My Christmas Card

Whew, where did the rest of summer and fall go???  We were super busy all summer with a 4-H member who leased two dairy heifers from us for her project.  She showed at two shows before our county fair where she did so well she ended up at the MN State Fair 4-H Dairy Show.  Guess who was driving her to the shows.  I haven't done much stamping or scrapping since the middle of June, a pathetic combination of lack of time and mojo.  I did manage to create some Christmas cards.  I made a card similar a few years ago, I honestly can't remember where I got the pattern inspiration from, I wish I could recall so I could give credit to them.  Here's the front:

This stampset - No Greater Love from Close to My Heart - is one of my favorites.  I use it almost every Christmas for a card or ornament.  Since I used the dark green New England Ivy cardstock for the base, I decided to make an insert for the inside of the cards:

Supplies Used:
All Close to My Heart, unless noted.
Stampsets:   No Greater Love, Glory to God, Christmas Heaven
Inks:  Chocolate, Honey, New England Ivy
Cardstock:  New England Ivy, Cranberry
Paper:  Mistletoe Creative Basics
Red accents unkown from stash

Hebrews 11:1

I'm doing the Viva la Verve sketch challenge once again in June.  They're going to be a little out of order, I started with week 2 first.  Here's the sketch, I love it:

And here's my card:

Supply List:

Stamps:  Hebrews 11:1 - Verve

Inks: Black, Sweet Leaf - Close to My Heart (CTMH)

Paper:  Wings level 2 packet - CTMH

Punches/ Die Cutting:  Double Loops - Martha Stewart, Classic Ovals Small, Classic Scalloped Ovals Small - Spellbinders, Beautiful Wings Embosslit - Stampin' Up!

Embellishments:  Licorice Opaques

Happy Thoughts Mojo Monday #194

I love using patterned paper, so I was excited when I saw the sketch for this weeks Mojo Monday challenge.  I had a pad of paper that I received as a gift, I thought it would be fun to use on this card.  Here's the sketch:

Here's my version of the sketch:

Supply List:
Stamps: Baby Love, Live Your Story - Close to My Heart (CTMH)
Inks: Cocoa, Cotton Candy - CTMH
Paper: Berry Sweet - K & Company; Topiary cardstock - CTMH
Punches:  Postage Stamp, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle - Stampin' Up!
Ribbon:  White Daisy, Hemp - CTMH

My Favorite Scrapping Snack

I just pulled my favorite scrapping snack mix out of the oven.  Tonight I have a ladies card making night at our church, I love going to these, the fellowship and seeing everyone else's ideas.  We all make one card and then cut 10 kits to match, it's like a shoebox swap, only we don't call it that for some reason.  Then tomorrow I'm off to The Pine City Scrapbooking Company for a two day retreat with some friends.  I can't wait!!  I've talked about going on a retreat for a few years now, but between my kids and the farm it's been hard to get away.  Anyhow, since I have two paper crafting events, I decided it was time to make a batch of Party Mix to share and munch on.  I was given this recipe and mix as a Christmas gift from a former co-worker, I think all of us in my hallway were munching all day long.  Here's the recipe:

Party Mix

2 cups light brown sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 cup butter

17 oz. Crispix cereal

14 oz. dry roasted peanuts

9 oz. small knot pretzels

1 lb. bag plain M&M's

1 lb. bag Peanut Butter M&M's

Preheat oven to 350°.  Spray large roasting pan with non-stick spray and put in cereal, peanuts, and pretzels.  Do NOT put in M&M's yet.  In saucepan melt butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup.  Cook on medium, heat to boiling and cook for about 90 seconds.  Remove from heat, pour slowly over cereal mixture in roasting pan.  Mix well.  Bake for 8 minutes, take out and stir well.  Bake for another 8 minutes, take out and stir well.  Pour onto counter lined with wax paper to cool.  Break apart while cooling.  When it is completely cooled, mix in M&M's.  Store in an air tight container. 

Mmmm, does it get any better than crunchy, sweet, salty, and chocolate all together?  Now I need to go finish packing, and a few challenges I have started.  Hopefully I will get one or two posted today.

Amethyst Baby Card

I need to make a baby card for an upcoming baby shower.  I used this great sketch from the Ribbon Carousel Challenge :

It's Technique Week at The Shabby Tea Room, this week the challenge is to use wet or dry embossing.  So I opted to combine both challenges on this card.  I heat embossed the sentiment on the card and also used one of my favorite embossing folders on it.

I highlighted the dry embossing with stickles, for a touch of bling.  I was playing with some 1 1/2 inch silver sheer ribbon, trying to come up with a way to use it.  I ended up folding it in half lengthwise and basting it down the center, then I gathered it.  I was going to use it in place of the velvet ribbon, but I just couldn't not use the cream velvet.  So, I tried is under the rose instead.

Supply List:
Stamps:  Baby Love - Close to My Heart (CTMH)
Inks: Grey Wool, Amethyst - CTMH, Versamark
Cardstock: Amethyst, Grey Wool, Sweet Leaf, Colonial White - CTMH
Ribbon:  cream velvet - Maya Road, sheer silver - saved from mom's stash
Embossing Folder: Elegant Lines - Stampin' Up!
Die Cutting:  Labels 8, Fleur De Lis Squares - Spellbinders
Rose:  Wild Orchid
Embellishments: Licorice Opaques - CTMH, Diamond Stickles - Ranger
Silver Embossing Powder - CTMH

Friendly Chocolate

I confess, I'm a chocoholic.  When I first saw the Eat Chocolate stamp set in the Stampin' Up! winter mini catalog, I knew I had to have it.  I was finally able to use it on this card (I know it took me almost six months before it ever saw ink, shame, shame).  I used the Mojo Monday sketch #193:

I opted for square because I don't have any cute dies big enough to make a round card.  I also combined this challenge with The Shabby Tea Room's Week #64 2-4-6 challenge.  I needed to create something using 2 patterned papers, 4 buttons, and 6 layers. 

I really loved the mitered corners on this sketch.  I stacked two of the buttons together for more impact.  The chocolate I stamped seperate, cut it out, covered it in Close to My Heart's Liquid Glass, let it dry, and adhered it with foam tape to give it even more dimension.

Supply List:
Stamps:  Eat Chocolate - Stampin' Up!
Ink:  Chocolate - CTMH
Paper:  More to Adore Paper Packet - CTMH
Die Cut:  Fleur De Lis Squares - Spellbinders
Ribbon: Pleated Chocolate - Maya Road, Colonial White Waxy Floss - CTMH, vintage lace and unknown from stash
Buttons:  Unknown - rescued from my mom's stash
Other:  Liquid Glass - CTMH

Member Care Card

Today I finished my last card for the Viva la Verve week 5 sketch challenge.  Here's the sketch:

In a few weeks, my church is doing a card class.  They want us to bring two completed cards to donate to the Member Care team for them to send out.  I'm going to use my card as one of the two cards.  As a result, I was careful not to use bulky embellishments so it would be easy to mail.  I did add a piece of box pleated paper trim, just to add some interest.

 Supply List:
Stamps:  Psalm 46:1, Notes of Prayer - Verve
Inks:  Buttercup, Cocoa - CTMH
Paper:  Emporium Paper Packet - CTMH
Punches/Die Cuts:  Labels 8 - Spellbinders, Scallop Circle - CTMH
Mocha Opaques - CTMH

Wrinkly Smiles

I completed the sketch for the Viva la Verve week 4 sketch challenge.  Here's the sketch:

I used the now retired Notebook paper packet from Close to My Heart.  The sketch called for ovals in the middle, however the paper had a sheet with the Quotes Only box on it, I couldn't resist cutting it out for this sketch.  The only thing that would fit the little box was my Labels 8 Nestibilities.  The lace is from a stash that I acquired, I have no idea how old it is. 

Supply List:
Stamps:  Blue Skies - Verve
Inks: Black - CTMH
Paper: Notebook - CTMH
Punches/Die Cuts:  Photo Corners Extra-Large - Stampin' Up!, Labels 8 - Spellbinders
Buttons: Pink, Basic, and Blue Assortment - CTMH
Hemp - CTMH

Thing Are Gonna Get Better

I'm playing catch up with the Viva la Verve sketch challenge.  I put weeks 3-5 on hold until I received my new Verve stamps, which I happily have received and now get to play with.  Blue Skies is my new favorite stamp set, I can tell I'm going to get alot of use out of it.  Anyhow, on to my creation, here is the week 3 sketch:

I stamped the butterfly from Blue Skies onto paper from Close to My Heart's retired Boom-Di-Ada paper pack.  I cut it out and then I couldn't resist adding some shine, so a little vellum spray and prisma glitter later I had a shiney butterfly.  I also am currently loving rosettes, so the circle on the sketch was calling for a rosette base. 

I'm off to finish up the week 4 sketch, it's just about done.  Hopefully I'll have it posted soon.



Supply List:

Stamps:  Blue Skies - Verve

Inks:  Black, Chocolate - CTMH

Paper:  Boom-di-Ada Paper Packet - CTMH

Embellishments:  Prisma Glitter, Pink Collection Ribbon - CTMH, crystal swirls - MultiCraft Imports



Ribbon reel challenge

I love the look of this room for the ribbon reel's second challenge.  A few of the elements stood out for me:  the pink chair, the frame hanging from the ceiling, and the groupings of 4. 

The challenge set forth was to create a card (or project) using the colors from the inspiration photo, flowers, and baker's twine.  I thought this was the perfect opportunity to use one of my new stamp sets, Close to My Heart's May Stamp of the Month - Chairs to You.  I inked the chair stamp first with Versamark and then with Bamboo ink, by doing it this way I only had to stamp the image once.  I embossed it with clear detail embossing powder and colored it with water color pencils just to give it a hint of pink color.  For the embossed back ground, I adhered the frame with the colonial white panels first and then ran it through an embossing folder, leaving the bottom half inch out so that it would be embossed.  Then I stamped the sentiment where it wasn't embossed.  Then I highlighted the design with ink.  I added some lace, seam binding, baker's twine, and one hand made paper rose. 

Supply List:
Stamps:  Chairs to You - Close to My Heart (CTMH)
Inks:  Bamboo, Chocolate, Blush - CTMH, Versamark
Cardstock:  Colonial White, Baby Pink, Key Lime - CTMH
Embossing Folder - Vintage Wallpaper - Stampin' Up!
Ribbon and Lace - Pink Collection - CTMH, Seam Binding - Wright's Trims, Baker's Twine - Divine Twine, Cream lace from my stash

My First Mojo Monday Sketch

For quite some time now, I've been wanting to actually do the Mojo Monday sketch challenge.  This week was the week.  I needed to create a card for a bridal shower at our church, so I thought decided to use this weeks sketch.  I did end up rotating, I just couldn't get my bride image to fit.  You can't really see in the picture, but I added some Diamond Stickles to the roses, and a pearl to the center of the flower in her hair.

Supply list:
Stamps:  Daintybella and sentiment - Stamping Bella, Sophia - Close to My Heart (CTMH)
Inks:  Hollyhock - CTMH, Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:  Sophia Level 2- CTMH
Copics:  E00, E02, RV11, RV13, R20, Y21
Dies:  Labels 8, Petite Scalloped Circles - Spellbinders
Accents:  Pearl Opaques, Button, Colonial White Organdy Ribbon - CTMH, Diamond Stickles

Fun With Canvas

I made one of these for both my mom and mother-in-law for Mother’s Day.  I had such a hard time giving them away, I decided to make one for myself.  I’ve been on an altered canvas kick lately, I’ve been surfing the internet trying to find different tutorials and ideas for altered/multi-media canvas (I’m even debating signing up for an on-line class).  Anyhow, I digress, back to today’s creation. 

I should warn you first, I think I used half of my craft room in creating this piece, so the list is quiet long.  First, I mixed some re-inker with Pearl Finish paint and painted the canvas.  The Pearl Finish gives the background a nice sheen, and with my re-inkers I can make it any color I want.  After it was dry, I inked the edges with Bamboo ink just to distress them a bit.  Then I stamped “Beautiful” from the Find Your Style set in Timber Brown Staz On ink. 

Next the diecuts, I wanted to add some interest to them, so I stamped the image on cardstock from my Stampin’ Up! Notably Ornate set in Versamark and covered it with Cocoa embossing powder mixed with Prisma Glitter (you can’t see the sparkle in the picture, but it’s there in real life).  After heating the embossing powder, I cut out the image and adhered it to the light blue piece. 

Then I made the rose, a while ago, I found this fabulous tutorial on how to make roses from a punch.  I inked the edges with Blush ink and once they were assembled, I spritzed them in with Glimmer Mist to give them some shimmer.  I even dragged my husband around to some craft stores on one of our rare occasions off the farm just to find the right punch. 

I punched the bird out of Buttercup cardstock, and stamped part of the same image from Notably Ornate in Chocolate ink.  Then I covered the bird in Ranger’s Distress Crackle Paint in Clear Rock Candy, it cracks and give the bird a nice shine.  To give the bird some dimension, I popped it up with foam tape and added a pearl for it’s eye. 

I added two different kinds of lace, the off white I hand gathered to add some movement and dimension before I put it on.  A few more embellishments, and I decided to call it done. 

Supply List:

Paper: Buttercup, Colonial White Cardstock, Topstitch Paper Pack, Life Delights Paper Pack– Close to My Heart (CTMH)

Inks:  Bamboo, Blush, Chocolate – CTMH, Versamark, Timber Brown Staz On

Stamps:  Find Your Style – CTMH, Notably Ornate – Stampin’ Up!

Paint: Pearl Finish Ceramcoat – Delta Creative; Distress Crackle Paint in Clear Rock Candy - Ranger

Re-inker:  Sweet Leaf – CTMH

Embossing Powder/ Glitter – Cocoa, Prisma Glitter – CTMH

Lace:  Pink Collection Designer Ribbon, Colonial White Waxy Floss – CTMH; MultiCraft Imports

Punches/ Diecuts:  Labels 8 – Spellbinders; 2-Step Bird, Bigz Top Note, Embosslits Beautiful Wings – Stampin’ Up!; 6 petal flower – Marvy Uchida

Embellishments:  Pearl Opaques – CTMH; Trinket Crowns – Stampin’ Up!; Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist – Tattered Angels; Unknown clear button

Mother's Day Card

Since Mother's Day is now over, I thought I would share a card that I made for my mother-in-law (who by the way is the BEST!).  I used this sketch from the Viva la Verve May 2011 challenge. 

I had to think about what I wanted to do with this sketch for a while.  I needed to make something to work for the tag, I was able to get the Nestibilities Labels 8 to work.  I stamped a flourish in second generation with Sweet Leaf ink, and then stamped the sentiment in Chocolate.  Then it was on to the scallop circle.  I wanted to do something a bit different, after some more thinking, the idea of using a big flower instead popped into my head.  To make the flower more interesting, I stamped it with the same flourish stamp, only using chocolate ink this time.  A die cut butterfly with a few pearls on it added the finishing touch.

Supply list:
Stamp sets - Playful Flourishes, Say it in Style, Simple Beauty - Close to My Heart (CTMH)
Ink - Chocolate, Sweet Leaf - CTMH
Paper - Baby Pink Card Stock, Miracle Paper Packet - CTMH
Punches, Die Cuts - Scallop Punch - Fiskars, Labels 8 - Spellbinders, Beautiful Wings Embosslit - Stampin' Up!
Embellishments - Pearl Opaques, Big Pinks Flower, Pretty Pins - CTMH, Green Rhinestone - Kaiser Scrapbook, Button and Ribbon - Unknown from my stash

I Feel Like Chicken Tonight

I just mixed up the marinade for one of my favorite ways to make chicken.  I love to serve this with roasted sweet potatoes or roasted garlic broccoli.  However, tonight I'm going to dice the chicken breast after cooking and serve them on a big salad with dried cranberries and my new favorite Balsamic Fig Dressing from Stonewall Kitchen. 

Sherry Ginger Chicken

1/4 cup dry sherry

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup canola oil

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

2 Tablespoons dried minced onion ( I use Tastefully Simples Onion Onion)

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Put all of the ingredients in a  plastic zip top bag, and add a one pound package of boneless skinless chicken breasts.  I let them marinate in the refrigerator for about 4-6 hours, and either bake or grill them.

Tomato Baby

I'm going to do the Viva la Verve sketch challenges again this month at Split Coast Stampers.  Here's the week 1 sketch:

I needed to make a baby shower card, so I broke out one of my favorite (but retired) Close to My Heart stamp sets - Flower Child.  Sadly, I don't have any Verve stamps that go with a baby shower theme.  I colored the image using Copic markers.  Here's my creation:

Supplies used:

Stamp set:  Flower Child; Baby Love - Close to My Heart

Inks:  Pacifica, Sky - CTMH; Tuxedo Black - Memento

Papers:  Fanfare Level 2 - CTMH

Copic Markers:  E00, E02, E37, YG45, G24, R27, R29, W0

Embellishments:  Blue Assortment Buttons, Colonial White Waxy Floss - CTMH, Labels 1 - Spellbinders, Bigz Top Note - Stampin' Up!



 

Sweet Friendship

I love the silhouette's from the Childhood Portrait stamp set, they are elegant in their simplicity.  I added three sparkles just to give it the bling factor.

Supplies:

(All Close to My Heart, unless noted):

Cardstock: Smokey Plum, Amethyst, Crème Brulee

Paper:  Bella Level 2 Paper Packet

Ink: Grey Wool, Smokey Plum

Stamp Set: Childhood Portrait, Adorning Corners

Accents: Clear Sparkles, Ribbon – Target,

Punch:  Martha Stewart

Die Cut: Spellbinders

Inspiration Peacock

Some of my creations start out with just an idea in my head, that's how this one started.  I wanted to try this technique with the peacock stamp.  I bought it last fall and finally used it.   For the peacock, I inked the stamp first with Versamark, then Pear ink, and finally rolled the stamp in the Pacifica ink.  I stamped it on white cardstock, added clear embossing powder and heat set it.  By inking with Versamark first, I only had to stamp the image once instead of color ink followed by Versamark.  After that, I spent a very long time cutting it out (and questioning my sanity).  I random stamped the feather in Versamark and Versamark and Pacfica ink on the Pacifica cardstock; used clear embossing powder and heat set.  I sponged a touch of Pear ink on to the center of the feathers using the emboss resist technique To give the peacock a bit more sparkle, I used a bunch of tiny blue and green sparkles. 

Supplies:

(All Close to My Heart, unless noted):

Cardstock: White Daisy, Chocolate, Pacifica, Sky

Ink: Pear, Pacifica, Versamark

Stamps: Circle of Love

Embossing Powder: Clear Detail

Accents: Sparkles Blue & Green Assortment

Techniques:

Heat Embossing, Rock & Roll, Emboss Resist

My Very First Challenge Card

Here's the card that I created for the Viva la Verve April Week 1 challenge.  I needed to create a card for an upcoming Confirmation, and I thought the Verve stamp would be perfect for the occasion.  The stamp also just happened to work in perfectly with the sketch for the challenge.  Here's the list of supplies:
Stamp: Verve
Ink:  Lilac Mist - Close to My Heart
Papers:  Close to My Heart
Punches:  Scallop Circle - Close to My Heart, Butterfly border - Martha Stewart
Embosselit:  Stampin' Up!
Embellishments:  Pearl Opaques - Close to My Heart

Here I Am

I've considered starting a blog for over a year now and I decided to jump in.  The final push was that I wanted to join some cardmaking challenges.  I'm not entirely sure what I will blog about, this is going to be an ever evolving project.  I know I'm going to share some of the items I create, but I might also share some things my kids say (kids really do say the darndest things) and some of the things that are happening at the farm.  This is going to be an interesting experience.