Not ready for Christmas to be over...

The spirit of Christmas should be felt throughout the year, don't you think? The world would certainly be a much better and PEACEFUL place. Our decorations are staying up until Jan. 6 for Three Kings Day :).

I have just a quick post as I'm sure everyone is still recovering from all the festivities. Here's a really quick card to put together for those who "stamp and run" at the moment. I followed this week's MOJO119 sketch:

To ring in the New Year, ODBD will be hosting a blog hop Jan. 1 so make sure to take part in it! There will be PRIZES and some fabulous new things for ODBD fans to get involved in so STAY TUNED!

Card Recipe:

Stamp: ODBD His Gift

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Memory Box Dewfrost, Prismatic packs (Nautical Blue, Spring Willow)

Accessories: Martha Stewart String Lace border punch, Spellbinders Classic Circles, silk ribbons, SU Linen Thread, craft button

Only four more days 'til Christmas!

Only four days left...hard to believe, isn't it? My boys are excited to attend Christmas mass and to spend it with family! I'll be keeping my posts short since I know many of you are also on a time crunch with all your holiday preparation so I'll just get right down to it.

I made this Peace & Joy card following this week's MOJO118:

I heat embossed the snowflakes in white on Prism Metallic Bronze Ore cardstock. And YES! I did a lot of precision cutting on this, but it was sooooo worth it!

I hope you all finished mailing out your handmade Christmas cards! I know I did! WHEW!

Card Recipe:

Stamp: ODBD Peace & Joy

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Memory Box Dewfrost, SU Bordering Blue cs

Accessories: Ranger Silver ep, Bow-Easy, white ep, Fiskars All-A-Fleur border punch, Silver Rhinestones, light blue satin ribbon, SU silver cording, SU linen thread

Welcome to the Paper Garden Projects
Winter Wonderland Garden Walk!!!

Take a stroll through the blogs of all the Paper Gardeners and enjoy some wonderful wintry inspiration.

While you visit, FOLLOW each Gardener's blog and take note of each designer's name and their Secret Snow Word in their blog post. Once you finish your garden tour, send an E-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their Secret Snow Word.

Everyone who sends the correct list of designers and words will be entered in a random drawing to win a special frosty prize. You need to send an e-mail to the address above; please don't leave your list as a comment. You have until midnight (EST) on Dec. 21 to sent your snow-y list.

If you followed me from Amber's blog then you're in the right place. If not, please head over to the PGP store blog to start at the beginning.

Now, on to my project. I made these "Homemade Snowballs" paint cans for my sons' teachers using the very adorable Let's Go Sledding set by Eat Cake Graphics:

I got a pleasant surprise when my son Marcus asked to help! He plopped in all the snowball cookies in the bag and made sure they got good and covered with confectioner's sugar :).

What will the winner get for strolling? Well, here is a picture of the Frosty Prize full of paper crafting goodies.

The prize includes:
*Some crystal snowflakes from our new button collection
*A cling mounted Alfie tasting Snow stamp from the Official Snow Tasters stamp set.
*A jar of crystal glitter
*A collection of frosty embellishments including buttons, white flowers, sequins, and brads
*A Colorbox chalk cat's eye ink pad

So put on your mittens and go for a garden tour (or just stay in you jammies - we won't tell).

Your next stop is over at Tangii's blog, but before you go make sure to write down my Secret Snow Word: WHITE

Just in case you get lost along the way, here is the garden tour guide list:

Cathy
Melissa (Mel)
Tracy
Amber
Lorelie (you are here)
Tangii
Tricia
Debbie

Paint Can Recipe:

Stamps: Let's Go Sledding

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Frosted Winter Paper Kit

Accessories: Stampendous short pail, Crystal Stickles, ribbons from Frosted Winter Paper Kit, Martha Stewart Snowflake punch, silver Dew Drops, Spellbinders (Circles, Petite Scallop Circle, Petite Large Ovals, Petite Scallop Ovals), silver Liquid Pearls, Second Grade font

Pretty Poinsettia

I HAD to TRY and CASE this beautiful card by the very talented Dawn Lusk...operative word is "TRY". I totally fell in love with it (as you may have figured out by reading my ODBD store blog post!). Alas, I ran out of kraft colored cardstock so I had to settle for SU Sahara Sand. Thank you, Dawn, for inspiring me!

I heat embossed a second poinsettia, cut it out and painted it with Glimmer Mists and popped it up with foam adhesive.

I am still playing catch-up and with Christmas fast approaching and LIFE happening, it just ain't easy, but I am chugging right along!

Card Recipe:

Stamp: ODBD His Gift

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Prismatic Spring Willow pack, SU Sahara Sand

Accessories: Zva Creative pearls, Basic Grey Opalines, Glimmer Mists, Cuttlebug Iron Works Borders ef, Bow-Easy, satin ribbon

Making up for lost time...

I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since my last post! I've had to take care of certain obstacles in life and hopefully things will settle down soon. I was going to take the entire month off, but making cards (along with fervent prayers) has always been therapeutic so I hope it will save my sanity.

It was time to say farewell to Susana's Custom Art and Card Designs. I had a wonderful 6 months designing for Susana and working along side her equally wonderful DT!

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I went "challenge crazy" for both of my cards today and it took me most of the day to finish. Maybe a little rusty after not making any cards the last two weeks???

Paper Garden Projects will be hosting another blog hop Dec. 19 so make sure to take part in it to see the DT projects and for a chance at some candy!

PGP just got in new, super adorable winter images from Eat Cake Graphics and I was happy to be able to play with the Let's Go Sledding set. Here's my card using this week's Friday Sketchers Sketch 82, Basic Grey Week 10 Colour Combo 3 (cream, pink and blue) and Whiff of Joy Challenge #58 (Sparkle!):

Check out PGP's All That Glitters Sale (links to sale items are found on the home page to the right).

Card Recipe:

Stamp: Let's Go Sledding (Eat Cake Graphics)

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Frosted Winter Paper Kit (Snow Notes), SU cs (Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink), watercolor paper

Accessories: Crystal Ice Stickles, Zva pearls, Basic Grey Lemonade Pops, Basic Grey Opalines, Polar White Flower Soft, watercolor markers

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I finally got the chance to create with the new Flower Soft Display Globes and I was a little intimidated at first, but once I finished it I wanted to make more! Here's my card using the MOJO117 sketch and OCCC's Holiday Theme challenge (my apologies for the glare from my lamp in the photos):

I love the sentiment from the His Gift set and naturally, I had to use Flower Soft Polar White to make it "snow" in my globe.

Don't you just love the dimension of the globe?! You need to also check out some new Memory Box papers...gorgeous!!

I used my Spellbinders Oval dies to nestle the globe onto to accommodate the size of my card, but ODBD carries the Flower Soft Oval Aperture Cards and Envelopes to help make creating with the display globes quick and painless!

Make sure to become a Follower of the ODBD blog to keep up-to-date on the latest happenings. You won't want to miss a thing!!!

Card Recipe:

Stamp: ODBD His Gift

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Memory Box (Spiceberry), SU cs (Always Artichoke, Basic Brown)

Accessories: Flower Soft (Polar White, Display Globes), Spellbinders (Petite Large Oval, Petite Large Scallop Oval), Basic Grey Opalines, Fiskars Effervescence border punch, white ep, white linen ribbon, Bow-Easy

Time To Blog Hop with ODBD December sets and play along with TIOT!

It's the first of the month and that means NEW STAMP SETS from Our Daily Bread designs!!! Along with the new releases is a BLOG HOP for you to enjoy and hopefully win blog candy! Grab a pen and paper because you'll need to jot down my secret word. Make sure you collect a word from each DT blog!

Now, if you've come to my blog from Angie Z. then you're in the right place! If not, you'll want to start off at the ODBD store blog where all the details will posted and the blogs listed in case you get lost along the way.

Two beautiful sets are available TODAY from ODBD and here they are in all their holiday glory!

His Gift:

Peace & Joy:
I decided to showcase the beautiful snowflakes from the Peace & Joy set using the Basic Grey Week 9 Challenge which was a sketch. The usual requirement is to use at lease one Basic Grey product and I thought my Opalines (I have ALL the colors) made terrific accents for the snowflakes!


The snowflakes stack nicely together for more dimension!

Here's what you'll need to do for a chance to win an ODBD stamp set of your choice (there will be two winners selected through Random.org):

1. Collect our names and the words we have which will form a special message to our hoppers.

2. Return to the ODBD blog and post a comment that you have commented on every blog and collected the secret message.

3. E-mail our DT Coordinator, Grace, with the secret message. You have until Dec. 2, 8PM EST.

Get ready to write this down...my SECRET WORD is "a". Simple, isn't it! Your next stop is over at the fabulously talented Silke. Wait 'til you see her beautiful card!

Card Recipe:

Stamp: ODBD Peace & Joy

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Memory Box Brandywine pack, Prismatic Razzleberry pack, SU Always Artichoke cs

Accessories: Basic Grey Opaline Pearls, Super Fine Gold ep, Cuttlebug Script ef

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Today also happens to be TIOT with SCACD! This week's challenge was to create a gift box and I was fortunate enough to have this cute little gable box on hand, which I paired up with the super cute Santa and Friends stamp from the Victoria Case Winter Wonderland collection. My card is based on the MOJO115 sketch and Cuttlebug Spot Winter Theme challenge:

I ran my metal sheet through my Cuttlebug using the Sledding embossing folder. I then covered the metal sheet with Versamark and heat embossed with Pearlized Carnelian by Stampendous.


Be sure to stop by the rest of the SCACD DT blogs to see more fun boxes!

Card Recipe:

Stamp: SCACD Santa and Friends

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Basic Grey Wassail pad, SU Bravo Burgundy cs, watercolor paper

Accessories: Liquid Applique, Mowed Grass Dew Drops, Art Emboss medium pewter, Cuttlebug ef (Swiss Dots, Sledding), black ep, watercolor markers

A blue Christmas and time to get ready for an ODBD Blog Hop!

Our Daily Bread designs is hosting a blog hop tomorrow to kick off the release of brand new December stamp set!! Be sure to join in for a chance to win some yummy blog candy!

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I wanted to create an elegant Christmas card without using the traditional red and green colors so I went through my huge stash of papers and found this beautiful print from K & Company's Blue Awning pad. Here's what I came up with using the CPS144 sketch and Cuttlebug Challenge Be Inspired #59 (glitter and/or bling):

I haven't had a chance to pull out my beads and the Cuttlebug challenge was a perfect reason to do so :).


I just HAD to add more bling so I used my Zva swirly pearls and accented with Basic Grey Opalines which combined beautifully!

Make sure to come back tomorrow for the ODBD Blog Hop which starts off at the ODBD store blog!

Card Recipe:

Stamp: ODBD Christmas Verses

Ink: Versamark, Antique Linen distress pad

Paper: K & Company Blue Awning, SU Bordering Blue cs, black cs

Accessories: Zva Pearls, Basic Grey Opalines, jewelry beads, hat pin, Cuttlebug Holly Ribbons ef, light blue silk ribbon

Fourth Friday Fun Challenge

It's the 4th Friday of the month and that means it's challenge time from Paper Garden Projects! We were asked to feature background stamping on our card or project. You can get all the details on how to play along with us by clicking on the blinkie right below:

Here's my card that is based on Sketch Saturday #78:

I stamped the Fizz background on glossy cardstock and heat embossed it with Holographic embossing powder. I then spritzed it with Moonlight Glimmer Mist and wiped off any excess on the embossed background.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and may you be well rested after all the Black Friday shopping!

Card Recipe:

Stamp: Fizz Background, Sweet Snowman

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Prism Crabapple cs, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses pad, DCWV Glitter cs, glossy cs, watercolor paper

Accessories: Kaisercraft silver rhinestones, sage green velvet ric rac, Liquid Applique, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, watercolor markers

Paper Garden Project's Very FIRST Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to the first ever Paper Garden Projects Garden Walk blog hop!!!

If you walked here from Amber's garden then you've come to the right place. If not, you'll want to start your walk at the Paper Garden Project store blog.

Take a stroll through the blogs of all the Paper Gardeners and enjoy some wonderful Holiday inspiration. Here's what you need to do to get a chance at winning one of three prizes:

1) Subscribe to or Follow each Gardener's blog
2) Take note of each designer's name and their special treat listed in their blog post.
3) Once you finish your garden tour, send an E-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their special Holiday treat.

Everyone who sends the correct list of designers and treats will be entered in a random drawing to win one of 3 prizes. You need to send an e-mail to the address above; please don't leave your list as a comment. You have until midnight (EST) on Nov. 24 to make your list and check it twice....

What are the prizes that are up for grabs you ask?

1) The first prize is a festive collection of Holiday paper crafting goodies:

The prize includes:
The Classic Christmas Prism Cardstock Collection
A Penny Black Jolly Follies clear stamp set
Green self adhesive rhinestones
May Arts red grosgrain ribbon
May Arts tan twill ribbon
May Arts white rickrack ribbon
A collection of coordinating dew droplets and buttons

2) The second prize is a $7 gift certificate to the Paper Garden Projects store.

3) The third prize is a $5 gift certificate to the Paper Garden Projects store.

YOU HAVE UNTIL NOV. 24TH TO GET YOUR ENTRIES IN!

Now that I got all the fabulous details out of the way, here's my card for our Holiday Garden Walk featuring an Impression Obsession stamp, Ice Skate Stockings. I based it on this week's Flourishes' FTTC42 and Basic Grey's Glitz and Bling challenges:

As you can tell I "bling'd" and "glitz'd" wherever there was an opportunity to do so, LOL! Hey, embellies are a stamper's BESTEST FRIEND next to stamp and ink of course!

Thanks for walking through my garden! You're next stop is Tangii's garden, but before you go here's my treat that you need to pick up and write down on your list: Fresh Evergreens.

Card Recipe:

Stamp: Ice Skate Stockings by Impression Obsession

Ink: Versamark, SU Always Artichoke

Paper: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses pad, Prism Crabapple cs, Me & My Big Ideas Harvest pad, SU Very Vanilla, watercolor paper

Accessories: Kaisercraft Pearls, Stickles, Black Super Fine ep, Crystal Lacquer, Shimmerz paints, watercolor markers

A Midnight Throwdown with ODBD

Like my play on words? I made this card using this week's MMSC28 Christmas challenge and Color Throwdown #69...loved the sketch and loved the color combination!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the poinsettias in the ODBD November sets! I used the smaller poinsettia which is from the Luke 2:11 set. I can't stamp it just once...I HAVE to always layer my poinsettia because it's just gosh darn prettier and fuller that way!
The 3 November sets are also available for purchase as a bundle at a 10% discount! Actually, any sets that are considered a "bundle" are discounted 10% so make sure to look around!

Card Recipe:

Stamp: ODBD Luke 2:11 and Christmas Verses

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Me & My Big Ideas Harvest pad, Prism Metallic Bronze, Prism Classic Red, SU Old Olive

Accessories: Super Fine Detail and Gold Tinsel ep (50/50 mixture), Pearlized Carnelian ep, Basic Grey Wine/Champagne Opalines, bronze cross charm, Cuttlebug Organic Flourish ef

Feeling BLUE for today's TIOT

Not blue as in "sad", but blue as in hues! Today's TIOT challenge was to use blues and one neutral color. I always have a hard time with sticking to just one main color, but Atlantia from the new Elisabeth Bell Sampler Edition #2 lends herself very well to a single color and what better color than blue since she's every bit the water goddess!

Here's what I came up with using this week's MOJO113 sketch:

Since I couldn't do much by way of coloring I opted to just highlight parts of her with Moonlight Smooch (I know! I know! I use Moonlight all the time but it's the perfect color for ANYTHING!) on her hair and the shells of her chain belt. I also added Silver Stickles on just the swirls of her wings.

If you haven't already taken a look at the new Elisabeth Bell stamps over at SCACD then head on over there right now and grab up your favorites! You won't be disappointed!

The DT also added a new wonderful designer to the team...please welcome Marti Wills of Pez-A-Doodle Designs! Stop by her blog and say hi! WELCOME, MARTI!!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: SCACD Atlantia

Ink: Versamark

Paper: K & Company La Boutique pad, Prism Blue Steel metallic cs, SU Very Vanilla cs

Accessories: Moonlight Smooch, silver Stickles, Spellbinders, Stone Blue ep, blue satin ribbon, Swirls Cuttlebug ef