Happy New Year Christmas Paper

Whimsy Stamps Retro Dancers, The Ton Stamps Easy Expressions Holiday, My Favorite Things Square Frames die, Erin Lee Creative Cotton + Candy Cardstock (white chunky glitter paper), The Paper Studio Photo Ornaments paper, Brutus Monroe Slate Cardstock, American Crafts Damask Love Life's a Party (disco ball)

 

I don't have a huge anything for New Year's Day yearly. 

However, I've hosted out of state family here and there.

 I tend to gravitate toward Christmasy New Year's designs when I send out my cards, and I think because I remember when we connected during that special time.

I will always love these disco dancers, and this card can be given to anyone.

Simon Says (Wednesday): Use Dies

Thank you for your sweet visit!

Heart Cinnamon Ornaments

 

Christmas is sneaking up on me, just like it did you, I'm sure.

It's the season my family likes to create these cinnamon ornaments, and I've decided to look ahead to other seasons to create for (these take at least five days to flip over and dry).

 I love the scent.

Here's 

some hearts for Valentines day! ;)

Printed recipe and Ranger Tim Holtz Deckle Edge Trimmer

If you are interested in this cinnamon ornament recipe, here you go!

Cinnamon Ornament Recipe

Ingredients (yields 5-6 ornaments)

-1 Cup Ground Cinnamon

-1 tsp Nutmeg

-1 tsp Cloves 

-3/4 Cup unsweetened applesauce

-2 TBS Tacky Glue (I use Aleene's Original Craft glue) 

-Cookie Cutters 

Directions

Combine the spices with applesauce. Add glue and knead well with hands until mixture forms stiff dough. Dust the surface lightly with cinnamon and roll out the dough 1/4" thick. Cut the dough with cookie cutters and lay out on a sheet of waxed paper.  Gently poke a hole in each with a straw. Leave in a safe place to dry for about a week, flipping the ornament multiple times each day to evenly dry.  When dry, decorate with paint and/or glitter and attach a ribbon. You can store finished ornament in a plastic bag and reuse it each year.

You will know when it's time to flip the ornament each day, when you see that one side is dry (do it at least twice a day).

When you don't see a wet spot (after flipping it for at least four days), you might be done with drying (although I'd give it five days).

Simon Says (Wednesday): Gifts

Thank you for your sweet visit!

Mixin' Up Tags for Clients

I love coming up with gifts for my girlies' worlds!

This is a design I came up with using many companies

 (several no longer in business).

The ones that still are, are Brutus Monroe (cardstock), Honey Bee Stamps (Spring Cottage Village dies), Sizzix (white floral framelit), and The Ton Stamps (Confetti Borders on the tags), and Simon Says Stamp (Christmas Cheer sentiment on smaller tag).

Sizzix 665655 Olivia Rose Framelits, Honey Bee Stamps Spring Cottage Village, Brutus Monroe cardstock (Midnight, Slate, Mustard Seed, Harvest), The Ton Stamps Confetti Borders, Simon Says Stamp Christmas Cheer sentiment, Technique Tuesday Mixin' Up sentiment (no longer in business), Reverse Confetti Round tag (no longer in business), Ellen Hutson Modern Tags (no longer in business)

Here's a shot of them attached to quality whisks I found at the At Home store (they are just a few dollars, but got five stars).

This candy whisk theme was popular in Pinterest, so I can't call out a particular pin, but I loved the idea

 (and had the Mixin' Up set still in my stash).

I found candy to match the color scheme too!

Yes, I'm particular that way. ;)

 

Simon Says (Monday): Use Dies

I entered this challenge with "ornaments" and "presents" in mind, since these are gifts. I added ribbon for the recipients to use these as ornaments on their tree, as well.

Thank you for your sweet visit today!

Thank You Cinnamon Ornaments

My daughter asked me create her some thank you notes, so I whipped up some and added little cinnamon ornaments as a small gift.

Essentials by Ellen Voices in My Head, The Ton Confetti Borders sentiments, Reverse Confetti Gift Card Holder die, AALL & Create Superbly Square Stencil, Lawn Fawn Yeti Ink, Papertrey Ink Pure Poppy, Versafine Onyx Black Ink, Brutus Monroe Hyper Pigment Gold

I sponged on the background with Lawn Fawn Ink and an AALL stencil.

Each ornament is finished with Brutus Monroe's Hyper Gold pigment.

Simon Says (Wednesday): Sparkle & Shine

Allsorts Challenge 603/4 Sparkle & Shine

 

If you are interested in this Cinnamon ornament recipe...here you go!

Cinnamon Ornament Recipe

Ingredients (yields 5-6 ornaments)

-1 Cup Ground Cinnamon

-1 tsp Nutmeg

-1 tsp Cloves 

-3/4 Cup unsweetened applesauce

-2 TBS Tacky Glue (I use Aleene's Original Craft glue) 

-Cookie Cutters 

Directions

Combine the spices with applesauce. Add glue and knead well with hands until mixture forms stiff dough. Dust the surface lightly with cinnamon and roll out the dough 1/4" thick. Cut the dough with cookie cutters and lay out on a sheet of waxed paper.  Gently poke a hole in each with a straw. Leave in a safe place to dry for about a week, flipping the ornament multiple times each day to evenly dry.  When dry, decorate with paint and/or glitter and attach a ribbon. You can store finished ornament in a plastic bag and reuse it each year.

My girls make these every year and they are well received! 

Simon Says Stamp IG Challenge: Thanks

As always, I appreciate you and thank you for your visits to my blog!

Silhouette Ornaments

I cracked open my Brutus Monroe Plaid Tidings Inspiration Box and it's a generous one!

 

I pulled hot pink cardstock and sequins from my stash cuz that black and white plaid called for it. ;)

Brutus Monroe Plaid Tidings Inspiration Box, The Ton Sequins, Avery Elle Double Stitched Rectangles

 

 

 

 Simon Says Stamp November IG Challenge: Holiday

 

 

 Thank you so much for stopping in today!

 

 

 

Transformation Tuesday Ornaments

Papertrey Ink's Transformation Tuesday is a great opportunity to take one of your earlier designs and redo or repurpose them.

Last week's Tranformation Tuesday hosted by
Lexi Daly
inspired me to take a card design and turn it into ornaments.

stamps: Papertrey Ink (retired) Make It Market Kit Tinsel & Tags/What the Doodle Snowflakes sentiment/Vintage Ornaments II sentiment      dies: Papertrey Ink (retired) Make It Market Kit Tinsel & Tags

Here's my original black and white card from last year, which uses the same kit.

 

I'm linking my project to this week's 

Transformation Tuesday 

hosted by  Lizzie Jones,

in which she takes a card and changes the season.

You can transform a previous project anyway you like.

I think it's fun to revisit my older projects...I've had my blog since 2011.

If I go "bleh" when I see some of my older stuff, this is a great opportunity to redo.

If I like a project I've designed, I just revamp it with trendy colors or better skills.

ahem. ;)

Since I plan on gifting these (and more which I will share if I get around to it), I'm also sharing this at

 

Simon Says (Monday): Gift It


These should last a few years...they are chipboard ornaments.


Here is the link to a tutorial which I've drawn from many times.

 

The winter scenes are appropriate for this challenge too:

 Simon Says (Wednesday): Baby It's Cold Outside

Thank you so much for stopping by!

 

Christmas Girlies

I did some coloring on two simple Christmas cards ...

(stamps: My Favorite Things Ala Modes Sparkling Season/Stampendous Yule Penguins)

Simon Says (Wed): Clean and Simple Christmas

(stamps: My Favorite Things Ala Modes Sparkling Season/Die-namics Christmas Ornaments)

What I love about coloring is you can change the hair color and outfits on every character.

My girlies are all about lavendar, blue and pink hair...so I added a little fun on each girl's head.


I've dealt with non-conventional hair color before on my girlie's REAL heads...let me tell you....it's easier to color a pic with Copics!


There is so much involved...one of which is to bleach the hair out first.


ugh...I think we spent almost 2 hours in bleaching, rinsing, drying and bleaching again before actually adding the fun color.


In the end they loved it, thank goodness!!!

Christmas in July

Woah...ANOTHER card...

 and a CHRISTMAS card at that.

The first one is always the hardest for me.

However, when there's a splash challenge at the Cafe~you can count me IN!

The Play Date Cafe #192

I used a Post It note for that splash of neon.

I thank the challenge at

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #230

Christmas in July With a Catch (semi-flat).

It motivated me to get one done.

;)

stamps: Papertrey Ink Grunge Me,Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages,My Favorite Things Christmas Ornaments,Waltzingmouse Teeny Trees sentiment,Mama Elephant We Click

ink: Papertrey Ink True Black

paper: Georgia Pacific white,post it note

You're the Bomb...Thank You

I love this girlie's crazy hair!!! LOL

I'm so glad this ornament die looks like a bomb...YAY!



Now there's a random thing to say....hee hee


I flipped the smallest panel in this sketch...wanting to balance out the friendly/fun bombs...


once again...a random sentence~

TSG#182

I needed a memorable way to say thanks to a special lady who ROCKS and who really is

THE BOMBDIGGITY.



She's a hoot and has been BEYOND generous to me lately.



I shall submit this to the following challenges~

Simon Says Stamp and Show:Thank You

Simon Says Thank Tou


I don't know about you all..but I am DRAGGING today....


I'm on my second coffee drink so far~and hanging on!!!




stamps: Verve sentiment,There She Goes BombDiggity,Waltzingmouse Heirloom Patterns
ink: Ranger Tim Holtz walnut stain,Memento Tuxedo Black,Dandelion and Rich Cocoa
paper: Studio Calico Abroad DP,Georgia Pacific white cardstock,American Crafts cardstock brown
other: Tim Holtz distress tool
die: My Favorite Things Christmas Ornaments

~Virtual Stamp Day Sketch~

Sweet 'n Sassy had me on my toes these past few days!

I look forward to their monthly weekend challenges that I can sink my creative teeth into~so to speak. ;)

Challenge #3 is a lovely sketch.

Embellish Paint Color Trends Challenge

I used a glossy accents fabric paint (it was easy to just scribble it around the circle die).


Maybe I'll carve some time out to make another one for this challenge~I love these colors and playing with paint~


Thank you for stopping by today-it's such a blessing to have company~ ;)



stamps:Sweet 'n Sassy The Sea,My Favorite Things Christmas Ornaments Stamp
paper:Papertrey Ink Kraft,Georgia Pacific white,Piggy Tales grey
embossing folder: Cuttlebug Embossing Allegro folder
die: Spellbinders classic circles
ink: Papertrey Ink New Leaf and True Black
other: Fiskars Rotary cutter deckle blade,Tim Holtz distress tool,Crop-a-Dile corner chomper

~A Verve Handmade Christmas Challenge~

Beautiful, strong cardstock, but just a strip left?

Look what you can create! ;)

 Memory verse ornaments!!!

 Just center the beautiful strips with a DP strip

and punch a couple of holes.

I used the "V" in the argyle pattern to cut a pretty decent banner if I do say so myself ;)

Look, I'll even admit to using a messed up strip underneath (hence the double cardstock in this one).

 Gather some bells with a clear string like fishing line-that stuff is super strong. 

 String together three of them and tie in a knot to cluster them.

Next, a strip of ribbon ...

 make sure you stamp before you assemble.

All you need is three staples to hold it together underneath.

Verve Stamps Holiday Diva Dare

You HAVE to see what the Divas and other participants created....wowzers.

Thank you for peeking in. ;)

Supplies:

Our Daily Bread Scripture Collection 6,Our Daily Bread You Will Find Refuge,Papetrey Ink premium dye true black ink,AC cardstock neutral heavyweight pack,Authentique Blissful DP,Omniflex Fishing line 50lb test,stapler,hole punch,1/2" Scor-Tape to adhere

Wanna Be

I remember when I went to my friend's college function years after I had earned my English degree.

It was a presentation set up by the graphic arts department.

That's when I knew.

I knew in my heart that I would have LOVED majoring in graphic art.


I ENJOYED majoring in English, it was easier for me than other subjects. 



But, if I had taken art....


I would have LOVED it.

I thank God for computers, crafting and stamping ... the whole lot!

It's like a second chance.

Back in the day when I was going to school...computers weren't like they are now.

There wasn't clip art or software you could maneuver and work with.

Since I didn't see raw talent coming from me...

like pottery, painting or sketching,


being an art major was as far away from me as being an astronaut. 

But oh, how I would pause at the window of the art department and just gaze at displays with a longing in my heart.  

Wishing those were MY pieces hanging in the window.

When I looked at them...my head got all swimmy like, ya know?

I'm sure I'm not the only wanna be out here...I see so much talent coming from other stay at home/ stamping moms. 



I also see it coming from working/stamping moms who have jobs which aren't artistic.

We all wanna be....oh I don't know...artists in some way, shape or form?

I had a lot of fun with this card and for some reason, remembered the night that I knew.

I first inked up my thin acrylic block with pink and then orange and stamped the backgrounds for the images.  I then stamped the ornaments in Versamark and embossed in black.

I used braiding cord to "shoe lace" the inked piece to the card base.  I sponged the blue in the raw spots left over.

Thanks for listening to my story, and know we are blessed to be able to freely show our work and play these fun challenges that wake up the artist in all of us. ;)

Card info:

My Mind's Eye I Believe stamp, Papertrey Ink's Wreath for All Seasons sentiment, Versamark, black embossing powder, Tim Holtz and Staz On inks