My knitting sistah!

My sister is a knitter and I always like to see what she's working on...usually two or three projects going at once, and she always uses fabuloso yarn. Sorta reminds me of myself and my crafting obsession with yummy patterned papers and stamps, wink! She blessed me with a couple of her sweet creations this past month and I've been dying to show them off here on my blog. Well, who woulda thunk my Sketch Challenge 209 card would give me the perfect opportunity to do so?! First, she gave me this awesome felted snowman she'd made during a weekend class and then a yummy bottle of Chardonnay topped with a knitted hat and scarf--darling!

The card below will be going postal to her, of course, as soon as I get off the keyboard today! It uses some fun paper from the Frosty Day collection from SU! along with one of my favorite TCP stamps, the knitting pooch. He's watercolored with reinkers in Kiwi, Tango and Bashful Blue with a dab of Close to Cocoa on his nose. A rather large Kiwi button strung with orange scrapper's floss and two mini brads round out the embellishments on this one.

It's your {meow, meow} birthday!

Anyone remember Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood of Make-Believe, specifically Henrietta Pussycat? I always loved her {meow} laden dialogue...let's face it, I just loved that whole sketch! Ah, just give me a moment to reminisce...ok, I'm back! This cute little pussycat is from The Cat's Pajamas Clearly Swanky stamp line made me think of Miss Henrietta, so I aptly chose to use her for my SIL's upcoming birthday on January 1st because she is a cat-lover.

As much as I love TCP images, I always have such a hard time with them and I'm not sure what the reason is. Anyway, after spending way too much time on this card, I'm pleased with the end result. The sketch was inspired by this SFYTT of Jen del Muro's, and the layered snowflake embellishment was inspired by all the cool "layered" snowflakes I recently spied on Sweet Miss Daisy/Anna Wight's blog which can been seen here (she recently added more cool layered snowflakes too!).

Thanks for stopping by today!

Card deets
Stamps: CTMH Happy Birthday; TCP Clearly Swanky Stamps
Paper: Basic Grey patterned paper, SU! Shimmery White
Ink: Ranger Distress Ink Walnut Stain, reinkers--Cool Caribbean, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive
Accessories: felt snowflake, button, linen thread, RHR taffeta, Spica glitter gel pen, Birds & Blooms flower die

What day is it...

...it's Saturday of course, and that means another great sketch from Jen/i{heart}2stamp.com! I've had to really stop and think about what day it really is/was this past week with all of the Christmas hustle and bustle! It's not over for us yet though--my eldest brother is coming this weekend as the inclement weather kept him from visiting last weekend, and we had to reschedule another of our Christmas parties for tomorrow due to a handful of sickies in the family...namely my oldest and youngest! Both are on antibiotics as I type and are on the mend. Enough about that though, let's get to the sketch card.

While we're still not finished whooping it up for Christmas, I have to admit that I'm pretty much ready to move on to a different stamping holiday, so I chose Valentine's Day. I've had SU!'s A Happy Heart for a few weeks now, and felt it was time to ink it up. Although I'm not a huge red-black fan, I do like the combo used in an old fashioned sorta way, so that was the look and feel I was aiming for, and I have to admit that I'm pleased with the results!

I struggled a bit with the sketch, trying to fit a stamped image between the top and bottom horizontal strips. I finally gave up and used a piece of delicious Scenic Route designer paper, letting it stand all on its own, stamping a simple sentiment just below the lower strip, or in this case ribbon & ric rac combo. The large heart is embossed for extra pizazz and topped with a button tied with linen thread. I placed the button just so to draw attention to the sentiment. The upper strip is comprised of folk hearts punched from black card stock with a few of them popped up on foam boosters.

I'm anxious to check out the rest of the girls' creations, curious to see if they've moved on from Christmas as well. Be sure to check them out too, and if you can play along today or tomorrow or whenever, be sure to use the keyword: SFYTT and/or leave a link to your blog on Jen's blog.

Jen/Lynn (December guest designer)
Susan
Amy
Shannan
Carole

Card deets
Stamps: SU! A Happy Heart
Paper: Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black; Scenic Route Sonoma Collection
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Black craft
Accessories: Making Memories scalloped organdy ribbon, Offray ric rac, SU! folk heart punch (retired), button, Linen Thread (SU!), foam boosters, black ep

It's December 26th, now what?!

As I was browsing a few of my favorite blogs tonight, many of them had such warm holiday wishes for those who stopped by which made me realize that I hadn't officially wished you all a very Merry Christmas! My sna-foo made me stop and think about the events of the past week and something that has stayed with me. That something was the message in my pastor's Christmas Eve sermon which I will attempt to put into words. Pastor talked about how easy it is to fall in love with a baby, namely baby Jesus; how easy it is to celebrate Him and the anniversary of His birth each Christmas Eve; how easy it is to be thankful for His life, the one He gave to all believers to save us from our sinful lives. Here's the next part, the kicker...you knew it was coming: it isn't always so easy to remember Him every day, every hour, every minute. We may not always love the way He answers our prayers or like the way He guides our lives, but He loves me and you and you and YOU each and every day, hour and minute-- like it or not!

So my post-Christmas message is to love your Lord with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your strength, each and every day, hour and minute!

~Amy

for niece & nephew...

I quickly put these two gift card holders together using papers from The Angel Co. and Close To My Heart along with some of my favorite Cornish Heritage Farms stamps, one for my nephew and the other being for my husband's niece. I'd seen similar gift card holders made by Alli Miles and then Val Stangle. Click on their names to see the inspiration they provided me! The cards measure 6.5 inches squared, folded in half. Inside is a 4.25x2.25 piece of cardstock adhered on the bottom and one side with a rounded corner to hold the gift card.

We had a great time at a Christmas party for my husband's side of the family last night, and today is my family gathering hosted by us, aaaack! So, I'm going to keep this short and sweet! See the list below for all the deets and have a great day.

Joyeux Noel
Stamps: CHF Joyeux Noel, Christmas Critters
Paper: CTMH Life Delights paper pack
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Celery grosgrain, sponge

Cardinal
Stamps: CHF The Landing Pad, Christmas Critters (Kim Hughes Collection)
Paper: TAC Reese paper pack
Ink: Ranger Distress Ink Walnut Stain, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: American Crafts brads, sponge

Tree-mendous Sketch For You To Try!

Wowza, can't believe it's already Saturday (again), and you know what that means--Jen's SFYTT! For today's card I used an adorable new set from Our Craft Lounge called Tree-mendous Love (what a cute and clever name, huh?!). I watercolored the tree and birdhouse with a small brush and a blender pen, punched a trio of hearts from the designer paper from TAC called Life Delights and tied them up with linen thread and a clear pink button. I didn't want my corner embellishment to overpower the sweet delightfulness of the tree and soft colors of the designer paper, so I kept it a bit smaller than the sketch shows.

Be sure to click on over to the rest of the team and have a wonderful weekend! We have Christmas gatherings on both sides of our family tonight and tomorrow (at our house), so I'd better get a move-on!

Jen/Lynn
Carole
Shannan
Amy
Susan

Christmas Goodies!

I put together a gift ensemble of treats topped with fun tags using Hero Arts and Cornish Heritage Farms stamps with a color scheme of Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss and Riding Hood Red. The large gift bag tag is a 1/4 sheet of card stock using the same stamping as my SFYTT card from this past weekend. I'm desperately trying to use up my Felt Flurries, and love the look of the snowflake next to the adorable cardinal and moose from Kim Hughes' Christmas Critters set.

Below are a couple of close up shots of the tags and goodies. I was inspired by this post of Debbie Olson/Thinking Inking and made her Snickerdoodle Biscotti for the very first time this weekend (my first attempt at Biscotti ever and it worked!). The other goodies include our family recipe of frosted Christmas cut-out cookies and Marshmallow Fudge with lots of walnuts (DH thinks I should've used more walnuts, but I think he just says that so he can keep sampling it to be sure!).

Thanks for stopping over today!

Details
Stamps: CHF Christmas Critters; Hero Arts clear alphabet
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss
Paper: Kraft, KK, RHR, CC, Vanilla, Frosty Day DSP, Scenic Route Sonoma
Accessories: wide red striped grosgrain, Scallop Edge punch, Curly Label punch, Vintage mini brads, jumbo eyelet, Top Note die, Horizontal Slot punch, Felt Flurries, Rope Twine, Season of Cheer Rub-ons, piercing tool/template

Season's Greetings Sketch For You!

I thought I'd throw out one more Christmas card using this week's SFYTT. Since I was using my Kim Hughes Christmas Critters set, I tried to emulate a little Kim Hughes style by leaving the bird and moose images "open" and overlapping the solid tree. I just have to tell you--I love the way this turned out, so call me a copy-cat, but why mess with the master?! I adore Kim's style and Kim's stamps, 'nuf said!

All stamped images are from the Christmas Critters set, available through Cornish Heritage Farms. Jen's double band portion of the sketch made for a perfect spot for the sentiment with a length of SU! rope tied and frayed for added attention to that area. Last but not least is a button topped felt snowflake with a little faux thread stretching beyond on either side.

Be sure to check out the rest of the SFYTT team sans Amy S.; no worries, she'll be back next week!

Jen/Lynn
Carole
Shannan
Susan

Details
Stamps: Kim Hughes Collection Christmas Critters
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss, Scenic Route Sonoma Collection
Accessories: Felt Flurries snowflake, Basic Grey button, SU! rope

Leftovers are good!

I finished up my SFYTT card for tomorrow and decided to use up some of the scraps to make this quick holiday thank you card for a wonderful volunteer at our school who brought in the most delicious tray of treats for us this week. The sentiment is a SU! rub on, paper is Kiwi Kiss, Naturals Ivory and more of that delicious Scenic Route Sonoma collection. Ribbon is from Taylored Expressions tied with a button and hemp. That's it--so simple, but I love it!

Have a wonderful Friday and be sure to pop in tomorrow for Jen's Saturday Sketch For You To Try--more of these wonderful papers and colors, featuring one of Kim Hughes' fun holiday sets. That's all I'm saying!

Anna Mae!

Isn't she adorable?! She is Anna Mae, a fun new girlie with lots of interchangeable parts available from Our Craft Lounge. Be sure check out Anna Mae and the rest of their sweet new stamps by clicking right here.

I paired her with a piece of Scenic Route Sonoma Collection paper on top of a Regal Rose base. Anna Mae is watercolored with reinkers and an aquapainter and layered on Regal Rose and Old Olive cardstock. Ribbon from TayloredExpressions adds a little polka dot fun and a Heidi Grace stick pink secures the tagged Happy Birthday sentiment.

Thanks for stopping in today!

Fabulous Sketch!

Thank-you-Jen for the fabulous sketch this week because it totally enabled me to dig into more of this seriously fun paper from Scenic Route's Sonoma Collection! Lots of layers going this way and that with a big old sentiment desperately trying to overcome the beauty of the patterned papers. I highlighted the sentiment panel with retired copper brads from SU! as well as curling up the corners as I went and sponging the edges with Ranger Distress Inks in Walnut Stain and Old Paper. The sketch called for an embellishment of sorts in the lower left hand corner for which I called upon my Birds & Blooms die birdie layerd on a Felt Fusion flower, all tied up with Linen Thread.

Be sure to check out the other SFYTT gals as well as Jen and her December Guest Designer, Lynn Put, by clicking on the links below! So happy to have Lynn joining us for this joyous month of December--we're in for another month of sah-weetness from her!

Amy
Carole
Shannan
Susan
Jen & Lynn

Have a happy weekend all, and don't forget to "just not fret" over the upcoming holidays...listen to me, I've been stressing all week, so I guess it's time for a little of me own medicine!

Seriously...

...do you love this paper, or what?! I'm in hog heaven! It's some new Scenic Route paper--Sonoma Collection, and this particular card uses the Scrap Strip 1, my Top Note die (big surprise), yummy Regal Rose grosgrain and a birthday sentiment from CTMH's Happy Birthday set. The matching envelope is layered with a narrow strip from the same piece of patterned paper and a row of dots using PTI's Faux Ribbon set in Kiwi Kiss ink.

This little ensemble was for SCS's WT195 challenge to use an envelope in your design. I obviously took the easy route with my simply decorated and now matchy-matchy envie. I hope my SIL loves it as much as I do when she receives it in the mail this week!

Thanks for peeking in tonight and be sure to scroll down for one more card featuring Mr. Top Note that I posted earlier this evening!

{Thanks & Idgie!

Just a quick card and post today. I made this one a few weeks ago while I was in my Top Note craze and forgot to share it with you. I think it's a good example of a card that is quick, simple and uses up some of your patterned paper stash...you know all that paper you "just couldn't live without"?!

I keep forgetting to share pictures of the newest addition to our family: Miss Idgie! She's a Miniature Dachshund, full of energy and keeping us on our toes! (Excuse the green eyes, I couldn't for the life of me..ahem maybe a lack of patience... get the red eye tool to work for me, ugh!)

Miss Idgie


Amy, Idgie & George

Deer Sweet Friend

I have two projects to show you today, both of which use adorable Kim Hughes' sets, Christmas Critters and The Birds and The Bees, along with some awesome (awesome!) new paper I ordered from Paper Addiction last week. The paper is October Afternoon Hometown: County Library and it reminds me a bit of Basic Grey's Urban Prairie collection which I {heart} very much! To the left you can see a closer shot of the embossed bee flying toward that anonymous black flower. I usually have a hard time doing anything "free hand", but I gave it a whirl with my bee trail and am quite pleased with her path!

The journal uses many things I really love: this paper, my Top Note die, chipboard letters (I know I don't use them very often, but I love them!), that cute bee, a few stitches and a button! I'm also becoming very fond of flowers and have been incorporating them into my work more and more lately. I'm not quite sure what this album will house...maybe some {sweet} pictures of my family?

I decided to put a card together with some of the scraps of the County Library paper along with my latest CHF set, Christmas Critters. I love that this sentiment and sweet deer stamp can be used for non-holiday cards as well! My deer was colored with reinkers and a combo of blender pen and Aquapainter with a few extras including a layer of acetate behind the main image, buttons and some felt ric rac I've had sitting in a drawer for too long!

I hope you enjoyed these projects as much as I did making them, and thanks for stopping over today!

Deets
Stamps: CHF The Birds & The Bees, Christmas Critters

Paper: October Afternoon Hometown: County Library, Basic Black, Naturals Ivory, DCWV textured cardstock (Top Note die layer)

Ink: Colorbox Pigment Ink in Citrine, Black Craft, Versafine Onyx Black; reinkers: Creamy Caramel, Close To Cocoa, Pink Pirouette

Accessories: Top Note Bigz die, Basic Grey buttons (Urban Prairie collection), Making Memories ribbon & album, SU! chipboard letters, Offray ric rac