I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!!  I hope everyone is getting to spend some

quality time with their friends and family on this fabulous

Christmas day.   For some reason I have really been wishing for

a white Christmas this year.   Too bad I'm in sunny San Jose, CA so

that's never gonna happen.   But this card definitely has a wintery

wonderland feel!   This cute little image is from LaLaLand Crafts

and is called "Christmas Lantern Marci".   I made this card in a workshop

taught by the owner of LaLaLand Crafts, Irina Blount.

We had 5 projects to make in this 8 hour workshop!!  Needless to say,

there was definitely homework!  Not one project was finished.

But we had soooooooo much fun!  And I would rather have more

projects presented and finish them later anyway!!

So here is my take on this super fab card designed by Irina.

It is just like the one she made on her blog.

I just added some cute little pearls to her coat and the plastic

roses on top of the flowers and the bow of her hat are from

Recollections. (Michaels brand)

      

                                                                            

All the dies I used are from LaLaLand also.  I used 5 different dies and a

doily on the front and inside.  The dies are as follows: Christmas tree, Heart fence,

Large Flourish, Lotus, Filigree.

That's it for this card!!  The 4 other projects 
will be posted at a later time!!

                     Hugs today everyone!

                     Angie

Snowflakes, Hot Chocolate & Marshmallows

I love my coffee but I also love hot chocolate.  With marshmallows.  In winter.

Today I have a  mug-shaped card to give this warm and toasty drink

as a gift. This was a lot of fun to make and I hope the recipient loves it!!

I started with a Saturated Canary image called "Hot Cocoa".  I love her

and I think she's just adorable.  I colored her to coordinate with my yummy 

snowflake "Winterings" paper from Little Yellow Bicycle.  Her earmuffs
 and boot lining are puffed with SnowTec. 

  

I cut out a window in the mug and filled the hole with acetate so the cocoa
and marshmallows are viewable.  I then stamped the sentiment 
and snowflakes with Stazon Opaque white ink.

                                 I made the steam coming out of the top of the cup with wire.

 

The big blue snowflake is from Michaels and I made the rosette with the

same papers.  The burlap sticker is also from LYB.  The flourishes were

                           made with Magnolia dies.  The snow fluff is also from Michaels.  

A side view of the hot cocoa and marshmallows stuffed inside.

 Copics I used.

I am honored this week to be the guest designer over at ABC

Challenges.  The challenge is "Let It Snow".  We were to make a card

using either snow, snowflakes, or a snowman.  I hope this card is

up to the challenge!!

Other challenges I would like to enter this fun card into:

saturatedcanarychallenge.blogspot.com: hot chocolate & marshmallows
2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com: snowflakes
craftysentiments.blogspot.com: snowflakes
incywincydesigns.blogspot.com: Christmas with snowflakes
lexiscreations.blogspot.com: snow
lollipopcrafts.blogspot.com: happy holidays
tammyscrapincorner.com: Christmas shaped cards 
qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk: holiday cheer
stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com: let it snow
delightfulsketches.blogspot.com: all about christmas
crazychallenge.blogspot.com: It's Christmas Time

Non-traditional Christmas

So is everyone out there scrambling to get Christmas cards done??

I always tell myself I'm gonna start making them in July so I don't feel so rushed in

December, but what happens to me EVERY year?  I feel rushed!!  But it's

okay, somehow it'll all come together in the end.  Even if I have to buy

a few store bought ones! LOL!

  Well I absolutely love non traditional Christmas colors so

today I have "Winter Marci" from La-La Land Crafts in a gorgeous

purple hue.  I love purple and blues together so I thought I would try

this combo out on a winter card.

The papers and the seam binding ribbon are from my stash.  I really like

the multicolored chevron paper.  It has a Missoni look to it and feels like it

should be on a sweater.  Hehe.The crochet lace is Melissa Frances and I just love it!! 

I ended up buying it in all the pastel colors she had.  The cute

 little purple clip holding the sentiment and the snowflake brad are

from Michaels.  The charm was purchased off Etsy.

Other products I used:

Spellbinders Floral Ovals

MS: pine punch

Flowers: WOC and Prima
 sentiment: LOTV

This is another one of those images that I colored over a year
ago when I was first learning to use my copics but is
just now being used on a project.  I know the purples were colored
with V91, V93, V95, and V99.  The rest of colors I didn't write down.

Challenges I would like to enter:

yumifumihandmadecrafts.blogspot.com: ribbon or lace

karensdoodlesnetherlandschallenge.blogspot.com: non traditional Christmas colors

craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com: ribbon or trim

delightfulsketches.blogspot.com: festively floral

craftdoormagazine.com: anything goes
scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/cmccopicchallengegroup: non traditional Christmas colors
uniquecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com: Christmas
crafts4eternity.blogspot.com: Christmas chaos
fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com: #3 or 3 of something
abcchallenges.blogspot.com: anything goes

Balloon Wishes for St. Jude Children's Research!

Good morning everyone!  This adorable digi from Saturated Canary is

called "Balloon Wishes".  She comes with several cute balloons

you can change out as desired.  I chose to just fill her balloon space 

with a cute flair button I bought on Etsy.

Isn't she the cutest??  I followed a sketch for a challenge and I think it worked 

very well for her.  The cute papers are from Echo Park called Sweet Day.

I used Spellbinders around the image and the frame of the card was made

with Martha Stewarts Flourish Lace punch around the page.  I think it's

a new product because I've never seen this particular set before.  But of course
 I had to have it!  Hehe.  I wanted it because I knew it would look just 
gorgeous with some ribbon woven through it.  

A close-up of the weaving:

Thanks for visiting!!

Challenges she will enter:

toptiptuesday.blogspot.com: kids and teens

saturatedcanarychallenge.blogspot.com: sketch challenge

cutedaisymay.blogspot.com: use a digi

glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.com: ribbon or lace

crazy4challenges.blogspot.com: put a bow on it

sendasmile4kidschallenge.blogspot.com: anything goes 4 kids
polkadoodle.blogspot.com: any die will do
pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com: anything but a Christmas card
uniquecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com: sugar & spice
deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com: pastel colors

Give Big for St. Jude Children's Reasearch!!

Today I have a sweet boy card to share.  The image is

 from Saturated Canary and is called "Give Big". 

I followed a sketch for a specific challenge and I just love the layout!  I'm not good at 
boy cards so this sketch was so helpful in getting me started! 

  The little flags he is holding come bare which gives you the opportunity to write 
your own message in them.  I love that versatility!

  Here is a close up of the grass I cut and chalked.  The wooden stars I bought at my local
 fabric store. I then stitched them into the paper to keep them in place.

I am going to enter this card into a few challenges:

chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.com: it's the sketch I used!

kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com: stripes and/or polka dots

sendasmile4kidschallenge.blogspot.com: anything goes 4 kids

pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com: anything but a Christmas card

Retirement Celebration

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Hope you all are blessed with fabulous food and spending time with friends and family!   Today I have an easel retirement card for one of my Assistant Manager's at work.  This is Sophie from Kraftin' Kimmie. 

            The papers are MME called "the sweetest thing".  The solid cardstock is Bazill and    

the glitter cardstock is Core'dinations Glitter Silk.  The flowers are WOC. 

 I added a lot of bling with the brad on the ribbon being from CTMH.  

The diamond gems on the corners and on her finger are from Recollections 

(Michaels brand).  All 5 dies I used are Spellbinders.

These two pics show some paper pleating and a cute martini charm.

The decorated inside of the card.  The pocket holds several pull out cards so there is
plenty of room for all my co-workers to sign it!  Below is the box envelope to match.

Copics I used: 

That's all I have for you on this quick post today!  Off to do some cooking!

Challenges Sophie will enter:

kraftinkimmiestamps.blogspot.com: it's a sketch

songbirdchallenges.blogspot.com: diamonds are a girl's best friend

glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.com: lots of layers

stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com: recipe: mine is ribbon, gems, dies

crazychallenge.blogspot.com: decorate inside of card

craftycardmakers.blogspot.com: more than one punch and/or die cut

cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com: paper pleating

incywincydesigns.blogspot.com: hip to be square

pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com: any die will do

theprettylittleribbonshop.blogspot.com: die cuts/punches, ribbons, charms

There Are Still Little Princesses

Well, my sister has been posting some fabulous, beautiful creations while I've been moving.  It's been a while since I've been able to do any coloring or creating since we've sold our house and have been moving.  We have a busy six to seven months as we build our new home but I am finally unpacked into our temporary home and have a comfortable spot for my crafts.  It's not perfect, and I don't have everything unpacked, but it will allow me to post a little bit between the building chaos until all the goodies are moved into their final craft haven.

I did make an autograph book for a special little girl named Madeline (Maddie) that just went to Disney World.  Her mother works for me, and I have the pleasure of hearing about all of her antics as she grows up.  She just started kindergarten this year.  Her favorite color is pink and I felt this would be a perfect book for her to collect autographs from all the princesses that she would meet.

It was fun making this for her.  She is at the age where everything is special to her eyes.  As she presented her book to all her princesses for their signatures, she told them her mommy's boss made it "just for me".  So cute.

The book is a mini paper album from Kolo that I've had for a while.  I replaced the ribbon that was part of the album with some other ribbon from my ribbon stash.  The background paper is Beautiful Moments by Carina Gardner.  It is by Carta Bella Paper Company.  I love how the bird plays into the special moment of the day.  It definitely will be a time to remember for Maddie.

The image is "Fancy" by Krista Smith from Saturated Canary.  She is so talented and I keep buying her stamps.  I think my husband may try to figure out how to block her site.  Just kidding (but he may wish he could).  I used Copic markers to color her.  The white pearls in her hair are from a Perlen-Pen by Viva Decor and I smeared Diamond Stickles on her dress.  I cut and embossed her with spell-binder die cuts.

"A very Important Date" pocket watch is a stamp set called Greetings from Wonderland by Crafty Secrets.  I used a circle and scallop punch and put on top with a pop dot.  The rope and gem was from my stash.

I honestly can't remember where the shoes came from.  They were in my stash.  It has a beautiful set of gloves with it and a vintage sewing bust.  I love it.  The gems, pearls and flowers came from my stash also.

Below is just one of Maddie's signatures from Disney World.  This is a beautiful souvenir for Maddie to treasure for years to come.

Here is a picture of a very pretty Maddie after she was made up at the Princess Palace.  Isn't she sweet?

I am going to enter this into the following challenges:

www.saturatedcanarychallenge.blogspot.com  Fairy Tales
http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/  Any But a Card Challenge
http://eclecticellapu.blogspot.co.uk/ Layering or Openable or Interactive
http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/  Recipe Challenge

Until next time,
Jo

Red Cups Are Back!!

Everyone who knows me knows how much I love Starbucks.  I can truly say I'm addicted.   I love the aroma, the taste, the warmth. I love the feeling I get when I walk into a Starbucks and I know I'm going to leave with my cuppa Joe.  And I especially love the Christmas red cups!

Oh and I love my Bucks app too.  I love not needing my wallet or cash to get my cup.  All I need is my phone.  And I always have my phone. Only trouble with that is I tend to buy more than just my coffee when using my app.  It feels like I'm getting something for free so those salted caramel cake pops and bistro boxes always seem to leave with me too!!

Well the other thing people who know me knows is that I absolutely L-O-V-E eggnog!!   I mean I'm a total FREAK about it.  Seriously. I gain like 7 lbs. every year during nog season because I have it every single day.  Again.  Seriously.   I will make everything I can with nog during the season.  Nog cookies, cake, cream puffs, popcorn. You name it.  I'd try it with egg nog!  NO joke!

Sooooooo,  the relationship between the two things that people know about me is that the Red cups are back at Starbucks and that means EGGNOG LATTES!!   I will have one almost daily from November 1 to January 1.  Red cups also mean all the yummy holiday flavors are

back.  Which one is your favorite??  Peppermint mocha, creme brulee, gingerbread, eggnog??   The website even had a countdown to when the red cups were going to back this year!  So clearly more people than just me are excited about it!

Well finally onto my card.  I wanted to give a Starbucks giftcard to a special person for Christmas and I wanted it to be super cute so here it is!

This is a Sugar Nellie Simply Sassy stamp called Luv a Latte. I printed out a small red cup so she can enjoy her holiday latte also!!  

The snowflakes are MS punches and smothered in glitter.  The oval is Spellbinders and then woven with Christmas "Joy"  ribbon.  The XL scallop square is also Spellbinders.

Inside the card...

I cut one of the holiday red sample cups and used it to hold my giftcard.  I hope she loves it!!
And lastly, the back of the card...

Challenges I would like to enter:

sugarbowlblog.blogspot.com: sketch with an optional color palette

delightfulsketches.blogspot.com: snowflakes

craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com: Reds

paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com: snowflakes

platypuscreekdigitals.blogspot.com: Christmas red & white

ribbongirls.blogspot.com: sparkle

craftuscrazy.blogspot.com: favorite color and/or holiday theme

southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com: Christmas

kraftyhandschallenge.blogspot.com: Christmas

thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.com: red

craftybloggersnetwork.blogspot.com: Christmas anything goes

whimsyinspires.blogspot.com: traditional Christmas colors

Cupcake Superhero

Here is a super quick, super fun card for a young girls birthday.  I used "Cupcake Marci" from La-La Land and I think she is hysterical.  I love everything about cupcakes and if I could be a 

cupcake superhero, I totally would!!  And if I could wear purple and pink everyday and not

look like a child, I would do that too!!  LOL!

The ribbon is actually seam binding from my own stash that I colored with an ombre effect using my copics.  I really like this technique so my ribbon matches my project perfectly!

The gems/rhinestones and charm are also from my stash.

I used the Cheery Lynn "anastasia lace" die to make my lace.

The "filigree" corners are from La-La Land.  They are covered in glitter.

Marci's mask, cape, and belt are also glitterized with my Spica pens.
The corner dots are Candi minis  from Craftwork Cards.

Very simple inside. (was kinda in a hurry)  The stamp set on the front is from JustRite Stampers and the inside sentiment is Stampin' Up.  And of course below are the copics I used.

 Challenges for this card:

emeraldfaeries.blogspot.com: use a charm

inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com: birthday

raisethebarchallenge.blogspot.com: birthday

allsortschallenge.blogspot.com: young at heart

brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.com: BINGO: bling-glitter-ribbon

pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com: ribbon & lace

scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/cmccopicchallengegroup: all about kids

craftuscrazy.blogspot.com: favorite color: pink/purple combo

simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com: use your stash (seam binding I colored for ribbon)

craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com: tic tac toe: gems-glitter-lace

pattiescreationschallenge.blogspot.com: birthday

Ornamental Christmas

Hello everyone!  Hope all is well.  I'm trying to get a head start on
some of my Christmas cards so I'm not panicking at the last
minute like I usually am!!

This sweet digi is from Saturated Canary and she is called Christmas Angel.

I colored her over a year ago when I was first learning to use my Copics.

 My coloring has improved since then and I can see all my mistakes.  Hehe.

But oh well, don't wanna waste her!!  Yes, I could print her out

again and start all over, but I like seeing my progress.  Plus I still

think she's hella cute!!

The sentiment is from Whimsy stamps and can be found here.

I just love their sentiments.

The ribbon is seam binding that I colored ombre with my Copics.

I used RV91, 95, 99.  I think it turned out pretty nice.

The oval is Spellbinders floral ovals.

The poinsettias diecuts are from Marianne creatables.

The pine branches are Cheery Lynn.

They are all finished off with lots and lots of sparkly stickles!!

The pink stem that looks like it is covered in ice I bought from

my local Michaels.  This thing is gorgeous and it comes in

multiple colors!!

I don't have any ornament shaped die cuts so I decided to make my own.

This is just like we all used to do before the land of electronic cutters

and die cuts existed!!  LOL!!

A close up view of the silver topper on the ornament.  I drew in some lines
with my embossing tool to give it some depth.

Hope I can stay on course and continue to plug away at my Xmas 
cards!!

I will be entering the following challenges:

saturatedcanarychallenge.blogspot.com: shaped card

simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com: get in shape

whimsyinspires.blogspot.com: all things sparkly

cutecardthursday.blogspot.com: fairies & angels

mariannedesigndivas.blogspot.com: shaped cards

fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com: pearls & flowers

crimbo-crackers.blogspot.com: shaped, pink, Christmas

craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com: Christmas in October

stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com: anything goes

charismacardz.blogspot.com: recipe