Birthday Elephants

Happy New Year!

I have had this adorable Cuddly Buddly free digi image for quite a while and have not had the chance to use it. Since a friend's daughter is turning 8 later this week, I decided it was the time to break it out (or print it out?).

This card also fits several challenges:
Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #54 (MTSC54)
Charisma Cards Challenge - Celebrations (Be sure to check out their birthday blog hop.)
Three Clovers Designs Challenge - Celebrations



Supplies:
Image from Cuddly Buddly
All paper and ink from Stampin' Up (DP is from the Sweet package)
Ribbon from Minnesota Fabrics (from my Mom's stash. It is probably 20 years old.)
Sentiment from Clear Design Cupcakes (Hero Arts)
Spellbinders Nestabilities
Stampin' Up Border punch

Sláinte! Happy Birthday!

My husband's birthday is this week so today I was busily trying to come up with a card. (It would be a travesty to actually BUY A CARD!) He loves Guiness Stout so I thought this image from Digi Sparkle would work perfectly. Since I was mojo challenged, I surfed around to find a good sketch challenge that motivated me. I found it with The Pink Elephant Sketch Challenge #47.

I colored the glass with my prismacolor pencils with OMS and highlighted the details on the glass with a gold glitter pen. After numerous tries, this one was the best but I am still not completely happy with the color. I used liquid applique on the foam and then covered the glass with crystal effects. You can't really see it here, but IRL the glass is shiny.

The inside has an Irish toast that I found on the internet:

I have known many and liked not a few.

But loved only one and this toast is to you.

Slainte!

Challenges this card is entered in:
The Pink Elephant Sketch Challenge 47
Charisma Cardz Challenge - anything, but Christmas
Crafty Creations - No Rules
Creative Card Crew - Anything goes
Cupcake Craft Challenge - A Time for Celebration
Lots To Do - Free Theme
PolkaDoodle - Free Theme
Rosie-Dee's Challenge - Free Choice

What do you think?

Supplies:

Guiness image from Digi Sparkle "Beer Selection"

CTMH Magic Moments designer paper

CTMH Cocoa, Sunflower, & Indian corn blue card stock

Card Base Stampin' Up white card stock

Image printed on Georgia Pacific white card stock

Prismacolor pencils & OMS

Liquid applique

Crystal Effects

Ranger Distress Inks - tea dye

Stampin' Up Chocolate chip ink

CTMH twill ribbon and clip

CTMH distressing tool

Sentiments - computer generated

Monday with Lindsay

I made this card before Thanksgiving and just realized I never posted it. I used Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Christmas Cupcake Wrappers Digital Stamp Set. I love the versatility of this set. It is great for quick easy packaging, tags or cards or you can make more elegant cards too.

I tried a new technique on this card and like the way it turned out.



This card also entered in the Dare You To Digistamp Challenge #28- Christmas cards and the Stamp Something - Holiday Somethings Challenge.

Don't forget you have until Wednesday (December 23) to take advantage of the buy 2, get 1 free sale at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. Enter the name of your free set in comments during check out and it will be sent to you separately.



Please take a moment to see what the other DT members have created:
Cassandra
Jennifer
Joy
Karin
Kristen
Lindsay (Owner)
Nettie

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Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays!
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Supplies:
Christmas Cupcake Wrappers by Lindsay Stamp Stuff
My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas designer paper
Georgia Pacific white card stock (to print image)
Stampin' Up Markers
Stampin' Up white card stock
Ribbon
Round hole punch

Customized video message from Santa

If you haven't seen it yet, you can send a free, personalized video message from Santa HERE. I just did this for my daughter and she was so excited to hear Santa say he knows she has been trying extra hard at school. I didn't check it out, but I saw there were options to customize the message for adults too. I just wanted to share in case you were interested.

I hope you will check back tomorrow (Monday) for my Lindsay's Stamp Stuff DT posting.

Cheryl

Santa treat holder

I was looking through my photos on my computer and realized that I never posted this project I made using Christmas Cupcake Wrappers digital stamp set from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. The round box was cut using the Plantin SchoolBook cartridge from Cricut. The swirls were stamped in versa mark and then sprinkled with a combination of clear embossing powder and red glitter then heat set. (I did not have any heat and stick powder or a glue pad on hand.) The blue stripe paper was out of my scrap bin. The image was printed 4 times. One entire circle is on each side of the box and then Santa was colored, cut out, and mounted using pop dots.

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Thank you for looking! I hope you have a very Happy Holiday season!

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Supplies:

Christmas Cupcake Wrappers by Lindsay's Stamp Stuff

Plantin SchoolBook Cricut cartridge

Blue card stock & misc. scrap paper

Image printed on Georgia Pacific white card stock

Stampin' Up Seasons of Joy (for the Swirls)

Spellbinders Nestabilities

Clear embossing powder

Martha Stewart red glitter

Red ribbon

Stampin' Up Markers

EK Success snowflake punches

Liquid Applique

Exta posts this week!

I usually try to post twice a week, but this week I have a extra posts. My brother's birthday is coming up next week before Christmas and I need a birthday card. The Mojo Monday sketch (mojo117) inspired me to get moving and get a card made.

Here is the Mojo Monday sketch -

And here is my interpretation-

And the inside -

I generated the sentiment on the computer. (We really did get him a present but he will get this card in the mail before I see him on Christmas Eve.)

The "happy birthday" is stamped on the twill tape using Stampin' Up's Birthday Whimsy and chocolate chip ink. I did not want to add a "girly" bow so I put the nail heads (is that what they are called?) in it's place.

I really struggled with this card. I could not cut straight or get anything mounted straight. This poor card was put together and pulled a part several times. I ran out of orange paper so both panels (one outside and one inside) have stuff cut out of the middle. Does any one else ever have to do that?

Let me know what you think.... Thank you for looking!

Supplies:

Computer generated sentiment using the SU RGB codes

EK Success border punch - candles

Close to My Heart Magic Moments designer paper

Close to My Heart twill tape

Stampin' Up Birthday Whimpsy

Stampin' Up Chocolate chip ink

Spellbinders nestabilities

Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder

Self adhesive nail heads (or what ever they are called. I don't have the packaging.)

Misc. brown, orange, blue card stock

Georgia Pacific white card stock

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge on Wednesday

I recently won a $25 gift certificate to The Stamping Boutique during Paper Craft Planet's 12 Days of Christmas promo. One of the digis I picked out was Jennifer Latte Christmas. I loved this digi at first sight because, I have to admit it, I am a Starbucks junkie. (Although my habit is mochas, not lattes. A girl has got to have her chocolate.) It is a baaaaddd habit that I am trying to break because of the calories and the money involved.

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I used the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge (SSSC48) for the inspiration for this card. I rotated the layout. This was my first opportunity to play with my new Flower Soft so I used it on her fur trim.

Thank you for looking! Happy Holidays!

Supplies:

Jennifer Latte Christmas from The Stamping Boutique

Stampin' Up markers

Polar White Flower Soft

Diamond & Gold Stickles

Sakura Gelly Roll glitter pen - clear and gold

Holiday Scroll designer paper by Flair Designs

Pomegranate Splash by Bazzil Basics

Image printed on Georgia Pacific card stock

Stampin' Up White card stock for card base

Ribbon

Gem stones

Christmas packaging with Lindsay's Stamp Stuff

This week Lindsay challenged us to design some Holiday packaging. I decided to make two projects with the adorable snowman from her Warm Winter digital stamp set. They coordinate with the last two projects I posted. You can see the greeting card HERE and the gift card holder HERE.



For the first project, I used a tin to package some yummy Bliss chocolates (possibly for my daughter's teacher). I'm sorry I can't remember where I got the tin but I have a whole box of them in the basement. :) I used some kraft colored shredded paper to hold the chocolates in place. I then made band for the tin using designer paper from My Mind's Eye. I mounted the snowman on some ovals and scallops cut with Spellbinders Nestabilities. I wanted to jazz it up a bit so I dug out a container of snowflake ornaments that I bought from Hobby Lobby. (24 snowflakes for $7.99 and then I got 50% off!) I am pleased with the results. I debated clipping the string off the ornament because I don't like the way it looks, but I want her teacher to be able to remove the ornament from the belly band and use it.

I then decided to try a Pillow Puff box. I used the same idea to jazz it up using one of the HL snowflake ornaments. I also added some ribbon and a button.

I am entering these projects in the Digital Tuesdays Challenge (DTC#36) which was to make a project inspired by a Christmas song. "In the meadow we can build a snowman....." Luckily, you can't hear me sing.

Here is a look at all the coordinating items I made using Warm Winter.

Be sure to check out all the cute digital stamp sets available from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff on MyGraficO. Lindsay is running a promo through 12-23-09. When you buy 2 sets, you get to pick 1 free. (You buy 2 sets and then type the name of the free set in the comments when you check out. The 2 purchased and the 1 free set must be from the Lindsay's Stamp Stuff store on MyGraficO.)

Please also take a moment to check out the projects created by the rest of the DT:

Cassandra

Jennifer

Joy

Karin

Kristen

Lindsay (Owner)

Nettie

Thank you for looking!

Supplies:
Warm Winter from LSS
My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas
Perfect Pillow Puff Template by Snooks & Boo
Snow flake ornaments from Hobby Lobby
Spellbinders Nestabilities
Wood button
Fiber (Ribbon, lace, hemp)
Prismacolor pencils & OMS
Stampin' Up Close to Cocoa ink
Sentiments from Papertrey

Christmas card picture

Although I am done Christmas shopping (woohoo!) I am definitely running behind in other areas in preparing for Christmas. We just took the picture for our annual Christmas card today. (Yes, only 11 days before the big day.) Thank goodness I was able to plug in the picture of my daughter with a couple family photos from the year into Walgreens.com and have printed Christmas cards waiting for me in less than 2 hours. Any guesses to what I will be doing later tonight?

MyGraficO Customer Blog Hop - gift card holder

I decided to make a gift card holder using the snowlady image from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Warm Winter digital stamp set. I love the snow couple from this set. Take a look at my previous post HERE to see how cute they look together.

The inside includes a pocket to hold the gift card and a white section on which I plan to add a personal note to the recipient.

If you just jumped into the blog hop, a complete list of participants can be found HERE on MyGrafico.

If you would like to see some additional Holiday packaging ideas using this cute set, please check back on Monday. Lindsay (of Lindsay's Stamp Stuff) challenged her DT to create some Holiday packaging and I have two additional projects in mind.

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The Lindsay's Stamp Stuff store on MyGraficO has a sale through 12-23. Buy 2 digital stamp sets and you can pick one for free. Please enter the name of the free set in the comments section during check out. (This is only for the Lindsay's Stamp Stuff store on MyGraficO. Other stores may have other promotions.)

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If you are looking to join a group of sister blogging stampers for inspiration and support, check out the Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers (SBS #29). You can find more information HERE.

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I hope you enjoyed my post and I am off to visit the rest of the hop members!

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Supplies:

Warm Winter from Lindsay Stamp Stuff

Kraft cardstock by Papertrey

My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas designer paper

Spellbinders Nestabilities

Stampin' Up Close to Cocoa

Lace

Snowflake (distressed with StazOn Timber Brown)

Prismacolor Pencils & OMS

Sentiment from Papertrey

Snowmen Fall From Heaven Unassembled....

"In the meadow we can build a snowman...." kept playing over and over in my head so I decided I had to use this image from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Warm Winter digital stamp set. Aren't they just the cutest couple? But after printing and coloring the image on Friday, my mojo left me and I really struggled with the layout of this card. When I woke up Sunday morning, I knew what I wanted to do. It's not exactly as I envisioned but I am happy with the results.

I wanted to work on another card but just ran out of time. It was kind of a crazy weekend. I was able to meet up with some girl friends for coffee and breakfast on Saturday, decorate the Christmas tree, and take a family trip to the Grand Geneva to see their Christmas decorations and vote on my favorite Gingerbread house. On the sadder side of things, my husband's grandmother fell and broke her pelvis last week and possibly suffered a stroke on Saturday night. We are waiting for more information and praying for the best.

I hope to have more Christmas inspired posts for you later this week.

Please take a minute and check out what the rest of the DT was up to.
Cassandra
Jennifer
Joy
Karin
Kristen
Lindsay (Owner)
Nettie

Thank you for looking.







Supplies:
Warm Winter digital stamp set by Lindsay Stamp Stuff
My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas
Paper Basics kraft card stock by Papertrey
Sentiment from Papertrey Made of Snow
Prismacolor pencils & OMS
Stampin' Up Close to Cocoa
Fibers
Wood button
Close to my Heart distressing tool

Lindsays Stamp Stuff & My First Tutorial

I love the cup of hot cocoa from the Lindsay's Stamp stuff Warm Winter digital stamp set . You can purchase from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Shop at ShopHomemade where the everyday special is spend $5 in digital stamps and get a free stamp. I just had to use my chocolate scented embossing powder on the cocoa. Along with the liquid applique, it almost looks real!

While you are out surfing the web, check out Lindsay's blog. She has great ideas, tutorials and freebies. (Don't you just love freebies??!!) She also has links to the rest of her DT blogs so you can check out their projects.

I also used the Mojo Monday sketch (MOJO114) from last week. I did not get the card done in time to post for the sketch challenge but I still wanted to share it with you.

Following is a quick tutorial on how to match the color of your computer generated sentiment to your Stampin' Up or Close To My Heart Paper. It only takes a few steps in Word and it is well worth the effort. If the pictures below are too small to see, you should be able to click them to enlarge.

Follow these steps:

1) Open a new document Microsoft Word

2) Type in your text using the font / size that you desire.

3) Click the Font Color button.

4) Click the "More Colors" option

5) When the box opens, make sure you are on "Custom" and you can type in RGB (Red, Green, Blue) code for the color your desire. You can find most of the Stampin' Up RGB and many of the Close To My Heart RGB codes HERE on Splitcoast Stampers or you can also find a link in my side bar. In the example below, I typed in the values for Stampin' Up Old Olive. (Note, I changed to Real Red on my final card.)

6) Click "OK" and you are done. When printing, make sure you use a color printer. (I have accidentally printed in just black & white before).

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at shestampsblog@yahoo.com. Please leave a link in comments to anything you make using this tutorial. I would love to see it.

Thank you for looking!

Supplies:

Warm Winter Wishes by Lindsay's Stamp Stuff

Stampin' Up Dashing Designer Paper

Stampin' Up Real Red, Old Olive and River Rock card stock

Ribbon

Chocolate Bliss scented embossing powder by Gelly Powder

Liquid Applique

Crystal Effects (on candy cane)

Over the Top

Karin sent the "Your Blogging is Over the Top" award to me. I am new to blogging (both following and posting) so I was happily surprised to get this. I have seen it on other blogs and like reading other peoples' responses to the questions. I am going to send this on to some new blogging friends in order to learn more about them.

Here are the rules for accepting this award:

Answer the following questions using single word answers. (uh oh, not sure if I can do this but I will try.) Then, pass the award to 5 other people.

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Your cell phone? Purse

Your hair? Blond (mostly)

Your mother? Missed

Your father? Loved

Favorite food? Pasta

Your dream last night? Don't remember

Your favorite drink? Mocha

Your dream/goal? early retirement
What room are you in? office
Your hobby? fun
Your fear? Loss
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here (with all my family)
Where were you last night? Home
Something you aren't? Thin (don't we all want to be thinner?)
Muffins? homemade
Wish list item? Craft room
Where did you grow up? Kenosha
Last thing you did? Laundry
What are you wearing? jeans
Your TV? Off
Your pets? Nutty
Friends? Wonderful
Your mood? Content
Missing someone? Mom
Vehicle? Yukon
Something you're not wearing? lipstick
Your favorite store? Target
Your favorite color? Green
When was the last time you laughed? about 15 minutes ago
Last time you cried? Laughed until I cried this past weekend
Your best friend? love her
One place that you go to over and over? Disney World
Facebook? yep
Favorite Place to Eat? Closed :(


The 5 bloggers I have chosen to pass this on to are:

Jennifer

Kristin

Lindsay

Shannon

Tracey

I hope you will all play along!