Embossed Foil Halloween TLC240

This is my card for SCS to emboss on foil...very easy, a great look when finished!  It was entremely hard to photgraph, and is so very pretty "IRL"...I think I need a different camera...no matter what, this one just isn't doing the job I want, and its relatively new!   (waawaawaa)  The spider is punched from black glitter paper, the ribbon has some "sparkle" as well, click onthe card to see more of the detail.
I am working on another, totally different embossed foil card...they are somewhat "addicting"!

Totally Stampin' Up! And A Monochromatic Challenge

The first card I "somewhat" got the idea from a  retired SU catalog and changed it slightly.....it worked really well for the "second" challenge I did this week from "Our Creative Corner" for a monochromatic card.  I used my ever faithful  SU 1 3/4 round punch and the Trio Flower punch....I added the "new" soft suede polka dot ribbon (can you believe I am on my second roll already?).  "Recipe" is below.

The second card is a "take off" of a card sample I did for a SU workshop I held on Sunday...you can scroll down and see it below...I just wanted to show how you could change the card a bit by moving things around and changing colors.

Recipe:  First Card:  Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Kraft;  Ink:   Soft Suede;  Stamps:  Circle Circus, Great Friend;  Designer Paper:  Bella Bleu; Accessories:  1 3/4" round punch, Trio Flower punch, soft suede ribbon

Second Card:  Cardstock:  Night of Navy, Whisper White, Shimmery White, Ink:  Night of Navy,  Styamp Set:  Serene Snowflakes, Four The Holidays;  Accessories:  Bling

Something With Dots~Tag~Punch~The Pink Elephant Challenge

I try to do at least a couple of "challenges" each week, this week I choose "The Pink Elephant" as it was somewhat of a "different" challenge.  We were to use dots~a tag~a punch!  Fun!  I needed a few Halloween cards and I needed to use up more of my "scraps" so this is how this card "came to be"!  I have an entire case of rub-ons (did I mention I am addicted to rub ons) and decided to put a few to good use.  The tree,bats, and the sentiment on the tag are all rub ons, the spider web is a $1 stamp and then I punched him out with my Stampin'Up! 1 3/4" punch (did I also mention I am addicted to punches?).  Cardstock used is Stampin'Up! Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black...I added a touch of polka dot ribbon (did I mention I am addicted to ribbon?)...............I think you get the picture...LOL!!!  I have  afew more "posts" today...take a peek!

Vintage Witch~caardvarks Sketchfest Saturday

I made it to the last Sketchfest...barely!  This one is rather plain, I used up some of last years Halloween paper...yeah!  The Witch is popped up and embossed with black embossing powder, I used my brayer on the moon and stamped my sentiments on some SU twill tape............it was a fun week!

Glitzy Snowflakes~caardvarks Sketchfest Friday!

I finally had time to "finish" my card for caardvarks sketchfest Friday.....I did this monchromatic card in mostly white and pink with a bit of silver thrown in.  I just discovered Stampin'Up's "shimmery white" cardstock....I am ordering more!  It's a bit heavier then the whisper white and has this "shimmer" on both sides (I have a close up so you can see it)...I was very impressed with it...so pretty!  The rest is pretty simple, I punched 3 round circles and "popped" them up with dimensionals, punched 3 "glitzy snowflakes, mounted them on my circles also with dimensionals.  the background is an embossing folder...I tied 2 strands of silver cord from Stampin Up around the base, and stamped a sentiment which is from the SU hostess set "holiday Best", it has a little bird onit that Ijust cut off......thats about it!  Only one day of sketchfest.....and I will have done all seven!!

I Can Seeeeeeeeee You!!!!

These are four of my "give-aways" at my workshop tonight.....not my usual, but nothing like the last minute!

The candy corns are Brachs Chocolate and Carmel...the cookies are some from our local grocery bakery...the eyeballs, self explanatory!  All products used are SU, cept' a tiny piece of ribbon!

Christmas Workshop Cards

These are a couple of cards I made for a workshop tonight.....both cards are CASED from SCS...two different designers, that I think did a fantastic job......thanks to them it made tonights workshop easy!

First card uses Stampin'Ups new Christmas Cocoa Speciality paper from the holiday mini...it is flocked and so pretty!  A new punch "ornament" from the same catalog was used to punch them out...so very simple!  The sentiment I just love....you get four diffferent xmas stamps all in a different text.............this one just seems to fit perfectly!

The second card I like as its not at all the traditional Christmas colors, but soft suede and whisper white...the DS paper is from same series as mentioned above "Christmas Cocoa Specialty"...this paper has a "shimmer" to it......the stamps used are in the new holiday mini as well, "Serene Snowflakes".  More to show later.....

Recipe:

Ornament Card:  cardstock:  Real Red, Whisper White; Ink:  Real Red; DS paper:  Christmas Cocoa Specialty;  Accessories:  Silver Elastic Cord, Ornament Punch; Stamps:  Four The Holidays

Snowflake Card:  Cardstock:  Whisper White, Soft Suede; Ink:  Soft Suede; DS paper Christmas Cocoa Specialty; Accessories:  Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, Vintage Brads

Whoooooo Loves You?? caardvarks Sketchfest Thursday

Wow...I made it in bed until almost 6am.....a BIG plus for me, but my first thought was
I know the new caardvarks sketch will be in my mailbox"....so I had to read it even before I let the poor dog out!
Anywho, this is my take on the card.....and yes...more scraps used up....way too cool.  I also got to use a few more of my hundreds of brads and some prima's........Now I know the flower looks a little "gaudy"...and I promise you its not!  It's really a pretty soft pink IRL...just my funky camera and a dark morning don't mix too well!  I used a couple of "new" embossing folders I just picked up....the sentiment is from SU as well as all the cardstock............gotta go, I need coffee!

Early Christmas Joy~caardvarks Sketchfest Wednesday

Day four of caardvarks Sketchfest...and I made it!  Three more days to go, but its been so much fun!  I did another card today using up "leftovers", which was my plan for this week.  This card has lots of texture, though it is hard to tell from the photo......the background paper has been embossed with an ornament eb folder.  I did this last year, but the paper was too busy for it to show much, so a perfect way to use it for this layout as most of it is covered.  I also used up a scrap of  green foil paper and it was textured with a texture plate that had ornaments on it as well.

I paper pierced around my ornament and the edge of the paper it was stamped on, you can't tell by the photo either, but it really "pops" the ornament out!

The inside of the card is stamped "Seasons Greetings"....I used a new set from the Stampin'Up! Holiday mini called "Four The Holidays"....I love this set, as it has 4 greetings in different text, it will get alot of use this season!  Other statmp sets used were Loads of Love for the trees, and Delightful Decorations for the ornament.....SU has a matching punch for this set and rub-ons, making it very versatile!

I am so inspired, I think I am going to do a few more challenges today!!

Ask Seek Find~Sketchfest Tuesday from caardvarks

I certainly had no idea where this card was going when I started, it kind of took a turn of its own.....a little vintage...a little different!

I made this card for the caardvarks Sketchfest~this is day three, and I am still on track.....I used lots of different elements on this card, and I know it doesn't look like it, but it took me quite awhile to finish this early am (of course that was with all the interuptions of the cats and the dog) sanding the cardstock seemed to take forever on the numbers eb folder I used.  The sentiment is one I purchased recently at a local craft store, Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you will Find; Knock and the Door will be opened to you (Mathew).  The key stamp I used is one I have had "forever".....it was much golder, but, ahem...when I turned it over to add adhesive it wasn't dry, so now I have a nice gold key image on my craft pad...good thing it washes off....but then I decided I liked the "muted" look.........okay off to clean up the BIG mess I made in my room!

Here is the Sketch if you would like to participate!

Home Is Where The Heart Is~Laura's Sketch 35

Home is where the heart is....love it......how true is that?  I did this card for the 2 sketches 4 you challenge.  You might have to click on this one, to see a bit more detail.  I tore the edges on both sides of one of the papers but it is hard to tell.......the house was paper pieced......the entire card was made of mostly scraps, including the ribbon, it was the last piece.  It makes me feel so good to use some of this up!

Here is the Sketch and the link if you would like to try it http://2sketches4you.blogspot.com/2009/09/lauras-sketch-35.html   I think that is it for today, I need to get something done...like maybe a nap...LOL!

Lake Huron Swans and A Freighter! Third Post Today!

We took a little mini vacation to our "North" home on Lake Huron........Just before we were getting ready to leave yesterday I noticed the swans were back in front of the house.....as I was taking my "swan" pictures, a freighter appeared.......earlier in the morning we had two Eagles...but I had left my camera in the house, ...maybe next time!

BOO!!! Sketchfest Day 2

I did this Halloween card for Caardvarks Sketch Fest Day 2!  So far so good, only 5 more days to participate.....hope I make it!.

The card was made basically using scraps from last years Halloween papers.  The "BOO" is a die cut, cut in 4 layers using my SU Sizzix Big Shot.  I "went outside the box" with this sketch and turned it around and made a 5 x 5 card....I know the pumpkins are "sideways", its just paper pumpkin ribbon...a bit different...and I cut off the top portion of the card in my "photo shoot"....but I think you get the idea!  I used a glitter pen on the cats eyes and the pumpkin...just for a little "bling"!

Here is the sketch if you would like to try it!

Owl Gratitude Card~Sketch Day 1

You ever get an idea in your head, and then completely change it??  That's what happened with this card...I had intended to use the chipboard owl from SU and make him into a snow owl with the SU Diamond Dust glitter, but then after not sleeping (again) and up at 2:30am, I saw my email from Caardvark's for a sketch challenge!  Well, since the challenge had to be done by 7:00am this morning and I am just reading it (we were gone for the weekend) I turned my owl into a "gratitude owl".....the challenge at Caardvarks is a sketch a day for 7 days....so here is day one and hopefully I can do the next six!

Recipe:  Cardstock:  Stampin'Up! Dusty Durango; Stamps: SU Bright Blessings Wheel; SU Chipboard "On Board So Tweet"; other: DS paper, ribbon, dimensionals, SU diamond Dust Glitter

Cutting Above Site and a Shout out!!

I found a new site called Cutting Above  with some info you might want to read....just go here
http://cuttingabove.blogspot.com/

Fall Coffee Mugs Mix It Up Challenge FTTC33

I participated in a Mix It Up Challenge....my "mix up" is using two different embossing folders and 2 different stamp sets...sorry I can't say much more then that!  I did sew around my DS paper and card stock..I love the sewn look on cards.. ...also, see the tag?  It is the backside, but I loved the distrressed look of it, (plus the fact the front side was lavender)!!   How do you like my "fall" coffee mugs?

Cardstock used is Stampin 'Up! Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive...and of course here is that ribbon again...just love it!

Cards For Kate Drive

I have seen the shout out for the "Cards For Kate" Drive.  This has really made me think about myself and how sometimes when  you know  you are feeling out of sorts and are having a pity party for yourself, and we all do it, including myself.....then just think of poor little 5 year old Kate and her family and maybe things aren't so bad for "you" after all....I think sometimes we all need a little reminder that there is always someone worse off then ourselves.
Kate is 5 and she is fighting an aggressive brain tumor.  I saw on several blogs a call out to send Kate and her family a card.  You can read all the facts here http://jennifermcguireink.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/08/hello-cardmakersif-you-are-like-me-you-love-any-excuse-to-make-a-card-and-it-is-even-better-when-it-can-be-given-to-someo.html , I hope you do it, and there are some prizes involved, but I hope you do it "just because"!  I have been following Kate's story, and if you would like to read about Kate and her family, you may do so here http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/journal
I hope you will too read Kate's story and pray for Kate and her family, they really need it!

Top Dog Altered Chipboard Book and the Many Faces of Nellie

I love making these little chipboard books, I am displaying them in a basket on my coffee table...fun for my "guests" to look through.......this one is probably not as detailed as my last one, but It turned out pretty good, all the same!

I used a chipboard "house" I purchased for $1 at our local craft store.....as soon as I saw it I thought "A doghouse for Nellie"!  All the doggie pictures are of "Nellie" even though it looks like different dogs. she is a Goldendoodle and does not shed, so they are her "looks" in-between her various trips to the groomer!  She is just the best, I love her so much!

Hauntingly Beautiful Masculine Card

I had these beautiful wolves stamped for some time....a CAS card, but perfect for a man.  I don't usually make alot of "masculine" cards, as I like all the bling on my cards....though I did manage to get a few "diamonds" on this one!

I finished the card early this AM, as I was woken by the "singing" of the coyetes....I have heard them the last 5 nights, though I love hearing them, I wish they would "move on", they make not only me uneasy, but my animals as well!

Here is a close up of the detail of this stamp.

Autumn Blessings

Ahhhhhhhh....finally a new card to post!  Pretty simple, I somewhat "cased this card from the new Papercrafts Holiday Cards magazine~it is full of the most beautiful designs.....the one I cased was Christmas of course, but I made a fall one, she had stitching on hers, I left it off, I just needed something to get me motivated!

The cardstock I used is Stampin'Up! Mellow Moss, I am really starting to like this color!  The trees are cut from "scrap" and backed with the "mellow moss"......the ribbon is some I purchased at a local craft store just recently...I LOVE it and might have to get  more before its gone!

I will be back with more, I just received a HUGE box of new Stampin'Up! Christmas papers and stamps yesterday...25 pounds worth...woowho!!!