Too Young (WT251)

The Ways To Use It Challenge, "It's About Time," was to use "Time" as the theme. I think this red-haired elderly lady represents the time theme! The sentiment expresses my sentiments exactly! LOL! Do you think she's wearing too much lipstick? Well, it's New Year's Eve, so she went all out!! Everything, except the Labels Nestie, is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by! Happy New Year!!!

• Stamps: Golden Oldies
• Papers: Naturals White, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White, Brilliant Blue Prints (retired)
• Ink: Black Stazon, SU! Markers
• Accessories: Big Shot, Nestie, WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, BG #1 Texturz Plate (Large Dots)

Help! (MMTPT74)

Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge was hosted by Sabrina (Cook22). The party is in the pines, but there's bears out there! I'm late for the party because I've been stuck in the truck, afraid to go out because there's a bear in the trailer!! LOL! I don't want to be around when he runs out of food!! Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories, Loads of Fun
• Papers: Always Artichoke, Night of Navy, Naturals White
• Ink: Black Stazon, Garden Green, Close To Cocoa, Not Quite Navy
• Accessories: WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter, Distressing Tool, Sponge, Brads

Birthday Mojo (Mojo119)

This is for the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge. I guess I'm using spring colors because it's snowing outside today! All products used to make this card are from Stampin' Up! Thanks again for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Well Scripted
• Papers: Naturals White, Bashful Blue, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Pawsitively Prints DSP
• Ink: Bashful Blue
• Accessories: Big Shot, SU! Flower Sizzlit, BG's #1 Texturz Plate (Eyelet), Coluzzle, Bashful Blue Wide Stitched GG Ribbon

Tess & Tote (SC261)

Today's sketch was shown with the panel positioned horizontally, so I flipped the sketch to make a top folding tall card. The pants, shirt and tote are paper pieced. The face, hands and hair are water colored. The eyes, mouth and shoes are colored with markers. All products used to make this card are from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Tote-ally Tess (2010 Occasions Mini)
• Papers: Pumpkin Pie, Close To Cocoa, Whisper White, Sweet Pea DSP (Occasions Mini)
• Ink: Black Stazon, SU! Markers
• Accessories: WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter, Snips, Corner Rounder Punch, Dimensionals, Pumpkin Pie Brads, Mat Pack and Piercer for setting brads

Congrats (CC251)

Today's Color Challenge was to use Basic Gray, Dusty Durango and Barely Banana. I used Basic Gray for the base card with a layer of Whisper White that was embossed using Stampin' Up!s Backgrounds #1 Texturz Plate, "Small Dots." The main image panel is stamped with "Well Scripted" sentiment, popped up on Dimensionals and matted on Barely Banana and then Dusty Durango. The flowers were made using Dusty Durango and die cutting using "Birds & Blooms" Sizzlits. The leaves were die cut from Basic Gray card stock using "Little Leaves" Sizzlit. I used Barely Banana Brads from the Soft Subtles set for the flower centers. The flowers were embossed and sponged with Basic Gray. All products used on this card came from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Goofy (CAS47)

Today's Clean & Simple Challenge had a theme: The world of Disney! We were not required to use a Disney character for an image, just be inspired by Disney in any way. I did use a sticker I had from scrap booking our vacation in 2008. I adhered it to white card stock and then to the die cut piece. I did a bit of paper piercing in one corner and stamped the sentiment. I used both sides of the Designer Series Paper. The card measures 4-1/4" square. Everything except the Nestabilities and sticker came from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Smarty Pants
• Papers: Brilliant Blue, Whisper White, Pawsitively Prints DSP
• Ink: Brilliant Blue Marker
• Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Four Nesties, Sticker, Mat Pack, Piercer, Dimensional, Snips

Matryoshka

I made a card earlier with polka dot designer paper. Originally, I glued the wrong side of the paper. I saved this piece with the stripes and decided to use it on a card with this new stamp set. This is a very clean and simple card. I just wanted to use up that paper I goofed on!! All products used to make this card are from Stampin' Up! Thanks again for stopping by!

• Stamps: My Matryoshka
• Papers: Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, Loves Me DSP (retired)
• Ink: Black Stazon, SU! Markers
• Accessories: Pretty In Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals

Loving Froggie (FS151)

The Featured Stamper for today is SmilinStef. Stef is our hostess for the Inspiration Challenges. In fact, I just used a different frog image for the Inspiration Challenge yesterday. I'm into frogs right now I guess! LOL! I chose to CASE Stef's "I'm Sweet On You" card.

The froggie image was sent to me by an online friend. She stamped off several, and this is my last one! I need to find someone who owns this stamp so I can get more! I love this froggie!! The changes I made are: Stamps, papers, ribbon and I changed the location of the sentiment. Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Whipper Snapper Frog In Love, Well Scripted (New - Occasions Mini)
• Papers: Real Red, Pretty In Pink, White, Loves Me DSP (retired)
• Ink: Black Stazon
• Accessories: WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter, Big Shot, CB Heart Blocks EF, Red Satin Ribbon (New - Occasions Mini)

Thinking Frog (IC212)

For the Inspiration Challenge today, we were to go to Posh Tots to find our inspiration piece. I picked the "Splash Embellished Canvas" for my inspiration. The color is all wrong in this photo, but I didn't have time to correct it. The background behind the card is white and the frog is much greener. Better luck next time, I guess! Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: All Night Media #505F from Mike's, Teeny Tiny Wishes from SU!
• Papers: Pacific Point (retired), Tempting Turquoise, Garden Green, Whisper White
• Ink: Black Stazon, Basic Black
• Accessories: WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter, Snips, Sponge, SU! Oval Punches, Big Shot, Fiskars "Critters" Texture Plate, CB "Tiny Bubbles" EF, Dragonfly Bead, Glue Dot

Triple Challenge (LSC252, WT250, TSC1225)

This is for three challenges:

1. Limited Supplies Challenge: We were to use a piece of recycled Christmas wrapping paper, a ribbon or embellishment from one of our packages and an image from a Christmas card. I had to dumpster dive to retrieve the wrapping paper and ribbon!
2. Ways To Use It Challenge: We were to use stamps to create our background. I stamped the Real Red Layer using Whisper White Craft Ink.
3. Twisted Sistahs Challenge: We were to make a Christmas Thank You card. This card will go to my daughter to thank her for coming all the way from California in the snow and bringing many lovely presents for me, my mother and my son.

Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas everyone!!

• Stamps: Christmas Punch
• Papers: Naturals White, Real Red, Whisper White, Recycled Christmas Wrapping Paper, Cut-out Snowman from Christmas card
• Ink: Whisper White Craft
• Accessories: Snips, Recycled Ribbon

Introducing Tess (SC260)

Well, my mother and son are still sleeping, so I didn't want to start vacuuming yet, so I decided to make a card for today's Sketch Challenge on SCS. It was a great sketch for using some of my new Clear Mount Stamps from Stampin' Up! Besides what I used on this card, there's also a Blender Pen, Wheel Handle and Scissors. I made a border of several stamped scissors on the inside. This would make a good invitation to a customer to have a workshop. All products used to make this card are from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Tote-ally Tess (2010 Occasions Mini)
• Papers: Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion, Loves Me DSP (retired)
• Ink: Black Stazon, Pink Passion
• Accessories: Sponge, Scallop Circle Punch, WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter, Melon Mambo Ribbon

Birthday Wishes (CC250)

Today's Color Challenge was to use Real Red, Crushed Curry and Sahara Sand. I used the Sahara Sand for the main image panel, embossed, sanded, chalked, and added pearls. The sentiment was heat embossed with red embossing powder. All products used to make this card are from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Sincere Salutations
• Papers: Real Red, Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Elegant Bouquet EF, Sanding Block, Chalk, Pearls, Red EP, Heat Tool, New SU! Border Punch, Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon

The Rodent's Party (MMTPT73)

The hostess of the tea party this week is another Twisted Sistah!! Peggy (aka marilynprestonn) showed us a teapot that was a mouse house, so I used a House Mouse image! My friend has a lot of House Mouse stamps and she loaned them to me so I could stamp off some images. I've had this one for at least a year or more. I water colored the image, embossed the white layer and matted the main image panel on recycled Christmas wrapping paper. Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: House Mouse Christmas Stamp
• Papers: Real Red, White, Whisper White, Red Wrapping Paper
• Ink: Black Stazon
• Accessories: Big Shot, CB EF, WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter

About Candy (TSC1225)

The Twisted Sistahs' Challenge for this week is to make a holiday themed Thank You card. I'm hosting the challenges for a while, and I felt that, since the challenge winds up being on Christmas Day, it should be fairly simple. I've done some recycling here. The shiny paper used for the sentiment mat and the scallop oval was left over wrapping paper. The main image was already printed, last year I think, and it was on some paper that is like thin card stock. The white oval panel was actually an instruction sheet that had the instructions on one side and was plain white on the other. The embossed white layer is more of that thin card stock. I only have a couple of more sheets left, and I think I've had that for about 15 years!! I love the new satin ribbons from Stampin' Up!. It's so easy to work with!! This card will go to a friend who gives me home made peanut brittle for Christmas every year! Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Dustin Pike Digi Image (2008), Sincere Salutations
• Papers: Real Red, White, Scrap White, Red Wrapping Paper
• Ink: Printer Ink, Real Red
• Accessories: Big Shot, Fiskars Texture Plate, Nesties, Key Tag Punch, Water Color Pencils, Aqua Painter, Real Red Satin Ribbon (2010 Occasions Mini)

Snowy Thank You (CAS46)

The Clean & Simple Challenge was to follow this sketch. The base card was embossed, the snowman was colored and cut out, and the sentiment was not stamped directly; instead, I made a separate sentiment panel. The card is 4-1/4" square. Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Dustin Pike Digi Snowman (2008?)
• Papers: GP White, Bravo Burgundy, DCWV DP
• Ink: Bravo Burgundy, SU! Markers
• Accessories: Big Shot, CB EF, Nesties, SU! Punches, Snips, Dimensional, Bravo Burgundy GG Ribbon

CASEing Brenda (FS150)

Today's Featured Stamper is Brenda (aka Benzi). What a talent! She comments on many of my cards and I comment on hers, so I was familiar with her gallery. I chose her Candy Cane Christmas card for my inspiration today. I changed her long card to the standard A2 size. I used a different embossing folder. I used a Dustin Pike Freebie for my candy cane. I stamped a different sentiment and didn't stamp it directly on the card. Who hasn't made a reindeer candy cane??!!! Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Four the Holidays, Dustin Pike Freebie Image
• Papers: Unknown White, GP White
• Ink: Printer Ink, Real Red, SU! Markers
• Accessories: Big Shot, CB EF, Snips, Dimensionals

Silent Night (IC211, LSC251)In

Another Challenge combo. First, it's for the Inspiration Challenge. We were to go to Fabulous Stationery and choose something for our inspiration. I chose this note card for my inspiration. This is also for yesterday's Limited Supplies Challenge which was to use silver and/or gold in our designs. I stamped the trees with Whisper White Craft Ink and then chalked them in blues. I matted the main panel (Brilliant Blue) on Brushed Silver card stock and used Zig Painty Silver for the dots of snow. The base card is Naturals White. All products used to make this card came from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by today!!

Poor Rudy (SC259)

This was for Wednesday's Sketch Challenge on SCS, but I forgot to upload it to my blog! I'm so confused! LOL! I have two computers (not counting my son's laptop) that are up and running now (for now). The one I'm on now is the one I like to use for uploading photos because it has slots for the SD Card or Memory Stick instead of using a cord to connect the camera to the computer. Anyway, I uploaded this card to the SCS gallery, but forgot to load it here. I was going to upload the card I did for today's Twisted Sister Challenge on the other computer and realized this card had not been uploaded. I had to switch computers in order to find the photo! When I get speakers for this computer, I will do all my uploading here!

For the Sketch Challenge, I thought this sketch was ideal for a masculine card, and I needed one. I also like the fact that it makes a nice flat card for mailing. I just stamped the image and water colored it and then followed the sketch! All products are from Stampin' Up! except for the embossing folders. Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Holiday Lineup
• Papers: Pacific Point (retired), Whisper White, Chocolate Chip
• Timber Brown Stazon (retired)
• Accessories: Big Shot, Snowflakes and Swiss Dots EF's (Cuttlebug), Chocolate Chip Wide Stitched GG Ribbon, WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter

Greetings (CC249, Mojo117)

This is a challenge combo. I used yesterday's Mojo Monday Sketch and today's Color Challenge to use So Saffron, Mellow Moss, and Melon Mambo. This might seem a bit non-traditional for a holiday card, but I actually like these colors together. I stamped the sentiment with Versamark and then with Melon Mambo and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. I used markers to color the poinsettia stamp. The Mellow Moss layer is embossed with Holly Ribbons embossing folder. I get extra points in the color challenge for using dots! Everything used here is from Stampin' Up! except for the embossing folder, Nestabilities and pearls. Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Sincere Salutations, Patterned Pines (hostess set)
• Papers: Naturals White, Mellow Moss, Melon Mambo, White, So Saffron DSP
• Ink: Versamark, Melon Mambo, SU! Markers
• Accessories: Clear EP, Heat Tool, Gold Half Pearls, Circle and Scallop Circle Nesties, SU! Border Punch, CB Holly Ribbons EF, Melon Mambo Ribbon

Winter Wonderland (CAS45)

Well, I got my #1 computer back...again. I hope this time is the charm!! I'm so used to this one!!

The Clean & Simple Challenge was to use curves on our cards. I made "hills" in front of an embossed background of trees. I like white on white cards for some reason. I used a Naturals White base card. The next layer is embossed with the Cuttlebug "Winter Woods" embossing folder. The next two layers are my "hills" which I just cut by hand. I added Crystal Snow (fine glitter) to the edges of the "hills" and Stickles to the "snow". I also painted the star on the one tree with Zig Painty silver. The stamp is a dollar stamp from Ben Franklin's, and the ribbon is Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

CASEing Pam (FS149)

Today's Featured Stamper is my friend, Pam (Pam124). I'm so proud of her! I chose this card for my inspiration. Since it was a Sketch Challenge card, I had to change the layout. I eliminated two matted layers and the sentiment. I replaced the sentiment by moving the snowflake. I changed the colors and papers as well as the ribbon. I used the same stamp and embossed the designer paper like Pam did. I embossed Dasher with Gold embossing powder and used some of the gold half pearls that Pam sent me! Other than the punch, pearls and ribbon, everything is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Dasher
• Papers: Naturals White, Brushed Gold, SU! DSP (Holiday Mini)
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Gold EP, Heat Tool, Big Shot, CB Snowflakes EF, Dimensionals, Gold Metallic Ribbon, MS Snowflake Punch, Gold Half Pearls (from Pam!)

Pink Bloom (IC210)

Today's Inspiration Challenge was to go to Sushipot and find an item for inspiration. I chose the Pink Bloom Ephemera Block for mine. I used Cherry Pink Stazon to stamp the image which I water colored and added a little extra with Rich Razzleberry Marker. I used this pretty lacy border that I got from my friend and one of the Twisted Sistahs, Lesley (aka Marleygo). Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Sincere Salutations
• Papers: Certainly Celery, River Rock, Naturals White, Whisper White
• Ink: Cherry Pink Stazon, Razzleberry Marker
• Accessories: WCW Crayon (Pretty In Pink), Aqua Painter, Paper Border, Pop-up Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Two Challenges (TSC1211, LSC250)

The first challenge is the Twisted Sistahs Challenge which had a theme of "Christmas Moon". We were also to use a color that is unusual for Christmas. We could use a little or a lot of that color. I used Barely Banana. I used stickles on the trees and made some faux flower soft for the snow.

• Stamps: Scenic Season, Four The Holidays
• Papers: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Barely Banana
• Ink: Black Stazon, Night of Navy
• Accessories: Coordinating Corner and Border Punches (SU!), Sponge, Stickles, Faux Flower Soft

I'm in the process of wrapping gifts right now. This is another one where a made a matching tag.

The Limited Supplies Challenge was to use limited layers and we had to have a star somewhere on the card. I made this tag by cutting out part of the wrapping paper and matting it on green card stock. I added a sequin star at the top of the tree and some "shine" marks with a Zig Painty. I put a red eyelet in the corner with gold cord to attach it to the gift. Thanks for stopping by!!

Bag & Tag (THT027)

Another blog, another challenge. Tree House Stamps has a blog, and apparently, they have a challenge every Thursday. Today, the challenge is to make a tag. Well, I'm into wrapping gifts right now, and I had an odd shaped gift to wrap, so I made a bag to fit as well. The tag is very simple. It just has paper to match the bag that is matted on white. There are two punched snowflakes with rhinestones in the middle on the tag. There's also a white eyelet and silver cord to attach it to the bag. I tore up a Bath and Body Works bag to see how to fold it, and I used the handles from that bag on my bag, too! The paper is available until January 4th from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog. Thanks again for stopping by!!

La la la la la la la la laaaa (WT248)

The Ways To Use It Challenge was for us to use a holiday song as our inspiration. Well, now I've got "Walkin' In A Winter Wonderland," going on in my head, and it probably won't stop anytime soon!! LOL! I used Stampin' Up! card stock, Big Shot and Top Note Die on this as well as ink and markers, but everything else came from other places. Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: $1 Penguin and Sentiment Stamps (Ben Franklin's)
• Papers: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
• Ink: Black Stazon, SU! Markers
• Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, CB Christmas Tree EF, MS Snowflake Punch, CB Snowflakes EF, Metallic Ribbon, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Here's what they do... (MMTPT71, SC258)

This is a challenge combo. It's for yesterday's Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge hosted by lisa lara, and it's for today's Sketch Challenge. Lisa challenged the tea partiers to make a card showing what snow people do at night. These snow people play Dress-Up! They have a collection of hats, gloves, scarfs, etc. that people have lost when playing in the snow. I used the new Stampin' Up! coordinating Corner and Border Punches which will be available from the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog on January 5, 2010. Everything used to make this card, except the round sentiment stamp and the pink satin ribbon, came from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: The More the Merrier (Level 3 Hostess set), $1 sentiment stamp (Ben Franklin's)
• Papers: Old Olive, Pink Passion, Whisper White, Old Olive Prints Pack (retired)
• Ink: Black Stazon, SU! Markers
• Accessories: Coordinating Corner & Border Punches, Snips, Pink Satin Ribbon, Dimensional

Out-of-the-Box Birthday (CC248)

The Color Challenge for this week was to use Barely Banana, Rich Razzleberry and Always Artichoke. We could use any neutral we wanted. I didn't use a neutral. I stamped directly onto the Barely Banana.

I sponged with a very inky sponge and added the Razzleberry Ribbon. This card is only 4-1/4" square, and I did some masking on this one. All products used to make this card are from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Greenhouse Garden, Sincere Salutations
• Papers: Barely Banana, Rich Razzleberry, Always Artichoke
• Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Always Artichoke
• Accessories: Sponge, Razzleberry Ribbon, Snips

Valentine Mojo (Mojo116)

This is for today's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #116. I just got my pre-order from Stampin' Up!, so I got a chance to use two new punches: Pinked Heart Border Punch and Small Heart Punch. I like the new style of punches! They will be available from the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog on January 5th. The background paper is part of a paper bag that came from a craft store in Grass Valley, CA. Thanks for visiting my blog today!!

• Stamps: Holiday Best (Level 1 Hostess Set)
• Papers: Pretty In Pink, Going Gray, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Paper sack
• Ink: Basic Gray, White Gel Pen
• Accessories: Big Shot, Nesties, Pinked Heart Border Punch, Small Heart Punch, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensional

Brrr! (CAS44)

The Clean & Simple challenge was to use reds and browns with white or ivory for a neutral color. My base card is Real Red with a layer of Very Vanilla that has been embossed with the Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder. The horizontal strip is a retired Stampin' Up! designer series paper that is matted on Close To Cocoa. The main image is a $1 stamp I got this weekend at Ben Franklin's in Grass Valley, CA. It's stamped with Real Red and matted on a scrap of Real Red. The pearls were a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) from an online friend, Michele (aka sf9rfan). She also sent me her second Featured Stamper card that she made when I was the Featured Stamper. I finished off this card with Red Gingham Ribbon and popped up the main image panel. Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: $1 stamp from Ben Franklin's
• Papers: Real Red, Very Vanilla, Close To Cocoa, SU! DSP (retired)
• Ink: Real Red
• Accessories: Big Shot, CB Snowflakes EF, Red Gingham Ribbon, Red Half Pearls

CASEing Michele (FS148)

I was gone all day yesterday, so I didn't post anything. I got to meet a couple of my online friends in person!! It was a wonderful day!

Today's Featured Stamper is Michele (aka mitchygitchygoomy). She is so talented! I chose to CASE this card. I've always admired people who can stitch on cards. My sewing machine gives me fits as it did this time. I added the flowers in the corners to cover up some goofs! I also used "Flower Soft" which I've never used before. I bought some yesterday while we were in California on our trip. I think I'll get the hang of it! LOL! I kept Michele's basic layout but changed stamp sets, colors and designer paper. I also changed the real lace to punched lace. Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: A Kind Word, Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Papers: Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, Pawsitively Prints DSP
• Ink: Black Stazon, Summer Sun, White Gel Pen, SU! Markers
• Accessories: Sewing Machine, WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter, Flower Soft, Flower Trio Punch, MS Leaf Punch, Mat Pack, Stylus, MS Border Punch, Sponge, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch

White Petals (LSC249)

This is for the Limited Supplies Challenge, "White Christmas." We were to use ONLY white card stock and white or clear embellishments. We could use ONE COLOR of ink and limit the layers. I used Versamark with Gold Embossing Powder for the stamped image, and I punched the leaves out of white card stock and embossed with Gold Embossing Powder. Thanks again for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Yuletide Christmas (Holiday Mini)
• Papers: Whisper White, GP White
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Gold EP, Heat Tool, Nesties, Big Shot, Petals-a-Plenty EF, Spring Bouquet Flower Punch (retired), Leaf Punch, Tiny Half Pearls, Mat Pack, Stylus (embossing flowers)

Santa's On His Way (TSC1204)

Our Twisted Sistahs Challenge was called, "Santa's On His Way." I did a little recycling while making this card. The white layer is some shiny white paper that was on top of the SU! catalogs when I received my boxes I had ordered. The shiny red mat is actually left over Christmas wrapping paper!! Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Just Beclause
• Papers: Real Red, Whisper White, Paper from catty boxes, Red shiny wrapping paper
• Ink: Real Red, SU! Markers
• Accessories: Big Shot, Fiskars "Candies" Texture Plate, Tiny Red Rhinestones

Snowman Tag (WT247)

The Ways To Use It Challenge was to make a tag. I made this tag to go with the box I made. Everything used to make the box and tag, except the snowflake punch and the pearls, came from Stampin' Up! Thanks for visiting my blog today!

• Stamps: Two Cool Dudes, Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Papers: Whisper White, Bashful Blue
• Ink: Bashful Blue
• Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Snowflake Punch, 1/8" Punch, Cropadile, Silver Eyelet, Silver Cord, Silver Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Trees (SC257)

Yesterday, I took my mother to lunch at the Senior Center and then, she waited in the car while I ran into WalMart to get her prescription. Somewhere along the line, she had a stroke. I drove her to E.R. and she's been there ever since. That's why I haven't stamped anything. I was in the hospital all day today while they ran tests. We won't know until tomorrow what the results were. I decided to take a little breather and catch up on the challenges while I had the chance. This is for yesterday's sketch challenge. I loved the sketch and thought it was perfect for the "Lovely As A Tree" set. When I stamp those trees, I just have to do some sponging. Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Lovely As A Tree
• Papers: Basic Black, Whisper White, DCWV Mat Pack
• Ink: Black Stazon, Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue, So Saffron, Always Artichoke
• Accessories: Sponge, Photo Corner Punch, Gold Half Pearls

From Our House To Yours

I was a little busy yesterday, but I still wanted to do the Color Challenge because I thought it was pretty interesting: Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Soft Suede. There was what Betty called "Dessert" or the "icing on the cake." We could use any color of embellishments to top it off.My "dessert" is GOLD. I embossed both the main image and the sentiment with Gold Embossing Powder. I also used gold metallic ribbon and gold half pearls. I tried to take a photo that shows the shine from the embossed image, but when I caught the shine, you couldn't make out what the image was! Anyway, thanks so much for stopping by!

• Stamps: To You & Yours
• Papers: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Gold EP, Heat Tool, Big Shot, CB Snowflakes EF, Nesties, Large Oval and Scallop Oval Punches, MS Branch Punch, Metallic Ribbon, Gold Half Pearls, Dimensional

What DON'T you want? (MMTPT70)

This is the teapot for this week's Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge. I've had this teapot for several years but never used it for tea! At least it came in handy for this challenge! LOL! Notice that Santa is holding a Teddy Bear and a drum. That's what the challenge is all about!

Santa only has 23 days to get ready for the big ride! We don't want him to go through what he went through last year!!!

Here's his story:

1. Last year, he headed out on his normal route covering most of Europe first and then heading west. He shouted, "Now, Dasher, now Dancer!" and thought he heard an echo, "Now, Dasher, now Dancer!" Then, he said, "Now, Prancer and Vixen!" and he heard, "Now, Prancer and Vixen!" Every word he spoke was echoed back at him! You can imagine how annoying that can be.
2. After a while, he realized the echo was coming from his bag of toys! He pulled over somewhere in Ireland and checked his bag. The echo was coming from a Teddy Bear! He checked, and there was no switch to turn it off! One of the elves must have been responsible for this.
3. Well, you can't drive a team of reindeer without shouting some commands, so you can imagine how annoying that bear was by the time he got to North America!! He decided that bear was going to be returned to the North Pole. He planned to give little Greta Gobstopper some Barbie dolls instead.
4. One more little issue came up when he stopped at 10 year old Cornelius Doilyslobber's house. It was 3:00 A.M., and that boy was still up!! You see, Cornelius is kind of a hyperactive kid, and he had way too many sugar cookies before bedtime. He was running around all over that house!
5. Santa had planned to leave him a drum, but he decided, "That boy's mother was such a good little girl. I just can't do that to her!" Santa thought the boy might be musically inclined and didn't want to inhibit that talent, so he left him a small keyboard instead, complete with earphones. He knew the boy's mother would appreciate those!
6. Santa brought back the drums and that annoying Teddy Bear, and they are still on his shelf in his workshop at the North Pole. "It sure would be nice to know ahead of time what NOT to bring people for Christmas," he thought.

That's our mission. We are having our tea party at the Silver Legacy Hotel/Casino in Reno, Nevada (my neck of the woods). We have to get together and make a list of items NOT to bring!! (While you're here, you might want to take in a show like "Holiday on Ice" at the Eldorado Hotel/Casino, right next to the Silver Legacy!)

The challenge is to make a card showing the worst present you can imagine for you or anyone in your family, OR you can make a card showing the best present you ever received or what you or your family would like the most. You need to tell us in your description which it is and why. Please post to SCS using MMTPT70 as a keyword or post to your blog and link to it in the comments here. Most importantly, have fun!!

Here is my teapot card. I drew Santa. He's an actual card. I water colored him and spent a little time on that belt! LOL! The drum and the Teddy Bear are just clip art that I printed on card stock and then cut out. You might notice that the handle and spout are backward from the original teapot. I guess that's just how my brain works these days!!! Thanks for stopping by and for putting up with my long story!!

Non-Traditional (Mojo115)

This is for the Mojo Monday Challenge. This card is only 4-1/4" square in is made with non-traditional colors. I just cut out the candy canes from the patterned paper and used them as the main image. The only stamping was the sentiment. I will be back later to post the Teapot Tuesday Challenge. Aren't you excited?!!! Thanks for stopping by!!!

• Stamps: All Holidays
• Papers: Basic Black, Pink Passion, GP White, DCWV DP
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Circle, Scallop Circle, Rectangular and Scallop Rectangular Nesties, Big Shot Machine, Hot Pink Ribbon, Black Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Sneaky Peek (MMTPT70)

Besides being the Featured Stamper today, I'm the hostess for this week's Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge!! I'm trying to get ready for that as well as comment on all the lovely cards that every one has made with inspiration from one of my cards. It's been really fun to see how and by what people are inspired!! Anyway, back to the business at hand: This is a sneaky peek at the teapot for this week's challenge. I hope everyone has fun with this one! You will see the whole teapot on Tuesday morning (or maybe late Monday night)!!!

Featured Stamper

Well, I have no Featured Stamper card to show you today. Why? The Featured Stamper for this week turned out to be ME!!! Go to the Featured Stamper Challenge thread for more information. I am so honored! I've been making comments on every one's cards since I found out!! What a surprise it was when I checked my emails and found out that the Featured Stamper hostess, Beth (aka MyPrecious), had sent me a Private Message on SCS to congratulate me on being this week's Featured Stamper!! This is such a humbling experience for me. There are so many nice people saying so many nice things about my cards and my gallery! I just have no words to express the joy that I feel. It's so much fun to see how each individual gains inspiration from a card that I made. Several people chose the same card to CASE and it happens to be one of the cards I really don't like!! LOL! I guess THEY liked it though! Anyway, I have to get back to commenting on all the cards in the FS Gallery. I will try to post a card later. Thanks for visiting!!!

Sock Monkey Christmas (IC208)

For the Inspiration Challenge, we were to go to Oliebollen.com which is a site with "cool things for kids." I was inspired by the "Classic Sock Monkey." I stamped the image on Very Vanilla and again on Berry Bliss designer paper for paper piecing the body. I also stamp parts on some Real Red Patterns Pack designer paper for the mouth, backside and hat. I used Liquid Applique on the hat for fluff. The background was embossed with Petals-A-Plenty Impressions Folder, and the monkey is popped up on Dimensionals. The sentiment was heat embossed with Gold Embossing Powder. All products used to make this card are from Stampin' Up! Thanks again for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Sock Monkey, Sock Monkey Accessories, Four the Holidays
• Papers: Real Red, Very Vanilla, Berry Bliss DSP, Patterns Pack DSP (Real Red)
• Ink: Timber Brown Stazon, Versamark
• Accessories: Big Shot, Petals-a-Plenty EF, Snips, Dimensionals, Gold EP, Heat Tool, Liquid Applique

Just Beclause (TSC1127)

Our Twisted Sistahs Challenge this week was to use buttons and bows. I already posted the gift tag that I made, but I wanted to make an actual card, too. This is a "side step" card. I like this technique. I used the "Just Beclause" set (Holiday Mini) using the Santa on the large panel in the back, the December 25th stamp on the tall, vertical panel, and the sentiment on the front panel. I made "presents" using Prints Pack paper (Real Red) which I adhered to more white for stiffness. The buttons are from the Bold Brights Buttons, and I used Silver Elastic Cord which is available from the Holiday Mini Catalog. Thanks again for stopping by!!!

Gift Tag

I haven't posted for a couple of days because I was editing for my daughter's e-magazine, then we went to my son's for Thanksgiving, and yesterday I went and bought a new camera. It was one of the "door buster" deals at WalMart. I used it to take the photo shown above. I took several photos before I found out that it works best with the flash off when taking closeups like this. I plan on doing a couple of cards today, but I wanted to show the tag I made out of left-over wrapping paper. The cologne I bought for one of my daughters came with wrapping paper, silver elastic cord and the white bow. I embossed the piece of wrapping paper with Petals a Plenty Impressions folder from Stampin' Up! I punched the corners of the embossed piece and the Whisper White piece and glued them together. I used a Metallic Eyelet (silver) and Silver Cord to attach the tag to the bow. I wrote the "To" and "From" on the back and attached a snowman button (with the loop cut off) with a Pop-up Glue Dot. I think it's simple but effective! Everything used to make the tag is from Stampin' Up! except for the button. Thanks for stopping by!

Red on a Rose (MMTPT69)

Our Teapot Tuesday Challenge was hosted by Maureen Vollaro who is one of the Twisted Sistahs. She did a great job with the challenge. We are having our tea party at the Grand Ol' Opry and must bring a card with a rose on it or something inspired by a country tune. My card has a rose that WAS inspired by the Alan Jackson tune, "Like Red on a Rose." You can hear it and see the lyrics here. This was a fun challenge! The rose was embossed with gold and colored with water color crayon and aqua painter with Real Red Marker to darken. Everything used to make this card came from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral
• Papers: Basic Black, Whisper White
• Ink: Handsome Hunter, SU! Markers, Versamark
• Accessories: Big Shot, Manhattan Flower EF, Gold EP, WCW Crayon, Aqua Painter, Snips

Glow (CAS42)

The Clean & Simple Challenge was for us to use sponging on our CAS cards. I wanted this to look like there's a glow coming from behind the flowers. How did I do? I sponged with Summer Sun, adhered leaves punched from Handsome Hunter, added embossed flowers punched from Regal Rose, stamped the sentiment, and added the rhinestones to the flower centers. This all took about ten minutes! Everything used to make this card, except the leaf punch, is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

• Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Papers: Naturals White, Handsome Hunter, Regal Rose
• Ink: Summer Sun
• Accessories: MS Leaf Punch, Flower Trio Punch, Mat Pack, Stylus, Rhinestones, Sponge

CASEing Biggan (FS146)

This week's Featured Stamper is Biggan. Her real name is Birgit and she lives in Sweden. We do have several stampers in Europe and other places around the world. Everyone knows Birgit. She has such a talent! I chose to CASE this card. Now, I just loved her simple Christmas candle, but I have NO candle stamps! I don't have a pine cone stamp that is big enough, either. I had to make the candle and pine cone by hand. I added liquid applique to the candle to make it look like flowing wax. I punched my pine branches. I used real ribbon, and I embossed the sentiment. I gave it a shot anyway!! Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Sincere Salutations
• Papers: Naturals White, Textured Card Front, Whisper White, Creamy Caramel, Garden Green
• Ink: Versamark, SU! Markers
• Accessories: Gold EP, Heat Tool, Liquid Applique, Branch Punch, Ribbon, Half Pearls

Get Well Flower (IC207)

Today's Inspiration Challenge was to go to the aimoobaroo site to get our inspiration. I was inspired by this ring. Someone commented on one of my cards today, and I went to her gallery and found a treat bag with a flower made out of folded pieces of Scallop Circle Punched designer series paper (DSP). She had a link to a video which explained how to do the folding with a larger scallop circle. She adapted hers to the Scallop Circle Punch, and so did I. Here is her Thanksgiving Treats. All products used to make this card are from Stampin' Up! Thanks for visiting my blog today!!

• Stamps: Sincere Salutations
• Papers: Close To Cocoa, Pretty In Pink, Berry Bliss DSP (retired)
• Ink: Close To Cocoa
• Accessories: Big Shot, SU! Impressions Folder, Scallop Circle Punch, Flower Trio Punch, Pretty In Pink Brad

Leather & Lace (TSC1120)

Our Twisted Sistah's Challenge was to use Leather and Lace on a card (or other project). My leather is the faux leather strip that I made out of Creamy Caramel card stock which was embossed with a Fiskars Texture Plate (Leather) and then sponged with Chocolate Chip ink. My lace is the blue strip that was punched with the Martha Stewart Doily Lace Border Punch. Thanks for stopping by!!

• Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, All Holidays
• Papers: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Creamy Caramel, My Mind's Eye DP
• Ink: Chocolate Chip
• Accessories: Fiskars Leather Texture Plate, Big Shot, MS Border Punch, Sponge, Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Brad