oldie but goodie

This a card a did awhile go with one of my favorite retired sets- serene sunflower. I used versamark and pastels- for popping pastels techniqe. I also did direct to paper to get grid type pattern.

On my last post, I said I was on waitlist for being "chemo angel". I got actually just got my patient assignment yesterday. So, I will send this card off to her. I am glad I have a reason to create to send a handcrafted card and note to make someone's day.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

It's a big one!

This is for SCS sketch challenge today, #200 can you believe it? Anyways, I accomplished a couple of things with this challenge.

1) completed sketch, although I went for big card using full sheet of card stock folded in half.
2) I went big, because I wanted to use these scallop chipboard frames I got in bulk buy and haven't figured what I was going to do with them. I could not fit 3 on regular greeting card size.
3) I got to use Haiku designer paper, when first saw the cattie, this paper was my favorite and still have not broke it out to use. oh the shame.....
4) used rub-ons, getting ready for upcoming November special, (hint, hint)
5) I made this card for my friend Tracy a fellow demo, who just found out a few weeks ago she has cancer again. She had cancer as a child and has been trying to get pregnant and just found out she has cancer. She is in treatment in a Boston hospital for next few months. One of the demos in our group organized a schedule in which one day out of the week we send her a handmade card. I have Mondays, so got a jump on it.

Everyone loves a handmade card, it feels nice to be able to have someone to give it my work to each week. I signed up to be a chemo angel, but I am on the waitlist. Which is a good thing to be on a waitlist for, that there is plenty of help to go around.

Cool Cardinal

I had my holiday SAS last Friday and the cardinal card was my customers least favorite. Most of the comments were that is something my mother or grandmother would like. I love the bird! So to celebrate him I have been wanting to do a candle and coaster with him. Funny, how some people are drawn to different images.

the candle&

the tile

I was suppose to go on my son's field trip to Plimoth plantation (Mayflower, Plimoth rock, etc....) but was postponed due to weather. Since, I had the day off from work, I took my own field trip to the only IKEA store in Massachusetts. Lucky for me, it is only about 20 miles away. I got to dream about my craft room when ever we start our addition. But, I did pick up some of the spice jars to make something out of soon!

halloween challenge

Our SBS24 challenge this week was to do something for Halloween. I saw these Peppermint pattie spiders on splitcoasters and had to try them. I apologize I don't know who had the original idea for them. I went with googlie eyes, since I don't have a smaller punch to do eyes yet. They are tricky to glue on though.

I then used the sissix top note die, some halloween paper and booglie eyes to make some cello bag toppers to put goodies into. I also took some of the halloween dsp and wrapped them around some hershey nuggets. I think I will send these into my son's teachers for Halloween.

fall scrapping

This is a page I did for a recent workshop. I covered the photos as they are not my children.

I was trying for a progessive type page. The guests could make the top 6 x 6 page or make it a 3 x 6 card. The hostess was really interested in scrapbooking so I geared workshop to scrapbooking.

We also, did a birthday card to celebrate SU's 20th anniversary and birthday special.

Well, wouldn't you know it, they all chose the 3 x 6 card option. Luckily, I am hosting a 6 x 6 calendar swap and I am in November so, I have it mostly prepped already.

This is the 3 x 6 card they could do, using Autumn harvest set and watercoloring with watercolor crayons.

Coach thank you

This is my little man running off the field (#19), okay he is not so little anymore he just turned 9, all 59 pounds of him. He begged to play Pop Warner football this year, and we warned him that it was a huge time commitment but we would make the time if he would.

I was psyched that he learned to take off his own football helmet by himself, but he did it by end of first week. My only goal for him accomplished.

Anyways, we have one more week left of the season. The Franklin Chargers E2 team have a record of 7-1 with only one game to go.

I made card for the team mom and coaches, using a sissix helmet die, sporting stamp set and brushed silver, whisper white and night of navy cardstock for team colors.

This is the coaches card. I made 7 for these dad's who totally volunteer all their time!

This one is for the Team mom. (sorry for crooked scan ;} )

I used absolutely fabulous stamp set and cuttlebug embossing folder.

Sista Sketch

This is our SBS 24 sketch challenge this week. Thanks to Kerry and all her great challenges she gives up each week. It really keeps your mojo going and I love checking out everyone else's blog to see their interpretation of the challenge.

I did check out a few this morning and realized I better go to my craft room and play along before I was influenced by other Sisters.

So, this is my interpretation of the challenge.

I just got crazy for cupcakes with SU promo going on right now and have yet to ink it up.

To start the challenge, I decided to use my pretties 1/2 back pearls (that are still sitting the box being ignored) for the 5 embellishments along the side panel. Since, they are more elegant, I went through my designer paper stash, can pulled this out from Bella Rose DSP. Then I went to my color combo chart and pulled out these colors: Pirouette pink, going gray, riding hood red and kiwi kiss.

Hostess gift part deux

I had another workshop tonight and this the hostess gift I made. The cards are totally cased from Andrea Walford, but I made a different bag. Leslie Rich did a tutorial on how to make it awhile back. I don't have the link but check out her blog, she does great stuff.

This show one of my favorite designer papers, urban garden and uses Upsy daisy. I was crunched for time getting ready for workshop, so it was nice to have Andrea's design to use and not have to come up with a whole design.

Time flies too quickly

I best intentions of checking out blogs and posting, but crazy week.

Anyways, I have been doing some stamping- just not a lot of computer time.

This is the hostess gift I gave out at my last workshop. I got idea from my UStamp class. I used "say it with scallops" instead of "wow flowers". The say it with scallops set is the Ronald McDonald set in which $2 of each set goes to RMDH charities. The box is based off 2-4-6-8 concept except with 12 x 12 cardstock.

Autumn Challenge

This week's sbs 24 challenge was to do something Autumn or harvest theme. I saw this bottle topper on Mackenzie's blog. I love her stuff, she is making me put a score-pal on my wishlist. Think I will ask DH for Christmas.

Anyways, super easy. I used Autumn harvest set from SU and my watercolor crayons. I am using this set for workshop this Friday, so I thought this would be a good way to show another use besides cards. And my favorite harvest-grapes for wine!!!

Here's some of God's great Autumn creations- from Jane& Paul's local farm. Pumpkin & apple picking and going through the corn maze. My husband "hates" that I pose photos vs. just taking them when they are doing it naturally. I am getting better about doing both. However, these are all posed!

Ahh Weekend

Sorry, no posting or checking on blogroll yesterday. We had another family day as boys were off from school and DH took day off. We went on bike trip on Cape Cod bike trail- just gorgeous. We biked along the canal, with boats going by and the leaves starting to change. We are having a great stretch of weather here in Massachusetts.

Then I had a workshop last night. In my attempts to clean up from workshop and old projects lying about- I started picking through some leftover projects in attempts to make some cards and clean up.

Beate's weekend sketch featured circles and I had some left over from a stamp a stack I did back in June. So just a quick one with leftovers and a set that is on special this month for 20 % off to celebrate SU 20 year anniversary... Big Bold Birthday.

This is some retired paper, but was one of my favorites, plus I got to use some of my new rose red grosgrain.

Enjoy your weekend, off to my son's football game!

Christmas SAS

These are the cards we will be doing at my upcoming Holiday SAS on 10/24/08. We will be making 20 cards, which includes all materials needed, envelopes and instructions for $30. Prepayment deadline is October 14th.

Some you have seen before... I had no time to stamp today. My boys had the day off from school for the Jewish holiday, so after I worked this morning we had an afternoon field trip. It was a gorgeous sunny and 70 degree day here in Massachusetts. We went out to lunch, went to local farm where we pumpkin and apple picked, ran through a corn maze, then got some ice cream. Yes, it was way more fun then creating a card or something else today. They actually have a long weekend with the Columbus day holiday, so were hoping to get a bike ride or hike in tomorrow.

Think Pink Challenge

We all know that October is Breast Cancer awareness month. This is photo of my mom, who I lost to this terrible disease 13 years ago. Tragically, she died 3 days before I was to be married and I still miss her everyday. I also, lost my father while I was in high school to bone cancer. So, I do know personally about the effects of cancer.
On a more positive note, I usually try to support cancer fundraisers whenever possible. It is something we all can do to help. The demo "wow" challenge hosted by my blog roll sister Jana, was to do a card for a cause using a technique you haven't used in awhile. The cards for a cause currently is supporting "Chemo Angels", which I gladly signed up to be. I make so many cards a week, I was glad to have a reason to have someone to send them to make their week. You can also just send them to Splitcoast Cards for a cause if you do not want the commitment. But you can find out more info here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=386884.
Anyways onto my quick card "think pink" using the sketch challenge, retired hostess set and some designer paper:
Don't forget to get your about scheduling your mammogram if you haven't already. I have my appointment in 2 weeks.

Happy Birthday SU

Stampin Up is celebrating 20 years this month. To celebrate they have offered special birthday stamps for 20 % off when you spend $20. Check out what' s on special here.

My friend Jane is hosting a THO workshop for me this Friday. I have come up with 4 hopefully quick and fun cards. This is a one of the ones we will be doing. I chose this set Big Bold birthday as it on special this month. I also bought these buttons on pre-order and figured I should do something with them. There is a touch of dazzling diamonds on the frosting too. I went with chocolate chip and bashful color combo hoping it would be a universal card for boys or girls.

Non-Card Challenge

SBS 24 challenge this week was to do a non-card item. I was happy to get the challenge because I was trying to think of an item to display use of home decor elements for workshops. I had got this frame at Target on Clearance last Spring for about $6, luckily it was just wide enough to get the "happiness" sentiment from decor elements which is about 13 inches in length. ( I am not going to tell you how many frames I have bought and are sitting in my closet...good intentions)

I also got to frame up some photos from our San Diego trip last April. I am a sucker to buy the photo ops from rides, thinking I might scrapbook them or frame them in the house. Mostly, because it is all 4 of us together, instead of me just behind the camera. So, I accomplished that goal too!.

I used Summer Picnic designer paper, a rub on, hodgpodge hardware photo turns and some ribbon original ribbon I have been hoarding and never used.

Cheers to you case

This is a card I did for a demo shoebox swap we did last night. They are so much fun to just be a "customer" and stamp with all the work done for you.

I still have tons of Washington apple dsp leftover so I wanted to try to use it up. I saw this card on SCS here. I just cased it and changed up paper and color schemes. Love it when it makes your design life easier when someone else did the creative work for you.

2 challenges in one

I got two challenges done on one card and I got a card made for my father-in-laws birthday that is this Friday.

SCS color challenge was baja breeze, really rust and chocolate chip. Great masculine colors, I almost did not use the really rust but helped for the mat. The other challenge is the sketch challenge.

I also pulled out my copper brads and cording-both retired. I miss them, but I guess it's not in fashion to have copper. I also had a few scraps left of my "au chocolate paper". I guess I am continuing my favorite things challenge.

I used bronc buster set, my go to for masculine cards. I cut image out to make it work, I saw the idea in the catalog and figured it could work.