Oh Christmas Tree

As a kid our family bought real trees at Christmas time, so did my husband's. I believe the first couple of years we bought real trees. I remember one time actually going out to the farm and cutting it down with a saw. Wonderful memories to make with your children right? Well, now we have a fake tree. I know-boo, hiss. But as we started having kids, we realized that all the falling needles were just going to become baby food. Not only that, but I have enough to do each day and didn't need to add "Clean up Tree Needles" to my list. I love our fake tree and now if I want to put it up the weekend of Thanksgiving I can. (Not that I did mind you, we haven't had time). Anyway, these stamps are part of the Christmas In The City set from Lizzie Anne Designs and this layout was what I submitted for this weeks Sketch Challenge over at the Lizzie Anne Designs forum on SCS :

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303239

Notice the design called for what was likely supposed to be a paper strip over there on the right, but I used twill tape instead. That is what I love about sketches, you end up getting ideas you never knew were in your little head!

Supplies Used: Blue Bayou cs, ink, Ruby Red cs, ink, brads, Old Olive cs, ink, Twill Tape, Linen Thread, Canvas Background Stamp, Christmas In The City set (LAD), Aquapainter.

Stained Glass Technique

Here is a sample that I cannot take all the credit for. I received a card VERY similar to this in a swap on Splitcoaststampers. The original was created by Annie Pie (screen name). What I did differently is that I used the Stained Glass Technique for the main image. This is the technique I have been demonstrating at my stamp club meetings this month. For this technique you need vellum CARD STOCK. Yes, there is such a thing...Stampin' Up! sells it and it is wonderful. You stamp your image with Staz On, watercolor your image like usual and then flip it over and mount it on white card stock. The soft vellum tones everything down and it looks like stained glass. Isn't it pretty?

Supplies Used: Really Rust cs, ink, Black cs, grosgrain ribbon, Staz On (Black), Brocade Blue ink, Olive ink, Fundamental Flexible Phrases set, Print Pattern background stamp, Sassy Stems set, Brocade Blue brads and grosgrain ribbon.

My Free Set Came!

Remember that Lizzie Anne Designs contest where I was a runner-up? Well, my free set came! I selected Christmas In the City and it is adorable! Here is my first project with that set. There is a lot of the direct to paper technique done with this card. It really needed that on all the layers so as to mimic the distressed look of the patterned paper. I have really had an aversion to using patterned paper...like I don't know how to do it and have it look nice, but I have noticed that the last several cards use patterned paper so I guess I am figuring it out....slowly!

Supplies Used: Frosty paper from Basic Grey, Blue Bayou cs, ink, Ruby Red cs, ink, Mellow Moss cs, ink, Confetti White cs, More Mustard ink, Creamy Carmel ink, Aquapainter, Moss Gingham Ribbon, Linen Thread, Word Window Punch, Pewter brads

What Were/Are You Most Thankful For?

I know this is AFTER Thanksgiving, but I didn't get to the computer on Thanksgiving like I had wanted to so this is after the fact.....But I am really curious as to the top 5 things you are thankful for....leave me your list and you may get something in the mail if I draw your name! (No need for random number selectors around here because there won't be more than 5 posts anyway!!!)

The Top 5 Things I am Thankful for...

1- Jesus, honestly His presence in the lives of my husband and I have changed us in remarkable ways over the last 6 1/2 years.

2- A healthy marriage. Sure, sometimes my dh says really insentive things and acts like a big oaf, but he is a man. We have a marriage that was on the rocks for awhile but the last year God has worked miracles in each of us and we are so blessed to have a healthy marriage.

3- My children. OH yes, they drive me crazy, they have brought to the surface things in my personality that I wish were not there, but they are the greatest blessing! There is nothing like the feel of my youngest's hand in mine as we walk together. I love the smile on my middle daughter's face...ooooh that dimple in her chin melts me everytime, and my oldest is so much fun to talk to and watch her grow into her own person.

4. Our home and my husband's job. 2 years ago he was laid off for a few months and it was the scariest thing ever. Living in Michigan, I am always aware how lucky we are that he is employed and I am able to stay home to raise the girls.

5- Friends---Christian friends, stamping friends, friends you love like family...some of them even fit into mulitple categories. I can't imagine my life without friends!

Snowfalling Deer

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was wonderful! We had 3 days of celebrations...on Thursday we celebrated with my husband's family, Friday we visited with some friends we only see a couple times a year and Saturday we celebrated with my family. The best part was that on Saturday my mother had two helpings of my Sweet Potatoes! My mom is pretty picky when it comes to her dining choices and doesn't usually enjoy trying new things. But she not only tried my sweet potato casserole thing that I threw together but she liked it enough to have seconds! I was thrilled! Hi mom!

I worked on two cards last night and here is the first. I love it! I used the Pepperberry paper from Basic Grey, I am loving this paper!!! The burgundy strip in the middle is the reverse of Pepperberry side. I also cracked open my pewter jumbo eyelets from Stampin' Up! They provide a great place to tie ribbon through. I used the deer from my growing collection of Elzybells. If you look at the card a few posts down using this stamp you will see a slight difference. I masked off the star and put the snowflake (from the falling snowflake stamp that Elzybells makes) there instead. I also used the "happy holidays" stamp from Amuse as the greeting. I hope you like it!

Build A Brads Are In!

I was glancing at my blog, being particulary proud that I have posted several projects in the last few days, and I realized that hardly any are made with SU products! Here is a project I have been sharing at my Stamp Club's this month. I was going to save it till next week because I still have one stamp club, but not everyone in that club reads my blog (I don't think). This was made with the Build A Brads. Build a Brads have been in the catalog since July but have only been available in the last month or so. I guess there was a quality control issue with the brads themselves. So, anyway, here they are! These are the pewter ones. This card is SO fast and SO cute! It uses a sheet of paper from one of my favorite packs of Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! This comes from the Cutie Pie pack. The only stamping done on this is the "Friendship" sentiment. This stamp comes from Think Happy Thoughts.

Another Elzy Deer

Here is the other Elzybells stamp I purchased this weekend. Isn't it cute?? They have a robin just like it, which I had in my hand, but I resisted and chose to get the deer since it matched the deer in my previous post. This card also uses some printed paper by Basic Grey. This paper is from their Figgy Pudding line and I grabbed a piece or two of a few other Christmas designs from them. Maybe I will use them later this week.

Supplies used: Cool Caribbean cs, ink (retired), Bravo Burgundy cs, ink, Timber Brown Staz On, So Saffron SW Marker, Basic Grey Pepperberry paper, Sanded background stamp, Hodgepodge Hardware (pewter) brad, Mellow Moss cs, Reindeer Postage Stamp by Elzybells.

Snowy Christmas Deer

Most of you know that I pretty much stick with Stampin' Up! stamps and supplies..however, there are a few companies whose stuff I buy - those include Amuse Artstamps, Lizzie Anne Designs and now Elzybells (sold by Amuse). On Saturday my pals Claudia and Katy took me to a shop in Waterford called Jane's Craft Studio. I walked in and my jaw hit the floor...there were so many Amuse stamps and right next to the door sat just over a dozen Elzybells stamps looking at me, begging to be held! I left with this adorable image of a deer and bird gazing at a star, the Reindeer Postage stamp and "happy holidays". Let me tell you it was very hard to not take any of the Elzy girls home as well, but Christmas is just around the corner and I had to remain controlled. While on our expedition we also made it to Archiver's in Sterling Heights...my first time there and Claudia graciously shared a 30% coupon so I snagged a Mega Oval Scallop punch!!! So, here is what I made last night and I LOVE IT what about you?

Supplies Used: Bashful Blue cs, Stampin' Up! Christmas paper from last year's Holiday Mini, Chocolate Chip ink, Stampin Write Markers: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Lt. Blue Gingham Ribbon (SU), White Grosgrain ribbon (SU), Diamond Stickles, Mega Marvy Oval Scallop Punch, Stampin Dimensionals, Reindeer Star stamp (Elzybells), happy holidays (Amuse)

I Forgot How Good It Feels

To stamp that is...I haven't had time to sit and stamp at all! I didn't realize how much I had been missing it either till I actually sat down with some friends on Friday and got several cards done. We had a great time laughing and stampin! Here is a card done with Stampin' Up! supplies. I apologize for the lack of lighting. It is late fall here in Michigan and we won't see the sunshine again until late March so I am forced to take photos in the house again.

This one was made for a swap on Splitcoaststampers. We had to use the set True Friend, some printed paper and ribbon. This is what I came up with. I often have a hard time using printed papers in my projects and this was no exception but I LOVE the colors on this and really adore my new Paisley Background.

Supplies Used: Close to Cocoa ink, cs, Soft Sky ink, cs, Certainly Celery Stampin Write Marker, cs, Certainly Celery Designer Prints paper, Chocolate Taffeta Ribbon, Paisley Background Stamp, Fancy Flexible Phrases (Spring Mini Catalog 2007).

I Know, "Post Something Will Ya!"

Lorien left me a comment telling me to post something...honestly I haven't really made much! I have been so busy the last 2 weeks in the evening that I haven't sat in my chair downstairs to create. BUT, as Lorien knows, tonight I have three friends coming over (including her) and we are going to stamp all night. SO, I will have several things to post soon. What is on my To Do List you ask? 1) Do my swaps for DKOS#15 and I think I am in 3 groups for that one... 2) Work on a birthday gift for a friend....

3) Start 3 Christmas gifts...

SO...I won't be able to show you the Christmas gifts till after the holidays because 2 of the gals who are getting them occasionally check my blog...I won't be able to show you the birthday gift because she is also a blog reader so you have to wait till December to see that...But really, with 3 cards to work on I'll have some things to share. The only problem is that since Lorien will be here tonight, she will have already seen the cards!

Happy Halloween and I'M A WINNER!

Happy Day After Halloween! Here is a picture of the girls getting ready for all the festivities! Every year I take their photo in front of the same tree in our front yard. It is so amazing how fast the kids grow! What a beautiful night in Michigan for trick or treating! It was mild enough that Megan only needed a jean jacket and Brooke and Kira were toasty in their costumes. We did get a bit wet, it started sprinkling but we walked through it. We were out a LONG time, just over 1 1/2 hours and Brooke walked nearly the entire way! We got so much candy...notice I say "we" because of course some of it is meant for me! Especially the Snickers and the couple York Peppermint Patties.

Guess what?!?!?! I WON THE LIZZIE ANNE DESIGNS CONTEST! See my post just below for the card I submitted. I can't believe I won! I obviously love people to tell me that they love my stuff otherwise I wouldn't have a blog! So, this is the ultimate encouragement, plus it doesn't hurt that I get a FREE stamp set! I am getting Christmas In the City. Run over to Lizzie Anne Designs (LAD) and check it out! http://www.lizzieannedesigns.com/