Friday: Workin' the Black and the Rose is a Burst

I had fun with this card...it's simple..but the awesome paper has so much pizazz, you just gotta fly with it.

The surprise element/shape is the burst behind the sledder...

that's a rose!

Yup, even a delicate shape can pass for something cool/masculine if it's the right color and edged in black.

Speaking of black...

the black cardbase and black ink are in honor of BLACK FRIDAY for

CASology:Week 72:Shop

I'm also submitting this to

Unity Friends With Flair.

The sentiment is from the Snowglobe set ~it matches the masculine feel of this card and it fits the trimmed die from the PTI Movers and Shakers Spinners Collection.

I REALLY wasn't planning on going out shopping today...but I have to get TP.


UGH.


Maybe I can get a low, low price that is worth the battle....LOL...I can stock up for months to come....

stamp: Unity Snowglobe Wonderland sentiment

dies: Papertrey Ink (Year of the Roses,In the Meadow,Movers and Shakers Spinners Collection)

ink: Papertrey Ink True Black,Tim Holtz Black Soot

paper: Fancy Pants Swagger,Bazzill

other: Martha Stewart Fringe Scissors

THANKFUL

I'm thankful for today!

Look at the gorgeous inspiration at

Runway Inspired Challenge: RIC #48

I stamped black framed roses and light pink/beige colors with a touch of blue/green in the sentiment (to match her headdress).



Love on those you are blessed to spend the day with ...be they strangers or long-known friends/family.


Have a blessed, blessed Thanksgiving bloggy friends!



stamp: Papertrey Ink Year of the Roses
die: Papertrey Ink Counting My Blessings
other: Want2Scrap Rhinestones

CELEBRAAAAATE!!!

We have GORGEOUS GORGEOUS snow dumped everywhere...it's BEAUTIFUL, people!

Simon Says ...Anything Goes!

Get a beautiful, free sentiment at

 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #108.

 

 

~It will encourage you~

 

stamps: Papertrey Ink (The Sweet Life,Happy Trails sentiment,Rosie Posie leaves)

ink: Papertrey Ink (Hibiscus Burst,New Leaf,True Black),Hero Arts (Cup O' Joe,Soft Olive),Versamark

die: Papertrey Ink Beautiful Beads,The Sweet Life,Rosie Posie

paper: Georgia Pacific White,Bazzill Green,Fancy Pants Swagger,My Mind's Eye Breeze

other: Want2Scrap rhinestones,Ranger black embossing powder,Ranger Tim Holtz distress tool

8 Rockin' Rhinstones...

My husband tossed a clothing tag from his new hunting gear on my craft desk...

he knows me so well. ;)

I trimmed off the extra,corner chomped it and covered up the brand name for the following creation~

There are 8 rhinestones for

CAS-ual Fridays:CFC121

Like I said in my last post, I'm rollin' those Christmas cards off the assembly line...

I feel so accomplished!!!

Hope you crafty folks get some happy creative time in too, friends!

stamp: My Favorite Things DC Christmas Ornaments sentiment

dies: Papertrey Ink In the Meadow,My Favorite Things Sentiment Strip 

paper: Fancy Pants Swagger,Prima Bohemian Bamboo, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses

other: Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper

ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Pretty Dies & a HOOORAYYYYY

This card came together painlessly...thanks to some pretty dies.

There's just something about denim and mustard color combos that inspire me!

Inspired By #97

The patterned paper looks like snowflakes to me~this helps me create a winter scene for

Timeless Tuesday #247~Winter Scenes

For every Christmas card I finish ....I want to shout 

HOOORAYYYY!!!! ;) LOL

Seriously, I haven't bought a single gift but my cards are rolling off the craft desk like NOBODY'S BUSINESS!!!!

I feel like a million~

hope yours are coming along too, friends! 

Thanks for stopping in and keeping me company~

stamp: My Favorite Things DC Christmas Ornaments sentiment

die: Papertrey Ink In the Meadow,Our Daily Bread Bookmark

paper: Echo Park Reflections

ink: Papertrey Ink Enchanted Evening

other: Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper

What Makes Life So Sweet

This sentiment is SO TRUE.

Life IS so sweet and precious, isn't it?

Why do we waste it as if it isn't?

Hey, I'm guilty of it too...waiting for WHATEVER instead of looking at the value of NOW.

Meanwhile...minutes,hours, days, YEARS fly by.

ugh.

Well, there is always TODAY...and I plan on grasping it with all my fingers and toes.

LOL.

Well, maybe not my toes...but you get what I'm selling here, right?

Go do something to make you smile today...or better yet...do it to make SOMEONE ELSE smile.

They'll have nicer things to say about you when you are gone.... ;)

My inspiration is heavily taken from CASE Study Challenge #167
Keisha Campbell 

I LOVE the dramatic black and white backdrop for colorful florals~

stamp: Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life

die: Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life & Rosie Posie

ink: Papertrey Ink~Hibiscus Burst,New Leaf,Aqua Mist,Enchanted Evening

Hold it Together

I believe in living each day...day by day.

I distinctly remember my Grandma playing a song that belted out...

"One day at a tiiiiime....sweet Jesus...that's alllllll I'm asking of youuuuuuuu...

Lord help me I prayyyyy....show me the wayyyyy, ONE day at a time..."

If you imagine this card on its side, you will see the "tree" inspiration from

Inspired By #96

I absolutely love these office stamps on sale at The Craft's Meow.

I purposely left the layers a little lopsided~life can get off centered at times, right?!

Just taking it ONE. DAY. AT. A. TIME.

Amen???!!!

stamps: The Craft's Meow Welcome to the Office

ink: Versamark,Memento Pistachio

embossing powder: Recollections

paper: Teresa Collins Tell Your Story,Bazzill,Studio Calico Snippits,Georgia Pacific white cardstock

THANKFUL for My Favorite Man

Our Daily Bread ODBDSLC179:Holiday

Christmas or Thanksgiving
(must include an ODBD stamp or die)



I created this early Thanksgiving card for my main man...it includes a bookmark cut from ODBD bookmark dies.

I know my husband's new career is not as thrilling as his military one...but I am thankful for his faithfulness in going to the office everyday.

 

 

I LOVE having him return home daily...even if we've found a million little petty things to disagree on.

 

 

I told him we've got catching up to do and I'm THANKFUL that we have the luxury of stepping on each others' toes.

 

 

 There's an art to disagreeing...and we are newlyweds at it.

In time, we will recognize each others' clues that say "Don't go there".


I'm appreciative that we can glare at each other~and then depart to separate rooms for a moment to calm down.


A slammed door is much more effective when you are in the same house. ;)


I forgot that I'm such a drama queen~HA!



I am also entering this in

Simon Says...Thanks/Thanksgiving

stamps: The Craft's Meow (Let's Face It,Welcome to the Office)

die: Our Daily Bread Bookmark Dies,Papertrey Ink Counting My Blessings

inks: Papertrey Ink True Black,Jenni Bowlin Weather Vane,Ranger Tim Holtz Peeled Paint,Memento Ink Peanut Brittle & Pistachio

Hashtag Neon...

You may want to blink your eyes a couple of times before scrolling down...

BAM!

I warned ya!!! ;)

Hero Arts Holiday Challenge:Merry & Bright

Brighten up your holidays with NEON! Use any Hero Arts neon ink or neon dauber on your project.

stamp: Hero Arts CL551 Decorate Your Holidays,Studio G hashtag,Market Street Stamps Great Big Greetings

ink: Hero Arts Neon Pink and Orange,Papertrey Ink True Black,Jenni Bowlin Weather Vane

die: Papertrey Ink In the Meadow

other: Copic black,Want2Scrap bling

 

Pass the...

Remember to say please....

and thank you...and not, "Hurry Up!". ;)

Simon Says...Thanks/Thanksgiving

stamp: Sweet Stamp Shop Fall Gratitude

paper: Little Yellow Bicycle Acorn Hollow DP

ink: Memento Pistachio

die: My Favorite Things Solid Skyline

WINTER BLUES

I used some of those scraps again and created another Christmas card~

As for my next card...

I've always wanted to use this sentiment and I've paired it with one of the many dresses I have laying on my craft desk.

My basic circle and rectangle are for

Verve's Shape Up November Diva Dare



It's gloomy doomy here in my corner of the world...no wonder I've reached for the blues~

First Card

stamp: Our Daily Bread Designs Snowy Blessings

die: Papertrey Ink In the Meadow

ink: Papertrey Ink Enchanted Evening

paper: kraft,Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses,Teresa Collins Everyday Moments

Second Card

stamp: Verve Beautiful You

die: Memory Box Lady Dancing die,Spellbinders Classic Circles and Large Labels

paper: Bazzill Silver,Georgia Pacific White,Teresa Collins Everyday Moments

other: Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper

ink:Papertrey Ink Enchanted Evening

2 Challenges and Some Masculine Snowflakes

Christmas music has been playing in stores...they've creeped into my brain deep enough to inspire!!!

Here's some snowflakes....

Sweet 'n Sassy's November Release Challenge 1:Use Snowflakes/Snow

 

 SNSNOV2013RC1

Here's some masculine...

Sweet 'n Sassy's November Release Challenge #3: Make it Masculine

SNSNOV2013RC3

You could probably switch the two and still say the same...LOL.

Two down and a million more to go... ;)

Card 1

stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Seek Him Still,My Favorite Things Christmas Ornaments,Stampendous Jumbo Snowflakes

die: My Favorite Things Sentiment Strips

ink: Hero Arts

Card 2

 

 

 stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Seek Him Still,My Favorite Things Christmas Ornaments,Stampendous Jumbo Snowflakes

ink: Memento Ink Peanut Brittle and Rich Cocoa

dies: Papertrey Ink In the Meadow,My Favorite Things Sentiment Strips

other: Want2Scrap bling

 

Simply Give Thanks

Simple, but to the point...

just like gratitude.

CAS-ual Fridays:CFC119

stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop Fall Gratitude,Verve Borderline

ink:Versamark,Memento Potters Clay,WPlus9 white

embossing powder: Recollections

paper: DCWV Chickadee Stack

other: Fiskars Crimper,stapler,Crop-a-Dile corner chomper

CELEBRATE!

Apparently, my husband is happy to see me crafting up a storm lately.

He said I'm really grouchy when I don't get my crafty time in.

My daughter concurs.

ahem.

Well, go ahead and CeLeBrAtE, family!

Mama bear will try to create more often so she's pleasant to be around!

LOL

Timeless Tuesday #245:Negative Energy

Simon Says Keep It Clean and Simple

stamp: Our Daily Bread Time

ink: WPlus9 white,Memento Pistachio

die: My Favorite Things Solid Skyline

A MONDAY MIM!!!

It's been a long time since I got to play on Monday with

Papertrey's MIM.

I love taking the ink pad directly to the card~like Ashley demonstrates at

Make It Monday #140:Ink Pad Designs.

Papertrey's lovely shaped ink pads make it easy to design any pattern you fancy~

come on and play!

stamp: Papertrey Ink Holiday Photo Finishers

ink: Papertrey Ink (Aqua Mist,Raspberry Fizz,Enchanted Evening,New Leaf,True Black)

other: Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper

Clean and Simple Christmas

This is my favorite Christmas stamp.

ever.

I like the way it fits in the Spellbinders Deckled Rectangle.

It doesn't need much~which is perfect for the following challenges:

CASology:Week 69:Brown

Simon Says Keep It Clean and Simple

Inspired By #95

The pattern on the sleeve had me reach for this patterned paper and the bling inspired me to add a rhinestone for flair.

I'll keep this post CAS to match the card. ;)

stamp: Sweet 'n Sassy Seek Him Still

die: Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles

paper: DCWV Chickadee Stack,kraft cardstock,Bazzill

other: Want2Scrap bling

With My Back to the Computer

When I am sitting at my craft desk with my back to a computer, I glance over my shoulder at the screen which is six feet behind me,

and this....

from Flourishes Grab a Cup November Challenge

will bring about a creation like this.

The turquoise looks lighter and teal-like (they are practically cousins!), and the brown appears kraftier.

The two banners are replaced by bead strips which were laying on my desk feeling unloved.

This makes sense in Marlena town~hope I translated it properly. ;)

Have a great crafty day friends~

stamp: Flourishes Calla Lilies

dies: Sweet 'n Sassy Season of Change,Papertrey Ink Beautiful Beads

paper: Studio Calico Abroad,kraft,Fancy Pants Swagger

ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Scraps from the Table

My craft desk is crazy right now...but there are lots of pretty pieces that I don't want to

squirrel away just yet.

Once they get shelved...I might never see them again!

I've got two cards that came together...

Simon Says...Keep it Clean and Simple

CASology:Week 69:Brown

BIG YAYYYY for clearing up my desk a little!!! ;)

 

 

 

Hope you get some crafty time in friends~it might just make you smile. ;)

1st Card:

stamp: Sweet 'n Sassy Precious Poppies

paper: DCWV Chickadee Stack,kraft cardstock,Studio Calico Snippets

other: Martha Stewart fringe scissors,Want2Scrap bling,American Crafts twine,Sizzix Texture Fades Woodgrain

2nd Card:

paper: Kraft cardstock,Bazzill,DCWV Chickadee Stack,Fancy Pants Swagger

stamp: Verve Be Okay Plain Jane,Papertrey Ink Happy Trails

die: Papertrey Ink Happy Trails,Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles and Scalloped Ovals

other: Tim Holtz distress tool

ink: Hero Arts Soft Cantaloupe

life IS good

Life IS good.

I believe no one celebrated that louder than Cath Edvalson

on her Moxie Fab site.

Every post brimmed with MORE than just cards and card making supplies.

Cath inspired.

Cath cared.

Cath was present.

She touched upon the truth...the secret...that we cardmaking bloggers do more than just make cards.

 We live in this world, all over the world...experiencing life through our own perceptions.

 

Our cards are more than just cards.

They are extensions of ourselves.

For many of us...they are our voice.

A mini work of art that says 

I. 

was. 

here.

For me, personally, my blog is a ministry and a place where I am more than a wife or mother.

I am a woman with a voice.

Cath recognized this.

I will forever be grateful for her inspiration, courage and huge heart.

I hope she will appear in this capacity again real soon...I want to be a part of any party she is hosting!

Here's to you Cath~you've blessed me immensely!

hugs and kisses,

marlena