Happy Halloween!

Hello, friends!  No card today, just wanted to wish you all a Happy Halloween!

I love fall and all the fun things it brings for our family...playing in the leaves, picking pumpkins, carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating...I love it all!

Can't you see why?  Look how happy everyone looks!

Picking pumpkins at Johnson's Farm...

Carving pumpkins...

Lighting them up...(BOO!)

All dressed up before trick-or-treating...

Yep, all good fall fun.
Have a great Halloween, everyone!
Judy

Brother & Sister Birthday Cards and Snow in October?!

Hello, friends! 

Crazy day, that's all I can say.  We had a snowstorm today and it is not even the end of October!  More on that later.

I wanted to share two birthday cards I made for my nephew Nate and my niece Adrienne...they are brother and sister, and their birthdays are within a week of each other.  Here is the card I made for Nate, who tuns two tomorrow:

I embossed the gumball machine from the Sweet Stamp Shop's Sweet Tooth set onto watercolor paper, cut it out, and adhered it to a two-tone card.  I stamped the sentiment at the top and added a Hero Arts "Happy Birthday" (from the Birthday Messages set) at the bottom.  The pearls were added for dimensional gum balls.  I hope he doesn't try to actually eat them!

Nate's older sister, Adrienne, is turning five next week.  I adapted a card I previously posted and made it into a birthday card.  Here is what the card originally looked like (posted in September at my blog HERE):

Here is what I did to make it into a birthday card, adding a Hero Arts paper-pieced elephant and some Martha Stewart punch balloons, patterned papers, and a fine Sharpie:

It is so nice to have these simple one-layer cards on hand...so easy to jazz up for any occasion!

OK, so back to the snow.  We had to drive about 75 miles north/west to my brother's house for Adrienne and Nate's birthday party today.  When we left our house it was raining, no big deal.  As we were halfway there it turned to snow, and it snowed hard and fast. 

It was funny the way fall and winter mixed together on this ride...we would be riding on the snow-covered road and all of a sudden we'd be under a big old maple tree full of glorious red leaves and the road under it would be dry...then within seconds we'd be back on the snow-covered road with white pine trees all around again. 

Here is the view out the passenger side windshield as we drove there:

By the time we reached their house, visibility was bad.  Here is the view when we pulled into their driveway...see the ice on the windshield?  Can hardly see their house in the distance...and this was around noon!

They still have some cute fall decorations out on their back deck...poor scarecrow!

Our drive home was crazy...it took us 2 1/2 hours to get home, when it is normally a 1 1/4 hour drive.  We got detoured about four different times due to fallen power lines, tree branches, and slippery hills our poor minivan could not get up!  Luckily, at one point we got behind a snow plow (maybe a quick answer to a silent prayer whispered as my 9-year-old daughter cried in the back seat because she was scared?)...it was a slow drive but it cleared a path for us to follow, at least until it came to a fallen tree branch that it couldn't get by and it turned around...we actually fit under the branch and kept going. 

By the time we got home it was just raining.  Go figure. 

I hope this is not a sign of what is to come this winter!

Have a peaceful night...I know we'll sleep well!
Judy

Better Luck Next Time!

Hello, friends!  Just wanted to share two cards I made and submitted to the 2011 World Card Making Day Contest this year....unfortunately they didn't get chosen but I am so happy for the 20 winners (such talented ladies, I tell ya!).  Check out the list HERE.

The first is a quick card I made for the "Love" category using a free digital sentiment from Kim Hughes as well as some stamps from the Paper Smooches A Little Lovin set. 

I embossed that cute little frog onto watercolor paper and painted it, then cut out and popped it up for dimension.  I stamped the crown onto the kraft card and colored it with a gold gel pen.  The sentiment was printed directly onto the kraft card and I embossed the swiss dots with my Cuttlebug.  The border punch is the EK Tools Double Embossed Dotted Lace Edger Punch.  I added some gems and drew a few lines and outlines with a Gelly Roll glitter pen to finish it off.



The next card I made fell into the "Christmas/Season's Greetings" category.  Can I just tell you that I found THIS awesome Clearly Wordsworth stamp set in the clearance bin for $2?  Total luck...LOVE this set!  Did lots of paper-piecing on this card...its so fun changing their clothes!  I also filled in the fur sections with the glitter pen...very shiny in person!

Sorry for my lack of blogging and visiting...been crazy hectic with school, work, sports, a gazillion family birthdays this month, and the upcoming Halloween festivities.  We spent the afternoon raking, and do you believe it may SNOW here tomorrow?  (Say WHAT?)  I'll keep you posted on that!

Hope all is well with you.  Congrats again to all the WCMD winners.
Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Tuesday Trigger - Finesse the Dress

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by with a card I made for the current Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger: Finesse the Dress challenge using this lovely inspiration photo:

I was inspired to make a rather literal translation of this picture as the details on the dress reminded me of the Hero Arts Classic Fabric Design stamp, and the eyelet top brought to mind my Martha Stewart doily lace edge  punch.  Here is what I came up with:

Here is a different view of the card that highlights the shiny texture of the silver embossing powder...

Funny, I have been following the Moxie Fab World blog (hosted by Cath Edvalson) for a long time but I have never participated in any Tuesday Trigger challenges -- until now.  I'm a bit nervous, playing in the big leagues today! 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by...have a great day!
Judy

Did you hear about "Cards That Care?"

Hello, friends!  I just wanted to give you all a heads up that Vera W. Yates (Ling) has once again begun a card drive for the elderly this holiday season. 

Do you remember that last year she ran the Caring Hearts Card Drive and sent Thanksgiving and holiday cards to nursing home residents? 

Well, this year she has paired up with Jennifer McGuire to start the Cards That Care card drive. 

Here are the details as described by Vera at her blog:

______________________________________________________________

• This card drive will be going on till November 31, 2011. We will need to receive your cards by November 31, 2011.
• Please make the cards for Christmas or Holiday Wishes. Anyone can send a card, your children, church group, scout troops, etc.
• All cards need to have a message in it. Please also sign your name and where you are from. On the card envelope, write your name on the top left corner. Also, please don't seal the envelope.
• Please stick to just cards.
• You can mail the cards to either one of us:

Jennifer McGuire                        Vera Yates
P.O. Box 428612                          P.O Box 17596
Cincinnati, OH 45242                  Sugar Land, TX 77496

• In each package, PLEASE include a piece of paper with your name, address, email address and how many cards you sent. This helps us in keeping track for prizes! For each card you send, you will get a chance. So the more cards you send, the better your chances.

To thank you for your generosity in supporting this drive, they have several PRIZES ready for several winners. There will be many winners and remember… the more cards you send the better your chances. :)

______________________________________________________________

 

 

I just wanted to share this information because I think it is so worthwhile!  It's nice that there are prizes, but I'm really in this for the personal rewards (knowing I did something thoughtful for someone else at the holidays).  I do hope you will join in this card drive...I'll be sure to share the cards I make here in the coming days!

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

Less Is More Week 36 - More Hearts!

Hello, friends!  Back again with my second post for today.  (Scroll down to see my first post today.)  I have another one-layer card featuring some sweet, tiny little hearts for the Less Is More Week 36 challenge.  Be sure to check out the awesome entries there!

My card uses a dry embossing folder I won from sweet Beverly at Classy Cards n Such along with a Paper Smooches "Pretty Phrases" sentiment and the Hero Arts "Two Birds" woodblock stamp.  I lightly distressed the card edges with Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress ink.  See the two cute little hearts?

I have to say a huge THANK YOU to all who visit my blog.  I discovered that I get the highest amount of "blog traffic" coming from the Less Is More blog...so THANK YOU, ladies! 

Have a great Friday!
Judy

Less is More Week 36 - Hearts!

Hello, friends!  I am just under the wire here...I have some cards to share for the current Less Is More Week 36 challenge to make a one layer card using hearts. 

According to Mandi and Chrissie, "The ♥ can be singular, multiple, any colour, but, MUST be a one layer card, with no additional layers stuck on, apart from the odd embellishment or ribbon!"

So, my first entries include two cards, both using the same Paper Smooches "Pretty Phrases" sentiment and Stampendous "red tinsel" embossing powder but two different heart stamps.  Clean and simple...my favorite kind of card!

Here is the first card, using a heart stamp from Rubber Stampede.

The second card uses a larger heart image from Canadian Maple Collections.

Here are some close-ups of the embossed hearts to show the shine they have in "real life"...

    

 

I'll be back later today (yes, right before the deadline, I know!) with another card for this challenge...I am full of ideas but short on time! 

Thanks for stopping by,
Judy

Hootin' Halloween Cards & PDCC102

Hello, friends!  I made a few more Halloween cards for the nieces and nephews and I wanted to share them really quickly...the kids and I are off for Columbus Day so we are on the run!

I am going to enter these in the current Wee Memories Challenge #71 to make Halloween cards...

I also want to enter the current Play Date Cafe Challenge #102 using these wicked colors:

Anyway, I have been playing with these cute little $1 stamps I found at Michael's a few years ago...I have the witch, the vampire, and Frankenstein seen in this collection:

Anyway, here are the cards I made, using lots of paper piecing and several Hero Arts background stamps (clouds, woodgrain, swirl)...

This little monster is also an image from a Michael's "Recollections" brand stamp set...very cute monsters in that whimsical set!  (The eye is a sticker.)

OK, that's it for now...hope you are all having a great day!
Judy

Bunny with Balloons

Hello, friends!  Just sharing two quick cards I made using my Paper Smooches Pretty Phrases, Sentiment Sampler and A Little Lovin sets.  Love this little bunny!

For both cards, I embossed the bunny on watercolor paper, painted and cut out.  I punched the grass using my Martha Stewart Grass edge punch and the balloons with the MS balloon punch. One of the balloons is popped up for dimension; I drew the strings with a fine point Sharpie.

On this card I masked a border and stamped the Hero Arts Clouds stamp using Soft Pool shadow ink, then I stamped the Hero Arts Designer Woodgrain onto the grass with Grass chalk ink. 

On the next card I kept it a little simpler and cleaner...no clouds, smaller section of grass.

That's it for today...just a quick late night post!  Off to make lunches for the kiddies for tomorrow...thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Christmas Tags & WCMD

Hello, friends!  This is my second post of the day...it has been a very BUSY one in honor of World Card Making Day! 

This afternoon I participated in Arlene's 90-Minute Challenge over at the Hero Arts blog; she challenged us to make either tags or tag cards using at least one Hero Arts stamp in a 90-minute time frame.  This was a challenge for me...I'm not a "tag" type, and I don't honestly think I've ever made any tag cards! 

Lucky for me, I had this set of tags that were given to me by my husband's aunt -- she saw them in a paper crafting kit and bought it, but wound up giving me a bunch of things she didn't ever use.  Lucky me!  Here is the sheet of punch-out tags:

So, here is what I was able to pop out, stamp, embellish and photograph within a 90-minute time frame:

Boy, these pre-made tags made this easy and fun!  So, here they are one by one...using all Hero Arts stamps. 

First up: a white embossed Branch and Flourish Tree and an old Hero Arts woodblock "Merry Christmas" sentiment stamped in black.  (You can tell I was rushing as the tree is not evenly centered!)

 

Next up, a small tag which I dry embossed with a snowflake embossing folder after stamping the large and small snowflake in navy blue, then jazzed it up with Stickles and a clear gem.  The sentiment is from the clear set "Laughter & Merriment."  (Again, rushing...not centered very well!)

Next...another sentiment from the clear design "Laughter & Merriment" set with a simple Prima flower and red gem added for a final touch. (Finally...placed this one correctly!)

I made a blue-toned tag for possible Hanukkah use ... the sentiment is also from the Hero Arts "Laughter & Merriment" clear set.

And finally, the tag that was the most time-consuming because of the fussy cutting of the kraft reindeer...

And that does it!  Phew!  I was also able to make a Christmas card today that I think I am actually going to send in for the World Card Making Day contest...I'm sure others have sent in boxes of cards, but I'm the silly girl who sends in one!  Oh, well, a girl can dream, can't she?

Happy World Card Making Day to all, and to all a good night!

(OK, now I'm just getting punchy...)

Judy

World Card Making Day is HERE!

Hello, friends!  Happy WORLD CARD MAKING DAY 2011!

I am so happy to be able to be a part of the World Card Making Day 2011 blog hop...I hope to make a bunch of holiday cards today (as soon as I get home from my son's soccer game).  My ultimate plan is to donate them to a worthy cause: Operation Write Home.  Check HERE for a list of blogs participating in today's blog hop.  (I'm not participating in the contest...didn't get to make anything far enough in advance to send in...maybe next year!)

I want to share some cards I made for Halloween as I start to kick off my "holiday" card-making.  I usually start with Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then finally Christmas.  I made a few Halloween cards for my little neices and nephews and I really hope they enjoy them!  Later today I'll start some other holiday cards and I'll post them if I get the chance...I also hope to have some time to visit others' blogs on this very special day!

Anyway, here are the Halloween cards I made.  Let me mention how much paper peicing I did on these cards...not my usual style, but FUN! 

First up: One Eyed (and One-Armed) Monster!

Stamps Used:  Recollections "My Little Monsters," Hero Arts "Flourish Background"

and "Large Canvas Stripes," Studio G "Happy Halloween"

Other Materials:  Martha Stewart fence punch; Recollections dimensional stickers (eye);

Nestabilities Labels One, patterned paper

Next up: Little Green Witch!

Stamps Used:  Hero Arts "Flourish Background"  Studio G "witch," Inkadinkado "crackle"

Other Materials:  Nestabilities Labels One, Inkssentials white pen, patterned paper, corner rounder

And finally...Frankenstein and a Halloween scene!

Stamps Used:  Hero Arts "Flourish Background" and "Halloween set - house (LL708)," 

Studio G "Frankenstein" and "Happy Halloween"

Other Materials:  Martha Stewart fence punch; patterned papers; corner rounder;  

Nestabilities Labels One; google eyes; gold gel pen.

Frankenstein is actually popped up for some dimension...maybe you can see it better here:

I have more Halloween cards to make but I think that's good for now.  Thanks so much for stopping by on such a busy day.  Happy World Card Making Day!  I can't imagine my world without this wonderful hobby!

Have a FUN day!
Judy