the Dimensional to secure the card closed.

 

 

Here is what it looks like with the Twine attached but unwrapped ...

And here is the card all opened up! Pretty Fun and Fancy, right???

Stamps: Conversation Bubbles
Paper: Pacific Point, Balmy Blue, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Pacific Point, Versamark

Accessories: Conversation Bubbles Dies, Basic Borders Dies, Stripes & Splatters 3D Embossing Folders, 2022-24 In Colors Baker's Twine Pack, Glossy Dots Assortment, White Embossing Powder

 

I'm back to half marathon training. Had an AWESOME 3-mile run outside today!! It was 31 degrees F ... my fave temp to run in ... once you get going it really is great not to get too hot!

Next up? Deb Henderson! Her "Adorable Owls" are so much fun!

 

TGIF #403 - Sketch Challenge

What a WHIRLWIND of a week! We left eaaaarly Tuesday morning for a super fun family trip to Disneyland (something we haven't done all together since 2007!)! Sooooo much fun!!! We didn't get home until just before 11:00pm tonight and I am TIRED! I am happy to report that I completed a card and had this post started with the photos place before leaving for California!  This week's TGIF Challenge is a Sketch Challenge... and it's a good one because there are sooo many ways to dress it up or down! 

The oh-so-fun images from Thanks a Bunch are a new personal fave for me... and will be used on many a creation!

Bermuda Bay is sooooo yummy with Mango Melody and Basic Black (not to mention the vellum cardstock!) Love the sharp and classy way they pop when put together, don't you!!???!

 

 

 

I love using my Stampin' Blends tips to create splatter ... carefully flick the brush tip against the inside of the pen cap and aim it at the paper ... so very fun!

Stamps: Thanks a Bunch 

Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Mango Melody, Basic Black, Vellum Cardstock

Ink: Versamark, Mango Melody, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green

Accessories:  White Embossing Powder, Raindrop Embossing Folder, Rustic Dots, 1/4" Black & White Gingham Ribbon, Deckled Rectangle Dies

 

 

 

Three non-stop days in Disneyland with those I love the most were PRICELESS and we made some new fun memories together! But I am sooooo tired and could sleep for 4-5 days! Until next tine ...

Monday Montage #228

 

 Happy New Year!!! It's amazing how much crafting one can accomplish when one actually has time to clean their craft space!! Now that we are through the holidays I am excited to get stamping (I actually have made three cards since yesterday, so the year is off to a good start!)! Welcome to this year's first Monday Montage Blog Hop!

Eeeeep!!! I have been soooooo looking forward to play with this stamp set! I mean ... who DOESN'T love a taco??? (or guacamole???) To be fair, I know they probably don't float EVERYONE'S boat, but you can't help but smile at a taco, avocados and chili pepper that smiles back at you, right???  I pulled out my Stampin' Blends to color up this darling little images ... Ole'!

Here's a little closer view of these cute images ... I added a few Champagne Rhinestones to give off a little sparkle! I see myself using this stamp set a LOT!!

Stamps: Taco Fiesta

Paper: Granny Apple Green, Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White,  Dandy Designs DSP

Ink: Memento Black, Versamark; Stampin' Blends - Mango Melody (retired), Poppy Parade, Granny Apple Green, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Basic Borders Dies, Deckled Rectangles Dies, Tailored Tags Dies, Black & White 1/4" Gingham Ribbon, Champagne Rhinestones, White Embossing Powder

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

Bree Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange 

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance 

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU ARE HERE

Now ... can someone please come over and clean out/organize my storage room so that I can put my Christmas decorations away??? They are all taken down and boxed up ... I just need to figure out how I am going to fit the boxes back onto the shelves where I store them!!

Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick... and "Back" to see Julie Warnick - their cards make me smile!!

MonM

TGIF #400 - Product Challenge

Let's play! This week's TGIF Challenge is a Product Spotlight ... we each picked something we wanted to showcase and ran with it!

Soooooo ... I have been working on my Christmas cards for-EV-ER! The past two weeks have been pretty intense with holiday prep going on left and right! Lucky for me I had some parts leftover from making the Christmas cards, so I just used them!

I used the Tree Lot Dies to make this lovely little forest scene! A couple of the "snow" layers served as a mask so that I could create the background by sponging over them with some Evening Evergreen ink. 

See how fun?? I also used a strip of Evening Evergreen embossed with the Whimsical Woodland 3D Embossing folder. I used a sentiment from Beautifully Happy to turn this into a wintry birthday card.

Stamps: Beautifully Happy

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen

Ink: Versamark, Evening Evergreen

Accessories:  Tree Lot Dies, White Embossing Powder, Whimsical Woodland 3D Embossing Folder

I have mailed Christmas cards, delivered neighbor and finished shopping ... now I need to WRAP, cook and clean up! Can't WAIT to spend time with my family!

Monday Montage #227

Still in "Deck the Halls" mode over at my house! To be honest, I've been working on my Christmas cards for weeks ... but I AM approaching the finish line!! YAY!! And over the weekend we had "Keebler Elf Sunday" at our house.  The kids come over and we make cookies for our friends and neighbors ... about 1,000 of them, to be more accurate! They are then bagged and tagged and made ready for delivery! It's a busy process, but we have it down to a science and get it done in a few hours. We love this family tradition, during which we also watch "Jingle All the Way" ... the best worst Christmas movie of all time!

I used my Cricut to make these fun little tags too label all the bagged cookies. Aren't they cute??? I got a new Bosch mixer for myself as an early Christmas present (my old Kitchenaid bit the dust a couple of weeks ago after more than 20 years of faithful service!) and it was HEAVEN to use!! These cookies are honestly the tastiest, softest and most delectable little cookies EVER! You will LOVE them!

Stamps: NONE

Paper: Soft Suede

Ink: Sakura White Gelly Roll, Gold Metallic Cricut Marker

Accessories: Bakers Twine, Small Gold Ornaments

Lucky Pennies

2 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. salt
3/4 C. (1½ sticks unsalted butter, softened)
1 C. firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 C. molasses
1 large egg
granulated sugar (for coating cookies)

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt. In a separate large bowl, use a wooden spoon to cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and egg and mix until well blended. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until combined. Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least 1 to 2 hours or until firm enough to roll into balls.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Use a spoon to scoop the dough out of the bowl, then roll it with your fingertips into balls that are about one-inch in diameter (I think we actually go up to 1.5" diameter). Roll the balls in a shallow bowl of granulated sugar. Place the balls on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving 2 inches between the cookies. Bake for 6 to 9 minutes or until the cookies are crinkled and set.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat until all the dough is used. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month and at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Special note: This is a recipe that does NOT double/triple very well. If you want to make LOTS of them, you should make a separate batch of dough each time.

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

Bree Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance 

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU ARE HERE

Just a few more things to pick up and I will be done shopping ... and HOPEFULLY Christmas cards will be in the mail Tuesday (FINALLY!!)! Gettin closer every day!

Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick... and "Back" to see Emily Kimmey - you'll love them!

MonM

Monday Montage #226

 

 

Trees are up ... lights are on the windows and eaves on the front of the house ... some presents are purchased ... and my Christmas cards have actually been started! Still a very looooong way to go, but I am making a dent!! Took a little time out from all my Christmas projects to make ... what?? A Christmas card!! YAY for Monday Montage!

Woof! Woof!! Woof!!! Doggies just make me happy! The sweet little scottie dog in the Christmas Scottie Set is so dang darling!! He also comes with a Scottie-shaped punch! Could NOT get any more cute than that!! Combined with some folded DSP, heat embossed snowflakes, stamped tone-on-tone shpes and a good neutral ribbon and VOILA! A few white-embossed snowflakes and three gold sequins wrap this all together. 

Up close you can see how the stamped Crumb Cake circle of plaid and the little accent sequins all add just the things this card needs!

Stamps: Christmas Scottie

Paper: Real Red, Garden Green, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Gingham Cottage DSP

Ink: Versamark, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Stylish Shapes Frames, Double Oval Punch, Natural Finish 7/8" Ribbon, Pastel Sequins, White Embossing Powder

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

Bree Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance 

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner 

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU ARE HERE

Hopefully I will be MUCH more prepared with Christmas gifts/cards the next time I post!

Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick... and "Back" to see Julie Warnick - LOVELY creations!

MonM

TGIF #396 - Inspiration Challenge

Happy Post-North American Thanksgiving (aka Black Friday!!)!!! Hoping that those of you who,celebrated had a wonderful day full of food, family and friends! This week we are doing a TGIF Inspiration Challenge!

Wreaths have always brought me a sense of peace. Looking at the greenery in the inspiration pic and seeing the word “peace” made me think about how I really wanted to make a wreath. Having just received my preorder for the 2023 January-June Catalog, I knew that the Citrus Fun Bundle could help me make a lovely wintry wreath!

I had a good time creating the splatter all around my card with a Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blend by flicking the brush tip of the pen against the edge of the cap on the pen and sim it at the card … pretty fun, eh?

Stamps: Citrus Fun

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen

Ink: Versamark, Soft Succulent, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Polished Pink

Accessories:  Citrus Dies, Natural Finish 7/8" Ribbon, Citrus Embossing Folder, Pastel Sequins (coming soon), White Embossing Powder, Gold 1/4” Shimmer Ribbon

Grateful to have been invited to be on the Challenge Team with these fine ladies, and VERY grateful for the friendships I have made because of my participation as a demonstrator for Stampin’ Up! Counting my blessings!