A Happy Announcement and Happy Snow 2014!

 

I'm so excited to finally be able to let you all know that I was chosen to be on the new Design Team for the Fusion Challenge!  And today, Lesley is making the announcement of her new team on the Fusion Blog so hop over and check out who else is on the team! (they will also be posted on my side bar shortly!) The first Fusion Challenge of 2014 will be this coming Thursday, January 2nd.

 As I'm sure you know, the Fusion challenge runs every other Thursday - and  there is always a photo and a sketch inspiration -  you can be inspired by one of them or combine the two!  I hope you can drop by again on Jan 2nd and see my very first creation for the Fusion Challenges!

And since I'm here - I'm sharing a card that I made for the last PTI Make it Monday for 2013 - Angled Backgrounds.  I needed a thank you card to send to my husbands' brother and sister in law who live in Killington, VT.  They sent us a pint of Pure Vermont Maple Syrup for Christmas (yum!).  Since he skis every day, I thought I'd focus on snow while also celebrating the ringing in of 2014!  The challenge was to lay strips of patterned paper at angles to create a pretty background.  This was SO fun to do - and I love the look! Check out Ashley's how to video here

I used PTI Holiday Flourishes and Swirls paper for my background.  The dies are PTI By the Numbers, One Liners - Happy and Wonderful words - Snow
Here you can see how I popped up the words and every other number on foam tape.

I'm also entering this in the Cas-ual Friday's challenge.

Wishing everyone a very safe and happy New Year's Eve and a crafty 2014!   Tonight Kent and I are staying in -  he's recovering from shoulder surgery done last week and it's still pretty painful so he's dozing a lot on his meds. We will watch the New Year's Festivities on TV - probably switching between the New York City and Boston celebrations!

PTI Make It Monday - My Choice: Photo Post Cards

This week's Make It Monday challenge is a review of all of the 2013 challenges and we are to pick a favorite one to use for our creations.  I chose challenge #118 Photo Postcards by Ashley Cannon Newell.  I love stamping on photos and have made several cards in the past using this technique - you can see a few of them here and here and here.   

I have SO many wonderful photos of my grand nephews and niece and was inspired to make 6 photo postcards today!!

The best photos have some white space on them so the sentiment you stamp will show clearly.  I attached the photo to a 4" x 6" piece of white card stock and stamped a dividing line ( Sew Simple Borders) and the address lines (Journaling Lines) on the back so it could be used as a post card.  Although Ashley does caution that if you print your photo on a jet ink printer (which I did) it can smear if moisture gets on it - so it's best, if you are going to mail it, to put it in a glassine or clear envelope.

This is Landon (3 1/2) and his little sister Mila (1 1/2) at Thanksgiving.  My niece Katie took this picture with a misty edge using her new camera.  The Brother is from PTI Men of Life and the thank you sentiment is from On My Couch.

 Again, Katie was playing with the settings on her new camera and snapped this great one of Landon with a string of tree lights.  Sentiment is from PTI Inside and Out Holiday.

 Although it's too late for this year -  this photo Katie took on Christmas Eve at the in-laws house would have made a wonderful Christmas card for her to send.   The Merry Christmas is from PTI  Inside Out Holiday.

Here's Landon playing doctor at a Children's Museum.  Sentiment is from PTI On My Couch and the little heart is from PTI My Punny Valentine.

 

This little cutie of Mila was taken last summer in their yard.  Mila is playing in the water table they had set up and she actually has some drops of water on her face!  It seemed a perfect picture for this sentiment from PTI Signature Greetings!  (you're smiling yourself now, right!?!)

 

And my final picture post card really didn't have enough light space on it to stamp the sentiment  -  But I just loved Mila's wonderful plaid Christmas dress -  her little pearl necklace (when you press the shell - Ariel hums a tune! so we were hearing that all Christmas Day!) and her brother's new knit hat (that she promptly put on after he opened it!)

 

Here is the close up of the sentiment so you can read how appropriate it is -  "Wear your best dress and pretty pearls, we are having a tea party just for the girls!"  It's from Waltzingmouse - Afternoon Tea Sentiments.

 

I used Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink for all of the stampings - and did have a little trouble with it 'squishing' over the glossy card stock - and found I had to reprint some of the photos and try again.  I also left them over night to dry before touching them.   I'd suggest try all of the different inks you have to see which one stamps best on glossy card stock -  OR you could print directly onto card stock - which gives a more muted look to the photo - but would be much easier to stamp on!

What photos do you have that would make great Post Cards?

PTI Dec Blog Hop - Tied Up with String

Happy day after Christmas everyone - are you out shopping all the sales?? -  I'm back at work for a couple of days and then off for New Year's week - whoo hoo!!

Today I'm participating in the Papertrey Ink December Blog Hop  The challenge is "Tied up With String"

For my project - I decorated a white 6" x 8" mesh net bag from Pouch Mart with a tag and twine for a new home gift.

I used two dies - Tag Sale #5 and the house die from Boards and Beams - embossing the house stamp from Boards and Beams in white on kraft card stock.  I tied the tag onto the bag by simply looping the twine through the holes in the mesh.

That gave me the idea to add a little texture to the plain white net bag by tying twine knots randomly on the front of the bag.

Since the bag is see-through - the lovely gold and silver scented candle I placed inside is shown off quite nicely!

If you'd like to be inspired by all kinds of ways to use string - check out the PTI blog hop here where everyone is linking up their projects!

Stamps:  Boards and Beams - PTI

Paper:  white, Kraft - PTI

Ink:  Versamark, Ranger Distress Frayed Burlap

Accessories:  net bag - Pouch Mart, white embossing powder, heat gun, Dies - Tag Sale #5, Boards and Beams - PTI, foam dots, black/kraft twine - Timeless Twine, Cappuccino Twine - the Twinery

For to Us a Child is Born

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

In celebration of our Savior's Birth - I wanted to share some of the Nativity sets I've collected over the years.

I bought this one in Nairobi, Kenya - when Kent and I went there on Safari in 1998.  It's made of corn husks, cloth and twine.

The wooden Nativity on the left was purchased somewhere in Europe by my world traveling Aunt Helen and given to our family when I was young.  I picked up the others in various shops over the years. The colorful wooden one was made in Poland, the clay leaf one was made in Venezuela.

My sister made me this sweet Nativity when she took a painting class years ago.

The lovely peach with Madonna and Child inside is all made of wax - another gift from Aunt Helen - when she traveled to Italy.

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;  he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Luke 2:10-12

Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas!

The Star

Stamps: Silent Night - PTI
Paper: Off White Bazzill, DP Country Boutique/Fancy Pants
Paper Size: 4 1/4" x 4 1/4"
Ink: Archival Coffee, Ranger Distress Old Paper
Accessories: 3D star die - Savvy Dies, sticky half pearls - Michaels, black/kraft twine - Timeless Twine, foam dots

Glory to the New Born King

Stamps:  Heirloom Patterns, Seasonal Flourish - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White - PTI, brushed gold - SU
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  Gold Embossing Powder, gold half pearls - Michaels, heat gun.

Joy to the World

Stamps:  snowflakes from Around Christmastime, Sentiment from Seasonal Flourish - Waltzingmouse

Paper:  White -  PTI, snowflake DP - Paper Pizazz, light blue DP - Me and My Big Ideas

Ink:  Archival Jet Black, Memento Bahama Blue

Accessories:  circle Nestabilities, 1 3/4" circle punch - EK Success, Stitched Mat Rectangles Die - Lil' Inker Designs, foam dots, enamel dots - My Mind's Eye.

The Life that is Waiting for Us.

I find myself all ready for Christmas with time to spend in my craft room!  So I checked out some of the weekly challenges and made this card:

I'm submitting it to the following challenges:

Retro Sketches

 CAS on Sunday -  Happy New Year

Dynamic Duos I even got the 'sparkle' in!

  Cas-ual Fridays -Happy New Year

10 minute Craft  Dash Anything Goes   - this card took me 7 min 36 secs.

I don't send New Year's cards but thought this sentiment worked for the New Year concept of starting out fresh. "We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us"  Joseph Campbell.  The stamp is from Rubber Soul.

I'm taking Kent to the hospital this morning for his shoulder surgery - he'll be there overnight but hopefully ready to go home by noon time.  He's been in such pain from it - he's excited to finally be getting it 'fixed'!

Before I go -  I wanted to let you know about the template sale Adela has going on over at Creations by AR
She's offering a free Swirl Top Box template and 40% of everything else!

Stamps:  Rubber Soul

Paper:  Bazzill off white, Pure Poppy, True Black - PTI, DP Enchanted/Authentique

Ink:  Archival Jet Black

Accessories:  red rhinestones - Michaels, foam dots, circle and circle pinking Nestabilities,

No Peeking!

Well,  I thought I was all done with my Christmas gift wrapping - but I found I needed one more tag on a gift for a friend, and, of course, I couldn't use a store bought sticker one!

My design was inspired by the Cas(e) this sketch challenge - the last one for 2013!

I used my new Holly Die that coordinates with the holly from the Festive Foliage set as well as this sweet little sentiment from Santa's Coming To Town - all from Waltzingmouse.  The tag is Tag Sale #5 from PTI.

and here's a view of the back of the tag - stamps from Nordic Winter

And now I think I truly am DONE with all the Christmas Preparations -  accept for cooking the appetizer and vegetable that I'm bringing to my nieces as my contribution towards Christmas dinner!

Kent goes in for shoulder surgery tomorrow - praying that all goes well and I'll be bringing him home early on Christmas Eve day.

Stamps:  Festive Foliage, Santa's Coming to Town, Nordic Winter - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  white - PTI
Ink:  Scarlet Jewel and New Leaf - PTI
Accessories:  Scarlet Jewel Saddle Stitched Ribbon - PTI, grey twine - Timeless Twine, Tag Sale #5 die - PTI, Holly Die Set - Waltzingmouse, foam dots.

Go For It!

I'm really excited about my card today -  you know how you feel when something comes together even better than you thought it would when you started out with the idea?  Well, that's this card for me!  I love the lines of it, the colors, the mix of shapes.........

I made it for this weeks' Freshly Made Sketches -  but used arrows instead of banners.  I drew the 'stitches' with a ruler and a black 01 micron pen.  The sentiment is from the Words of Wisdom set by Waltzingmouse.  The arrows die is from MFT.  I had a pile of  arrows already cut in several colors - left over from previous projects.  I just grabbed a bunch of them and laid them onto my card base until I liked how they looked! Then I added 3 enamel dots to the longest arrow, drew the 'stitches' and stamped the sentiment.  I have no idea what/who I'll use this card for - but I'm sure some event will come up that it will be perfect for! In the meantime - I'm just going to put it on my kitchen counter and look at it for a while!!! LOL!!

I can't believe it - but I'm all ready for Christmas.  Cards sent, presents bought and wrapped, gifts given to co-workers.  We have a small family - so I only have a few gifts to give.  And it means we can spend more time just enjoying each others company on Christmas day when we gather for dinner.

I'm actually off work Monday and Tuesday -  Kent has to have shoulder surgery and wouldn't you know - they scheduled it for 12/23 and he'll be overnight so I'll be picking him up sometime on Christmas Eve day - so it's just as well that I have everything done!

Stamps:  Words of Wisdom - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White, Kraft, True Black, Royal Velvet, Autumn Rose - PTI
Ink:  Archival  Jet Black
Accessories:  enamel dots - My Minds Eye, black 01 fine point pen, Arrows - Point the Way Dienamics/My Favorite Things.

Sweet Snowflakes

Well - we've had two snowstorms in two days - so I guess I'm really over dosing on snowflakes - so, of course - I made a card for the Curtain Call - Sweet Snowflakes.  These snowflakes are much prettier than the ones that fell on my driveway that I had to shovel away!

I used Mona Pendleton's beautiful Sophisticated Snowflakes from MFT -  clear embossing them on white card stock.   Then I sponged over the panel with Tumbled Glass and Victorian Velvet Ranger Distress Inks.

I added enamel dots to the centers of 3 of the snowflakes and layered the panel on my card base with foam dots.  

 

I haven't put a sentiment on this card and may just put one on the inside when I decide what event I will need it for!

Stamps:  Sophisticated Snowflakes - MFT
Paper:  white - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Tumbled Glass and Victorian Velvet, Versamark
Accessories:  clear embossing powder, heat gun, blending tool - Ranger, enamel dots - My Minds Eye, foam dots.

Santa Owl in a Knit Vest

I have a fun little card to share today.   I dug out my little Stampin'Up Owl punch and made him a Santa for Christmas!  I hand drew and cut his hat and popped it on his head with foam dots and perched him on a piece of mistletoe.  The lovely mistletoe and 'Mwah' sentiment are from Waltzingmouse Festive Foliage.

My card was inspired by many challenges this week.

I used my owl for the Merry Monday Challenge

I used red and white on my Santa Owl  for the Fusion Challenge - inspired by the photo

And my owl is wearing a home made knit sweater vest with a heart on it.  The heart is from Nordic Winter from Waltzingmouse.

for the Cas-ology Challenge - Cue Card KNIT

I haven't put any sentiment inside my card yet -  I may use it as a Thank You note or it could work for a winter birthday!

Stamps:  Festive Foliage, Nordic Winter - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  white, blueberry sky, simply chartreuse, pure poppy, true black - PTI, DP Sn@p  Simple Stories.
Ink:  Archival Jet Black, Ranger Distress Peeled Paint, Memento Rhubarb Stalk
Accessories:  foam dots, extra large 2 step owl punch - SU

Waltzingmouse Snow Jar Tags

Today I am posting over on the new Waltzingmouse Inspiration Blog! I hope you'll head over there and see what I've created for today. All of the WMS Design Team have a day to post -  and the 15th of each month is my day!

Here's a peak at what I've made to show you!

I have always loved snow jars and even collected the cheapy plastic ones for a while - purchasing them on every trip we made - usually with scenes of the place we were visiting.  Then Martha Stewart published some instructions for making your own and I bought lots of little plastic trees, deer, elves and Santas to put inside baby food jars!  And now, with Claire's wonderful Jar Fillers - Jam Packed stamp set I can create snow jars out of card stock!   I used the brandy new Jar Essentials Die set to cut the jars and lids.

I'm also putting this in the Cas-ual Fridays Challenge -  Let it Snow!

And the Addicted to CAS challenge - Snowflakes

You'll find more pics and details about my snow jars over at the WMS Inspiration blog!  I'd love for you to check it out and leave me a comment there!  AND, while you're there check out all the December posts that the Design Team has done - there's lots of Waltzingmouse Inspiration for you!

You're Yummy Tag
Stamps:  Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  white, true black - PTI
Ink:  Versamark, Color Box Silver, Ranger Distress Old Paper, Memento Potters Clay, Cottage Ivy, Love Letter.
Accessories:  silver cord - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, foam dots, glitter - Blumchen and Company, Heat and Stick Powder - SU, corner rounder - Zutter.

Alpine Village Tag
Stamps:  Alpine Christmas, Nordic Winter - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  white, true black - PTI
Ink:  Versamark, Color Box Silver, Ranger Distress Old Paper, Memento Teal Zeal, Cottage Ivy, Love Letter.
Accessories:  silver cord - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, foam dots, glitter - Blumchen and Company, Heat and Stick Powder - SU, corner rounder - Zutter.

Be Merry Tag
Stamps:  Nordic Winter,  Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  white, true black - PTI
Ink:  Versamark, Color Box Silver, Ranger Distress Old Paper, Memento Cantaloupe, Potters Clay, Cottage Ivy, Love Letter.
Accessories:  silver cord - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, foam dots, glitter - Blumchen and Company, Heat and Stick Powder - SU, corner rounder - Zutter.