Lunchtime Challenge #102

Well I have to admit that MaryJo's sketch this week had me wondering what to do.....that is, until I turned it on its side. Then all of a sudden, the light bulb went on! This morning is the first chance I've had to play in my stamp room.

You can see MJ's original sketch (and see who has participated as well) here. As usual, I used the sketch as a guideline and didn't stick to it entirely. But, I think this sample works....don't you?!!

This card showcases some of the DSP from last year's Sale-A-Bration. I think I had 3 packages of it and the supply is finally dwindling.....but, the patterns are so fabulous and versatile, going with so many colors. Also retired from the line is the large corner rounder used here....I love the large soft corners this creates, but it's a bit tough to use without getting all those little edges. I added in one of those cotton, crocheted flowers.....the first I've used. I'm in love! This is layered with a silk flower from one of my many jars....remember when we had to have them ALL? Fortunately, I don't have them in every color, but I still have a lot on my shelf! Then this is all topped off with a Build-a-Brad....haven't used one of them in a long while, either! The image in the brad is from Always.

Thanks, as always, for stopping by! Not sure if I'll have a chance to participate in the Bloggers' Challenge this week...perhaps late. It's been a hectic week....I seem to be making up for all I couldn't do the last 2 Christmas seasons! I'm expecting house guests later this afternoon....they are staying for 3 or 4 days. I think this coming Sunday will be the first quiet day we'll have in over 3 weeks. Although I've loved all the activity, visiting, hosting, and parties, I'm actually kind of looking forward to just a quiet day!

Stamps: Thank You Kindly, Always

Inks: Basic Gray, More Mustard

CS: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, So Saffron, Gable Green, So Saffron

Misc: DSP*, Corner Rounder*, Top Note Die, Big Shot, Build-a-Brad, Fleurettes III, Modern Label Punch, Movers & Shakers Die, 1/2" Round Punch, Celery Twill*

Please note: All materials listed above are from SU. Just the green silk flower is non-SU.

*Retired

Happy Holidays!....and TWO Challenges

WHEW! Can you believe we've made it through Christmas? I hope you had a wonderful, fabulous day and spent it with those you love. Of course the holidays are not over, but once Christmas is behind us, it's a bit quieter and more relaxing....at least for me! You see, I've been working retail this past season....and even though retail-wise, it wasn't the best year, I still needed to put in some hours. Then, of course, preparing for Christmas......and yesterday, I had most of my family over. We had 23 in all! Now, I don't have a very large house....far from it! So, it was quite chaotic......but, it was the first Christmas my Mom spent with all of us in a long, long time! She loved it!

Last year I never had the opportunity to send out my Christmas cards, so I had them left for this year....but was short about 25. OK....that was doable! So, last Sunday, I came up with this little card. BUT, I really have to admit that the stamps are not SU. I found them discounted recently when I stopped in to my local stamp/scrapbook store...."local" is 35 minutes away. They are by Penny Black; and this card was inspired by one the store had on display.....I fell in love with it and time was at a premium! The papers and accessories ARE all SU!

Stamps: Joyous (Penny Black)

Inks: Chalk Inks (retired from SU line)

CS: Very Vanilla, Kraft, Old Olive

Misc: Real Red Narrow Grosgrain, Corner Rounder (retired), Perfect Impressions Texturz Plate, Big Shot

This second sample is for MaryJo's Challenge from last Monday! I just haven't had the time to participate in so long and really wanted to play with this new set, which I think is just perfect for this sketch! The set is called Vintage Vogue and will be available for purchase on January 5.....AND you can purchase it on either wooden blocks like always.....OR unmounted so you can use it with acrylic blocks and save tons of storage room! How great is that?!! Silly me, I forgot that when I ordered the set and purchased it in the traditional wooden block form....but you can bet that I'll definitely be purchasing some unmounted sets as well! As for MJ's sketch, you can see it here; and you'll also see that I've taken some liberties with the sketch. But, I like the way it worked out.....AND I just LOVE this set! It's a little like one of my other favorite sets, Charming!*

Stamps: Vintage Vogue

Inks: Melon Mambo, Basic Gray

CS: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Basic Gray

Misc: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Scallop Trim Border Punch (SAB....available for YOU to earn, January 5-March 31, 2010)

Please note: ALL materials used to create this sample are from SU!

*GREAT NEWS: Charming, which has been featured in the Holiday Mini, will continue to be available until the end of April....I think it will work nicely with this new set, don't you?!!

Thanks for stopping by today.....and enjoy the remainder of your holiday season. Be safe.....be happy!

Just a Quick Thank You

Yes, I know we're in the middle of the Christmas season, but that means that Thank You cards are going to be needed soon! Actually, I already need some, which is why this beauty has been created.

If you have visited this blog before, you know that one of my very favorite stamp sets from the Holiday Mini is Charming, and I'm so very sad to say good by to this set. I probably will hang onto it because it creates the most lovely cards....and then hopefully, it will be available again in the new catalog this summer!

This is a simple layout that features the new border punch, Scallop Trim Border, which you can soon earn during Sale-a-Bration, which begins on January 5. I love how it adds just a bit of softness to the Bordering Blue and Night of Navy.

Well, that's it for now. Have to run and complete my entry for Mary Jo's Challenge.....haven't participated in so long! Thanks for stopping by and visiting.

Stamps: Charming, Thank you Kindly

Inks: Silver Metallic, Bordering Blue, Night of Navy

CS: Whisper White, Bordering Blue, Night of Navy

Misc: White Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch

Please note: ALL materials used to create this sample are from SU.

Christmas Gifts

A couple of weeks ago, I met with the ladies in my Stamp Club and gave them each a little package of goodies that I created. This first photo shows the box that contained everything. These gable boxes were once sold by SU, so of course, I have a few remaining in my stash! The greeting is from Many Merry Messages....I'm in love with this stamp....it's probably the reason I purchased the set a couple of years ago! The bird in the corner is NOT an SU stamp, but one I couldn't resist last year when visiting a stamp store. The wide ribbon is also from last year's collection, although is currently available in various other colors.

While on a trip to the Christmas Tree Shoppe, I found this cute little frame in the bargain bin. It is just the cutest! And the color works perfectly with last year's In Color, Riding Hood Red. So, just a bit of DSP from the Merry Moments collection, a bit of Riding Hood Red CS, and a stamped image (non SU....rec'd it at CHA last summer from the Hero Arts booth) and it came together nicely! I used my Chocolate Chip and my Garden Green markers to "ink" up the image and then the Blender Pen to "color" in the pine cone. Then I stamped over the image again in Versamark and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder, which gave it a rich and polished look. (If you click on the image, you can view the detail.) Although this image is not from the SU line, this technique can easily be used for many images in the SU line!

This next gift is first shown without the wrapping.....it started out as a simple glass holder purchased off of the clearance rack in Ikea a few months back. I'm almost embarassed to tell you how much I bought them for....but, I'll share anyway: $.25! Can you believe it?!! I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them, but I bought a bunch and knew that one day they would be made into something spectacluar. So, with some etching cream, a punch, and a gold pen, this simple glass holder was transformed into a votive holder.

I have to admit that the punch is from Martha Stewart, but I purchased it because it closely resembles the Jumbo Snowflake Punch in the SU collection, which unfortunately, was way too big for this project. I simply punched a few snowflakes out of computer paper and used a bit of glue from the Anywhere Glue Stick to adhere them. Then I glopped on the etching cream. I've etched glass before and always followed the directions with various results. This time around my little glass projects came out much better and more evenly.....I left the etching cream on for about 30-40 minutes. Then I washed off the etching cream and glued on paper. The only issue was that the rim around the top wasn't as even as I had hoped, but the Ziggy Gold Paint Pen (retired) did the trick! Add in a sparkly red votive from the Christmas Tree Shoppe and the project was done.

Below are all the gifts together and how they looked when placed inside the gable box. The little tin was wrapped with some retired DSP and I added in some home-made toffee. Check out this post for more info on this gift.

With a bit of creativity, some time, and just a few dollars, I think the gifts came out pretty well....and I'm pretty certain my ladies liked them!

Getting Ready for Christmas

Hi.....it's been awhile, hasn't it?!! Life just kind of took over and there just wasn't enough time for everything! Sorry I haven't posted in so long. With my Mom just getting settled, a new job....in retail!....and getting ready for Christmas....well, life has been hectic! Although I haven't posted in some time, I have not forgotten you!

So, here we are, just 5 days away from the big day....are YOU ready? I am almost there! House is decorated, tree is up, gifts are purchased, wrapped and under the tree......baking is done. Now, I just need to get ready for the clan to come on Christmas day....not sure how many are coming. It will likely be somewhere between 18-25 people! Always chaotic, but oh, so much fun! And you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way! I just LOVE having my family all together for the holidays. My siblings (most of them) will be here with their spouses and kids and Mom will be here for the festivities as well. Can't wait.

In the last few weeks, I've also been making some Christmas items. The first I want to share are some ornaments. Now, this idea has been around for the last few years, but I only just tried them myself recently. They are so pretty....if I may say so!....so sparkly and glittery. You KNOW I'm not really a glitter gal, but I happen to have some in my stash....most has retired, so this was a fabulous way to use a bit of it and really show it off!

Don't you just LOVE them? I used clear glass ornaments purchased last year at one of the craft stores around here.....but I couldn't find the same ones again this year. Probably looked too late! Anyway, these two are my favorites of all I made.

The blue ornament has one of our rub ons....from the Icicles collection. They are just so pretty....and perfect for embellishing and creating your own ornaments! The blue glitter is kind of iridescent...but sadly, this glitter has retired. The red ornament showcases the Flurry collection from the SU Home Decor line. These images are much more bold than the rub ons and look fabulous against the glittered glass ball....but many of them are really LARGE....too large for the balls I had!

OK, so by now you are probably wondering HOW to create these...right?!! These are so much less tedious and much quicker than I expected....which is why it took me so long to try them! You'll need the following:

-a clear glass "ball" These come in various shapes, so, any shape you choose...round is easiest to work with.

-re-inker

-glitter

-funnel or scrap cardstock

-rubber glove, if you don't want to wear your ink!

-a disposable cup

While making these I learned that if you closely match the re-inker to your glitter, you'll end up with a richer color. If you contrast it, you can "muddy" the glitter color, but it will still come out. For instance, I used gold glitter, but used Pretty in Pink re-inker....this seemed to tame the gold and give it a softer, slightly pinkish cast. Pretty. On another, I used Sahara Sand re-inker and gold glitter.....(don't know what I was thinking!), and the end result was kind of a garish gold. It still worked, but I like the softer gold so much better!

OK, what you'll want to do, is remove the topper from the ball....you know the part that has the loop for the hanger....and set aside. Now pour about 15 drops of re-inker into your clear ball. Carefully, swirl around until the entire inside is covered with color....you may need to add a couple more drops of ink. Then carefully add in up to 1/2 tsp of glitter....it's best to add just a bit at a time, because you cannot reuse the extra glitter from these projects. The easiest way to add the glitter is with a funnel.....I didn't have one that was small enough to fit into the opening, so I used some scrap cardstock to create my own funnel.....Very Vanilla or Whisper White are the easiest to work with for this! Place a finger over the opening and gently shake until all surfaces are coated with glitter....add a bit more glitter as needed.

Here's the important part.....although you are technically done, you need to let the inside of the ball dry. So you need to place it upside down in a disposable cup, so that any extra ink doesn't puddle and settle at the bottom of your ball. Let dry overnight and decorate as desired. Although it doesn't seem possible that the glitter will stay put as the ink dries, it does! I was given a glitter ball 2 years ago by my upline and it is still lovely and perfect as it was the day I received it!

Have fun making your ornaments! And thanks for stopping by.