Christmas Card Reveal Countdown - Day 4

Another Stampin' Up image I got from a friend a few years ago so I don't have the name of it. I colored these guys in with a watercolor brush and the new to me PTI color Scarlet Ink. It matches perfectly with this Bo Bunny dotted paper! Love when that happens.

The snowflake is also a gift from a friend so I have no idea what punch it is...maybe Stampin' Up! but I'm not sure.

Stamps: Image unknown (Stampin' Up!), sentiment - Made of Snow (Papertrey Ink).

Thanks for dropping in. Check in tomorrow to see what the Day 5 cards look like!!

Donelda

Christmas Card Reveal Countdown - Day 3

Welcome to day 3 of my Christmas card reveal. If you haven't been here for a bit you might not know that I decided to save most of the many Christmas cards I've been making over the last few months to share during the month of December. Today is the 3rd of 21 days. These 2 cards are actually recycled cards. The strips of image on these cards are actually small pieces of last years Christmas cards. This cute little Santa and his reindeer card is one of my very favorite out of all I made this year!! It is just so cute and clean and simple and perfect (at least to me!!). Stamps: Everyday Flexible Phrases (Stampin' Up!, retired), Believe (Papertrey Ink). I hope to see you tomorrow for Day 4 of my countdown (although I realize I am actually counting up!! Sheesh LOL) Donelda

Christmas Card Reveal Countdown - Day 2

Welcome to my second day of revealing all the Christmas cards I created for the season!! Today I have some wonderful snowmen to share. Both of these cards use the same layout but different images and colors. I love that particular blue for snowmen cards ... and if you look carefully you will see a few small strips of Becky Ohlers own designer paper!! The red snowman is an image I got from a friend. While I know it is Stampin' Up! I do not know what it is called and I'm guessing it is probably retired by now!! He is soooo cute with his little birdy friends.

This layout ended up being a great one to use up some small scraps of designer paper. I'm going to have to use it more often!!

Stamps: Made of Snow (Papertrey Ink), unknown (Stampin' Up!)

See you tomorrow for the 3rd reveal day!

Donelda

smART Word Challenge Dec. - Christmas

Note: this is my second post for the day - see my other post for Day 1 of my Christmas Card Reveal Countdown. So, this month over at the smART Word Challenge Blog it was Giovanna's turn to pick the "word". She picked CHRISTMAS of course!! That left things pretty open-ended!!

I decided to create some tags for my inspiration. I got this great postage frame stamp from smARTworks but decided that, while it would be cute to put around my postage stamps, it would also make a great image for a Christmas tag.

You see how you can put the 'to: and from:' in the middle!! And that is exactly what I plan to do.

Now, off to see what everyone else has created for the word CHRISTMAS over at the smART Word blog. Remember, you can play too. Just use the word CHRISTMAS as your inspiration (how easy is that!!) and then go to the site and link a post of your card or other creation on Mr. Linky. There are some pretty good prizes up for grabs!! and if you use smARTworks stamps on your project, you also get smART Bucks which you can cash in for some awesome rubber that you can't even buy!! How cool is that!!

See you over at the Word Blog! Oh yeah, and don't forget to check out my Christmas Card Reveal post - just scroll down to see it!!

Donelda

Supplies: Stamps - CMS-26 CC Frame; Ink - Jet Black (Ranger); Paper - Sahara Sand (SU!), Walnut Stain (Ranger); Other - pencil crayons (Prismacolor), 1/4" circle punch, hemp, sponge applicator.

Christmas Card Reveal Countdown - Day 1

Hello and welcome to the first day of my Christmas Card Reveal. While I haven't been posting many Christmas cards on my blog over the last few months, that doesn't mean I haven't been making them!! I have (well over 100). I just get tired of looking at Christmas cards for months leading up to Christmas, so instead, I decided to save them (unless they were for a challenge) and post them during December. So, I have 21 days of Christmas cards to share -- every day from today until December 21st!! Enjoy!

Stamps: Addy Keeper (smARTworks), Happiest of Holidays (Stampin' Up!) Faux Ribbon, Holiday Wishes (Papertrey Ink)

See you tomorrow with Reveal Day 2!!

Donelda

Santa Jellyfish???

I was so excited to see the latest Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential challenge - to use/create an image with a hat. Recently, I created a "ticket holder" for some swim passes for some special little boys! (note: I can't show the full ticket holder because I don't want to give away my identity to those who will be receiving them) Because they were for a Christmas present and swim passes, I wanted to connect the two...and in the end I created this great Santa Jellyfish!!

I stamped the Jellyfish from Fishy Friends (Stampin' Up - retired) onto the kraft cardstock. Then I colored him in with pencil crayons (Prisma). Then, I stamped the Santa hat (from Made with Snow by Papertrey Ink) onto a piece of scratch paper, colored it with a red marker and cut it out. The hat fit perfectly!!

I know this is not a "project" so it doesn't really qualify for the challenge ... I just wanted to share because I think he is so cute!!! :-)

I am anxious to see all the projects everyone does make for the challenge!!

Enjoy!!

Donelda

Christmas 09 - Candle and Background

Note: This is my second post for today - this and the earlier post are an early edition of my "Christmas Card Reveal Countdown". Tomorrow I will be officially starting my Christmas Card Reveal Countdown - 21 days straight of Christmas cards. You see, I've been busy making many cards (well over 100) but I just haven't been posting them...because I get tired of looking at just Christmas cards for the 3 months leading up to Christmas. So, instead, I've decided to save most of them to post during the month of December!! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did making them and giving them away!! This is one of my favorite Christmas cards that I've made this year!! See the background on the Kraft cardstock ... I made that with the Christmas image from the smARTworks set called Addy Keepers. I stamped it randomly on the Kraft cardstock using Close to Cocoa ink. I got the idea from THIS card by Dawn McVey. The candle was colored in using my watercolor crayons and my aqua brush. Supplies: Stamps - Candle Joy, Addy Keeper (smARTworkers); Paper - Whisper White, Kraft, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!), Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate Bitty Dots (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Basic Black, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Other - watercolor crayons (Stampin' Up!), white grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!), corner rounder, dimensionals. I am glad you dropped in!! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about that crazy background!! :-) And don't forget that this is only 1 of 2 posts for today...make sure you scroll down to see my other extra early Christmas card post. And enjoy the next 21 days of Christmas!!! Donelda

Christmas 09 - smARTworks - Addy Keeper in Brown

Note: This is the first of 2 posts for today. Make sure you check out the other Chirstmas card that I posted today. For the next 21 days I will be having a Christmas card reveal where I will be showing all of the cards I've been making over the last several months. Hope you enjoy!! When I saw this "Addy Keeper" stamp from smARTworks, I knew that I could use it more than just for addresses on envelopes. I printed a sentiment on a piece of vanilla cardstock using my computer. Then, I stamped the image around it using Chocolate chip ink. I added some red puffy paint for the berries, some Pure Poppy twill and adhered all this to a piece of striped Au Chocolat designer paper that was cut to have the strips on a diagonal. Supplies: Stamps - Addy Keepers (smARTworks); Ink - Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Paper - Very Vanilla, Au Chocolat (Stampin' Up!); Other - Pure Poppy twill (Papertrey Ink), puffy paint (Tulip), computer generated sentiment, dimensionals. Thanks for dropping in!! Let the Christmas cards rule for the next 21 days!! Donelda

smARTworks - Swirly-Gigs

smARTworks has some of the best sentiments!! I stamped this one on some white cardstock and cut it out with an oval nestability. Before removing the die, I sponged on a bit of sky blue ink. Then I watercolored the little leaf (which is also part of the stamp set). This Memory Box paper is some of my favorite!! and I also love the Summer Sunrise (Papertrey Ink) twill layered over the Chocolate Chip ribbon (Stampin' up!). Thanks for dropping in to my blog today!! Leave me a little comment love!! :-) Donelda

Hello, hello, hello, hello....

Hello...Hello... Hello... :-) This is the card and scrapling that I entered for the October Guest Star Stamper contest over at Papertrey Ink. I make a million PTI cards and never think to enter them for the contest. But when I made this one I just knew I would because I liked it so much!! Of course I didn't win anything, not even an honorable mention...but I like it anyway!! One note....when stamping "hello" repeatedly like this make sure you leave a bit of a space between the words...or else it will look like your card is swearing...don't ask me how I know this LOL!! See that cute little Raspberry Fizz scallop edge....it is the fancy bracket in Heather's Beyond Basic Borders set. I stamped it repeatedly across a piece of white cardstock and then used my scissors to cut along the bottom of it, leaving just a bit of white. I love this color combination, it feels so bright and fresh!! Thanks for dropping in!! Donelda

Blog Hop Winner

I asked my son to randomly picked a number from 1 to 16 and he picked #4. That comment belongs to Jessica G. !! Congratulations Jessica and I hope you enjoy all your goodies! Thanks to everyone who left comments. I will look at everyone's comments and do my best to incorporate your ideas into my blog in the new year!! Particularly, I've had a lot of interest in my design lessons so I might take a new run at those. Have a great evening and a Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!!

Papertrey Ink November Blog Hop - Last Minute Gifts

Yes, it is Papertrey Ink's Blog Hop time again (25th of each month) and this time I was determined to participate!! I keep seeming to miss them!! This month, Nichole is really thinking smart because she challenged us to create "a quick and inexpensive wrap or tag that can be the perfect solution for 'grab & go' gifts". Well, I love to bake and give away my cooking as gifts. It is always nice to have a few extra dozen for last minute gifts. I decided to take a simple brown paper bag to use as my 'inexpensive wrap'. I used my Labels 1 nestability die and traced it onto the center of the bag and using my Fiskers cutter, carfully cut it out (making sure I put a small cutting mat inside). Then I adhered a piece of acetate on the inside so it was like a window.

Next was the decorating part. I really wanted snowflakes...but I don't own the PTI set of

snowflakes. However, I discovered that in the newish Vintage Picnic set, there is this awesome snowflake image and a holiday sentiment. Maybe you didn't realize it was there or didn't think to reach for a "summery" themed stamp set to use for Christmas??!! I stamped the snowflake all over the bag in white and then a bit in brown. Then, I added the little "bits" stamp from the Remember set ... it is just a bunch of little dots and looks just like fuzzy little snow bits blowing around in the sky. I created a topper, added my cookies (these are just store bought for now) and stapled the topper to the top of the bag. Note that my cookies are in a sealed plastic bag.

Well, now I'm off to see what all the other PTIers did for their last minute gift ideas, tags or packaging!! Thanks for dropping in!! Donelda

Scratch Ticket holders for Christmas

So today is the big draw for my Blog Candy for making it to 50,000 hits. Make sure you get your comment on the blog candy post for your chance to win. I'll be randomly drawing a name tonight at 9:00!!

Also note that my Papertrey Ink Blog Hop post will be going up at 3:00 this afternoon.

A friend at work asked if I could make her some scratch ticket holders. I thought, what a great idea!! Lots of people give scratch tickets to neighbors, co-workers, teachers, for company gift exchanges, etc. So, I started out making a few for her and then ended up making a whole bunch!!

Here are my favorites.

And here are a few more! My friend asked me to make some that were bright colors so that is why you see some interesting colors in there. I tend to stick to pretty traditional colors but I've got to admit, I do like the pink and blues!!

I hope you too are inspired by these scratch ticket holders. They are a great way to use up scraps. I had a lot of fun creating!!

Thanks for dropping in!

Donelda

CASED gratitude card

Don't miss out on my Blog Candy give away for hitting 50,000 hits. You must go to the right POST and leave a comment before 9:00 on Wed 25th in order to be eligible. This card was totally inspired by Stephanie. She loves to particiapate in the Loonie Stamper Challenges ... and as you know, so do I!! So I like to pop onto Stephanie's blog and she is so great and makes some beautiful cards!! Now, my card doesn't look nearly as nice as hers ... my sentiment isn't as big and I think my square of designer paper is too small. Her dimensions are just perfect - as you can see HERE. But I loved her card so much, I still had to make one with what I had. Part of the reason my designer paper square is too small is because I used the sample that PTI offers on their site...I don't own any of the actual paper. Supplies: Stamps - Beautiful Blooms (Papertery Ink); Paper - Melon Berry, Select White, and a small square of Green Tea Leaves designer paper (sample) (all Papertrey Ink); Ink - Versamark, Jet Black (Ranger); Other - button, hemp, dimensionals. So, you can see that Stephanie's card is nice than mine, however, I still kinda like mine. Have a great stampy day!! Donelda

Cookie Challenge #13 - Fannie Mae

Note: Go HERE to see my blog candy for 50,000 blog hits, make sure you leave a comment so you have a chance to win. When I opened the envelope from Susan that contained the latest Cookie Challenge my jaw hit the floor!! Fannie Mae is awesome but she would require creating a "vintage" card...and I really have a hard time creating "vintage". So, I started searching out vintage galleries, blogs, and cards! I gathered a bunch of different ideas from various cards and pulled it all together to get my own creation. Fannie Mae is colored with my Copics. The text background is a page from an old book, and I used my sewing machine, and even cut the edges jagged and sponged around the edges as well. In my exploration I saw a lot of lace so I wanted to include it on my card too....but my lace was so white and bright! So, I brewed a cup of stong tea and dunked the lace into it!! Just 20 minutes later and the lace fit much better!! One last little detail, see that button...it was white!! So I took my pink Copic marker (the same one I used to color in the fan) and changed the button from white to pink!! Now, I am off to see what the other Design Team members did. They are all together in the Cookie Jar. I am shocked to see how many different styles we all ended up with dispite using the same stamp set!! Donelda

KLSNS Nov. Challenge - Snowflakes

Over at KL Stampin N Scrapin blog the November Challenge is Snowflakes!! It's times like this that make me wish I had a snowflake punch because Deb created an awesome snowflake tutorials with all kinds of awesome things to do with punched out snowflakes. But since I would only use snowflakes once a year I try not to buy one...however, someone should hint to my family that it would make a great present!!

Anyway, back to my card. Luckily for me, I still had 1 more of these blue metal snowflakes that I picked up at Michael's 2 years ago. I've been trying really hard to use up my supplies that I've been hoarding!! I took my snowflake and pressed it onto my Essential Glue pad. Then, I poured glitter all over it!! Yummy glittery goodness!! Next, I stamped large dots with white ink onto blue cardstock. I printed off some blue text from my computer and added a strip of that as well to a silver card base. I finished the card off with some blue twill, a button, some twine, and a small tag with my Christmas sentiment. Oh yeah, and 2 of the corners are rounded. All in all, I kinda like this card. Thanks to KLSNS for encouraging me to use up this snowflake!! Supplies: Stamps - Polka Dot Basics, Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink), Whisper White craft (Stampin' Up!); Paper - silver (unknown), Enchanted Evening, Select White (Papertrey Ink); Other - metal snowflake (Michaels), Dazzling Diamonds (Stampin' Up!), Essentials Glue Pad (Tsukineo), button (Papertrey Ink), twill (Stampin' Up!), tag die (Provo Craft), corner rounder. This is one of 4 posts I've got on here today!! I have been very busy having fun with some challenges and can't wait to share them with you. Don't forget to add a comment to my blog candy give away (not here...go to the right post!). Have a great day!! Donelda

Challenges - Lucy's Color Challenge and CPS 142

Note: I was busy doing challenges on Friday night so this is the first of 3 posts that have challenge cards! Make sure you scroll down to see the others. Also Note: See THIS post to comment in order to win my 50,000 hit blog candy!!!

I was so excited to see that Lucy was starting her own challenges!! Here is my card using light pink, aqua, and kraft!!

I followed the CPS 142 for my layout! Always nice to get two in one.

Supplies: Stamps-Background Basics:Text Style; Paper-Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush (Papertrey Ink), Kraft (an old file folder); Ink - Aqua Mist (Papertrey Ink); Other- Butterflies Black (Maya Road); Encouragement (Deja View); white satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Labels 1 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug, sewing machine and white thread, dimensionals.

Thanks for dropping in!! Don't forget to scroll down and see my other challenge cards! and don't forget to go comment for your chance to win some blog candy!!

Donelda

Clean and Simple (CAS) Challenge - 41 Purse and Corrosive Challenge

Note: this is only 1 of 3 posts on my blog today. Make sure you check out hte other 2 which also have challenge cards. Also don't forget to go to THIS POST to enter to win my 50,000 hits blog candy!! Okay, so on Friday the CAS challenge was a link to Vera Bradley purses for our inspiration. I picked this purse because I love this oriential feel and that bird looked like my favorite bird out of the Papertrey Ink, Birds Of A Feather set. All the white is embossed.

This also fits the Corrosive challenge #38 - embossing.

Supplies: Stamps-Birds of a Feather, Life, Borders & Corners{rectange} and {square}, Faux Ribbon (all Papertrey Ink); Ink - Versamark; Paper - chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Whisper White (all Stampin' Up!); other - white embossing powder.

Remember to check out my other 2 challenge card posts for this weekend. (and to enter a comment to be able to win some blog candy).

Donelda

Embellish Magazine - Primary Colors

So this is the first of 3 blog posts today. Make sure you check them all out. And don't miss out on winning some blog candy. I hit 50,000 and want to celebrate! Go to THIS POST and leave a comment there in order to win. So I only have a few select colored brads (I generally use metallic colors) but luckily I had at least 1 of each of the colors for this month's Embellish Magazine color challenge. Supplies: Stamps - Giga Guide Lines, Around and About Sentiments (both Papertrey Ink); Ink - Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink), Versamark, Summer Sun (Stampin' Up!); Paper - Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy, Leaf Green (Papertrey Ink), Whisper White (SU!), yellow (scrap); Other - brads (Dollarama), dimensionals. Thanks for dropping in!! Donelda

smART Word Challenge Nov. - GRATITUDE

You need to check out my Blog Candy give away since I just hit 50,000 hits here on my blog!! To be entered, you have to leave a comment HERE by Wed. Nov. 25th. Well it is that time again for the smART Word Challenge from smARTworks!! The single word that was choosen by Susan for this challenge was GRATITUDE. What a great word!! It makes me think of all the things that I have in my life! Some days I really think I am the luckiest person alive ~ no kidding!! If you pop over to the smART Word Challenge Blog you will see my card posted there. I love these shafts of wheat-like foilage from smARTworks and they remind me of harvest and thanksgiving and fall. I pulled them out and stamped them onto a piece of white cardstock. Then I decided to use my oval nestability to create a focal point. The sentiment was added and then I sponged around the oval. I adhered the oval focal point onto some brown and yellow papers. You definately need to share your GRATITUDE card. Just pop over to the challenge blog and load up your card on Mr. Linky. You are welcome to use whatever stamps you have that express GRATITUDE and you will be entered to win this stamp set. Is it not adorable....makes me wish I wasn't part of the Design Team so I could win it!! Remember, if you do use smARTworks rubber on your card you will recieve a smART Buck -- check out all the great stuff you can get with smART Bucks!! Supplies: Stamps - FL-17, HSD Daisy Square (smARTworks); Ink - Yellow Ochre, Bisque both Color Box chalk inks (Hero Arts), Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Paper - Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!), various brown and yellow scraps; Other - brads (Stampin' Up!), dimensionals, oval die (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug, sponge, corner rounder. So, go and create a card that expreses GRATITUDE and load it up!! I'd love to see your creation!! Donelda

Tulip Hello and Blog Candy Give Away .... 50,000 Hits!!!

Okay, so it happened...my blog hit 50,000 yesterday! Wow, that seemed to happen so fast!! To celebrate and say thanks to all you wonderful viewers, I have a little blog candy for one lucky person. If you want a chance to win, leave me a comment on this post and tell me what you would like to see more of on my blog. On Wednesday Nov. 25, I will randomly pick someone to send this package of goodies to, which includes 2 Papertrey Ink ink cubes (orange zest and melon berry - not shown in picture), a stamp set from Recollections, a bunch of little flowers, some chipboard letters and a while bunch more great stuff (I'll list everything at the end of this whole post). I participated in this CAS challenge way back in July. And that layout has just stuck in my head. I seem to keep using this layout over, and over, and over. Here is yet another card using it!! Is that oval stamp adorable??!! I like it a lot. It is in the Wishing You set from Papertrey Ink. I bought it earlier this year but haven't used it nearly enough. And lately, I am trying to use stamps that I haven't used enough!! I took a piece of white cardstock and added this beautiful strip of stripped designer paper (Me and My Big Idea 8x8 pad). I placed a piece of satin Raspberry Fizz ribbon and tied it on the side with a piece of white thread. To this I added the oval stamped with Raspberry Fizz and cut it out. I added a layer of Chcocolate Chip cardstock cut with my scallop oval die. On top of this I stamped the small sentiment with Chocolate Chip ink. I really need to pull this stamp out and use it even more. It is just so cute!! Your comments are appreciated ... leave some if you want me to be happy :-) Donelda Blog Candy - Flowers For You stamp set (Recollections), Chipboard stickers (Cloud 9 Design), Florabella rub ons (Scrapworks), decorative leaf accents (Black Ink), Textured Chipboard alphabets and numbers in chocolate (Chatter Box), Film Strip and Vacation ABCs rub ons (Royal and Langnickel), 6 tubes of glitter (red, blue, green, gold, silver, and white), felt flowers (Stampin' Up!), ribbon and pearl flowers (Offray), and various squares of cardstock with 4 different edges (straight, small wave, bigger wave, and pinked).

3x3 Best Wishes

A simple little 3x3 card using a combination of Faux Ribbon and Beyond Basic Backgrounds ... both by Papertrey Ink.

I've been trying to use stamps that I have but haven't used nearly enough. Like that leaf border stamp. Isn't it nice!! I like it a lot and think it looks great stamped in green!! You know you will be seeing more of it in the near future!!

Thanks for dropping in!

Donelda

Rustic Pine Cone

Edited - Can you see my counter...it is creeping ever so close to 50,000 hits!!! I can hardly belive it! I was kinda hoping it would wait until after Christmas but it is what it is!! So, I think I am going to have to round up a bit of candy to give away once it hits 50,000!!! Stay tuned so you know when to comment to be in the draw!!! This pine cone comes from the Papertrey Ink set called First Fruits. I have enjoyed a few images from that set but I haven't used this pine cone yet. I love it!! The card is simple, I stamped the pine cone and needles (they are seperate stamps). Then, I did some tearing. I love that look when I see it on other's cards ... but usually I never think of doing it myself. But I did here, a double layer... the white and the brown. I added the sentiment in the space left by the tearing, love that look!! A bit of brown hemp and some dimensionals and you get a pretty simple and masculine card. Supplies: First Fruits; Beyond Basic Backgrounds (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Chocolate Chip, Garden Green (Stampin' Up!); Paper - Whisper White, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Other - dimensionals, brown hemp. Enjoy your day!! Donelda

smARTworks - Birthday Inchies

So here is yet another inchie card made with one of the smARTwork inchie sets! You know how much I love creating with inchies!! I love, love, love this image ... it looks so medevil or something!! I decided to vary from my typical "three-in-a-row" and went with this 4 square grid. I picked 4 colors that I love putting together (which doesn't happen very often - usually I'm a 2 colors at a time kinda crafter!). I stamped the same image in the different colors, adhered them to a bit of Kraft cardstock and then added all this onto a Chocolate Chip card base with dimensionals. The sentiment is stamped with Chocoloate Chip ink as well. I had contemplated doing some stamping on the card base but decided that it would just detract from the focal image. Supplies: Stamps- Inchie Squares Set 3 (smARTworks); Ppaer - Whisper Whtie, Kraft, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Ink - Summer Sunrise, Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink), Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Other - dimensionals, 1" square punch. I'm still looking for more layouts to use with inchies...any great ideas out there??? Donelda