Christmas Mail

Thanks to the beautiful Digital Scrapbooking Christmas Tradition Papers and Christmas Mail from Just Inklined, I finished another card for Christmas!

Holiday Lamp Post

I have been diligently working on Christmas cards, I am determined to get them in the mail by Valentine's Day! For today's card, I used the soon to be released Holiday Lamp Post by Lynne Stansbery of Squigglefly.  Lynne has so many incredibly beautiful images that practically color themselves like this one so for a hint of color, I used colored pencils, pastels and finished it off with a red ribbon.

Farewell Dude Time Doodles

Today is the day that the Dude and the Dudettes have been dreading, our last post as a team for the lively gents at Dude Time Doodles. But we're going out in style with a blog hop and four new images. My card features Twas the Night Before, a good little guy the day before Christmas but an absolute terror the remaining 364 days of the year!  If you've been following the hop you should have arrived from Anne's blog and your next stop is to visit Sharon. Don't forget to leave us all some love since one of us is the mystery host and has a Dude Time Doodles image waiting for the lucky commenter.

On a personal note to the team, you're the best and I have loved working and getting to know each of you. I thank you for your ongoing support and inspiration. I hope someday we will all be together again until then, it was a helluva party!

{Pin}Spirational Challenges

I am so very happy to tell you that I have joined the {Pin}Spirational Challenges design team! Although my term does not officially begin until January I do get to play along with all the other wonderful Pin Gals. The design team call is open until December 11, so if you are interested, please visit {Pin}Spirational Challenges for more information about how to apply.

This week's inspiration is provided by a photo of a cute, cute puppy. I love the glasses so I used Owl Sparklers, adorned with sunglasses to protect its eyes from all the sparkle and shine, from 2 Cute Ink, this week's sponsor.  For more inspiration from the design team please visit {Pin}Spirational Challenges and join the fun!

Tinsel Angel

The new challenge that starts today at Squigglefly is hosted by Rhonda's Rowdy Rascals and it calls for Glitter and Bling! When someone says glitter and bling, I'm in even when its not my team's turn! For my card I used the soon to be released Tinsel Angel by Squigglefly's fabulous artist, Fawn Palmer. Now get your glitter and bling on and join the challenge. Be sure to use a Squigglefly image to be eligible to win a prize and if you don't have a Squigglefly image, try one of their many freebies!

We Three Kings

Long before Paul, Ringo and George joined forces with John and became the Beatles, they were members of the youth choir at their church. Each Christmas season the choir would go caroling through neighborhoods to help spread the spirit of Christmas and good cheer. Each evening after the choir had finished singing and gone home, Paul, Ringo and George, a/k/a We Three Kings as Dr. Digi's House of Stamps has dubbed them, would remain singing non-traditonal Christmas songs until they were hoarse! One evening Paul happened to stroll by and when he saw them he decided to sing along and that folks is how the Beatles were born! 

Christmas Card

Now that Thanksgiving and Black Friday are in the past, I guess its time to honker down and get serious about creating Christmas cards if I want to send any out before Easter! 

Elizabeth

Just Inklined has so many elegant images of women but Elizabeth is my favorite! It may be her delicate features, the wonderful feathers or perhaps the era she's from. I just know I think she's beautiful!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Stuffed Turkey from Whimsy Stamps joins me in wishing you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING 

and a gentle reminder to skip the turkey and eat pie! 

We With You a Merry Chrithmus

Since Dude Time Doodles is closing its doors on December 15, today starts the last challenge! As you might expect judging by the calendar the challenge is Happy Holidays!   For my card I used We With You a Merry Chrithmus. So get busy and make a holiday card for your dude and enter the last challenge! Please stop by and see what the Dude and Dudettes have created and leave them some love, we're all feeling sad.

More Playtime

I hope the sound of crunching leaves under your feet is music to your ears! 

Devotion

A new challenge starts today at Squigglefly and this week it's Holley's Hobbyists' turn to host the challenge. The challenge is "Thankful" and you have three choices, make a thank you card, a Thanksgiving themed card, or make a card about something that you are very thankful for and add a sentiment to match! I am very thankful for many things, my family, my friends, my health and the warmth and coziness of my home BUT I cannot get all of that on one card. So I decided to share my thankfulness for my four-legged friends that make me smile each day and give me a sense of comfort that I am not alone. For my card I used Devotion by Squigglefly's amazing artist, Lynne Stansbery, her art is always so beautiful! Now it's your turn to share with us your "Thankful". Be sure to use a Squigglefly image to be eligible to win. If you don't have a Squigglefly image, check out all the freebies available!

Howdy Pilgrim

Just to clarify, a Pilgrim wears a hat and has a fetish for buckles, a turkey does not! Turkeys are covered with feathers, many, many feathers! In fact, there is one side of the turkey that has more feathers, the outside — well duh! But to enjoy the tasty morsels of a baked turkey one must capture the bird and they can be fierce as is Dr. Digi's House of Stamps' pistol toting turkey, Howdy Pilgrim! So my advice is to set a trap in your oven by placing a pan filled with butter and other tasty foods such as breadcrumbs, cranberries, and chopped celery in the waiting oven. Next, since turkeys love salt and pepper, generously sprinkle both creating a path leading into the oven. You must be quick, as soon as the turkey jumps in the pan, slam the door shut and do not open for at least four to six hours depending on the size of your bird. When you are confident that the turkey is done, open the door and you will find a perfectly baked turkey already stuffed if you set your trap properly. The only task remaining is to remove the feathers, I suggest using your vacuum cleaner!

Laser Glossy Lustre

The vibrance of Red Laser Glossy Lustre cardstock from the PaperTemptress is perfect for holiday cards especially when combined with Gold Laser Glossy Lustre cardstock. A touch of embossing and a few red sparkles finishes the card.

Turkey Thumbs Up

I hate going to the grocery store during the Thanksgiving season and having to walk past all the turkeys prancing about the parking lot carrying their little signs telling us to eat ham! Talk about feeling guilty! But just like all the other shoppers walking out of the store carrying big turkeys such as Turkey Thumbs Up from Just Inklined, the guilt is short lived!

Birthday Wishes

I have a dear friend that is quickly approaching a milestone birthday! To help her celebrate the notable day, I wanted to create a special birthday card for her. I do hope she likes it!

Patty and Paul Pilgrim

Woozer! I don't know about you but it's difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact that Thanksgiving is next week! But that's what the calendar says so it must be true! To celebrate the big day, Dude Time Doodles is offering both Patty and Paul Pilgrims as this month's freebies so don't delay, get them both today!

Ornaments

Happiness is spending one dollar on a stamp and making a card! 

Forgiven

Rhonda's Rowdy Rascals are the hosts for this week's challenge at Squigglefly. The challenge is Oldies but Goodies! Even though I'm not on Rhonda's team, I couldn't resist creating with one of my favorite images, the sweet Forgiven by Chrissy Armstrong! To compliment the image, I used Pawprint Paper, a Squigglefly freebie! The image just makes my heart melt!

Run Derek Run

Each morning as Dr. Digi's House of Stamps' star athlete, Run Derek Run, dresses for his morning run, his devoted wife of many years rouses from sleep long enough to question his motives for exercising at such an early hour. Of course he gives her the same answer each morning . . . because he is trying to keep fit after overindulging from the delicious meals she prepares. But the truth is that Run Derek Run enjoys keeping pace while watching the jiggling derrières of all the members of the women's volleyball team as they run through the park!

Play Time

I love watching crafting videos and then trying to incorporate what I've learned. I created today's card after being inspired from a Tim Holtz video. Can I just say that I love, love the eye! 

Terrace Houses

Today's card features Terrace Houses, another beautiful image from Just Inklined. I did not want to distract from its incredible detail so I kept the base of the card simple except for the ribbon.

Another Christmas Card Done

Oh dear, what will people say when they find out that I have added another crafting addiction — dies, to the already long list?  In my defense, if they would quit making them, perhaps the condition would improve! I wish I would have given today's card a little more thought and embossed the background but at least I've got another Christmas card made to add to the pile! But next time, definitely!

Heath Hunter

Today begins November's First Wednesday Challenge at Dude Time Doodles and the challenge is to make a card for a dude using Fall Colors! Heath Hunter from Bonibleaux Designs is featured on today's card! So just in case you're out in the woods, be careful! Heath Hunter is out and about, toting a gun and worse yet, it's loaded! At least Heath is being smart by wearing a safety-orange hat so he's not mistaken for the turkey that he is!

Snowman Cupcake

Today I just sat and played in my crafty space, mixing old stamps with new stamps and came up with Snowman Cupcake adding one more holiday card to the pile!  At the pace I'm going, I should be able to get all my Christmas cards finished and mailed by next Easter!

Candy Cane Sally

The super sweet Candy Cane Sally, by Cheryl Alger, is one of Squigglefly's new releases for November.  Sally is also my inspiration for the new Squigglefly challenge that starts today to use ribbon or a bow and hosted by Holley's Hobbyists! So get out your Squigglefly images and some ribbon and enter the challenge! And please, if you are Sally's mother, please take the candy cane away before her hands and face get all sticky and it gets all over her pretty dress! I speak from experience!

Just Inklined to Hop

Welcome to Just Inklined's Blog Hop! Our hostess for the hop is sweet Lori and the theme is to use handmade flowers and lace! I hope you have been following along the hop, if so, you have arrived here from our newest design team member, Dawn. If not, visit Lori's blog to begin the hop. For my card I used one of Just Inklined's new fall images, Scarecrow Not! It's not unusual to see sunflowers growing in a garden but lace, well that is something you don't see. To overcome this problem, I cut little pieces of lace and turned my garden into a field of cotton. Your next stop along the hop is to visit another new design team member, Tangi. Be sure to leave us a comment because there are two spot prizes along the way!

Gridiron Gregg

Today's card just makes me laugh all over myself! I know nothing about football except that whoever is carrying the ball runs up and down the field marked with yard lines.  Dr. Digi's House of Stamps' mammoth football player, Gridiron Gregg is definitely capable of moving the football up and down the field, let's hope he's headed in the right direction!

Hello Sunshine!

After a week of seeing only clouds from Hurricane Sandy, it sure would be nice to be able to walk out the door and say, "Hello Sunshine"! I guess there is nothing stopping me from doing so other than the fear of my neighbors calling the men in the white coats to come and take me away! On the other hand, if the men in white coats are good looking . . . 

Bus Trip

All aboard, we're going on a bus trip! As you might have guessed this fun stamp is Bus Trip from Just Inklined. The outer edges of the image are staggered with different thicknesses of adhesive to give it a sense of movement. Not sure that I was successful but thinking ahead, I did attach a map to the base of the card so we don't get lost!

Emerald Green Christmas

As the calendar ticks closer and closer, its time to stop thinking and start creating cards for Christmas! My card is elegant but so easy to make. I stamped a pieced of transparency and mounted it to the Paper Temptress' gorgeous RC100# Emerald Green cardstock and used the same cardstock to stamp and emboss the tree and sentiment. A few touches of silver embellishments, I now have one Christmas card ready to be delivered!

On a side note, thank you everyone for all your good wishes, thoughts and concerns during Hurricane Sandy's visit to Pennsylvania. The wind and rain tore down about two-thirds of a tree in my yard taking with it the line that feeds my cable, internet and telephone but it has been repaired and I'm back! When I see pictures of Sandy's destruction across the country, I count my blessings that my family and I made it through unscathed!