Boo

I admire all the Halloween projects I see other crafters make and I am trying really hard to get into Halloween. I tend to decorate our home more for Autumn than Halloween.
I am back volunteering in the school during lunch hour with students who want to learn to stamp cards and other 3-D items. This is a perfect opportunity to make some fun Halloween projects with the students. I think they will like this card and the opportunity to use the Big Shot and embossing folder.

My Christmas Wish

I love this set Home for Christmas but I wish I could watercolour.

In my head, I have this beautiful idea of this card being watercoloured but I have a difficult time choosing the colours or perhaps I just don't know how to watercolour; it doesn't turn out great anyways. So, with that being said I just did minimal colour.

Another thing I would change is the ruby red cardstock to ribbon but I don't have wide ribbon in the right shade.

Although I have greater ideas for this card, I am happy with it. I'd love to know what you think. If you would like to leave me a comment, just click on "links to this post" at the bottom.
Recipe:
Stamps: Home for Christmas
Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Ruby Red
Ink: Soft Suede
Embellishments: Petals A Plenty Embossing Folder, Top Note Die, sponging, dimensinals

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Well, not really or at least not yet.
I love the snow but I am just not ready for it yet becasue I am loving this beautiful weather we are having. Tomorrow is the first day of Autumn and I love the fall colours, the cooler evenings, sunny days and Thanksgiving. We were married in October and the fall colours of the trees reflecting on the water offered a beautiful canvas for our wedding photos.

You know, I love the change of seson and all that it brings with each one.

Boy, you would think the way I was going on about Autumn that I would have a Fall themed card to show you but I don't.

Todays card is a winter or Christmas card that I cased from Ann.

Recipe:

Stamps: Christmas Punch

Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Real Red

Ink: Soft Suede, Real Red, Sahara Sand

Embellishments: Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon, Petals O Plenty embossing folder, silver brads, Boho Blossom Punch, and a snowflake punch (not Stampin' Up!)

Oops! I almost forgot...

I almost forgot to show you the card I made for the swap. It is a card I cased from Anne Schack and as soon as I saw it I wanted to make one for myself. I had so much fun making it that I decided to make 17 of them for our card swap.
Recipe:
Stamps: Christmas Punch, Teeny Tiny
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Lavender Lace or Lovely Lilac (can't remember which now)
Ink: Stazon Black, Rose Red, Going Gray, Old Olive, DUsty Durnago Stampin' Write Markers, Silver Encore
Embellishments: Rose Red, Whiter, Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Modern Label PUnch, Word Window Punch, dimensionals

The Final Three ...

by Leslie Pergau

by Linda Anderson

by Gerrie Rollins

I Love Snowflakes

I am not sure of the stamp sets Janey used on her card (perhaps I have overlooked them in the catalogue). Nice work Janey.

Card by Heather Bennett using Kraft, Brocade Blue cardstock and the Simple Snowflake stamp and the coordinating Snowflake Punch.

Embossed Serene Snowflakes by Belinda Belowen.

Christmas Card Swap Continues

Although this card by Michelle Hanway has no stamping, it is quite pretty. Michelle used the Petals A Plenty Embossing Folder to give texture and simply cut rectangles of the Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP.

Colleen McCambridge used one of my favourite sets Winter Post along with the Top Note Die and look at the luscious new ribbon; Sleigh Bells and the Red Polka Dot .

I think this card by Shanon is so adorable using traditional colours for Christmas and the circles remind me of snowballs which of coarse make a snowman.

More Swaps

Card number one made by Jenine using the Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP and Christmas Punches.

This card made by Charlene using the Christmas Punch as well.

Renne made this card using the Hostess Level One set Patterned Pines from the Holiday Mini and the Merry Moments DSP.

Simply Stars

Card #1 by Martha Inchley http://web.mac.com/aninchofcreativity/An_Inch_of_Creativity/Blog/Blog.html

Card #2 by Jodie http://stampwithjodie.typepad.com

Card #3 by Paula Ballard http://paulamballard.blogspot.com

As I mentioned yesterday, I would be posting cards from the Christmas Card Swap from some of the members of the Simply Stars Team.

Warning: Ooozing with talent

My Mystery Card

I cannot say I am a big Halloween lover but my friend and super talented upline Heather Summers absolutely loves it. She goes all out in decorating for this fun occassion.
I tend to decorate for Autumn and when the kids were small, I loved to dress them up in fun custumes (not a fan of scary ones).
On Saturday we had our donwline meeting and it is always fun to get together and share our lives and love of stamping with one another.
Heather gave everyone the same materials (precut and prestamped) and each of us had to come up with a card. It is amazing that not one of us had the exact same card after we were finished with the "Mystery Card". This is my Halloween Card.
We have an organized card swap and this month was "Christmas" so over the next few days, I will posting some of the fabulous cards from the "Simply Stars" team who participated.
Martha demonstrated a workshop featuring Stampin' Pastels, Heater B demonstrated a WOW project, Renee prepared the make' n take and Jodie and Martha organized the swap. Along with refreshaments and prizes with have a fun, full meeting and leave feeling pumped to promote Stampin' Up!, inspired by the new techniques and connected to our frienships we have developed. I just love being a member of Simply Stars.
Now if you know me you will know that I am a bit shy and do not particularly enjoy speaking in front of people and next month at our meeting, I am presenting the WOW project (yikes). I am knowledgable about what I am doing it is just the talking...sometimes my mind is working faster than my lips (or vise versa) and my words are not coming out the way they are suppose to. However, I am excited and looking forward to doing it and I know that the more I do it the better I get.

Get Well Wishes

While I had the Cottage Wall DSP out on my desk, I thought I would make another cardwith it but on a happier note.
It dawned on me that Nicole's friends' Mom had surgery and would need some cheerful thoughts and that we are thinking of her.
Recipe:
Stamps: Close As A Memory, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Cottage Wall DSP, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Orchid Opulence Stampin' Write Markers
Embellishments: Modern Label Punch, slot punch, crystal effects, 1/4" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon

Heartfelt Sympathy

Today's card is a card challenge from Mojo Monday 103 which I am thrilled to participate in.

I had to make another Sympathy card and I always find them difficult to make so I was happy for the help of a sketch challenge.

My brother and sister in law flew home from B.C. on Sunday so I was excited to hear about their trip. They had a wonderful 10 days out there but did not come home to happy news. My sister in law (Lori) found out that her sister's husband lost his nephew.

My heart goes out to families who loose loved ones of any age but when they are children it doesn't seem right as there time on earth is so short.

Cody was only seventeen. He died in the ambulance Saturday night and an autopsy is being preformed today.

It is never easy but I can only trust God knowing that His good and perfect will be done and that He is in control of all things.

My deepest and most heartfelt Sympathy goes out to the families of Cody and I pray that God will be your comfort, peace and love during this extremely difficult time.

Isn't she cute?

Last night we brought home a new addition to our family. I'd like you meet Jazz.
Four weeks ago when we went "home" for haircuts, Joanne was nursing 4 kittens (since they were 3 weeks old) who lost their momma. Our daughter decide it was time to have a kitten since we haven't had one for a while. The kittens were not ready to leave the attachement of each other as they were only 5 weeks old. I thought Nicole may forget about the little kittens by the time our next appointment rolled around or they would be spoken for and sadly there would be none left for us.
Guess what? There were still three left. Well actually there was only one available as Joanne was keeping one and the other was a male kitten (which was not an option) so one little kitten remained up for adoption.
I don't recall saying, "Yes, we can take one home" but by the time we were ready to go, the last little female kitten was adopted.
I was wondering how our Chocolate Lab - Boston would make out with a kitten.
Boston was curious about this little fur ball and once he could check her out thought it might be nice to have a playmate. Now for Jazz, the feelings are not mutual. Boston gets along fine with Jazz and there won't be any problems once Jazz is old enough to be declawed (don't worry, Jazz will be a spoiled indoor cat)
Have a great holiday weekend.

Happiness Is...

I have been participating in sketch challenges and this makes me get out of my comfort zone in a great way. Sometimes it takes caseing someone elses work to do this.
I saw this layout on Sharon Johnston's blog and thought I would try it too.
I am cleaning up my craft area and like yesterday am using up retired stock.
Recipe:
Stamps: Happy Harmony
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White,Doodle DSP
Ink: Purely Pomegranate
Embellishments: scallop punch, scallop circle punch (not SU!), circle cutter, designer buttons, organza ribbon, paper piercer and mat pack

A Bit of Stitching

Todays card is for all you stampers who hold on to (hoard) retired product.
I am also learning to use card sketches to help with my card making.
Todays sketch is from Jen at http://iheart2stamp.com/2009/08/29/sketch-for-you-to-try-27/
I am not a big fan of Halloween but there are some stampers out there (yes, You Heather) who are slowly getting me to change my mind. I tend to decorate for Autumn so I can enjoy my decor until it is time for Christmas.
Recipe for todays card:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Haunting Halloween
Paper: Ghostly Greetings DSP, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Watercolour Paper, Haiku DSP
Ink: Black Stazon, Old Olive, Only Orange, Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers, Aqua Painter
Accessories: Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Black Brads, emboidery floss, dimensionals
Thanks for dropping in to see what I have been up to. Have a blessed day full of smiles.