365 Cards Design Team Call

Hey folks! Just wanted to let you know that 365 Cards is having a Design Team Call, and the deadline has been extended. Check it out here.

I encourage you to apply. This is a fantastic team to be on and the gals who play along every day are an amazing, and fun bunch! What have you got to lose?! Go for it!

Challenge Catch Up Day

It's Friday again, folks. I am having trouble believing that Thanksgiving is on Thursday! But I am super excited to eat some turkey! The downside is that I started Weight Watchers a few weeks ago and pray that I don't mess up my food plan! I've lost over 6 lbs so far and want to keep going down that road!

I have a bunch of cards again today. Those of you who visit me often know that I like to play along every day at 365 Cards blog, but there are weeks when I can't manage it. I am only responsible for making a card for Sketchy Sunday and the Monday Challenge, but I so enjoy playing all the days. This week I did make the cards but did not get around to taking the photos! So you are getting a few days all at once! I also have my Friday CropStop challenge to show you. So, here goes!

365 Cards Day 263 - Ad Inspired. This is the ad we were to be inspired by. It's so pretty!

I was inspired by the blue and white, and by all the geometric patterns. Here is the card I made. I also use the CropStop October sketch for this card, but I did rotate it. That's two challenges in one.

The paper is all SEI. The cute sentiment is Inkadinkado. I just got this set last weekend. It's super cute! And that fabbie swirl ribbon is from CropStop.

365 Cards Day 264 - Keep it to Yourself. We had to make a Congratulations card that kept the sentiment "secret." In other words, the front of the card should show that it's a congrats card without saying so. So I made this baby card. And inside I stamped...what else..."congratulations"!

I used the DCWV Nana's Nursery boy paper pad for this one. The animal paper is sparkly. This card has a ton of layers! I stamped the feet with purple ink. Super cute.

365 Cards Day 265 - Simply Put. Ok, Pam has it in for us. Today we could only use one piece of printed paper, one embellishment, and one stamped image. That's it. Do you know how hard this was for me? I did manage to cheat a tiny bit. I used Some super cute My Little Shoebox strip paper (so it's one piece but looks like two), but I poked some holes for faux stitching between the patterns. I also counted the flower and brad as ONE embellie. (wink) The color of the flower matches much better in real life...not sure why it looks so orange! That silly greeting is Stampin' Up.

I do have a card for tomorrow, so check back! I'll be using a Digital Delights digi stamp tomorrow. They are the prize sponsor at 365 Cards this week. Super cute stamps! (And I hope I'm not giving away the challenge...hee hee.)

This last card is the CropStop embossing project for Friday. Every Friday I post a project to the message board. I use some sort of dry embossing, usually an embossing folder. Stop by and check out some past projects or see what others do with the folders.

This week I used the Cuttlebug Fleur de Lis folder to make a "fun fold" card. I have a mini tutorial on the CropStop Message Board. Follow the link above and look for the November 20th project.

I used some of my new Tim Holtz stamps! woot woot! This card is 4x4 and perfect for holding a gift card.

That's it for today! WHEW! Check back over the weekend to see more.

Sketch Challenges

Here are two sketch challenges, one for Our Creative Corner and one for the My Mind's Eye Blog. Y'all know that my favorite type of challenges are sketches! I love me a sketch!

The sketch for OCC looked like a postcard, so, I stamped up a postcard! (This sketch was posted last Thursday, but I loved it so much, I had to make a card!) I used CTMH, SU, and Rubber Stamp Concepts stamps to make my faux postcard. I looooove postage and vintage style stamps!

I made the base card from SU cardstock and then added this very awesome Graphic 45 paper.

The ribbon is from the craft store and the stick pin is Maya Road. (I snagged those stick pins as the Apron Strings Designs sale a few weeks ago!)

Check out this tiny clock that I used on my flower! It came in my LSS kit a few months ago. Very cool. I sprayed the Prima flower with my homemade glitter mist. It's hard to see in the photo, but it's sparkly.

This next card is for the My Mind's Eye Blog Challenge #5. The sketch is really for a scrapbook page, but I made a card instead. MME is probably my favorite paper line. I have more of this manufacturer in my stash than any other, except maybe Basic Grey!

I love this Ooh La La line! It's so fresh and fun. I use orange and gray Bazzill for my card, and then I faux stitched on the printed paper with a dark gray marker.

The grid and ticket are MME punch outs. I stamped a greeting onto the ticket with Staz-On and an Inkadinkado stamp (or maybe that's Hampton Art).

That's it. Just two cards today! Check back tomorrow for my CropStop embossing project, and then on Sunday for the 365 Cards sketchy Sunday card.

Handful of Challenges

I have a few cards for you today. This first card is for the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge on The Sweetest Thing Blog. This is sketch 44. As soon as I saw this sketch, I loved it! I used my goodies from my November Apron Strings Designs kit. I am not DTing the kit this month, but I am so happy to get my hands on this October Afternoon Farm Fresh paper line! It's adorable!

I used my Nesties to make a large circle and scallop circle. (The card is 5x5.) I also used my new scallop punch to make a border. I found the punch on sale at Joann Fabrics a week or so ago. Gotta love a sale! The stamped greeting is Stampin' Up. I love that set of goofy sayings. This one fits me perfectly!

Once more, I used Papertrey Ink buttons! The yummy ribbon was part of the ASD kit. Reminds me of a picnic blanket!

This next card fits two challenges. First it's for the Simple Doodles Make it Pop Out challenge. I used pop dots to not only pop the gifts off the card, but to make the gifts pop off in layers. It's kind of hard to see in the photos, but it's there! This also meets the 365 Cards Day 262 Color Challenge - you had to use red, purple, blue, white, black. Whew!

I made a white card, then matted with red, then embossed the black with a Cuttlebug EF. I then printed the Simple Doodles digi stamp three times, and colored each gift with glitter pens, then cut them out and popped them. Below you can see the dimension.

The glitter pens were fun to use. I had never used them to color with before! I also outlined everything with a clear glitter pen. You can see the shimmer below. I also replace the bow with a flower and an rhinestone, for even more glitter!

This last card was part of my TNT challenge at my LSS. All the products, except the button, were in my October kit. We got a chance to cut some felt flowers with the Big Shot, so I added those to my card. I really like this Bo Bunny paper - which is good because I got even more of it in my ASD kit for November! So I can use some and hoard some!

That's it for today. I hope to have more to show you later in the week. Also, make sure you visit CropStop Message Board on Thursday as I am the challenge hostess this week! Look for Challenge #64!

My Lifetime Story at Faith Sisters

I was on the Creative Team at Faith Sisters Jan-Mar 2009, a wonderful forum for Christian women. I recently found out that they are starting a whole new challenge for 2010! The new series of challenges is called My Lifetime Story. This is something near to my heart and I have already started on this album, but confess it's been a while since I worked on it. My prayer is that I'll get a jolt of inspiration from the new FS challenges! Read the article below from Michelle. I hope you will decide to join in!

"As the year is coming to an end we are busy planning for next year. In 2010 we are going back to the basics of leaving a legacy of faith. This year's challenges are all focused on YOU and your lifetime story. When you join us in this challenge you will be creating a mini-autobiography. We are counting down the days till January 6th because we are so stinkin' excited about the My Lifetime Story challenges!!!

Wouldn't you want to know what your grandma's favorite toy was as a child, how she felt when she met your grandpa, her favorite scripture, and the song that expressed her heart? Your children and grandchildren will have that treasure when you join us in this challenge!

We will start out with your family roots in January and move into your childhood in February. We will continue throughout the year with your teen and adult years as well. The last challenge of the year will be a letter to your future generations or anyone who reads your book.

Each of our stories is important. This is a book that everyone should create about themselves. It will be the most treasured album of your family. As you create this album about your lifetime story you will be leaving YOUR LEGACY OF FAITH. This is an album that can make an impact in your life as you create it, but it will also create a major impact in the lives of your family both now and in future generations. As your children read your story in this scrapbook that YOU created, they will take your stories to heart. Your stories may have more impact on them than even Bible stories, because they are personal and from someone they know and love. When friends and neighbors pick up your storybook and look through it you will be witnessing without even saying a word. They will read your lifetime history and discover your love of Jesus, and His forgiveness and faithfulness in your life!

The My Lifetime story challenges will begin the first Wednesday in January. A new challenge will be posted each Wednesday all throughout 2010. The last challenge will be posted the last Wednesday of December. Just because the challenge series ends at the end of 2010 doesn't mean your lifetime story album is finished. We will continue to offer periodic challenges to continue your autobiography and keep it current.

Please join us in this year long challenge! Some of these challenges may be layouts you have already completed. That is ok! We need to get these all compiled in your lifetime storybook. Everyone deserves to be the star of their own book, including and most importantly YOU! If you don't put some time aside to create your My Lifetime Story album now, you may never find the time. If something were to happen to you, would your legacy of faith be lost forever? Take action now, join us as we create our lifetime storybooks for the next generation to see the glorious work the Lord can do in the life of a woman that loves God!"

Big Fat Toot!

Ok, second post in one day! But I am so excited! I just found out this morning that I've been selected to be a December Guest Designer at....

Read all about it here! My pal Rose told me about this site (she's the guest DT at Simple Doodles for November), so I checked it out and they have the cutest little digi stamps! The best part, you can import them into Photoshop and change the size or color-ize them, or whatever. Here is the card that I made to win the spot!

I used the free "tall hat snowman" digi stamp. I paper pieced his hat, and colored his nose, and added lumpy embellies to his fun hat! See how versatile the stamp is?! I printed him kind of big to fit on an A2 size card.

I cannot wait to see what Trish has for the DT in December!

365 Cards Day 261 - Card Recipe

Today is Monday so you know what that means! It's time for the 365 Cards Monday Challenge! Today Pam "cooked" up a card recipe challenge! The recipe is:

4x4 card, red background, snowflakes (any number, any type), 1 ribbon, 1 stamped sentiment. And that's ALL!

She was pretty clear - in an effort to get me to color INSIDE the lines I'd wager. (insert evil laugh here) Well, I followed the challenge, and still broke the rules! (insert more evil laughter) I made a 4x4 card out of black cardstock. I made a red background by embossing the red cardstock with a Cuttlebug EF (diamond plate). But then I matted my snowflake with red and black cardstock. Plus, I dusted the embossed cardstock with pearl white Pearl Ex powder. (more evil laughter)

I have my one ribbon. I have my snowflake, which is a glittery sticker I found at Walmart of all places. I added a rhinestone to the snowflake (I will admit, it did NOT come that way!). I then stamped my sentiment (Papertrey Ink) with white ink (Stampin' Up) and then embossed it with my custom embossing powder. The powder is a combo of clear embossing powder, micro pearl Pearl Ex, and pearl white Pearl Ex. I have a whole bin of these custom colors that I made.

So there...just a tiny bit of cheating!

Here are the photos I took of Tim Holtz on Saturday at the Carson, CA stamp convention. They are not so great due to the lighting, and there was no way to get into the photo with him seeing as how he was WORKING, plus the table was set up so we could not mob him! LOL But there he is, working away.

I sure hope he does not mind me plastering him on my blog! You can also see some of his crafty junk all over the table. He had a bunch of stuff. And he's like me! He works in this 12x12 space while all the junk piles up around him.

Anyway, it was great to meet him. If he ever teaches a class within an easy drive, I am so there!

365 Cards Sketchy Sunday - Day 260

Happy Sunday! I am one happy camper! I had the opportunity to go to Carson, CA (about 1.5 hours north of here) yesterday to a Stamp Expo. While there I got to see Tim Holtz doing demos! He was rockin' out those tags! What a fun guy. So sweet and genuine! I was making scene, as always, and my friend Lori said, "Gloria! Did you see? He smiled right AT you!" So my claim to fame is that Tim Holtz thinks I'm funny. (I did snap a few photos and will try to get those up tomorrow if they turned out.) There was so much to see at the Stampers Anonymous booth. WOW! Lots of samples and goodies. I managed to spend some cash! You will see some of my new things in future posts!

Ok on to today's 365 Cards sketch. What is Pam putting in her coffee?! This one is a doozy! Well I flipped and rotated the sketch. And just did my own thing. You knew I would! I did mimic the checker board pattern by using some Fancy Pants grid paper. I get credit for that right? Plus I did make the stuff hang off the edge of the card. That's good too, right?

I found some Bazzill Swiss Dot paper at the LSS on Tuesday, so used that. I had some of this in several of the MacMae Card Kits and loved it, so picked up more the other night. The greeting is a Graphic 45 punch out. Very vintage! I just found these new Christmas items from Graphic 45. To die for! If Graphic 45 wants to have me for their DT, I'm so there! I also used a Spellbinders pendant for the background. Funny thing is that this was what was the starting point of the card. The rest of the card grew out of that pendant die cut!

I cut apart a glitter Prima poinsettia to use the petals. I got a huge stash of those as a prize a year or so ago. I cannot remember what I did to win them...some sort of contest. Anyway, they sent me a huge box of Christmas themed stuff! I, of course, have hoarded it!

I cannot wait to see what ya'll do with this sketch. I'll be back tomorrow with my Monday Challenge...which does not start with "M."

Embossing Friday

Somehow it's Friday again! I did not do very much crafting this week, sadly. I made a few cards here and there and did some thinking about a project I want to make over the weekend. (No, I am not telling you what it is! Wait and see!) But I did not really get a chance to spend any quality time in my studio.

Since it's Friday, I will show you my CropStop embossing project. I wanted to try another card using NO printed paper. I don't do this very often, as you know I am a printed paper hog...but I love the clean look of just cardstock sometimes. I made a 4.5 x 4.5 card out of black cardstock. Then I embossed white cardstock with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and red cardstock with the Cuttlebug Ornaments folder.

I think this color combo is so pretty. I really wanted to add a bunch of flowers and junk to it. I even had some stamped images all colored and ready, but they just did not look right. So I left the card plain.

I found this wide gingham ribbon at my LSS on Tuesday and purchased 3 yards of it. I really wish I would find a huge roll of this...for cheap! I tied the ribbon into a bow and snipped the ends. Didn't I tie a yummy bow? I see a lot of discussions and even tutorials about bows...and am not really sure what the fuss is about. I learned to tie my shoes when I was just a little girl...it's the same deal-e-o. Right?

I also found a huge bag of buttons at the LSS. They are by Buttons Galore and are almost as fab as the Papertrey Ink ones! I tied on a nice big one with twine. I have several large rolls of twine that I got at the craft store. Love that stuff. I stamped the greeting on a scrap of white paper. It's a Papertrey Ink stamp from the 2009 Holiday Tags set.

That's it for today. Have a great weekend!