Friday...

I am blessed. I don't have to work on Fridays, or Mondays. Today is going to be filled with Sunday School planning, wrapping the presents for the little ones, hauling down the Christmas stuff, and whatever else I decide to tackle.
But before getting down to work, I photographed the card I made last night, and will play along with CAS(E) this Sketch. This card used only one piece of patterned paper, and a scrap at that! Gotta love that!

So. White Bazzill cardstock, Echo Park's Pride and Joy patterned paper, Imaginisce stamp, Jenni Bowlin for Ranger ink, Pure Bubbles & Bling stickers. I pop dotted the sentiment, and rounded some corners. So very simple, and I think this works well for a masculine card. Happy Dances everyone. 

Catching Up

I had to take DH to Dr. yesterday--back spasms, (he's okay), so this morning before I put my running shoes on and hit the errand trail, I wanted to play for the second time at Unscripted Sketches. It's one of those sketches that I know I'll go back to time and again. Be sure you stop over there and check it out, and while you're there, be inspired and play along!

It's a beautiful day here; sunny and fairly warm for the end of November. The kind of day that you want to put in a box and take out on those bitter, gloomy January days. Folks have taken advantage of the nice fall days and put up their outside decorations. Really gets me in the spirit. And speaking of spirit:

I found an old package of stickers in my Christmas stash, and rather than let them collect anymore dust, I used them here.  They are Deja Views Flurries & Frost. White and red Bazzill cardstock, and SU ink and sentiment stamp. Nothing too fancy. Just my style.

Lemons

I know, I know. Strange post title. However, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! I wanted to play along with The Alley Way Stamps #16 Be Inspired Challenge, but didn't have any TAWS Christmassy stamps. So, I made lemonade...or rather, a snowman--out of bowling balls. Their challenge is filled with fun colors and great images, so you see why I wanted to participate. And while I was at it, I saw that the Color Throwdown had really similar colors! So I thought, what the heck, I'll play there too! Love these color combinations, don't you??!!!

  

Here's what I created, taking my inspiration from the circles on the stocking, and of course, the snowman.

I added a smile to the top bowling ball, and, voila, a cute face, this is from TAWS AdoraBowl set. For his little arms, I used a stamp from TAWS Awesome Blossoms set. I masked off the finger holes on the bottom bowling ball, and put some pop-dots underneath both.A washi tape scarf, and the little fellow is complete. My sister Sue punched out some silver snowflakes for me a couple of years ago, and everytime I tried to throw them out, something stopped me--glad I didn't! Then some layered circles out of Bazzill colored cardstock, added a couple of small blings, and there you have it. I used a computer generated font for the "Merry Christmas." The snowman and card base are Bazzill too. Hope this makes you happy dance a bit today.

CASology 21

Fast post today. Bad lighting, can't be helped, sorry. Wanted to play at CASology, where the cue card for this week is "time."  Mine's a bit sassy........

Bazzill white cardstock base, scraps of striped patterned, Imaginisce stamp, red stickles for the bow, and a computer generated font.

Unscripted Sketches #186

Quick post this morning before Jen comes over and we scrap till late afternoon (yipee!!!) I wanted to play along with the really fun sketch over at Unscripted Sketches #186 so I made a birthday card for granddaughter Kaylin who turns one year old early next month.

I'm sorry I don't know what the patterned paper is, it's just a scrap I found. All the cardstock is from Bazzill. SU ink. Pink letters from Jillibean Soup Pickled Pink Alphabeans, green 1 is from Thickers. Stamped banner is Hero Arts, stamped HB is from Imaginisce. Roses are from Arco Iris Flowers. Random yellow ribbon scrap. Someday little Kaylin will like this, I'm pretty sure. Happy Dances everyone!

RS39/10 minute #7

So here's hoping that everyone who celebrates, had a great Thanksgiving and a successful black Friday. I didn't shop yesterday as we had our second Thanksgiving dinner! Wouldn't have gone out anyway - too crazy! Leftovers are great - no cooking at least until Monday! Today I am putting dishes back up on the top shelves of the cupboards, and paper crafting! Woohoo! I made a birthday card for one of the granddaughters, and will play along with Retro Sketches #39 and the 10 Minute Craft Dash #7.  This was a really, really fast card. Once I gathered my materials, this card took me only 9.47 minutes to make. I will admit that I made a test card, but changed up some of the design, and materials, so that the card you see here is the final, under 10 minutes card.

This is what I used: SU ink, stamp, Baja Breeze cardstock, corduroy brads, and ribbon. MME Moments navy patterned paper, a scrap of kraft cardstock, and Crystal Stickers blue bling. It seriously took less than 10 minutes to make. Kinda fun to try! Happy dances everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm about to go and make pies, but took a quick look at my blog, (ok, and a few other blogs too...) and I just wanted to wish all those out there who celebrate, a happy and blessed Thanksgiving. There are so many things to be thankful for, and as Pastor said in his sermon last night, we should be thankful first and foremost for God himself. Yes, I'm thankful for all He has given/done for me, but how often am I truly thankful for Him? Got me wondering and thinking. Will try to be more aware of that in the future.

I am blessed. Family, friends, and countless comforts. Here is a photo of one of my newest blessings:

Emelea Rayne, is just shy of three months old. She is the daughter of my oldest son and his lovely wife. I've fallen in love again! Hopefully next year, we can be together for Thanksgiving.

I don't know what possessed me into thinking that I had any ability to blog. I'm not very good at it, but over time, I hope to improve in both my blogging efforts, and my paper crafting. With the kind support of my DH, family and friends, and with blog friends like you out there, I will strive. One of my blog friends, Geri, has created a card you should all see. I was blown away. Here's a link; you'll be as delighted as I am:

manitobastamper

Time to make pies!

cqc164/rs38

I've been getting ready for Thanksgiving this week, but wanted to do a quick post for two challenges. Great colors over at ColorQ and a really fun sketch at Retro Sketches.

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I probably won't be able to do much more until at least Saturday... Going to one Thanksgiving dinner, and making one the next day.  And absolutely NOT going to any black Friday sales. This is what I came up with:

The darkest tree is really close to Concord Grape, though it almost looks black in the photo. The yellow is actually a scrap of More Mustard from SU, but the rest are just random scraps. White Bazzill for card base. An old pair of stickers, package long gone. I die cut the trees using my Cricut. 

CASology 19 #2

Couldn't resist another CASology THANKS card. So-so lighting today, but as promised, more polka dots!

Bazzill black and white cardstock, and scraps (yea!!!!!) of some of my favorite itty-bitty polka dot paper. I cut the letters with Cricut's Cherry Limeade cartridge. Happy Dances everyone.

CAS 19

Still have to get to work, so will get right to the CASology challenge. This week it's Thanks. I kept it really, really simple. If you haven't played along there, I highly recommend it!

Bazzill white cardstock, Authentique patterned paper, yellow scraps, SU ink and stamp. That's it; and I really like the lines of it! Hope you do too. Happy Dances everyone.

PSSC

I really have been busy....I really have been making cards, but haven't had time to post.  That darn job sure gets in the way of the things I want to do!! ; )  My job is fun, I have to admit. I work with one of my dear friends, Mary, and time goes by so quickly at the Museum Archives.  Research, photographs, maps, books, and literally, tons of paper. And speaking of work, I have to get another post in, and make it there yet this morning. So without further ado, here is my take on this great sketch for the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

Bazzill white cardstock, yellow scrap, LYB Babysaurus Blue Geometric patterned paper, PS Eco Friendly stamps, SU ink, and a bit of unknown silver rub on the clouds.

Color Throwdown 217

First, a big thank you to all the veterans out there. My dad is one, so I have a special place in my heart for those men and women who have served their country so selflessly.

Had a busy morning at church today. I teach the littlest ones in Sunday school, and they are so cute and so eager, and boy, do they tire me out! We have a wonderful newly-formed women's group at church, and it's great to see what's coming up through this group. New Bible studies, gatherings, projects.... Can I just say I love my church?!! Naturally, God is first, but this community of believers is like having another family who loves you, teases you, encourages you, consoles you, and lifts you up. I pray you all have a community like this wherever you are.

I made a card for Color Throwdown #217, and they have an incredible color palette this week:



And here's my take:

The cardstock is all Bazzill, the rosette is LYB Blue Reverie, the other blue patterned paper is from a 6x6 MME pad. SU ink, stamp and white ribbon, random blue ribbon, and the bling, which isn't showing up very well, is Webster's Sparklers. I love rosettes, don't you?!! Happy dances.

Happy Friday

Quick post today as I have boatloads of errands to run. I loved the trend watch over at Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge, and this is what I came up with:

I used SU cardstock for the base, scraps for everything else, Paper Smooches Spring Groves and Sentiment Sampler stamps, a silver gel pen for the dots on the mushrooms and that's about it. My take was to use the colors and stack the mushrooms and birds instead of wood.

CASology 18

I've been distracted. Had ANOTHER family funeral yesterday. That's four cousins this year...Dang! My comfort in all of this is that while I will miss them for a number of years here on earth, I know the promises of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because He lives, we shall also live. I will get an eternity (emphasis on eternity) in heaven with all those who have gone before. That is real comfort! I can hang on. The funeral was held in Oshkosh, WI, about a 2.5 hour drive from here. I did get a chance to see my dad and my sister Sue, and several other family members, so that was an upside to yesterday. I made one stop on the the way home....

I went to one of my favorite places -- My Paper Playground, in Oak Creek. Shout out to Sharon! Great store, and Sharon is wonderful. So if you live in the Milwaukee area -- GO!  MPP has great papers and goodies, and Sharon said that she's about to get some new stock in! MPP gets two thumbs up; check it out!

On to the challenge over at CASology.  The cue card this week is orange. Not so difficult. I managed to make a sweet little card, well, I think it's sweet! ; )  Do check out CASology. It's got a great design team, and the folks who participate make some inspiring cards! Here 'tis:

Sorry about the lighting. Not great lighting today...

Bazzill white cardstock, and orange from MPP. The vase and flowers are from Alley Way Stamps Awesome Blossom set, and the sentiment is from Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler. Copic marker for the vase, Versacolor orange for the flowers, with hand drawn stems. Just a smidge of Martha Stewart's orange glitter in the centers of the flowers. A couple of popdots under the fussy cut vase, and there it is. Took me maybe 15 minutes to make this! Happy dances everyone! 

retrosketches #36

Quick post, on to other cards/scrapbook pages..This one is for Retrosketches. Great place to play, awesome design team, and just plain fun! Anniversary card for son/daughter-in-law's 1st! 11/11/11

Bazzill white cardstock, all other papers are scraps!!!!!!! unknown washi tape, Random ribbon and tinsel, Mark Richards nailhead bling. SU ink and The Alley Way Awesome Blossom stamps. Happy dances everyone.

CSC115

Thoughts and prayers to all those on the East Coast who are suffering the effects of Sandy. Here on the western shores of Lake Michigan, we had outlying wind bands from Sandy that whipped the wind into a frenzy. Can't even begin to imagine what all those folks went through, and will continue to go through for the next months. Stay safe all.

      Was just outside, and look what my clematis gave me this morning!

One lone flower! Poor thing doesn't even realize that it's the 5th of November. And it's huge! Next year on that nicely weathered bench, of which you can see a bit, I'll be planting some lemony yellow clematis to grow and cover it. Should be really pretty.

Saturday I spent the day with my sister Sue, niece Jackie, and friend Terry. We drove to the Scrapbook Store in Greenfield, did a make & take, ate breakfast, shopped, and then hopped on a coach bus to Hannah's in Antioch, and then out to Polka Dots in Mukwonago for more of the same! Super day. Can't wait to do it again!  And then after church yesterday, Jen says, "wanna go to Archivers in a while?"...how could I have said no?!! They had cardstock buy 10 get 10 free. One can never have too much paper!! Now it's time to get busy with some of that paper. Will be working on little Drew's scrapbook for Christmas. No, I haven't gotten it done yet...So many other things to do, however, I will be diligently working on it and get it finished! (not just this very minute...later...today for sure...I think..)

I have 18, yes, you heard right, 18 grandchildren. Chances are pretty good that one or more of them, or their parents has a birthday in whatever month we're in. November is no exception. Today I have a card for my very handsome, and perfectly wonderful grandson Lorenzo. I will pop this into Case Study #115, here 'tis:

Bazzill white cardstock, all scraps of blues (yippee!!!), used Cricut to cut the 16, and in the negative space, used a computer generated font for the happy birthday, pop dots, and white bling from Mark Richards. I'm thinking he'll really like the card, especially when he finds the gift card inside ; )  

Happy dances everyone.