Happy Birthday Sherry!

Today I finished a birthday card for my good friend Sherry who was instrumental in getting me into card-making! Little did she know what an addiction she was fostering! But a good one!! This card features some new papers/cardstock that StampingScrapping.com just got in. The colors are pinks and grays...everything from hot pink to powder pink to soft gray to charcoal gray...all in classy prints, both detailed and subtle. So I'm "spotlighting" this new paper pack: its called "Be Mine" by Echo Park. What fun!

For anyone who sees my blog often you might notice that I now have a watermark on my main card photo...finally! That is something Cindy helped me with yesterday when I was at her place. Yes, I got to go and "work" over there again for most of the day yesterday! We actually got a lot done and I love to be able to pick her brain about products and techniques. She is very inspiring...in many ways! She has such a loving, friendly, helpful attitude...energetic and a real "go-getter"....and all that in the face of a huge tragedy in her life that God is leading her through, step by step. Her faith and patience are amazing! Yes, she speaks of very dark days but she stays determined to live a triumpant life in honor of her lovely daughter, taken too soon from this life.
One of the things that always impresses me when I go to Cindy's is how organized she keeps all her own crafting supplies as well as the store stock. (Of course, Kevin is a bit "crazy" about stock organization, which helps!! LOL) I love the new folders she has to keep all of her dies and matching stamps in (called "Pack & Store"). I thought mine were pretty organized 'til I saw that! But I don't have near as many so I'm OK with a couple clip boards with magnetic strips attached that I keep my dies on. They ARE all labeled nicely! And they hang right next to my raised table with paper cutter and Cuttlebug. Anyway...Wow! did I get off the main subject or what?! I'm posting this bithday card and showing off some new things from Cindy's!
Here's the list of ingredients:

• Cardstock - "Be Mine" by Echo Park* NEW
• Flower - "Gardenia" by StampingScrapping*
• Leaves - handmade by me!
• Stamp - (sq. medallion) "Fancy Hearts" by StampingScrapping* NEW
• Stamps - (sentiments) "Mary & Friends" by Woodware.USA*
• Ink - "London Fog" by Memento
• Stickpin - heart stickpin & butterfly bead by Pizzazz Aplenty
• white cardstock & ribbon - from my stash
• note: the coral/pink print in the upper right corner is not Echo Park -(just from stash)

        *'d items, as always, are from www.stampingscrapping.com

The sketch I followed is the one on the MOJO Monday Challenge right now so I'm entering that one.
http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/ - Sketch Challenge #225

Maggie Card with Sports Theme

The only Magnolia image I have that has anything to do with sports is this ice skating one! The next closest would be "snow ball throwing"! But ice skating really is a sport so that's what I went with.

This is just a "thinking of you"-type of card so I left it blank inside to write a personal note to someone. I will probably add a stamped Bible verse on the left inside too. This card was kind of fun to make! I used a piece of metalic-coated paper that I took home from work one day. It came in the mail as a brochure for a tool company and it looks like stainless steel. But that did make it a little hard to photograph...it kept picking up the colors in my house! Now that I'm this far with posting this I'm thinking I should have colored Edwin's skates black or gray. Hmmmm. Oh, well.

Items used:

Cardstock and special paper - from my stash

Magnolia stamped image* - "Tilda & Edwin on Ice"-

(colored with colored pencils)

StampingScrappingDesign stamps*: "Anglaise Lace"

& "Tag Accents

& the brand NEW "Tab Basics 1" (die matching stamps)

Memento ink*

Spellbinders Dies*:

"Scallopped Edge Frame"

"Standard Circles. Large"

"Big Scallopped Circles, Large"

"Labels 15"

The flower is one that Karen Stark made for me,

the little roses are from my stash

as are the shiney pearls and buttons.

All *'d items can be purchased at www.stampingscrapping.com

I am able to enter this card in 2 different challenges:

http://thedutchmagnoliachickies.blogspot.com/ - "Flowers & Buttons"

http://magnoliastamplovers.blogspot.com/ - "Sports"

Blue & White Birthday Card

This card is for a very special lady for her 80th birthday.  I used to work with Pat for many years at Heartwell Mortgage which closed its doors in July of 2007 because of the down-turn of the economy. She was the receptionist there for over 30 years and I was her "fill-in"...she taught me the fine art of being a friendly, in-control receptionist! The days I wasn't needed at the front desk I got to be a "Girl Friday" and help out in whatever department had work for me. It was a great job! And Pat is still a great lady!
Here is the card I will give her tomorrow when I see her:

The sentiments are computer generated.

The flower is made from the all-white "Color Me" Flowers by StampingScrapping.com.

I used watercolor paints to color each layer and glitter glue for some sparkle.

The blue and white theme was chosen, not by me but by the "DutchCardLovers"!

Their theme was a sketch (which I turned on its side) and the colors blue & white.

The 2-sided navy blue border down the middle...and on the inside... is for the "ShoppingOur Stash" Challenge.

Below is the inside of the card; the wording (on the left) is again computer generated.

A list of ingredients:

Some cardstock (off-white, navy) are from my stash

Blue & White print paper is from PaperPizazz

Blue & White check is Paper Studio

Cryogen* cardstock for white die cuts

"Color Me" Flower* from StampingScrapping.com

Ranger Stickles* - "Star Dust"

Memento Dye Ink - "Paris Dusk"

Verve Stamp - Bible verse

Heart stamp is Inkadinkadoo - "Love & Friendship" set

"Vintage Flourish" Stamp - Stampabilities

Border Punch - Martha Stewart "Doily Lace"

Spellbinder Dies* - "Labels 15"

Queen & Co. Pearls* - "Denim"

Adhesives: ScorTape* & Glue Dots*

Ribbon, from my stash

*As usual, the *'d items came be discovered at www.stampingscrapping.com

I am entering this card in 2 challenges:

http://dutchcardlovers.blogspot.com/ - #122 "Sketch + Blue & White"

http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/ - #35 "Across the Border"

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment! I love to hear from fellow bloggers/crafters!

HM Black & White, No Flowers Card

The House Mouse Challenge right now is "Black & White" and the challenge at Craftycardmakers is "No Floral Embellishments" so...I came up with this sort-of simple card. I was SO tempted to put a little pink on Mudpie's ears and nose like I usually do but restrained myself and actually followed the "black & white ONLY" rule!

Items used:

House Mouse Stamp* - "Contented Mudpie" -

(colored with colored pencils)

Stampcraft Stamp - "Thank You"

StampingScrapping Design Border Stamp* - "Tab Basics 1", die matching stamps

Stampabilities Ink - Dye Ink, black

Cardstock, all from my stash

Queen & Co. Pearls* - "Snowflake"

Black ribbon  - from my stash

*these items came be found/purchased at http://www.stampingscrapping.com/

I am entering this in the 2 challenges mentioned above:

http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/ - #111 "All Black & White ONLY"

http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/ - #59 "No Floral Embellishments"

Thanks for stopping by today! If you have a moment, please leave a comment so I know you were here!

My Treasure Box, Using "Kraft"

We finally have snow in west Michigan! It is SOOOOO beautiful! Just got back inside from a walk through the winter wonderland of our neighbohood. Took several pictures!
Right now I want to show you the little box I made for one of my grandaughters...not sure which one! The box is made out of "kraft" cardstock. The sides really should be decorated too, but I ran out of time.
I am entering this 4"x4"x2" box in 3 challenges:
http://thedutchmagnoliachickies.blogspot.com/ - "A Creation -Not a Card"
http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/ - Challenge #34 "All That Glitters..."
http://magnoliastamplovers.blogspot.com/ - "Kraft Paper"

What I used to create my little "treasure" box:

1) Magnolia stamps*- "Tilda as Mermaid" & (accessory) "Fish"

    ...colored with colored pencils

2) SSD stamps*- "Anglaise Lace" Circles

3) Glue Dots Minis*

4) Cuttlebug & Cuttlebug embossing folder* -"Hearts"

5) Spellbinder dies* - Large Scalloped Circles & Standard Circles, Lg.

6) Ranger Stickles* - "Icicles"

7) Rhinestones & Ribbon, from my stash

8) Cardstock, from my stash

9) Martha Stewart scoring board

*As always, the *'d items can be found at http://www.stampingscrapping.com/

2 New Birthday Cards

In late December we have 2 birthdays in our family...one is my grandaughter Lilly (2) on Christmas Day and the other is son-in-law Russ on December 30. But with the busyness of the holidays we did not celebrate them until now. Tonight we are getting together for a b-day party! My husband turns 60 on January 9 so we will "celebrate" that one too!
First up is Lilly's card:

The items used for this card are as follows:

• Cardstock is all from my stash
• the sentiment was computer generated
• the stamp is a Wild Rose Studio - "Dog and Chick"* colored w/colored pencils
• the die cut frame is a Spellbinder - "Scalloped Edge Frame"*
• adhesive - Scor Tape
• half-pearls* & ribbon from my stash

The second card is Russ's:

The items used on this one are:

• tree stamp (old one, unbranded??)
• ink: Memento*
• "Happy Birthday" stamp from Imaginations
• Stickles - "Icicle"*
• SSCC - "Terrific Tab Dies" with matching*
• SSCC - "Tab Basics 2" stamps*
• square brass brads, from my stash
• cardstock, also from my stash

I used Cindy's new tab die with the matching stamp for this card. I printed the stamped border a little too light but I knew I was going to print the sentiment over it and didn't want them "fighting"! At first I wasn't sure how to use the tabs but after experimenting with placement I really like them! Like tucking a note or extra greeting into your card! Pretty shapes too!

The inside sentiment is computer generated. The font is called "Peggy Font" (I think). If anyone is interested I can look up the details on that font. Just let me know.

As usual, all of the *'d items are available at Cindy's amazing online store: http://www.stampingscrapping.com/

I am entering this second card in the challenge at SSCC; the challenge is "Dies".

To go there click here: http://stampingscrappingchallengecentral.blogspot.com/

Christmas is Over, the New Year Has Begun

I don't really like the sound of that..."Christmas is Over"...we are suppose to keep Christmas in our hearts all year long! Remembering the precious gift of a Savior and sharing that joy every single day should be my goal. But the reality is that I get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of every-day life that I forget. THIS year I will try harder to remember...Jesus is the "reason for the season"...and He's the reason for everything else too!
But the New Year certainly has begun! The fudge is finally gone! I had to go back to work today. The Christmas tree is down and most of the decorations are put away...my living room looks huge again! But I kind of miss the glow and twinkle of hundreds of tiny lights in the corner where the tree was. I write notes to myself every year now and tuck them away with my Christmas "stuff" telling me what to use next year and new ideas on how to streamline or improve or change the "theme". Do any of you do that too? I used to think I'd remember the next year...I'm more realistic now. I know how forgetful I am! And sometimes my ideas are just so amazingly good (LOL) I don't want to risk forgetting. 
The SMASH books were a big success...well, at least the girls all seemed to like them alot! Two of the girls, the two w/o tiny children, took time to look at each page, ooohhhing and aaahhhing at their favorites. I think Linzy will probably use her's the most...it just fits her personality. She started right in on using it...had everyone in the family write something that very night at the Christmas gathering.

This is Kate signing Linzy's SMASH book. Kate is the oldest daughter; Chris is #2...she is in the background holding her new son Jonathan (2 1/2 mos.); Linz is #3 and Emily is #4.

Our 2 sons John and Jeff (aka Biff) are mixed in there too.

This is Emily, and YES, she really is THAT pregnant! She is tall and thin and her little belly does actually look just like a bowling ball! We went bowling before our Christmas party at home this year...everyone wants to do family activities instead of lots of gifts. We had a great time! Even the little 2 year olds pushed bowling balls down the lanes!

Emz, Me, Linz...with proper Christmas headgear!

December 25 is Lilly's birthday too! She turned 2 this year. She had a little trouble blowing out both candles...Dad (Dave) had to help!

Well, if you've read this far, Thank you! for letting me ramble and introduce some of my family to you.

As we head into this new year together as friends, crafters and fellow bloggers may we all enjoy

God's daily Blessing!