My Favorite Things

Random, Random Sunday

 

Hello, All....

Lots of random bits to share with you today.  Meant to share some of this yesterday but ended up spending the day with my hottie hubs, relaxing and cheering on our (his) favorite football team!  ;)

I finished this book last week -- How Sweet It Is by Alice Wisler, and I have to say that it was soooo, so good.  Such a fabulous story of heartache, hope and healing.  This one had me totally sucked in.  I just love that.  

Did you see this post over at the Moxie Fab World blog?  Cath is chatting about this new A Card a Day book that Paper Crafts Magazine is releasing and I was so excited to have several of my cards be a part of this new book!  Cath is also showing several cards from the new book, including one of my contributions.  Can't wait to see the whole book in person!

AND, over at the Paper Crafts blog, they're featuring a few more cards from A Card a Day, so you can get a peek at another one of my cards over there.  :)

 

And, I've been busy making embellies this weekend.  I have several sheets of these two color combos of teapots that I'll be putting in my Etsy Shop as soon as I finish this post so watch for them there, if you are interested.

 

I also have some of these little flower embellies that I'll be putting in my Etsy shop too!

 

Hope you're all doing well this weekend!  Take care and I'll chat with you again soon!

 

A Sneakie Peek and Teapot Embellies

 

Happy Friiiiiiiiiiiday!!  

Ahhhhhh.........it's that time again!!  Time for you to get a peek at the latest stamp set in the Raspberry Suite line-up!!  This one will be available on Nov. 15.  What do you think so far????  :)

So I'm back at it with more embellies today, only this time they're happy little teapots!  I love making these little guys!  

 

And here's a fun little card you can make using one of these cheery embellies.  Again, more Polka Dot Basics II and a sentiment from Tea For Two.  I used a wide strip of ScorTape (1/2") and some of my Martha Stewart glitter in Smoky Quartz to create the glitter stripe.  I also used some Vintage Touch Tea Dye inks to distress up the edges a bit.

 

I'll be putting this card and this sheet of teapot embellies (plus a few others when I get them finished up) in my Etsy Shop this morning, so keep an eye out if you're interested.  :)

 

 

If you love the teapots but cutting them out isn't really your thing, then these just might be the perfect embellie for you!  {smile}

Hope your weekend is a fantastic one!  

Toodle-loo!
 

{Tea For Two supplies}
Paper: vintage cream, kraft
Stamps: Tea For Two, Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: vintage touch tea dye, dark chocolate, berry sorbet
Other: Cricut Expression/Storybook cartridge, Martha Stewart smoky quartz glitter, berry sorbet vintage button, rustic cream button twine
 

Butterfly Embellies

Hello!  I hope you're all having a really great week.  I made some super fun butterfly embellies to show you today!  I wanted to show you how you can make a card really ADORABLE by keeping the card itself quite simple and adding a blinged out embellishment that will make the recipient say WOW!

 

This card measures 3 1/4" x 5 1/2".  All I stamped on the card base was a row of aqua mist dots from Polka Dot Basics II and a sentiment (that I LOVE!) from Cupcake Collection.  Then, I just added my big, bold butterfly and voila!  Cuteness!  Wouldn't a set of these little cards make a fun gift?

 

I had so much fun making my butterfly that I made a whole sheet of them.  I'll be putting both the card and the sheet of butterfly embellies in my Etsy Shop as soon as I finish this post.  If making your own embellies isn't really your thing but you love the look, you could whip up your own cards in just minutes with my hand-made embellies!  

 

 

 

I'm thinking about putting lots of other embellies in my Etsy Shop too, so let me know if you like this sort of thing!

Have a great day, Friends.  Take time to do something a little crafty today!  I bet you'll be glad you did!  

Smooches,

 

{Hey There, Cupcake supplies}
Paper: aqua mist, raspberry fizz, kraft
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II, Cupcake Collection, Giga Guide Lines
Ink: dark chocolate, aqua mist, versamark, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Martha Stewart smoky quartz glitter, aqua mist vintage button, rustic jute button twine, SU! Bigz Butterflies die

A Joyful Garland

Hello, Dearies....

I have a fun project to share with you today!  I decided to try my hand at making a garland.  Can you believe I've never made one before?! ....but I have to say that it was quite fun and a bit addicting too!  I think I just might have to make another one of these!

 

I used Vintage Ornaments to create fun little tags to go between each of the J O Y lettered panels.  I punched two holes at the top of each panel, and then threaded them all together with raspberry fizz classic grosgrain ribbon.  

 

The letters are ones that I cut out with my Cricut Expression and Storybook cartridge, and then I covered them with glitter using my Glue Pad.  It was so fun to mix and match papers and embellishments to create the panels and make each one a bit different.

 

 

I also used ScorTape to put stripes of Martha Stewart smoky quartz glitter on some of the panels.  I love the vintage look of that goldish glitter!

 

 

 

 

I snapped these photos of it hanging on the mantle in our family room, but for now, it's taken up residence on the birdcage hanging on the wall of my studio.  I'm thinking I'll put this happy little JOY garland in my Etsy shop, so keep an eye out if you like it!  (Or feel free to email me if you're interested.)

 

Hope you're all having a fabulous day.  It's beautiful and crisp and sunny here today.  I'm tucked into the studio with a pile of new stamps to play with and a list of assignments, so I'd best get back to it, but I wanted to pop in and visit with you for a quick bit.  

Take care, Dolls,

{JOY Garland}
Paper: rustic white, kraft, dark chocolate, bitty box basics, bitty dot basics
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Polka Dot Basics II, Giga Guide Lines
Ink: raspberry fizz, dark chocolate, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Kaiser Scrapbook gemstones, Martha Stewart smoky quartz glitter, Prisma glitter, Storybook cartridge/Cricut Expression, SU! scallop edge punch, corner rounder punch, pinking shears, Fiskars apron lace punch, raspberry fizz classic grosgrain ribbon, vintage buttons, hemp twine, Prima flower

Miss M's Sketch

 

Hey there!!  Do you remember my little friend 'M'?  Emma is Savitri's little girl and we all got to have lunch together a few months ago.  Since then, M has started hosting her very own sketch challenges!  Cute, right?  I had hoped to play along last time and ended up missing the deadline.  So today, I was determined to play along.  Here's M and her sketch:

And here's my card!  If you want to play along too, just leave your entry in the Mister Linky widget over at Savitri's blog on THIS POST.

I used lots of Making Memories goodies on this one......a felt snowflake embellie, chipboard buttons and glittery patterned paper.  The sentiment is from my Vintage Ornaments stamp set.  

 

I'll be putting this card in my Etsy shop as soon as I finish this post so watch for it over there if you're interested.  I have a few other cards that you've seen recently, that I'll be putting in my shop today as well.  :)

Hope you're all having a happy Tuesday!  I have oodles of paperwork to tackle today and then, a yummo box of new Papertrey goodies awaits me!

Take care!

 

Fun With the Fam

Hey there!  It's Monday.  Has your week gotten off to a good start?  I have some fun pictures to share with you today.  We got to spend quite a bit of time with my family on Saturday.  On our way to the get-together though, we stopped at World Market.  A couple of you sweet readers mentioned that you thought World Market sold Tim Tams -- the yummy Australian cookies that we've gotten kind of fond of (wink!), so we stopped in to see if we could buy them here.  Turns out, we CAN!  Only in the US, they're called Arnott's, which is the name of the company that makes them.  When we found the cookies, we turned around to discover that we can also buy Vegemite here too!  Haha!  Bart's not a Vegemite fan, but I tried it myself for the first time earlier this year and I have to say that I didn't hate it.  LOL!  It was pretty different, but I'd try it again.  :)  We've shopped at World Market for a long time and never realized we could get these fun Australian goodies right here in town.  Fun!

Oh, and since I know some of you will ask, yes Bart is on crutches in the photo above.  His knee still hasn't quite healed up since his surgery this summer so his doctor instructed him to use crutches for two weeks to see if his knee will get better.  He wants to determine if it's the bone bruise that they saw this summer and if it's not better in two weeks, then it's probably not the bone bruise and he'll have to have another MRI to see if something else is going on.  So, there you have it......sorry for the side-track, but I know you girls -- one of you (or 20!) would have asked!  Hee.

 

So, I thought it might be fun to take along some supplies so that us girls could work on a little project at the get-together.  My sisters and I worked on sets of Christmas gift tags - ones that they could use themselves or give as gifts.  This is my sister, Gracie, gettin' glittery. 

 

We created quite a mess on the kitchen table, but I think we all had fun.  :)  The boys were all sitting right behind us in the living room, watching tv, so we could all talk and laugh and carry on, but we were getting a little girly project done at the same time.  

 

This is my sister, Diann (the babies' mama).  This was a great time for her to get to work on a crafty project because there were enough of us there to help keep track of the babies so she could actually have a little mama time.

 

Baby Ally (hardly a baby at all -- can you believe how BIG she is?!) had her first stamping lesson!  See the stamped tag on her shirt?  I used some dimensionals to stick it on her.  Ha!  You can also see a few stray dimensionals left on her shirt.  :)  She liked her tags....for awhile anyway!

 

Here are the little tins of tags that we made.  I only took two stamp sets -- 2009 Holiday Tags Collection and Signature Christmas -- but look at all that we were able to create!  I'm thinking of using mine on cards instead of as tags.  

Can you see the girls in your family working on a project like this, say at your Thanksgiving gathering?  That way, you'd all have tags ready to roll when you wrap your Christmas gifts!

 

Here's Ally and Aunt Glory (my youngest sister).  Styyyyyylin'!

 

And look how big this guy has gotten!  This is baby Malachi.  What a sweetie.

 

Nap time!

 

After we got done crafting and eating, it was time to play some games which included a few on the Wii.  Even Ally got in the spirit!  Cuuuuute, right???

And so, I'll leave you with this for today.......

 

Smooches!! 

Good Reads

  

Hi there!  Hope you're having a great weekend so far!  I thought I'd pop in with fun little book review for you!  I just finished Stretch Marks by Kimberly Stuart and I have to say that it was SUCH a fun read.  Definitely chick lit.....a bit of humor, a bit of a love story, plenty of issues to work thru, a baby on the way.....all in all, I found that I didn't want to put this one down.  It was really a really fun read that also had a great ending and a great message as well.  Plus, it takes place in Chicago (you know how I love that city) so when they mentioned having "deep dish from Lou's", I grinned from ear to ear!  I'm sure they were referring to Lou Malnatti's -- our fave pizza in Chicago!  ;)  And the other Chicago references were really fun too, especially having just been there for a visit.  Anyway, check this one out if you want a really fun, sometimes funny, read. 

            

I also want to recommend the 86 Bloomberg Place series by Melody Carlson.  This series is about 4 young women, after college, that end up living in a house together, and all that they go thru as they learn what it's like to be out 'on their own' for the first time.  There is plenty of drama (you can imagine -- with 4 girls, all strangers, living in the same house) and plenty of fun too.  

These books are not only fun reads that you might enjoy, but now that Christmas is fast approaching, these would make great Christmas gifts for some of the girls on your Christmas list.  I love giving books as gifts.  I think they're sort of 'the gift that keeps on giving' since they're something that the recipient can enjoy for several hours or days or even weeks.  Plus, the great thing about books like these by Christian authors is that you can rest assured that they're clean and not the least bit smutty!  (I'm not one for smut.)  :)

Hope you have a great Saturday, Peeps!  We'll be heading out after awhile, to see a couple of our favorite babies!  (My niece and nephew!)  

Toodles!
 

In the Spotlight #18

Hello there!!!  

Back today with this week's Spotlight post, highlighting a few of the super cute cards from the Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #18.  

Here's the card I created for this color challenge.  Did you know that you can make cute little flowers with the Giga Guide Lines set, just by stamping the medallion images and cutting them out?!  How fun is that?  Just another way to stretch your stamping dollar......not only is this set great for creating backgrounds, but it's also perfect for making your own embellishments!

 

I stamped the flowers in raspberry fizz ink on vintage cream card stock.  I added some glitter to the little 'petals' on the flowers.  I layered them with some hand-cut leaves and a label die-cut from my Storybook cartridge that I cut out with my Cricut Expression.  These were fun colors to work with!  I hope those of you that played along enjoyed your creative time too and for those of you that like to check out what everyone else created, you don't want to miss checking out this list of beauties!  And seriously, there were so many great entries this week....I had a really hard time narrowing it down.  If you're looking for inspiration, go back to the list of color challenge entries and check them out!

And for the first time in the history of the Raspberry Suite Color Challenges, one sweet girl ended up with TWO cards In the Spotlight!!  Maile Belles entered two Christmas tree cards that are both absolutely darling!!!  Thanks, Maile, for sharing your talent with us......I loved your cards so much!

Check out who's In the Spotlight this week.....

 

A. Amy O.
B. Ashley Cannon Newell
C. Ashley M.
D. Dana F.
E. Julie Batta
F. Karen Walker
G. Maile Belles
H. Maile Belles #2
I. Maureen P.
J. Melanie S.
K. Michelle Woerner
L. Naomi Chokr
M. Rieca
N. Sarah Martina
O. Tracey Kuzniak

Thanks so much for hangin' with me today, Dearies!  Hope you have a great weekend!  It looks like we're gonna get to spend some time with my family this weekend and I can't wait.  Haven't seen my sweetie niece and baby nephew for way too long!

Take care!
 

{Birthday Wishes supplies}
Paper: kraft, vintage cream, dark chocolate, new leaf, bitty dot basics
Stamps: Giga Guide Lines
Ink: dark chocolate, raspberry fizz, vintage touch tea dye
Other: dark chocolate vintage button, new leaf vintage button, hemp twine, Fiskars apron lace punch, Storybook cartridge/Cricut Expression, Kaiser rhinestones, Palette glitter, sewing machine/thread

Gettin' Quilty

Hi-ya Peeps!!  How are you doing?  

Over the last couple of years, I've gotten quite a few requests for my mailing address so I finally bit the bullet and got a post office box that I could share with you.  Just thought I'd post it here, in case any of you were wanting it or have asked for it in the past.  If you'd like to contact me via snail mail, feel free to use the address below!  (And Aussies...feel free to send chocolate Tim Tams!  Hahaha!!  Just kiddin'.....our sweet Aussie friends sent us a package of goodies today, including a couple packages of Tim Tams.  Thanks, John & Lynn!  So excited about those darn cookies!)  :)  Anyway, here's the address:

Dawn McVey
P.O. Box 3032
Olathe, Kansas  66063

For future reference, you can find this address in the left hand side bar, above my picture, on the 'contact me' page. 

So now, let's talk cards, shall we?  I've been a busy little bee working in the studio this week.  Most of the projects aren't ones I can share just yet, but at the end of the day today, I was determined to squeeze in a card to share with you here.  I've been seeing lots of adorable 'quilty' cards in blog-land lately so I wanted to try my hand at one too.  Papertrey has quite a few of these great coordinating patterned papers that made it so fun to put this together!  I took a piece of card stock that was the size I wanted my quilted piece to be, and then I started adhering 1 3/8" punched  squares on the diagonal, with a bit of mono-adhesive.  The easiest way to get your squares laid out diagonally is to start with a square in the middle of the bottom edge of the card.  If you turn your square diagonally, you can line up the points along the bottom edge of the card.  Then, just use that first square as your guide for placing the rest of the squares.  Once you have them all adhered, trim off all of the edges of the squares and then stitch away!

I didn't want to do too much to cover up the fun quilty piece, so I just went with a simple (but eye-catching, thanks to that great font!) sentiment and a few buttons.

That's it for tonight.  Hope you all have a fabulous Friday! 

Take care, Crew,
 

{Gratitude supply list}
Paper: rustic cream, vintage cream, orange zest, bitty dot basics, bitty box basics, in bloom
Stamps: Spiral Bouquet
Ink: orange zest
Other: dark chocolate vintage buttons, corner rounder punch, 1 3/8" square punch, sewing machine/thread

Inspiring Friends

Hi All!  Happy Tuesday to you!  I have a happy little wintery card to share with you today.  I have some very inspiring friends and I feel super, SUPER blessed to be on the Papertrey Design Team with so many of them.  Recently, my fun friend Mish did a post on her blog all about the cozy color combo of red and cream and I found it super inspiring.  It also reminded me of this beautiful post that my sweet friend Betsy did a little while back, also focusing on the same color combo and I couldn't resist whipping up a little card myself, using red and cream.  :)

For my little card, I stamped a tag from the 2009 Holiday Tag Collection and then stamped the 'let it snow' sentiment twice on the tag.  I stamped it on vintage cream card stock and layered it on a scalloped circle that I'd punched out, also from vintage cream card stock.  By using a little vintage touch tea dye ink on both layers, it gave them just a tad bit of definition, so you can see that they're two different layers, while still being able to keep that cream on cream look.  If I'd layered the tag on red card stock, it would have blended into the red polka dotted background and I really wanted it to POP!

The 'Warm Winter Wishes' sentiment is from the Stocking Prints stamp set.  I love how well it works with the 'let it snow' thought stamped on the tag.  What a fun little card to send to a friend or loved one this winter.  :)

So, how's your day going?  I'm loving hearing from so many of you sweet Aussies about possibilities for our trip next year!  It's gonna be fun, of that I'm certain!  

I've got more paper crafting to do, so I'd better get back to it.  I'm loving spending some time in the studio today.....it's been a little while.  :)

Take care, Dearies and we'll chat again soon!
 

{Warm Winter Wishes supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, vintage cream, bitty dot basics
Stamps: Stocking Prints, 2009 Holiday Tag Collection
Ink: pure poppy, vintage touch tea dye
Other: vintage cream saddle stitch ribbon, 1 3/4" circle punch, super jumbo scalloped circle punch, corner rounder punch, sewing machine/thread

Look Out Aussies, Here We Come!

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

G'Day, Mates!!  I am very excited to tell you that Bart and I are currently in the process of planning a trip to Australia for March 2010!!!!  We can't wait to go visit our dear Aussie friends that visited us here in the States earlier this year!  Bart found a great deal online for air and hotel so we're tentatively considering 3-4 days each in Sydney, the Gold Coast and Cairns.  Can't wait to see the beautiful Sydney Opera House and the Great Barrier Reef!  Also, very excited to snap photos of kangaroos (that aren't in a zoo!!  Haha!).  :)  

We're also considering trying to figure out a way to meet up with some of you sweet Aussies who have told me to be sure and let you know if we ever head your way.  If you have any interest in meeting or if you have any suggestions for where we might consider meeting, feel free to leave a comment.  We'll just have to see what we might be able to work out.

Just thought I'd share that bit of fun news today!  Hope you're all having a fabulous Monday.  I spent mine running errands and getting caught up on some things.  Very exciting.  Hee.  

Take care, Peeps!

 

Colorful Fall

Hello, dear friends!  Happy FRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDAY!  :)  Can't wait for my handsome husband to get home from work today.  It's almost the weeeeeeeeekend!  Yay!

I've got a few fun photos to share with you today.  First up, let's talk about a card, shall we?  I used some more of that fun plaid patterned paper from the Autumn Abundance collection and laid out the little squares sort of quilt style and stitched them up.  I just love all of the layers and textures on this card and obviously, I was on a bit of a kick with this color combo.  :)  Don't be afraid to just GO WITH IT if you're crafting and you make a card with a certain color combo and you're loving it.  If you've already got supplies out in that color family, it's so quick and easy to whip up a few more cards in that same color scheme.  You'll add cards to your collection, knock out some birthday cards for your birthday list or whatever, and you'll be keeping it simple since you've already got those supplies out and ready.

 

I also have some Polka Dot Basics II stamped on this card.  That was a scrap that was laying on my desk just waiting to be used and the sentiment is another from Star Prints.  

 

And now, I'd like to tell you the story of what we've affectionately begun referring to as 'The Little Burning Bush That Could'!  This little burning bush is planted just to the left of our Autumn Blaze Maple (which sadly only has 7 leaves left on it this morning -- fall just doesn't last long enough, does it?!).  Another plant that I've always wanted since I was little, was a burning bush.  (Obviously I have a thing for brightly colored plants and trees.  I know.....you never would have guessed that about me, right???  Haha!)  Anyway, we planted this sweet little guy about 5 years ago and I was so thrilled.  I just couldn't wait for fall to roll around so we could watch this little gem blaze.  However, the dear, sweet, lovable, totally cute (dirty rotten) rabbits that inhabit our yard had other plans for our burning bush.  The dear, sweet, lovable, totally cute (dirty rotten) rabbits munched away on our bush while we slept, and when we discovered their handiwork, they'd stripped our little bush nearly bare.  The only leaves that remained were those that were too high for them to reach, even when they sat up on their precious (no good) haunches.  Sooo........it was a rough year for our little bush.  Bart promptly put a chicken wire fence around it to protect it from our darling little friends (enemies), the rabbits, and it fought for it's life.  There was no change in color that first year, in the leaves it barely hung on to.  In fact, there was no real change in color the second or the third year, even though it had managed to re-grow it's leaves those years.  By the 4th year, Bart finally took down the chicken wire fence and now that it was a little more mature, the rabbits didn't seem so interested in munching on it.  There was just the tiniest hint last year, that it was thinking about changing colors in the fall, but then it changed it's mind and didn't do much 'burning' at all.  

However, this year.....THIS YEAR, our sweet little bush is burning like crazy!  Just look at that color!  It's soooo beautiful and makes me SO happy, especially now that our beautiful Autumn Blaze is almost bare.  

And that, my friends, is the story of The Little Burning Bush That Could.  :)

 

And just because I feel kinda bad for those of you that live in places that don't get to experience the beautiful fall colors that we get here in the midwest, I thought I'd show you a few of our neighbors' trees too.  Just check out that orange!!  Isn't it gorgeous?!!  Also, notice that big pile of leaves already fallen underneath the tree!  I snapped these few photos in between rain showers yesterday.  It rained off and on (more on, than off!) allllll day yesterday and that soft, gentle rain is making the leaves fall off the trees.  If the leaves will hang on a little longer, I'm hoping to snap a few photos around our neighborhood today, to show you some more awesome color.  I just LOVE it!

 

I'll leave you with this one last shot......a few of the trees in our neighbors' yard.  Just look at all of the different colors represented in those trees!  I'm so thankful that God saw fit to bless us with so many colors in nature.  They sure do make me happy and they get me itching to get a little crafty with color too!

Hope you all have a FAB weekend!  Looking forward to a little jaunt with my hottie hubs and our boy tomorrow.  I'll take pictures!  

Toodles!
 

{Wish Big supplies}
Paper: kraft, vintage cream, aqua mist, autumn abundance
Stamps: Star Prints, Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: dark chocolate, vintage cream, vintage touch tea dye
Other: aqua mist luxe satin ribbon, orange zest vintage button, rustic cream button twine, SU! scalloped edge punch, EK Success diamond lace punch

A Fall Flower

Hi there, Peeps!

I've gotta be quick today because we need to have dinner and then I have to run off to church for worship team practice tonight but I wanted to pop in and share a fun little card with sort of a fallish flower.  I punched the flowers out with my Marvy Flower Punches and used orange zest card stock for the largest layer, some plaid patterned paper from the Autumn Abundance collection and a bit of vintage book print for the smallest layer.  I stamped some Background Basics: Text Style II on the card front, added a strip of cream card stock stamped with some orange zest Polka Dot Basics II and I just love that sentiment from Star Prints!  I hope that you are 'enjoying life' today!

 

I just wadded up those flower layers and then opened them back up a bit, and after I'd flattened them back out some, I distressed the edges with some Vintage Touch Tea Dye inks.  It was a cinch!

I also forgot to show you the new purse I got when in Chicago the other day!  Sorry for the 'purse talk', for any men that might be reading this, but these are important things we discuss here at the Raspberry Suite blog-o!  Haha!

 

It was kind of hard to get a decent picture of it because it's kind of a shiny black, but I just love the old-school clamp/clasp at the top of the purse.  Reminds me of the purses my great-grandma used to carry!  Oh, and the best part about this purse is that I got it at Aldo, which means that it didn't come with a hefty designer price tag!  ;)

All righty.....I'd better get a move on.  Have a great night, Dearies.......chat soon!
 

{Enjoy Life supplies}
Paper: aqua mist, orange zest, dark chocolate, vintage cream, autumn abundance patterned paper, vintage book print
Stamps: Star Prints, Background Basics: Text Style II, Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: dark chocolate, aqua mist, orange zest, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Marvy flower punches, aqua mist vintage button, rustic cream button twine, Fiskars: apron lace punch, sewing machine/thread

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #18

HI there!!!  Thought it was about time we had another color challenge around here!  I took this photo in Chicago when we were there last week -- it's just one of the many huge planters they have all around Michigan Ave., filled with all manner of lush, fall foliage.  I just LOVED the colors in this one and the fabulous cabbage-y stuff (Is it really some type of cabbage?), the cool squiggly sticks and grasses and even the weird greed pod-looking things!  LOL -- don't I sound like a gardening pro with those descriptions?!  :)  

Anyway, this photo was just screaming 'color challenge' to me!

Just like always, you can participate using any brand of products you happen to have on hand, but I'll be using Papertrey's new leaf, raspberry fizz, dark chocolate, kraft and vintage cream.  I have these colors of card stock all laid out on the table next to me and they look GORGEOUS together!  So rich!

I absolutely can't wait to see what you all come up with this time!  

Enjoy!!

P.S.  Last time, there were quite a few entries that weren't linked properly.  Please, read the instructions below to make sure you're playing by the rules.  Thanks, Dearies!  :)

Color Challenge deets:
Create a card or other project, upload a photo of your card to your blog or online gallery & then come back here to post the link to your photo in the Mister Linky box below.  Don't leave your links in the comments section but feel free to leave me a comment after you've posted your link in Mister Linky.  You know I love hearing from you!

Also, be sure that the link you're posting is the direct link to your card!  Please don't leave your blog's url, but rather, the link to your specific post that shows us your card. 

Feel free to use the graphic I've created above, however you DON'T want to copy and paste the image!  Just SAVE the image to your computer and then upload the image to your blog post, as though it is a photo from your own computer.  Make sense?

Don't have a blog but still want to participate??  Don't worry!  You don't have to have a blog!  You are more than welcome to upload your card to an online gallery of your choice  (i.e. www.splitcoaststampers.com,  www.papertreyink.com,  www.twopeasinabucket.com, etc.) and then use the url for your photo in your gallery as the link that you post in Mister Linky.

Challenge ends Wednesday, October 28 at 7pm CST.

Chicago, In Photos

Hello All,

I have lots of fun Chicago photos to share with you from our getaway last weekend! 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CHICAGO PHOTOS and to read the story of these gigantic pancakes and more!  Haha!!  

Note: I've added the Chicago photos in a photo album in the side bar on the right, so if you are looking for them at a later date, they'll be easy to find!  ;)

Have a goodie!

Quick Etsy Shop Update

Hi All,

I've had several requests to ship cards from my Etsy Shop to countries outside the US or Canada.  Just wanted to let you know that I have added Australia, New Zealand and Italy as shipping options, in case you're interested.  When you click on any card, just scroll down to see the shipping charges for each country.

Hope that helps!  Thanks for your interest!  :)

ETA: I've just added the UK as a shipping option as well!  

Autumn Blaze

Well hello there, Friends......  

Did you think I'd forgotten you?  :)  I have been working a ton (and by that, I mean a TON) lately to meet a big deadline and I am finally finished.  Such a relief, but unfortunately I was working so much on Friday and Saturday that I didn't have time to post here at the blog-o and say hi.  So sorry about that, but I'm happy to be able to pop in today and share a few photos with you.  I'm gonna be completely honest though -- I sang at church this morning which meant being there for 2 services so by the time I got home, after working the rest of the weekend, I was a total slug-o this afternoon.  Hee.  I fully intended to edit Chicago photos and share them with you today while Bart was gone -- he had to drive to St. Louis for a meeting (about 8 hrs round trip - poor guy).  However, after I got home from church and had lunch, I did nothing.  Well, nothing unless you count reading the latest issues of Martha Stewart Living and Country Living.........and playing a mindless game on my iPhone.......and catching up on a DVR'd tv show that I like that Bart's not a huge fan of.  But if you don't count any of that, then I did nothing.  :)  Total slug-o.  

However, Bartley's home now, we've had dinner, we're waiting for the Amazing Race to come on tv and I decided it was high time I let you all know that I'm still alive and kicking!  Didn't want to worry anyone, you know.  *smile*

Sooooo.......since the Chicago pics aren't ready just yet, I thought I'd give you an update on our new tree.  Our Autumn Blaze Maple, to be exact.  OH, it's a beauty!!  It's even more beautiful than I dreamed it'd be.  It's seriously THE tree I've dreamed of having since way back when I still lived at home with my parents.  I always wanted a bright red (or even a bright orange) tree.  One that changes to a fiery hue in the fall and this one definitely did NOT disappoint!  

 

Just check out how RED it is!  Isn't it dreamy?  And I have to say that the photo doesn't even do it justice.  When the sunlight hits it just right, it practically glows....and this may sound dumb to you, but when I look at that tree it makes my heart sing.  I remember being so sad over the loss of the previous tree and now, this new tree serves as a reminder of how God took a hard situation and turned it to good.  Know what I mean?  We had to go thru a loss, but have ended up with something that brings us so much joy.  Something that will likely bring us so much MORE joy than the previous tree ever did, even though it was a great tree.  I think life is like that sometimes and I usually don't get all 'preachy' around here, but I just feel like there might be one of you reading this that is going thru a rough time, and I hope that you can look at the pictures of this tree and see that you will make it thru.  And you might just be surprised at how God could take that tough situation and make it so much better in the long run.  Hang in there, if that's you.   

 

The Autumn Blaze leaves are even beautiful laying on the ground, aren't they?  :)  Happy sigh.  Too bad it can't stay red all year long....but then if it did, I might not appreciate it so much.  Have I told you how grateful I am for this bit of beauty in our back yard?  

I'm hoping to get the Chicago pictures posted here in the next day or two.  I just got them uploaded and OH, it looks like there are some fun pictures to share!  YAY!

Hope you have a great evening and an even better Monday!  I'm gonna spend the rest of the evening being a slug-o......and snuggled up next to my hottie hubs!

Toodles!

Papertrey - October Release Projects

Hello Dearies....

I've been showing you cards all week using Vintage Ornaments and Vintage Ornaments Additions, and now both sets are available for purchase at Papertrey Ink!  If you haven't seen them yet in their entirety, click the links to check them out!  I've been so excited for you to get to see both sets!  It's also been so heart-warming to hear that so many of you have enjoyed not only the projects this week, but also the walk down memory lane as you thought back to ornaments similar to these from your childhood and the loved ones that they remind you of.  

The Papertrey release party last night was fun, fun.......did you get to order some new goodies?  ;)

For today, I've got cards to share with you that I made using the other new releases this month at Papertrey Ink!  This first card features Heather Nichols' new Holiday Tree set.......such sweet little images and sentiments.  I used a bunch of the words from the set to create a little word border.

 

 

Next up is a set designed by none other than Nichole Heady.....Holiday Button Bits!  Don't you just love that big holly leaf image?  So fun adding my little button 'berries' to complete the focal point!  I also paired it with a little Polka Dot Basics II border, to mirror the dots on the leaves.

 

 

And lastly, this card features two sets that were released this month.  I'm sure it wasn't hard for you to guess that this tag from the new 2009 Holiday Tags Collection is one that I designed!  *wink!*  After I layered it on a scalloped circle that I'd punched out, I added glitter all around the scalloped edge, by running my two-way glue pen along the scallops and then sprinkling on the glitter.  And of course, you can see the big Giga Guide Lines border that I stamped along the bottom of the card front.  So simple to do, but boy, that set makes a statement!  I just love that!

 

I hope you're all having a fabulous week!  I'm SO excited to share pictures from our Chicago weekend getaway -- it was WONDERFUL!  Hopefully I'll get them posted in the next day or two.  AND, I'll have an update on our new tree for you!  You won't believe how RED it is!  YAY!

All righty, Crew.....take care and I'll talk atchya soon!

Vintage Ornaments & Vintage Ornaments Additions - Day 6

Hi All,

Today is the last day of the Countdown which means that TONIGHT is the night!  Tonight at midnight, EST both Vintage Ornaments sets as well as all of the other new releases this month will be available for purchase at Papertrey Ink!!  Are you excited?  Have you got a wish list going this week?  ;)  How about if I share a couple more projects with you?

On this first card, I used one of the circle striped images on the ornament stamped in ripe avocado on top of a spring moss ornament.  

 

That patterned paper is one from the Holiday Cheer collection that was released last month.  Don't you just love it paired layered on this card?  I love the texture it adds.

 

One more project for you today!  Did you know that you could also use these ornament images to make actual little ornaments for your Christmas tree??  Do you have any extra little trees that you put around your house like maybe in the dining room or in your child's bedroom?  How fun would it be to create your own set of custom ornaments in the color scheme of your choice?  You could even share this project with your kiddos, letting them help make a set of ornaments for their own room!

I've got quite a few photos of the individual ornaments on my tree, just so you can get a peek at some more of the patterns that come in both the Vintage Ornaments and Vintage Ornaments Additions sets!  

 

Here are a few patterns that you haven't gotten to see yet!

 

You'll notice that I've added glitter or rhinestones to all of them in one way or another.  It just makes them so sparkly and pretty and......vintage-y!  

 

 

 

 

I hope you've enjoyed this week's Countdown posts!  I know I've had so much fun sharing these new stamp sets with you!  What do you think of the sets now that we're at the end of the Countdown?  Are you envisioning all sorts of things that you could do with Vintage Ornaments yourself?  

Don't forget to pop over and see Nichole today for a look at what she's done with Vintage Ornaments, as well as Becky Oehlers.  You'll want to stop by Heather Nichols and Lauren Meader too.  Also, this is my SECOND blog post for today, so be sure to scroll down to see my 2009 Holiday Card Making 101 post.

Hope you're having a fabby day!  I'll be in the Papertrey Forum tonight starting at 10pm EST for the release party.  I hope you'll stop by and say hi!  

Take care, Dearies!  I'll talk to you soon!

{Happy Holidays supplies}
Stamps:  Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions
Paper: ripe avocado, vintage cream, holiday cheer
Ink: ripe avocado, spring moss
Other: Palette glitter, SU! scalloped edge punch, sewing machine/thread
 

2009 Holiday Card Making 101

Hi there and welcome to another fun Group Post where Nichole gave all of us on the Design Team the challenge of creating a super simple holiday card that anyone could easily reproduce.  I absolutely loved this challenge.....I paired my Vintage Ornaments & Vintage Ornaments Additions sets with Nichole's new Giga Guide Lines -- what a winning combination!  Is that background pattern gorgeous or what?!  That's just one of the beautiful images from the new Giga Guide Lines set and I stamped it with VersaMark ink on my kraft card base.  I just love how pretty that is!

 

The sentiment is one from Vintage Ornaments and I paired it with a little red button.  The border across the bottom of the card is a cinch to do with a punch, but really adds a bit of a pop to the card's overall design.

 

I stamped my large Vintage Ornament in pure poppy ink and then stamped the double stripe border stamp in dark chocolate over the top of the ornament.  And get this -- the medium sized rhinestones that come in the pack you can get from Papertrey Ink fit perfectly between the double lined border on the ornament!  Handy, right?

 

And I just thought I'd show you just how pretty Giga Guide Lines is all by itself.  Don't you think these make lovely little simple note cards?  You could easily give a set of these as a gift!  (That's VersaMark ink stamped on kraft card stock.)

 

And even if you wanted to kick it up a notch, you could add the pretty border!  Still, a great year-round appropriate note card set that could be used yourself or given away as quick and easy, but beautiful gifts.  I could so see these being sold in a cute little boutique-y store!

All right, that's all for now......be sure to visit Nichole's blog to see her take on this challenge -- she's got all of the cutting measurements and the supply list to create these cards, as well as a look at what all the design team girls have done!

Betsy Veldman
Mish Wooderson
Melissa Phillips
Heather Nichols
Becky Oehlers
Lauren Meader
Lisa Johnson
Geny Cassady
Niki Estes
Debbie Olson

Have a GREAT day!

{Most Wonderful Time supplies}
Paper: kraft, vintage cream, dark chocolate
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions, Giga Guide Lines
Ink: dark chocolate, pure poppy, versamark
Other: pure poppy vintage button, rustic cream button twine, Kaiser rhinestones, Fiskars apron lace punch

Vintage Ornaments & Vintage Ornaments Additions - Day 5

Hi Friends,

I've got a couple of cards to share with you today -- both using more traditional Christmas colors and both of them pair Vintage Ornaments with Damask Designs.  You can't go wrong with that combo, right?  :)  

On this first card, I paired the long ornament with a strip of damask stamped with pure poppy ink on pure poppy card stock and a pretty scalloped lace border.

 

Don't you just loooove how candy-cane-ish this card is?  Haha!  I love it!  I stamped the ornament in fresh snow ink on kraft card stock and then stamped a solid stripes pattern over the top in pure poppy ink.  Then I used my Martha Stewart glue pen to add some Palette glitter to the stripes.  So candy-ish!  I love it!  The sentiment is one from Vintage Ornaments.

 

Ooh, this card makes me smile too......how about that great big star image on the ornament??  Fun, right?  I stamped the ornament in spring moss ink and the starburst in ripe avocado.  I think this ornament looks so pretty when paired with Damask Designs.

 

This sentiment is also one from Vintage Ornaments.  I added a bit of glitter, a rhinestone, some patterned paper and a bit of stitching to finish this card off.  It's simple but it packs a bit of punch!  :)

Ok Kids, this is my SECOND post for today so be sure to scroll down to see my Take Note post if you missed it!  

You'll also want to visit Nichole's blog and it's Group Post day which means that ALL of the design team girls have posts for you today too, so don't miss those!

Annnnnd, I'll be back tomorrow with TWO posts AGAIN!  YAY!  See you soon!
 

{Merry & Bright supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions, Damask Designs
Paper: pure poppy, kraft, vintage cream
Ink: fresh snow, pure poppy
Other: pure poppy topnotch twill, Palette glitter, EK Success diamond lace punch, corner rounder punch

{Sending you Christmas joy! supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions, Damask Designs
Paper: spring moss, vintage cream, bitty dot basics
Ink: spring moss, ripe avocado
Other: Kaiser rhinestone, Palette glitter, corner rounder punch, sewing machine/thread

Take Note Inspirations

Hi there,

Back with today's Group Post....Nichole asked all of the design team girls to create a fun project to share with you this month!!  A notebook featuring Papertrey's new skinny note pads and a brand new stamp set -- called Take Note -- designed specifically for creating this mini notebooks yourself!!  Ummm, how clever is that?!  You all know Mish Wooderson (better known as Mishie!).  Well, she's become quite famous for creating these little notebooks for all different occasions.  She even gave us PTI girls this one at CHA this year.  Such a dear!  So, how fun is it that we can now have the perfect tools to create lots of these little gems for ourselves?!  You know the stamp set is bound to be adorable when you pair Mishie's cute ideas with Nichole's fabulous designs, right?  :)

As for my notebook, I used the large rectangle border stamp on the bottom -- I stamped it on some summer sunrise bitty box basics paper and then, can you see the little flower pattern on the summer sunrise paper too?  It's another little stamp from the Take Note set.

 

I chose to use the 'This & That' sentiment from the set because I don't know about you but lately (now that I'm clearly getting more sleep than I used to), I lay in bed wide awake some nights, with thoughts just buzzing thru my head.  Things I need to do the next day, things I need to not forget, designs that I want to try out as soon as I get up........that's where my little notebook comes in!  With one of these little cuties on my nightstand, I'll always have a place to jot those notes down so that I can sleeeeeeep!  Hee.  

The dotted circle border is from Take Note as well and it coordinates with a 1 3/4" circle punch -- I just love that!  And the bracket stamp on either side of my sentiment is also from Take Note!

 

I made a little cover that wraps around the front and back of the notepad and adhered the pad inside the cover with Scor-Tape.  Annnnnnd, I just have to mention that there are two different colors of notepads that you can get and this one is my FAVIE!!  It's cream paper with dark chocolate stripes!  YUM!!  I'm in love!  (I seriously have an addiction to paper.)  :)

All righty, Peeps!  I hope that you've enjoyed this little notebook project!  Are you excited to create one of your own?  Be sure to head over to Nichole's blog to see what she's created and don't miss out on touring the design team blogs as well -- you know they'll be chock full of inspiration!

Betsy Veldman
Mish Wooderson
Melissa Phillips
Heather Nichols
Becky Oehlers
Lauren Meader
Lisa Johnson
Geny Cassady
Niki Estes
Debbie Olson

Take care, Dearies!

{This & That supplies}
Paper: kraft, vintage cream, aqua mist, bitty dot basics, bitty box basics
Stamps: Take Note, Polka Dot Basics II, Background Basics: Text Style II
Ink: dark chocolate, aqua mist, summer sunrise
Other: aqua mist classic grosgrain ribbon, aqua mist button, rustic cream button twine, super jumbo scalloped circle punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, SU! scalloped edge punch

 

Vintage Ornaments & Vintage Ornaments Additions - Day 4

Hello....and Happy Sunday to you!!  I'm back again with more cards featuring Vintage Ornaments and Vintage Ornaments Additions!  Is this first photo cheery, or what?  :)  I just love the colors on this card and there are several stamp sets used on this card as well!  The ornament and diamond border pattern on the ornament are both from Vintage Ornaments.  The dots are of course, Polka Dot Basics II and the sentiment is one from the new 2009 Holiday Tags set -- I thought it was just perfect for this card.  And, see that background pattern on the raspberry fizz card stock?  That is the new Giga Guide Lines set and I LOVE it!

 

I just love this diamond border pattern on the ornament.  Lots of detail and it's so fun to put a dot of glue and some glitter in the center of each of the teeny diamonds.  It makes it so sparkly in real life!

 

This next card uses the long ornament image as well as a fun triple-diamond pattern.  I stamped the ornament in aqua mist ink and stamped the diamonds in dark chocolate and then I added a clear rhinestone to the center of each diamond.

One tip for you when cutting out this long, skinny ornament -- hold the top of the ornament and cut out the long skinny part first, working your way back up and around the top of the ornament.  By cutting out the bottom portion first, you have more to hold on to up at the top making it easier to cut out!

 

I just love this sentiment -- "May you be filled with Peace, Joy & Hope this Christmas and always" -- from Vintage Ornaments.  And doesn't that triple diamond pattern just remind you of a cozy winter sweater?  :)

 

The last card I have to show you today is paired up with a couple of different stamp sets.  The ornament and starburst border are both from Vintage Ornaments -- you may remember a seeing a longer version of this border pattern earlier in the week, that was designed to fit the widest of the 3 ornaments. 

 

For this one, I stamped the ornament in aqua mist ink and then stamped the starburst border in smokey shadow.  Then I added clear rhinestones to the center of each starburst.  The sentiment is also one from Vintage Ornaments, however the tag that it's stamped on is one from the new 2009 Holiday Tags set.  And notice the pattern on the tag?  It coordinates perfectly with this background pattern I stamped using an image from Merry & Bright.  Don't you just love how Papertrey has images from different sets like these, that work so well together?  

Well, I'm so curious to hear what you think of the Vintage Ornaments sets so far!!  Feel free to leave me a comment and tell me what you think!  You know how much I love hearing from you.  

Nichole will be featuring another brand new stamp set today and you'll also want to stop by and visit Heather Nichols, Lauren Meader and Lisa Johnson!  I'll be back tomorrow with not one, but TWO posts for you!

One last thing.....I had the pleasure of being the guest blogger over at Scrapbook News and Review the other day, where I shared another fun project you can do using Vintage Ornaments!  Check it out!

See you tomorrow, Peeps!

{Merry & bright supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, 2009 Holiday Tags, Giga Guide Lines, Polka Dot Basics II
Paper: kraft, vintage cream, aqua mist, scarlet jewel, raspberry fizz
Ink: scarlet jewel, aqua mist, raspberry fizz, versamark
Other: Palette glitter, SU! scalloped edge punch

{Peace, Joy & Hope supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions
Paper: raspberry fizz, dark chocolate, vintage cream, bitty box basics
Ink: dark chocolate, aqua mist
Other: aqua mist classic grosgrain, Kaiser rhinestones, EK Success embossed curve punch, sewing machine/thread

{Deck the halls! supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, 2009 Holiday Tags, Merry & Bright
Paper: aqua mist, smokey shadow, vintage cream
Ink: aqua mist, smokey shadow
Other: aqua mist classic grosgrain ribbon, aqua mist vintage button, rustic cream button twine, Kaiser rhinestones, Fiskars apron lace punch

Vintage Ornaments & Vintage Ornaments Additions - Day 3

Hi there!!  Are you ready for more glimpses at my newest stamp sets, Vintage Ornaments and Vintage Ornaments Additions?  For today's cards, I thought we'd go a little more soft and sweet.  I love pairing a soft pink with cream and a soft gold for an old-fashioned feel.  It makes me think of these silver mercury glass ornaments and how classy and sophisticated they are.

First off, the "Happy Holidays" sentiment is one from Vintage Ornaments....I just love that old-school font!

 

Did you realize that you can stamp the same color on top of itself to get a deeper shade of the original color?  In this photo, you can see what stamping sweet blush on top of sweet blush looks like.  Don't you just love that 'frosty snow' image (from Vintage Ornaments)?  It looks so great when covered with glitter!  I stamped the image and then went over the entire 'snowy' part with a two-way glue pen so that I could add Palette glitter to the entire top portion of the ornament.

 

You might also want to take a peek at the background pattern on this one.  Watch Nichole's blog this week, for more info about that set!  *wink!*  

I also used my two-way glue pen to draw a border around the cream card stock panel and then sprinkled on some Martha Stewart glitter in smoky quartz.

 

Next up, you can see that I used the same ornament and the same 'snowy' image from the first card, however on this one, I used that Martha Stewart glitter in smoky quartz to cover the 'snowy' portion of the ornament.

 

Next up, I wanted to add an entire glittery strip across the card front to create a sparkly border.  I started out by taking my 1/4" Scor-Tape and sticking a strip of it right on the sweet blush card stock.  Then I trimmed off the edges of the adhesive, peeled off the paper backing and sprinkled on the glitter.

 

After I'd shaken off all of the excess, I went over the whole thing with a soft paint brush, just to make sure that all of the stray glitter was removed.  Don't worry about brushing right over the glitter strip with the brush.  You'll get any excess glitter off and leave behind the glitter that is really adhered well.

 

The sentiment on this card is also one from Vintage Ornaments.  And notice that gorgeous background pattern????  Well, that's another one that you'll want to watch Nichole's blog for more info about!  ;)  However, I will tell you that I heat embossed the image with clear embossing powder on vintage cream card stock.  So soft and elegant!

All righty, be sure to pop over to Nichole's blog for glimpses at another new Papertrey set and you'll also want to visit Heather Nichols and Lauren Meader again today, too!!

Take care, Dear Friends....I'll see you tomorrow, same time, same place!  :)
 

{Happy Holidays supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Background Basics: Text Style
Paper: sweet blush, vintage cream
Ink: sweet blush, dark chocolate
Other: sweet blush luxe satin ribbon, Palette glitter, Martha Stewart smoky quartz glitter

{Merry Christmas to You supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Giga Guide Lines
Paper: sweet blush, vintage cream
Ink: dark chocolate, sweet blush, versamark
Other: sweet blush luxe satin ribbon, vintage cream button, rustic cream button twine, clear embossing powder, EK Success dotted scallop punch, Martha Stewart smoky quartz glitter

Vintage Ornaments & Vintage Ornaments Additions - Day 2

Hi there!!  Welcome back for more sneak peeks at the newest stamp sets in the Raspberry Suite line-up: Vintage Ornaments and Vintage Ornaments Additions!!  

I have to tell you that I looooove this card!  As you can see, the ornament is stamped in berry sorbet with a fun starburst border pattern (also from Vintage Ornaments) stamped on top in pure poppy.  The thing I LOVE about this card is the fact that the background pattern was stamped with another of the images from Vintage Ornaments Additions, which was actually designed for stamping on an ornament!!  It can double as a fabulous background building stamp too!!  Don't you just love that pattern?!

 

I used a two-way glue pen on this one, to add a wide stripe of glue on either side of the starburst border, as well as a dot of glue to the centers of each of the starbursts.  Then, I added Martha Stewart glitter to top it off.  This ornament is SO sparkly!

 

Notice on this card, that I used that same diamond image to create a background for this card.  It looks so different when stamped in a different color and yet it's still so fun!  

 

As for the ornament, I stamped this one in aqua mist ink and then stamped a starburst cluster image off to the right side of the ornament, using new leaf ink.  The "We wish you a Merry Christmas" sentiment is also one from Vintage Ornaments!

 

Heee......this photo makes me smile!  Can you tell what inspired the plaid pattern stamp seen on this card's ornament???  :)  Obviously this ornament isn't quite so 'vintage' as some of the others, but it's OH-so-fun, don't you think?  AND, notice the background pattern stamped along the bottom of this card?  That's the 'starburst cluster' image that you saw on the ornament on the previous card!

 

I stamped the ornament in spring moss ink and added the plaid image over the top in new leaf ink.  I used my two-way glue pen again, to get wide strips of glue on the plaid.  The "Celebrate the Reason for the season" sentiment is also another one from Vintage Ornaments!

That's all I've got for you today but be sure to stop back by tomorrow for more sneakie peeks!  You'll also get a peek at another new Papertrey stamp set over at Nichole's blog.  Lauren Meader will also have a fun post for you and Heather Nichols will be showing you her new stamp set as well!

Take care and I'll talk at you tomorrow, Dearies!!


{Starburst Border supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions
Paper: pure poppy, berry sorbet, vintage cream
Ink: pure poppy
Other: berry sorbet classic grosgrain, pure poppy vintage button, rustic cream button twine, Martha Stewart glitter, SU! scalloped edge punch, sewing machine/thread

{We Wish You a Merry Christmas supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions
Paper: new leaf, aqua mist, vintage cream
Ink: aqua mist, new leaf
Other: vintage cream saddle stitch ribbon, rustic cream button twine, Kaiser rhinestones, SU! scalloped edge punch

{Celebrate the Reason supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions
Paper: pure poppy, spring moss, new leaf, vintage cream
Ink: new leaf, spring moss
Other: Palette glitter, spring moss vintage buttons, corner rounder punch, Fiskars apron lace punch

Blogiversary Prize Winner!

Hi All,

I'm finishing up last minute trip preparations today so we can head for Chicago first thing in the morning but I wanted to pop in quickly and announce that the winner of my Blogiversary Prize Package is ALYSSA!!!!!!!  Congrats, Alyssa!!  I'm so happy for you!  If you'll email me (link in left sidebar) your mailing info, I'll get your box of goodies sent out to you next week when we return from Chicago!!

Thanks so much to each of you that left congrats and well wishes for my 2nd blogiversary.  Holy cow, there were 1,440 comments!!!  It was so, SO fun to find out where you are all reading from and goodness, you really ARE reading from all around the WORLD!  It's so amazing and so COOL!  Even Bart was amazed (he read your comments too!) to see how many different countries were represented.  I wasn't sure what COUNTRY I was gonna be shipping off that box of goodies too!  Haha!  

Anyway, hope you have a fabulous weekend....don't forget, more Vintage Ornaments sneak peeks tonight and I'll be tweeting about our Chicago trip starting tomorrow!  I can smell the deep dish pizza already....  :)  Bart just walked in the door -- he decided to start our vacation a little bit early!  YAY!

Smooches, Dearies!
 

P.S.  This is my second post for today so be sure to scroll down, if you haven't seen my previous post yet!

Introducing Vintage Ornaments & Vintage Ornaments Additions!

Hello there and welcome!!  I'm beyond thrilled to introduce you to not one but TWO new Raspberry Suite stamp sets being released at Papertrey Ink this month -- Vintage Ornaments and Vintage Ornaments Additions!!  

For years, I have had a love of vintage treasures and one such item that I've become a collector of over the years is vintage ornaments.  When Bart and I got married 8 1/2 years ago and started collecting Christmas ornaments for our very own Christmas tree, we found ourselves continually being drawn to vintage or reproduction vintage ornaments.  Of course, the actual vintage ornaments can be hard to find but one day we were out gallivanting around with Bart's family and we all stopped in at an antique store.  We all split up and started perusing the different booths and I started to spot some actual vintage ornaments spread out here and there in bowls and dishes around the store and the best part was, they were all in various shades of PINK!  The thing was, they weren't in any one booth and they weren't marked with a price tag, so I carried a few up to the clerk and asked if they were for sale.  THEY WERE!  They'd just spread them out around the store as decoration!  Ha!  When I asked how much they wanted for them, she said, "Oh, I don't know.  How about a quarter apiece for the larger ones and 10 cents each for the smaller ones?"  SOLD!!!  So, before long, the whole family was scouring the store for as many of the little beauties as we could find.  As you can see in the photo above (jar on the left), we collected quite a few!  That jar is only about half of what we were able to find.  I have loved these ornaments and have been so thrilled each year, to bring them back out of the basement and put them on display at Christmas time.  It wasn't until this year that I decided that if I loved them so much, then it seemed silly to put them away and only enjoy them in December!  So, now they have a permanent place on top of the bookshelves in my studio and OH, how I love to look at them!

Since then, Bartley and I have continued to add various ornaments to our collection including many reproductions like the ones in the photo above.  Sigh....aren't they pretty?  :)

 

Now, I've often mentioned that we love to visit both of the Nell Hill's stores at various times during the year.  They're home decor stores and they're SO worth visiting that we'll even take a day trip to visit the store in Atchison, Kansas.  You can't even imagine how breathtakingly beautiful that store is at Christmas time.  It is literally overflowing with thousands of Christmas decorations -- most of which are vintage inspired -- and each year, we like to go shopping and bring home a few new treasures.  A couple of years ago, we found the pink 'cracked glass' ornaments in the photo above.  We actually bought 20 or so of them and while they were very inexpensive, they're quite heavy and I just LOVE how vintage-y they are, while still having such a fun, vibrant color!  You should SEE them on our tree each year!  Swoon!

 

I also looooooove mercury glass, so finding these mercury glass reproduction ornaments at Nell Hill's and a few at Crate & Barrel was a thrill too.  I think one reason these type of ornaments are so appealing to me, is that they're so sparkly and goodness, when you put them on a tree with lots and lots of Christmas lights like we do, they sparkle like CRAZY!  You know how much I love COLOR so our shiny, shimmery, sparkly Christmas tree is just about one of my favorite things!

 

Another thing that's so appealing about vintage ornaments is the shapes and silhouettes of the ornaments.  They can be so unique and beautiful.  This is another beauty (reproduction) from Nell Hill's.

 

Vintage ornaments are often sparkly and if it's not because of shiny glass, it's because there is GLITTER involved!  Haha!  See the ornaments in the bowl?  Did your grandparents have any ornaments like those?  Mine did.....they make me so happy and they reflect light like you wouldn't believe!  

 

It was one day when we were shopping for ornaments and other decorations at Nell Hill's that the idea for Vintage Ornaments - the stamp set - was born!  It was sort of a light bulb moment when I realized that I loved these types of ornaments so much and wouldn't it be wonderful to have a stamp set that was totally inspired by these beauties????  And so, I came home and got to work sketching out ideas for these sets!

Vintage Ornaments contains 3 ornament images, several holiday sentiments and lots of additional images designed to fit perfectly when stamped on the ornaments to create a wide variety of vintage-looking ornaments for your cards and Christmas projects!  Vintage Ornaments Additions is chock full of more ornament-building images -- all of which, fit the 3 main ornament images perfectly.  You won't believe how many ornament-building options these 2 stamp sets can provide!!

 

This first card features the longest of the 3 ornaments as well as one of the striped border stamps from Vintage Ornaments Additions!  I stamped the ornament in raspberry fizz and stamped the striped image in pure poppy over the top of it.  Then, I added two rows of rhinestones on either side of the stripes.  FUN!

 

This next card features the smallest of the 3 ornaments.  The great thing about this ornament is that the ball is the same size as the 'ball' part of the previous ornament.  That means that all of the decorative images that fit the first ornament, also fit this one!!  That gives you double the options!  

 

On this one, I stamped the ornaments in sweet blush and then stamped the same striped image as on the first card, also in pure poppy.  See how the same stripes fit both ornaments?!  Then, I adhered a pure poppy button to the center of each ornament.

 

And lastly for today, here is the third ornament shape with a plaid pattern stamped over the top!!  And if you look closely, there's a sneakie peek at another of the ornament-building images on this card.....stamped as a decorative border across the bottom of the card!  Talk about versatile!

 

I stamped the ornament in berry sorbet ink and stamped the plaid pattern in pure poppy ink on top of that.  Next up, I used my Martha Stewart glue pen to draw glue lines following the stripes on the ornament, and added some Martha Stewart glitter!  The "Deck the halls!" sentiment is one from Vintage Ornaments too!  

Well, what do you think so far????  I'd love to hear your thoughts!!  Do you have a love of vintage ornaments like I do?  Are you excited about these stamp sets?  :)

Thanks for coming by today!  Be sure to visit Nichole's blog to see sneak peeks at another new stamp set for this month and Debbie Olson has a fun post for you as well!  I'll be back tomorrow with another peek at my new Vintage Ornaments sets!

Toodles!

 

{'Tis the Season supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions
Paper: raspberry fizz, vintage cream, kraft, bitty dot basics
Ink: raspberry fizz, pure poppy, dark chocolate
Other: raspberry fizz topnotch twill, Kaiser rhinestones, Fiskars upper crest punch, sewing machine/thread

{Three Ornaments supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions, Background Basics: Text Style II
Paper: pure poppy, sweet blush, vintage cream, bitty box basics
Ink: sweet blush, pure poppy
Other: pure poppy vintage buttons, sewing machine/thread, corner rounder punch

{Deck the Halls! supplies}
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Vintage Ornaments Additions
Paper: berry sorbet, pure poppy, vintage cream
Ink: berry sorbet, pure poppy, dark chocolate
Other: berry sorbet topnotch twill, berry sorbet vintage button, rustic cream button twine, Martha Stewart glitter, corner rounder punch

A Get-Away and A Few More Pub'd Cards

 

Hi there, Crew!  It's been so fun to read your blog comments with you chiming in from all around the world!!  I LOVE that!  Hello to each and every one of you!

One quick thing I want to clarify -- several of you commented that since you're in countries other than the US, you wished that Papertrey products were available to you in your country.  THEY ARE!!  Papertrey ships anywhere in the world!  :)  Last I heard, they were shipping to all continents except Antarctica, and that was only because no one had ordered from there yet!  Haha!  Now, I realize that the shipping to your individual countries may be quite expensive depending on where you are, but I did want to make sure that you all knew that Papertrey goodies COULD be sent to you, if you chose to order.  You can also visit the Papertrey forum and see if there are other ladies in your country that might like to combine an order with you, to share the shipping costs.  Just another option...

All right, so now that we've got that business out of the way, I'm running off on a little get-away with my hottie hubs this weekend!!!  YAY!  We're headed to Chicago bright and early Saturday morning.  Yes, I know that it's release week at Papertrey Ink!  YES, I know that I have new Raspberry Suite stamps being released this month!  YES, I know that I've got countdown posts to share with you each day starting Friday!  LOL!!  I toooooooold you I've been busy in the studio!!!  Hahaha!  I've been working my fanny off this week (oops.....I think our Aussie friends told me that 'fanny' isn't a nice term in Australia?!)........Ok, so I've been working my "behind" off (is that better?)  :) trying to get all of my projects and blog posts completed before we leave town.
   
It's a long weekend (at least for some people) here in The States with Monday being the Columbus Day holiday so we planned this little get-away months ago.  Everything's all set.  Riley dog's Auntie and Uncle are coming to stay with him while we're away (we LOVE that they do that for us) and we're heading for the Windy City!  I will have scheduled Countdown posts for you each day while we're gone so you won't miss any sneak peeks at my newest Raspberry Suite set!  In fact, those sneak peeks are starting a day early this month, so my first post will go live tonight at midnight, EST!!

As usual when we travel, we'll be taking the Nikon and I'll bring back lots of photos to share (I'll post them after the Papertrey release!  HA!) but, in the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter where I'll be tweeting about our adventures in Chicago.  I'll probably even throw in some TwitPics from my iPhone!  You can also check in here at the blog-o for my Twitter updates -- they're over in the right hand side bar. 

And before I go pack and finish my last minute preparations for the trip, I thought I'd leave you with a few more cards that were published in the September issue of CARDS Magazine.  Enjoy!  The first two are all Papertrey goodies, and the last one has rub-ons and patterned paper from Stampin' Up!

Oh, and just so you know, I've also been working my "behind" off on the elliptical this week......you know, so I can eat some Chicago deep dish pizza and maybe some Garrett's popcorn, etc.!!  *wink*  All bets are off when it comes to eating in Chicago....it's all about the food there!  And besides, vacation calories don't count, do they????

Have a great day, Friends....I'll see you back here tomorrow (late tonight) with my first Countdown post!

Can't wait!
 

P.S.  Hey, Chicago Peeps -- do I need to bring my winter coat this weekend?!!  I heard it's in the 40's this week!  

New Raspberry Suite Sneakie Peek!

Eeee!!!  Check it out!!  It's your first peek at a brand new Raspberry Suite stamp set!!!  YAY!!  Did you see the peek over on Nichole's blog??  

I can't WAIT for you to see all of the possibilities with this fun, FUN stamp set!  I'm super excited about this release!  The official countdown starts in just a few days and this set as well as all of the other new releases for this month will be available for purchase on Oct. 15 at Papertrey Ink!

Can't wait to get started on the Countdown!



 

Blogiversary Giveaway!

Hey there, sweet friends....

Today is my SECOND Anniversary here at the blog-o!!  Can you believe it?!  It's hard for me to believe that I've been chatting at you here at my blog for two whole years, but I suppose the proof is in the blog posts.  Hee. 

You just can't have a blogiversary without having a giveaway, right?!  So, I've got a great big prize package full of some of my Raspberry Suite stamp sets as well as some of my favorite Papertrey goodies, that will be given to one randomly selected winner.  See the photo below?  That's the loot!

Prize Package Includes:

• 1 Damask Designs stamp set
• 1 Mod Squad stamp set
• 1 Polka Dot Basics II stamp set
• Orange Zest ribbon - 1 spool each of twill, bitty dot, saddle stitch & grosgrain
• 1 bag orange zest vintage buttons
• 1 bag spring moss vintage buttons
• 1 bag raspberry fizz vintage buttons
• 1 bag dark chocolate vintage buttons

The Prize Package is valued at over $100!!!

All you have to do to enter to win is to leave a comment on this post and include what country you're reading from!!  I normally don't ever ask you to include your country in your comment, but this time I'd just like to know where you all are!  One thing that most amazes me about this hobby of mine is the friendships and connections I've made with wonderful people all over THE WORLD!  Goodness, just in this last color challenge, there were participants from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and even Slovenia......and that's just the ones that I could read!  There are quite a few blogs in other languages that I couldn't read at all!  Haha!  So leave a comment, include your country and you'll be entered to win!

You all know how much I love to travel so it really warms my heart to know that I not only have blog friends here in my own country, but in so many other countries as well.  What an amazing hobby we have, that would allow us to connect all around the globe -- to have something in common that we can share.  It really amazes me sometimes.  Thank goodness for the internet, right?  *wink*

I also want to say THANK YOU.....thank you to each of you that take time out of your busy day to spend a bit of it here with me.  I appreciate you.  I appreciate the encouraging comments you leave me.  I appreciate the friendships that I have made with quite a few of you.  I appreciate you cheering me and my Raspberry Suite stamp line on.  YOU have become so dear to me and I'm so thankful for you.  I hope that when you come here for a visit, you leave feeling encouraged or inspired or at least a little entertained!  ;)  

And so with that, I look forward to year #3!  

Have a fabulous day, sweet friends,
 

Contest Details:  Contest ends on Wed. correction - Thursday, Oct. 8 at 9pm.  Only one entry per person.  Winner will be randomly selected and will be announced right here at the blog-o.