Happy New Year and Another Sneak Peek

Maybe my card should say Happy New Year instead of Happy Anniversary? Hey, I don't have a Happy New Year stamp...at least the word "happy" is in the sentiment, right? This is another lovely Sweet 'n Sassy set (ahh, floral stamps...my favorite!) that will be released on January 7! (The sentiment is from another SNSS set that will also be released in January) This beautiful carnation stamp also comes along with the word "January"....Humm....I wonder what else Korin has up her sleeve for the January release...Be sure to keep checking back in for more peeks...and more ideas on how to use the new sets! The carnations were colored with Copics and I cut out just the flower portion and attached with dimensional tape for a little pop. And thanks for my new light tent you can actually see that dimension! Have I mentioned that I love my new light tent? :-) And I "stole" this ribbon idea from a card that Julie posted a few days ago. Hi Jules...love your bow! hee hee The ribbon was off-white but I created ribbon to match my carnation and paper by coloring the it with Copics. I also saw a best of 2009 challenge posted on Kelly Rae's blog and thought I'd play along. Best challenge: Hands down...Raising two children will always be the hardest and best challenge ever! Best album: Egads...I don't think I can answer this question since I haven't purchased a new album (or CD) in years! With the exception of some kid's songs...LOL! My husband's new fav is some new John Mayer DVD, which I bought him for Christmas! :-) Best place: Bed! There is nothing like hitting the hay after a long day of breaking up arguments between brothers, making meals, homeschooling, playing with Hot Wheels, building Lincoln Log homes, housecleaning, stamping...You get the picture! I love my bed! Best new food: Humm...This isn't really a new food but it would be the best of this food I have ever eaten. Sushi from Yama Zakura. I kid you not, you have never eaten sushi until you've eaten it at Yama Zakura....This is the most amazing food I have ever had...My mouth is watering just thinking about it... Best change to our home: The addition of curtains to our living room windows...after being bare for the past six months! (Now to paint the walls!) Oh, and the addition of my new craft table to my wee little craft room! Best tea: Sorry kids, Kim doesn't do tea! The best coffee I've ever had is Peet's. Love it! Best word or phrase: Change and hope...That comment would be dripping with sarcasm. :-) Fave new person: How about persons? All of the wonderful people and designers that I've had the privilege to meet this year at either Summer CHA or at the Stamping Around events! I love the crafting world, it is primarily comprised of the most amazing women (and men...Hi Tim!) Wishing everyone a wonderful and blessed New Year!

Big News and Stamping Around Challenge

Good morning friends! First thing up this morning is news on our next Stamping Around challenge, hosted by Sweet 'n Sassy stamps! Hop on over to the Stamping Around web site for all the details but basically, if you play along with the challenge you'll be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set, pictured here on my card!! This week's challenge was to use a snowman on a card. This adorable stamp set, Love You This Much, will be available for purchase after January 7, 2009, but I just happened to have this set in my stashed because.... I've joined the design team!!!

I was beyond thrilled when Korin invited me to join the team!! I met Korin at Stamping Around PA and instantly connected with her bubbly personality and fell in love with her darling stamp designs. And after three years working with Odd Bird Planet, I made the decision to step down from designing and managing the team. It's been a wonderful experience but I wanted the opportunity to work with some other teams and when I saw the DT call for Sweet 'n Sassy I knew I wanted to work with their team. We've just gotten started but I'm already so impressed by the way Korin manages the business and team and love the warm welcome I've received from the entire team. I'm looking forward to the next few months....And be sure to check out the other DT blogs that will be listed on the left side of my blog. And what do you think about that picture of my card? Notice anything different?? Notice all the card details? The paper piercing around the heart, depth of the snowman (showing that he's attached with dimensional tape), and brightness of the colors? It's because my hubby got me a light tent for Christmas!! I just about shouted with joy when I opened it! I've been making cards and taking pictures like a mad woman! The difference in the quality of photos taken in the tent and on my bathroom vanity is amazing! LOL! Our family is headed out this morning - in the 14 degree weather - brrrrr....so I'm off! Please stop by the Stamping Around site for details on the challenge!!

Gift Card Holder

Is it too far past Christmas to post a Christmas gift idea? :-) I couldn't post this before the holidays as this was for my in-laws and my MIL reads my blog each day (hi Mom!) Speaking of holidays, did everyone have a lovely time? We enjoyed a house full of relatives on Christmas Eve and then had a quiet day at home with just our kids and my 90-something year old Grandmother on Christmas morning. It was a wonderful few days of celebrating! So onto the gift card holder!! I got this idea from SCS, which is a wonderful source of inspiration for anyone looking for ideas. In the forum section there is a search option and I just put in "gift card holder" to look for some ideas on how folks packaged gift cards. This is a super easy project, made out of just two pieces of patterned paper. I had a few pieces of this lovely holiday paper in my stash from a year or so ago. I love the colors and patterns! To create the holder I just measured around the card and scored the paper to fold around it. I then added a coordinating piece of cardstock to the front flap. (This paper is double sided so it was easy to get the pattern on both sides). As for my flap image, this is from a Just Rite holiday stamp set that has yet to see ink so how could I resist using it for this project! A big 'ol bow was the finishing touch!

Well two pieces of velcro, to hold the flap close, was the true finishing piece! And I think that's all the holiday projects and/or cards I have to share in 2009...Can you believe 2010 is just around the corner? Amazing how quickly (and not so quickly) this year has gone by! Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!

Keep it Simple Sunday

Today's Tip: Use a small and simple designs as the main focal point on cards.

This might be one of the quickest cards ever created! LOL! I recently made a scrapbook album (will share more of that later in the week) for a friend who is expecting baby number two in a few months. They know that they're having a girl so I was able to go crazy with the pink in the album and on the card. Love that since I have two boys and everything is our house is in blue! Not much to explain on this card it's so simple! I have multiple layers of white and pink and my non-traditionally colored pea pod image and sentiment is from the Green Thumb set by Papertreyink. I finished off the card with four tiny rhinestones in each corner. My album and card will go home with my Grandmother, who is headed back to NY tomorrow afternoon, so she can forward the gift to our friends. And then we'll look forward to hearing of the new arrival!! Enjoy!

SALT Challenge - Joy in Jesus

This week it was Ruth's turn to set the SALT challenge and she chose Joy in Jesus. Her comments are below: "We often sing these words at this time of year, I would like to take time to reflect on what this actually means. And how the reality of the joy of knowing Jesus can dramatically change the direction of your life.It's my turn (Ruth) to set the theme this week, we're slowly getting back into a routine after the birth of our daughter Mae. I have recently been introduced to the Christian speaker Louie Giglio. If you search for him on You Tube you will find clips. One of his talks is headed Indescribable, he goes into great detail about the Universe, our Galaxy and the size of the stars. They are inspirational messages, that have made me appreciate how great and awesome God is, indeed how indescribable he is. It has reminded me of the humility of Jesus - God's son, in taking on humanity - being human. The even more amazing thing is, he take on 'being human' for a holiday, or for the 'experience' - he did it for a purpose. He had to become human in order to pay for the punishment we deserve for the things we do that we shouldn't, and the things we don't do that we should. Although Christmas isn't a day we are told to celebrate in the Bible, it is a time where we as Christians can stop and ponder and be thankful to God that he came in flesh all those years ago. A time to be truly JOYFUL for JESUS. Have a blessed and peaceful Christmas, from everyone on the SALT team." OK...I know, the word joy is no where to be found on my card! I was so lacking in time and, as it turns out, a scripture verse stamp with the word joy in it that I went searching for something else that would work. This great verse stamp from Verve made me think of one of the reasons that I have joy in Jesus...He brings rest. Not rest like getting a good night's sleep but rest from the heavy burden of sin. When feeling overwhelmed, wondering why I've yet again lost my patience or spoken in a harsh way, I know that I can bring my burdens to the Lord and tell him how I'm struggling and ask for His help. And I know that help, strength, and encouragement will be delivered. That feeling of comfort, like having loving arms wrapped around you when you're upset, is cause for great joy! If you're walking around today with a heavy burden, I would encourage you to seek Christ in prayer for real, lasting comfort, peace, joy, and rest. Wishing everyone a very blessed Christmas!! Please stop by the SALT blog to see the DT's beautiful work!

Fabulous!

I was recently inspired by some cards created by Dawn McVey and decided to follow her lead to create a few CAS (clean and simple) cards....this is the first one. I'm finding that I am really gravitating towards a simpler look, not only on my own cards but even what I see on other blogs and galleries. There's always a place and time for the multi-layer, pierced, sewed, and distressed cards (and TAGS!) but for the every day, I love this style. And it seems Papertreyink cards are the perfect stamps for these looks! This card is showing three of my favorite sets; Polka Dot Basics II, Text Style, and Signature Greetings. I'm also really digging these bold, bright colors paired with kraft cardstock. I'm in the midst of creating a scrapbook for a friend who is having a baby and decided to use kraft as an accent color vs. white and I love it! The kraft cardstock is just where it's at! ;-) And...I did add just a wee bit of distressing on the edges of this card...I just can't help myself! Well, just a few days until Christmas and I can't wait!! I LOVE Christmas! My husband went to NY last night to pick up my 90-something year old Grandmother and I expect them back home after lunch. So looking forward to spending the holidays with "Nona" as my kids call her. That and seeing my boy's faces on Christmas morning when they see what's under the tree! Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!

Keep it Simple Sunday

Today's Tip: Take it all off (layers and embellishments that is) and go for one layer!

Let's have a show of hands of how many people are ready for Christmas?? I'm in pretty good shape...only one more present to purchase but a whole lot to wrap! I am so looking forward to spending the next two weeks enjoying visiting relatives, friends, and my hubby not working! Today's card is a tribute to the one layer look...perfect when one needs to mass produce! I created these two cards for a few of our neighbors that we're friendly with. The cards accompanied a bag of yummy sugar cookies!

The images used on both cards are from Taylored Expressions and were stamped with Memento ink and colored with Copics. A bow made with lovely Papertreyink ribbon was the finishing touch!! And now I'm off to enjoy a warm evening at home, after watching the snow fall for most of the day. Here's a shot looking out of our living room window...there's a driveway under there somewhere! Enjoy your night!