Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to wish you and your family love and Christmas blessings from our family to yours!

Hugs, Sharon

Stockings were hung...

Ok, I'm out of breath from the marathon wrapping, but it was so much fun getting gifts for our 19-month old grandson. Of course that means lots of wrapping, but it's so worth it. Tomorrow he'll probably be more interested in the boxes than what's in them. But it's going to be so wonderful watching the wonder on his little face. I can hardly wait! Oh yes, I did mention stockings, didn't I? I made some of those cute little stocking gift card holders and filled them. Thought I'd share them with you yet tonight.

Stamps: the to/from stamp is sitting out on my table and I have no idea what set it came from! oh oh!

Cardstock: Whisper White, with Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Accesssories: Big Shot with Holiday Stocking Bigz Die and an embossing folder for the fur, Antique Brads, White Striped Organza Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, and Sponge Dauber

Here's more of a closeup of a stocking. I loved the look of the Antique Brads with this DSP. It looks more vintage instead of just country. And the different prints of the papers were so much fun to mix and match. (The ladies in class made these and had their choice of print combos - so much fun choosing!) I had a few extras cut, so I made them up and hung them from our garland over the entertainment center. Nice touch!

It's time to leave for the candle-light service at church. This is one of my very favorite special services throughout the church year and I'd hate to miss it! Wishing you a very blessed Christmas with God' peace and love surrounding you in the coming year. Sharon

Musical Gifts

I've been busy making last minute gifts so haven't gotten around to posting lately. Just thought I'd share some of the cd holders that I made this past week. Luckily I remembered to take pictures before I'd given all of them away! Hope you enjoy!

Ok, there's lots of pics 'cuz I made 10 of these as gifts. Everything used is SU! except for two different dies I used - the ornament and the front of the blue one. Of course, that doesn't mean that everything is currently available. When it comes to my own project making, out comes all my retired favorites. Don't you do that too?


Loved using the Stocking Accents Die that coordinates with the Holiday Stocking Bigz Die. It made perfectly sized holly and smaller ornaments to use as accents on these cd holders.

Some of these really needed sponged accents, some didn't. It was really fun making these because each and every one was different. Wish I'd gotten pics of all of them, but then you'd still be looking at pics tomorrow morning!

I wanted to thank my friend Phyllis' husband Jeffrey for burning the cd's and making the playlist for me so all I had to do was get the cases put together. And that's the fun part anyway!!


Guess that's all for now. If I get everything else finished that needs doing, I'll post more Christmas gifts that I've been working on. Sorry I didn't have them all finished to show you a month ago when they'd have been some help for you. I'll have to work on that for next year!

Now I'm off to help Santa get all the gifts wrapped up and ready to go. Ho ho ho!!!
Sharon

PPA Challenge 124A

Oh my goodness! Can you believe it? Two challenges completed in one week! I think it might be a minor miracle for me. I checked out the Pals Paper Arts Challenge for this week here and knew exactly what I could do with it. It all came together so fast I was surprised at myself. So here it is. Hope you like it...

Stamps: Greeting Card Kids

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, with Subtles Designer Paper

Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Pear Pizzazz, and Blush Blossom

Accessories: Big Shot with Northern Frost Sizzlits Strip Die, Snow Burst Embossing Folder, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Aqua Painter, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Basic Rhinestones, and Dimensionals

I was going for a look of a frosty, wintery day, and I think it all worked out. Loved the pop of color the Riding Hood Red gives to the blue and white card. The pattern of the DSP and the lacy border mimic the snowflakes that are added. It's hard to see in the pics, but the Champagne Mist is touched on the star to give it a little shimmer.

That's it for today. I'm off to shop hop and have dinner with some of my good stamping friends. The weather looks perfect for our annual Christmas outing with just a sprinkling of teeny tiny flakes coming down. Hope you have a great day! Sharon

Lacy Valentine

I got a chance to check out this week's challenge over at the Stamping 411 blog here, and thought I could manage this one with no problem. And then it actually took me two days to get what I wanted from my imagination down to paper. How crazy is that! But now that it's finished, I really do like it and hope you do too. And can you believe it's a Valentine card when it's still 13 days til Christmas? What was I thinking???

Stamps: You Are Loved (Holiday mini)

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Rose Red, with Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper

Ink: markers-Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, and Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Lace Ribbon Punch, Big Shot with Fashionable Hearts Embosslit Die(sneak peek), Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Basic Rhinestones, and Dimensionals

Did you notice those cute little hearts? They have all this wonderful texture just like our butterfly embosslit die. And just in case you're wondering, they were made with a new embosslit that will be available January 4th in the new Occasions Mini Catalog along with lots of wonderful new items. I can hardly wait!!

Instead of a diagonal banner with words like the original sketch, I used the pretty Lace Ribbon Punch to make it more feminine. Couldn't find a matching ribbon to weave through the paper lace, so I ended up cutting a skinny strip of cardstock to fit through it. Worked out just fine!

Well, that's it for today. Why not play along with the Stamping 411 Operators on the sketch this week. It's always fun and gets you thinking and creating. Have a great week. Gotta run - the class ladies will be here any minute. In the next couple of days I'm hoping to get their projects posted for you. Keep your fingers crossed! Sharon

Christmas Card CASE

Hope you're having a blessed Sunday! Yesterday I had some free time and got a chance to visit some blogs. Oh my, the ideas that are out there! I felt like a kid in a candy shop! I did find a lovely card at Kathe's Adventures here, and thought it would be a great card to CASE for my Christmas card stash that I've been working on. Go check out her's and you'll see I made a few changes to make it fit my style a bit more.

Stamps: Bells & Boughs, and The Sounding Joy
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, and Very Vanilla
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, and Crumb Cake
Accessories: Sponge quarter, Mini Glue Dots, and retired SU! gold ribbon

After all the watercolored holly from yesterday's cards, I went much more simple on today's card. I kept the layout and colors from Kathe's original card, but changed the stamps and ribbon used and added some Crumb Cake sponging to give it a softer, more vintage, look. I had totally forgotten about this ribbon in my retired stash, but it gives just enough soft glimmer to brighten my card.

Here's the inside - again very simply done. But I'm happy with another 10 cards to add to my basket. I'm getting closer to having enough cards to mail out. Then comes the job of addressing and signing each of them. But today is only December 11th, so I think I've got time to get them all finished and in the mail. We'll see....

Thanks for coming by. Hope you're enjoying your preparations for Christmas too. Now I'm off to my daughter's house where we'll be making her favorite cookies - Chocolate Pixies. Have yourself a great week. Hope you'll stop by again soon. Sharon

Lots of Holly

I spent last Sunday afternoon working at a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness. There was a luncheon and 10 stamping projects that the ladies made. Since holding classes on a regular basis, I've learned to cut a few extra cards to be ready for those really bad 'oops moments'. So I had extra cardstock, ribbon, etc. cut and ready to go that wasn't used. Might as well make them up for some of my Christmas cards, right? And here I go again... I even made changes to the card the ladies made at the event!
Stamps: Bells & Boughs, and Peaceful Season(retired)
Cardstock: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, and Very Vanilla
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Old Olive, and Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: AquaPainter, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Victoria Crochet Trim, Mini Glue Dots, and non-SU! ribbon

Let me just say, I loved making these cards! But after watercoloring all the holly on 12 cards, I had had enough. I think they look fabulous and I'm really happy I made them, but I'm done with them for awhile. I deliberately left the edges on alot of the holly with no green to remind me of the holly plant my mom had. Of course the greens are darker on the real holly, but this worked out just fine. I also thought about glitzing it up with some glitter, then decided I really liked it as it was.

So that's all for today. Thanks for stopping by. I'll be posting more Christmas cards as they're made. I usually only make 10-12 of any one version of card. Not sure why, but that's how I do it. So that means there should be a few more Christmas card posts pretty soon, or I'll be sending my cards out 2 days before Christmas again this year! Have a great day.... Sharon

Pines and Poinsettias

Where does the time go? I can't believe how I'm getting farther and farther behind already this month! Sometimes I think extra days slide by when I go to sleep at night and when I wake up it's three days later or something like that. It couldn't possibly be that I'm just unorganized and things all start ganging up on me. Or maybe I just get myself involved in too many things. Whatever it is, I'm way behind the eight-ball already and it's only the 7th of December. I think I'll be ready for Christmas sometime mid-January if that's all right with you. Anyway, I do have a card to share with you today. It was made a couple weeks ago, just not posted yet. It uses both the Pines and Poinsettias stamp set and coordinating Holly Berry Bouquet DSP which I just love!
Stamps: Pines and Poinsettias, and Petite Pairs
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi, Real Red, and Whisper White with Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Real Red, and Early Espresso markers
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Large and Extra Large Tag Punches, Oval and Scallop Oval Punches, Simply Scored Tool, 1/16" Circle Punch, Linen Thread, Real Red Satin Ribbon, and Dimensionals

I had seen a couple similar cards on the Stampin' Connection (a sharing web sight for demonstrators). I sort of combined the ideas, but had to make a few changes as usual. Did you notice the grid-style of embossing on the Early Espresso layer on the left? It's done with the Simply Scored tool and is so very easy to do. But it adds so much texture to an area that looked a little bare. It was the perfect touch!

Next I have to mention how great this stamp set is! The elements all look so natural and nicely snow-covered without having to add anything extra to it. Of course, a little sprinkle of glitter to the 'snowy' areas would always work out nicely too.


Hope you enjoyed this idea and try it out for yourself. Thanks for stopping in and not giving up on me! Have a great day! Sharon