2011 Top Ten

I started this blog in February of 2011 and I've had so much fun sharing my cards, reading the nice comments and meeting new people through their blogs. I was just over at my friend Virginias blog and she listed her top 10 favorite cards of the year - maybe not the ones that got the most recognition - but just the ones she enjoyed making the most. I thought that was a great idea. So today I'm sharing with you the 10 projects I enjoyed the most in 2011. Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year!!

Be Happy

Be Silly

Jubilee Thanks

Be You!

Chevron Bag

Lanterns

Life is Good

Life's a Beach

Hello

Oh snap!

Red & White Challenge - Winter Wonderland

I made this CAS Valentine card for the current Winter Wonderland Red & White challenge this week. It uses a Technique Tuesday Stamp Set called Heart by Ali Edwards. The ink and paper are Real Red from Stampin Up. Thanks for taking a look!

Hero Arts Sketch Challenge - Newspaper Flower

I made this card using some of my new and old Hero Arts stamps for their current sketch challenge. I used the Zig Zag background stamp and the Newspaper Flower. I mixed several different Distress Inks on a white piece of card stock to get this purple color. Then I stamped the flower on the paper 3 times and cut out the different sections and attached them with foam tape. The sentiment is from the Everyday Sayings stamp set. Thanks for taking a look!

Here's my card. 

Gel-a-tins Wednesday - "Krafty" Thank You Card

Here's the card I made for the Gel-a-tins blog this week. I figured it was time to make some thank you cards for all those Christmas gifts. Head on over the Gel-a-tins blog for more details. This is my last week using the Gel-a-tins 3-D Alphas stamp set. Be sure to check back next Wednesday to see my fun new stamps for January.

Born To Shop - Skipping Stones

I made this card for the current Skipping Stones Sketch Challenge #108. I haven't had time to enter this challenge in a long time, but I love using my Skipping Stones Stamps. This is one of my favorite stamp sets and I feel like the sentiment describes me perfectly lately - I've been doing lots of shopping and I really prefer it to going to work!! But, if I want to buy new stamps I'll have to go back next week. Thanks for stopping by!

Here's my card. 

Materials
1. Card stock - Pumpkin Pie, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White - Stampin' Up
2. Patterned Paper - Sweet Threads - Basic Grey
3. Stamp set - Sassy Shoes
4. Ink - Tuxedo Black - Mementon
5. Markers - Yellowish Green, Apricot, Pale Pink - Copic 

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

I'm so glad I finally had time to participate in the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge.  The inspiration photo is so cute and fun. Since I'm making this card after Christmas, I decided not to go with the Christmas theme. Instead I was inspired by the color scheme of Red, Green, Tan and Brown. I used one of my new Paper Smooches stamp sets called Promenade. I love the images in this set. Thanks for taking a look!

Here's my card.

Materials
1. Card stock - Whisper White - Stampin' Up
2. Ink - Tuxedo Black - Memento
3. Copic Markers - Sepia, Chamois, Strong Red, Forest Green, Light Yellow
4. Stamp Set - Promenade - Paper Smooches
5. Rhinestones - Red - Michaels

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Sketcharoony

I made this card for the current Cupcake Craft Challenge. All the elements in this card are from the Echo Park Holly Jolly Christmas Collection. I love the papers in this collection and I had such a good time putting this card together. It was a fun sketch. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Holidays!!

Here's my card.

Happy Birthday Teri!!!

When I woke up this morning I saw on Facebook that it was Teri Anderson's Birthday. Teri is one of my favorite Paper Crafts Magazine Go-To-Gals. You should check out her blog sometime if you've never been there - she makes great cards! I decided to take out another one of my new Hero Arts stamps and make a quick virtual card for Teri. 


I'm also entering this card into the current Wee Memories Challenge - Anything Goes. Thanks for stopping by!

Here's my card. 

Materials
1. Card stock - Pool Party, Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder - Stampin Up
2. Decorative Paper - Stampin' Up
3. Stamps - Wish Big, Essential Messages - Hero Arts
4. Ribbon & Twine - Calypso Coral - Stampin Up
5. Die - Nestabilities
6. Ink - Basic Black - Stampin Up

CAS-ual Fridays - Kraft & Twine

I'm entering this card in the current CAS-ual Friday Challenge. I decide to move away from the holidays and make this cute birth announcement. The Onesie stamp is from Unity and the sentiment is from Lawn Fawn. The twine is My Minds Eye Lime Twist and the little clothes pins and decorative papers are from Stampin' Up. Thanks for taking a look!

Here's my card. 

Happy Holidays & Some Accepted Cards

Today I thought I would share my annual "family" Christmas Card photo. If I sent you a card and it didn't have a picture, it's because my printer ran out of ink!! The Black & White Border Collie-ish dog is Daisy - she's ~13. Of course, Dusty is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi - stealing the show - she'll be 12 on February 29. And Callie is the old Shepherd Mix - she's almost 15 - I got her from a shelter 13 years ago and they told me she was 1.5 at the time. And that girl in the back is me!! Thanks to my neighbor Beverly for getting a good photo - it's not an easy task to get dogs to all look the same way at the same time!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Holidays to you and yours!!

Since I shared my Christmas reject cards yesterday, I thought I would share some of my published cards today. 


These first two cards were in the Autumn Take Ten issue. 

This card was in the Stamper's Sampler December/January 2012 Issue - Newspaper Challenge (it's a more vintage type magazine)

This card was in the November Card Maker Magazine - "Thanks" Color Challenge Section

And finally, here is my Paper Crafts Magazine one hit wonder - it was in the September/October issue in the Circus Section. It was also featured on their blog twice so I think they really liked it!

Tuesday Trigger - Stripe-tastic

I made this card fort he current Tuesday Trigger challenge in the Moxie Fab World. Click here to go there and join in the fun of this stripey challenge. I was inspired by the stripes and colors in the photo. I was excited to make this card because it's my first card using one of my new 2012 Hero Arts Stamp set and I LOVE this set. Thanks for taking a look!

Here's my take on the inspiration photo.

Materials
1. Card stock - various colors from my Studio Calico More Colors Kits
2. Stamp set - You & Me - Hero Arts
3. Ink - Angel Pink, London Fog - Memento

Reject Christmas Cards & Tags

Last April during Spring Break I made lots of Christmas Cards for the Paper Crafts Magazine Call. Unfortunately, none were accepted, but I spent lots of time on them and I really do like them. On the bright side, one was accepted for the current December Issue of CARDS magazine. I'll post it later - they like you to wait until a month after the magazine is published. Thanks for taking a look and Happy Holidays!!

My card is on p. 31

Gel-a-tins Wednesday & CAS-ual Fridays

This is my weekly Wednesday Gel-a-tins post. I used Gel-a-tins 3-D Alpha and Holly Jolly Stamp Sets to create this CAS card and envelope. For all the details check out the Gel-a-tins blog here. I'm also entering this card & envelope into the CAS-ual Fridays challenge. 

Here's my card & envelope.

Moxie Fab World - Pot Pourri Challenge

I'm entering this card into the Moxie Fab Pot Pourri Challenge. My main inspiration for this card was the monogram and the gray colors. Click here to go to the Moxie Fab World and join in the fun of the Pot Pourrie challenge and other challenges. Thanks for taking a look!

Materials

Card stock - Basic Gray, Whisper White (Stampin Up)

Decorative Paper - Soiree - Trellis (PinkPaislee)

Die - Label 2 (Spellbinders)

Pearls -  Silver (Queen & Co)

Punch - Dotted Scallop Label Ribbon (Stampin Up)

Sticker - D (Recollections)

CAS-ual Fridays - Holly Jolly Christmas

I made this card for the current CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - Signed, Sealed & Delivered. I used a Gel-a-tins Stamp set called Holly Jolly that I think is very CAS. I added a few green and red rhinestones to the card and some red ones to the envelope - it will be hand delivered!! Thanks for taking a look and Happy Holidays!!!

Here's my card & envelope.

Materials
1. Card stock - Whisper White - Stampin' Up
2. Ink - Garden Green, Riding Hood Red - Stampin' Up
3. Stamps - Holly Jolly - Gel-a-tins
4. Rhinestones - Queen, Co. 

Play Date Cafe #111 - Frosty

I made this card for the current Play Date Cafe Challenge #111 - A Splash of Teal. I used a stamp set from Artistic Outpost called Frosty & Friends. The inks are Basic Black & Taken with Teal from Stampin' Up. Thanks for taking a look!!

Here's my card.

Materials
1. Card stock - Basic Black, Whisper White, Taken with Teal - Stampin Up
2. Ink - Basic Black, Taken with Teal - Stampin Up
3. Stamps - Frosty & Friends - Artistic Outpost

Winter Cards for Work

Today is my last of work this year!! I'm definitely ready for a break. I needed some cards for my coworkers and since many of them know I have a little card making hobby I wanted to make some cards for them instead of using store bought ones. But, I waited until last night, so I had to make something quick and easy. I subscribe to a nice UK magazine called Cardmaking & Papercrafts and it's so much fun because they send gifts with their magazines. In October they sent a My Minds Eye 6x6 paper pad of pretty wintery Christmas paper called Snowed In along with two sheets of matching chipboard stickers!! I haven't used any of it so I decided to pull it out and make some cards and here's what I came up with. They're not the most complicated, but they were fun and easy. The issue I got this week had a set cute of clear holiday stamps (I'll show some cards using them soon). 


I also made bread for some of my coworkers and my house smells so good - but unfortunately I need all 8 mini loaves so I can't eat any!!! I'll have to make more this weekend. I've included a picture - I think the loaves looked really pretty this time. Thanks for stopping by!