Shelly's Images December Challenge

There's a new monthly challenge over at Shelly's Images and it begins today!

We hope you'll come and join in our fun!

This month's theme is

WELCOME WINTER!

(a wintery creation including a snowflake)

Today I chose to use Shelly's SNOW MAN SET.

This is such a fun set to create with.  I only wish I could get a better photo to show you the added sparkle to this creation.

If you need inspiration, please pop over to Shelly's Images and check out what my team mates have created to share with you ... they are awesome!

A few additional challenges to share in:
Little Miss Muffet Challenge - You've Been Framed
 Add A Little Dazzle Challenge #3 - Embossing
Fab 'n' Funky - A Touch of Frost

Can't wait to see what you create!  Have fun!

As always . . .

Recipe:
Papers:  Red, Green, Black and White cs
Accessories:  Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, Waterfall Stickles, Sizzix snowflake embossing folder, Cheery Lynn Designs 'laced pine snowflake' die,

Sleigh Bells Ring ... are you listening?

Hello my friends!

Sorry I've been MIA ... dang stomach virus bug got ahold of me Saturday through Tuesday.  Thankfully I'm feeling MUCH better today and ready to craft, decorate, sing Christmas carols ... you know ... all that holiday stuff,

BUT

it's a balmy 57 degrees here in Ohio so we took the opportunity to get the outside decorating done, some last minute fall clean up  that I thought was going to have to wait until Spring and moved equipment around so the snowblower is easily accessible when needed!  (Don't tell anyone but the inside of our house is still beautifully decorated for FALL/Thanksgiving ... ssshhh!!)

Anyways, now that the outside decorations are completed I thought I'd take a moment to share a couple of cards with you that I didn't get the chance to share last week before getting sick.

There's a new challenge going on over at CRAFT A SCENE and it's a 'Winter Theme' (tri-shutter fold optional).  I have to say I'm thrilled to have been last month's winner on their 'Trees, Trees, Trees' Challenge.  

I love this new paper pack I bought at JoAnn's by DCWV and it's called 'The Winter Solstice Stack' ... it's gorgeous!  Of the 48 sheets, 1/2 are with foil ... so festive and pretty!  That is what I used for my background on this card.  

The swirls reminded me of how the snow whips around during a snow storm and the swirls and blue snowflakes on this paper are foil and have such a beautiful shine. 

The other elements used on this card are:

Memory Box 'Winter Cabin Landscape' #98709 die

Marianne 'Lamp Post & Sign Board'  #LR0191 die

Spellbinder 'Create-A-Flake Three' Snowflake dies

Hero Arts Sentiment Stamp

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

Inky Impressions - Winter or Snow

Paper Pretties - Christmas

Papercraft Star - Photo Inspiration

Everybody Art Challenge - Winter

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT - Blue & White

Shopping our Stash - Holiday/Winter

Songbird Challenge - Die Another Day (use 1 or more dies)

Thanks so much for stopping by and thanks to those who have sent me get well wishes!

I'm BACK ON TOP and RARIN' TO GO!!!

As Always . . .

Crafty Secrets Linky Party - DT Challenge

Hello again & Happy Monday my friends!

(Please scroll down to view my Squigglefly Challenge project.)
 

Well, here we are in DECEMBER already and today I'm sharing my creation/tutorial with you for the last Linky Party/DT Challenge over at Crafty Secrets for 2013.  You definitely want to come join in the fun!  Every person will receive a $6.00 coupon and 1 lucky random.org winner will get a $50.00 Crafty Secrets Gift Card!  You have until midnight December 9th to enter.

I have several scrap strips of white cardstock that I have cut from the full size 8 1/2x11 sheets for various projects and decided to use some of them to make Wine Bottle Tags for Christmas gift giving.  

What better product to use for this project than the  

Crafty Secrets Vintage Christmas CD #6.

This is my all time favorite for holiday cards/projects!

 Here are the items I used for my NARROW tags (2 1/4" x 11 and scored at 3")

• paper - cs_cd5_br_music
• images - cs_vd_tags_tickets_color
• sign - cs_vc_sign_from_our_house

 

My tags are cardstock weight so I simply printed my music paper onto regular printer paper which is a  lighter weight.  My images however were printed onto 80# bright white cardstock.

Since I needed multiple signs, I imported the image into a blank Word document ... made it the size I needed then copied/pasted it to give m a full sheet of the same sized sign. (hence the full sheet you see above)

I also brought the image sheet into Word cropping out each individual image then reducing them to the size that was required for these narrower tags.

 

After adhering my paper, images & sign, I simply added a touch of Stickles for sparkle.

I also had a stack of white cardstock scraps that measured a bit larger at 3 3/16" x 11.

I scored these at 3 1/2" and all the bottle neck opening were created using a 1-1/4" punch.  However, some bottles like your champagne bottles will require a larger opening so you may want to use a 1-1/2" punch.

For these larger tags, I have printed the same images but printed them in FULL SIZE.  

I have printed full (8 1/2" x 11") sheets of cs_cd5_ivory_tan printer from the CD for my background. 

Had I not been wanting to use up scraps,

I could have used this FULL SHEET (printed on cardstock or heavier paper) 

to create the actual tag!

The bottle tags were so quick and easy!

Remember, you don't have to use them on just wine or champagne,

today there is Sparkling Cider and other beverages

available in pretty bottles for the holiday!

 

And remember to add a little note on the back of the tag,

just in case your friends (like me, lol) forget who gifted them with this extra special gift.

So there ya go ... now it's time for you to get out your Crafty Secrets products (ANY OF THEM) ... get creative and share them over on our blog for your chance to INSPIRE and maybe WIN that $50 gift card!

For more inspiration be sure to check out my team mates blogs ... 

you will be IN AWE of their talents!!

• Vicki Chrisman Team Leader
• Michele Kovack - See 295+ Gallery!
• Darlene Pavlick
• Rebekah Faries
• Sheila Rumney
• Kathy Clement
• Elizabeth (I love rubber) on Splitcoast
• Cherry Nelson

Happy Crafting and Happy Day to each of you!

Thanks for stopping by and as always ...

It's SQUIGGLEFLY time!

MORNING!

Today's fun challenge over at Squigglefly is SFC4813

Add SPARKLE to your card/project.

Well, I have to say, I had SO MUCH FUN creating with these cute kids

and their 'favorite' snowman!  This image was created by Cheryl Grant Alger and is called "SNOW MUCH LOVE" ... to be released Dec. 7th at the Squigglefly Store.

I've turned to my trusty Spectrum Noir alcohol markers for my coloring today.
My background paper is from the new DCWV 12x12 Winter Solstice Stack and 1/2 the sheets have FOIL which helps give that extra holiday sparkle and shine!  Of course, it wasn't enough 'sparkle' for me, so I got out the 'Waterfall' Stickles and went the whole way around the background panel.

AND, if that wasn't enough, I added 'sparkly snow' all over my image with a Quickie Glue Pen and Art Deco Glamour Dust.  It sure sparkles pretty now!!!

Another new image I used is my beautiful sentiment which was created by Elizabeth Kushner.  This image will also be released on Dec. 7th.

A few additional challenges:
 

I hope you'll come share your SPARKLY creations with us this week at Squigglefly!

AND, if you are in need of more inspiration, be sure to check out

the amazing creations from my teammates!

Hope to see you there!

Thanks for stopping by today ... 

I'll be back shortly with my project/tutorial for the 

Crafty Secrets December Linky Party/DT challenge.  

As always . . .

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Good Evening All!

Since I'll be gone most of the weekend ...

Daughters house for Thanksgiving tomorrow

Hubby's family in Pittsburgh on Friday

Craft Show to do on Saturday

I thought I'd pop in this evening and wish all my friends a wonderful Thanksgiving and share a few photos of what we've been up to today!

Hubby is not the only one who knows the way around a kitchen!  LOL!

Back in March of this year I shared with you the story behind Uncle Hen's (Clyde) Biscuits and since they are a favorite of my family, we whipped up a batch today and thought of Uncle Hen while doing so.  Sadly, we lost him last December.  

He is terribly missed and I'm so glad he shared this recipe with my daughter & I!!

Yes ... they are baked in washed out tuna fish cans.  And it works quite well actually!

The rolls/biscuits are more of a 'sweet biscuit' and the dough is a very sticky dough but they taste SO GOOD!  I especially like them cut in half, toasted with homemade strawberry freezer jam!

Yes ... hubby was 'maning' my smart phone to take photos today ... you would not believe how MANY pics were taken during today's events! LOL!  I could truly post a step-by-step!  LOL  But bless his heart he was trying to do as I ask when I said, "can you get a picture of ME in the kitchen today so people know you're not the only one who knows how to cook!"

 We were also in charge of the pies for tomorrow's dessert.

 Oh yea ... Hubby was helpful on this task also (as you can tell, lol)

Seriously ... he mixed up the pumpkin filling for me 

and filled the cherry pies while I finished rolling the crusts.

 

He always says the best part of helping in the kitchen is licking the spoon (or spatula in this case!)

I must say though ... I would STILL be in the kitchen vs talking to you all if I didn't have his helping hands!

 

If asked what I'm most thankful for, it would have to be this dear man and my family.

I'm truly blessed to be able to share ALL aspects of the holiday season with such love!

And I'm thankful for the friendship of all of you!

Though we may never meet in person ... your comments here on my blog and in emails give me a sense of friendship and love and for that I thank you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

God Bless You!

Did someone say SNOW??

Hello again ...

Sorry for the 2nd posting but I just had to share

my 'snow' photos with you!

What a BEAUTIFUL snowfall this was!

And, even though I didn't use my 'good' camera ... just used my phone,

I love a new fallen snow ...

 I grabbed these two photos last evening when I went out to get the mail.  It was snowing so hard!  See those streaks ... and that large white streak on the image to your right ... that was the snow 'falling' in front of my phone camera.  It was SO PRETTY!!

Here's a few photos I grabbed this morning before going out to breakfast.  The first three are out the back sliding glass door and the last two are out the front door.  We probably only got 3 or 4" ... not bad for what they were predicting!

We were lucky ... this was a photo my daughter took yesterday AFTERNOON and they got a lot more during the evening and over night.  I'll have to check and see just how many inches they ended up with.  She lives an hours drive further EAST (Columbiana Co.) ... right in the heart of it all.

Well, I'd better get in the kitchen! 

I know ... I keep saying that and then I keep crafting/blogging ... YIKES!

I'm going to be in soooooooo much trouble if I don't get those pies made!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

GOD BLESS YOU!

Be Safe!

New Challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters . . .

ALMOST THANKSGIVING!

But before all the baking/cooking begins, I'd like to share with you the card I made for the new challenge over at The Sisterhood of Crafters.

Our challenge this time around is to make/use something

HANDMADE

on your card/project.

I've been trying to find time to create some handmade flowers with my Heartfelt Creations Christmas Poinsettia PreCut Set and coordinating SunKissed Fleur Die and so today's the day.  What do you think?

My flower is really RED even though it looks kind of orange in the photo.

I really need to take a few hours and make more of these flowers ... it's really the only embellishment my card needs I think.

I've got to make this a quick post but I'm really glad you stopped by today and I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun.  I can't wait to be inspired by your 'handmade' ideas.  Right now I can use all the inspiration I can find ...

A few additional challenges:
Craft-room Challenge - Vintage Christmas
Sweet Stamps #145 - The Holidays
Songbird Challenge - Die Another Day 

Remember, you have until Dec. 8th to play our challenge.

Hope to see you there!

As always ...

Christmas Card Making Extravaganza . . .

Morning All!

LOL ... you like my title?  

That's how I feel after the past couple of days but it's been fun too!

I need SO MANY Christmas cards and there were so many adorable images over on Pinterest, I did something I don't often do ... I was MASS PRODUCING!

Want to see?

For this set, I matted in black and added a thin strip of red satin ribbon.

Inside I've stamped the snowflake from the SU 'Winter Post' set using Delicata Golden Glitz ink.  The sentiment is from another SU set called 'Home for Christmas'

 

On this set, I used my Quickie Glue Pen and Art Deco Glamour Dust to add a touch of sparkle to each of the upper snowflakes on the image.

I made a set using this adorable 'old time' Christmas graphic ...

and yet another set using this beautiful cardinal graphic . . .

Again I've added sparkle to the main image 'snow flakes' as well as the snow on the roof of the mailbox with quickie glue and glamour dust.

The inside cardinal image is from a SU set called 'A Cardinal Christmas'.  

My sentiment is by Great Impressions.

I had a 'card cutting mishap' but was able to salvage the graphic and made this gate fold card.  I've used Martha Stewart 'Country Cottage' holiday designer paper for my panels and the sentiment is from an old Hero Arts stamp set.  (no sparkle added to this one).

I loved how the inside sentiment coordinated on the set above so I used the same idea on this card.  Such a simple way to add a little 'extra' to your inside sentiment.

Shew!  Well, I think I'm closer to having enough cards to send to friends and family this year!  At least it's a start!!

A few Christmas Challenges:

Crafty Creations Challenge

Paper Shelter #138 

Stampavie and More #199 

Little Clair's Designs #39

Thanks so much for stopping by today ... 

Now I really must GET BUSY IN THE KITCHEN!

We are having Thanksgiving at our daughters house but we are in charge of the rolls (going to make my Uncle Hen's famous Granny Biscuits), Mark is in charge of the stuffing and I'm in charge of the cranberry relish and the pies!  Like I said ... I'd better get busy!

As always . . .