Papertrey Blog Hop...

...is underway for October HERE. The challenge is to make Holiday cards, wrap, gifts, etc and there are a lot of beautiful projects being shown.

For the first card, I used Papertrey Kraft paper, button twine, and stamps from the new Fancy Flourishes, Polka Dot Basics II and Dawn MeVey's Signature Christmas, gros grain ribbon from Michael's, pearls from Ellen Hutson LLC (see sidebar for link, and gold edged ribbon also from Michael's. I also added Stardust Gelly Roll for a little more sparkle. The center band was created using the Textile CB dry embossing folder. The sentiment is gold embossed.



For the second card, I used many of the same product, but added the stamped image at the top and bottom from Crafty Secrets Mini Memories. The tag is from Papertrey's new Holiday Tags 2009 set (Have you seen this set yet - it has so many possibilities), and a little gold jingle bell frosted with glitter. Vintage Cream ink from Papertrey distresses the edges of both cards.



The gift bag was stamped from Papertrey's Fancy Flourishes, accented with gold stickles (gotta have that sparkle), the DP is Jingle Bells from Flair Designs - sorry I do not know where I got it. The tag on the bag is made from a recycled grocery bag, then I started adding layers.



I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone else has created! Thanks so much for stopping by. Take care...

Autumn Leaves

This little box was created as part of my husband's anniversary gift. I used Lauren Meader's Tuckedaway Timeless Template to create the little box and for the top layer, I used a DP that I created last year by layering gesso and paints onto CS, then overstamping and glittering - unfortunatelly you cannot see the glitter on the paper, but IRL it's very subtle and pretty. From Papertrey's Fall Elegance stamp set, I clear embossed leaves, cut them out and then layered them with ribbons and other punched leaves, etc. The button is also from Papertrey and accented with glitter. Inside are John's favorite - Reese's Miniature Peanut Butter Cups!

This is the first template I have used from Papertrey and they are so well put together - everything fits together perfectly - they are so easy to use.

Thanks for stopping by. Take care.

A Season that Sparkles...

Tonight is the release party on SCS for Flourishes. All I can say is I need to have my ATM card ready - the new sets are gorgeous and will definitely put you in the mood for holiday cardmaking. This card was created for the October Release Party Challenge Since I do not have any Christmas stamps from Flourishes, I went with Fall.



The papers are Bazzill Basics, gold metallic, and Classic K Baily Brown Floral by K & CO., the embossed panel is Victoria by Cuttlebug, the gems are from Me & My Big Ideas that were colored with markers and the ribbon is from Michael's. I used the Falling Leaf set from Flourishes and embossed it in gold and bronze with a touch of green and rust glitter. Unfortunately I was unable to really get a good photo of this, but IRL it really does sparkle - if you click on it you'll be able to see it a little better.

Happy Friday everyone, have a wonderful weekend.

Peace....

Our blog group on SCS is having another Secret Sister Challenge - each week for 6 weeks. Our first challenge was to create a non-traditional card for our SS. I chose to do a Christmas card in black and silver. The image is from Stamp Oasis from Rubbernecker embossed in silver. The background panel is a silver metallic, dry embossed with snowflakes. The sentiment was stamped with Versamark and black embossed. I wrapped black sheer ribbon and silver cord around the card, and the best part - painted jingle bells with a matte silver paint and then rubbed some silver glitter glue on them to add sparkle - what's anything without a little sparkle!!

Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Another Halloween Banner

Another little banner for the shop. I've had this made for a couple of weeks now, and am just getting around to posting it! For this one I used Spellbound double-sided Polka Dot Stripe and Brocade Orange DP by Making Memories. The ribbons are miscellaneous ones mostly from Michael's along with black vintage seam binding. I made small crepe paper half rosettes to back the letters - I love crepe paper rosettes...

Anyway, that's it - short post today, but at least that's 2 so far for this week, and I do have at least one more. Please stop by again, I love to hear from you.

Take Care,

Spiders and Witches and Ravens.....

I love all those creepy little things about Halloween. I have a new banner to share with you today - this has been a big seller for me at Lake Tahoe Holidays and I do love making them, but don't seem to be able to keep up with the demand - that's a bad and a good thing. I'm still in awe that they go so fast and people really do like my work as much as they do since that doesn't seem to be the case in my Etsy shop - go figure! Anyway for this banner I created the DP myself by simply stamping rows of Halloween images (most are from Crafty Secrets and Inkadinkado) on a pale grey piece of CS that comes in the Michael's paper packs, cut them in the shape I wanted and adhered them to black CS - also from Michael's, accented them with glitter, added some MS punched spiders and bats along with a cut out raven all from black glitter paper, added eyelets for stability to run fibers through and that's it.

Hope you like it and that you're having a wonderful Saturday. We're on our way to Apple Hill for our anniversary - 13 years on Monday! Can't wait - pumpkins, apples, Asian pears, apple cider, apple cider lattes, apple donuts, apple sundaes, apple slices with caramel sauce - well, you get the picture - YUM!

Welcome to World Cardmaking Day....

and so, I have made a few cards. What a great opportunity to get started on your holiday cards along with other occasions. There is a lot of wonderful talent and inspiration in this event so click the icon on the upper left side and it will take you to the site with all the blogs listed - I'm sure it's going to be great fun!!

My taste runs to the eclectic becoming easily bored working with only one "style" that supposedly says "me" - so each of the cards here fall into completely different styles.

My first card was made using a digital image from an author/illustrator, Mo Manning, who has recently moved into the digital stamp world and has taken it by whirlwind. She is wonderful and prolific and now has many many followers. If you are unfamiliar with her designs, you can check them out HERE you will not be disappointed - just look at the detail in her design! For this card I used CS by The Paper Co from Michael's, Green Snowflake DP is from the Jolly By Golly pack from Cosmo Cricket, stripe is from the Fa La La line of Making Memories, Retro Snowflakes by Colorbok from JoAnn's, Prismacolor and Koh-I-Noor pencils with OMS from Gina K, Fern leaf polka dot ribbon from Papertrey, MS, and EK Success punches for the snowflakes, rhinestone from Michael's, and a little Stardust Stickles



For my next card, I used a gold metallic paper and red rhinestones (2 of my favorite things) dry embossed the gold panel and used a sentiment from the Joyeux Noel stamp set by CHF, along with a little ribbon from Michael's. This is an easy and quick card to make - especially if you're running last minute as I so often am.



My final card is the one nearest to my heart - I have to say (yes again) that vintage/shabby is my real and long-time love...



I wanted my background paper to have more texture, so I started with a textured creme colored paper from Michael's and used the Spellbinders Snowflake Impressability folder to emboss - love it!! For me, it is the perfect backdrop for this card - unfortunately I could not get a good photo of the texture, but IRL it is really a very pretty background. I used Crafty Secrets Christmastime Vintage Cuts, accented with Mica flakes and a small leaf from My Tattered Angels which I have glittered. Creme gros grain is from Michael's, button twine is from Papertrey, and the vintage button is from my stash. This is also my new favorite size card - approximately 3.75 x 3.75 square.

I hope you like them and that you have a wonderful time visiting all the blogs and galleries - I know there is blog candy on some of them as well...Enjoy!