Pink Winter Wonderland

Second post of the day...so much to share. :)

I love using unconventional colors for traditional occasions. Since Christmas has come and gone, yet I'm still in the spirit, I thought I would make "winter" cards. I was inspired by the current challenge happening over at Cupcake Inspirations this week. 

I liked the idea of combining the snowflakes with the trees. And, of course, I LOVE the shades of pink. I came up with this card. 

I found another package-free stamp set that had a great assortment of snowflakes; three different snowflake designs, each with three sizes. I'm pretty sure that the set is Martha Stewart but again, no packaging. Live and learn, I guess. I used Stampin' Up's Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, and Melon Mambo inks for the snowflakes. I used a Sizzix die to cut my tree and cut a shadow out of Pretty in Pink cardstock as well. The white panel is embossed with my favorite snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder. The card base is Melon Mambo, and I added Diamond Stickles for that "something special". The sun is a bit bright in the picture; the Stickles are more subtle in person. Rounded the right-side corner and called it done.

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations 241
A Creative Romance: Sparkle at Christmas
Pile It On #48: P is for... - Pink and piles of snow!
Loves Rubberstamps #83: Holiday Blitz
Crafty Creations #253: Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations #245: Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant #231: Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays #152: Anything Goes
Get Inky #20: Winter Snow
Challenges 4 Everybody #36: Anything Goes

Scripture Challenge 2014

I don't know how I first came across Patter Cross's blog, Triple the Scraps, but I am so glad that I did. She hosts a year long challenge involving scripture and/or hymns that we then have two weeks to pray and study over. Please check out her blog post HERE to check out all the details. I've been sitting here trying to explain it in my own words and I just realized that she could explain it best. :)

Patter encourages (but it's not required) participants to create something to express the insights they felt and gathered along the two-week-long study scripture. I've decided that I am going to try ATCs (Artist Trading Card) and keep them on a holder that I acquired many moons ago. I believe it's 7 Gypsies and you can see it HERE.

I am going to start a "Spiritual Sunday" blog post and keep you up-to-date on my Spiritual Challenge 2014 ATC holder. Her challenges are every other week, so I will post that schedule as well.

Want to join me?? Check her out! The first challenge starts the 11th of January so you have plenty of time. (And you don't have to continue the whole year or begin at the beginning or feel any pressure if you miss a week; it's so easy and relaxed)

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

Once upon a time...

...there was an awesome sorority sister that was headed to Disney World with her family. She asked me if I would be willing to decorate the cover of the SmashBook that she had purchased to keep up with their daily memories. Hum, let me think...of course!! (All these ideas are adapted from ones I found on Pinterest. Check out my "Future Disney Trip" board to find the originals, please.)

I broke out the Cricut Disney Font cartridge to create my characters and the stickers (she sent those to me) were used to finish the title.

Then I asked her if I could make her two boys some autograph books. She allowed me to do that project as well. :) This was my first time using my Purple Cow laminater and I didn't realize that I should have been paying closer attention to the thickness of my project. Around the characters the laminate didn't meet the base of the cover. This is going to drive me batty so I asked Em, if she wanted me to, if I could redo the covers when they get home.

Then I just had to make her a special something. I figure people will want to see pictures so I made her this little brag book that she can put her favorites in and throw in her purse. Or her boys can take to school. Or her husband can take to work. Or whatever.

I hope that you have an awesome time in Disney World and I can't wait to hear all about it!!

Have you been to a Disney park yet? Any advice for a first-timer?

Thanks for looking. Hope this finds you happy and healthy!

A White Christmas Card

I can't believe we're just two weeks from Christmas! It seems like the rest of the year just drags and the days between Halloween and New Year's pass in a blink.

I was asked to join Crafting by Designs to be a guest designer this week for their White on White challenge. I must say that I really enjoy the white on white look. This recent card HERE has become one of my favorites.

I actually started this card by embossing my tree (Stampin' Up Loads of Love set) in silver on my front panel. I then die cut it out using my Nestabilities dies and sent the negative through the Big Shot in the Snowflake Cuttlebug folder. I created the Real Red border by using two of the circles from the same Nestabilities dies, cutting the larger first, followed by the smaller. I adhered the tree and border directly to my card front and popped the embossed panel up around it. I thought about adding ribbon but I just really like the simplicity of it as is.

This is the best photo I could get and it doesn't show the sparkle of the tree!! The weather has been terrible in Texas the past several days and I'm beginning to wonder if we'll ever see the sun again. :)

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
The ABC Challenge - A is for Almost Christmas
Creative Knockouts #14 - Christmas Splendor
Addicted to CAS #28 - Snowflakes
Your Next Stamp #7
Creative Corner Challenges - Traditional Christmas
Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings #85 - Bingo: white, image, sparkle
Created with Love #70 - Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody #35 - Anything Goes

Adventures in Running: Weather or not...

So, today was the day that I was supposed to run the Dallas Half Marathon. This weekend is also McCormick Family Christmas, when my family meets at my aunt and uncle's house (in the middle) and we spend the weekend together.

Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating with us. There is a storm coming from Colorado through Oklahoma (where the other half of the family is coming from) and down into Texas. It is bringing with it a "wintery mix" and temps that don't exceed freezing. My family is a little weary of traveling in weather like this, particularly because we were in a horrible accident this time, six years ago. So my aunt and uncle postponed the weekend and I won't be able to make the run either.

I am disappointed but I don't know that I would have been able to run anyway. The last couple weeks have been really difficult and stressful. I was put on a new medication that reacted with another I was taking and made me feel worse and worse until at one point 911 was called. I am feeling a little better now but I haven't been able to run regularly in almost three weeks. I am on the mend though, and I am looking forward to regular runs again in the near future.

Thanks for sticking with me. My next run is the Houston Half Marathon on Sunday, January 19, 2014. It will be my second time participating in this run and I can't wait.

What is your next run?

Thanks for looking! I hope this finds you healthy and happy.

"Gift" Card

I love that punny title. ;)

A lot of blogs are asking for "packaging" in their challenges these days. I thought of this card.

I grabbed this red satin ribbon that I have had forever and created my "gift" on a Neenah white card front. I used my Stampin' Up tag punches (again, I haven't used those in a long while) and made my tag, adding a bit of twine to attach it to the "gift". The tag sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp Envelope Sentiments set. The ink, used on the front and inside, is Chocolate Chip by Stampin' Up.

On the inside, I used that same set that I used HERE, the one I've had so long that I don't even know where I got it or who it's by. I can't believe I have waited to use this set. It's absolutely perfect for holiday sentiments and it's just my style.

Thanks for looking! I hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Oldie But Goodie - Ribbon or Lace
3 Girl Jam #30 - "Tis the Season with Ribbon
CAS-ology #73 - Ribbon
Loves Rubberstamps #81 - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps # - Clean and Simple
Shabby Tearoom #195 - Terrific Tags
Sentimental Sundays #183 - Traditional Christmas Colors

"Charlie Brown" Christmas Card

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!!

Anyone else forced to watch that over and over, year after year?? I have to admit that I think it's an adorable movie, and I love the moral of the story.

Any hoo, I was going through the stamps Terri left my mom and I found this Christmas tree. I immediately knew what I wanted to create first. This card...

The card base is Kraft, the layer is Real Red, and I stamped my image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Neenah white cardstock. For the bow I tied embroidery thread in a bow. This is representing my Lucky Limeade.  I used the Colour Q's color challenge (link below), and added a little sparkle with Real Red, Bermuda Bay, and (Lawn Fawn) Cool Caribbean sequins. I love the touch of fancy on an otherwise very sad tree.

Thanks for looking! I hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Colour Q #218 - Real Red, Cool Caribbean, Lucky Limeade, and Bermuda Bay (+white)  
PaperTake Weekly - Anything Goes w/ optional CAS
Created with Love #69 - Christmas
Avenue 613 #48 - Anything Goes w/ optional twist, packaging
Glitter N Sparkle #61 - Add some sparkle
Crafts 4 Eternity #152 - Non-Traditional Christmas

Christmas Martinis

First, I want to apologize for being MIA for a couple weeks. We had a death in the family and needed to take time to be with family. Husband's grandmother, GG, was a wonderful grandmother. I was probably as close to her as you can get to a spouse's grandparent. She will be sorely missed.

I wanted to make some sympathy cards for my family but I kept thinking that GG would want some bright and festive colors. And so my "sympathy" cards turned into holiday cards. I can't complain; I think she would absolutely love these. :)

My first card is becoming one of my favorites. The image is from Tiddly Inks. I LOVE how versatile this cutie pie is. She can be shopping, going to a birthday party, or heading to family Christmas. I colored her with my Copic markers after stamping the image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Teeny Tiny Wishes set. The yellow embroidery thread is from Terri's stash (my mom's best friend that passed away...she left ALL of her stamping stuff to my mom) and I looped it over four times to create a thick bow. Green Galore paper shadow and Real Red cardstock base embossed with my Snowflake Cuttlebug folder finished off the card. I added Stickles (Turquoise, Purple, Yellow, Green) to the bows, inside and out. 

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Tiddly Inks Challenge #122 - Anything Goes

CAS(E) this Sketch! #55

Divas by Design - Use Some Red

ABC Christmas - X for Out of the Box (no squares allowed)

Crafting by Designs - Christmas/Winter

Creative Inspiration #242 - Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps #73 - Holidays
Sweet Stamps 145 - The Holidays

This image is from Whimsie Doodles; isn't it the CUTEST!?!?! I colored my pup up with Prismacolor pencils and die cut him with one of my Nestabilities Circles. I popped up the cone and head with Stampin' Up dimensionals and added the whole thing to a Real Red layer and Whisper White cardstock base. I REALLY wanted to cover the cone in glossy accents but I am afraid it would curl up and ruin my pup. I haven't finished the inside yet because I'm stilling thinking about who this card is going to. :)

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Inkspirational - Anything Goes

Seize the Sketch #9

Fab 'N' Funky - Cute Critters

Addicted the CAS #27 - Pet

Party Time Tuesdays #148 - Anything Goes

As You Like It #16 - Favorite Digi (Whimsie Doodles because they are adorable!)

Sister Act #35 - Anything Goes

Paper Playtime #24 - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy. 

My Style Stamps DT Project!!

This is my second design team project featuring My Style Stamps. :)

I created corner bookmarks, using Crate Paper's "Random" paper collection (LOVE that denim, it's just perfect), for my mom and mother-in-law for Thanksgiving. To add a little more to this project, I featured the coloring in two different ways. The first I used Prismacolor pencils on their own. I blended my colors by finding two that were close (I only have the package of twenty-four so I had to work at this a little bit). Then I just kept adding color until I achieved the look I was going for.

On the second one, I used Prismacolors pencils and Gamsol (or odorless mineral spirits, OMS). This technique is sometimes called "Gamsol Magic". To achieve this effect, I dipped my blending stump into my OMS and then blended my colors using small circles. I could then go back and add more color if I wanted to, repeating the process.

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

Cutesy Christmas

Second post today...on a roll, I guess. :)

My main image is from Tiddly Inks called Happy Day and stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink then colored with Copic Markers. The paper comes from an old K and Company Christmas stack that I only have scraps left. I love these colors together. I followed the C4C212 sketch. Used Diamond Stickles on the bows, ribbons and the "brads" in the top corner. And her shoes are Glossy Accent-ed. The inside sentiment is from a clear set I've had FOREVER and the packaging is long gone. If you recognize it, please let me know.

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Tiddly Ink #121 - Anything Goes
Crazy 4 Challenges #212
Stampin' Royalty - No Embellishment Holiday Card

Make-a-Card Monday: Unconventional Thanksgiving Card

I really like the unconventional card I created using a couple different challenges as inspiration. 

I used Paper Smooches stamp sets Many Thanks and Gently Seasoned. I stamped the tree in Chocolate Chip and then added the "leaves" in Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, and Really Rust. The sentiment is stamped in Melon Mambo. The card base in Pool Party, the designer paper is from Crate Paper's Random collection, the shadow circle is Certainly Celery, and the harlequin embossed piece is Really Rust.

On the inside, I used the scraps from the designer paper, Really Rust, and Regal Rose paper to create some interest. I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip.

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I entered this card into the following challenges:
Ribbon Carousel #87 - November Holiday
Just Inspirational - Autumn/Fall Colors
Craftin' Desert Divas#19 - Thanksgiving
Sweet Sunday Sketch #197
Color Throwdown #268
Simon Says Stamp - Thanks/Thanksgiving
There She Goes Stamps #233 - Thanks/Thanksgiving
Get Inky #17 - Thanks/Thanksgiving
Sentimental Sundays #181 - Giving Thanks

Adventures in Running: The Checklist

I'm makin' my list and checkin' it twice. I need to gather the things that I will need for the half and for long runs in general. I would like to keep a bag in the car (or carry it with me) that has whatever I need, covers whatever comes up, and holds all the essentials as well.

The Checklist:
Chapstick
extra top
Shot Blocks
feminine products
a little cash, just a few bucks
face towel
sunscreen
extra house key
I.D. (looking into a Road ID bracelet - anyone use/have one?))

What do you always have with you? What would you recommend to a fairly new runner like me?

Thanks for looking. Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I'm a Goddess! :)

This card was chosen as a top pick over at the Stampin' Royalty blog. Check out my new badge in the sidebar. :) Thank you for the honor, SR!!

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

Many Thanks

This color combo scares the daylights out of me. I'm not a Rich Regal kind of girl. But I really wanted to challenge myself and see what I could come up with. I knew that I needed the right stamp set so first thing I went looking through my stash. When I saw this Clearly Besotted "Honeycomb" set, I knew this was it.

Freshly Made Sketches inspired the layout and Colour Q challenged me with their color choices. I didn't have Crushed Curry ink so I substituted More Mustard but all the other inks and papers are the true colors. I used the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes on the inside. I also heat embossed one of the hexagon patterns in the set and embossed the bigger hexagon with Swiss Dots embossing folder.

I entered this card into the following challenges:
Freshly Made Sketches #112
Colour Q #215
Created with Love #66 - Thank You

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

It's a Birthday Day!!

I can't believe my baby is two. TWO!! Where did the time go?

A look back at his actual "birth"day...

L is actually about 3 weeks old in this picture but it's one of my favorites.

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.