Welcome Winter

Good morning!! Did my post title throw you off a bit?  As much as I’m not a Fall person (although, once I got over the shock of being back at work, I became very fond of the colours and fun cardmaking of it), I’m really not a Winter person either.  I’m a nervous winter driver (past experience!) and I get very cold very easily.  But as with Fall, I will slowly “warm” up to Winter.  I should just be thankful I live in a beautiful city that sees all 4 seasons :)  So let me “Welcome Winter” today using colours from Stacey’s Curtain Call Colour Challenge this week.  I find colour combinations with mostly neutrals difficult as there are so many options  regarding which neutral should be the card base, or the ink, etc.  After a bit of fiddling, this is what I decided on.  I hadn’t used my favourite little order form for awhile (notice the little “Posted” note, lol).  I do love making these shimmery layered snowflakes :)  One of the shimmery snowflakes is a Heidi Swapp ghost snowflake.  I ordered 3 packs of these a few years back and just love the extra shine they give off.  The concord crush panel has been embossed with the seeing spots folder, but it’s kind of hard to tell unless you click on the photo to see it up close.  Hope your Monday is going well.  Thanks for visiting!!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: pti it’s official; wreath for all seasons

ink: versafine onyx,  su vintage violet, basic gray

paper: pti kraft, white; su concord crush, basic gray; shimmer cardstock

accessories: pti limitless layers and notepaper dies, fiskars border punch, cuttlebug ef, gemstones, ms snowflake punches, button, bakers twine, heidi swapp ghost snowflake, silver sparkle snowflake, Michaels ribbon

You Are Such a Joy To Me

Good morning everyone...today's post is extra special.  Today, my baby turns 22.  Happy Birthday, Jake!! No, it's not sweet 16 or legal age 19 (in Canada) or even legal age 21 in the States.  He's now the age I was when I had him, so he's exactly half my age now.  I love his birthday for the obvious reasons, he's my son...but it always takes me back to the day I had him, a cold Monday at college during the last week of classes then off to a bit of Christmas shopping all the while with a bit of back pain...hehehe.  As many of my blog friends know, he is my greatest joy.  I won't go into the whole long story, but wanted to share the card I made for him.  It's almost an exact duplicate of the one I made during my Verve Guest Diva stint in August. The original one was part of my Blog Candy to celebrate the Verve Release (Heidi has it now! hehe).  I also wanted to share a few photos of Jake, from the very beginning until recently...

 About a day old in the hospital...the cloth diapers they used were too big!! LOL  He was 5 lbs, 11 ozs and 19 inches long :)

 A young, brunette (!) mom.  I could not hold him enough, he was a perfect little baby and very cuddly.

 First day of kindergarten. He was so excited with his Ninja Turtle backpack :)

 Highschool graduation in 2006.  I was/am waiting for the next graduation this coming June from Engineering :D

And this last one you've seen before, but I love it.  Jake and I as we get ready to head off to my wedding.  He walked down the aisle before me, something I had always dreamed of....a very special moment in my life imprinted on my heart :)  Thanks for joining me in my little trip down memory lane.  Have a wonderful Sunday...what are you celebrating today?

Joyeux Noel

Good morning friends!! Today I am trying something new…I am blogging from Windows Live Writer.  After Tuesday night’s fight with Blogger, I asked my Diva buddy, Mercy, what she does.  I knew she wrote her blog somewhere else but posts with Blogger.  So this is my first try!!  Cross your fingers :)  I am using this week’s sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You.  I thought of my new Heirloom Ornament dies and some fabulous OA paper from last year (but new to me this summer! lol).  I made the border using the PTI Victorian border die…after die cutting the paper, I used the actual die cut by placing it in between the cut scalloped edges…does that make sense?  Red, pink and cream kept popping up in my head as did the sweet little jingle bells :)  I hope all my American friends had a great Thanksgiving…the weather here is warming up and it’s the weekend already!! Have a fabulous Friday :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve glad tidings

ink: su choc chip, pti tea dye duo 

paper: pti cream, shimmer white; su ruby red, pink shimmer cardstock, october afternoon and cosmo cricket dps  

accessories: cuttlebug ef, stitching, pti border die, spellbinders heirloom ornament, beaded circles and snowflake dies, gemstones, bakers twine, thread, pti buttons, seam binding ribbon, bells

Tag Time(s) 3 ~ Papertrey Ink November Blog Hop

Greetings dear blog friends and Papertrey fans!!  Today's project is my take on this month's PTI Blog Hop focusing on tags...oh, be still my beating heart...I've been a little obsessed with tags this year :)  Okay, let's get started, I've got several photos.  Many of you who know me know that I can never do "just one" of something fun, so here are my tags times 3... first, here are all the tags together. Nice enough, but here's what I did with them... 

First up is a little nod to my American friends celebrating Thanksgiving today and tomorrow and well really, until next Monday!! LOL  We are full blown into winter up here in Canada so it was fun to once again use my leaf dies.  I used canvas for the leaves and love the soft look it gives to the ink.  This tag is for my teacher librarian friend who is getting a little surprise soon {wink, wink}.

Next up is a fun tag using Dawn's ornament stamp set AND die!!! Oh, thank you PTI!!!  I didn't order this stamp set because of all the cutting but sure did once the dies came out.  Hey!! Love that colour combo?  It's the latest draw from my Wild Card Colour Challenge (the WaCCCky).  Some of you may remember that I made up my own colour challenge during the June PTI Blog Hop.  I was really happy with this combination...so perfect for Christmas...a little twist on the traditional colours.  (yes, unfortunately some candies were injured in the making of this blog post! hehehehe).

{edited to add: oops! I missed a colour! After looking at my post, I noticed simply chartreuse is not in the picture!  After thinking about it, I remembered that I was going to use chartreuse double stitched ribbon for the tie, but I got side tracked by the bakers twine...oops!! Sorry! lol}

 Last up is my favourite thing to do with tags...put them on a card!!  One of my tag cards from the first Blog Hop I participated in back in February was published in the September CARDS magazine!!  They are so versatile!!  The actual tag was made with Labels 11.  I punched the holes into the scallops for some added fun and die cut the limitless layer with raspberry fizz felt.

And here they all are together!!  Thanks so much for visiting...AND thanks for hanging in, but I had so much I wanted to share :)  Hugs and I look forward to seeing all the other projects over the next few days :)



what's in them?
{wonderful friend}
stamps: pti round and round, leaf prints,library card, verve merry wishes
ink: su choc chip, mustard, kiwi
paper: su durango, choc chip, pumpkin, pti cream
accessories: pti leaf dies, button, twine, limitless layer die, circle punch, gemstones, cuttlebug ef, hole punch, raffia
{merry christmas to you}
stamps: pti vintage ornaments and additions, 2010 holiday tags
ink: su baroque burgundy, forest foliage, versafine onyx
paper: su forest foliage (retired), pti kraft, cream, distressed dots and bitty boxes dps
accessories: bakers twine, stitching, gemstones, ornament and tag dies, button, twine, su scallop border punch
{let it snow}
stamps: pti 2010 holiday tags
ink: versafine onyx
paper: pti white, raspberry fizz, cream, guidelines dp; cosmo cricket dp, october afternoon dp, glitter cardstock
accessories: nestabilities labels 11, pti limitless layer die, fiskars border punch, stitching, pti felt, ms snowflake punches, glitter brad, gemstones, button, twine, sheer ribbon

She's Back!!

Yay!!! It was "snow wonderful" to bring out Ms Snowbunny Bella tonight. Not only do I love her, I am inspired by how warm she looks in her pink parka and fashionable Sorels (winter boots!). I am trying to stay just as warm, although I don't look as hip as Bella LOL. Tonight's card is for Mercy's Tuesday sketch. I had to elongate the top panel to fit little Ms Bella, but I don't think anyone will mind :) Have a lovely evening and thanks for stopping by...
(p.s. I had a terrible time uploading these photos...kept getting "server rejected" notes. Blogger Help(less) suggested switching back to the old editor, which worked, but is very cumbersome. Anyone else have this problem? What did you do?)

what's in it?
stamps: snowbunny bella; verve snow wonderful
ink: versafine onyx, su pretty in pink, bordering blue, rose romance, creamy caramel
paper: pti white, sweet blush, kraft, hibiscus burst, su baja blue; eskimo kisses dp
accessories: long nestabilities, pti ribbon, buttons, gemstones, thread, cuttlebug ef, stitching

Glad Tidings

Good morning!!  Today's card is for Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch.  I have been making a lot of cards with large circles lately so I'm trying to mix it up and do different things with them.  Today I'm trying my first felt Christmas tree.  I've been seeing the PTI designers work wonders with felt and dies and wanted to jump in and try something too.  So here we have the first Christmas button tree!! LOL (remember all the button bouquets and trees?).  I added a little shine with some bling on the sentiment and gold cording on the heart button to mimic a shining star.  Hope you are having a lovely morning...thanks for visiting :)

what's in it?
stamps: verve merry wishes
ink: versafine onyx
paper: pti kraft, white, scarlet jewel; su old olive, basicgrey dp
accessories: pti tree die, buttons, felt, ribbon; gemstones, circle nestabilities, thread, corner chomper, cuttlebug ef, su gold cording

Give Thanks

Good morning!!  Well, the temperature widget on my sidebar says it's -11 (Celsius), which converts to 12.2 degrees Fahrenheit!  It's cold!!  I think I'd rather read the temperature in Fahrenheit!! LOL  Just like, "I'm much lighter in Kilograms!!"  Today's card is for Stacey's Curtain Call Colour Challenge this week.  In honour of my American blog buddies, I thought I would help celebrate Thanksgiving week with a thankful card.  Since our Canadian Thanksgiving has long since come and gone, this is the perfect way to celebrate thankfulness all over again...although I am grateful every day of the year :) (Remember Oprah over 10 years ago and her Gratitude Journal?).  I had a few ideas floating around last night and threw some paper and stamps on my desk before going to bed.  So this morning I stayed with the tree idea.  I cut out the tree image again and now think that SU should get on the die bandwagon and make one for this tree!! LOL   The white inner circle has been embossed with the Distressed Stripes embossing folder to give it a bark feel.  Are you loving grey lately?  Me too!!  What a great neutral :)  Well, I'm off to start some gift cards for my sister's store...they sold out quickly last year, so I need to make extra this year.  Have a lovely day and stay warm!!

what's in it?
stamps: su season of friendship; verve happy fall
ink: su choc chip, bermuda bay, really rust
paper: pti white, su basic grey, really rust, walk in the park dp;
accessories: circle nestabilities; pti ribbon, button, cuttlebug ef, gemstones, thread

Joy to You

 Good evening!!! Yes, it's late and I should be in bed!!!  For some reason, I've been more than wiped out these past few days.  So tonight's post is for today and tomorrow :)  This card is for the third sketch challenge over on the Verve forum.  As luck would have it, my Verve order came yesterday...the very day my reports were fully done...including proof reading and editing. Is that perfect timing or what?  I knew one of the "Joy" sentiments was the first to be inked up; it's one of my favourite words in our language.  I made sure it was on our wedding invitations 3 years ago..."It is with great joy that we, Maureen and Tony...."  Ah, I just love it!! TGIF tomorrow...sweet dreams :)

what's in it?
stamps: verve merry wishes, glad tidings, vintage oval frame
ink: pti sweet blush, versafine onyx, su baroque burgundy
paper: pti scarlett jewel, cream, sweet blush, bitty box basics and distressed dots dps; basicgrey dp;
accessories: pearls, gemstones, ms border punch, pti limitless layer die; verve vintage oval frame; long nestabilities, ribbon, cuttlebug ef

Celebrate the Season

Hi everyone!!  Well, yesterday we were "celebrating today," the last day of no snow...now, today, we are "celebrating the season," the season of snow and winter.  We got our first official snowfall of the season last night, although, by midday, all will be melted.  That's usually how it works where I live :)  As winter progesses, though, we will get lots of snow that stays.  So today's card, using Mercy's Tuesday Sketch, celebrates the season :)  I had the SU tree on my mind again, sans buttons as it's winter, and all the buttons have fallen off! LOL  However, I wanted the whole tree this time, not just the part that fits in the oval.  After stamping the image out onto cream cardstock, I started cutting it with my snips, but stopped quickly as the branches are so thin.  I actually finished cutting it with my exacto knife...first time using it with an image and was pleased with how it turned out.  (btw, keep your blades sharp!)  I also had purple and brown on the brain and, of course, snowflakes :)  Lots going on with this, but I think (I hope!) it works.  Hope you have something to celebrate today...leave me a comment and let me know!! Thanks for visiting :) 

what's in it?
stamps: su season of friendship, pti 2010 holiday tags
ink: su choc chip, baroque burgundy
paper: pti kraft, cream, lavender moon, scarlet jewel, distressed dots and bitty boxes dps; su choc chip, jillibean dp
accessories: distressor, gemstones, 3/4" circle punch, oval nestabilities; cuttlebug ef; stitching; may arts ribbon, grandpa's button, twine,

Celebrate Today ~ WaCCCky #16

Good morning, friends :)   Today's card is the next installment of my own personal Wild Card Colour Challenge.  They are still going strong here in the studio as I practice the art of mixing any colour combination...even the random ones.  Now, you know this totally random...why would I use 2 different greens?  ACK!!! But that's what I pulled.  And as an added bonus, the sketch for my card came from none other than my Mary Kay makeup brushes holder!! LOL  It's like my own Everything But the Kitchen Sink challenge (nod to Ann and Winter!!).  I was drying my hair one day and looking at my brush holder, when I thought, hey, that would be an interesting sketch!! LOL  So this card is also my interpretation of my holder...forgive the upside down rick rack, though...it just looked better flipped :)  Well, that's it for me...hope your day has started well...thanks for stopping by :)

what's in it?
stamps: pti round and round
ink: su choc chip
paper: pti kraft, su cajun, choc chip, old olive, pti distressed dots dp
accessories: pti die, button, ribbon, su linen thread, corner chomper

Health and Good Cheer

 Good morning!!! It's a beautiful Monday morning!!! Report cards are written except for being proof read, there's no staff meeting and a good friend of mine is coming into my class to do clay with my kids...more on that at the end.  Today's card is soft and sweet.  I'm using Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch and some more paper from the Tis the Season paper pad by DCWV.  Besides the Nativity scene and ornaments, snowflakes are my favourite winter image.  I'm also using a new Waltzing Mouse stamp from their last release.  Isn't that a sweet little jingle bell charm?  I got it at a Dollar Store several years ago if you can believe that!!  There were about 10 of them for $1.00...score!!!  Okay...so the lovely lady coming to my classroom today is also named Maureen!! LOL  We worked together at my last school and since she was there before I came, she was Maureen #1 and I was Maureen #2...LOL.  She retired a few years ago and then I became Maureen #1 :D hehehe.  We became good friends while we worked together and I invited her to my wedding 3 years ago.  Now, an interesting connection was made...she is good friends with a dear lady I knew 20 years ago...a very wise woman whom I refer to as my mentor so many years ago.  She came to the wedding as well and here is a picture of us together...so today she (the one on the left) is coming to do clay leaf bowls and angels with my class...how sweet is that?  Wish us luck!!  Have a great day :)

what's in it?
stamps: waltzing mouse compliments of the season
ink: versafine onyx
paper: pti kraft, sweet blush, ocean tides, cream; su celery; DCWV dp
accessories: gemstones, seam binding ribbon, pti button, bakers twine, ornament charm, cuttlebug ef, nestabilities labels 16

Winter Wishes

Good morning!!  Well, I'm up early and posting this card before onto the last of my report cards. I didn't sleep well last night and I can't blame Stacey's Curtain Call Colour Challenge this week (although it is fabulous and had me spinning for a bit last night).  I will blame the Starbucks VIA I had around 8:30.  Now I can still handle caffeine at night, but I'm sure instant coffee has triple the caffeine of regular coffee.  However, it kept me up long enough to create this card.  My inspiration comes from Dawn McVey's beautiful card (note: I tried to link to this beautiful card, but it's been removed for publication!! That's how fabulous it was!! LOL So I'm just linking to her blog).  I have been wanting to use a large doily on a card for a loooong time and so have been watching Dawn carefully as she is the master.  That peach snowflake paper is from my new DCWV Tis the Season paper pad I picked up at Michaels last week.  Wow, another landscape card!!! I'm so happy because I find I make too many portrait oriented ones.  How about you?  More landscape or more portrait cards?  Or both the same amount?  Have a lovely day and hopefully by the time we talk again, I'll be doing the "I'm done!" dance :)  Smiles to you all :)  Thanks for visiting :) 

what's in it?
stamps: verve snow wonderful
ink: su choc chip
paper: su pear pizzazz, peach parfait, choc chip, doodlebug glitter white cardstock; DCWV dp
accessories: doily, pti limitless layer die; ms snowflake punches, su felt flurry, pti ribbon and button, thread, gemstones, corner chomper