THT026, WT247, A Day Filled With Love!

This morning at 9:30, our family increased by one.....my DD and DSIL adopted an eight year old boy, a brother for their 9 yr. old son and 12 yr. old daughter. The personal and legal ceremony took place in court, and the judge was wonderful! At the end, everyone took pictures of the family with the judge, and each other. The Bailiff even took pics. Then the judge gave our new DGS a special light up pen (which he flipped over), lollipops, a game, and some baseballs. How cool! Afterwards, we went to our DD's for brunch. So happy an occasion, and so much love!!

That's why I had to make a RED card today...in celebration. This one is a case of Cathleen (ctorina) here : http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1506149?&cat=500&ppuser=156733, for the THT026 challenge. I reversed the colors, and exchanged the sleigh for a dove. I hope you (and she) like it! This also works for the WT today, and for the RedDivas gallery. This has been a wonderful day, and it continues, as DH has gone to get our 10 yr. old to stay with us for dinner and until his Mom can get him at 8 tonight. Mom has parent meetings all day, and DS is in the play with his students - tonight is the dress rehearsal). We are so lucky!!!

DDIC #17

On the left is the picture Lori chose for our Inspiration Challenge this time. It comes from Garnet Hill. There are wonderful mugs for hot cocoa, tea, coffee, latte, whatever anyone would love to warm up on a cold winter night!

I chose to work with the colors in making my card for the Divine Divas. The bg is the dotted blue and white, and the mug is a wonderful new Cloud Nine dp that my mother found, and brought to me. I added marshmallows, because that's the best part of hot cocoa, right??

I love the sentiment that was on one of the mugs, Let It Snow. I HATE snow, and dislike it more the older I get, but it sure was just right to fit on the punches for my card. I prefer, Eat Drink and be Merry, but I didn't happen to have those words. Gotta go with what ya got!!

I hope you will join us this week, and that you look at the cards of the DT on the sidebar of my blog. If you should participate, please put DDIC in your keyword, and check in with us again in two weeks.

Tellen's Pink and Red Challenge

The Challenge for week 2 at Tellen's Place http://tellensplace.blogspot.com/ is to make a card using Pink and RED! How cool is that? Tailor made for me, right?

There are even three adorable girls as freebie digital images you can use, or you can use any set you want. I paper pieced this cutie!!

There's a story that goes with this card....it will be for my DH, whose birthday happens to be on Valentine's Day. The story is:

The first time we saw the movie Crocodile Dundee, at one point he was in the bathtub singing, "If I give my heart to you, You'll have none and I'll have two". We began laughing so hard! Since then, every once in a while, one of us will come out with it. This card will make him laugh all over again!!

Join the challenge..........just for fun!

Winter Birthday for the DDC and RESQ#25

This week I am the hostess for the Doubledog Dare Challenge. I DARED the team (and you, if you want to join in with us - add DDC to your keyword) to make a winter birthday card. I kept it simple.... we have enough stress these days! This card is for my aunt in Arizona. She hardly misses the snow and ice of New England, and I feel it my duty to remind her of what she HAD!! Her birthday is Christmas Eve, and I always send her a card like this!!

The base is Going Gray. The next layer is Caramel to match the two deer, then silver mirror paper. The main panel is cut from a card I received last year and couldn't bear to throw away! There is sparkling snow all over the front...hard to get a good photo! This is also for the SC257 today at SCS. The layout is wonderful, and oh boy! yesterday I bought the EK Success Fleur-de-lis punch, so I just had to use it.

Also for the SC with a slight variation, I made this card for the RESQ#25 challenge. The directions were to use: polka dots, pink, something round, and food. I think this matching paper is DCWV, but I can't be sure because there is no printing on it, and I've had it for ages. The ice cream is from Stamps Happen, and an Amuse sentiment plus some punches and dimensionals finish it up. I love this saying.....but Carol (Bobbiesgirl) ends it with.....on the good dishes. WOW! That's it. I'm done for the day!!

CC247 #2 (Check out the one below too)

I hate to admit just how DOPEY I really am, but when you hear what I have done, you will agree!!

Pat Smethers (that sweet girl) sent me the images from the SU set, Wild Wild West. You have to admit it's one of the best SU ever made. Many of us (and your names are safe with me) stupidly passed it by, and later regretted it so much that we were willing to do almost anything to get it. Now that I have it, wouldn't you think that the first opportunity to use it, I would??? Well, I made a flower card with these colors, and posted it (below). I really like it, but then LIGHT DAWNED OVER MARBLEHEAD, and I went back to my addict....um...craft room, and made THIS card. Better late than never, but it almost didn't get done. Dopey, right????

Anyhow, I really like this one better. Thanks for listening to my saga.

CC247 Dried Flowers

The colors for the challenge today are vanilla, black, and Soft Suede. Nice combination, huh??

This card almost made itself. I masked the central scalloped circle, and sponged, then stamped. The bg is sponged and inked with French Script, and I used my cuttlebug to cut out some Sizzix corners. The embellishments are pearls and a black ribbon and bow.

I hope you like this. IRL it's brighter....the day is still not conducive to taking photos!

Under the Mistletoe - THT025, CAS43

This morning my card is for two challenges......CAS43, to remake a card you have made before, which was this one:http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1543374?&cat=500&ppuser=136194, and also for the Treehouse Thursday (THT025), which was a color challenge.

The colors were to be black, white, olive green and Real RED! Now if you know me even a little bit, you know that RED is my favorite color, and that RED, black and white is my favorite combination!! Adding the olive green gave me a tiny pause, but I think this card has just the right amount. I'm still making my Christmas cards, and hadn't inked up this wonderful silhouette, so I guess it was about time. The mistletoe is popped up, and the snowflake on the tag has an olive green brad. I polished it off with a satin white bow. If you should want to join in on the Treehouse Thursday challenge for this week, be sure to put THT025 in your keyword.

It's bleak and gloomy here, but the orders for the grands for Christmas are arriving every day. I am wrapping as they get here. I can't believe how the time has flown. Tomorrow is December 1st. WOW! Have a wonderful day, do something fun, be creative, and be kind. Hugs to you all.

FS CASING CarrollAnn

Today's FS is CarrollAnn, whose gallery has such lovely cards in it, that choosing just one to CASE is very difficult. I got a very late start this morning, so I chose a quick and easy one.

I changed the embossing folder and the sentiment to go with it, and punched flowers instead of primas. The rest is pure CA......how can you tinker with perfection????

I'll be back with another CASE of her fabulous work later, when I wake up a little more. The sun is shining, the day is beautiful, and I have some mojo, so I think I'll take advantage of it!!

Here is the secoond card, called a side-step, which I first saw in her gallery. Hers was RED and white, and fairly simple. When I was making this one, I got carried away, and kept adding more and more. I think to do one again, I would be more frugal. Tell me what you think, okay??

I'm really sorry....I uploaded this in too small a size for you to look at very well. If you go to my gallery on SCS by going to my sidebar, you can see this better. You can also just click on it and it will open into a bigger window. If you want to leave a comment, you can do it in either place. I'm done for the day, now to clean up!

SSHP09 Hats Off!

You know I love humorous sentiments. This is one of my favorites, and I couldn't resist it today for the Saturday Spotlight challenge. I even stamped a veil on acetate so it would fit the words!!

I hope you get a kick out of this card. I love all the pinks and yellows, and the touches of black.

Thanks for looking, and please check out my IC below.

Happy Birthday Inspiration

I made this card for the Inspiration Challenge this morning after seeing this baby blanket in my favorite color combination. One of my sweetest friends is celebrating a birthday in a few days, and I wanted to get this in the mail this morning (Hi Joanne!)

I liked both the striped side of the blanket, and the flowered one, so I used both on my card. It's a little busy I guess, but also fun, I think. I hope you do too.

Thanks to those of you who wished my Mom a HB...she LOVED it!! She's back home, with all her presents and a BAGFULL of cards we made over Thanksgiving. Have a great day, all!!

Flower Replay for LSC

Happy Day after!! We are still celebrating, as today is Mom's REAL birthday! She says she is NOT OLD, just not getting any younger. She is 87 today...wish her a HB!

These two cards are for the LSC today...make two cards with the same theme and images, but two different layouts. We had fun with some great dp (that has no name on the back...alas!).

It's raining here...we are staying IN, I think (there's always the allure of M's and ACM), but we will be eating leftovers and making cards. You're probably doing the same!! Good for US!!!!! Have a great day, and thanks for joining us here.

Another Piece of Pie!

For the WT, sweets, I chose to make something humorous...at least I think so. We had Thanksgiving dinner here, and ate too much because it was so yummy! Aren't I a humble cook!! We had all the fixin's, plus three kinds of pie and birthday cake. We started the morning off with Mimosas and Bloody Mary's, and it was all downhill from there.

The kids were busy together, and really great, and now that everyone but Mom has gone home, the peace and quiet is wonderful.

I thought the computer generated sentiment was really appropriate for a day like today, when we overeat and it's OK. I hope you think it's fun too.

For BLACK FRIDAY, we are staying in. No shopping for us. see you tomorrow for the LSC.

Gingerbread Guy and the Belli Challenge Today

Busy day today! The Belli Challenge and the Sketch Challenge, and Mom arrives for Thanksgiving.

For the sketch, Roxie gave us something funky.... a shape to copy. I really needed to make a RED card, so I picked out this Paper Patch print, and after I cut it out, I realized I would have to flip it so the cookies would be going in the right direction. Not the worst disaster. I really like how it turned out, and if I can keep my wits about me, I may try another.

Mom arrives after the hairdresser. We'll make the stuffing, the cranberry sauce, get the veggies ready, and find some time to make a card or two.

Have a happy Thanksgiving with friends and family. This is our favorite holiday.... great food, company, no craziness, just FUN!! Love to you all!

Earl is C-c-cold!! CBC #79

The Creative Belli Challenge #79 is to use chipboard. We all have chipboard in our stash of supplies......why don't we ever use it?? I used two pieces in the challenge this week....under the sentiment which I computer generated, and for the layered snowflake.

Our sponsor this week is StretchNBubbles. We were sent three digi stamps from which to choose our image for the card or project. I chose this silly penguin (his name is Earl!), and made him chilly caribbean blue. I hope you like him, and that you will join us in the challenge. Put CBC79 in your keyword, and also go to our blog and connect with Mr. Linky. Check my sidebar to see the rest of the uploads by the Design Team by clicking on their names, and be sure to visit our sponsor StretchNBubbles for their fabulous images!!

Two More Cards....A Busy Day!

This has been a busy day. I have been to the grocery for the last stuff for Thanksgiving, and boy! was it mobbed. Out to lunch with DH, food is put away, and I have done two challenges in addition to the CC. I used a bit of RED today, as you can see.

The Cardinal in the wreath is for the DDC. Joanne (sleepyinseattle) filled in for a design team member with computer woes. She DARED us to make a card with a wreath made of stamps, and there would be bonus points if there were flowers. I hope you will join us this week...be sure to put DDC in your keyword.

The MMTPT69 challenge today involves going to Grand Old Opry country, where Johnny Cash sang a song about Rose. The teapot is white with a beautiful rose on the side. I went with the country theme, and here is Santa singin' his little heart out with one of his reindeer. The song is for Rosie, of course. You can join us in this challenge too. I'm done card making for the day....off to make some beef stew for supper, and clean up the mess I made in my room! See you!

A Sample for the CC!

I got an email from Betty Wright who is the hostess for the Color Challenge today on SCS. She asked three of us (Judi Rose, Karen Barber and me) if any of us would like to make a sample using:

Bermuda Bay

Old Olive

Pretty in Pink

any neutral ...........and......

if we were so inclined to add a "dessert" to the menu, a plaid!

Interestingly enough, we all three said YES! This is mine. I hope you can see the three snow guys are about to start a snowball fight! Oh those snow guys... you can't keep them from playing!!

My card is long and tall to accommodate the three circles, and to balance off the curve punch edges. Thanks Betty for letting me take part in your challenge today!!

Ornaments of Peace (SSHP08)

Are you in shock? Can you believe that I didn't make this card in RED??? Today, the Clean and Simple Challenge was to make a card using sponging. I also did some masking with my new ornament punch.

I love a five minute card!! I think I may make a few more in different colors (RED for sure!), because it is so easy, and I really like the look. I punched out the ornament out of scrap paper, used it as a mask, sponged Bermuda Bay ink and stamped with the swirl from Priceless. I added some copper cord and a sentiment...........and done. I hope you like it.

Have a great day, and thanks for joining me here!

Always.......for Birgit

The Featured Stamper today at SCS is Birgit Edblom. Her cards are always extraordinarily beautiful. They are elegant, simple, and very European in feeling, I guess because she lives in Sweden.

I was so excited to see she had been chosen this week, but a little cowed, because copying her card is difficult... not because her cards are hard to CASE, but I wanted to be able to do her justice. I think I might have succeeded. I hope she likes what I have done (you too). I used an image she sent me a while ago. Hugs, Birgit!

In The Winter Forest

I don't often make square cards, but I thought this was better in a smaller format........ 4 x 4. The Inspiration Challenge this morning comes from a website that has interesting buttons. I chose one with a deer that looked a lot like the baby deer in Forest Friends (SU). After the bg was done, the perspective was all wrong. How fabulous that I own a gazillion punches, because this one by Martha Stewart of the deer is perfectly sized. I made Mrs. by eliminating the antlers.

I put a lot of sparkle on the trees, added a ribbon and glittery snowflake, and that's it. Hope you like it. Have a great weekend, my friends!

CIC2 Unenthusiastic Turkey

I found this clipart turkey, and about died laughing!! If you have ever seen anything so unenthusiastic in your life before this, PLMK!! I thought the sentiment was just perfect. We have a friend who has a fantastic sense of humor, and when I saw the look on the turkey's face, I automatically thought of her.

This will go out in the mail today so she will get it in time to enjoy it for Thanksgiving.

This card is Joan Ervin's fault. I went to her blog and she had a challenge posted for the Clearly Inspired Challenge, and I just had to do it too. Their challenge posts bi-weekly on Friday, and today was this wonderful sketch. It's uploaded to SCS at CIC2, just in case you'd like to do it too.

Thanks for looking.