Flourishes Flowers

Flourishes Timeless Tuesdays challenge calls for flowers on your card or project. Well, guess what? We are expecting snow any time now...not pretty pansies as I have used. Yes, we are all excited and hoping the snow doesn't miss us because we just don't get much of the white stuff. I have chili fixins' and hot chocolate and all the warm foods and drinks ready.

I'm trying my hand with Copics. I usually do watercoloring with a brush but decided to give this a try.
I think I am going to enjoy them and will try to practice and watch tutorials so I can get better and better.

My card is to honor Julie aka UKJEM on Splitcoaststampers. She has a beautiful gallery of cards and I chose to case this one. Mine certainly has more color than hers but I did mostly keep her sketch.

My card is also for:
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge (FTTC99) use a flower on your card or project.
I am using Flourishes March pansy in the Calendar Set 1-January through April

Mark's Finest Papers -Speedy the Cat's Friends #37-use embossing on your card


Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes Calendar Set 1-January through April
Paper: PTI cream cardstock, all other unknown
Ink: Memento London Fog, Memento Desert Sand for sponging
Accessories: Cuttlebug script embossing folder, misc. buttons, Copics, crinkled ribbon, Spellbinders square scallop nestabilitie

Sweet Baby Boy

I made my card today for the QFTD42 challenge on Splitocoaststampers. The Queen being honored is Pat aka foxy67. I cased this card. I don't make many baby cards but was really in need of one for another SCS
stamper, Pat Smethers. She has just had or very close to having her first grandchild...a baby boy.

I am showing the inside of the card because I just love what it says. I have a baby sticker with this quote and
can't part with it. I actually bought it when I was scrapbooking and was going to use it when I had grandchildren. I never scrapbook anymore, though. I still want to use it in some way. I used a Fancy Tag by Spellbinders and computer generated this one. To frame the sentiment, I am using the outside of the die cut from the square scallop on the front of the card.

My card is fairly simple using some paper I bought sometime ago at a scrapbook store and  adding what I am calling rick rack using a zig zag chain punch. At this same store, I found those these tiny buttons. They are perfect for baby cards and they were also in pink and white. Wish I had more, but the scrapbook store has closed, unfortunately. I embossed my image..stamped in Frost White ink. I just love the sweet image.

I am entering my card into these challenges:

Tuesday Throwdown #30-Use embossing
Fab 'n' Funky Challenges #54-Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamp-American Art Stamp(no name)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, designer paper from scrapbook store (no name)
Ink: ColorBox-Frost White
Accessories: EK Success zig zag punch, Spellbinders Fancy Tags, Spellbinders square scallop die cut, tiny blue buttons, clear embossing powder

Friend to Friend-Stampin B's Design Team

I had Blogger issues last night and finally went to bed without getting my card uploaded for the Stampin B's
Design Team . Stayed up until all hours and now here I am about 4 hours later getting it done.
Joanne challenged us to use and old favorite along with something brand spankin' new. My new is the Cuttlebug Embossing Plus tag I'm using. It was a Christmas present and I've used one of the tags from the
package already but not this one. I love these new tags that die cut, emboss, and let you sponge while still
in the die cut. My old favorite is my textile embossing folder. It is my favorite of all the folders I have.

I first did my card in red, black, and white which are my usual colors for Valentine cards but I just wasn't happy and this color came coming to mind and I was forced to make my card again..and I like it.

If you would like to join the Stampin B's this week, just load your card or project using the Inlinkz or if uploading to Splitcoaststampers, use the keyword StampinB.

This card also fits: Speedy the Cat's Friends challenge #36 to use something new.
Pile It on-Use something brand spankin' new
Really Reasonable Ribbon Ramblings #15-Something new plus ribbon

Recipe:
Stamp: Studiog-(no name) another old favorite
Paper: PTI cream cardstock, designer paper is Miss Elizabeth
Ink: Stampin'Up! Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing Plus-embossed tags, Elastic sparkle stretch cord, Offray ribbon-old/gold,
Say It With Studs by Prima Mktg., clear embossing powder

FS Marisa and More

Finally...I'm here with a card. Seems like it has been a while. I cased this card for the Featured Stamper on  Splitcoaststampers this week. The FS is Marisa aka whiterockmama and she is a blogging pal and good friend and I am so happy to see her honored. She has a fabulous gallery and I chose this card to case. I went with a Valentine card instead of the Christmas ornament
.
Also, my card is for the Color Challenge on Splitcoaststampers to use red, white, silver or gray, and a dessert option of a ribbon. I have more gold than silver but there is silver in the brad.

I used some gorgeous white paper from a local scrapbook store and it didn't have a name on it but it was already embossed. I crimped my small piece of designer paper but don't think the crimping shows. My punched heart layer is topped with a piece of white cardstock and used Flower Soft gold stickers for the chain to hang the heart. Added a couple ribbons and brad and that's it.

I am entering my card into these challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #39: Anything Goes
Cupcake Craft Challenge: #123-White is White (make your project or card predominately white)
Southern Girls Challenge-#9: Anything Goes

Recipe:
No stamps and no ink
Paper: Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler, white embossed cardstock with unknown name from local scrapbook store, PTI white cardstock, other designer paper is unknown
Accessories: Flower Soft gold sticker for chain, Fiskars heart border punch, Say it With Studs brad by Prima Marketing, sheer gold ribbon, Stampin'Up! Olive Green grosgrain ribbon, Spellbinders Classic Heart die cut

Butterfly Wishes and Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all!!!
My new year is NOT starting off very well. I have a cold and have been in bed most of the day with all the nasty symptoms..sneezing, coughing, headache, sore throat, and it goes on. All that after not going to sleep until 3:00 a.m. I think I got it from my sweet 5 month old granddaughter over Christmas. No way to start a New Year and hope it isn't an omen for 2011! This will pass soon, I hope.

Kathy aka 101Airborne on Splitcoaststampers has been named Queen for the Day #41. I wanted to case this beautiful card to honor her.
I used some matching papers and there's not a lot to say about what I did. I made it an easy peasy..just what I needed today..no image, just a sentiment.



Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin'Up! Well Scripted
Paper: PTI cream cardstock, We R Memory Keepers-Explore-Meadow
Ink: Stampin'Up! Night of Navy
Accessories: Spare Parts-The Paper Studio butterfly brad, the Ribbon Boutique

My Big Button!

I'm having so much fun catching up on my card making since Christmas. I made this card using the sketch from Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge and I really love it.

I'm entering my card into three other challenges:

Fab 'n' Funky #53-Quick and Easy Does It!
Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog-Celebrations (Mine is a birthday)
My Time to Craft Challenge #121-Brand, Spanking New They want something that depicts a new event, new crafting goodies or a technique new to you. Mine are my new goodies. I received the Cuttlebug Plus embossed tags for Christmas and during the holidays I bought these awesome buttons.

I think my card is simple and doesn't need much explanation except for the recipe below. I will say I love the Cuttlebug Plus folders. They emboss and die cut at the same time and also have the areas cut out for sponging while still in the die.

Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin'Up! Well Scripted
Paper: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip, PTI cream cardstock, della Fantasia paper pack/matching papers
Ink: Stampin'Up! Always Artichoke
Accessories: Ribbon FX, Cuttlebug Plus-embossed tags, Big Bag Buttons-Damask-Blumenthal, gold metal brad

Stylish Blogger Award

I am almost ashamed to say I received this blog award on December 12 from Kathy Bradley/Entering Kathyville and am just now getting it posted.  Well, you know how crazy it gets at Christmas, Kathy. Forgive me? You should take a look at her pretty cats on her blog..here.

I am supposed to tell you 8 things about myself.

1. I love mysteries-books/movies/all kinds
2. Love organization
3. The ocean is one of my favorite places
4. This girl does not care for cooking.
5. My favorite flowers are tulips, especially yellow ones.
6. I fell on my patio and broke my right leg, left foot, and right wrist (about 6 years ago-maybe more..I've tried to forget). I'm sure you're wondering how that could possibly happen. LOL
7. I am afraid of the dark. (Yes, I am)
8. I love sunsets and sometimes photograph them.

I'm supposed to pass this on to 8 more bloggers but because everyone is so busy now and I would love to pass it to everyone I've met, I will leave it posted here and if anyone visiting me would like to have this award, please take it and tell everyone I gave it to you. Kathy, thank you so much and happy blogging.

Happy New Year! Five challenges

Another big holiday is almost upon us. I'll almost be glad when the holidays are over and I can quit eating.
Sure, like someone is forcing me to eat all these holiday feasts and goodies. LOL I do have an invitation for
some good New Year's food on New Year's night so I'll enjoy myself and try to get control after that.

My card was made for the Stampin B's Design Team challenge #91 hosted this week by Vicki Dutcher and she asked that we make 'celebration' cards. I am trying to add some fireworks and a few balloons and that is probably about as much celebrating as I'll do. Fun night, huh?

I stamped and embossed the fireworks with glitter embossing powder and used the same for the sentiment, adding some gold braid from Flower Soft under the sentiment. The balloons are a punch and more Flower Soft gold braid for the strings.

I'm entering my cards into these four challenges, also:
For Fun Challenges- New Year and what you think it is-I guess I think it is fireworks, balloons, and a lot of sparkle
CES Challenge Blog #17-Anything Goes
Crafts and Me Challenges-#19-Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp-Celebrate and Party

Recipe:
Stamps: Stampabilities Fireworks Burst, Sentiment is Christmas Words-Hot Off the Press (partial image)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, gold and silver mirror paper, black cardstock from Hobby Lobby
Accessories: Flower Soft gold peel off stickers, Martha Stewart balloon punch, silver and copper embossing powder

Featured Stamper and Three

My family left today and it is very quiet at my house. I need to be putting away my Christmas tree and
have stored some of the Christmas decorations already. But, for the moment it is time to upload a card
and maybe get another one made. I always miss it when I have been away for a few days.

I wanted to case a card of the Splitcoaststampers Featured Stamper from this past Sunday. It is LeisaJane and she makes beautiful cards. I chose this card. Isn't her card gorgeous?

I am entering these three challenges

 ColourQ-my gray color is the ink on the flower
Craft Your Days Away-CYDA#10-Use punches and/or die cuts-My punch is the EK Success zig zag chain punch (Christmas present) (ric rak) and the die cut is my flower
Creative Craft Challenges-Anything Goes

I cut out my flower twice and layered for depth. Ran through again to get the Old Olive leaves. While it was still in the die, I sponged with dove gray ink. My ribbon is SU Old Olive with a black and white cording on the top layer. The base is SU Vanilla and the flower and image are on Whisper White layered over black. Of course, you can see the ric rac and larger layer are Kraft papers.

Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin'Up! Well Scripted
Paper: SU Old Olive, Kraft, Whisper White, and Vanilla-Black from Hobby Lobby
Ink: StazOn Dove Gray for flower, Memento Bamboo Leaves (sentiment)
Accessories: Spellbinders Daisy Patch die cut, EK Success punch called zig zag chain, Spare Parts butterfly brad, SU Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, black and white cording from Hobby Lobby

SNOW!!! Happy and Sad Day

                         Pictures taken on TVA Reservation

How about this???? A white Christmas in Alabama! I have never seen this much snow on Christmas day. If we have any snow (which we usually don't) on Christmas, it is usually just flurries. O.K., I know this isn't much for a lot of you but more came. LOL
This is the first time in my life I haven't been able to go out of town to visit with family on Christmas day so it
is really hard. The meteorologists were predicting a little snow but I didn't think it would be enough to keep us home. We decided to try our 2 1/2 hr. trip to my sister's house but the farther we went, the worse it was and we heard another band of snow is expected later today. Plus, we are expecting the roads to be bad tonight. I sure hope my sons and their families get here safely . One is coming from Georgia and the other two hours away in Huntsville but it is worse  there than here.

No Christmas feast for me today. I do have the dishes I prepared to take with me but that isn't like the real
Christmas day meal. Well, things could be much worse so I will try not to be too disappointed.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!!!