Christmas Cross

Happy Thursday!! I'm excited to share this card with you today because it combines two images that I think are just fabulous!! The Ancient Tribal Cross by Holly Berry House is so much fun to paper piece! And easy too. I just stamped the image 2 times on black, and 2 times on the burgandy and green (Eskimo Kisses - Basicgrey) with Versamark. I then embossed them each with Detailed Black ep (Judikins). Each piece is layered with Scotch Dimensional tape.

The pine flourishes are from Inkadinkado's Winter Borders Clear Set. I love these borders!! Each one works beautifully with other images, yet they could stand on their own too with a simple sentiment!!

Finally, before I assembled the card, I scored the White base with my Scor-pal.

Oh, before I forget, the little sentiment is from an Impression Obsession set called Lighten Up Mouse, and the corners were punched with a Fiskars Corner punch.

Hope you're having a fabulous week!!
Thanks for dropping in!!
Happy Stamping!!





Stamps: Ancient Tribal Cross (Holly Berry House), Winter Border Sets (Inkadinkado), Sentiment - Lighten Up Mouse (Impression Obsession)
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Black (Prismatics), Eskimo Kisses (Basicgrey)
Ink: Versamark, Antique Linen (Ranger Distress Ink)
Accessories: Scor-Pal, Detail Black ep (Judikins), Rhinestone (Melissa Frances), Spica Pens, Wizard Tags Trio (Spellbinders), Corner Punch (Fiskars), Dimensional Tape (Scotch)

Shine!

Amber has provided a wonderful sketch with a twist this week in the Verve Forum over at Splitcoaststampers. This is the Viva La Verve September sketch Week #5. The twist: use specialty paper.

For my card, I used Cork paper by Karen Foster. It even had sticky adhesive on the back! Talk about convenient!! I also used one of Verve fabulous new sets called Star Struck!! The stars are unique and fun, and the sentiments are wonderfully varied!! Check this set out HERE.

I added a hint of sparkle with a clear Spica pen to the dots on the large star, and the star above the *i* in Shine. Sorry it doesn't show well.

Thanks for dropping by!!
Happy Stamping!




Stamps: Star Struck
Paper: Cork (Karen Foster) 29th Street (My Mind's Eye), Birchtone Medium (Prismatics), Neenah Natural White
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Circle and Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Corner die (Cuttlebug), Rhinestones (Kaisercraft), Multicolored Mini Rhinestones (Zva Creative), Ribbon (Martha Stewart), Clear Spica Pen, Dimensional Tape (Scotch)

CCEE Supplies Challenge goes digital

Can you believe this is the last Monday in September already? Yikes!! I know most people know and use the saying "Time Flies" at times. But I tell ya, the older you get, the more it does. Seriously!!

Well, this is the last Monday of challenges provided by Frances this year. We always look forward to the supply challenge because it's always a surprise to all the CCEEers. This month, Frances provided us with a digital image from Mo's Digital Pencil. Now, I have to admit, I was a bit nervous for this challenge. I'd never used a digital image before. And wouldn't you know it, when I wanted to print this image, my printer ran out of ink. No kidding!!! So, I emailed the image to my daughter and asked her to print it out with her printer. After a series of trial and errors getting it the right size, this is what I came up with. I was happy that it worked great with copics. No smearing!! Woo-Hoo!!

Now, head on over to the CCEE Stampers Blog to see what the other gals have come up with. They're all beautiful and cheery!!

Thanks for dropping by!
Have a fantastic week!
Happy Stamping!





Stamps: Mo's Digital Pencil
Paper: Bo Bunny, Birchtone Medium, Simply Smooth (Prism), Neenah Natural White
Ink: Printer, Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Copics, Border Punch (EK Success), Chocolate Grossgrain Ribbon (SU!), Dimensional Tape (Scotch)

One of a kind

My son's over 1000 miles away at college, and has had a rough first few weeks due to the flu that our family shared with him before we left. Wasn't that nice of us? *groan*

So, I thought I'd send him a little care package to cheer him up. This is the card I made to go with the package. I paper pieced one of the trees from Papertrey's Father knows Best and used a sentiment from Friendly Expressions by Anna Wight (Whipper Snapper Designs).

I used Mojo Monday's Sketch 105 found HERE.


Supplies:
Stamps: Father knows Best (Papertrey), Friendly Expressions (Whipper Snapper Designs)
Paper: Twiggy (Memory Box), Birchtone Dark (Prismatics)
Ink: Espresso (Adirondack Dye Ink)
Accessories: Ribbon (Martha Stewart), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Border Punch (EK Success), Button (PTI), Corner Rounder Punch, Dimensional Tape (Scotch)

Thanks for stopping by!
Hope you're having a wonderful week!
Happy Stamping!

Autumn Blessings

Fall is my favorite of all the seasons. I love the colors and the crisp fresh air. Well, when it comes to making cards, the warm colors that are normally associated with fall, are right up my alley!! They're my favorite to work with.

So, making this card was such a joy. I used Mercy's sketch for this week (found Here) as my starting point. One fun thing about using already prepared sketches, is that I tend to go in different directions with my embellishing to make the sketch work instead of adapting my sketch to embellishments or an image. Today, I used an image from JustRite's Autumn Blessings set. I love pumpkins, and I knew I had the perfect dp to fit this sketch and image. I hauled out the Twilight dp by Memory box and cut the pieces to fit the sketch. I then colored three pumpkin images with copics in order to paper-tole.

The Designer Rhinestone Flourishes are by Basicgrey, and the leaf is by Spellbinders.
I framed the pumpkins with an Oval Nestabilities and Labels 5 (Spellbinders), and the corners were made with a Fiskars corner punch. I thought they fit beautifully with the Labels 5 die.

Supplies:
Stamps: Autumn Blessings (JustRite)
Paper: Twilight (Memory Box), Neenah Natural White
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress Ink), Cloudy Blue and Lettuce (Adirondack Dye Ink)
Accessories: Copics, Oval and Labels 5 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Corner Punch (Fiskars), Rhinestone Flourishes (Basicgrey), Ribbon (May Arts), Ultrafine Transparent Glitter, Quickie Glue Pen, Dimensional Tape (Scotch)

September Verve Release: You Rock

One of my favorite on-line stores to shop at is Emma's Paperie!! Seriously, the customer service is impeccable, and each time an order arrives it's like Christmas because everything is beautifully wrapped in tissue with a sweet little gift included. Not only that, if you spend $50 or more, you get a free kit of supplies. And not just any supplies, FABULOUS papers, ribbon, embellishments, and even stamps. That's how this tag came about.

I never would have thought of purchasing one of these, but fell in love with it when I opened my latest kit. It's a Bare Elements piece by Creative Imaginations, and it's made of two pieces of chipboard, with a window in the front piece. I covered the tag with Fired Brick Distress Crackle Paint (Ranger), let it dry, and rubbed Walnut Stain (Ranger Distress Ink) over it to make the cracks stand out a bit more.

For the sentiment on the inside, I stamped You Rock (Verve) with Vintage Sepia (Versafine), and then stamped over the dots and the word "You" with Tuxedo Black (Memento). The little red star is colored with a red Spica Pen. The large star on the frame's outside was also stamped with Vintage Sepia, as were the little stars from the Star Struck (Verve) set. I addes some red Spica coloring to the little stars also.

The circle tab at the top of the tag was embossed with the smallest Nestabilities Star (Spellbinders), and the fibers are by EK Success.

That about covers this project.
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!


Stamps: You Rock
Paper: Suede Brown Dark, Black (Prismatics), Kitchen Spice (BoBunny)
Ink: Vintage Sepia (Versafine), Tuxedo Black (Memento), Walnut Stain (Ranger Distress Ink)
Accessories: Fired Brick Distress Crackle Paint (Ranger), Circle Punches (SU!), Star Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Flourishes (Sizzix), Button (PTI), Fibers (EK Success), Spica Pens, Embroidery thread

New Verve Release: Wishing You

Last Friday Verve released 6 new sets and one Plain Jane! And what fabulous images they are too. I never get tired of Julee's new releases. They're always so inspirational and fun to work with.

One of the new released sets is called Wishing You. It's a larger font version of an earlier set called Wonderful Wishes. I stamped the sentiment with Black Onyx Versafine and embossed it with Clear ep. The 3 medallions were diecut with the Fleur de lis Pendant set (Spellbinders) out of Suede Brown Dark (Prismatics), and the brads are Anna Griffin. Finally, I added a touch of bling with some Multicolored Mini Rhinestones (Zva Creative).

For the inside, I stameped the second part of the sentiment on a punched Key Tag (SU!), and added a couple of Candy Dots (Pebbles, Inc.).

The gorgeous paper is Fall in Love by My Mind's Eye! Love this sparkly stuff!

Stamps: Wishing You (Verve)
Paper: Suede Brown Dark, Herbal Garden Dark (Prismatics), Neenah Natural White, Fall in Love (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Black Onyx (Versfine), Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress Ink)
Accessories: Fleur de lis Pendant (Spellbinders), Brads (Anna Griffin), Key Tag Punch (SU!), Multicolored Mini Rhinestones (Zva Creative), Candy Dots (Pebbles, Inc.)

I'll have more Verve cards to share with you, later this week, that I shared during the release party on SCS last Friday.
Have a fabulous week!
Happy Stamping!

Poinsettia Flower

Happy Monday!! Boy this weekend flew by. I didn't even do anything really exciting. Unless, of course, you call reorganizing a stamp room exciting. It's amazing what you can find while organizing. *grin*

Well, it's time for our weekly CCEE Challenge, and this week Frances challenged us to make a Flower Pot Pocket card. You can find the tutorial on SCS HERE. I've never made one of these before, and had a blast making it. I LOVE to make flowers, so I made my own Poinsettias with Punch Bunch Punches. I learned how to make these from a fabulous book called "Paper Bouquet" by Susan Tierney Cockburn. Her instructions are very easy to follow!

I made my pot a bit bigger than the SCS Tutorial calls for to accommodate my Poinsettias. Instead of 3 1/2" x 9", I made mine 5 1/2" x 11". The paper I used, to cover my Suede Brown Dark Flower Pot, is from the Christmas Past Collection by Graphic 45. LOVE this yummy stuff! I also added some Icicle Stickles to the flower centers, and Walnut Stain Distress Stickles to the Doodle Parts (Spellbinders). The little flourish on the right is a Sizzix die (SU!)


I Love the sentiment on the inside. I think the holly and the flourishes are fabulous. It's called Holiday Expressions by Inkadinkado, and it has a bunch more beautiful Christmas sentiments in the set also. You'll be seeing more projects with these sentiments. They're truly beautiful. And there's a sweet little Santa too with stars. Charming!!

Now surely you don't want to miss what flowerpots the other CCEEers have designed. Head on over the CCEE Stampers blog! We'd love to see your flowerpots too, so please join us!!

Stamps: Holiday Expressions
Paper: Christmas Past (Graphic 45), Ledger Paper Pad (Making Memories), Suede Brown Dark, Blush Red Dark, Herbal Garden Dark (Prismatics)
Ink: Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress Ink), Vintage Sepia (Versafine)
Accessories: Mega Giant Dahlia Petals, Medium Snowflake, Samll Sun and Small Stamens (Punch Bunch), Icicle and Walnut Stain Distress Stickles, Buttons (PTI), Chocolate Satin Ribbon (May Arts), Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Doodle Parts (Spellbinders), Flourish (Sizzix - SU!), Mini Multicolored Rhinestones (Zva Creative), Sewing Machine, Dimensional Tape (Scotch), Ivory Burlap String (May Arts), Scor-Tape

Thank you so much for dropping by!
Have a fabulous week!!
Happy Stamping!

A Treasure Box

Awhile back, Michelle started images from a stamping company called Holly Berry House. They have some wonderful box images, ornaments, crosses and medallions. I got to use one of the box images, and they're just charming!! This one is called Summer Breeze II Victorian, the medallion on top is called Summer Breeze Box Medallion. The medallions fit perfectly on top of the boxes, or they could be used alone on a card, or made into an ornament.

For my box, I colored all the sides and medallion with Tombows, and added a touch of glitter. The flower on top is a sweet little crocheted flower that I got from my friend Cammie. I added a Bliss Pearl (Kaisercraft) to the center. The instructions to make this box can be found in the description section of this image found HERE. They're much clearer there than I could ever write.

I haven't put anything in the box as of yet. I'm going to wait til occasion arises for it. There's also a poinsettia box that would be great to put an ornament, candy, or little treasure in. You can find that one HERE.

I can't believe the week is over half done already. Time is flying by.
Thanks for dropping by.
Happy Stamping!

Verve Sneak Peek - A Swan's Song

Verve will be releasing 6 new fantastic sets and one plain Jane Friday evening!! And I'm so excited to be able to sneak peek this fabulous new stamp set Called Swan Song. I love swans!! I even have a small collection. And in High School and college, one of my main doodles was a swan. (okay...school was quite some time ago, so admitting to doodling shouldn't get me into too much trouble...*grin*) So when I saw this set, my heart just went all aflutter!!

I stamped the swan and sentiment with Smokey Grey (Versafine) and paper-toled the swan (6 layers). The sentiment medallion is made up of the Lattice Pendant, Labels 3 and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) I added glitter to all the pieces and the Sizzix die swirls, and finished it all off with some pearls (Kaisercraft), and a large Ivory bow (May Arts). I also used a clear Spica pen on the swan head and the flowers on the sentiment.

As usual, Julee is offering a chance to win some verve-a-licious sets!! Head on over to the Release Week Challenges Thread on SCS to see how you can enter to win. You could also win the sets by leaving comments on the Verve Blog.

Don't forget to stop by the release party Friday evening in the Verve Forum on Splitcoaststampers at 9:00 pm Eastern. The challenge winners will be announced, and all the sets will be available for purchase at the end of the party

Thanks so much for dropping by.
I hope you're having a wonderful inspiring week!!
Happy Stamping!!

CCEE Monkey Business

Hello!! It's time once again for a CCEE challenge that I do with a group of 7 stamping friends. This month Frances (StampOwl) is providing the challenges for us. Now, normally, I would say Frances (who I affectionately call *Hoots*) is the one who always has my back. She's always on the ball, very organized, and sticks up for me when the other group members get ornery. And believe me...most in this group are just plain stinkers!! Well, this time, she joined forces with the enemy!! (That would be the ornery ones in the group) Now, we've been doing these challenges every Monday for over 2 years. And we pretty much know each others strength, weaknesses, and dislikes. So, knowing all too well that I don't like working with monkeys, Frances still went ahead and chose the CNFS (Catchy Name Featured Stamper) copsmonkey. Grrrrr....so, this card is so out of my comfort zone on many different levels. 1. It had to have a monkey on it. 2. Have any of you seen an elegant monkey? Vintage even? Nope...neither have I, and whimsical is waaaaaaaaay out of my comfort zone.

Before you start thinking I have anything against Jeanna (copsmonkey), I should clarify that she's married to a cop and he calls her his *monkey*. Thus the name. So, in my opinion, they're tops!!! They both serve people. How could I not step out of my comfort zone to feature Jeanna. I mean, I so respect the sacrifice they both make to help make our towns a better place.

So, I have to appologize for the fact that this isn't my best work. I really did try. Blame Frances!!! LOL

Cheers to you Jeanna and hubby!!! Thanks for all you do!!

Okay, now that's enough whining for one day, doncha think? For this card I used Stampendous's Changito Cheer image. He's actually coated with some Coffee Brown, and Brown Sugar Sparkly Fluff. I used a Quickie Glue Pen to adhere the fluff so the coloring will show through. I also added some sparkle to the pompom with the Quickie Glue Pen and some Ultrafine Transparent Glitter. I created my own sentiment by using the Harmony Rectangular Stamper set with the 50 pt Upper and Lowercase Trompe Script, and 15pt Times Roman (JustRite)

For the cardstock bases and matting, I used Rose Dark, and Intense and Iced Kiwi. The decorative paper is Colorful Christmas (My Mind's Eye).

Finally, I added a few embellishments: Sizzix diecut tags, Making Memories Ribbon and Button, Heidi Swapp brads, Zva Creative Multicolored Mini Rhinestones, a Martha Stewart lacy eyelet border puch, and some ink distressing with Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap (Ranger Distress). I also added some piercing to frame it up a little more, with my Making Memories Piercing Tool.

eta: In my haste to get this card uploaded to my blog, I forgot to include some pertinent info. The sketch is from Week 3's Viva La Verve Sketch. The twist was to make this for a special person. Isn't a CNFS cop's wife special? Oh YEAH!!

Whew...that's finally it. If you want to see what monkey business the other gals are up to, head on over to the CCEE Stampers blog. We'd love to have you play along with us also. Just follow the Frances' directions on the blog.

Thank you so much for stopping by!!
Happy Stamping!!

Spooky Cakes and Candy Dot Spiders

Today's the last day of Impression Obsession week at Stamper's Dream. I hope you've enjoyed seeing what the team has come up with with these fabulous images. For today's card, I got to work with the Spooky Cakes. I paired them with Memory Boxes fun and beautiful dp called Twilight!! I also used some JustRite images, from the Witch Way to the Treats set, for my sentiments. Everything was colored with Tombows, and I added a bit of sparkle to the cupcakes with my Quickie Glue Pen and Ultrafine Glitter.

I thought it would be fun to add some spider webs and bats, so I used the Martha Stewart Punches: Bats Corner, and Spiderweb Border.

For the bottom sentiment, I used SU!'s label punch, and I added a Basicgrey button and some Black Sheer Ribbon (May Arts).

I didn't have any spiders to embellish this card with, so I made my own. I just tied the sheer ribbon with black embroidery thread and put black Candydots (Pebbles, Inc.)on top, leaving the threads showing. By spreading them out a bit, they look like legs. To me anyway...*grin*

Finally, to finish this creepy card off, I ink distressed all the edges with Tuxedo Black (Memento), sewed the panels, and distressed all the edges with some tearing.

Now, check out what these gals have come up with for today: Amy, Laurie, Silke, Michelle

Thanks so much for stopping by!!
I hope your week has been a fabulous one, and that your weekend is even better!!
Happy Stamping!

Gingerbread Mouse

If you've been to the Stamper's Dream Blog, or to any of the Dream Team's blogs you've probably noticed that we're featuring Impression Obsession images this week. I've seen what everyone's created and they're all fabulous, so in case you haven't seen them, I'll provide links at the end of this post.

This sweet little mouse image is from the From Our Home Clear Stamp set. I stamped her with Tuxedo Black (Memento) onto Neenah Natural White and colored the image with copics. For the backgrounds, I used Versamark, Creamy Caramel (SU!), Currant (Adirondack Dye Ink), and the following fabulous Impression Obsession background images: Swirls (shingles), Thin Stripes (Middle panel), and Gingham (Background). I also used the snowflake from the stamp set on the background. It's hard to see, but there.

For the shingles, all I did was punch out 3/4" Circle (SU!) and layer them to match the shingles on the little mouse's house. I then added some sparkle with Ultrafine Glitter (Judikins), and some shine to the candy with Glossy Accents (Inkssentials). Finally, I added a button (PTI), some Ribbon (SU!), and some ink distressing with Walnut Stain (Ranger Distress Ink).

I made a card with another of these darling images, called Christmas Tree Mouse, awhile back. Click HERE if you're interested in seeing it.

That about sums it all up.
Now, if you'd like to see what the other girls have come up with, I've listed the schedule below.
And....there's a celebratory Blog Candy being offered on Michelle's Blog too.

Impression Obsession Week Schedule:
Monday: Cammie, Charmaine, Michelle
Tuesday: Amy, Charmaine, Denise, Michelle
Wednesday: Becca, Silke, Michelle
Thursday: Becca, Denise, Laurie, Michelle, Me
Friday: Amy, Laurie, Silke, Michelle, Me


Stamps: From Our Home, Gingham, Thin Stripes and Swirls (Impression Obsession)
Paper: PTI
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Walnut Stain (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Square and Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Copics, 3/4" Circle Punch (SU!), Ribbon (SU!), Button (PTI), Dimensional Tape, Glitter, Quickie Glue Pen, Glossy Accents (Inkssentials)

Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Happy Stamping!!

Give Thanks

Is it September already? Yikes! This year is just flying by!!

Well, with it being a new month, we have a new hostess for our CCEE challenges. This month Frances (stampowl) will be providing the challenges, and our first is a sketch.
For today's sketch, I used one a Verve set called Tall Oaks. I love the pumpkins with the sweet swirls!!

We'd love to have you play along too. Just head on over to the CCEE Stamper's Blog and follow France's instructions.

Stamps: Tall Oaks (Verve)
Paper: Autumn Splendor (Making Memories), Suede Brown Light and Medium (Prismatics), Vintage Cream (Papertrey)

Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Frayed Burlap (Ranger Distress Ink)

Accessories: Circle, Circle Scallops and Labels IV Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Organic Cuttlebug embossing folder, Chocolate Pearls (Kaisercraft), Decorative Brad, Chocolate Gingham ribbon (SU!), Quickie Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds (SU!), Linen Thread (SU!), Lace Ribbon (Making Memories)

Santa Horses

I love pen and ink art and pencil sketches. I don't know what it is, but whenever I'm around art, I'm drawn to them. My FIL also raises Friesian horses. In fact, there are 10 of them grazing in our pasture right now. So when I saw these charming Santa Horses, I couldn't wait to work with them. All I did was stamp them with Tuxedo Black (Memento) and colored the hats with pastels (chalks). The sentiment is from A Merry Little Christmas Borders and Centers set (JustRite). I ink distressed everything with Walnut Stain (Ranger Distress Ink).

That's it. Easy peasy!! I took very little time to make this!!
Thanks for stopping by!!
Have a fabulous week and Happy Stamping!

Stamps: Santa Horses (Impression Obsession), A Merry Little Christmas Borders and Centers (JustRite)
Paper: Happy Holidays (FancyPants), Kraft and Black (Prism)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Walnut Stain (Ranger Distress Ink)
Accessories: Circle Scallops Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Pastels, Brads, Chocolate Satin Ribbon (May Arts), Corner Rounder Punch, Piercing Tool (Making Memories), Mat Pack (SU!)