Happy New Year!

Saying goodbye to 2015 and hello to 2016.  May your new year be filled with loads of creative blessings.  Happy New Year my creative friends!!!

Happy Birthday

My new sister-in-law has a birthday just before Christmas.   Late December birthdays can be difficult because nobody seems to have the time to focus on you.  I wanted her to feel special on her special day so I sent her a card that had nothing to do with Christmas.

Do you know anyone with a late December or early January birthday?  If so, what do you do to make them feel special on their special day?

Stamps:  Unforgettable (Wplus9)
Ink: Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers
Paper: Marshmallow (Bazzill) Patterned Paper
Accessories: Blueprints 24 (My Favorite Things) Aquapainter

WPlus9 Design Studio Clear Stamps, Unforgettable

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker, Set of 24

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Blueprints 24

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 10 pk

Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush, Large Fine Point (23637)

Memento Ink Pad, London Fog

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

We have so many wonderful traditions in our family, including opening 2 gifts on Christmas Eve.  One is a new set of jammies and the other is a book, puzzle or board game to make the night go faster.  Even though our kids are teenagers, they expect our traditions to continue.

Michael & Isabella

My little dog gets her jammies on too.  They aren't new, but we save them for Christmastime.  It's funny how much our animals enjoy Christmas.

Tyler and Maximus

My older son didn't want to put his jammies on or have his picture taken.  He did give me permission to post this picture of him with Max.   Our animals get just as excited for Christmas as we do.  They are usually the first ones to get into their presents.  :)  I think they smell the treats and catnip.

With one child already in college and the other in high school I know that these times with them are fleeting and precious.  I love that both our boys still live under our roof and they enjoy the magic of Christmas.  I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating our Savior's birth and that you will be surrounded by some of the people you love & hold dear to your heart.

Christmas Blessings from our home to yours!

Banner Sketch ~ SC119

SC119

Christmas is in full force at our house, and I haven't had time to create in over a week!  I might start going through withdrawls soon.  lol   There is a super easy sketch to use up your scraps over at Stampin' Celebration.  This challenge will run for 3 weeks to give the design team a bit of a break to spend with their families.  That means you have loads of time to create projects for this challenge and link them up. 

Christmas Card Crunch

I admit it.  I'm behind on sending out my Christmas cards.  If you are on my card list, you may be getting yours a little late.  Sorry about that.   Now that my 2015 cards are made, it's time to start working on 2016.  I like working on Christmas cards during the Christmas season.  A few years ago I learned to work ahead by creating "in season" for the next season.

One of the things I love about this card is that I used some of my snowflake stamps in a very unique way.  I turned them over and inked up the back of the stamp.  They are in the shape of a circle, so I was able to really stretch my stamps.   I also used Bokeh Dots to fill in with more sizes of circles and then embossed my snowflakes on top of some of the dots.  

The Snowy Sayings stamp set was a part of the Stamp of Approval Holiday Magic collection.  If you were lucky enough to snag one of those boxes before they sold out, you can link up your creations HERE for a chance to win the NEW collection being released in January 2016!  Hurry though.  You only have a few more hours to link up!  Voting begins on Sunday at 6pm EST

Stamps: Bokeh Dots (Essentials by Ellen Hutson) Snowy Sayings (CASual Fridays Stamps for SOA) Sparkle & Shine (Whimsy Stamps)
Ink: Berrylicious, Blue Raspberry (My Favorite Things) Peacock Feathers (Distress) Pool Party, Marina mist, Soft Sky (Stampin' Up!) Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder (SU)

Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps, Bokeh Dots by Julie Ebersole

Calling All Sistahs

It's the 17th of December and doing your self breast exams this month is probably the last thing on your mind.  That is why I am joining Michele Gross of CASual Fridays Stamps in sending out a reminder to do your self-exam.  Take a few moments for yourself this month and remind your sistahs to do the same.

Sistah defined- A friend that is like a sister to you.
Calling All Sistahs (CAS) defined- A monthly call out to remind you and your sistahs to do their self exams and schedule your yearly mammograms.

Read more HERE

Stamps: Calling All Sistahs, Hope Ribbon (CFS)
Ink: Lilac Posies (Memento) Razzleberry (My Favorite Things) Silver Lining (Wplus9)
Paper: Whisper White (SU)

Jewel Toned Color Challenge

The challenge this week at StampNation is a color challenge with an interesting Christmas color palette.  Check it out!

It doesn't have to be a Christmas card, but I needed to make more, so mine is.  I lightly traced a triangle shape onto my Whisper White cardstock and used that as my template to stamp a tree.

The base was quickly cut from a piece of silver foil cardstock.  You can see the full card along with all the gorgeous design team samples HERE if you are a StampNation member.  Allison's creation completely blew me away!

On a side note, this was my first time using my new Wplus9 inks and I have to say, I love them.  They stamp a little different color than what is on the lid, especially the purples, but I am happy with all the colors I have so far and plan to get more.  Unfortunately my regular camera broke and the colors just aren't showing up as well with my cell phone photo.   Hopefully Santa will bring me a new camera for Christmas.

One last thing before I go.  Ellen Hutson is having a super sale!  Use code SeasonSale at checkout to get 40% of items HERE.

Stamps: Bright Baubles (Neat & Tangled for SOA)
Ink:  Daffodil Delight (SU) Lilac Posies (Memento) Cockleshell, Lake House, Ocean Drive (Wplus9)
Paper: Silver Foil, Smoky Slate, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Purple/Plum Twine

Easy Watercolored Snowflake + SOA Giveaway

Someone told me Christmas is only 11 days away!  Yikes!  I spent last week with my extended family in CA and I am way behind on all my Christmas activities here at home.  The time spent with my new niece, Meeka, was worth letting a few other things go back home.

Meeka did not want to dress up early for Christmas.

My card today was originally made for CASEing Christmas.  At the time it was going to be a paid class and my card did not quite fit Catherine's vision for the class.  She gave me a couple of suggestions and I ended up with a CASE of a CASE and a cool Twisted Inlaid Die Cut technique.  

That left me with this video of my watercolor snow flurries, so I decided to share it with you.  I discovered a neat trick completely by accident.  Watch the video below to learn more.

Direct Video Link 

Catherine Pooler is doing a giveaway on her blog.  Now is your chance to earn a FREE (not yet released) Stamp Of Approval box.  The new one comes out in January and you can win one before you can buy one.  How cool is that??!!!  Clicky to go to CP's blog to learn more.

Stamps: Bring On the Snowflakes (CAS-ual Fridays for SOA) Scenery: Holiday Trimmings (Winnie & Walter for SOA)
Ink: Versamark, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers #31, #32

Paper: Misc. Glitter Swirl Paper (JoAnne's) Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder (SU) MISTI, Aquapainter

Rustic Christmas Challenge at StampNation

There is just something so comforting about a rustic Christmas.  It feels cozy and warm and inviting.  The challenge this week at StampNation is to capture that Rustic Christmas feel on our cards.  Here is a sneak peek at mine.

Stamps: All the Christmas You'll Ever Need (Lil' Inker Designs)
Ink: Festive Berries, Fired Brick (Distress) Crumb Cake (Stampin' Up!) Versamark
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla (SU)
Accesories: Blueprints 20 (My Favorite Things) Gold Embossing Powder, Sponge (SU) Mini Distress Tool (Ranger) Scor-Tape

Golden Deer ~ Video

How are your Christmas cards coming?  Have you sent them yet?  I haven't even made out my list yet.  Yikes!  I better get to work on that.  My card today is super simple to mass produce if you need to still make a few more.

Check out my video for some tips and bloopers.

https://youtu.be/nOeDuqfeMUk

My card was inspired by the new Stampin' Celebration challenge.  Even if you have already sent all your cards this year, you can use the photo collage for inspiration for any type of card. The card I made today could be used for any occassion if you changed the sentiment and image.   Happy Father's Day (keep the deer) Congratulations, Graduation, Wedding, Birthday, Thank You.

SC118

I was also inspired by last week's sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch.  The gold and white buttons paired with the sketchy circles perfectly, don't you think?  I love it when 2 challenges work together like they were meant to be.  

CTS 151

Be sure to check out both challenges and play along.  :)  It's good to take time for your creative self during this busy holiday season.  

Stamps: White Christmas (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Black (Staz-On) Golden Glitz Delicata (Tsukineko) Soft Suede (SU)
Paper: Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Aquapainter (SU or Tim Holtz Distress) Blueprints 24 (My Favorite Things) Pattern of the Rings Stencil (Winnie & Walter for SOA)

Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Blueprints 24

Delicata Ink Pad, Golden Glitz

Stazon Solvent Ink Pad, Jet Black

Ranger Tim Holtz Water Brush, Detailer/Fine Brush Nib

Sponge Applicator, Sponge Dauber 3 pk

Sponge Applicator, Sponge Dauber w/ Airtight Cap

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, 0.88 oz.

Sew Sunday ~ ALYOF Dec Goals

December Goals

Time to set some new goals.  December is a month that I know I won't have a lot of time to work on my sewing, but I don't want to lock up my sewing room for the month.  I've decided to work on some of my Quilt-A-Long blocks for the South Sound Modern Quilt Guild Patchwork City QAL.  I'm still a couple of months behind, and would like to be on track for our January meeting.  That means I need to complete 5 blocks.  I've got one of them cut, just need to sew it together.

I have 4 1/2 blocks completed.  My goal is to have all 9 done by the end of the month.

Frosty Pink Christmas

I'm not sure why I love this card so much, but I do.  I used the color block "smooshing" technique similar to a card I showed you here.  This card is much quicker as there is no coloring going on.   Instead I added die cuts that were cut out of glittery paper.  You've got to love quick and easy to projects at this time of year.   There is no sentiment on this card so it can be used beyond Christmas.  I think this would make a nice Thank You card to send anytime.

Ink: Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Watercolor (Bristol) Black Diamonds Glimmer Paper, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper, Whisper White Cardstock (Stampin' Up!)
Accesories: Clear Block (SU) Funky Flakes Fri-Dies (CFS for SOA) Funky Tree Die (Whimsy Stamps)

Bright Baubles Christmas Tree CASE

The free CASEing Christmas class at StampNation earlier this month had me inspired beyond belief!  Not only were the original CASES and lessons inspiring, but the cards that members showed had me wanting to run to my stamp table.  This card was CASEd from Maureen Merritt's card on day 2.

Maureen used deep purple and blue to make a gorgeous night sky for her snowy village.   I went for a daytime sky by using brighter shades of the same colors.  Instead of a village die cut I did an emboss resist technique with a bare  Christmas tree.

Before I go I wanted to remind you about the Cyber Monday Sale going on at Ellen Hutson.  Click on the picture below and use coupon code cyber 2015 at checkout for 20% off!

Happy Shopping!

Stamps: Bright Baubles (Neat & Tangled)
Ink: Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet (Distress) Versamark
Paper: Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Little Bits (Neat & Tangled) Stitched Border 1 (Pretty Pink Posh) White Embossing Powder, Pewter Embossing Powder (SU)

Sew Sunday ~ ALYOF November ~ Meeka's quilt

If you saw my post last week, then you know I finished my niece's quilt in time to take pictures of her on it.  <3  Clicky if you missed it and want to see lots of cute baby pictures.   As promised though, I will show you pictures of the quilt itself along with all the deets.

This quilt started as part of a quilt along with Angie Juda.  We did the quilt along on Facebook, but she has also posted the videos on her blog.  Clicky All I knew when it started was that we would be using a layer cake, and I had the a layer cake to use for my niece's quilt.  :)  It is called a double slice layer cake quilt.

I ran into a bit of a problem after I finished all the squares.  The quilt was too overpowering for a newborn.  I really wanted a softer look.  The first thing I tried was removing all the squares with the navy background in them.  This helped tremendously.  Then I tried removing some of the blocks and doing a full panel of pink fabric.   I also tried putting in a couple of blocks in the center.

 I thought having 2 stripes of pink surrounded by white might work.  The design wall really helped tremendously on this project!  I could not have created this quilt without it.

In the end I decided on 2 blocks in the center, framed by a narrow border of white, and then 2 larger borders of pink and white.

For some reason I also decided to use mitered borders.  This video CLICKY by the fat quarter shop made it almost easy.

The back side has a strip of some of the leftover blocks from the double slice quilt along and a whole lot of minky pink fabric for added softness.

Thank you, Angie, for creating such a fast, easy quilt.  It would have been even easier if I had stuck to your original design.  I love that I was able to make something from my heart in a short time period that will be used for years to come.  I'm also super excited that I got my finish for November done.

November Finish

Yesterday my sister in law sent me a 1 month old picture of my niece laying on her quilt from Auntie.  You can see my crazy string of butterfly flowers quilting in this one, if you can look past the adorableness that is Meeka.