Sweet November October 2013 Release Preview - Day One

Hello, and welcome to the first day of the Sweet November October 2013 Release Preview!  Are you ready for some Christmas Cuteness?  Just look at the adorable Gingerbread Man Amy has created for you!  Introducing, Gingy Candy Cane Heart.  I couldn't wait to get this little guy colored up and placed on a card! 

The candy cane drops and the green striped paper are from a Martha Stewart paper pad.  A Spellbinders label die was used to create the frame for Gingy and a base for the sentiment.  I added some rub-on stitches to the frame after printing the sentiment.  Using a scrap of the patterned paper, I cut out three of the candies to use as embellishments.  Gingy was fussy cut and popped up with foam dots.  Adding two white pearls finished the card.

Please visit Amy's blog and Nancy's blog to see what they've created with Gingy Candy Cane Heart.  We adore reading your comments, and Amy, generous as always, has candy!  She'll be drawing names from a hat, and you can increase your chances of winning by commenting on all three of our blogs.  This Gingy and four others will be available for sale at C.C. Designs on October 3rd.

Thank you for visiting and commenting.  I truly do appreciate you taking time from your day to brighten mine!

From the Heart September 2013 Stamp of the Month Challenge

How is everyone on this Sunday night?  Did you have a good weekend?  Hubby and I spent time researching items for our kitchen renovation.  And today I actually was fortunate to watch two of my favorite football teams play...and they both won their games!!  Yippee!!

This evening's card features the From the Heart September freebie, Bobbing for Apples.  I also used the i {heart} sketches #26...rotated one quarter turn to the right.  The color red was prominent in so many of the cards I've been working on this week that I decided to go a different route with the apples in this image.

Btw, has anyone noticed a new item on my blog?  I'll have a bit of news for you on Friday.  In the meantime, please stop back by tomorrow, and the rest of the week, as I'll have some Sweet November October image previews for you!

Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge - Joy

Yep it is once again Friday, and time for the Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge!  Being the last Friday of the month, the theme is Anything Goes with an optional Christmas twist.  I can be a procrastinator, so making at least one Christmas card each month is helping me make a dent in my list!  Today's card features a freebie design from Mary Corbet's Needle and Thread.  This image is an embroidery pattern entitled Holly and Joy.  When looking for card images, sometimes looking beyond the traditional digi or rubber stamps can provide new and exciting designs. 

While it is difficult (okay, impossible) to see in the photo, the trim around the letters was colored with a Spica Pen.  As usual, with the image being so busy, I kept the card very CAS.

For the month of September our sponsor is Digi Stamps 4 Joy.  Our very creative Jen is an illustrator for them, and through her connection has secured five, yes 5, digi stamps for our winner this month!  Please join Carla, Dawn, Jen, Linda, Penny and me over at the Outlawz for this week's challenge, and give yourself a chance to win FIVE digi stamps.  Also, you could get a jump on your Christmas cards for this year!

Enjoy your weekend!

Another Dearie Doll Christmas Card

Happy Wednesday!  Popping in for a quick hello and to show you another Dearie Doll Christmas Card (I just cannot get enough of these sweet images).  The image is from the Dearie Doll Paper Doll Series.  I used the paper doll (with her legs swapped with an image that had a smaller shoe) and her Christmas outfit.  Doesn't she look ready for a Christmas party?

Have a wonderful rest of your week, and I'll see you on Friday!

   

Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge - Konnichiwa

Konnichiwa!  Can you guess the theme of today's Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge?  No, it is not a Japanese theme, but you're close.  Around the World (featuring a country) is today's theme!  So, you already know the country I chose to honor with my card.  I've never been to Japan, nor do I have any close relationships with anyone who has.  However, I find the culture, which is steeped in tradition, and now rapidly changing due to their affluent, tech savvy, youngsters fascinating to read about.  For my card, I chose a Sister Stamps image reflecting a part of Japan's past.  Sweet little Yoshimi is outside on a lovely Spring day, with the cherry trees in bloom, practicing her fan dance.

For the month of September our sponsor is Digi Stamps 4 Joy.  Our very creative Jen is an illustrator for them, and through her connection has secured five, yes 5, digi stamps for our winner this month!  Please join Carla, Dawn, Jen, Linda, Penny and me over at the Outlawz for this week's challenge, and give yourself a chance to win FIVE digi stamps.  Cannot wait to see what country you chose to feature in your card!  Thank you for visiting, and have a wonderful weekend!

P.S.  I entered this card in the Quirky Crafts Challenges #19 as it so nicely met their theme.

P.S.2  I won first place!  Thank you ladies! 

Joy

Happy Tuesday!  How is everyone?  Enjoying some crafty time?  This week we're in the midst of a tropical wave weather pattern, which translated means RAIN!  Thankfully it is not the gully washer rain that Colorado and other places to the West are experiencing, but more of an on and off type.  It makes going to the pool or beach rather iffy, but is great for settling in for some crafting!  At this very moment I'm watching the rain and listening to the thunder roll.  Don't mind the rain a bit when I'm warm and dry inside, and spending time card making.  Speaking of card making...I couldn't wait to show you this little sweetie, Poinsettia Girl, from Dearie Dolls!  She was a dream to color as a mini Mrs. Clause with her red outfit and black gloves and shoes.

Hope you all have a creative week!  See you on Friday!

Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge - Chocolate

It's Friday, and we have a yummy challenge for you this week at the Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge!  Our theme this week is....CHOCOLATE!  I must admit to being somewhat of a chocolate snob.  I grew up enjoying the usual candy bars and chocolate treats, but after an experience at Fauchon's in Paris, my taste for chocolate changed forever.  The rich, luscious, decadent chocolate creations were amazing!  The standard Hershey or Nestle candies were fine when I was a child, but as an adult I seek out gourmet chocolates.  Three of my current favorite chocolate shops are Norman Love Confections, Woodhouse Chocolate, and Ethel M Chocolates (I adore the pecan caramel raptures....their version of "turtles").  If you are looking for a special treat, any of the three of these shops have delectable offerings.  Anyway, getting back to today's card, I've had this Lili of the Valley stamp, The Chocolate Factory, since last year, and what better time to ink it up!  Since there is so much going on in the image, I decided to keep additions to the card very minimal.  I printed a double line border and called it good.

 

For the month of September our sponsor is Digi Stamps 4 Joy.  Our very creative Jen is an illustrator for them, and through her connection has secured five, yes 5, digi stamps for our winner this month!  Please join Carla, Dawn, Jen, Linda and me over at the Outlawz for this week's challenge, and give yourself a chance to win FIVE digi stamps!  Cannot wait to see your delicious creations!  

It's All About the Beach

Found a bit of time to play and make a card that wasn't for a DT assignment, special order, or immediate need (like a get well or sympathy card...I really should have some on hand, but never seem to get around to creating a stash of them).  This cutie is a digi stamp from Faith of From the Heart Digital Stamps.  Don't you just adore the peaceful look on that little bird's face?  The image is fussy cut and popped up with foam dots.  The sand is torn Kraft cardstock with a few dabs of Stickles.  Two die cut clouds, a die cut starfish, and a sentiment from TLC finished off the card.

See you tomorrow, and thank you for stopping by!

Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge - So Many Books

TGIF!  Welcome to the first Friday in September, and another Outlaws Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge!  The theme for this week is "Read All About It".  With so many fabulous images out there, especially on Elizabeth Dulemba's blog (she's all about books!...and she has a freebie every Tuesday), it was a challenge to pick just one image to color.  I finally settled on this adorable little fairy sitting on her stack of books.  And the sentiment by Paulette, of Create with TLC, appeared to be made especially to pair with this cutie.

 

For the month of September our sponsor is Digi Stamps 4 Joy.  Our very creative Jen is an illustrator for them, and through her connection has secured five, yes 5, digi stamps for our winner this month!  Please join Carla, Dawn, Jen, Linda and me over at the Outlawz for this week's challenge, and give yourself a chance to win FIVE digi stamps!  Thank you for stopping by, and enjoy your weekend!

Sweet November September 2013 Release Preview

Step right up folks, and get a glimpse of the amazing Sweet November September Release Preview! 

Hehe, sorry, I couldn't resist the dramatic opening!  You'll understand why when you see the fun image for this month.  Introducing Ring Master Bailey (and her monkey)!

For this card I used the circus tent digi by Cre8tive Hands as the background and layered Bailey over the top before printing.  I also digitally added red to the stripes, then outlined with Copics after printing.  I chalked the sky and ground, and added some die cut clouds and a sentiment to finish the card.  Hubby kindly pointed out that the cloud would not be in front of the circus tent, but I'm claiming artistic license here!

Please visit Amy's blog and Nancy's blog for more creations made with Bailey.  We adore reading your comments, and Amy has candy!  She'll be drawing names from a hat, and you can increase your chances of winning by commenting on all three of our blogs.  Also stop by C.C. Designs as today is preview day there as well!