Almost caught up...

I have been trying to play along with a couple of Christmas Card challenges. WHAT? Christmas Cards? Already? But it's only March????

I have been TERRIBLE about sending out Christmas cards for the last few years, and am hoping that this will get my rear in gear. So to speak.

Anyway, the lovely ladies at Jingle Belles and Crafty Hazelnuts have been hosting a weekly challenge to assist us in getting our Christmas cards done before we get to the panic stage on Christmas Eve.

I did really well. The first two weeks, that is. Then I sorta, kinda fell off the Christmas Card Making Wagon. Apparently I was chanting, "one, two, ninety-nine, a hundred" and thinking that the cards would spring right out of my, er, ah, um, ear.



I am proud to announce that I am all caught up with Jingle Belles, and will be caught up with Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Card Challenge this weekend. That is if you let me combine some of the challenges. I don't need that many Christmas cards, so I am saying it's okay. Okay?!?!?!

And here is what I have done so far, along with the applicable challenge:

• CHN - Week 7 - Creature - The little mouse is my creature.
• CHN - Week 11 - Gold - The green piece is matted on gold.

• CHN - Week 2 - Recycle - The snowman is the sample cut out that comes with the die.
• CHN - Week 8 - White Stuff - Okay, so mine isn't "white", but the snowflakes are there.
• JB - Week 3 - Acrylic Paint - I painted the snowman white and then swirled blue on top.
• JB - Week 8 - Sketch - Pretty much it's there.
• JB - Week 11 - Kraft, White and Lt Blue - I cheated and threw in a black sentiment.

• JB - Week 10 - Home for the Holidays - It wasn't Christmas without making cookies.

• JB - Week 9 - Text Me - It's the background paper. Easy-peasy.

Jingle Belle's, Pixie Dust and Hazel Nuts

The challenge this last week for Jingle Belle's was PINK & GREEN.

Crafy Hazel wanted us to use BLING.

The Pixies gave us this sketch:

Here's what I came up with (after I rotated the sketch):

I am really liking this MERRY & BRIGHT stamp. I am not quite sure where I got it.

And I made the entry this week with a little time to spare too.



Jingle Belles and CraftyHazelNut

By the seat of my pants, here is this weeks entry to the Jingle Belles and CraftyHazelNut's Christmas card challenge. And by the luck of it all, it meets both challenges.

I thought I was going to have to be late for the Jingle Belles challenge because I just didn't get a card done last night. Well, like any crazy good crafter, I carry a tote bag with who-knows-what inside.

I was checking for some red things at lunch to finish making some inchies. Cuz, who doesn't carry a small stash of paper bits, and lo' and behold I found some pre-cut pieces of a Christmas card that I had planned on using for a project a year ago. (Yay for not cleaning out your tote bag.) AND a blank card. AND a pre-colored cardinal with poinsettas. AND a Unity stamp that came with a magazine that I just happened to throw in my bag. Kismet, I tell ya.

So here are the inchie/twinchies (they are in between the two at 1.5 inches) for Jingle Belles AND the Christmas card that was received a couple of years ago for CraftyHazelNut.

Now to finish those inchies....

Jingle Belles Rock and so does Crafty Hazelnut - Inaugural Challenges

I DID IT! I DID IT!

I made a Christmas card and it isn't December. I think I'm on a roll. This could be the start of something magical. There is NO end to what I can do. Heck, I might even mail some Christmas cards out this year. Yeah! It could happen....

In case you haven't heard, Lauren and Stef have started a year long challenge to make a Christmas card a week this year. Each week on Jingle Belles, you will be challenged to make a Christmas card. The first challenge is to use something New and something Old.

AND

Crafty Hazelnut has a Christmas card challenge starting up too. For those of you that don't know Hazel, she is one talented card making machine. The first challenge here is to make a Christmas card. Anything goes, as long as it's a newly made card and it's for Christmas.



I used some New paper that I got, the snowflake is New and so are the Perfect Pearls I smeared all over the place. The Changito stamp is Old, as is the cardstock and the Merry and Bright stamp.

I DID IT! I DID IT!

Up for a good scrap....

....of paper or stickers or cardstock. Or whatever is lying around in your Studio. The challenge at OPUS GLUEI this week is to use up some of those goodies you have lying around. (Or in a drawer or cupboard.)

Mine are pretty simple. But I like them. And that's what counts. Right?!?!?!

I'm also working on 3 bookmarks that I am swapping on Swap-bot. I'll show them later. Maybe. I don't know why I don't always remember to take pics of the swaps I send out. Silly, I know. But I seem to forget to take pics. Sometimes I get lucky and remember before I mail them out. I have been known to rip open an envelope to take pics. Ha ha ha.

Far Out - OG #62

Believe it or not, my card took me all friggin day, last Saturday, to make. Don't be alarmed, I am not posting an imposter. My card, the card that took forever, is posted a bit further down. I know it isn't overly decorative. It took me so long Not because it is so complicated, but rather because my 10 year old came in to ask a question when I had first started to make the card, and then she wanted to make a card using the same set of stamps. She wanted me to "help" her. (translation - Watch me.) So I watched as she made this card for her father.

She used every stamp, save two, in this set. (She didn't use the "FAR OUT" or the lone star.) Every image was a different color too. So I had about 8 ink pads open, spread out on my tiny little work area. So even if I had wanted to work while she did, I couldn't have.

Anyway, back to the card I made in record time. LOL.

I can't remember what the background paper is, but it was part of a Christmas stack of photo mats. The planet is from a Dollar Store set of paper. The stars are dew drops. I stamped the spaceship onto white cardstock. Then used some rub-on glitter paper for the stars. And rub-on foils for the ship. The monkey is colored with copics. And I Diamond Glazed the cockpit. Then fussy cut and popped it up. The letters are Making Memories.

I got the stamps as part of a major score from Michael's the other day.

I love this little monkey. He gets to do so many different things.

I got all this stuff for $35. Pretty cool, huh?

I SCREAM for ICE CREAM

This little card of mine is made for no one in particular. It was made for a couple of challenges.

OPUS GLUEI - ICE CREAM

CRAFTY HO's - THINK BRIGHT

Thanks for visiting. Hope this card didn't blind you for too long. LOL.

Bird Cards for Hero's

Just a few more I made for the cause.

I'm on a bird kick.


These surprised me. They really aren't my colors.

I need to set myself a deadline for the next 100.

So far I have about 10.

Wanna race?

Hero Cards

I still have that box of 100 cards. I didn't make it to the Post Office last Saturday, and I didn't have time to sneeze this week, much less anything else. So, I will try again tomorrow.

Here are a few of the cards that are in the box. These were all made specifically for the HERO's.

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This one has a little transparent frame that I made for the OPUS GLUEI challenge. And then forgot to post it on there. Oops!

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This one is so simple. Even a Poo-bah can do it.

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This one came about with what was on my work surface.
I just love this stamp set. And that little froggie.

More card showing will follow, but that's it for now.

I Can See Clearly Now - Opus Gluei Challenge # 57

Opus Gluei wants you to use clear sheets this week.

Here are a few of the things I came up with:

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This is my first project. I didn't post it on the Opus Gluei site, because I haven't figured out what I want to do with the closure. And I didn't want to post an incomplete project.

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I don't know what possessed me to make a Halloween Candy Box.

But this is what came to my mind.

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I knew that the mice would look cool.

And forgive me for saying, THEY DO!

It's a Martha Stewart border punch.

So is the dripping goo at the top.

Unfortunately, I can't remember who makes the skull and cross bones stamp.

Or the cool spider paper on the top. Sorry.

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And now to switch gears to something SOOOO not creepy...

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I knew I would make a card. I need a girlie, blingy card, so here it is.
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And I knew I wanted to make something with one of my Spanish Stampin' Up sets.

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Then this little owl stamp just spoke to me.

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CARD: I used a premade journal spot, turned it on edge. Then I put a border of adhesive (I love my ATG gun). And scrunched ribbon along the edge AND stuck it to the center of the card front. I used a Cocoa Daisy stamp, fussy cut around it and glittered the girl. YUM. I applied the bling sticker before I popped up the Cameo. Then stuck on the pretty pink flowers. The inside is corner stamped for a bit more interest.

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CANDY BOX: I scanned the tutorial on SplitCoastStampers. I remembered that the bottom and top were made using 3 inch squares and that the column was scored using 1 & 15/16 inch increments. From there I just winged it. (I'll go back to see if there is something I could have done easier. Bit too late for this one, but I WILL be making these again.) I taped everything together and then decided that I wanted th ribbon to be on the inside of the bottom, but on the outside of the sides, so I pushed the sided of the box away from the adhesive and shoved the ribbon through the bottom. It wasn't so elegant, but very successful. I like this little box. Have I mentioned that???

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INCHIE: Was an afterthought. Honestly. For some reason (???) I had this little stamp just hanging out. Then I had this little scrap of acetate and put the two together. I stamped with Staz-On, then colored, and finally punched the inchie out. He's a cutie pie.

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Thanks for looking.

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I would love to see what you can come up with using Clear sheets.

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Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, all you have to do is draw...

This week's challenge at Opus Gluei is to be inspired by the seasons. Luckily, I have a set of stamps from Stampin' Up entitled "A Flower for all Seasons", or something like that. But that isn't my inspiration for this challenge, but rather a tool to use my inspiration.

Here are the cards I made. One for each season.

Can you guess the inspiration?

(There is a hint in the pictures of each card.)

Winter

SPRING




SUMMER

FALL

Have you guessed it yet?

It's the markers.

I have duplicates of these markers. So I want to give the extras away.

Go over to Opus Gluei to see the details about the drawing.

See you over there...

Earthling Gets Make-Over. News at 11.

I like it much better now.

8 of these are going to Operation Write Home.

Along with about 100 other cards me and my daughters have made.

Happy Friday, Earthlings!

It's cute. But needs more.

WHAT?

Help!!!


HAPPY FRIDAY

MOJO Friday (well it started yesterday...)

I think my MOJO is back.

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It took a little vacation,

but I think it came home last night

when I started this VERY late B-day card.

HAPPY FRIDAY !!!

Blurf Fav's and Pay It Forward

I haven't shared some of my 'local' hang-outs with you in a bit. So here are a few places I find myself lately AND a little Creative Person bonding opportunity. We all make things and share them here in Cyberland. But wouldn't it be nice to share a creation or two in REAL LIFE with someone else who creates? Read on to find out more, but in the meanwhile, here are a few of my favorite loitering locations. They are chock-a-block full of inspiration. In no particular order - except for Amy, cuz she had to be last because of the additional blurb, but enough of this, go on now...

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1. Valerie at THE SUM OF ALL CRAFTS generously shares incredible images with us all, makes incredible art, shares her artistic journeys with us, AND she is a Star Trek fan. Talent and Trek: Can't beat that! Above is one of the MANY images she shares. Are the gears of your imagination turning yet???

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2. Jenny at ALLSORTS creates, well, Allsorts of things. Above is just a sampling of Spring related items. She has a real love of all things British and whimsical. Not necessarily together though. She's certainly worth a visit.

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3. Amy at Tsuruta Designs comes up with some of the cutest cards. She also belongs to a few Design Teams. I haven't even tried to count them. Just go to her place and have a look-see. She also posted about Pay it forward.

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And now on to the ♥♥Pay It Forward for Creative People♥♥ information:

You take a pledge, sign up and mail things.

So here's the pledge:

I hereby promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment that they want to participate in the PIF challenge. In turn, they promise to post this and send something they made to the first 5 posters on their blog. Items must be received before the end of June 2010.

I don't know about you, but 5 seems like a whole lot to me, so although I will send to 5, I am going to change my requirement for you to send to 3 people. Just let me know and I'll add 2 additional people to my list to make up for the difference.

Won't you join me in the fun?

Mojo Monday # 135

I have to admit that when I saw the MOJO Monday sketch for this week, I really didn't get too thrilled.

Then I remembered these Fairies, and thought that flowers behind them would look great....

I got a bit carried away...

I couldn't help it...



I even put a little matching decoration on the inside...

Aren't they cute...

Aren't they playful...

Can you see why I made FIVE of them?!?!?!?!

Thanks for looking.

Opus Gluei Challenge # 51

The challenge over at Opus Gluei this week is to:

1- make a set of whatever it is you are making

2- use NO patterned paper.

I made two sets of cards, based on a card I made at a Stampin' Up club meeting recently.
Each card uses 4 stamps and 2 inks.

I also made envelopes to match.

I stamped either the branch or the rose onto either a white or kraft envelope.

(Sorry, no pictures of those. They just seemed really boring.)

Just a simple little note card.
But pretty I think.

(Stamps: Owl-Unity: Rose-Unknown: Letters, Butterfly, dots, branch-Stampin' Up)
(Ink: White cards:Stampin' Up-Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry)
(Ink: Kraft cards: Stampin' Up Old Olive and Dusty Durango)

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Next up is this set of ATC's. I really wanted to see the difference, up close and personal using watercolor crayons, colored pencils and Copic markers.

I am in LOVE with the watercolor crayon ATC. The colors are more vibrant. And you all know I love the bright and cheery colors. I used a Tyggereye Arts stamp. One of my all time favorite stamps. Somehow in the scanning process these little guys were flipped around. And being the observant sleuth that I am, I just now noticed. Hmmmm.

Hope you can play with us over at Opus Gluei this week.

Jingle happy, Mojo happy and Opus happy

This is what really cool people send to other people on their own birthdays:

Yup, you read that right. Jingle sent this to me because it was HER birthday.

The stamps are really great, but check out that FABULOUSO pin.

She made it. And sent it to me. I LOVE IT.

SHE ROCKS!!!

Thank you JINGLE.

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I made these two cards for two challenges.

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OPUS GLUEI "It IS easy being GREEN"

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and MOJO MONDAY 128 Contest.

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Not that I am interested in a contest. I am just NOT competitive. But I really do like their sketches..

Both cards are the same sketch. With, oh so minor differences.
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(Papers, heart stamp and ink are Stampin' Up. Sentiment is Studio G.)


(Papers, shamrock stamp and ink are Stampin' Up. Sentiment is Studio G.)

Easter Cards and Tootsie Rolls

I have been noticeably absent from this blog. Once the Olympics started I became very much consumed and neglected my blog. (Gasp!) I know I said I was going to get back to "normal" (what is that anyway?) once the games ended, but I haven't been here. Last weekend was spent cleaning out Melissa's bedroom. I hope to NEVER do that again. It took 3 days to sort through her "STUFF". I hauled 6 bags to the thrift store and another 6 to the garbage. We found 2 loads of dirty laundry. AND (another excuse coming - brace yourself) Danny went out of town for the last week so, I have been playing single mom/taxi driver.

But, I have been absent and I apologize. I know you missed me. And I missed you too.
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Okay, moving on. I want to say up front that I saw this idea on someone elses blog, but I can't remember where. I just know that I saw this and had one of those "I can do that" moments. The timing was perfect. Danny had just bought a Sam's bag of Tootsie Rolls. (What family REALLY needs one of those?) So, getting wrappers wasn't a problem. I had plenty of volunteers to help empty said wrappers too. AND I had just finished cleaning out Melissa's room where I found 3 D-ring belts that she didn't want any more. (Can you hear the angels singing?)

I made two of them. One for Morgan (13 year old) and one for Melissa (10 year old). They both love them. And so do their friends. I am a "COOL MOM" according to their friends. YAY ME!!!

If you are interested in how I made this little treasure, let me know and I can post directions.

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Now on to the Easter Cards. I was at one of those chain hobby/craft stores and saw these adorable Easter stamps. Being the restrained person that I am, I promptly dropped them into my cart. Yes, I said cart. Doesn't everyone use a cart in hobby/craft stores? You just can't hold everything and still fondle....It isn't possible. I've tried. You just end up dropping everything and then you have to bend over. In public. Not doing that one again. Oh, yeah, the cards, they aren't fancy or complicated. But they are done. And that counts for a lot. A LOT.

I managed to stamp several images. Color them with my Copic markers. (I love them by the way.)

I won't show a picture of what colors I used because it wouldn't help you. I would have to list them. I have the Ciao markers and they don't have the colors on the ends. Plus, I am not that together. I didn't get a picture of them.

Hope you like the cards.


Have a Happy, Happy Day.