Rockin around the Christmas Tree.....

Hello everyone - Everyone enjoying the crazy weather lately?!  Up here we are currently digging out of the snow the Midwest was so nice to send our way :-)  I am not thrilled with it all - but the dogs are in thier glory!  The only good thing, if it keeps up like this, we are definitely having a white Christmas!  Todays card is for the Play Date Cafe and Cards Magazine Blog challenges.  I love using the non traditional colors and blues and purples are my faves. (I have used both as themes in my x-mas decorating!)  For the tree - I played around with my embossing powder and used three different colors to echo the patterned paper.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: My Sentiments Exactly

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Coredinations, DCWV

Ribbon, Cuttlebug EB Folder(Spots and Dots), Ranger Embossing Powder(Turquoise, Cobalt), Zing Embossing Powder(Met. Purple)

Happy Holidays

Just wanted to share a couple cards I managed to get done this weekend. The first is for CPS and Picture Perfect Creations -I loved being able to find a way to use "non-holiday" colors for a holiday card!

The next is for SCS Viva la Verve Friday Challenge. I Love to do this challenge every month - always some great sketchess and inspiration to be had!



Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Holidays

Stamps: Unity

Ink: Distress Ink, Smooch

Paper: Basic Grey Wassail, Kraft from Michaels

Ribbon, BG Sizzlet by Sizzix, MS Glitter, Spellbinders

Santa

Stamps: Making Memories

Ink: Distress Ink

Paper: My Minds Eye, Coredinations

Ribbon, Spellbinders (Buckle, Ovals), MS Glitter, Distress Rock Candy

O Christmas Tree and Joy

Hi everyone! Winter has hit us up here in beautiful upstate NY - my puppies are loving it!  It has blanketed everything in glorious white fluffy snow - perfect to get into the Christmas mood!

First up is a set of cards I did for the Cards Magazine Challenge of quick and easy to mass produce Christmas cards.

The second is for the Play Date Cafe challenge of Red and White.

Thanks for stopping by!

O Christmas Tree

Stamps: Verve

Ink: Colorbox

Paper: Coredinations, AC Cardstock

Joy

Stamps: Inkadinkado, Unity

Paper: Coredinations, AC Cardstock

Ink: Vesamark, Colorbox

Ribbon, Crystals, White Embossing Powder

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

From Us

Just wanted to share a super quick card I did after getting back home after our six hour drive from NYC.  I was going through crafting withdrawl after being away from my craft room for five days ;-)  It felt good to get inky (even if only for a quick card!) for the Play Date Cafe challenge of brown, grey and silver.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Unity KOM

Ink: Ancient Page

Paper: Staples cardstock, Coredinations

Ribbon, tag die by cuttlebug, silver leafing pen

Thanksgiving Parade

Hi all! Just a quick post - I am in beautiful NYC for the Thanksgiving holiday and was lucky enough to get to see some of the Macy's Parade.  The friend we come down to stay with when we are here is lucky enough to work in a building a street over from the parade route.  19 stories up we could see the parade pretty well, stay warm and away from the BIG crowds ;-)  But anyway here is a little bit of what I was able to see!  I think I might try to get down there for the beginning of the parade next year.

I hope everyine is having a safe and fun Thanksgiving weekend!



Santa and his sleigh



Crowd disbursing after Santa goes by - in 10 mins you wouldn't know there was a parade that went by. By noon traffic was back to normal at the beginning of the route.





Looking down towards time square



One street over - parade stops every 5 -10 mins to let cross traffic go - but pedestrians don't let the traffic get in the way!

Thanks a bunch

Just a quick post to share with you a card I did for the Cards Magazine Challenge blog.  This weeks challenge was thank you cards - I think everyone can always use more of those - I know I never have them on hand when I need them!  I kept it simple to let the beautiful flowers from Verve shine. After stamping, I watercolored them with Tumbled Glass Distress ink (definitely my favorite DI color!) and then used Smooch in Pool and Moonlight to add a little shimmer to them. Very striking IRL, it is not coming through in the picture.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Stamps: Verve

Ink: Ancient Page, Distress Ink

Paper: Coredinations, AC Cardstock

Quickcutz EB Folder, Half Pearls

Naughty or Nice?

Countdown to Turkey Day! - Hard to believe that the holidays are sneaking up on us! I can't wait - we are heading to NYC for a mini vaca - I love seeing the city all dressed for Christmas!

I did todays card for Viva La Verve over at SCS and The Play Date Cafe color challenge - Red, olive and Turquoise.  Not your traditional christmas-y colors but it works just the same. I just love the little voucher stamp - I couldn't bring myself to check off naughty - so I figure borderline works! :-) 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Rubber Stampede, Inkadinkado

Paper:  Coredinations, K & Co

Ink: Ancient Page

Spellbinders (Buckle), MS Border Punch,

Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Ribbon

For You

I love Fall!  The colors, the crisp air and the pumpkins! (I get that from my Mother!) ;-) So when I saw the colors for Our Creative Corner's challenge I just knew I had to break out my Basic Grey Pyrus pack and Pumpkins.  I really love the way this came together. I started with the sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping, but the finished result bears little resemblance to the sketch, but I love the results!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Unity KOM

Ink: Distress Ink, Ancient Page

Paper: Basic Grey, Coredinations

BG Ribbon, Spellbinders

Hello

Another quick post - This time for The Play Date Cafe and Card Patterns. The color challenge from PDC was a challenge - to say the least! I tried a couple different ways of combining the colors that I did not like at all - so I figured you can never go wrong with simple! 

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Unity

Ink: Distress Ink

Paper: Coredinations

Ric Rac, Quickutz EB Folder,

Metal Photo Corners from Hobby Lobby

Mittens

Hi All!  Just a quick post to share with you a card I did for the Cards Magazine Blog.  This weeks challenge was to make a mini card.  How cute and fun are they to make!  They are a great way to use up some scraps too - I used a bit of Basic Grey paper I had left over from another project to add a little color. Quick and Easy - can't get any better than that!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: MSE

Paper: Basic Grey (Eskimo Kisses), Cardstock from Staples

Ink: Ancient Page, Distress Ink

Novelty Yarn

Pick a Pear

Good Morning Everyone and Happy Monday!  Today I am sharing a couple cards I have done for The Play Date Cafe Challenge of Stucco, Celery and White.  I ended up making two cards - I didn't want to waste any scraps of paper and the image just lent itself so well.  I kept the cards themselves fairly simple and let the image speak for itself.  I might do a couple more in complementary colors to round a nice Birthday or Christmas gift - that time of year is sneaking up on us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Unity

Paper: AC Cardstock, SEI

Ink: Ancient Page

Spellbinders, Ribbon, Copics

Birthday Train

Hello All!  Today I am sharing I card I did for my best friend's birthday - which is today!  Sending out big hugs for your Birthday today, Shawn!

I used a little simpler version of the Mojo Monday sketch. I knew when I had seen this super cute paper in the Basic Grey "Oliver" pack that I sooo wanted to use this - Shawn has been a big train fan since way back in the day ;-).  I paired it with one of the new Studio G $ stamps, which I colored in using my copics. You can't really tell to much from the pic, but I used  little puff EB powder for the steam - I have been wanting to play with the EB but really haven't had a chance to until now.  An alphabet charm on a paperclip and crystals on the sentiment finishes off the final touches.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Studio G

Ink: Ancient Page, Copics

Paper: Coredinations, Basic Grey

Crystals, Alphs Charm, Spellbinders, BG twill ribbon

Together Forever

Hello everyone! Well - after a very long month, I should hopefully be back in the swing of things a little more regularly.  This is a card I did for the Play Date Cafe color challenge of Black and White with a splash of Burgundy. I love this color combo - I think it is so elegant and perfect for a wedding card. 

I also used the Cards blog challenge of ruffles - for which I used some lace.  My Grandmother had a ton of lace hanging out on her back porch - she would be happy to see it being put to good use :-) 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Unity

Ink: Ancient Page

Paper: AC Cardstock, DCWV

Spellbinders, Half Pearls, Lace, Grosgrain Ribbon



It’s all about the Candy corn!

 

Hi all – I know it has been a while since I have posted regularly, but I have been super busy lately.  But things are starting to settle a little and I managed to find a bit of time this weekend to play with a new Unity set!  I played with the OCC sketch challenge as well as the “sparkle” challenge at Basic Grey Challenges. 

I LOVE this cute little set and was thrilled when I found it to be the deal of the day over on the Unity blog.  I bling’ed up the candy corn with glitter, Glittered up a candy corn brad, and a little bit of sparkly ribbon to finish.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Stamps: Unity

Ink: Ancient Page, Distress ink, kaleidacolor

Paper: Basic Grey (Eerie)

EK Success Punch, MS Glitter,

MM Ribbon, Brad from Target $ Bin

Ho cubed

 

   Hello everyone! I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything but things have settled and I found some time to play with a couple challenges this weekend.  I played with the Play Date Cafe’s color challenge of melon and green – which I think is a beautiful color combo for Christmas (but I like non-traditional pairings!) I also used CPS’s Sketch challenge.  I love this humorous little sizlit that came with a couple Basic Grey Embossing folders!  I paired it with my Lotus Spellbinder that I have been dying to use.  It is not quite finished yet – the more I am looking at it  - I think I will add a merry Christmas sentiment in the bottom corner.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Stamps: (none yet – but Sentiment will prob be from Unity)

Paper: AC Cardstock, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses, Coredinations

Ink: Distress Ink

Basic Grey Sizlit, Spellbinders Lotus Pendant

Lorraine J. Briggs 10/11/31 - 09/24/10

Me and Grandma at Niagra Falls

Hello Everyone - Sorry to have been MIA lately - but my Grandmother recently lost her battle with cancer.

My Grandmother was a huge inspiration in many areas of my life but I will especially miss her unfailing enthusiasm of crafting.  She was always my best cheerleader and was so happy to have something to share and to teach me.  Not only was she a big reason I got started in card making, but also taught me to knit and crochet. 

Growing up, my Grandmother, being Agorophobic, never ventured farther than her yard, but in the last year of her life, we were able to find medication to help her.  We were lucky enough to be able to open the world back up to her again, and boy was it fun!  I am so happy to have had the chance to have these memories to remind  me - I will miss her greatly.

Thank you Grandma - it was fun!

FWF - Nature

Good Morning all and happy Friday to everyone!  Friday means it is time for Friends with Flair!

Today I am sharing a cute little card I did for Embellish Magazine challenge and the Basic Grey Challenges Design Team Challenge (Oh how cool would that be!)  I used my July KOM from Unity(of course!) I love these little apples/pumpkins and can't wait until it is time to go picking!  Keeping true to the embellish color challenge I used a variety of papers from Basic Grey's Origins' collection.

Don't forget to keep your eye out for the blinkie on one lucky lady's blog - leave her some love and you could win Unity goodness! For a complete list of hoppers check out the Unity blog!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Unity

Ink: Colorbox

Paper: Basic Grey, Kraft from Michaels

Ribbon from BG

Paris Love

Hello all! Sorry to be neglecting my little corner of the net, but my Grandmother has been ill, so that has been sapping my mojo lately. 

I did get this little confection done for The Play Date Cafe challenge and for Verve's Friday challenge over at SCS.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: MSE
Paper: Bazzill, AC Cardstock
Ink: Ancient Page
Cuttlebug EB Folders, Ribbon, Crystals

FWF – Key to my Joy

Hello everyone and welcome to another Friends with Flair!  

Well – this one was supposed to have been for the Embellish blog challenge – but I am a day late and a dollar short!  I don’t know why I blanked out that it had to be uploaded over there by last night but – oh well – we can still enjoy it here!  The challenge was to use squares – which I chose to use by highlighting certain areas of the background stamp.  I love these images from the July Store Kit!

 

Don’t forget to keep your eye out for the FWF blinkie on some lucky gals site – it could mean some serious rubber for you if you find it!  For a complete list of all hoppers check out the Unity blog!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Stamps: Unity

Paper: DCWV

Ink: Distress Ink

Ranger Embossing Powder, wire from MM 

FWF - Denim flower and Dream

Hello to you and TGIF!!!!

I have a couple of cards for todays FWF - thanks for stopping in today.

First up is a card I did for Basic Grey Challenges (use fabric). I am sooo in love with my tattered florals Sizzix die by Tim Holtz - it can cut through anything beautifully.  For the flower I used an old pair of jeans I hadn't gotten around to getting rid of -now I am glad I didn't! (See, procrastinating does pay off!)  I layred it with a piece of cork to break up the denim and roughed up the edges of the faric a little bit.  I topped it all off with a little birdie stamp from the Aug KOM stamped on paper from the Junebug collection.

This next one is for a couple different challenges - Color Throwdown(Kraft, Saffron, and Choc.Chip), CPS, and Cards Magazine.  The center sentiment is also from the Aug KOM.  It is hard to tel but there is a Kraft color base hiding underneath it all :-)!

That is all for me today.  For a complete list of all FWF hoppers check out the Unity blog.  Keep your eyes peeled for the FWF blinkie and you could win some Unity rubber!

Thanks for stopping by!

Bird w/Denim Flower

Stamps: Unity

Ink: Ancient Page

Paper: Basic Grey, AC Cardstock, Coredinations

Tim Hotlz Sizzix Die, cork, button

Dream, Believe, Live

Stamps: Unity, CHF

Ink: Distress Ink

Paper: Coredinations, Kraft from Michaels, Staples Cardstock

Ribbon

Fall

Hello again! Just Finished another card for a couple challenges - a one word card for the Cards Blog and OCC's color challenge.  The colors for OCC just screamed Fall to me - I can't wait for Fall - it is my favorite season. Maybe it is the heat getting to me - another week of 90's NY isn't supposed to be so hot - I feel like I am in FL again!

I decided to play with my new Basic Gery Embossing folders from Sizzix - they have some very awesome Chrsitmas ones.  Why do they have to bring out so many cool toys to play with!?! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Unity (July KOM)

Ink: Distress Ink

Paper: Bazzill, Coredinations 

Half Pearls, Ribbon, Diecut Leaves, EB Folder

Be Funky!

Hello all! Just wanted to get up a quick card - I am coming in right under the wire again over at The Play Date Cafe.  I couldn't help it  - I just HAD to play with the colors they threw out last week.  You would think that Navy, Mustard and Hot Pink just wouldn't go together - but it was a ton of fun to play with!  Here is mine - love this little owl from Unity's August KOM - and the sentiment was the perfect fit!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Unity

Paper: Basic Grey (June Bug), Coredinations

Ink: Ancient Page, Distress Ink

Glitter

h{ippity} Hop - Love, Hope, Joy

Hello everyone and happy Monday!

Time for the h{ippity} hop!  For a complete list of hoppers please go here.

Today's card is one that I did for last months Verve challenge over at SCS.  The flourish is from Regal Greetings which you can find for sale here.  I accented the flourish with some half pearls.  I just got a couple of Tim Holtz's Distress Ink's and I am lovin' the new colors he has!  That new red is just awesome! They will not move far from my hands I am sure!

Thanks for stopping by!

 Don't forget to go check out what the other hoppers have done - There is always some good eye candy on this hop!

Stamps: {ippity}, MSE

Ink: Distress Ink

Paper: AC Cardstock, Dcwv, Coredinations

Half Pearls

FWF - Butterfly

Hello and happy Friday all!  Another weekend here to enjoy!  After a week of not much mojo - and boy have I heard about it - I did get this card done for Verve's challenge over at SCS.

I have had these gorgeous Martha Stewart butterflies to glitter up for it seems like forever.  Everytime I go to play with them they never seem to go with what I am doing.  It is amazing what can be done with some double sided adhesive!   I stamped my own paper with tumbled glass distress ink and a backgrounder stamp with a Unity flower.  Here is my inspiration pic.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to keep your eye out for the blinkie - you could be winning some Unity goodness! For a complete list of hoppers check out here.

Stamps: Unity, CHF

Ink: Distress Ink

Paper: AC Cardstock, Coredinations

MS Butterfly and glitter, Ribbon

FWF - Moments

Happy Friday - weekend is here! (almost)

Friday means it is Friends with Flair day! For a complete list of everyone participating please check here. 

Todays card was made using the Jan '10 KOM and I tought the sentiment was soo perfect.  (If you are looking for past kits - I got mine here.)  I also decided to play around with the scrunchy ribbon I have been seeing everywhere :-)  It was easier to do than expected but I don't know how the staying power is going to be - I think my ribbon was too heavy - it is popping off a little in places. 

The sketch is from CPS and the colors from ColourQ

Don't forget to go check around to find the blinkie - you could win some Unity goodness!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Unity

Ink: Distress Ink

Paper: AC Cardstock, Bazzill

Ribbon

Thought of You.....

Hi All - just a quick post - I am really getting this in under the wire at Play Date cafe's challenge of brown, green and beige! ;-) The sketch is from CardPatterns.

Ok - that's it for now! Thanks for stoping by!

Stamps: Unity
Paper: Basic Grey, Coredinations
Ink: Ancient Page
Buttons, Crystals, DMC Floss

H{ippity} Hop - Mistletoe

Happy Monday!!! It is time for the h{ippity} hop today - for a complete list of hoppers go over and check out the {ippity} blog.

This card was done for the Verve Anni-verve-sary release challenge. If you haven't been over to Verve's blog or SCS check either of them out - There are sneak peeks of the new release happening all week and the sets are going to be fab! If you play along with the sketches you have the chance of winning some goodies  so go check it out!

I love the little Christams set that was in the first release - but seeing as I didn't get into {ippity} until after the first of the year, I certainly did not feel like inking up anymore x-mas stamps.  But I saw them sitting there so lonely and decided to break down and use them ( A little snow would feel nice in the middle of all this heat!) As always if you like this set it is available here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: ippity

Ink: Ancient Page, SU Markers

Paper: SEI, Coredinations

Spellbinders, EK Success Border Punch, Stickles

One of a kind

Hello all! Well - I have gotten in some crafty time this weekend and put this together for the Get Sketchy challenge, Embellish challenge and the Cards Magazine challenge. The handmade flowers were easy-peasy to do - I punched out about 6 pieces of lighter weight paper  with a scalloped hole punch, punched a hole in the center and inserted a brad. After the brad was in, I scrunched up each layer - Easy and cute.  I came across a couple tutorials showing this technique one day as I was surfing the blogs and don't remember where I had saw them.

I also wanted to share this card done for the Verve Anni-verve-sary Release Week Challenges. Go check out the SCS forum, Julee has posted 5 sketches to play along with for a chance to win some Verve-y goodness.  I used Maureen's Wild Card Color Challange as my colors - I have been wanting to play along with some of the color combos.  I figured this would be the perfect time seeing as she is the Guest Diva for August!

Thanks for stopping by!

One of a Kind

Stamps: Unity

Ink: Ancient Page

Paper: Coredinations, Kraft from Michaels

Song in my Heart

Stamps: Verve

Ink: Distress ink, Colorbox

Paper: Basic Grey, Bazzill

Spellbinders, BG Ribbon, EK Success Border Punch

FWF - A little bit of Christmas

Hello and happy Friday the 13th!

 After realizing it was Fri. the 13th I should've done halloween cards - but I am stuck with Christmas ones instead! ;-)

These little minis are done for the Caardvarks challenge.

I love how quick and easy they were to do!  The center circles, after running them through the Spellbinders die - i ran through my Xyron and covered them with glass microbeads to give them a frosty (pun intended) look.  I thought that the christmas circle from one of my Unity KOM's were perfect for this - (I was lucky enough to pick up this older kit here - I think she is running a sale too!) love that little snowman!

Thanks for stopping by today! Don't forget to keep your eye out for the blinkie! You could be the happy winner of some Unity rubber! For a full list of participants - check out the Unity blog!

Stamps: Unity

Paper: Basic Grey(Green pattern) DCWV (Blue pattern), Coredinations

Ink: Colorbox

Ribbon, Spellbinders, MS Glass Beads