hearts home holidays...

Happy Black Friday! LOL! I'm one of those rare birds that do NOT go out for this. Way too many crazy people out there!

So, after enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving meal, the tryptophan started to kick in. (The wine I had with my meal probably made it kick in even faster! LOL!) So, after changing into my sweatpants (with the elastic waist band...hey, you KNOW you did the same thing too!) I went to my craft cave and worked on another card. This I am entering for the CTD#219, Retro Sketch #38, and Unity Stamp's Friends with Flair.

And the inside:

Here are the colors and sketch I based my card off of.

I did alot of stamping with this card. On the soft sky panel I stamped snowflakes using Versa Mark ink. I did the same with the limeade panel but using the holly stamp, and repeated that on the inside panel as well. Nothing like making your own designer paper! ☺ I like the understated look it gives. I colored the heart with a marker then used some glitter glue over it for a hint of sparkle. There is also a bit of glitter glue on the snowflake between the reindeer.

Thanks for stopping by. If you are one of the many who brave Black Friday, I wish you good hunting! Have a great day!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock: DCWV (grey); Bazzill (limeade); Recollections (white, soft sky)
DP: Echo Park - Happy Days (Bermuda bay)
Stamps: Unity Stamp Co. - October 2012 KOTM
Ink: Tsukineko - Tuxedo Black, Versa Mark
Adhesive: SA by 3L - Crafty Power Tape, 3D Foam Squares
Other: DecoArt Twinkles Writer; Marvy Uchida marker - Peacock blue

Winter blues...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm posting a quick card before I get down to the nitty gritty of preparing the bird and fixings. I'm going to enter this for both CAS-ual Fridays and CAS(E) this Sketch challenges:

and the inside:

Here are the challenges:

A very simple card, this came together in no time. Again, I used stash that I've been hording (the glittery foam snowflakes!) I even used the center dots from some of the snowflakes.

Well, that's all I've got for now. From my family to yours, we hope that you have a Happy Thanksgiving and have a tryptophantastic day! LOL!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock: Bazzill (white); DCWV (metallic blue)
DP: Deja Views - Fair Isle Christmas collection
Stamps: Paper Smooches - Christmas Sampler
Marker: Marvy Uchida - blue
Snowflakes - Michael's
Embossing folder - Cuttlebug
Adhesive: SA by 3L - MyStik and 3D foam squares

Thinking of you...

Hello everyone and happy day-before-Thanksgiving to you! I have a card I'd like to share with you. Usually I make cards for a challenge, but not this one. There is no sketch, no color challenge. Just a card I made to give to a good friend.

the inside:

I have a friend who used to live next door to me, before they bought another house and moved last year. We still keep in touch, but not nearly as often as we'd like. They have quite the full plate: a new house that they are renovating/remodeling; both have full time jobs; two busy kids; a dog; her Father-in-Law living with them now (he's has Dementia and can't live on his own.), hosting Thanksgiving this year. See? Alot on their plate. To add to that, Mark had what he thought was a bad virus which was causing his throat to swell. Since the medication he was taking wasn't working, he went in for an MRI. That's when they found he had a tumor in his throat. He's in the hospital now and they are going over with the doctor's what can be done. I am waiting for more information from them. I wanted to make Mark and Kelly a card to let them know that Andy and I are thinking of them and that they are in our prayers. Any additional prayers from you would be welcome!

Thanks for listening and for sending out your good thoughts and prayers to a great family!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock & vellum: Recollections
DP: DCWV - Mariposa Stack
Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Botanical Silhouettes
Ink: Tsukineko- Rich Cocoa; Clear Snap - Chestnut Roan
Marker: Marvy Uchida - Plum
Adhesive: SA by 3L - MyStik, 3D foam squares
Other: Grand Calibur & Classic Lg Ovals Nesties; Cuttlebug embossing folder; rhinestones by Colorbok

Good Cheer

Hi again! This is my second post for today. I'll get right to it as my fur baby is not so subtly letting me know he wants some attention! For this card, I used the sketch from the current Sparks challenge from Paper Smooches:

the inside:

And the sketch:

I stamped the penguin and seal, paper pieced the bow, scarf, beak and feet, then did a little shading. For the most part, I followed the sketch...except for that scalloped element under the main panel. I've amassed quite a bit of Christmas embellishments over the past few years and very rarely use them. (Anybody else have that problem?) So as a challenge to myself, I've been trying to use some on my projects. This teeny tiny string of lights were just begging to be used on this card. I know, it looks kind of strange, but I like it! What says good cheer better than a cute penguin and seal standing in glitter 'snow' and Christmas lights?! LOL! (Well, maybe a pomegranate martini, but that's another story entirely!) 

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Chris ☺

Supplies:

Card stock: DCWV (card base); Bazzill (black); Recollections (white)

DP: MME - Colorful Christmas

Stamps: Paper Smooches - Chilly Chums; Christmas Sampler

Ink: Tsukineko - Tuxedo Black

Markers: Marvy Uchida

Adhesive: SA by 3L (MyStik, 3D Foam Sqs.); Scotch glue; Therm-o-web (Dots)

Other: Glitter - Stampendous; Lights - Jolee's Boutique

Mojo Monday 267

Happy Sunday all! Did anyone else go see Breaking Dawn 2? OMG! Sooooo good! If you follow the books and movies, do yourself a favor and go see it! Ok, that's all I'll say on that subject! (grin!)

So here's a card I made using the Mojo Monday #267 sketch:

and the inside:

Here is the sketch:

I like the tilted panel on this card sketch. This card came together using old and new tools. For the round element, I used my new toy: the Shape Studio by Epiphany Crafts! Fun fun fun! I also broke out a couple decorative scissors (pinking, postage stamp). It totally boggles the mind just how far paper crafting tools have advanced over the past few years. But I enjoy mixing it up with old and new tools! For the inside panel, I stamped on some scrap paper before stamping the holly border around the panel edge.

I have another card to post so stay tuned and I hope you have a great day!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock: Bazzill (black, beige); Core'dinations ( green)
DP: Graphic 45 - Christmas Emporium
Stamps: Unity Stamp Co.: August 2012 KOTM (sentiments); A Simple Christmas set (holly border)
Ink: Tsukineko - Tuxedo Black, Bamboo Leaves; Clear Snap - Chestnut Roan
Decorative scissors: Fiskars (pinking); Provo Craft (postage stamp)
Adhesive: SA by 3L - MyStik, 3D Foam Squares
Other: Epiphany Crafts - Shape Studio, Round 25 Bubble Caps & Charm settings; twine

Joy to the World...

Hello and happy Wednesday to you! Today I'd like to share a card that I'm entering for two challenges: Freshly Made sketch #61 and the Color Throwdown #218.

and the inside:

Here are the challenges:

This card was such a delight to make. The sketch was very simple and I just adore these colors! I've been trying to use my Slice die cutting machine more, and that reindeer was cut with it using the Noel cartridge. I like that this one has the layering effect so I could cut the antlers out using another color. Then I just stuck him on with some foam squares. Easy peasy!

Well, got to go give the fur baby some dinner now, then get ready to go out. Wednesday night is when I shoot pool on a ladies 8 ball league. Fun times ahead!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you have a great evening!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock: Bazzill (espresso); DCWV (turquoise); Recollections (soft suede)
DP: MME - Signature Christmas
Stamps: Paper Smooches - All Yule Need; Christmas Sampler
Ink: Tsukineko - Versa Mark, Rich Cocoa
Ribbon: SEI
Adhesive: SA by 3L - MyStik, 3D Foam Squares
Other: holly punch -  Martha Stewart; Slice die cut machine and Noel cartridge; EP - Stampendous; corner rounder - Fiskars

Just delivered....

Ok. A really quick post. I just got a knock on my door, and when I opened it the UPS guy was driving away. He left a box on my door step. I was puzzled as I wasn't expecting anything. As I read the return address, my heart became all aflutter. The package was from Danny Hales at Northridge Publishing! Could it be? IT WAS! The long lost Epiphany tool that I won way back in August! (See my post about it here.) HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!! I'm not sure who was responsible for making this happen. I'm thinking Audrey Pettit, as she left a response on that post, and also happens to be on their design team. So, Audrey, if it was you, THANK YOU! And a big, big THANK YOU to Danny Hales!!! In any case, I am extremely grateful for this unexpected but very much welcome gift!

Oh what a great day this turned out to be! Hope yours was too!

Chris ☺

Be Jolly!

Hello and happy Tuesday... I think. Yesterday it was about 70 degrees here. I had the furnace turned off and the windows open. It was wonderful. Today, not so much. We had rain over night and with it, a cold front. It was still raining this morning, and there was even some sleet mixed in. It's only around 40 degrees now. Oh joy and rapture. At least I was able to air out the house yesterday.

So, with the weather reported, on to my card. I'm going to enter this for both Retro Sketches #37 and also for CAS-ual Fridays #78.

 and the inside:

Here are the challenges:

I used the Retro Sketch and the element from CAS-ual Fridays, which is to add torn paper in your design. The sketch calls for three images and I thought: "Hmm, that snowman is made of three parts. That works for me!" LOL! I stamped and embossed him on watercolor paper, colored and cut him out. I also stamped the sentiment on the watercolor paper. The reason is that the center panel is glitter card stock. It may be hard to see in the picture. You can't stamp on that and not have your ink smear all over the place. (That wasn't the look I was going for. ☺) For the inside, I also tore the glitter paper to look like snow covered ground, then stamped the snowman and sentiment.

Well, that's all I have for now. I hope that you enjoy the rest of your day. Thanks for stopping by!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock: DCWV (blue, white glitter); Strathmore (watercolor)
DP: MME - Colorful Christmas 
Stamps: Paper Smooches - Freezy Fellas; Christmas Sampler
Ink: Tsukineko - Tuxedo Black; Versamark
EP: Inkadinkado
Markers: Marvy Uchida
Bakers twine: MME
Adhesives: SA by 3L (MyStik; 3D foam squares); American Crafts (foam dots)

The most wonderful time of the year...

Hi there and happy Monday! (?) I'd like to share a card I made using the sketch from My Favorite Things. I'm entering this for the MFTWSC97 challenge.

and the inside:

Here is the sketch:

I'm not happy with how that tab looks on my card. (I thought it looked better without it, but didn't want to leave off an element from the sketch.) :( Oh well, I can always carefully trim it off before I send it out! The tab was die cut using the Vertical Greetings Die-Namics. I just trimmed it down. I used the Triple Scoop free set called Seasonal Sentiments. What a fabulous stamp set! I'm sure I'll be using more of the stamps on this set in the near future!

Well, that's all I have for now. Thanks for stopping by and have a great rest of the day!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock: Bazzill Basics (brown); Recollections (stone)
DP: Creative Imaginations - Winter Woodland collection
Stamps: MFT - Seasonal Sentiments (Triple Scoop free set)
Ink: Tsukineko - Rich Cocoa; Clear Snap - Chestnut Roan
Die-Namics: Jumbo Squiggle border; Vertical Greetings
Adhesive: SA by 3L (MyStik); American Crafts (foam dots)
Other: Grand Calibur; Christmas Joy Words & Shapes Rain Dots by Cloud 9 Designs

One more Halloween card...

Hey all! I have a card I want to share with you that I'm entering for the My Favorite Things Guest DT contest for November.

Here is the inside:

...and the sketch:

I'm using a stamp set from My Favorite Things called Totally Witchin'. (Love that title! LOL!) Aren't those jars of witch's brew ingredients adorable?! The sentiment I stamped on some scrap card stock, trimmed some fishtails on both ends, and inked the edges with Chestnut Roan ink. I stamped the inside sentiment on the inside. For the cauldron and steam, I stamped off both on some scrap paper before adding them to the panel. I like how it gives the cauldron an aged look.

That's it for now. I hope you get to try this sketch out!  Have a great rest of the weekend!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock: DCWV (black); Recollections (beige, black)
DP: Authentique - Enchanted
Stamps: MFT - Totally Witchin'
Die-Namics: Mini Monarch border
Ink: Tsukineko - Tuxedo Black; Clear Snap - Chestnut Roan
Floss: DMC
Adhesives: SA by 3L (MyStik); American Crafts (Foam Dots)
Other: Spellbinders - Grand Calibur, Standard Circles Sm and Lg Nesties; WRMK - Sew Easy; Marvy Uchida markers

Friends With Flair Friday!

Happy Friday all! Today I got crafty and made a card for Unity Stamp's Friends with Flair. I've been wanting to use these stamps but never got around to inking them up until now:

Are you ready? Here's the inside!

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!! LOVE the paper bag and the inside sentiment stamps! Just love em! These are from the July 2012 KOTM and by far my favorite monthly kit from Unity! I threw in some buttons for some extra something. I stamped Happy Birthday on some scrap kraft paper, cut it into a pennant, then used a black marker to doodle around the edges. I did that on the inside also. My red panel was too wide for the embossing folder, and I had planned to run it through again to get the part I missed. But as I moved the ribbon over it, I liked how it looked as is so I left it.

Well, onto more card making merriment! Enjoy your day and thanks to stopping by!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock: Recollections (black, kraft); Core'dinations (red)
Stamps: Unity Stamp's July 2012 KOTM
Ink: Tsukineko - Tuxedo Black
Ribbon: May Arts
Marker: Marvy Uchida
Adhesive: SA by 3L (MyStik; Crafty Power Tape); American Crafts (foam dots)
Other: Grand Calibur; Cuttlebug EF - Swiss Dots; buttons from my stash

It's beginning to look alot like....

Hi there and happy Wednesday! If you live on the east coast like I do, I bet you are just as happy as I am about the Nor'Easter about to hit.....NOT!! I am grateful for the last couple of days of sunshine. Haven't seen it in what seems like eons!

Ok, now that we've talked about the weather, on to crafty things! This card I made using Retro Sketches #36.

and the inside:

Here is the sketch:

I took a postcard from a set of them by Webster's Pages and fussy cut the flowers/leaves. It's my artsy-fartsy version of the scallop element in the sketch. The beige panel under the ornament was die cut using the vertical greetings Die-Namics from MFT. I trimmed both sides then embossed and distressed it with Chestnut Roan ink by Clear Snap. The ornament was die cut using my Slice machine. I like the vintage Victorian feel to this card!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great rest of the day!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock: Core'dinations (berry red); The Paper Co. (beige)
DP: Webster's Pages - Waiting for Santa; Postcards set
Ribbon: May Arts
Floss: DMC
EF: Cuttlebug
Stamps: Paper Smooches - All Yule Need
Ink: Tsukineko - Tuxedo Black; Clear Snap - Chestnut Roan, Gold
Adhesives: SA by 3L (MyStik, 3D foam squares); Recollections (tape)
Other: Grand Calibur by Spellbinders; Vertical Greetings Die-Namics by MFT; Slice die cut machine and the Noel cartridge by Making Memories

Freebies!

Ok, here's the story: Back on August 3rd, I was happy to find out that I was one of the winners of the Epiphany giveaway on the Create: blog. Well, after 3 (count em, 3!) attempts to ship the prize out to me UPS, this is what was sent to me:

I can only guess at what happened the first two tries. Keep in mind that UPS scans boxes when they pick up, when they get to a depot, when it leaves that depot, when it gets to the next depot, when it leaves that one, etc. Also, Northridge Publishing sent me emails to track the packages. The first two never had any information other than "package was delivered". Only the last try had all the details. (Leads me to believe that someone either sent it to the wrong address, someone at NP walked off with the prize, or they never sent it out in the first place and the prize mysteriously 'vanished').

Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful that Alex M. at NP did everything in his power to make it right, and appreciate what was sent. It's just that I already have these issues. (There were two additional issues that I didn't have, and kept them!)

So, if you or anyone you know would like what's shown in the above picture, I'd be happy to send them out to you. The first to respond to this post who types "I WANT THIS" is the lucky duck! (I don't know how to do that random pick thing, sorry!)

Good luck!

Spreading the crafty love,
Chris ☺

Cheese anyone?

Hi there and happy Saturday to you! I made a goofy card for the My Favorite Things November Guest Designer. Check it out:

and the inside:

Here is the sketch:

MFT has a Die-Namics in the shape of that center panel with the circles, but I don't have it...yet! I just made my own using my Grand Calibur and the small standard Nesties dies. (Have tools, will improvise!)

Ok, in my warped mind, this looks like abstract swiss cheese. Soooo that's what I made! LOL! I love how this turned out!

I only have a couple stamps and die-namics from MFT, but luckily they are having a super sale on a boat load of stamps they are retiring. You can check it out here. I just placed an order yesterday so I'll have more stamps and dies to play with! Woo hoo!

That's all for right now. I think the hubby and I are going to go see that movie Cloud Atlas today. We are both sci-fi nerds and the movie looks promising!

Have a great rest of the day and thanks for stopping by!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock: Bazzill (black); DCWV (yellows)
DP: DCWV- Rustic Stack
Stamps: MFT - Twisted Threesome
Ink: Tsukineko - Tuxedo Black
Stickers: Sticko by EK Success
Adhesive: MyStik and 3D Foam Squares by SA by 3L; 1/8" roll tape by Recollections
Other: Grand Calibur and Sm. Std. Nesties  by Spellbinders

Christmas happiness...

Ok, I know it's just BARELY into November, but I have to make A LOT of Christmas cards to send out. So, here is one I made yesterday. I'm entering this for the PageMaps card challenge.

The inside:

Here is the sketch:

This is one of the sketches from the September 2012 CardMaps. So strange I had that already out as I was going to make a card using one of the other sketches. (That will be for an upcoming post.)

When I saw this, I immediately thought of ornaments and a big snowflake. I used papers from Recollections Believe collection (love the patterns and colors in this line!) I added some dots of glitter glue to the snowflake, the center ornament, and also the 'a' and 'r' in the sentiment. (It's hard to see. I usually take pictures of my cards using natural light, but it's been so gloomy all week that I've had to use my Ott Lite.)

I hope you play along too. There's some swag from Freckled Fawn up for grabs! (Washi washi washi!! Woo hoo!!) Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great Friday!

Chris ☺

Supplies:
Card stock: Bazzill Basics
DP: Recollections - Believe
Stamps: Paper Smooches - All Yule Need (ornaments); Christmas Sampler (sentiments)
Ink: Tsukineko - Tuxedo Black; Clear Snap - Gold
Floss: DMC
Candy cane sticker: Jolee's Boutique
Other: Grand Calibur and Sm Std. Circles Nesties; Slice die cut machine and Noel cartridge; Cuttlebug embossing folder; DecoArt Craft Twinkles Writer