Warm Winter Wishes

Did everyone survive the Christmas rush?  Did you all get wonderful presents or were your stockings filled with coal?!!  I must have been a good girl because I finally got a new computer!!  I still don't have everything switched over to the new one, but haven't had pop ups or the thing shut down on me in the middle of a project which is a HUGE plus in my book!!

One of the things that I don't have switched over is my photo program (actually, I'm thinking of trying something new, so I am more than willing to listen to your suggestions!!  Photoshop?  ACDSee (is what I had...wasn't thrilled with it, but only had the very basic version)....I'm listening to what you suggest!!).  I have a very basic photo program on here and haven't quite figured it all out yet.  But hopefully, you'll get the idea of what my creations kinda look like!

I finally seem to have some down time and wanted to create SOMETHING so I headed into my office and saw this WONDERFUL paper from BoBunny sitting on my desk.  This paper in real life is SOOO GORGEOUS!! I cannot believe I actually cut into it instead of hoarding it!! The white snowflakes on it have a very subtle glitter on them as well as a few other spots. I love the color combination and wanted the paper to be the main focus.

 I pulled out the Large Snowy Pine from Just for Fun stamps and stamped it first in versamark then in SU's retired Eggplant Envy on SU's Baja Breeze paper.  I clear embossed it then added some Ranger Glossy accents to the places where I wanted my snow.  I really wish I had some of that new sparkely fluff stuff! But, instead I pulled out my white fun flock and some SU dazzling diamonds and sprinkled that on instead.  I cut the image out using my Nestabilities oval dies and layered it over the scalloped oval that was cut using my last little piece of SU's Elegant Eggplant. 

Now, since I didn't have any more Elegant Eggplant paper, I layered my image on some Whisper White and pulled out my Elegant Eggplant marker and made my purple border!  How's that for using my noggin'?!!

I then messed around trying to add a bigger bow made of the same material as the ribbon that is on the card. Now I know that these large gorgeous bows are all the rage lately, but I just could not make it work!! For one thing, it covered up the gorgeous glittery snowflake in the bottom corner.  I also felt that it took away from the image as all you could see was that bow.  Maybe it would have looked better if it was one of those large silk bows.  We'll never know because I went with the smaller bow (and because I have yet to invest in some of that larger silk ribbon!!)

Everything was then layered on a base of Whisper White that is cut to 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" (the designer paper is 4 1/2 x 4 1/2").  I had thought to add the sentiment "Warm Winter Wishes" but I decided I liked the front of the card as it was. 

It's still pretty early here and since my house is still fairly clean and the kids are stuck in front of the TV playing their new video games, I think I just might see what else I can come up with in my stamp room to make!!

Thanks for dropping by again!! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday with your families/friends and I look forward to what the new year will bring us!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wanted to take a moment and wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS or if you don't celebrate Christmas, just a happy holiday season and a WONDERFUL 2010!!

I can't believe that the year is almost done! WOW! I've enjoyed the blogging experience.  It has made me take more time for creativity (which I need for myself) and start to explore some different ideas.  I look forward to the new year so that I can explore more new ideas, products and creative journeys. 

  

Here is my wish to you  for the New Year:  TAKE TIME TO ENJOY.  Whether it be stamping, scrapping, painting, photos, whatever~~take time to enjoy it!  Create, experience or just absorb for YOU.  Don't worry about how many posts you put up on your blog.  Don't worry about how many comments you get from others.  TAKE THE TIME TO ENJOY and EXPERIENCE for yourself. 

This is something that I'm going to put at the top of my 2010 to do list.  Hope you will join me!!

Thank you for allowing me to share with you a bit of my creativity this past year.  I hope that we'll "see" more of each other in the new year!!

The Sound of Music

Is everyone ready for the BIG day?  I feel as if I'm running around like a crazy woman (WAIT!! That is what I do anyways!!)!!  The gifts are bought but no wrapping has been done.  The cleaning has been started on the house but not done.  The menu for Christmas Eve dinner has been planned but not shopped for or the baking done.  Seeing a pattern here?  Lots of pots trying to be stirred at the same time!!

Friday was the last day of school for my kiddos.  This year I conceded to the fact that I could not make the personalized gifts that I usually make for each of the teachers.   In the past I have made gift boxes of "customizable" cards that the teachers can just add the needed sentiment "tag" and for the music teacher, "singer of the day, listener of the day" certificates that he hands out to the younger kids for rewards of good behavior. With having to work pretty much full time this month, I could just not add that time stress to my schedule (you know "mommy" has been a little stressed when youngest started singing "Tis the season to be Gruuuumpy, fa-la-la-la-la!!    OUCH!!! hehe).  So this year teacher gifts were bought.  The music teacher was the hardest one, as his whole being is music.  He doesn't have any other outside interests (that anyone I talked to was aware of!!).  Soooo, I went to a local music store that I know he buys books for lessons from and got him a gift certificate.  But!! I still needed a way to present it.  I really liked the cute beanie gift card holders that Lynn presented for the Try a New Technique Challenge on SCS  but beanies are not really something that is used much in Southern California! But!! It got the wheels to turning and this is what I came up with:

I will once again apologize for the photographers lacking skills.  This was actually taken at 9:00 pm and just in case you weren't aware of it, at that time, there is not good lighting.  And since the photographer has yet to invest in one of those great photo boxes  or just good lighting for her crafting area period...we are now stuck looking at poorly lit projects!!

This was so incredible easy to make once I have figured out a couple of details.  I cut two 5 inch circles from SU's basic black paper, cutting one in half.  I placed my gift card over the full circle with one of halves over it to figure out how high my adhesive could go and hold my card in the "peeking" out position.  Adhered using my Pro Glider.  I free handed the note stem and flag and attached to the top circle and then added the  gold eyelet that allows the top portion to swing open.  Closed the note, grabbed my glue pad and my Regal Accents Flourish stamp that was still out from the last use and stamped the image and covered inj SU's Fine Galaxy Champagne Glitter (thought I had grabbed the gold....OH WELL!! The champagne is very pretty too!).  Simple, yet festive, don't you think?!!

I'm off to go on a cleaning terror!!  I hope you all have a WONDERFUL and productive weekend!! 'Till next time~~~Thanks for dropping by again!!

Peaceful Thoughts

Here is the last tag that I plan on completing for the 12 Tags of Christmas on T!m Holtz's blog.  I've been having a BLAST with all the different techniques but I've got to get some other things done around here!! LOL! I usually have Christmas Eve dinner at my house and let's just say that I am NO where ready for that to happen and I have to work all this next week!! YIKES!!

Enough of my blabber (not to be confused with my blubber....that is another topic entirely!! hehe).  This tag was inspired by Day 11 on T!m's blog. 

I just realized that the way I place the reindeer near the flourish,  it looks like he is sticking out his tongue at the snowflakes!! BWHHAAAA!!! Maybe he is trying to catch the flakes on his tongue!!

The background was created by smearing Distress Inks in Peeled Paint and Pine Needles onto my craft sheet and misting with water then laying the tag into the droplets.  I repeated this several times and could not get  a look I liked, so I misted with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Old Olive (I'm tellin' ya....I just love the soft shimmer this gives to projects!!).  After heat setting, I stamped the Classic Accents flourish from Tattered Angels with Aged Mahagony.  The snowflakes came from SU's Christmas Punch set and were stamped with Distress Pine Needles.  I then stamped the reindeer from Rubbernecker onto grunge paper using versamark and then embossed with black ep.  I cut out the image and inked it with Distress Fired Brick (since I'm all about disclosure, let me say that this is the SECOND reindeer.  The first reindeer had a serious mishap with too much Pearl glimmer mist, then Apple red glimmer mist.  Let's just say that it IS possible to have to much shimmer!! snort).  I found some glitter snowflake that I believe I picked up at Michael's after last Christmas season and attached using glue dots.  The reindeer is on dimensionals. 

I REALLY wanted to use a rub on that said "peaceful wishes" to fill in that blank spot by the reindeers chest.  I had cut it out the other day for consideration to use on a previous tag.  For the life of me, I CAN'T FIND THE STINKIN' LITTLE BUGGER anywhere now!!  So, the spot remains blank.  I'm hoping that the rub on will turn up.  But if not, oh well!!! That is just how it is going to have to be!!

I have most of my Christmas shopping done, but need to bake some goodies for my oldest DS's extra teachers (he has his main teacher, but has a different teacher for computer, math and of course, band and handbells).  And probably I should attempt to start cleaning my house for Christmas Eve!! 

Thanks for dropping by again!!  I'll be back later this week!! (seriously!! hehe....I have a CUTE idea for name cards for my table setting!! I don't usually use them (as everyone knows each other in the family, hehe) but I got this idea brewin' and I think I need to try it!!)

And the Tags March On

Hello Peoples!!  I'm on a roll with the 12 Tags of Christmas that         T!m Holtz gave inspiration for!!  I'm really not following the tags in order.  I'm going with what ideas strike with what supplies I have to make my own version.  My first tag is inspired by T!m's Day 7 Tag.  So without further ado: here is my tag number 7:

Don't you just LOVE this image?  The girls at work gave me a gift certificate to Michael's for my birthday and as I was walking up to the cashier to make my purchace, I saw this stamp by Inkadinkado on one of center aisle displays!!  And wouldn't you know it~~it jumped right into my cart!!

Now this stamp made it very easy to make this tag...all the "extras" are pretty much on the stamp already!! I first stamped the image using Jet Black Archival Ink onto the tag.  I had thought about using my ever trusty stampamajig to make sure I aligned the stamp straight. You'll notice I talked myself out of that much needed step as I managed to stamp the image slightly crooked!  PLEASE!!  What was I thinking?!!  I can't write my name straight without lines, did I really expect to be able to stamp this straight?!!  BUT!!  I got lazy and decided that it will only bother me and DH ('cause he makes it his purpose in life to notice my off layers, stamping and such!!).  I then made a mask around the face/lettering  so that I would not cover them when I did the stamping of the flourish (Tattered Angels Regal Classic Accents Clear Stamp...another new "birthday" gift I picked up with the LSS gift certificate that DH gave me!!).  I used some Folk Art acrylic paint in Spring white, brushing it on my clear stamp (I just made sure I washed the stamp in warm water immediately after stamping).  I did not heat set the paint as it dried while I was washing out my brush/stamp.  I then inked the image, avoiding the center of Santa's face with Distress Inks in Antique Linen, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Peeled Paint and Pine Needles.    I took a damp cloth and wiped off the inks over the painted swirls and then misted the entire tag with Tattered AngelsGlimmer Mist in Pearl.  After heat setting the mist, I applied distress sticles in Fired Brick and Peeled Paint to the holly on Santa's hat.  Let's just say that I need to work on some fine motor skills when it comes to applying stickles!! GEESH!! I got that stuff globbed on!! I finally got wise and let the stickles dry over night (after smearing them and having to apply even MORE stickles to cover up my mistake!) and attached the ribbon and the foilage embellishment in the corner. 

Bonus time again for you!!  I actually made a tag that was inspired by Day 8. 

I do not have the lamp image that T!m used (tho, I have seriously considered it several times....one of these days I'm expecting it to make it into my cart!).  BUT!! I do have the Christmas Lantern by Just for Fun Stamps (sorry, I cannot link directly to the stamp...my wonderful computer (HATE this thing!!) REFUSES to go past the home page.  The number for the stamp is D2747).  But this stamp is only the top of the lamp....it does not have the post.  So I stamped the image on scratch paper drew out a simple post (ok....I'll admit that I drew out a more elaborate post but it did not fit the clean lines of the stamp image.  Sooooo, I modified to a more simple version)  and cut out the entire paper image.  I then stamped the top of the lamp onto grunge paper using versamark ink and embossed using black EP.  I then placed my paper image over the lamp and traced the lamp post using my versamarker and then heat embossed.  Finally, I added a few defining details with the marker and embossed those as well.  The "fine" tip of the versamarker was still wider than I wanted the lines for the post to be, so when I cut out the image from the grunge paper, I just trimmed off some of the embossing. I then cut off the holly leaves off my paper lamp and used it as a mask so that I could ink the grunge holly with Distress Peeled Paint and Pine Needles.  I applied the Distress Stickes in Fired Brick to the berries and then carefully sponged the lamp using a q-tip and Distress Black Soot (you'd think I'd learn to leave such things as stickles for LAST!!).  I colored the flame using my SU markers and applied a thick layer of Ranger Glossy Accents to the "window" to give it that glass appearance. 

I inked up my tag with Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap and made the water drops like T!m shows.  I stamped the flourish from Tattered Angels Classic Accents with Aged Mahogany (love this color combo btw!!).  The music score is by Stampendous and was stamped onto vellum using Archival Jet Black ink.  I then sponged the vellum with Antique Linen and heat set (***Just a note:  this will cause the paper to smoke some as the ink is heat set into the vellum).  I tore the now brittle vellum and sponged with Antique Photo.  Curled the edges and applied to the tag using vellum tape.  The lampost was attched using dimensional tape.  I then sponged antique linen and frayed burlap onto a small tag, stamped the sentiment from SU's Christmas Punch using Aged Mahagany and had to cut out the oval by hand as it would seem I have neglected to add this punch to my tools!!

Well, I hope you are enjoying my takes on T!m's wonderful creativity!! I have one more tag that I HAVE to do so I'm off to work on that now!!

Decorating with Fragments

 I am still playing with the 12 Tags of Christmas on Tim Holtz's blog.  Today was Day 10 and I'm just completing my fourth tag...for day 5!! Here is T!m's tag and here is my version:

I wish that some of the very subtle details would show up better (btw: I'm still taking applications for a photographer!!).  I cut the images from a couple of the plaid sheets that I had stamped previously (sometimes it pays not to throw away your mistakes!!) with a stamp from Inkadinkado and adhered them to the framents using Ranger Glossy Accents.  Since I did not have any foil to make the top of the ornament, I painted the toppers using my gold Krylon paint pen (this is quickly becoming a favorite tool!!).  I stamped the Pine Boughs from Just For Fun using SU's craft Forest Foliage and then clear embossed.  Using various Distress inks (I believe I ended up using Fired Brick, Pine Needles and Vintage Photo) I sponged on the background color.  In the bottom corner I used one of T!m's mini masks to make a flourish.  Tried to lightly swipe Mememto Tuxedo Black over SU's French Script, but I must have a heavy hand as it stamped darker than I was hoping for!!  Then my new favorite "embellishment":  Tattered Angels Glimmer mist was spritzed in Old lace and Pearl over the tag.  It adds just the right amount of shimmer IRL!! The fragments were hung on the tag with care (...sorry....couldn't resist!!) and then I cut apart a brushed copper  Spellbinders Fleur De Les pendent that I had already cut out from my previous 3D ornament project.  I deliberately let the edges hang past the tag.  Tied off with a small bit of brown ribbon and copper cording and DONE!! 

*Some notes:  In hind sight, I would probably have embossed the pine boughs in a thicker embossing powders so that they would show up more.  I would have also toned down the brushed copper paper with some alcohol inks but it would seem that SOMEBODY used up all her felt pads making multiple sheets of the plaid technique!!).  And last~~I would stamp off the French Script for a more subtle look

Thanks for dropping by again today!!  I'm having sooo much fun trying some of these new ideas that T!m is sharing!! It's fun to explore new creative adventures!! 

DH gets Creative

Monday I celebrated another year.  Overall the day was pretty ordinary.  Had to work.  It was pouring BUCKETS, freezing and the heat is out on the bedroom side of the house (why don't they make reality shows that really SHOW what our REALITY is?!!!).  BUT!!! DH went into my creative area and made this:

Now~~here are the funny details on this card.  First~DH actually went into the LSS (local scrapbook store) and was looking to buy me some neat tool. Uhhhh, he kind of discovered that I have quite a few of them already on my shelves, LOL!!  Soooo, he found this brass embossing stencil and decided to make me a card (along with a generous gift certificate to the same LSS). 

Second:  He had to call me a couple of times asking where stuff was and request a "small suggestion" as to how to make a dry embossed image show up on white. 

Third:  DH thought he was being funny making me a skull and crossbones card since he keeps trying push buttons by  upping my actual age beyond what is already is (DH is slightly younger than I am.  But he finds great pleasure in saying I am 2 years older than him (even tho his b-day is in April and so I am only slightly over a year older~~ men can be so easily amused). 

Fourth:  Here is the kicker:  I thought he had picked out the skull because I SERIOUSLY like skulls!! LOL!! So, I thought he was being sweet and he thought he was being snarky about my age!!  BWHHAAAAA!!!

I think he did a pretty good job, what do you think?!! 

Now, you may be wondering where my creative projects are.  Remember the mention of the heat being out on one side of the house?  (since SATURDAY).  Wellllll, it is still out.  And the repairman has to find the part for our particular unit.  Niiiice.   Soooo, while it is not technically FREEZING....my hands and body do not like sitting in my craft area when the temp is in the very low 60's.  And I can't stamp with gloves.  I'm going to try and haul some stuff out to the other room so I can complete a couple of ideas that I have in the works. 

Thanks for dropping by again.  Oldest has a baseball game this afternoon (gotta luv So Cal...."winter baseball" is possible!), so I am crossing my fingers that the wind stay down so that the temps are a bit more tolerable (it is in the upper 40's today....brrrrrr!!  There is a reason I moved from the mid west peoples!! hehe)

Ok...my fingers are blue from being in this room.  I'm off to drag some stuff to the kitchen so I can stamp!!

I'm Dreaming of a Plaid Christmas

Just like the one's that T!!!!m showwwed!!

Welllll....not exactly!  But here is my TAKES (yes!! Bonus today! I have TWO tags to share!!) on Day 3 of the 12 Tags of Christmas (yes, yes.  I know that I've skipped Day 2....I'm still thinking on that one!)

This technique is VERY ADDICTING.  I have multiple plaid sheets done just waiting for some inspiration!! I'd share with you what colors of alcohol inks I used, but, uhhhh,....welllll....it would seem that I just kept grabbing inks, and trying different color combinations and in all honesty...I don't remember which one this was!!

After making my plaid on glossy cardstock (NOT photo paper!!)I stamped  my image from SU's Lovely as a Tree using Stazon White ink and embossed with iridescent ice ep.  I then stamped the swirl from SU's Season of Joy using Stazon Black.  Pulled out the forgotten Itty Bitty Backgrounds from SU, tapped it on the white Stazon and got caught in a blizzard!! The image was then mounted on a basic black and adhered to he vanilla tag that has some Distress ink in Pine Needles, Peeled Paint and Vintage Photo sponged onto it.  Needed something and since I was lacking in the wonderful embellishments that T!m used, I added some antiqued eyelets and the ribbon in grey and black. 

Now~~this next tag is SOOOO much better in real life!! It even got a "That turned out really cool" from DH!!  This is my FAVORITE tag so far!!

Using another plaid sheet that I had made (I tell you! This is a very addictive technique!!) I stamped the image from Inkadinkado using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and heat set (because this ink will smear on glossy if handled too soon......ask me how I know!!).  I trimmed the image (it has words running along the top and one side) and matted on basic black.  I then pulled out Distress inks in Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick, Pine Needles and Peeled Paint and did the wrinkle free distress technique.  I then spritzed the tag with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Old Lace.  It gives a beautiful, soft shimmer!! I then pulled out my Olive Vine Glimmer mist and sprayed some on Whisper White and Old Olive paper and punched the leaves from both sheets using a Martha Stewart punch.  The berries are some 1/2 back pearls from SU's Pretties Kit, colored with my copics.  Added a couple of 26 gauge copper wire twists and the copper cording for the top. 

If you are playing along with the 12 Tags of Christmas, leave me a comment so that I can see were your inspiration is taking you!! And if you aren't playing along but are crankin' out the holiday goodies, leave me a comment so I can see what you are doing!!

I'm off to try and find the motivation to do some house cleaning.  I'm having waaaay too much fun stamping these last couple of days, but I've got to get some basic chores done!!

Thanks for dropping by again!! 

One the First Day of Tags

(Get the 12 days of Christmas Song in your head...it is going to be a running theme on my blog for a while!)

On the First day of Taaags T!m Holtz gave to me....the in~spir~aaation for this!!

Ooooooo!! How much fun was THIS?!!  I absolutely LOOOOVE T!m's creativity and the fact that he does the 12 Tags of Christmas!  This year, my goal is to play along  as much as possible and use the tags for the office girls/boss gift bags.  That means I have at least 8 tags that I will be inspired to try!!  Are you all just sitting on the edge of your seats?!! hehe

Ok...for this tag I pretty much followed T!m's tag with my own side trips (I'm lacking in the stamp area of T!m's collection....hopefully not for too much longer!! hehe). I used distress inks in Broken China, Dusty Concord and Faded Jeans for my background.  I stamped a flourish from Rhonna Farrer using Broken China and the snowflakes come from SU's Christmas Punch set and they were stamped using Jet Black Archival ink.  Now....I obvioulsy need to learn how to "frost a cake" better (as T!m describes how much of the Rock Candy Distress Crackle to put on) because I did NOT get the same crackled look that T!m's tag did (trust me...the next one is going to be better!).  I thought I had let the crackle process dry enough before helping it along with my heat gun....Let's just say that the ONE spot that I had gotten a LOT of crackle on bubbled up!! What to do?  Pulled out my new Spellbinders Create a Flake One Snowflake and cut, embossed and stenciled the snowflake to put over my little mess up.  The first layer of the snowflake is attatched using some dimensional tape.  The other layers were then added using my Pro Glider.  I applied some Ranger Glossy Acents and then sprinkled a light coat of Barbara Trombley's Art Glitter inVintage Shards Glass over the layers.  After that had dried, I applied a heavier coat of the Glossy accents on the top layer of the snowflake and then LOTS more of the glass glitter.  OHHHH!! It's sooo puuurrrdy!!

Next came the Grunge board flouish from the grunge board plain elements pack.  I painted the flourish using some Folk Art acrylic paint in Spring white and while the paint was still wet, I misted it with Tattered Angels Glimmer mist in Pearl.  After letting it dry (for the most part...I obviously have very little patience, 'cause I managed to smudge a couple of edges) I lightly sponged some distress inks in Broken China and Dusty Concord along the edges.  I adhered the grunge flourish with some more glossy accents (makes a great glue!).  The final touches were using Glossy Accents along the top edge and first applying some of Martha Stewart's Snow Glitter then another layer using her Carrara Marble glitter.    Saw the Merry Christmas sentiment from Just for Fun sitting on my desk and did a little masking to break up the sentiment and stamped it using Jet Black archival ink.  Pulled out a bit of ribbon from Michael's dollar bin and I'm giddy with excitement on how this turned out!!

I've already cleaned up my mess so that I can start on the next tag!!  I think that my house will never be cleaned up and ready for Christmas at this rate!! Too much fun playing with these new ideas!!  LOL!!

Ok...I'm off to work on tag number 2!

Thanks for dropping by today!! I hope that you will be inspired to try something new and different in your creative time today!!

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You

Hey Peoples!!

Are you ready to send me all your snowflakes (since I'm still the flakiest blogger?!! heehee!)?  I'm just popping in before heading off to work (AGAIN!! Geesh...my part time job has literally been a FULL time job as of late! Need to count my blessings that I've got a job instead of groaning about it!).  Just want to let you know that you'll want to pop back in for a lookie see this weekend!! I've got some projects to share (and I'm LIKING them!!)

Have a good one and I hope you'll come visit this weekend!