Joy to the World

I made a Christmas card today for the group Christmas All Year Long on Show and Tell Cards and Scrap Pages. I "fiddled" with this card a lot longer than I usually do; it just took a while to come together!

Card Base: Gina K. Design Pure Luxury Base Weight White; other paper and "Joy To The World" sticker from The Paper Studio: Wonderful Christmas Wishes Scrapbook Kit; Holiday Collection: The Glitter Matstack for punched out items.

Supplies: Stamping' Up Texturz Backgrounds #1 (Harlequin); Metallic Rub-Ons; Martha Stewart Punch; Small Star Punch and Ribbons from Michael's.

Why don't you come over and get a head start on your Christmas cards for 2010! Last year I waited too late to get started and missed out on so many fun challenges because I had to spend all my time getting the Christmas cards made! I hope I won't let that happen this year -- making one each week should help!

Betty

Butterflies, Flowers and Lollipops

Hello All! I had great fun making this card today. It is for two challenges:
1. Stampin' B's (use a butterfly, a flower, and a die cut)
2. Crazy 4 Challenges (use lollipops -- no particular way specified)
My butterfly digi comes from GTC's Crafty Corner. It actually had a flower on the left upper wing but I wanted to use these 3D flowers that I found at Michael's a while back. I colored the butterflly with colored pencils, shaded with baby oil. I coated the head, body and outer wings with SU Crystal Effects to tie in with the flowers. I used Scalloped Circle Nestabilities to cut the Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery SU card stock. The card base is SU Creamy Caramel and the speckled brown paper is misc. 12x12. The ribbon for the bow also comes from Michael's and those are lollipops on it! I would have sworn that they were ornaments but the roll specifically says Multi Lollipops! Cross my heart! Hope you enjoyed my cute little card as much as I enjoyed making it!!

Betty

2nd Post Today for 2 Challenges

Here's my card for the Color Challenge at stampTV to use black, white and kraft, and the sketch challenge at Annabelle Stamps.

Black and white always makes such an elegant card. My base cardstock is Gina K. Pure Luxury Kraft and as for the black and patterned paper -- I got it at Ross! (That's a line from their commercial, if you don't have a Ross in your area!) The Thank You stamp came from Michael's, as did the ribbon and the pearls. I used my Oval Nestabilitites to cut out the main image. Hope that you enjoyed my card and that you'll be back to visit again!

Betty

Awards from Friends

I have recently received two blog awards from good friends I met through the fantastic website, stampTV. Colleen gave me a "One Lovely Blog" award and Olga sent the Happy 101 award.

The rules that go along with Colleen's award are:
1) Post it on your blog and post a link to the person's blog who has gifted it to you.
2) Gift the award to 15 bloggers that you have recently discovered.
3) Contact those you are gifting and let them know where they can get their award.

I have six blogs that I would like to share with you.

1. GTC-Crafty Corner Although this is not a new blog to me, I would love to see more of you go by her blog, pick up a (or some) cute freebie digis, make a card and send her a link to the card you have made. She will place them in her "Inspiration Corner" and we can all see your projects with her images!

2. An Inky Imagination is the blog of a friend from StampTV (Dee Marie) who makes the most beautiful, detailed cards. Be sure to check out her gorgeous work!

Some challenge sites that I have recently discovered are listed next. They are new to me, but maybe not to you.

3. Dare U 2 Digi Stamp

4. Teddy Stampers

5. Our Creative Corner

6. Paper Play Challenges

Now, on to Olga's award and 10 things about myself. (boy, this is a hard one)

1. I had no earthly idea that my crafting tools and materials would end up taking over half of my spare bedroom!

2. I never thought that I would ever have such good friends that I have never met in person; just over the internet, sharing our love of stamping.

3. I just took down my Christmas decorations this week. I've always done that on New Year's Day, but this year thought that I wanted to enjoy them a while longer!!

4. I lived in Indonesia a few years, many years ago (more than I'd like to count!)

5. My DH and I recently took a trip to the Lake Chapala area of Mexico and now are trying to decide if we will retire there.

6. I would love to meet my internet crafting friends one day. How about another stamping cruise or stamping retreat?????

7. I have won several random drawing challenges and acted like a little kid each time. I even act this way when one of my friends win a challenge!

8. I am a "cat person" but have no feline friends living with me presently.

9. I like Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance but don't watch any other reality shows.

10. Coming up with these 10 things about myself that might interest you was very hard (you wouldn't believe how long I've been sitting here trying to do this!)

Betty

Wonderful Sketch and Colors

Hello friends! Jennie Harper at stampTV created the sketch challenge and Vicki D. at Scrapbooking and Crafting Friends came up with the colors. Thanks to both of these talented stampers! The patterned paper I used is from my scrap pile and I love it! I used clear stamps; the leaves from Leaf and Branch by Martha Stewart and the little butterfly from Inkadinkado Flourishes. Ribbon is from Michaels. Hope you enjoy the pretty colors and the sketch!

Betty

Cards for Volunteers

Many of you know that I make thank you cards to send to volunteers who stay in the nursery on Sunday mornings at my church. I've been working on these cards tonight and would like to share them with you. I'm using the same sketch but different papers. Plain card stock is from Stampin' Up and the patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye "Simply Delightful". The butterfly image is from SU's God's Beauty and the sentiment from SU's Thank You Kindly. Nursery Volunteers are such special people and I love sending them special thank you cards! Have a good sleep, or enjoy your day, whatever the case may be, and come back soon!

Betty

I'm Lovin' This Sketch

The sketch comes from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 53 and the color challenge is from Embellish Magazine to use kraft, brown, purple and stripes. I was so happy with the way this card turned out -- I debated on adding rhinestones for embellishment but decided that I didn't want to do anything else to it; maybe next time I will! The stamps are from Stampin' Up; God's Beauty (butterfly) and Sincere Salutations. Paper is Perfect Plum, Kraft, and Chocolate Chip from SU; patterned paper is unknown from my stash of papers. Please come back and visit again!!

Betty

There's Magic in the Air This Evening!

Here is my treat container with Nina May's terrific giraffe image. I love how some of his spots are heart-shaped! I haven't filled it with anything yet because it will be for my MIL who was transferred to a rehab hospital today following hip surgery. She is a diabetic so I have to think of something other than candy to give her as a surprise! If you haven't been playing in this Monday challenge get on over to There's Magic in the Air and have some fun!


Betty

A Monday Morning Post

This cute image is a freebie from The Greeting Farm. I found out about this freebie from Robin's Artful Musings. The Greeting Farm is having a relay. If you make a card from this image and post it by 6pm CST tonight, you will receive another freebie by email. Make a card with this one, post, receive another freebie, etc. I colored my image with Bic MarkIt permanent markers, applied aqua glitter, and cut out with a Nestability. The letters are a Studio G alphabet set I got in the Michael's $1 bin, stamped in Taken with Teal by SU. I punched it out and popped up with a sticky dot. The digi paper is from Gina K. Designs and the card base is Brilliant Blue from Stampin' Up. I'll be back this evening with my entry for the challenge at There's Magic in the Air, so come on back!!

Betty

Yes, It's January!

I enjoyed making a Christmas card today, thanks to Peggy Lacktorin in the group Christmas All Year Long at Show and Tell Cards and Scrap Pages. She extended the challenge to make a Christmas card using silver and gold, and any other colors of our choice. I used a grayish-blue base card stock that has metallic flecks. The image and the red piece are from a card we received this past Christmas. The silver and gold are leftovers from the cards that I made to send. I embossed the sentiment (from SU) and the ivy (from Michael's) with gold embossing powder. Although I don't have a picture, the inside of the card is gold embossed on a piece of ivory card stock with Melanie Muenchinger's sentiment "May the spirit of Christmas bring you PEACE. The gladness of Christmas give you HOPE. The warmth of Christmas grant you LOVE." This is from her Festive Frame set by Gina K. Designs which is a favorite of mine. Hope you enjoyed the early taste of Christmas!

Betty

Praying for You

Sadly, I had to make a sympathy card today for a friend from church whose 23 year old son passed away. I am hoping that this card will bring her comfort; knowing that others are thinking of her and keeping her in their prayers.

I used the sketch from Card Patterns. I always appreciate having a sketch to start with; knowing where my card will most likely go. Sometimes it veers off in another direction, but the sketch helps me get started! I used Stamping Up card stock (Brocade Blue, So Saffron and Mellow Moss). The Mellow Moss was embossed with Cuttlebug's Folder, Stylized Flowers. Stamp is also SU -- Thoughts and Prayers; it was cut out with Nestabilities Labels Six. Misc. dp and ribbon.

Betty

Valentine Card for Sunshine and Kym

I have made this card for a challenge at Sunshine Stamps on Show and Tell Cards and Scrap Pages. Kym Weber extended the challenge to make a Valentine Themed card with a bow, designer paper, brads or buttons and lots of glitter! My card base is SU's Night of Navy, the dp is the hearts and stripes (maker not known, sorry!) I have used five brads, the large one was coated with SU Crystal Effects and covered with Dazzling Diamonds glitter. There is also glitter on the hearts from the stamped image by SU. I probably have more glitter on me than on the card -- does that count Kym???? Ribbon is from Gina K. Designs.

On a personal note, my MIL had her hip surgery today and the doctor said all went well. Now it's up to her to work with the rehab folks and get mobile again! Thanks for your prayers!

Betty

Street Market

Wasn't able to make a card today so I'm sharing a couple of more photos from my trip to Mexico. These were both taken at a street market which is held every Wednesday. We were able to visit it before returning to Houston that afternoon. In one you will see me buying a pretty little bracelet for my granddaughter (grandson got a belt buckle!). The other shows veggies and other offerings. At one stall there was a head of cauliflower that was at least twice as big as we can buy here! Notice the "cobblestones" on the street -- you may have to click to enlarge the bottom picture) they're called cobblestones but they are more like the "bull rocks" we have around the perimeter of our house. They make for a very bumpy ride!

We got a call about 3:30 this afternoon from the retirement center where my MIL lives. She had fallen and needed for us to come over. We thought we would just need to help her up but when we arrived and tried to straighten out her leg just a tiny bit she had a lot of pain. So we had to call for an ambulance to transport her to the hospital. After x-rays, it was determined that she did indeed break her hip and will have to undergo surgery tomorrow. Please keep us in your prayers!

Betty

Flowers and Valentines

I have two cards to share with you today. The elephant image is from Nina May and the card was made for a challenge at There's Magic in the Air. Olga Jewell extended the challenge to use red ribbon, buttons and glitter, or something that sparkles. This card also fits the criteria for the Jacksonbelle Tuesday Challenge to use a Valentine theme. The card with the flowers is for a challenge at stampTV to use inchies. I used Gina K's stamp set Elegant Flowers and inked the stamp with SU's Regal Rose and Always Artichoke. The second flower was stamped without reinking and the sentiment is from SU's set Thank You Kindly. Hope you enjoyed my cards and have a chance to enjoy a challenge or two yourself!

Betty

Wilson Bear

My sweet teddy bear card was made for three challenges:
Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge 37
dareu2digistamp29 use a digistamp and buttons
teddy-stampers#2 use 1 ribbon, 2 patterned papers, 3 brads or buttons, and a teddy bear image.
My teddy digi-image came from Janie and was colored with Stampin' Up markers. If you've never visited GTC's Crafty Corner, please do so -- all you have to do is click on her name; you won't be disappointed! Hope you enjoyed my card and will come back to visit really soon!

Betty

Are Rats Funny???

The challenge for this card comes from Digital-Ink Co. at Scrapbook News and Review Magazine. In honor of Global Belly Laugh Day (Jan. 24), Kathy Mueller proposed a Funny Sentiment Challenge featuring a free rat stamp that she will send to you if you email her at silkonglass@gmail.com You've not heard of Global Belly Laugh Day???? On Jan. 24, at 1:24 p.m., we should all smile, throw our arms in the air, and laugh out loud!! Couldn't hurt, could it? The sketch I used comes from The Pink Elephant Challenge 50 and I really like the "cleanness" of it. I am also entering this card in the current challenge at Paper Play Challenges -- to make a card dedicated to our furry friends that bark, squeak, meow, roar, moo, or neigh. I don't know if rats can be considered friends, or if they are furry, but they surely must squeak. Hopefully, they'll accept it!! Card base is Bordering Blue by Stampin Up; also used SU's More Mustard and So Saffron ribbon. The patterned paper is from K&Company. My husband and I collaborated on the caption and it was computer generated. Hope you enjoyed my card!

Betty

Another Sunday Post

I really enjoyed making the card that I'm posting this evening. It is for two different challenges: the color challenge at stampTV to make a monochromatic card and Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Sketch Challenge. I used blues, including Stampin' Up's Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Bordering Blue and misc. patterned paper. Stamps are from Inkadinkadoo (the dragonfly), See D's Stamps (thank you), and Stampin' Up's Boho Backgrounds (accent under Thanks). Hope you enjoy the card and have a fantastic week!

Betty

New Stamps

These two "signature" stamps were waiting for me when I arrived home from my trip to Mexico. I had ordered them from a seller on ebay. Aren't they just gorgeous -- can't wait to start adding them to the backs of my cards. The seller's name is loongchai74 on ebay. Check out his store -- he can make your stamp look most any way you want it to. I just used his standard stamps though and love them.
The card above was made for Nina Brackett's sketch challenge at Card Patterns. The hydrangea is a digi image from Nina that she designed in honor of her grandmother.

Betty

Back Home in Texas

Well, we had a lovely vacation but today was the day we had to say goodbye to new friends we've made in Mexico. So sad to leave but we made it home safely and that was a tremendous blessing in addition to the wonderful times we enjoyed while in Mexico. On Monday we went to Guadalajara which is a beautiful city with a fascinating history. The old buildings are so beautiful and stately! After walking around and looking at the historical district we went to a nearby market; had lunch there and looked around a bit -- you could find anything and everything there! Next we went to a nearby town named Tlaquepaque and saw lots of art shops and heard a female mariachi band playing. What a fun trip it was and we got back to our bed & breakfast tired, but happy!

A Fun Sunday

(Note: Pictures appear in the opposite order from which they are described.)We took the bus into Chapala today and went to the lakeshore where they have a special market on weekends. You will see a picture of me on a bench chatting with some folks who are staying at the same b&b. Next picture is of a little stall with trays of little deep fried fish (no, I didn't try them),cups of various juices and some gorgeous pineapples. The next photo shows some picturesque boats that were for hire and we saw a beautiful crane sitting in a tree, standing out quite prominently against the blue sky. Hope you all had a wonderful Sunday too!

Another Day in Ajijic

Larry and I enjoyed another day in Ajijic, Mexico, which is located on the north shore of the largest lake in Mexico, Lake Chapala. Our b&b is just a couple of blocks from the lake and we walked there today. Larry got some wonderful photos of waterfowl that I'd like to share with you. There is one wide angle shot and a closeup of the crane. Betty

Hello from Ajijic, Mexico!

With Christmas just past, we have seen many a beautiful card made with poinsettia images. Imagine my delight to see poinsettias growing naturally in many places here in Ajijic. My picture of the "bunches" of poinsettias is slightly blurred but I wanted you to see them anyway. They were so thick that they also didn't look real. I hope you will enjoy these gorgeous flowers as much as I did. Betty

Two Challenge Thank You

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Color Challenge to use Black, Yellow & One More and Jacksonbelle Sketch Challenge are the inspirations for this card. My colors are Stampin' Up Basic Black, So Saffron and Old Olive; card base is Whisper White. Stamp is also SU, Circle of Friendship. Ribbon & rhinestones are from Michael's. I had another new toy to play with, Nestabilities Label Six that I used to cut the offsetting pieces. I also used Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots embossing folder (can't seem to get enough of this folder -- I love it!) Thanks for stopping by; till next time!
To find out more about these challenges go to:
flourishes
http://jacksonbelle.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

From the Garden

On stampTV this week Gina K. challenged us to make a card inspired by the garden. I took this photo of a flower in my sister's garden on my last visit with her in Mississippi. Cut it out and framed it with Nestablities. Base card stock is SU Gable Green; the others are miscellaneous sheets. Stamp in lower corner is from Stampin' Up, Take Three, in Always Artichoke. I used Martha Stewart's border punch Daisy to add a strip along the top of the card. Couldn't see it too well so traced the cutout portions with Always Artichoke. Ribbon came from Michael's and I tied a "cheater bow". Some cards just fall together -- 1,2,3; This was not one of those cards. It behaved like my grandchildren on a bad day!! Don't know how many times I changed papers and positions before finding something that I liked. Hope you enjoy it too!

Leaves

I picked up a new stamp set today -- Leaf and Branch by Martha Stewart. The color challenge at stampTV this week is to use any shades of blue and green. This card also qualifies for the sketch challenge at Midnight Madness. The leaves were stamped with SU Old Olive and colored with SU Certainly Celery and a blender pen. My papers are single sheets so no info is available. Jute string and a button from my collection are the finishing touches. Till later.....happy stamping!

Magical Painted Pony

Patti, who is on the Design Team at There's Magic in the Air, gave us a challenge today to use a wonderful image by Nina May and the colors Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede and Always Artichoke. Not having all of these colors, I used Really Rust, So Saffron, Sahara Sand, and Always Artichoke (Southwesern inspired colors)from Stampin' Up. This was such a fun challenge -- I felt like a kid with a new coloring book -- and I was really thrilled with the way my card turned out. The card base is Really Rust, there's a couple of pieces of patterned paper from my stash, a bit of ribbon and a computer generated sentiment cut out with Nestabilities. Nina is giving this image away free so head over to http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/ and take Patti's challenge -- you'll be glad you did!!

Mistakes or Opportunities?

My card for today's post came from the sketch challenge at Card Positioning Systems. I've had this cute little ladybug(?) made up for some time, just waiting for the perfect card. Well, I made the card but it wasn't quite perfect. I didn't get the image positioned in the center so I had to add a bow! Isn't it true that mistakes are opportunities for embellishment!!

Table for One

This card was created for the Just Us Girls Sketch Challenge and also the Papertrey Ink Scrap-tastic Challenge. All dp is from My Mind's Eye, Simply Delightful, that I used for recent projects. Sentiment is Stampin' Up, Short and Sweet. The photo was taken at one of my backyard bird feeders of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Maybe we can get together and "do lunch" some time soon!

A Rose for Melanie

Melanie Muenchinger is an awsome illustrator for Gina K Designs. She is celebrating two years of illustrating and blogging with a ginormous blog hop which she has invited everyone to join by making a card with one of her many stamp sets! I have used A Year of Flowers to create this card. I stamped the image on SU Blush Blossom cs and used a blender pen to color with Blush Blossom, Groovy Guava, Pretty in Pink, and Cameo Coral. I cut out the rose and leaves and adhered to the white cs that has been embossed with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots Folder; I used pop dots for the rose. Added a pretty bow with ribbon from Michael's and it's done!

A Blog for the New Year!

I have so many friends who have been blogging this past year that I have decided to join them! Olga, don't you dare say "I told you so!". I will be posting pictures of cards or other projects that I have made; or maybe just telling you a little bit about my day. I have a lot to learn about making this blog my own and will surely appreciate any suggestions you can give me. Looking forward to chatting with you here in 2010!