Blog Hop Day 1 - Love Remains

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Here are my samples for you today..........I hope  you like them!!

Valentine Kitty

For two challenges today.

Got a big mess in my craft room..........off to clean!!

DH is having a conference call shortly, so this is it for Mom and me today.

We are still basking in the Patriots win, had a great weekend.

Have a good one.

Gold Rose

The inspiration challenge today took us to Polyvor, an interesting clothing, jewelry, and art site.  I chose a gold and black piece of artwork to inspire me.

This is a sneak peek of "Love Remains", a new set from MFP - A Heinrich Co.  It's one of four sets that will be released in a blog hop on Tuesday.  I hope you'll come here to see the samples I've made.

This afternoon we'll be camped out in front of the TV to watch football.  I know I can't ask those of you in Colorado to root for our Patriots!  We both hope to win, of course.

Have a great day.  Hugs to you all.

Casing Judy

This card is in honor of JDK, Judy, our QFTD at SCS.  I cased a beautiful card of hers, and I hope she likes what I did.  It's also for the Free 4 All, a warm/cold Valentine.

I used a new set from MFP - A Heinrich Co that will release next Tuesday in a Blog Hop.  Join me here for "Love Remains", and three other new sets.

Off to see our Financial Advisor this AM - DH turns 70 on Valentine's Day, so we gotta get some affairs in order.  Mom goes to the hairdresser this afternoon, and those are the plans.

Have a great day.  Hugs to you all.

My First CCEE Post!

Imagine my surprise and excitement when I was asked to join the CCEE Challenge!!  The ladies who do this one are FABULOUS!!! 

The first one for me uses a sketch:

..... and here is the card I made with it:

It should be no surprise I used my favorite colors combination.  Another Valentine to add to my stash!

In the weeks to come, please come here on Thursdays for the weekly CCEE challenge, and be sure to check out all the cards from the design team HERE.

Peeking Pansy

Here's a sneak peek of a new set that will be introduced next week on Thursday with a BLOG HOP.  Please come here to see the new MFP images!

This from the set called "Sending Happy Thoughts".  It's also for the sketch challenge on SCS today.  I flipped it so the buttons would be on the side, but felt the corner was a little empty, so I added a die cut and gem.  If  you hate it, please tell me.  I just wasn't sure.

It's a beautiful day.  Sun is shining, and we have no set plans.  Back to the addict....ahem......craft room.  Hugs to you all.

Color Challenge and a Sneak Peek!

Do you have any idea how happy I am when the Color Challenge involves RED?????  In addition, we were to use pink and blue.  Check!  The dessert for today was flowers, and if you look VERY closely, there are flowers in the wallpaper.

I was delighted to be able to use the window die that arrived yesterday.  I saw so many beautiful cards in the gallery using it, I just had to send for one.  This group is so enabling!!   We end up making each other spend money....... but boy! do we have fun!

The word LOVE is from a new set from MFP - A Heinrich Co. that will be released next week, along with other sets.  This one is called Love Remains, and has some really pretty heart images.  Be sure to look here for the BLOG HOP starting next Tuesday.

Have a wonderful day.  Mom and I are crafting..... no jobs for us other than having fun.  Have fun too.

Combined CAS and TLC for Monday

Here's a simple little card for today.  I used a Die Cut (heart) for the CAS, and stamping in the die and stamping the sentiment over the image for the TLC.  Easy peasy!

Busy day today...... chiropractor, haircut, lunch out, and it's only 1 PM.  Mom and I made two cards this AM, this one, and one for a new challenge, the CCEE.

Yesterday I was asked to join the group, and I was so delighted to join in!  I made me first challenge card, and preposted it on their BLOG and mine.  It's due to come out on the 12th, so be sure to be here to see it.  I think it's one of my best cards to date!!

Have a great day, see you later in the week.

Valentine Clock

Here's my card for today.  It does dual duty......... for the IC3318 at SCS and for Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge using brads or eyelets at MFP.

Still in the Valentine mode, Mom and I made this almost entirely with the cb - Sizzix, Bosscut, and Provocraft parts.  The only stamping was the face of the clock (Magenta), and the words (M's).

The little cherub is a teeny punch from M's too.  I think it makes a great addition, if a small one.

DS and family coming this afternoon for Football, dinner, and cards.  He is healing up from his hip surgery, and will go to school on Monday.  I'm sure he'll be glad to go.  He's been so bored!

Have a great weekend, and be sure to join Speedy the Fox's Challenge.

Two for Queen Wendy

Our Queen for the Day is Wendy Weixler, who surely deserves to be honored for her beautiful cards, and fabulous layouts.


I combined the challenge with the F4A which said:
Use a 3-D flower
A gem or gems
Embossing Folder
Die Cut/Punch
And DP or patterned paper.

This one fits all the categories.  I made this second.  Look below, and you'll see the first one I made.

Here is the one I made, totally forgetting to add the designer paper.  I love it, but I was afraid the challenge police would be after me.

After this card, I took Mom to the hairdresser, then we met DH for lunch.  When we got back I made the first to satisfy all the original requirements.

Truth be told, it gave me a chance to case another of Wendy's wonderful cards.  I hope you like them both. (I sure hope she does too!)

Yellow Crocus

I love this set, Winter Crocus, from MFP - A Heinrich Co.   It really works in all colors. You may think I've gone crazy with two yellow cards in a row, but if you check out my gallery, you'll see I did two RED cards that I didn't post here.


I think maybe WINTER has arrived.  Frost today, and bitter.  Mom and I ventured out to Michael's and Joanne's yesterday, and it was windy, but not as cold as today.  We had money, and gift cards, but came home with nothing.  Either everything was picked over, or we just have too much.  No, everything was picked over.........we couldn't possibly, well, you know.


Have a great day today, and stay warm.

Lemonade in the Future

This card is a future beverage, lemonade, if I stop feeling lazy!  The challenges this morning were to make a card with a beverage (for the CAS) and the inspiration for the TLC was WET.  I guess this will pass muster.

Spent all of yesterday in front of the tv watching football........today will be the same.  Just got back from the Chiropractor, for an alignment of that rib.  Doesn't feel better yet, but it was just done. 

I think I'll pass on the lemonade after all, and go straight to wine!!  Have a good one!

Happy New Year!

Loving Tree

The Inspiration challenge came from a site called Embroidery Everywhere.  I chose a wonderful tree with leaves, but as you can see, I traded the leaves for hearts.

The image is a retired set from TAC, and just begged for some hearts to make it a Valentine.

Mom and I are well on our way to half of our February cards.  This is my favorite time of year - NOT the winter, of course, but making so many cards in my favorite color!!



I really liked the IC site, and went back and made another card.  This time in orange, a color I seldom use.  It happens to be my BFF's favorite, though, so she will get this sooner or later.

Tonight is New Year's Eve, and we will be doing a little celebrating with Mom and friends by going to an early buffet, playing cards, and hoping to stay awake until 10.  We have some Asti in the fridge, and that will be it.  This year had flown.  Make it a safe night for yourself, and see you in 2012!!

Little RED Dress

For a double challenge today.......QFTD and F4A.


Our Queen, Jen, is the hostess for the CAS every week, so of course I had to make a CAS card.

The Free 4 All is to make a card with a party dress, and you would expect me to wear RED, right?  Hence this beautiful paper pieced couture item!!


We celebrate New Year's Eve with the same couple every year.  We eat here, or go out to eat (which we will do this year), then play cards until we get tired (which is about 9 o'clock!), have a quick glass of Asti Spumonte, and say good bye.  Our carousing days are long over!!  Hope you have fun plans wherever you are.

Geraniums

The challenge today at SCS was to use beads.  I seldom use any kind of bead, even though I have a lot of different kinds.  This was a good challenge for me.  My micro-beads had been languishing in a drawer forever.  Here they are on the pot of geraniums.

The image is one that encourages the use of tiny flower punches.  Here's another thing I don't do very often.  The image is two years old, and has never seen ink until today.

I'm still dealing with a sore muscle under my ribs, so I'm taking it easy for the rest of the day.  Hope you are all fine, and enjoying a respite from work!  Hugs to all.

Tuesday Challenges

Above is the card for the Color Challenge........two shades of blue.  Simple and easy!
Below is the Teapot challenge, and the inspiration was a leopard teapot that was shaped like a purse.  We paper pieced the image, I hope you can see the different layers.

I pulled a muscle in my ribcage, doing something I shouldn't have been doing, and I'm really sore.  I'm having trouble breathing, and sleeping is tough.  This too shall pass!  Have a great day!

Christmas Thank You Cards

The challenge at SCS this morning was to make easy thank you cards for Boxing Day.  These will go to family who thought enough of us to give us just what would make us smile!  They could easily be reproduced if we had to send out LOTS!  Hope your day yesterday was as fun as ours was!

Christmas is Over!

Everyone has gone home.  Here are the pictures of the whole family!!!

All the girls:

 All the guys (minus David, who is sick.Boo!)

 All the Grands and Great Gramma

 Tommy in his "Fedora"

Oh those teen girls! 

Nate in his Christmas pajamas 

 Sarah and Amy

 And Handsome DH

Merry Christmas!

 Today is Christmas!  It came so fast!!!

We are waiting for the family to arrive.  Mom and I had time to do a card today for the Featured Stamper, Iwona Palamountain.  Her gallery is filled with beautiful layouts, and fabulous embellishments!

Changing the theme, we made Valentine cards, as all the Christmas cards went out the first of the month.

Below is the Valentine we made yesterday.........can you tell I love making these cards??

Have a happy day.  See you tomorrow.

Valentine for Barbara

Today our QFTD is Barbara Dwyer.  She makes beautiful cards, and casing her is a delight.  I saved a bunch of them to case at a later date.

I changed the theme of her card to a Valentine.  Mom and I are in full swing with RED cards.......and you just know how much I love making them!!

Rain last night and today didn't keep DH and me from enjoying the hot tub.  We were talking about how much fun it will be when it snows, but HE is not ready for having to shovel out the tub!!  Not my job!

Have a great day.  We are ready for Christmas....all the food is here except for what DGD Erin and DSIL Tom are bringing.  Hope you are ready too.  Hugs to you all.  Be safe and happy!

Bear and Balloons

Moving on with valentines, this is a digital image from Sliekje, who gives away at least one of her digi drawings every week.  Mom and I are one card closer to having February cards done.

DS Paul is having hip surgery today......cross your fingers it goes well.  He's tired of having his surgeon virtually LIVE with him, although the meds are GOOD!  (I'll have what he's having! LOL!)  DH is taking him to the hospital while DDIL teaches.  They came last night with DGS Jake, as they won't be coming for Christmas.  We all hope this surgery will be the last, and that Paul will have relief, FINALLY!

Have a great day.  Our shopping and wrapping is done. Hope you're not out there with the last minute crazies.  Hugs to you all.

Think Pink

On the phone with DD today, she asked what the sketch was, and what I had used as a  panel image.  When I told her pink crocuses, she laughed, and said she thought I was trying to skip Winter entirely.  Works for me!!

The last Christmas gift arrived yesterday and is wrapped, so I guess we are ready.  We will celebrate tonight with DS Paul, Debbie, and grandson Jake.  Paul is having hip surgery tomorrow, so will be unable to be here, of course.  Since it's also Hannukah, Jake will be glad to get his C/H gift early, and not have to wait.  I think Debbie and Jake may pop in on Christmas, to deliver Cousin gifts, and receive as well.

We are apparently NOT going to have a white Christmas after all, and I am so glad, although the snow is always beautiful.  This way, we can all be together without the worry of bad driving.  Hope you are hunkered down for your own holiday, and that it will be wonderful.  Hugs to you all.

Gingerbread Hello

This card was made for two challenges today at SCS.  One was the color challenge, the other was Teapot Tuesday (theme: gingerbread).

Mom and I got really smart and combined them in an easy CAS card.  We thought with the "Hello" we could use it for practically any reason.  The little teeny weeny punch of the guy has outstretched arms that could be a welcome or a hug.

On to other things........

We have decided to revamp our plans for Christmas dinner.  I am too tired to do all the Swedish cooking this year, and Paul and his family will not be with us as he is having hip surgery on the 22nd.  Chicken will be fine.

Mom and I are off for a little pampering.  We are REALLY in need of pedicures.  Last night we became Pinkless and Blueless.  Wonder what funny colors we will deal with today??

Hope you're planning a fun day too.  See you soon.

Valentines

Today was the day to start making valentine cards.  Enough with the Winter and Christmas.  When you make LOTS of them, you get tired of the same old images and colors.  The challenges today were to make a shaker card and to follow the sketch for a Clean and Simple Card.  I hope you like them.  I'm so happpy to be using my RED again (without gold and green!)  Have a great day!

Inspiration Challenge - West End

 

These cards were inspired by recycled items for sale at West End. There were beautiful ceramic pots in different colors holding white tulips, and pinecone Christmas tree ornaments.  I think  you can figure out which is which.

Today DD and DSIL will be here with the grands.  Apparently Tommy and John got VERY short haircuts, and their mother is in the doghouse for it!  DGD Erin still has her long hair, so mom has at least one person on her side!!  We haven't seen them all for a while, I guess since Thanksgiving, so this is a treat for us.  They will be here for Christmas, as well as eldest DS and family.  Middle son Paul is having hip surgery on the 22nd (again), so will not be here, but we hope to see Debbie, and son Jake for a small part of the day.

We are invited out for lunch today, and will watch some football until family arrives.  Just a fun day for us.  Hope you are having a fun day too!  Hhugs to you all.

Dried Winter Flowers

This card is a case of Christine's (whim6915), our QFTD.  It's also for the Free for All, to make a card of winter flowers.  In my garden, everything is dead, of course.  The only blooms there are are dried blooms that never got cleaned up for Fall and Winter!  Hence the dried arrangment done in gold embossing.

Have a great day.  Thanks to those of you who joined me for the Blog Hop!

Blog Hop Day 3 - New Pines

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's November Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Pucker Up Featured December 13

Pussy Willows Featured December 14
Ice and Snow Featured December 14

New Pines Featured December 15

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! We will announce all four winners on December 16, 2011 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Thursday December 15, 2011.
Here is the DT.  Check out their samples using this new set,  New pines:

Lois
Vicky
Anne - That's me!
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Tammylee
Silvia
Mark's Finest Papers

Here's my sample:

Here are two I made as  Sneak Peeks and posted:                                                   

 

Thanks for joining us, and good luck to you all!

Blog Hop Day 2 - Pussy Willows and Ice and Snow

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's November Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Pucker Up Featured December 13

Pussy Willows Featured December 14
Ice and Snow Featured December 14

New Pines Featured December 15

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! We will announce all four winners on December 16, 2011 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Thursday December 15, 2011.
Here are the DT's samples.  Mine are at the bottom.

Lois
Vicky
Anne - That's me!
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Tammylee
Silvia
Mark's Finest Papers

Here are my samples of PussyWillows

This one was posted as a Sneak Peek:

And this one is an outrageous case of a card by Linda Bullard.  Linda, I couldn't help myself!!!        

Here are some samples of Ice and Snow:                                                                             

Please join us again tomorrow for our LAST day!