Creating with Angels . . .

Angel images by Crafty Secrets that is!

Good Morning Everyone!

I hope you had a good weekend.  

It's been unusually cold here in NE Ohio 

but I guess it's to be expected a month away from Christmas!

Today I'd like to share a couple holiday creations that are Non-Traditional in color.  When I think of PINK or BLUE ... I think BABY ... but today it's Christmas cards using Angel Images from the Crafty Secrets Vintage Christmas CD #6.  There are SO MANY amazing images, papers, sentiments available on this CD, it's an AMAZING collection for the price!!

 I printed out both images the same size, but for my first card I decided to do some 'fussy' cutting around the image then layer it on the solid background.  It seemed TOO pink for me so I did some 'doodling' around the edge with a white gelly roll pen to help soften it.

Recipe for this card is:
Papers:  White cs, Pink cs, K&Co. 'Secret Santa' designer paper
Accessories:  Cheery Lynn Designs 'B117S' Fanciful Flourish die, Cheery Lynn Designs 'B186' Merry Christmas die, Kaiser Pink Pearls, White Gelly Roll pen, xPress It Foam Mounting Tape

I have popped up the flourishes with a small piece of mounting tape which I then hid with the pearls.  I like the added dimension and whimsy it gave my card.

 For my second card I decided to add a LOT of sparkle to not only the image but the beautiful Cheery Lynn Designs die cuts I have used to create this little 'spiritual' scene.
 

 I wish I could get my photo to show the beauty of this creation.

The Crafty Secrets angel image is beautiful on it's own ... but the touch of Glamour Dust really adds a beautiful sparkle that all angels have!  (I'm assuming that fact of course!) LOL

Here's a close up ...

The recipe for this card is:

Papers:  Medium Blue cs, White cs, My Minds Eye Lost & Found 3 'Oliver' designer paper

Accessories:  Cheery Lynn Designs 'B184' Holly Corner, Spellbinder Lacy Squares, Quickie Glue Pen, Art Deco Glamour Dust, Waterfall Stickles

I will have to get back to you on the mfg of the scenery die ... for the life of me I can't locate it at the moment.   This beautiful scenery die is from Cottage Cutz 'Winterland Village' CCE-054.

I've also added glamour dust on the roof tops and along the snowy mounds on the scene die.  Looks SO PRETTY!

A few challenges:

Cheery Lynn Designs - Non Traditional Christmas Colors

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes

Christmas Card Challenges - Faith (Blue Angel Card)

Glitter n Sparkle - Show Us Some Snow (Blue Angel Card)

Pile It On - Non-Traditional Christmas

Stamping Sensations November Challenge - Christmas

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  

I appreciate you taking the time because I know what a busy week this is

for everyone ... especially those of us that have cooking/baking to do!

Happy Crafting ... and cooking ... and baking ...

As always ...

Down to the wire . . .

OMG this is going to have to be quick!

I've been so busy this week that I totally forgot about the new challenge over at PaperCrafter's Corner and it ends at midnight TONIGHT!!!  The challenge is for their Papercrafting Inspiration Magazine Monday Challenge and here's the magazine cover inspiration we had to work with this week ...

Week Thirty’s Papercrafting Inspiration:

Papercrafting Inspiration: Magazine Mondays – Week Thirty-Inspiration Piece

- See more at: http://papercrafterscorner.com/blog/papercrafting-inspiration-magazine-mondays-week-thirty/#foobox-0/0/MM-Week-Thirty-Inspiration-Piece.jpg

Papercrafting Inspiration: Magazine Mondays – Week Thirty-Inspiration Piece - See more at: http://papercrafterscorner.com/blog/papercrafting-inspiration-magazine-mondays-week-thirty/#/

Papercrafting Inspiration: Magazine Mondays -
Week Thirty Inspiration Piece - See more at: http://papercrafterscorner.com/blog/papercrafting-inspiration-magazine-mondays-week-thirty/#/

Papercrafting Inspiration: Magazine Mondays -
Week Thirty Inspiration Piece - See more at: http://papercrafterscorner.com/blog/papercrafting-inspiration-magazine-mondays-week-thirty/#/

With not much time left to really be 'creative' and still get entered before the deadline ... 

here's what I came up with ...

The first thing I saw in the magazine inspiration piece was all the WORDS and so that was my starting point.  Next were the images on the right side that looked like ships at sea (probably battleships) so that was my next point of reference.  And lastly, if you have a loved one at battle, you are going to be writing him/her love letters to let them know you are thinking of them ... hence to post card reference.

Well that's about it for tonight.

I've been working on craft show items all day and I'm ready to call it a night!

Hope you've had a productive and fun day!

Snowing a bit around Ohio today ... once to be an inch or so ... but it SURE IS COLD!  

Smart phone says Actual Temp: 22 degrees ... Feels Like 8 degrees!

Brrrrr!

Thanks for stopping by and as always ...

Papers:  Ivory cs, OLD DCWV design paper

Stamp: SU The Open Sea

Ink:  Versafine Sepia

Accessories:  EKSuccess Tag Punch, Spellbinder Classic Oval dies, TH black distress marker, Rafia

Technique:  Distressing, Faux stitching

Touched by Inspiration . . .

Happy Weekend my friends!

WOW can you believe it's the last weekend before Thanksgiving?

Where is the time going?

Well ... I know where my time is going ... working on more goodies for my final

craft show for 2013.  I'm THRILLED to be 'sold out' of so much stuff

but also worried that I won't get enough completed for next weekends show!  

I know ... it will all come together ... it always does!

Today I want to share with you what I was working on last evening while taking a break from the Hershey nugget boxes, Hershey bar pouches and gift card holders.  I decided to sit down and do some much needed commenting for The Sisterhood of Crafter's 'embossing' challenge and came upon THIS beautiful card by Benzi Stamps.  I have admired her work for many years over on SCS and just had to ask if she minded if I cased this card since I was in dire need of sympathy cards for an order as well as for the upcoming show.

I actually made six cards using Benzi's inspiration ...

Three use the Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder and three use the Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder.  All were created using an older Stampin' Up set called 'Thoughts & Prayers'.

The inside sentiment is the same on all the cards.

The three crosses is a DR Designs stamp (one of my favorite) and the sentiment is by My Sentiments Exactly (H166).  The crosses were stamped using Stampin' Up River Rock ink.

 

I can't thank Benzi enough for her inspiration.  

These came together SO quickly and the design is exactly what I was looking for.

Here are a few other challenges to share in:

Little Miss Muffet Challenge - White in the Night

Try It On Tuesday - White on White

Sister Act Challenge #34 - Anything Goes

Okay ... back to work!

But before I go ... here's a peek at what's been keeping me so busy ...

It's going to be a small (50 vendors) show so hopefully this will be enough along with my cards, tissue box covers, travel tissue boxes, gift cards and whatever else I can come up with between now and next Saturday!  LOL!  (I do have more boxes & pouches cut & ready to fill ... if time permits.)

Have a great day/weekend and THANKS SO MUCH for stopping by!

As always . . .

 

Joan's Gardens Challenge

Hello my friends!

WOW!  I feel like that guy in the Frosty the Snowman holiday special 

that claims 'Busy! Busy! Busy!'

With one last craft show for the year

 at the end of this month,

I've been busy, busy making more goodies to sell.

More about that later but for now I'd like to share the creation I made for the final challenge at Joan's Gardens with Joan at the helm!  That's right ... Joan is retiring the end of the year and her friend/employee Terri has bought Joan's Gardens.  

Be sure to pop over to Joan's Gardens for all the details.

This week's challenge requirements are:

Use Any Colors

Window

Trees

You must use a product sold at Joan's Gardens.  Also, mention that you are doing the card/project for Joan's Gardens Challenge. It would be nice if you would add this link to your post: www.atjoansgardens.com

I just LOVE how this card came together and I can honestly say I don't think I would have made a card like this without the help of these guidelines ...

Not that I can't mind you ... I just would not have thought to do so!

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

4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes

Crafty Girls Challenge #6 - Anything Goes

CCEE Stampers - Embossing and Glitter

Creative Knockouts - Snowflakes 

ABC Christmas Challenge - W for Winter Wishes

The Paper Shelter - Christmas

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Winter Scene

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  

I hope you'll come join in on the fun challenge at Joan's Gardens!

NOW ... I'd better get back to work creating!

Still have wine bottle tags, Hershey bar pouches and envelope gift card holders to make!

As always ...

Recipe:
Papers - White cs, Garden green cs
Image - Marianne Designs Vintage Christmas Image Sheet VK-9531
Accessories:  Spellbinder Nesting Trees die, Poppy Stamps #815 Grand Madison Window die, Memory Box #98238 Snowflake Corner die,  Flower Factory gold holiday ribbon, Stickles, X-press It Foam Mounting Tape, Gold Pilot marker, Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Items in RED where purchased through Joan's Gardens.

Friendship Tea and a Shout Out!

Hello Everyone!

As I mentioned yesterday, I have so much I want to share with you,

but don't want to overwhelm you with too many posts

in one day ... so I will try to contain myself

and spread them out over a few days!

This past Saturday I enjoyed the day with girlfriends from high school at the home of one of those girls (ladies!).  It was hosted by Chris (Brown) Hall, Cheryl (Brown) Uslenghi and Loretta (Raines) Summers.  

What an amazing menu & beautiful tablescape they created!

Everything was so festive, warm and inviting!

The first course was a wonderful, fruity smoothy and homemade scone.  Followed by an awesome fruit/appetizer plate with spiced apples, cream cheese covered grapes which had been rolled in crushed pistachio nuts.  Sugared pecans/walnuts and another yummy cream cheese cup appetizer bite!  Mmmm ... so many mouth watering little tidbits!

The main course was chicken ala king over biscuits with these awesome little turkey shaped crusty breads.

 

And dessert was AMAZING!  

Nut covered Ice Cream Balls drizzled with homemade chocolate sauce, whipped creme and a cherry!

Along with scrumptious little apple pie with apricot glaze squares that Margee (Matthews) Anderson brought along.

OMG ... SO GOOD! 

YUMMMMMMMO!

 Oh and of course, being a "TEA", we had a choice of tea that complimented the meal!  These girls went ALL OUT for this event.

Here's a couple photos of my friends!

There were a couple that couldn't make it to this gathering,

but hopefully they will be available for the next time!

OH THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME!!!! 

And hopefully at my home here in Akron, Ohio!

(L-R) Judy (Smith) Stuckey, Linda (Kennedy) Frum, Loretta (Raines) Summers and Cheryl (Brown) Uslenghi

 (L-R) Front Chris (Brown) Hall, 

Luddy Duffy, Dorothy (Kuhn) Daley, Sheila (Dennison) Frederick and Darlene (Coon) Weigel

 

 (L-R) Linda (Kennedy) Frum, Loretta (Raines) Summers, Margee (Matthews) Anderson

 (L-R) Darlene (Coon) Weigel, Luddy Duffy, Sheila (Dennison) Frederick, Cheryl (Brown) Uslenghi

It was such an amazing day ...

The time together went way too fast!

Some of these girls I haven't seen in 20+ years and a couple of them I haven't seen since high school!

Do the math ... Graduating Class of 1968!  

OMG!!  LOL!!

HOW BLESSED AM I!!!

Before I leave you today, I wanted to share with you a request I had from Cindy Groh 

to share one of my card creations over on her MANLY MONDAY Blog Post.

You can see it HERE.

Thanks so much Cindy for the wonderful shout out!  

Well, hubby wants to go do a little shopping now that the winds/rain have eased up a bit.

Have a fabulous day and thanks so much for allowing me to share my life with you!

 As always . . .

Joan's Gardens Challenge and MORE!

This week's Joan's Garden challenge is a fun one and when I saw it,
I knew exactly what I wanted to do!

This week's challenge is to:

Use Black and White Only

Christmas

Use a Frame

You must use a product sold at Joan's Gardens.  Also, mention that you are doing the card/project for Joan's Gardens Challenge. It would be nice if you would add this link to your post: www.atjoansgardens.com

 
During my last trip out to Joan's Gardens, I couldn't help but grab up this adorable silhouette die by Impression Obsession (DIE108-F). 
Now as you know, no one should sled ride alone ...
so I die cut it again and now this little guy has a buddy to have winter fun with! LOL!

My frame was created using the largest Spellbinder Nestabilities 'Labels Fourteen' die. 
I cut it out then actually used the 'negative' for my frame.

With the computer problems I was having last week and my FUN but busy weekend, I'm late adding my card to this challenge.  Of course you have until THURSDAY to join in the fun so PLEASE check it out and join in!

Other Challenges:
Great Impressions November Challenge - Holiday Card or Tag
Little Claire's Designs - Christmas
Christmas Cards All Year Round - Winter Wonderland
Heck of a Challenge - In The Frame

I have SO MUCH TO SHARE WITH YOU ... BUT ...
So as NOT to overwhelm you today,
tomorrow I will have a post and photos about the Friendship Tea I was a part of on Saturday
along with 10 High School Girlfriends.  What an AWESOME time!!

 

Till then, thanks for stopping by and as always . . .

Recipe:

Papers:  Black cs, White cs

Stamps:  AMuse (snowflakes), Hero Arts (sentiment)

Inks:  SU 'soft sky', Versafine Onyx

Accessories:  Spellbinder Labels 14, Impression Obsession DIE108-F die, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, x-Press It Foam Mounting Tape, Flower Factory White Organza ribbon  

It's Squigglefly Time!!!

WOW! 

Here we are ... MONDAY AGAIN!

And that means it's time for another fun challenge over on Squigglefly? 

But before I share my card with you, I just want to put prayers out to all those folks in the path of yesterday's storms & tornados!   I know we were very fortunate here in the Akron, OH area but by the news I can see that many of my crafting friends in the mid-west weren't as lucky! 

This week's challenge is not only fun but an easy one . . .

RIBBON and/or LACE

Now I'm sure you you will be using one or both of these items on many of your holiday cards so again ... please come share them with us this week too!

Today I've used a digi image called STICK TREE by Pamela Lehto.

I chose to pull it into WORD, use it more than once and change the color on each one.

Giving it an illusion of a 'row' of stick trees out in the snow ... all ready for the holidays

with their pretty ribbons attached.

(I think this card kind of has that Charlie Brown feel to it.)

After printing and coloring with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, I decided

to do some fussy cutting ... keeping them

linked yet separated.

For the snow mounts, I've simply torn scraps of white cardstock

and scribbled 'waterfall' Stickles along the top.

My lacy panel at the top is made from a Cheery Lynn Designs

die ... #B136 - Anastasia Border.

I do hope you'll come join in the fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by and as always . . .

Tea Cups Filled with Kisses!

MORNING!!

Today I am linking up with several of my high school girlfriends for a "Friendship Tea" and wanted to make a little something for the girls.  It's been MANY years since we graduated and it has been fabulous to see some faces that I haven't seen since graduation day!

 Here's an example of one of the tea cups.

Each one is different from the others ... the only thing they have in common (other than the shape of course) are the yummy Hershey Kisses they are filled with.

I have used various 12x12 two sided holiday design papers to create my tea cups.  

The die I've used is Sizzix #656549 ScoreBoards Tea Cup 3D.

Hope the girls enjoy them!

Here's a few challenges I'd like to enter:

City Crafter Challenge - Hold It (make or decorate a container)

Craft-room Challenge - Afternoon Tea (photo inspiration)

LEJ Designs #79 - Seasons Greetings

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

All Crafts Challenge - Anything But A Card

Crafty Bloggers Network - Christmas

Make My Monday - Anything But A Card - Christmas Style

Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes

Well, I'd better get ready for the party!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you're inspired by my creation!

As always ...

Just in case . . .

you have been wondering what I'm up to lately . . .

here's a clue . . .

Yep ... making more Hershey Nugget Boxes for yet another upcoming craft show (30th).

Hubby was kind enough to separate out the nuggets for me

this morning so I at least wanted to get the boxes

cut & put together today and hopefully filled!

Happy to say I not only got them made ... but filled, decorated and packaged!

YIPPEE!  

Sticking up in the back (blue w/white ribbons) are also

a few Hershey Bar Pouches I got completed.

I have about 12 more I want to make ... hopefully tomorrow ...

as I have a girlfriend function to go to on Saturday

and would really like to take my 'chocolate goodies' along.

 Here's yet another project I'm working on

and I will have a post (with completed projects) to 

share with you hopefully this weekend.

I purchased this Sizzix ScoreBoard 3d Teacup die from Joan's Gardens

a few years back and never think to use it ...

that is until my friend Diane (Nellie's Nest) was telling me about

how she was making them for some friends & family 

this holiday season and THEN ... a BELL went off 

in MY head and so I blew the dust off of it

and started cutting some to be filled with holiday candies and

given as gifts.  THANKS DIANE!!!

So there you have it!

Now I must get a few more candy bar pouches cut out and head

upstairs to watch Big Bang Theory with hubby!

OH ... and cross your fingers (and even say a little prayer).

I'm going tomorrow morning (3rd time in 3 months) to try to have blood drawn.

I swear ... when I go there my veins STAY HOME!!

And oh yea ... I've done nothing but drink & run to the bathroom all day ... LOL!

I know ... more information than you wanted!  LOL!

Thanks for stopping by ... hope you have some crafting time this week too!

As always . . .

Here Comes Old Man Winter !!!

Good Afternoon My Friends!

WOW what a busy day I had yesterday and it started out with our 1st snowfall of the year!

I took this picture out my sliding glass door at around 7:15 a.m.

I had an hours drive ahead of me (hair & pedicure appt. at my sister's shop) and figured I'd better get on the road a little early.  The first snow fall always catches people off guard and it's almost like they forget how to drive in the snow from one year to the next.

Did you notice my 'little' maple tree.  This is the same tree I shared with you last week when it's leaves start to turn color.  Now it's not only nearly in full color ... but covered with snow!

Don't get me wrong ... it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL but just wasn't expecting it quite yet!  LOL!  

Awww Mother Nature!  

You just never know what she has in store for you in this area!  With that being said, would you believe they are predicting 70 degrees this weekend! 

WHAT!!!!!!

Welcome to N.E. Ohio, USA!!

During my travels yesterday I also had an appointment to link up with a lady who likes going through my cards and stocking up!  THRILLED to say I have another $100+ to spend on the Christmas Teddy Bear Drive.

 On the way back home I quickly snapped this photo as the sun was setting.  

I missed a GORGEOUS shot right before I snapped this one,

but I was driving ... you know what I'm saying ... PRIORITIES!!!

No cards to share with you on this post and I really need to get busy creating!  With the past craft shows and requests ... my supply is really getting low!

And today I was working on a project that I will share with you later in the week.  

It's for my High School Girlfriends when we get together this weekend.

And since I'm not sure if any of them follow my blog, I don't want to ruin the surprise.

Take care ... thanks for stopping ... stay warm and as always ...

New Challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters

Hello Everyone!

There's a new challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafter's and I hope you'll come join in the fun! We are also introducing two NEW STEP SISTERS!!

• Crafting Cathy
• Rachel Taylor

Please come check out the inspirational projects created by these ladies as well as my 'sistahs'.

Today's challenge is:
EMBOSSING

How easy is that ...

Even though I have used this technique many times, I guess I never knew it had a name until I saw it showcased by GinaK over on Stamp TV and she called it  'Letterpress with a Cuttlebug Folder technique'.  Very easy ... you can get 2 different results with this technique and makes for a wonderful background.

This is the first card I made using this technique and have used Memento 'Cantaloupe' ink and a ProvoCraft Cuttlebug embossing folder.  

The floral stamp is by Great Impressions 'G304' and the front sentiment is JustRite 'Large Fancy Sentiments' CR-03815.  The inside uses the same floral stamp and the sentiment there is by The Stamp Pad Co. I used the same Memento Cantaloupe ink on the floral stamp ... inside & out.

 

This second card utilizes the same technique but with a different Cuttlebug embossing folder and Tim Holtz 'Faded Jeans' distress ink.  I have used the opposite side of the embossing folder for this card.  My sentiment is another wonderful sympathy stamp by Great Impressions 'E566' and since I didn't have any card stock that matched this ink color for my sentiment matting, I created my own by simply swiping the ink pad across a white piece of cardstock.  I used the same ink for my sentiment and tied a small piece of navy organza ribbon at the bottom before attaching to my card front.

Thanks so much for joining me today and I hope you'll stop back again real soon!

Remember, you will have until November 24th to join in our challenge.

Hope to see you there!

As always ...