Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays Everyone!  This is my last post for 2012.  I'm headed North (still South for a lot of people, lol) to spend Christmas with my children, sisters, and Dad.  Best wishes to all for a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Enjoy your holiday traditions with family and friends!  Speaking of friends...I know the blog world can be a complete virtual reality for some, and friendships can be tenuous at best, but I want to say thank you to Miss Amy Young for being a friend (even though we've never met in person).  She's encouraged me with her cheerful comments, helped me improve my coloring skills with her videos, and even gave me the opportunity to show my work to a wider audience by allowing me to be one of her "guest gals".  And for the past few years, she has sent me beautiful Christmas cards, all of which I cherish!  This year's card was my favorite of the ones she posted on her blog.  Imagine my delight when I received it in the mail!

Thank you Amy!  Also, thank you to my 17 followers, and especially those who regularly visit and leave comments.  I count you among my blessings.  See you in 2013!

Card for Sandy Hook Elementary School

Needed to take the time to make a card for the Sandy Hook Elementary School.  Like everyone else, I cannot fathom the grief the families who lost a loved one and the community of Newtown are experiencing.  While our prayers, sympathies, and cards cannot erase such a senseless and heart-wrenching tragedy, maybe they can bring a ray of light.  This beautiful angel image was graciously drawn and given, to any who emailed her, by the talented Betty of Simply Betty Stamps.  So, this card is heading to Sandy Hook Elementary where I hope it will bring a bit of solace.

The inside of the card reads..."As you deal with this tragic loss, let yourself cry knowing each tear is a note of love rising to the heavens."

Paper Crafting

Was at my mom's house a couple of days ago, and she showed me an ornament she'd recently been taught how to make out of two fabrics fused together, cut into strips, woven, and hot glued.  After examining her ornament, I thought why not scale the ornament down and make it out of double sided designer paper.  Yes, it works just as nicely out of paper!  These little gems can be used on a tree or as an extra touch on a present.  I'm hooked!  I made about a dozen last evening.  The picture is of 6 of them.

They are fun to make, and a good way to use up extra bits of paper!  These still need the cording attached to the tops to hang them, and I might glue the insides together and add a gem to the middle on each side.  So many possibilities!

Just One More

So, I squeezed in a little time to complete just one more Christmas card.  I've been wanting to color these little sweeties for ages, but hadn't been in the right frame of mind.  Now with the Christmas tree and house decorated, the presents all bought and wrapped, the ladies luncheon hosted, and our company returned home, I can breathe a sigh of satisfaction and enjoy the holidays.  Yes, we still have parties to attend, and a couple of dinners to host, and I haven't begun my cookie baking, but I don't feel rushed.  Anyone else feeling the Christmas Crush, or are you on the relaxing side of the holiday now?

Anyway, back to the card.  This is All in a Row from Lili of the Valley.  Yep, it's a real stamp, not a digi!  When I saw these cute little girls last year, I knew I had to have this stamp.  It's taken me nearly a year to get them inked up and colored.  However, I am tickled with the result!  Definitely going to color these girls up again.

 
Thank you for stopping by, and have a great rest of your week!

Exciting News!

I made the top 3 at the Sweet Stamping Pixies Challenge!  Whoo Hoo!  I'm so thrilled!  Thank you ladies for making my day!  This is my first time ever placing in any challenge!  My card was Snowflake Lizzie.  Truthfully this honor came at the perfect time.  I'd gotten a bit discouraged lately.  It can be disheartening to enter challenge after challenge and never win or place.  This honor has boosted my spirits!  Thank you again to the ladies at the Sweet Stamping Pixies Challenge.

Ho Ho Ho Santa

Look at that jolly face!  A quick and easy card to speed the process of completing my Christmas cards for this year.  Only three more to go!  Still have my mother's, daughter's, and one of my husband's sister's to go.  And sorry to say ladies, but I will not be able to post them on the blog...sob...sniffle.  But don't be too sad, I'll take pictures, and in the middle of summer I'll post them!  So, unless I decide to make a few "extras", this Santa ends my Christmas cards for the season.

Thank you to the ladies who've been so supportive and leaving nice comments on my blog.  I truly appreciate you taking the time to not only visit, but to also leave comments.  Hugs to you all!

Peace Angel

This may be one of the favorite cards I've made so far this season.  The image is from Digi Darla.  The angel colored up easily, and she looks elegant and serene.  The background paper is busy, so the card didn't need additional embellishment.  A sentiment printed on a banner was the finishing touch.  Both the angel and the sentiment are raised with sticky dots.

I'm definitely putting this image on my list to color again!  Maybe with a red gown?

Have a peaceful weekend!

Snow Happy

When I saw the happy, sweet face on this snowman, I knew the background papers had to be happy and fun.  Kim Jenson's Deck The Halls digi papers fit the bill!  Aren't the colors fabulous?  So bright and cheery! 

Happy Thursday everyone!

Doggone Cute

Today we are totally back to CUTE!  Isn't this little guy adorable?!  One of my friends is a dog fanatic, and this card will be perfect for her!  I used a mixture of flowersoft, glitter, and flocking for the trim on his hat.  The accents were all left over bits and pieces that didn't make it onto other cards.  They were pushed aside in a pile and the little dog was tossed on top while I hunted for a ribbon for another card I was also working on.  When I looked back at the pile, I liked what I saw...and voila...I added a sentiment and the card was complete!

Using my Silhouette

Just had to pop back in for a minute before our company arrives this evening, and show you my latest card.  Time was slipping away quickly, and I needed to make a few more Christmas cards before I lose my crafty space (it's our guestroom) for the season.  So I hauled out my Silhouette and began cutting shapes in white and red.  I'm so pleased with the way this card turned out!  It was inspired by all the bird and tree cards I've seen colored.  I knew I didn't have the time to color, so cutting seemed like a good option.

Holly, you'll be proud of me, I actually used a stamp for the sentiment, lol!

Holly, Clean and Simple

Lots of white space (or in this case red) on today's card.  An older gentleman is the intended recipient of this card.  He's not into the "cute" or slightly naughty or silly, so classic, clean and simple seemed to be appropriate.  The red, white, and green color palette and the holly image make for a very traditional Christmas card, and entirely suitable for a male.  Yes, I did add the feminine bow, but hey, there are bows all over the place at Christmas! 

Cool Couple

Cool couple is two of Rick St. Dennis' digis, Mrs. Frosty and Frosty, scaled and printed together.  Adding a line for the ground with a Copic black multiliner finished the scene.  The ground snow and the snowflakes are covered in white glitter.

This card is for a special friend and her husband whom I do not get to see very often, but absolutely adore.  They are such a "cool couple", hehe, hence the title of the card.  However, I do hope she doesn't get offended by the very old fashioned, and certainly not cool looking Mrs. Frosty.  My friend has a keen sense of humor, so I think it will be okay (keeping fingers crossed, lol).

Black Friday!

So, how many of you braved the elements, crowds, and early morning sleepiness to snag the great deals?  We didn't budge this year (too much turkey consumption from the day before, hehe, and I've finished my Christmas shopping other than a few odds and ends).  Today is a "chill" day for us before putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house this weekend.  Hubby is golfing (his favorite pastime), and I'm going to attempt to finish up some Christmas cards.  So many of the ladies have posted fantastic card ideas on their blogs lately, and the inspiration is infectious!

As an homage to Black Friday, today's card uses black as an accent color.  I typically don't use black on Christmas cards, but with the little penguin and the black snowflake in the image, the black works.  The image is a FREE set from Cuddly Buddly by Kim MacFarlane.  If you haven't yet snagged this adorable set, you really should!  It's versatile and fun to play with.

P.S.  Sorry for the wonky look to one of his eyes.  They are glossed and the light caught one of them funny.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

P.S.  This image is from Paulette of Create with TLC.

It's Santa!

Coloring Santa's cheeks makes me smile!  Such an iconic image with a wealth of happy memories attached to it!  My parents always made the holidays joyously festive, and I tried to do the same with my children as they were growing up.  Today our Christmas is a bit different (as it must be as little ones grow up and traditions evolve and change), but I still get giddy when I see a Santa.  Hubby doesn't get giddy, and he isn't exactly enamored of the whole holiday extravaganza; however, he does have a collection of Tropical Santas that are proudly displayed all year long in our living and dining rooms.  He tries to be a "bah humbug" guy in front of his friends, but he's really a big kid at heart (aren't they all).  This card reminds me of Christmas past and the joy of Santa.

 Very busy today prepping for tomorrow's big feast!

A Little Different Christmas Image

While it seems I have purchased nearly most (at last count 6,989...I can scarcely believe I have that many) of Dustin Pike's images (they are so dang quirky and cute).  Not sure why exactly but, I rarely seem to actually make them into cards.  Yes, dear husband you can once again state that I am a collector rather than a user, lol.  Starting today I'm going to make an effort to use a few of these fabulous images each month.  This little monster is from Dustin's Christmas in July 2012 set and reminded me of a Yeti or Abominable Snowman.  So of course I had to cover his body in Flower Soft to make him fuzzy!

 
Glazing liquid gives his candy cane antlers/horns and eye a glossy look.  And, although it doesn't really show in the picture, he's lifted off the page with sticky dots.  Hope you like my use of a little different Christmas image!

No Stamped Image Today

My Copic markers did not see the light of day this weekend.  Nor did my Prisma pencils.  Instead, for a change, my Silhouette saw a little action.  To mimic the flowers in the Basic Grey paper, I dotted the cut out pieces of the flowers with a white gel pen.  I used the same gel pen to draw the veins on the leaves.  After adding a few pearls and some letter stickers, the card was complete. 

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend.  We had company for dinner on Friday, spent Saturday Christmas shopping and grocery shopping for Thanksgiving, and Sunday went out to lunch and a movie.  Busy and fun!

Christmas Mouse

Yes, I know I say all the stamps are cute, but this little guy really stole my heart!  He is Christmas Mouse by Christine Grove, available through Cuddly Buddly Crafts.  Don't you just love his happy smile and jaunty step?!  He looks positively thrilled to be wearing his holiday togs and carrying a sweet Christmas treat.  I might have to color him up again to frame as a Christmas decoration for my crafty space.

Hope you all have an enjoyable weekend! 

Big Gift

Why is it that I seem to have such trouble coloring presents?  Once again I had to paper piece the gift on an image (shaking head in disbelief).  However, it turned out to be a good thing!  Whimsie Doodles Big Gift digi looks right at home with the Christmas tree and presents behind her.  White Flower Soft mixed with a bit of flocking and glitter add a bit of texture and sparkle to this little one's Santa hat.

Peas on Earth

This stamp from Whimsie Doodles really makes me giggle!  When I spied it on Shannon's blog, Enchanted Ladybug Creations, I knew I had to purchase this digi and make a card.  Like Shannon, I paper pieced the "Earth" and colored the peas, their caps, and ear muffs.  My snowflake accent kind of gets lost on this card, but I didn't want anything to distract focus from the image.

Thank you for stopping by!

Snowflake Lizzie

Happy Tuesday!  Just popping in for a quick minute to share a card I made using Whimsie Doodles Snowflake Lizzie.  Isn't she the cutest little angel!  She is part of the WD November release.  I limited the color on this card to blue and white, as I wanted to keep a cool feel to the card.  However, I really like this wee snow angel and might have to color her again with red hair.

Have a lovely day!

Update:  I've entered this card in the Sweet Stamping Pixies Challenge.  Thank you Pam for the suggestion!

Dexter Penguin Love

Can you believe it's November already?  Time certainly has flown by in 2012!  Not sure about your schedules, but for us the Holiday rush is on...and I love it!  My dear tolerant husband teases me about still being such a kid about the holidays.  I cannot help it!  There is a delightful magic and wonder to the season.  Maybe it is just my imagination, or that I wear rose colored glasses, but most people (notice I didn't say "all") seem to be kinder and in a festive mood.  Stores, homes, and even neighborhoods glisten with lights and decorations.  And don't even get me started talking about the delectable scents and cheerful sounds of the season!  Yes, there can be a frenetic energy during the next couple of months, but its a pleasant change of pace from normal everyday living.

Dexter Penguin Love from the former Pollycraft (do you hear my sobs?) is a sweet image that can be used for Christmas or Valentine's Day.  One of my sisters adores penguins, so she might end up with this card, although she really likes snowmen too.  Hmmmm...guess I won't make a decision until I complete the rest of my Christmas cards.

Now for the important news...drum roll please...the winner of the Halloween Treat is Shannon!  Congratulations!  Also thank you to Shannon and the rest of you lovely ladies for being regular visitors to my blog and leaving such supportive comments!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!  Hope everyone stays safe tonight, but has a ghoulishly good time Trick or Treating.  Last year my mother's Halloween card featured A Day For Daisies little Witch for Halloween.  Since she is displaying the card as part of her Halloween decorations, her card this year has to also use ADFD image.  Waiting For the Moon is a little more grown up than last year's witch, but she's equally as adorable.  The design, or lack there of lol, on this card kind of got away from me.  And because I waited until the last minute (bad daughter, bad crafter), I did not have the time to "fix" it.  Of course Mom, will be proud as always and say she loves it...thank goodness, no matter how old we get our mothers (and dads) always think our "art" is beautiful.  Thank you Mom, and all parents out there, who give us encouragement and praise.  It's comforting to know that our craft projects find a home on refrigerators and shelves even when we're 50+ years old!

Happy Haunting All!

Sandy

For those who've been impacted by Hurricane Sandy, my prayers and positive thoughts are sent your way.  Living in SW Florida, I understand the devastation wind and water can cause.  It is my hope that you and your loved ones are safe, and your community will recover quickly from Sandy's destruction.

Vivienne the Vixen

This gorgeous paper has been in my stash for what seems like ages (back to my early scrapbooking days), but I never found the right project for it.  It was so colorful and the pattern was soooo busy; how was I ever going to use it?  Then I saw Kraftin' Kimmie Vivienne.  Wow!  Talk about a match!  For those of you who know me, you know I'm a digi girl at heart, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.  I physically stamped an image!  And I'm so glad that I did, because Vivienne allowed me to use this wild paper and love it.

A Little Treat

Would anyone like a little extra Halloween Treat?  One that won't add inches to your hips or thighs or give your dentist cause for concern?  I got a little carried away with my paper ordering this year and ended up with duplicates of 3 Echo Park 6x6 paper pads - For the Record 2 Documented , For the Record 2 Tailored, and A Very Merry Christmas.  The good news is I have them to give to one of you as a little treat for reading and leaving comments on my blog!  Please leave a comment on this post (and any other if the spirit moves you, lol).  I'll put the names in a hat and draw one out on Halloween night.  The winner will be announced on Thursday, November 1st.

Nixie, a Sweet November Snowflake Pixie

Before getting to today's card, I'd like to send out "be safe" wishes to those in the path of Hurricane Sandy.  Please know we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers!

Today Nixie, a Sweet November Snowflake Pixie, is all decked out in her Christmas red outfit while making her rounds to ensure a sparkly, snowy white Christmas Eve.  I added an extra hill to the background, some crystals to the snowflakes, flocked and glittered Nixie's trim, and the card was complete!

Low 80's

Today is the perfect day to show this card using one of Dustin Pike's vacationing Santa images.  We are FINALLY leaving the 90 degree weather behind us!  Hello Autumn!  No, I am not complaining...there are perks to living in the sunshine state.  I'm just happy to have a little less of the heat for awhile.  With any luck we won't see the 90's again until late Spring. 

The background paper was a random 12x12 we picked up to scrap one of my husband's golf trips, but he's not too crazy about the colors or the very busy pattern.  So, I pilfered it to use on cards and am loving the way the card turned out.  Santa's dotted shirt is my favorite element.  I typically make a complete mess of it when I attempt to dot anything, but this time the creative spirits were on my side.

Have a fabulous weekend!

An All Time Favorite

Yes, I know this card is from Christmas 2010, but I wanted to share it with you as it is still one of my all time favorites.  I had only recently begun card making, and the picture taking was merely to catalog which cards I gave to whom.  My mother was the recipient of "Pammy's Stocking" from Mo's Digital Pencil.  I wasn't yet comfortable with using Copics to color hair, so I used my Prisma Pencils.  Even though looking at the image now I see a variety of things I'd do differently (more depth and definition of the folds in her robe, more color and contrast in her skin, etc.), I still adore the image and the card.

Happy Birthday Lucille!

This card was made for a friend's birthday, so I couldn't show it before we left on vacation.  Now the card has been opened, we are home, and life should be returning to some semblance of normal before the holiday rush/crush begins!  Little Fairwee Jilly from Sweet November at All That Scraps, looks so happy to be celebrating a birthday.  The patterned paper did all of my embellishment work for me on the front of the card.  And for the inside (which I forgot to take a picture of), I cut out the cake pieces and scattered them around the Happy Birthday sentiment.

Just a Card Before I Go...

So much to do, and so little time!  Here's one last card before I go...to my daughter's wedding and my Autumn Vacation...yippee!  This is precious Nixie from Sweet November, available at All That Scraps.  Difficult to remember how many times I've used this image, but I know it's a bunch!  I've even used it on a scrapbook page along with her frosty sisters, Neva and Eira (see photo after card).  Of all the Sweet November images, these winter sprites are my favorites.  They are sweet and timeless.  I'm entering this card in the All That Scraps Challenge - Anything Goes.

Here's the scrapbook page!

See you in a few weeks!

Scarlette Mistletoe

It's Friday, and I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend before the wedding crush/rush begins.  Anyone have special plans this weekend?

Scarlette Mistletoe from Bugaboo Stamps is one of those stamps that make me smile every time I see the image.  I like her sassy, but not overly sexy look...perfect for either gender's card.  In general, the Scarlette images are easy to color, and having naturally curly hair myself, I suppose I have an affinity to the tousled mop of Scarlette's.  You may notice the design of the card is nearly identical to the one I used for Merry Chrismouse.  Yep, I liked it so well I had to use it again, along with that fun red and white dotted paper!

  

 

Have a great weekend!

Wedding Card

Whew!  Finally got this card finished!  And just in time as the wedding is one week away!  My daughter, Lauren, is getting married in St. Augustine, FL next Thursday (10-11-12).  She and her fiancee have planned a garden wedding at a Bed and Breakfast with a dinner in the courtyard.  Her colors are navy, pink, white, and grey.  The invitations, menus, and treat boxes all have a navy damask pattern and pink and white stripes.  I think this card captures the romantic, old fashioned, garden feel she and her husband to be, Rob, are trying to create at their special event.  To give the card a touch of sparkle, I glittered the edges of the butterfly wings and added some crystal gems.  The pale pink ribbon also has a bit of sparkle.

Holiday Greetings Poinsettia

Still working hard to get my Christmas cards finished before November.  DH and I have a lot on our plates during the holiday season (Halloween through New Years), so I have little opportunity to make cards.  In addition, we have company (so no access to my crafty space as it is our guest room) during that time, and I like to enjoy all the holiday fun.

Holiday Greetings Poinsettia is a simple, elegant card using patterned paper from Echo Park's Season's Greetings.  The paper is from last season's collection, so I do not believe the paper pad is available; however, you can purchase the digi paper from Jessica Sprague online.  Her online store carries a number of paper lines in digi form including Echo Park and Lori Whitlock.

Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge 148

When I saw Lana, from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, I knew I had to have this stamp.  Funny thing was the song "Santa Baby" immediately began playing in my head.  So, why fight it?  Adding a little holly to Lana's hair, she became the sultry Christmas vixen singing "Santa Baby".  I added glittered flocking to her stole and some shimmer to the card knowing that the lady who asks Santa for all those Christmas goodies has to be surrounded by sparkles.  For the background paper, I typed up several lines of the song and printed them on cardstock.

Lucky me that the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge Blog issued number 148 as "Show Us Your Fave" this week.  Since I already have Lana colored, cut, and crafted (yes, I did just reference my blog title, hehe) I might as well play along. 

Merry Chrismouse

This image made me giggle out loud when I first saw it!  It is Merry Chrismouse by the uber talented Rick St. Dennis.  If you like fun, wacky, unexpected images, you need to check out Rick's work.  He blends traditional "cute" with surprising twists to create unique illustrations that challenge your sense of whimsy.  Merry Chrismouse was a delight to color and craft into a card.  I smiled through the entire process!  And I cannot wait to color this image up again (stay tuned later in the week for a possible card 2 with a different color scheme).  Presenting Merry Chrismouse!

Inspiration From a CASEd Card

TGIF!  Hope you all had an enjoyable week.  I'll be sharing three cards with you today.  The first is a card I CASEd from Pam Sparks of Expressions with Heart.  Before I share more about the cards I made, I need to take a minute to share my thoughts about Pam and her talents.  Her blog is full of wonderfully creative cards, and she is super helpful and sweet to fellow crafters.  While I have never met Pam, I appreciate the hand of friendship and guidance she has offered.  She wants to see others succeed.  Thank you, Pam for your inspiring cards and deeds!

Now, back to the cards.  The graphic nature and clean lines of the CASE card really captured my attention, and I knew I had to make one.  Not having the same font Pam used, I scoured the fonts on my computer and cut a few out of red cardstock with my Silhouette.  I also do not have a postage stamp die cut so again I used my Silhouette.  Not wanting to waste paper (or the time and effort it takes to set up the machine...another story for another day, lol), I cut out extra postage stamps, pine trees, grass, and other assorted "greens".   Here is my CASEd card.

After making the first card, and using the same base of kraft, red, and white, I began playing with the extra cut pieces.  In minutes I had two cards inspired by the first!

Have a fun weekend!
 

A Not So Cute Witch and the Trouble She Caused

Today's card is actually one I made last year and gave to our dear next door neighbor.  I have to share the pitiful story with you.  Ralph is an elderly gentleman, 90+, a total sweetheart, who on his morning walk on Mondays returns my garbage container to the side of my house if DH or I haven't yet put it away.  He also reads his newspaper, folds and re-bags it, and places it on our doorstep each morning.  He's the type of man who'd give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed or wanted it.  While I was power washing our sidewalk, I decided to wash his as well as a little thank you for all of the nice things he does for us.  What does the man do?  He brings me out a straw hat (says I'm too fair to be out in the sun without a hat), a gallon of iced tea (says I need to stay hydrated), and a bag of toffee candy (says I need the energy).  I tried to refuse these gifts to no avail.  Anyway, I made this card (which btw I really, really liked) and sent it to him.  I was horrified when I later found out through a mutual friend that he had asked why I was angry with him.  What?!?  Angry with him?!?  I couldn't understand why he would think such a thing.  Apparently he didn't see the humor in the witch and her saying.  I had to apologize profusely and assure him that in NO way was I angry or upset with him.  Lesson learned.  This year he's getting a VERY CUTE and SWEET Halloween image on his card!

Little Witch

Today's card features the Witch for Halloween image from A Day for Daisies.  Isn't she the cutest little witch?  I paper pieced her top, and colored the rest of the image with copic markers.  The papers are from the We R Memory Keepers - Spookville.  Black cardstock cut with a tree border die on one side and a bubble border die on the other edge the horizontal strip of patterned paper.  I added a few bling stars to the background and chalked around the image to complete the card.

Gingerbread Men

Happy Monday to all!  For today's card I used the iSpy Sketch 25 as the design layout.  Other than cutting out 8 very small (1 inch high) gingerbread men, this card was a snap to make.  The gingerbread men are colored with Prisma pencils and the snowflake is covered with Recollections snow glitter.  Have a wonderful day!

P.S.  I'm off again this afternoon, and the next three afternoons, to make flowers for my daughter's wedding cake.  Last week's trial run didn't go so well.  Wish me luck today!

A Rescue

Did you ever like an image so well you just had to rescue it from a horrible or not so good card?  That was the case for me with Bossy, from Mo's Digital Pencil.  She is one of my all time favorites from Mo (maybe because my siblings and parents say she is me when I was young, lol).  I colored Bossy over a year ago and had her on a card, but it never felt "right".  My unloved cards end up in a box, tucked away so that no one else can see them.  Periodically I pull out those cards, try and determine why the card didn't work, then usually trash them.  Well, Bossy was too cute to toss, I had to try to "fix" the card.  No such luck!  The card was atrocious!  So bad in fact that I am not even going to show you a picture of it.  Luckily I was able to lift Bossy with her frame off the card.  Card trashed, Bossy saved!  Not taking any more chances with the card design, I used the MFT Sketch 90.  Much better card.  Now Bossy will no longer be sentenced to the box of unloved cards!

Don't Be Crabby

Well it's Thursday, and I'm looking forward to making a trial run of gum paste flowers with my mother for my daughter's wedding cake.  The date is quickly approaching (10-11-12).  Lauren and her fiancee have been together for several years and officially engaged for over a year, and I couldn't be happier for her!  She's not had an easy road as an adult, and I'm hoping her life with her new husband will be filled with love and joy.  Anyway, before I get too mushy, I'll move along to today's card which is a CASE of one by Danielle Daws from January 7, 2012.  Her placement of the elements of the card and its simplicity really spoke to me.  The sentiment I used is from Create with TLC (love her word art!).  Hopefully I won't get too crabby myself today as Mom and I attempt to make some cabbage roses and peonies...the perfectionist in me struggles with artistic freedom, lol.  Once again, I've used my Prisma pencils (yes, even if it is just a wee bit of color on this card), and I'll have to get them out more often as I like the look on kraft cardstock.

Ruby Christmas - Ornaments

Yes, it's another Bugaboo Christmas image!  Ruby Christmas Ornaments is perfectly suited to the SW Florida lifestyle, lol.  Where else would she be wearing a short strapless dress and spiked heels at Christmas time?!  Well, I suppose she could be an Aussie, but with the big bauble earrings, I still think she's a SW Florida gal.  It doesn't really show in the photo, but I've glittered the snowflakes and added some sparkle to her hair and ornaments with Spica Pens.  For her glasses' lens I used a Sakura Gelly Roll pen.

An Oops Moment

Thankfully I don't have too many of them, but I certainly had a big "Oops Moment" with today's card.  While experimenting with embellishments, one of the candy canes attached itself to the card in absolutely the wrong spot!  When I tried to remove it, pieces of the background paper came up with it, yikes!  So, now my choices were 1. Try to lift the image, Leah in PJ's from Whimsie Doodles , without damaging her and place on a new background or 2. Cover up the damaged paper and hope the misplaced embellishments don't look too wonky.  I chose option number 2.  Certainly not the card I'd envisioned making, but it is what it is.  At least little Leah is still adorable!

Positively Frightful Halloween Cutie

The title sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it?  Today's little cutie really isn't frightful at all, but then again she is a witch.  So by definition she must be frightful, correct, lol?  Anyway, Hazel and Webster (the spider) are from Sweet November's 2011 release.  I didn't get a chance to use them last year, so they are making an appearance this year!  With the Halloween images it's fun playing with non-human colors for hair and skin.  Green is my favorite for witches' hair.  It stands out and compliments any orange in the picture.  To give Hazel's skin a more witchy look, rather than that of a little girl playing dress up, I used W1, W3, E40, E41, and then RV10 (for a tiny bit of rosy glow...didn't want her looking like a zombie).  YG0000 was the finishing touch all over her skin to give her a slightly green cast.

It's a Bugaboo Christmas Fest

Rather than bore you all with a week of Christmas cards, I decided to group the cards made using Bugaboo images together in one post.  Bugaboo has soooo many wonderful digis, and I'm especially fond of the Christmas ones.  The variety is amazing...cute, sassy, animals, kids, adults, etc.

First is Little Penguin Winter - Reindeer.  The front of the card has a window cut into it.  And I couldn't resist the question, hehe.

Next on deck is Little Penguin Winter - Candy Cane.  It doesn't show in the picture, but I glossed the holly berries and the candy on his hat.

Here's Ava Christmas - Sitter.  She is definitely one of my favorite images!  Do not be surprised if you see her on another card this season.

Using the same patterned papers (the other pieces of the circles cut for the previous card) this card features the digi Christmas Cupcake - Lights.

 

I think I got a little accent crazy on this card, but I like the little ornaments I made using a hole punch.  Isn't Poppy Xmas Tree so adorable?!

I'm not sure Scarlette Present is a Christmas digi, but I've used her as one!  The bottom present in her stack is paper pieced and I added a red pearl to the ribbon hanging from her skirt.