Guest Designer Spot

Happy Friday my friends and welcome to the last day of November!

WOW can you believe tomorrow is December 1st?

This year is sure flying!

Anyways, I'm here to share with you the creation I made as Guest Designer for this week's challenge at Through The Craftroom Door!  I can't tell you how thrilled I was to receive the email from Sandi asking me to be the guest designer at their challenge blog!  The challenge this time around is ANYTHING GOES and the sponsor for the challenge is Jackson's Digital Expressions.  Checkout this awesome Jackson digi Sandi sent me to create with.  Being in need of a holiday card gift set for a friend, I thought this image would work perfectly!  What do you think?

With the digi image being so detailed (and my eyes being older, lol), I printed out the image in a large size on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet then after coloring, scanned and printed it to the size needed for my set of cards.  This worked perfectly since I was making a set of six cards and wanted them to all be the same.

Recipe of items used:
Papers:  K&Co. Christmas dp, Paper Pizazz Music Score dp, Christmas red cs, White cs
Stamp: Hero Arts Sentiment
Accessories:  Prismacolor markers, Zig markers, Cheery Lynn Designs B184 Holly Corner die, Joann's red satin ribbon, various colors of Stickles

Here's a close-up so you can see the sparkle on all the tree decorations.  This was such a fun image to color and I'm sure I will use it again and again!

If you've never checked out the challenges at Through The Craftroom Door ... or their online magazine ... NOW'S THE TIME!  Jump on over and enter your creation and you just might be the lucky winner of THREE digi images from Jackson's Digital Expressions!

Here are a few additional challenges I'd like to enter this creation into:

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas Goes

DL.ART - Anything Goes

Inspired By Challenge - Photo Inspiration

Inspired by Stamping - Photo Inspiration using Red, Green & White

Forever Friends Challenge - Anything Goes

Simply Create - Anything  Goes Linky Party

My Heart Pieces - Photo Inspiration (gifts)

Willow Sketchie Challenge - Merry Christmas (thanks Margreet)

SO MANY fun challenges to play along with today!  I sure wish I had more hours in my day!

BUT ... with that being said ... I have lots of happy things to do today ... so I guess I'd better get busy!

Please be sure to pop on over to Shelly's Images tomorrow when they begin their 12 Days of Christmas Party!  Lots of fun games, tutorials and prizes you won't want to miss out on!

Thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by today and as always . . .

Christmas Sparkle . . .

Hello my blogging friends ... hope you're having a fun filled Thursday!

Just one more day left in the month of November ... can you believe it???

Today's creation was made with a couple fun challenges in mind.  First of all the "Non-Tradition Christmas Colors" challenge at the Cheery Lynn Designs blog and also the November "Christmas" challenge at  WOW! Embossing Powder, UK challenge blog.

 If you are not familiar with either of these products, you are missing some amazing dies and fabulous embossing powders.  I purchased these items from Joan's Gardens on my last visit and you can order them online at her online store found HERE.

  
Here is a list of items used for this card creation:
Papers:  White cs, Medium Blue cs, Kiwi embroidery paper (pink) from JoAnn's, Hot Pink cs
Image:  Crafty Secrets Christmas Images & Journal Notes Booklet
Accessories:  Cheery Lynn Designs B184-Holly Corner, Cheery Lynn Designs B186-Merry Christmas Set, Spellbinder Create A Flake Three Snowflakes, JoAnn's pink satin ribbon, ProvoCraft snowflake embossing folder (5x7), Martha Stewart Icicle border punch, WOW! Embossing Powder -Neutral Ultra Shimmer WS02R

Here's a close-up so you can see the sparkle of the WOW! embossing powder around the border of the image, on the icicle border and on the large snowflakes.  You should see how it sparkles IRL!!  Isn't this image adorable?  It's one of my all time favorites in this Crafty Secrets Christmas booklet because these little kids are so dang cute!

Other challenges I'd like to enter are:

Creative Moments - Anything Goes

Divas by Design - Glitter & Sparkle

For Fun Challenge - Christmas with Sparkle

The House that Stamps Built - Holiday card using Non-traditional Colors

Inky Impressions - Pastels or Vintage Christmas

Just Keep On Creating - Christmas Around the Corner

The Paper Shelter - Christmas is Coming

Simon Says Stamps - Anything Goes

TandaStamps - Anything Christmas

Elke Kaart Een Feestje - Christmas Non-Traditional Colors

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Christmas Must be Blue & Pink

Ladybug Crafts Challenge - Snowflakes

Lots to get done around the house today so I'd better get busy!

THANKS SO MUCH for stopping by today ... I truly enjoy hearing from you!

Our Anniversary!

Just a quick post to share with you the BEAUTIFUL flowers my hubby of 18 years surprised me with this morning.  YEP ... today is our 18th Anniversary and truly the time has FLOWN BY!!  I am so blessed to have this man in my life and I only pray we have at least another 18 years together!  He is my everything!

Those who know us know that Mark is a 3 year Cancer Survivor and I am truly blessed to still have him by my side!  Mark retired this past July and I am enjoying having him around the house!  It's fun when he decides we should do this or that ... or take an adventure here or there ... THIS is the time together we have been working towards!  Hopefully 2013 will bless us with good health and the ability to do some traveling we've always talked about doing.  But in the meantime ... I'm just happy he's here and healthy enough to still be able to do those little things like go out to dinner or surprise me on our anniversary with flowers!  

What A Guy!!

OH ... and before I go ... 

Want to see my Christmas pedicure?

I really got brave this time around! LOL!

Now all I need is a pair of Christmas Flip Flops.  

I don't wear shoes unless I absolutely HAVE TO!

(Like when there's a couple inches of snow on the ground!)

My moto is:  No Snow No Shoes!

THESE WOULD DO!!

Okay ... enough sillyness!

Hope to see you again real soon!  Thanks for stopping by!

Sisterhood Embossing Challenge

Hello my friends!

Time for another challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters!

Today's challenge is EMBOSSING and I have two cards to share with you.  

First is this double embossed panel creation using two different embossing folders from Provo Craft.  I've used Blue Brilliance Ink (looks gray in the photo) over the top panel to bring more attention to the embossed areas.  The stamps used were Verve Stamps (Winter Mittens vsd-10-036) for the sentiment/mittens and the pine cones is from the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous (Mini Holidays 3 CMS114).  The snowflake satin ribbon is from last years Michael's stash and the felt sticky back snowflakes are from Joann's kids crafts.

 My second creation uses a 5x7 Provo Craft embossing folder on winter green cardstock for the background and the focus image is from the Crafty Secrets 'Christmas' Images & Journal Notes Booklet.  Both border punches are Martha Stewart and the red satin ribbon & felt snowflakes are from Joann's.  A touch of Diamond Stickles added the snowy sparkle.
 

This challenge runs through December 9th so you have plenty of time to come join in the fun!

Hope to see you there!

I would also like to enter into the following challenges:

Addicted-to-Stamps Challenge #44 - Christmastime (Card #1)

Eclectic Ellapu #7 - Celebration with Sparkle (Card #2)

Great Impressions - Celebrating the Season

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Christmas (last challenge)

Stamptacular Sunday - Winter Bliss (Card #1)

The Crafty Pad - Add some Glitter (Card #2)

Have a FABULOUS day and THANKS SO MUCH for stopping by!

SO THANKFUL!!!

Happy BLACK FRIDAY Everyone!

NO ... I'm not one of those crazy shoppers who jumped up from the Thanksgiving dinner table to get in line at the stores so I could be first to grab onto those bargains everyone has been advertising!  Don't get me wrong ... I LOVE TO SHOP ...but just getting too old to deal with the crowds!  LOL!

Instead, I'll spend my time today doing a little clean up after yesterday's FABULOUS THANKSGIVING DAY FEAST with my family and maybe start thinking about replacing my Thanksgiving decorations with Christmas decorations ... you know how fast time flies!!  But before I start that 'crazyness', I wanted to share a couple photo's with you of what I am MOST THANKFUL for!  My little family!

(Back row L - R) Granddaughter, Morgan ... My hubby, Mark ... Grandson, Jonathan ... SIL Frank ... Daughter, Carolyn

(Front) Me and my Mom

(L-R)  Morgan with fiance CJ

Mom and gentleman friend Ken

Yes, EXCITING NEWS!, our granddaughter & CJ got engaged a few weeks back!  They are planning an October 2014 wedding which gives her time to complete her college education at Kent State where she is studying to be a Sign Language Interpreter. 

 My 'baby' Carolyn & hubby of 21 years, Frank!

 OH MY STARS . . . where has the time gone?

My 'little family' is growing up and I am so proud of each of them!

It has been a beautiful, peaceful day and we are thankful for the OH SO MANY BLESSING this year.  2013 holds great hope for a few new changes in our lives. . . Mark is now retired . . . Frank is venturing out and opening his own business . . . Jon will start driving in the spring . . . and of course Morgan / CJ will have lots of wedding plans to start putting in motion.  We pray God will watch over us again as we do our best to provide & guide our children through life and it's many challenges!

The work is done and now it's time for Mark & I to just sit back and enjoy all the memories we've made today with our friends & family!

God Bless Each of You!

Please come back soon when I'll have new crafting projects to share & hopefully inspire you!

Busy, Busy, Busy ...

Hello my blogging friends!  I had fully intended to share with you another crafting project today but since hubby & I are hosting Thanksgiving tomorrow we had a few things to get done first!  

After a leisurely breakfast and dropping off a pint of homemade cranberry relish to a friend who is a waitress at the local Friendly's Restaurant, it was time to get started (note the time on the clock ... nearly 10am)

Yes ... I'm fortunate enough to have a husband who loves to cook and pitch in on holiday cooking/baking!  He wanted to make turkey shaped sugar cookies so I let him get started first before I dove into making the pies.  They came out really cute and taste good too!

Okay ... now it's my turn!

I wanted to make 2 pumpkin & 1 cherry pie for our Thanksgiving Dinner dessert.

Boy, I don't know who makes the bigger mess!  

ME or HIM?????  LOL!!!

Now keep in mind ... there will only be nine of us at the dinner table ... and already we have sugar cookies & pies for dessert.  Then my daughter mentioned these yummy cherry/pistachio scones my husband made last year so of course, we aim to please and after finally locating the recipe, Mark was ready & willing to get those started.  Now on these scones, it's a team effort . . . he whips it all together in the food processor and I do the kneading/cutting & baking.  They are SO GOOD!!!

I have added the recipe for these scones on my RECIPES & HOME CANNING page if you'd like to give them a try!  Okay ... so baking is done!  Now on to cleaning up & getting the diningroom ready!

 I thought I'd better put a few other decorations around (other than just in one room, LOL) so got the mantle decorated in the living room too!  Now you do realize we are hosting a Christmas Party here on Dec. 16th so this time next week, I'll be putting Fall/Thanksgiving away and getting started on all my Christmas decorating!  YIKES ... when am I ever going to find to craft??  

NOT TO WORRY ... I do have priorities you know!!  LOL!

WELL ... that's it for me today!  It's nearly 8:00 P.M. and I'm ready to put my feet up and enjoy a little TV with hubby!  In the morning Mark will take care of the turkey & stuffing and I will gather together the other dishes needed to complete our feast!!  

SO LOOKING FORWARD to spending the day with my family!

I hope you are able to enjoy your family tomorrow too!

BLESSING TO YOU ALL and 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Crafty Secrets Altered Tablet

Hello bloggers!  For those of us in the USA, it's a busy week of getting ready for Thanksgiving on Thursday, but before I get too involved in cleaning, baking & cooking, I wanted to share with you how I made an Altered Tablet for Crafty Secret last week.

Crafty Secrets is coming out with an AMAZING Digital Christmas line of papers, images & ephemera and I couldn't wait to start playing!  Here is the project that was just recently showcased on the Crafty Secrets/Heartwarming Vintage Blog:

The first thing I did was CREATE my patterned paper using the 'robin_holly.png' file (from the new CD5 Christmas CD) into a Word document.  Once I inserted the image, I began to copy & paste it all over the page and changing the sizes of the image to fill in the blank spots to create the paper.  Once I've positioned the image where I wanted it for my paper, I then changed the color theme (in Word) to Sepia and changed the orientation to landscape for this project.  I printed it on both sides of the 100# white cardstock paper and you'll want to be sure to use a little heavier paper than your cards since it will be open & closed more often than a card would.

(L) pattern after turning & changing color (R) original color print

 The tablet I am using measures 5" x 8" and is 1/4" thick.

By simply adding a little extra onto the top & sides ... plus the 1/4" for the thickness of the pad, that is your cover!  It nice to also cut a small piece of paper 5" x 2" to cover the flap on the top of the tablet.  Using a strong adhesive like red line tape or Scor-Tape, adhere your tablet to the inside 'back' panel of your paper.  Then fold front flap over like a book cover.

 Another nice thing to do is make a coordinating or accenting panel for the inside cover which can house extra notes, receipts, envelopes, stamps ... whatever you need. 

 Here I've simply embellished and adhered a red 5" x 3 1/2" panel on THREE sides with 1/8" Scor-Tape ... leaving the top open.  You can either fold done one top corner or cut off an angular piece.

 

 For my front cover embellishment, I have simply printed, cut & matted the robin_holly.png file in its original colors, did a little 'fussy cutting', added a touch of ribbon and a computer generated sentiment.

Every year since we moved into our home here in Akron, Ohio (almost 10 years now) we have held a Christmas Party on a Sunday afternoon in December for the neighborhood.  Everyone is so busy with kids & work that there's so little time for neighborhood fellowship!  Each year I make something for each of the ladies who come to the party ... sometimes monogrammed cards, sometimes homemade scarves ... it's just whatever strikes my fancy.  

WELL TODAY I decided these altered tablets would be this years project.  I just sent out the invitations today so I'd better get busy creating!  And with these beautiful new digital papers to create with, it won't take me any time at all!

 

I'll share them with you as I get them made ... I think they'll be a wonderful gift!

I'd also like to share this project with the following challenges:
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
 Tuesday Alchemy - Anything But A Card
 Artistic Inspiration #16 - Anything Goes
The Crafty Blogger's Network #5 - Christmas Anything Goes (3rd entry)
Mygrafico Challenges #140 - Anything Goes
Paper Playtime #89 - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge - Anything But A Card
Victorine Originals Challenge #47 - Anything Goes

 Times a wasting!  I'd better get hopping!!

Till next time!

I've been PUBLISHED!

WOW can you believe the holidays are RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!

I AM THRILLED to have the opportunity to once again share a tutorial in this month edition of Paper & Pixels Magazine.  If you're not familiar with this online crafting magazine, you will want to check it out!!  It is jam packed full of helpful articles on every facet of paper crafting & MORE!  The magazine is an amazing deal.  Only $1.50/issue and there are usually over 80 pages of great inspiration and wonderful tutorials.  The magazine features a wonderful balance between digital artwork and traditional paper crafting...thus the name, Paper and Pixels!

So run right over and download your edition of this month's Paper & Pixels Magazine.

 Here's a sneak peek at the tutorial project I'll be sharing:

 Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by today and for letting me 'blow my own horn' a little!  I am so honored to be considered for a second article in this fabulous magazine and can't wait to actually get my hands on my copy and soak up all the amazing ideas and inspiration it will offer.

Enjoy your weekend and as always . . .

I love a Vintage Christmas . . .

. . . and today, with the help of some amazing digital products from Crafty Secrets, I have a new Vintage Christmas Canvas wall hanging to share with you!

Have you checked out Crafty Secrets lately?  OH MY GOSH ... there is SO MUCH going on over there!  A lot of your favorite papers & stamps have now been turned into DIGITAL IMAGES and are SO MUCH FUN to create with!  I just love the flexibility 'digital' printing provides!

Look at some of these beautiful digital papers . . .

and some of the printable that are available . . .

 

Aren't they FABULOUS ... perfect for ALL your Christmas projects!

OKAY ... now that I've shared a SMALL PORTION of these beautiful papers & printable available, here is what I created working with this new collection.  

What started out at a blank 11x14 canvas . . .

Turned into this BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART!

I can't wait to hang it on the wall for the holidays!

Here is a list of some of the files I used for this creation:

From the soon to be released CD5-Christmas . . .

Paper:  br_christmas poem

Pngs:  Bingo Santa, Girl w/umbrella, Santa Tag

Template:  Winter Birds Box CS01 template

Of course, there was a bit of 'fussy cutting' done and a few other embellishments added to complete the look I was after, but all and all ... 95% of this creation is all Crafty Secrets/Heartwarming Vintage products!  Be sure to pop on over and see what all the excitement is about.  

 

Here's a list of links you will definitely want to check out:

Our Websites, Gallery, Store

• Our New CraftyVintageGirl Store!
• CraftySecrets.com
• Our ETSY Store
• Our Shopatron Store
• Join Us On Facebook

Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by today and please come back again soon when I will have more creations to share with you using these wonderful Crafty Secrets digital products!

A few other challenges I'd like to enter this creation into are:

Divas by Design - Anything Goes

Just Keep On Creating - Christmas

My Mum's Craft Shop - Winter Wonderland

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Anything Goes

TandaStamps - Anything Christmas

365 Cards Day 259 - Wordy

Whimsy Stamps - Traditional Christmas Colors
Through The Craft Room Door #44 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Alchemy # 40 - Anything Goes
 Lady Anne's Challenge - Anything Goes
Craft my life:All crafts Challenge - Anything but a card
The Crafty Bloggers Network #5 - Christmas Anything Goes
Forever Friends - Anything Goes
Mygrafico - Anything Goes
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Anything Goes
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner - Anything Goes
My Time to Craft - Vintage
 One Stop Craft Challenge - Anything Goes
Southern Girls Challenge - Christmas Projects

As always!