Monday, December 30, 2013

December Tag - Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013

Hi, guys! Hope all is well.  This is the last month of 2013, and so I am sharing the last of my tags for the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013.  While I was making my tag, I made an extra poinsettia to use for packaging.  My sister loves scratch-lottery tickets and gift cards, so I decided to make a small envelope using some of Tim's vintage Christmas paper that I love.  I then attached the poinsettia to it to make it extra special.



I am often asked what I do with all the tags I make.  Well, this December tag was used to give a bottle of wine as a gift.  I feel it gives the gift a personal touch.



If you would like the details of how these tags are made, I would highly recommend you pay Tim Holtz a visit at his blog as he takes you step by step and encourages you to put your own spin on them. 

I am looking forward to seeing what Tim comes up with in 2014, as I am sure it will be fun creating along with him, and, more importantly, learning some new things.

Off to get my fingers inky!

Until next time!










Saturday, December 28, 2013

Beef: It's What's for (Christmas) Dinner

Hi, guys! Hope you had a lovely Christmas if you observe it.  My hubby and I had a very nice one, spending time with various family and friends. I was a very busy beaver cooking the dinner for Christmas day, and then spent the evening with my sister's family and even spent a few hours with my friend Ruth and her husband.

Dinner was prime rib and whiskey cream sauce.  The whiskey cream sauce was made with The Pioneer Woman's recipe.  It is so delicious and very simple to prepare.  After making it a few times, I knew I had to double the recipe to have enough to go with the leftover meat.





One fun thing we did over the holiday was grow an Amaryllis plant.  This is something I love to do each season, but it was new for my hubby.  We planted the bulb on Thanksgiving day and it bloomed fully by Christmas.  What always amazes me is the rate of speed at which this plant grows.





The blooms were magnificent.  I am already looking forward to next year when I pick another bulb to plant.

This Christmas I was very busy with work (lots of overtime) and didn't get much free time.  This week, however, I am off on vacation and will find some time to relax and find time to create cards and other fun crafty things.

Thanks for the visit today!  Until next time!

Monday, December 23, 2013

Santa Squared

Hi, guys! I have tons of holiday and Christmas stamps, and Santa images are among my favorites.  I thought I would share a pair of Santa cards I made for the season.

The first one up features a Santa by Stampers Anonymous (Tim Holtz). Love the old-timey look and the full face.  I paired this card up with a funny sentiment by Ranger (Dylusions).




The second card features another fun Santa by Rubber Stampede. His eyes have the twinkle I love for a good Santa image.


Hope you are enjoying the days leading up to the big day!  I am still wrapping and shopping, believe it or not.  Hoping to finish up everything tomorrow so I can sit back and enjoy some holiday fun with my family.

Until next time!

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Hormel Chili Christmas

Hi, guys! Today I was home under the weather and am catching up on some rest.  I had plenty of tea and soup and started my gift wrapping for Christmas.  This has been a long week as I had to work overtime a few nights and had a couple of Christmas get-togethers with my girlfriends.  All this holiday fun had me doing a lot of reminiscing.

This past weekend we observed the 7th anniversary of my late husband's passing.  It brought to mind a funny memory of when we were dating.  I used to live in the city and lived next door to a Mobil gas station.  Since I was living alone I would often run there and pick up some snacks and a can of Hormel chili for dinner when I was being lazy.  I recall Charlie calling and asking what I was having for dinner and the answer was "Hormel" a few nights a week.  One Christmas he came over to my apartment where my family was assembled and gave me a giant gift box.  Everyone wondered what he gave me.  Inside were a dozen cans of Hormel chili in all the possible varieties.  So funny to remember these little things. I can't remember the last time I have eaten that now.  Charlie would send me bacon in the mail, or leave me a pork chop on my doorknob on his way to work.  Some guys say it with flowers, he said it with food.

Today's cards are a pair of Christmas cards I made for friends. This first one was plain and simple but I loved really showcasing a piece of paper as the focal image.  The bingo chip is by Tim Holtz.


This next one I made using a Lawn Fawn set stamped on watercolor paper and colored with Distress Markers and water. The sentiment is by Memory Box.


Thanks for the visit today, and for coming along with me while I remembered a Christmas past!

Until next time!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

WYOWW #237 - Warm Winter Wishes (Envelope Cards)

Hi, guys! Hope all is well!  Today is Wednesday so I am sharing what is on my work desk with you.  I have been making envelope cards with hot cocoa or Starbucks coffee packets for some friends.



Here is a close-up of one of them:


The stamps I used for these cards are by Scrappy Happiness.  I thought they would be perfect to use for  these hot drink cards.

Thank you to Julia for this desk-hopping fun! I look forward to seeing what you are all working on today!

Until next time!

Saturday, December 14, 2013

School's Out For Christmas

Hi, guys! Hope all is well!  Christmas cards are pouring out of my stamp room.  Here are a batch of cards I made for more teachers!  I pulled out my Stampers Anonymous Blueprint stamp set for these.  Since these cards had to be personalized I find they make it easy to line up the names along the side or bottom of the images.





Last, but not least, I decided to use this fun Peanuts stamp by Stampabilities.  "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is one of my favorite movies of the season, so I had to pick this stamp up when I saw it.



The two little ones bringing these cards to their teachers can be happy that each card was "different" in some way by switching the colors/images and paper choices.

I am finally done with all my requested cards, so today (while we are having a snow storm), I plan to begin making my own for family and friends.  I can't wait to break out a tea pot and Christmas music and get started!

Enjoy your weekend whatever you decide to do!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

WOYWW #236 - Christmas Cards for Teachers Underway

Hi guys! Today is Wednesday, so I am sharing what is on my work desk with you!  Today you will see  I am working on a bunch of Christmas cards.  I was asked to make a bunch of Christmas cards for school teachers for a co-worker to give from her kids.  She needed 6 cards for 2 kids! Times sure changed from when I went to grammar school and had one teacher!  She asked that I put the name of each teacher on the cards to personalize them.


My FAVORITE tool I think that I use each and every time I make cards is my EK Success adhesive eraser. It works like a charm and I love the pointed end as it gets into corners so easily. Sad thing is, I can't find any more like this!

Here is a close up of some new stamps I will also be using this week.  I think they will be perfect for cards that I will be making for family and friends.



Thank you for Julia for this desk-hopping fun!  I look forward to seeing what you are all working on this week!  Off to get my fingers inky all over again!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Another Round of Christmas Cards

Hi, guys! I have been busy in my stamp studio making a bunch of Christmas cards.  I thought I would share a few with you today.

This first one was fun to make as I am very big on puns.  Gina K Designs had this adorable sheep set that I feel in love with so I knew I had to use it.  The set has a bunch of different sheep to use and I thought the santa hat one was adorable for this and stamped it 3 times.


My husband has been paying attention to me and my crafty ways.  We took a cake to his aunt's the other day and he rescued the baker's twine from being tossed away. When we got home he handed it to me and so I had to use it on a card today.

The next one I used a present stamp from Stampers Anonymous and decided to make the background look like a present as well.


Here is a shot of the inside.  I used a stamp from the December Simon Says Stamp Card kit.  To make the battery look like a "copper top" one, I used metallic Distress Paint.


Thanks for visiting with me today! It always makes my day to hear from you.  Until next time!

Sunday, December 8, 2013

My Love Of My $19.99 Woolworth Christmas Tree

Hi, guys! Hope all is well!  This weekend has been filled with holiday cheer.  My husband performed his holiday plays which were fabulous.  I spent today making a bunch of Christmas cards!  I have to start mine tomorrow.

Speaking of Christmas, my husband and I have our tree up and decorated!  The tree is the first and only tree I ever purchased.  I was 21 and got my first apartment (26 years ago!) and I needed a tree.  My boyfriend took me to Woolworth's (sure wish it was still in business today) and we picked this tree out. The cost was perfect ($19.99) and the size perfect for a small apartment.  If I can close my eyes, I can remember us dragging it up to my third floor walk-up apartment.  Back then I had no ornaments, and my kid sister gave me a bunch from the dollar store, and some from McDonald's where she was working.  Now, after all these years I have so many ornaments so the tree is too small. I have been switching up the ornaments so that I can keep using this tree.


My sister still checks all these years later to see if her dollar store ornaments still have a place on my tree and of course, they do!  It is funny how this tree means so much to me.  It also amazes me how good the condition is for such an inexpensive tree.  I have been thinking of getting a new one and each year I shelve the idea.  Gosh, I miss Woolworth's!

Did I mention we decorate the tree while having mulled wine?  We learned about this on our honeymoon.  You place a bottle of mulled wine in a crockpot filled with water (open bottle and place cork back in  the bottle) and let the bottle heat.  It is a great way to keep wine warm while you are trimming your tree, or relaxing with a book, etc.

Hope you are enjoying the holiday season!  Until next time!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Christmas Card Making Underway

Hi, guys! Today I will begin sharing some of the Christmas cards I have been working on lately.  This weekend I completed a dozen Christmas cards for my friend and co-worker to give.

First up is this adorable gnome card.  I was lucky enough to win this set last year after the holiday season, so it was great to use it this holiday.

Supplies:
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp
Paper: Paper from December Simon Says Stamp Card kit.
Ink: Memento Black, Stampin' Up
Misc.: Wink of Stella

This next card was the first card I made using the stamps and papers from the Simon Says Stamp December Card kit.  The sentiment is bold and I white heat embossed it to make it even more dramatic.


Supplies:
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp
Paper: Simon Says Stamp December Card kit
Ink: Versamark
Misc.: Martha Stewart Snowflake punch, Pearls, White Embossing Powder

These were a fun way to kick off my holiday card making.  I hope to share some more with you soon!

Until next time!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

WOYWW #235 - From Christmas Cards to Sympathy Card

Hi, guys! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!  Since today is Wednesday, that means I am sharing what is on my work desk with you.  Thank you to Julia for this desk-hopping fun!

My desk this week is very disjointed. This weekend I was in full Christmas card making mode and you will see I had to stop and push the stuff aside to begin a sympathy card for my husband's co-worker who lost her parent.   I am currently working to finish it for tomorrow for him to take to the office.  From happy card making to sad.  But I know they are important and bring some sense of comfort.



This weekend I was able to finish a dozen Christmas cards for a co-worker.  I hope to share them throughout the week.  They were a hoot to make and he was so excited to receive them today!

I hope to visit with a bunch of you today and see what you are up to.  Thanks for visiting!

Saturday, November 30, 2013

November 2013 - Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013

Hi, guys! Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!  I have been so focused on Thanksgiving, and decorating for the holiday, that the date on the calendar saying it was the last day of November came as a bit of a surprise to me.  So today, I am sharing my November tag for the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013. This month he focused on using the Chalkboard Technique using the Ranger Embossing Antiquities Frosted Crystal powder and real chalk. This was so much fun that not only did I make a tag, but I also made a card using a Giant Tag by Ranger (#12 size).

Tim made Fall themed tags this month, but I decided that since Christmas is very close that I would make holiday ones.  For the tag, I used Tim's iceskate stamp from his blueprint series.  The skate was stamped a few times and foam squares were added to give it a 3D look.  I also decided to add pom-poms to the skates as that brought back fun memories from my youth.  The tinsel was then colored with Mushroom Alcohol Ink to give it an aged look.




The Christmas Card was made with the Giant #12 Black Tag by Ranger as I mentioned above.  It was scored and I used a punch to create the tie on the side.  Seam Binding was used to close the card.



If you want to make a tag or a card using this technique, I would suggest you head over to Tim Holtz's blog as he takes you step by step in the process.  Once you try Frosted Crystal powder, you will fall in love with it.

Wishing you all a fabulous rest of the weekend!  Until next time!






















Thursday, November 28, 2013

Giving Thanks For You!

Hi, guys! Today is Thanksgiving here in the USA.  I thought I would share a bunch of Thanksgiving cards I made for family and friends.   I used some stamps and papers from my Simon Says Stamp November Card kit for the first two cards.  For the third card, I used stamps from Scrappy Happiness sets.






I had a fun time creating these.  Different stamps and styles were used for various personalities.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I just love what it stands for, and spending time with those I love cannot be beat. Oh, and the food - can't forget the yummy treats!

Since I have begun my blog,  I have discovered so many great people who take the time to read and share right along with me.  I consider you all a blessing in my life.

Wishing each and every one of you a very happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

WOYWW #234 - Thanksgiving Cards Under Way

Hi guys!  Hope all is well.  I am sorry I was very busy last week with work and home and did not get a chance to participate in the weekly desk-hopping fun!  Today I am sharing what is on my work desk with you.  Be prepared, as it is very messy and full of inky fun!

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving here, I am trying to make a few cards for family and friends.  Nothing like last minute crafty time!


You may notice that I dug out my Distress Markers, Distress Inks, Archival and Hero Arts inks.  Such an inky desk today.

Thank you to Julia for hosting this weekly desk-hop!  I hope to visit with as many of you as I can while I prepare the house to get ready for tomorrow's Thanksgiving holiday!


Thursday, November 21, 2013

I'm So Thankful For You

Hi, guys! Today I am sharing a Thanksgiving card I made using an envelope to be able to insert a pair of tea bags into it.  I used the Tim Holtz Splatter Stencil with various Distress Inks.  The sentiment was embossed in copper.

Supplies:
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Paper: Envelope
Ink: Distress Inks, Versamark 
Misc.: Stampin' Up Cooper Embossing Powder, Ribbon

As you may recall, I am exploring a new hobby. I picked up a pair of fountain pens to use in my cards, and some fun inks.  I submitted this card to the Goulet Pen Company for their Thanksgiveaway contest.   This fun company shares online videos and tutorials that I have found so helpful in learning more about my pens and how to use and take care of them.  Hope they like this inky card!

Until next time!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

A Visit From The Stork

Hi, guys! Today I am sharing a pair of baby cards I made this weekend.  I was asked to make baby boy cards for both these ladies.

The first one used an adorable House Mouse bunny image. I was asked to personalize this card with the baby's name as well.

Supplies:
Stamps: House Mouse, Lawn Fawn Banner
Paper: Desert Storm Card stock, Gina K Designs
Ink: Memento Black, Copic Markers, Distress Ink (Gathered Twigs)
Misc.: Lawn Fawn Banner Die, Spellbinders Circle Dies, Twine, Tim Holtz Pin

The next one up is for an attorney I work with.  I was asked to make a card for her shower, and know that she is having a baby boy.

Supplies:
Stamps: Rubber Stampede, Cloud9 Design
Paper: Gina K Designs, A Muse
Ink: Memento Black, Copic Makers, Distress Inks
Misc: Memory Box Dies, Corner Rounder

This week will be a busy one at work, and home.  I hope to start my Thanksgiving cards, and Christmas cards as well.  Sure don't know where the time is going!

Until next time!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

You Are My Sunshine

Hi, guys! Hope all is well! Today I am sharing a card I made for my friend Ruth to give her husband for his birthday.  I used my Tim Holtz Ray Stencil and my Dylusions Spray mists.

Supplies:
Stamps: Studio G
Paper: Watercolor paper, Gina K (Black)
Ink: Archival Black, Dylusions Sprays, Distress Ink, Distress Markers

This was a lot of fun to make.  I really love to use watercolor paper with my spray inks.  The colors just pop and are so vibrant.

Wishing Joe a very Happy Birthday!

Until next time!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

What To Do With Last Year's Holiday Cards

Hi, guys! Hope all is well! Today I decided it was time to start working on a few Christmas projects.  Last Christmas I decided to keep a few of those picture cards you receive in the mail from family and friends.  I pulled them out and made them into gift tags, using the ornament die by Impression Obsession.  The ones I made are for specific friends who I will be giving gifts to, so by making tags with their pictures or pictures of their pets they are personalized. Who wouldn't love to see their pet looking up at them on a gift package?










Not only was it a fun project, it is always a great way to repurpose and be more earth friendly and "green."

Thanks for popping in today, and hope you enjoyed seeing these little tags.























Wednesday, November 13, 2013

WOYWW #232 - Busy Making Envelopes

Hi, guys! Hope all is well!  Today is Wednesday, so I am sharing what is on my work desk with you!  Thank you to Julia for all the desk-hopping fun!

Last week you may recall I showed my new envelope punch board.  Tonight I broke it out to make some fun Christmas envelopes.  The paper is from Tim Holtz's seasonal paper pad. There is something about those vintage images that I just adore!




Here is a top shot of the desk.  You may spot a pair of tiny Thanksgiving stamps out as I was making some cards for family and friends the other day.  There is a decorated bottle cap there that you may spot.  I stamped the image and inserted it into the bottle cap and covered it with Glossy Accents.  Not sure what project that will end up on!

Thanks for visiting today!  I hope to visit with a lot of you today!


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Happy Chanksgiving!

Hi, guys! Hope all is well!  I am currently in Thanksgiving mode while at the same time taking the Christmas Card Boot Camp over at Online Card Classes!  Lots going on!

Today I thought I would share some cards I made for friends.  They are of the Jewish faith and celebrate Chanukah and since it falls on Thanksgiving this year I decided to combine both themes for their cards.  This turkey stamp is from Inky Antics and normally I use the phrases "Eat Beef" or "Eat Dessert," so for these I hand wrote in the sentiment of "Eat Latkes!".  The holidays falling on the same day will not happen again in our lifetimes, so I couldn't resist this fun.








I have a few more of these to make and then will start on my traditional Thanksgiving cards.

Thanks for the visit and hope you have a fun-filled day!


http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-thanksthanksgiving/