Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I am away on vacation - I'll be back in 2009

Best Wishes & Happy Crafting!!

In your dreams Hanna

This door hanger is the Valentine most men HOPE they get!! This is another project I made for Hanna Stamps Dec New Set Challenge.

Stamps: Hanna Stamps Pin Up Hanna

Peek-A-Boo Hanna

This is shows both the inside & the outside of a Valentine's card I made for Hanna Stamps December New Set Challenge. The big keyhole is grungeboard. My favorite part is Hanna's Fishnet stockings. It is made from the black plastic mesh that came with our Christmas Ham held on with crystal effects (it is the craft version of "Spanx").

Hanna Stamps: Pin Up Hanna

Unity Journals

I sat down the other evening and made a stack of altered journals. These use the composition notebooks that I was smart enough to pick up on the "Back To School" clearance, so they are super cheep to make (maybe $1.00). I also got a chance to use up a bunch of the Heidi Grace paper I have been purchasing and hoarding. I love it all, especially the velvety cardstock.

Stamp: Unity Stamps - Mustard Seed

Crafty Secrets Ornament

This weeks Crafty Secrets Challenge is to make a project and include three items beginning with the letter "B". The Pyramid box ornament is a free download template found here: The little butterfly/fairy is from the Crafty Secrets - Fairy Enchanting Heartwarming Vintage Sticker set. I added little brass wings (you can find these in the doll making section of craft stores - I use them on EVERYTHING).

Tag Punch Starburst - Easy Technique - Give it a Try!!

This weeks Splitcoaststampers new technique is a tag punch starburst. I made this card with bits & pieces from my scrap bin because I was sure it would be super complicated - I WAS WRONG!! Very easy - give it a try!! Hopefully I will get the time to try again now that I know what I am doing!! Check out the fabulous examples found here.

Charlie's not naughty - he's high spirited.....

I love this Charlie Image from Whiff of Joy!! This is my submission for their current Challenge to make a Christmas Card with no red or green. I CASED the falling snow idea from Cindy Haffner's bunny seen here on Splitcoaststampers.
Stamps: Whiff of Joy - Charlie with Snowballs
Sentiment - unknown

No Stamping involved...

This is my submission to this months Stampers Dream challenge. The goal is to use mainly grey / a color pop & some bling!! I am one of those people whose favorite color is GREY & I love the grey & pink together. I used liquid pearls on this project and now I think I need it in every color available!! Great versatile product!!

Airport Fun

These are two Tic Tac Toe boards I made for the kids to play with while we are traveling this Christmas. The pieces are stored in a bag taped on the back.

Stamps: SU - Deer Friends

The traveling image.............

Myself and three other artists recently did a traveling image project. Each artist stamps several copies of an image and mails them to the next person on the list. This continues, with each person adding something to the project until the traveling images returns home.

The above photo shows how my travel images looked upon their arrival back home. I love how this turned out. This piece of art is so special to me as it contains the efforts of three artists whose talents I greatly admire. My heartfelt thanks to Chrissy, Jan & Kimmie!!

Stamp: Unity Stamps: Tea Time Toile

No color pop ???????

This is my entry for a Flourishes Chat Challenge which was to use all neutrals. This was a big challenge for a "pop of color junkie" like me!! The little sparkles were an attempt to cover up a crafting boo-boo.


Stamp: Flourishes: Rock A Bye

Birdie Bookmark

I made this bookmark for this weeks Crafty Secrets "Favorite Things" challenge. I punched the bird image from the Wacky & Wonderful Vintage Images Booklet. This booklet as well as all forms of Crafty Secrets Bird Images are on my "Favorites List".

Kathy tagged me..........................

Seven things to do before I die:
1. Learn to love exercise
2. Travel the world in first class
3. Make a true difference (I have yet to determine the way)
4. Publish a book
5. Take gourmet cooking classes
6. Have the perfect romantic moment
7. Figure out the secret to happiness (maybe I should write a book about it)

Seven things I cannot do:
1. Find cute shoes in my size
2. Limit my time on the computer
3. Stop watching realty TV shows
4. Whistle really loudly (fingers in the mouth style)
5. Spell
6. Learn to play the card game 25
7. Enjoy watching professional sports

Seven things that attracted me to my spouse:
1. He was handsome
2. All the girls wanted him
3. That Irish accent
4. The guy who just dumped me told me "that's one even you couldn't handle"
5. He was attentive
6. He wrote great letters
7. His belief in the importance of Family

Seven things I say most often
1. FABULOUS
2. Pick up your _____________________
3. Put Rupert outside
4. Love Ya
5. **@##!!&**
6. It's all good
7. Shhhhhhhhh

Seven books I love:
1. Harry Potter Series
2. Left behind Series
3. The Invisible Women - When only God Sees (This one can change your life)
4. Holiday on Ice (You will wet yourself laughing)
5. T'was the night before Christmas
6. Jodi Picoult books
7. Angels & Demons

Seven movies I could watch over and over again:
1. Silence of the lambs
2. A Christmas Story (you COULD shoot your eye out)
3. Auntie Mame
4. The Quiet Man
5. Sixth Sense
6. Juno
7. Elf

Seven people I'm tagging: (I am not going to tag anyone, but if you feel up to answering, I would love to know your version).

Tulips

Another challenge double duty card. This card sketch challenge 205 on Splitcoaststampers, and an Ambassador Challenge for My Favorite Things.

Stamps: My Favorite Things - Eggstra Special

The Hazards of Housework.....

This is my submission for the Hanna Stamps Challenge found here - the card had to use pink and also use brads (I used loopy brads).

Stamps: Hanna Stamps: Domestic Goddess
Inky Antics: Sentiment

Forget the snow...flower delivery pending

This is my submission for a Hanna Stamps Challenge on Splitcoaststampers where we had to use stitching of some kind on a project. I used Rub-on's from Doodlebug Designs named "sew easy". The holder is made out of a used folder from work that I cut down to the correct size.

Stamp: Hanna Stamps: Garden Riley

MFT Rain Slicker

This is my submission for My Favorite Things Stamps December Ambassadors Challenge (we had to use at least three ribbons) found here.

I used this weeks sketch from Card Positioning Systems (CPS #93) which was sponsored by My Favorite Things found here.

Stamps: My Favorite Things - Rain or Shine

Baby Buttons

This is my submission for this weeks CRAFTY SECRETS CHALLENGE on Splitcoaststampers. This week we had to use buttons on our layout. I picked up the ABC buttons forever ago with the idea to make baby cards. This baby image is from Crafty Secrets Wacky & Wonderful Vintage Images Booklet.

Another Bookmark

This week's Whiff of Joy challenge was to make anything but a card. I made this bookmark with "Lying Matthew" from the guardian angel collection. I love that it is a Boy image. The flourish is grunge board that has been made sparkly with black micro glitter.

Stamp: Whiff of Joy: Lying Matthew

Bookmark

This is my submission for Hanna Stamps November New Set Challenge which is to make a bookmark using Hanna Stamps "Read My Tee" set.

My favorite part is the scrappers floss I used to make shoelaces.

The plastic bookmark holder is from River City Rubber Works and has a place to add ribbons at the top (you can not tell that from my photo).

Stamps: Hanna Stamps: Read My Tee

Pop-up Gift Card Holders

This week's new technique challenge on Spiltcoaststampers was to make pop-up gift card holders. I do not love these ones that I made, but I will definitely try again in the future because they are SUPER EASY!! Give it a try!!


The chipboard pieces I used are from Basic Grey. I sprayed them with Glimmer Mist and added snow glitter. They are very sparkely in real life.

6 x 6 Recipe Card

This is my submission for the swap I am in with a group of local crafters (The Paper Pack). We made 6 x 6 recipe cards. The tutorial I used for making the apron can be found here. All the paper is from Papertrey Ink. I will probably make the Breakfast Pizza on Thanksgiving morning. Nosey kitty was in EVERY picture I took this morning!!

Movie Review: Twilight

It was a quiet Sunday, so I grabbed a friend and went to see Twilight. The movie is based on the first book in Stephenie Meyer's vampire series. I read the book a long time ago so the details had faded in my memory. I NEVER like a movie as well as the book, but since the story was not fresh in my mind I was able to enjoy it without being able to pick it apart.







The best part for me was that the movie partially feeds my sick desire for all literary and cinematic love stories to have unhappy endings. It lacked the concrete bad ending I love, but the relationship does contain massive obstacles so there is hope for a horrible demise in the future. I give the movie 4 out of 5 stars. So grab a friend and go to the movies!! As for me, I am off to read the next installment.

Gobble...Gobble...Gobble

This Creative Memories frame hangs in my entryway and displays my scrapbook pages. The pages are held on with magnets so they are easily changed . The die-cuts are made by a local paper-crafter. This photo from Thanksgiving 2006 passed my two-fold display test:
1) Do I look okay?
2) Does anyone else look like a troll?

(Lets be honest - if I looked good enough, I would display it even if the other people looked like trolls - does that make me selfish)?

Hang in there..................................

This fun image from Penny Black is called "Uplifting Occasions". All the paper and the ribbon is from Papertrey Ink. The self adhesive rhinestones are from Close to my Heart (because you know - every project is nicer with a little SPARKLE).

Stamp: Penny Black "Uplifting Occasions"

Movie Review: Quantum of Solace

Off to the first matinée yesterday of the new James Bond Movie "Quantum of Solace". Yep it's true - I am a Bond fan!! I enjoy watching his unapologetically womanizing, alpha male, martini drinking, tux wearing self. I believe the fact that a character can be portrayed by interchangeable actors is cinematic genius.

I left the theater mulling over the following regarding this installment of 007:
The movie lacked plot, had pointless characters, endured a boring obligatory love scene, replayed predictable chase scenes, had a tired story line and left a few unanswered questions.

Now don't get me wrong - I enjoyed the movie!! Judi Dench rocks as "M" and watching Daniel Craig on the big screen is well worth the price of a movie ticket anyday. I give this movie 3.5 out of 5 stars. Go to the movies, don't expect much and enjoy the ride. Oh yeah - did I mention Daniel Craig is YUMMY?!!!!

Two Challenges in One

I made this card today to participate in two separate challenges : One is this weeks sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers and since I was lucky enough to have a stamping friend share some images, I was able to do this weeks Whiff of Joy challenge as well.

It is hard to see in the picture, but the background paper is a really rich colored embossed suede from K & Co. I am not sure where I scored the christmas cookie charms, but I LOVE them!!

Stamp: Whiff of Joy: Willow with Cookies

Baby Shoes

Another card for my local craft swap. I love this House Mouse image named Baby Shoes. Now that I am taking a second look - I realize that the card seems off balance, but as the saying goes - the ship has already sailed! My favorite part is the "shoelace". - yes that was A LOT of eyelets!!!

Sweet Kids Dreams

This is my submission for this weeks Crafty Secrets challenge on Splitcsoaststampers. The challenge was to use punches - so I was able to use my SU Spiral punch for the first time. All the paper is from Papertrey Ink.

Stamp: Crafty Secrets Sweet Kids

Foundation Wear

This is a card a made for a swap I do with some local crafters. The challenge was to make a non-traditional sized/shaped card. The fun bra and panty card has been seen on Splitcoaststampers many times. I used the template found on Stampowl's Studio Blog.

Robin's Tree-Hugger Gift Giving Ideas

• Burt's Bees Foot Cream & organic cotton socks


• Re-uesable shopping bag (some are darn cute)


• Organic, shade grown, fair trade coffee beans


• Re-usable water bottle (non-leaching type)


• Organic soy candles


• Organic biodynamic wine


• A book on "green living" (some are smart & funny reads)


• Bamboo or hemp kitchen towels (wrap your gift in one for a double eco-whammy)


• Netflix membership or iTunes giftcards


• Memories - share your friendship, time and talents with those you love. Memories lasts longer, always fit, don't need to be wrapped and represent the spirit of the Holiday Season.

It's your Bird-Day

I needed a little Birthday gift - so I made this set last night. The test tube is filled with bath confetti. I used Lisa Somerville's test tube template.

Stamp: Unity Giggle Grove

Book Review: Brisingr

I recently finished Brisingr by Christopher Paolini, the third installment if the Inheritance Cycle. The series was originally planned as a trilogy, but a fourth book is now in the works and the series has been renamed a "cycle". I listened to the unabridged version and it was over 29 hours long.

I am a big fan of the first two installments (Eragon & Eldest) but I was disappointed in Brisingr. I found the book self-indulgently wordy, drifting off relevant story lines in order to drone on with unending descriptive nonsense. I wish the Author had edited his scribing enough to keep the series a trilogy.

My favorite passage from the book: "Grim and out of sorts, without patience for the ordinary delays of life". I have to give props where they are due - that is beautiful writing - writing you can feel.

I give this book 2 out of 5 stars. It is worth a read only if you liked the first two books and want a long-winded bridge to the fourth (and I hope final) book in the cycle.

Crafty Secrets Ornament

This is my submission for this weeks Crafty Secrets Gothic Arch Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I LOVE Crafty Secrets products and if my craft budget allowed - I would own EVERYTHING. The ornament is made out of their Cotton Scraps mounted on chipboard and then embellished.

Dear Santa - I can explain!!!

This is my attempt at a Decorative Circle Medallion for Monday's "Try a new Technique" on Splitcoaststampers.

I only own one corner punch (I know - it hardly seems possible), so the one I used would not have been my first choice but it was my ONLY choice.

I do not remember what Company the stamps come from - they are unmounted red rubber. I also have a saying that says "Dear Santa - Define Naughty". I think they are hysterical. Remember Santa is always Watching!!!!

GI Jane

I thought this would be a fun card to send to a female in the Military.The stamp is "Jane" from Simply Sista's & Card Scents.

I also LOVE the Company's Card Scents - you add the scents to your paper and your cards smell great!!

The next time I order I am going to try a Digi Stamp - No actual Stamp, just an image file - maybe this will be the next big thing in the stamping world. It would certainly help keep the craft clutter in line.

Happy Halloween

JP is dressed like a Skull Ninja. Where is the sweet Peter Pan of years gone by that I remember? Abby is "Michalina", the superior swimming sister of Michael Phelps. Kelley is a Firefighter. I don't have a picture of her, but in my mind she is wondering her College Campus in a VERY conservative flame retardant uniform (work with me here).

Craft Tip - The Gold Medals are made with Nestabilities Scalloped Circles run through the Cuttlebug with the Devine Swirl embossing folder.

Hope

This is my submission for Unity's Wednesday Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. You had to:
H…Use a sentiment having to do with Hope
O…Put some ribbon on your card - Think Pink
P…Use something Pink!!
E…Embellish with something that starts with an "m" for Mammogram (Mine was a Maya Road chipboard bird with Glimmer Mist on its wing).

Stamps: Unity - So & SO Loves
Crafty Secrets - Artistic Alphabet

Grafton Street Dublin

This is one of the two pictures I took during my recent trip to Dublin Ireland for my Brother-in-Law's wedding. I was blown away by the beautiful flower stands on Grafton Street. The endless variety of flowers made me green with envy. I hope all the lads in Dublin are spoiling their ladies with these gorgeous flowers!!

Things I wished I had taken photographs of:

* Musicians and other performing artists on Grafton Street

* Local artwork for sale along the fence of St. Stephen's Green

* An ECO CAB -(Someone called it an Irish Rickshaw - you sit in it and the driver pedals you around)

* The 8 oz bottle of Diet Coke my husband paid 4.50 Euro for (approx $7.00 USD)

Unity Stamp Co TWILIGHT Challenge

This is my submission for the Unity Stamp Company TWILIGHT Challenge over on Spiltcoaststampers. For the challenge, you make a card inspired by a novel cover of one of the books in the Twilight series. They are stunning covers that rely on simplicity and color. Mine is based on "New Moon" book, thus the inclusion of the color green with the black, white and red.

For those of you who are not familiar with Unity Stamp Company, I recommend you browse their Website and their Blog. I recently had the privilege of touring the facility and meeting the Unity team. It was fascinating to see how a stamp starts out as an idea - and then follow that idea through all the steps necessary to end up in your craft room.

Stamp: "Floral Feathers" by Unity Stamp Company

It seemed innocent enough.............

A month or so ago, I asked my friend Chris if she wanted to help me make up some Christmas Cards. We got a jump on the season and we have made fifty each of the above cards.

Card #1: "Peace on Earth" by Stampin Up

Card #2: "City of David" by Stampin Up

Have you heard the news???????????????

Athena (aka: neeners) has come to live at our house. Yes I know, I have not historically been known as a "Cat person" but like everything in life - things change!! Even Rupert has come to love the new family member.

And so it begins..................................

After much consideration I have decided to take the Blog plunge!! I suspect there will be no rhyme or reason to postings as they are simply a way to document random memories, thoughts and ideas!! I welcome you to accompany me on the journey........................