Two Wreaths and Much Gratitude

Hello, friends!  I'm so happy to be able to post this today, considering the entire neighborhood just behind our house is without power (and is expected to be for at least 5-10 days).  Hurricane Sandy hit the coast of New Jersey yesterday, a mere 50 miles from our home.  While we made it through the storm without any major issues, out town has been experiencing major power outages, trees and power lines down, and localized flooding.  The kids have been off all week and will be off again tomorrow...still no power in sections of our town.  Halloween has been postponed until Friday, so let's hope everything is back up and running by then.

My heart goes out to the residents of the Jersey shore (where we frequently vacation and know many people with homes there).  There was massive destruction to property as the ocean and the bay actually met...the news coverage is unnerving, so very sad.  Boardwalks and amusement rides have been washed out to sea, boats and decks and docks are strewn around on roadsides and in random yards, the streets are still rivers and homes are submerged.  It didn't help that there was a full moon and high tide the night the storm arrived.  It will take a long time to recover and rebuild...my heart goes out to all affected. 

So, with lots of time off and anxiety running high amongst my younger ones (too much TV news can be a bad thing!), we broke out my stamping supplies and made some fun cards as the rain pelted the windows, the winds howled, and the lights flickered.  We turned up the music and made a happy, creative, inky mess of the kitchen table!  Thank heavens for card making!

I was able to make two Christmas cards that I hope to send in for the Caring Hearts Card Drive.  Once again, I was playing with my Papertrey Ink wreath stamps. 

 

I really like this clean design and hope to make more cards like this in the coming days. 

 

In the midst of the storm recovery we have lots going on...I just found out my sister-in-law is on her way to the hospital in labor, and my brother and his family (who have been on vacation in Disney) just found out their flight was cancelled and are stuck there for several more days.  Never a dull moment, it seems!

 

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your visit and all your well wishes more than you know!

Judy

CFC76: "Kraft On" Using a Sketch

Hello, friends!  It's now raining here, and the kids and I both found out that we are off tomorrow due to the approaching hurricane.  (It feels like a snow day!)   I figured I now have an extra day to conquer the mountain of laundry I'm battling...so I made a card instead!

I made this card for two challenges. 

First up: the "Kraft On" challenge at CAS-ual Fridays. 

 

 

 

Next, I followed the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge #3.

 

I really like this sketch and was happy to have the opportunity to play with my Papertrey Ink Wreath for All Seasons set again, this time using a kraft notecard.  Some patterned paper, a little white embossing and pearls, and here it what resulted.

Thanks so much for stopping by...I'll keep you updated on the weather around here in the coming days as I hope to have lots of time to make some cards.  (Hopefully we'll have power so I can blog!)

Take good care,
Judy

CAS(E) this Sketch #3

 

Hello, friends!

 

I'm so excited to be playing along with a new challenge site called CAS(E) this Sketch.  The sketch for this time around looks like this:

 

 

I wanted to make a fall card using THIS awesome wreath set from Papertrey Ink.  I paired it with a sentiment from Hero Arts, some patterned paper, chocolate brown dye ink, Spiced Marmalade distress ink, and an argyle embossing folder. 

 

 

 

Some gold Stickles added some sparkle to the wreath.

 

 

 

So, we are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy here in New Jersey.  After morning soccer, we spent the afternoon bringing in the patio furniture and taking down Halloween decorations that could potentially blow away.  Let's hope it's not as bad as the news makes it out to be.  I'll keep you posted!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy



CASology #16: Wild

Hello, friends!

I'm stopping by with a card I made for the 16th challenge at CASology using the cue "WILD."  (It sounds like a wild storm is heading our way here near the coast of New Jersey...let's hope it isn't as bad as they are making it out to be  the news!)


Since I am trying to make a stash of holiday cards for the Caring Hearts Card Drive, I went with another holiday-themed design.  I adore these penguins from Penny Black -- this stamp is an older one called "Arctic Bus."  I like to imagine these little fellas flying down a snowy hill, Santa hats flying off as they go!  Now that's what I'd call a WILD RIDE! 

That's what I thought of when I saw the cue this week...a WILD ride.

I dry embossed some texture with a Sizzix "Three Dots" embossing folder on top of the sentiment from Hero Arts.  Finally, I added some sparkle using a Gelly Roll clear glitter pen...here is a close-up of the shine:

On a side note, have you seen the amazing new stamp designs by Stacey Yacula HERE?  She designed a line of stamps for Purple Onion Designs (available HERE) called "The Sweetest Season" and she has an amazing giveaway going on at her website.  Check it out for a chance to win her whole Christmas line of stamps!

Thanks for stopping by,
Judy

CASology #15 - Night

Hello, friends!  After a crazy week at work, I am so happy to have some time to finally make a card!  (Thank God for this wonderful outlet!)

I was over-the-top excited to find out that one of my cards was a Fab Five winner over at Hero Arts, and in celebration I decided to use the same stamp set to make a card for the current challenge at CASology. 

I will also enter it into the Hero Arts Holiday Cardmaking monthly contest.

When I heard "night," my first reaction was to make a Halloween card.  However, I struggled with a clean and simple design.  So I scrapped that idea and went with my next thought, "silent night." 

A cream card, some black ink, an awesome Christmas stamp set, distress inks, some masking, and a few spritzes of Perfect Pearls Mist...that's all it took.

I love the extra shine the spritzes of Perfect Pearls Mists adds to the card...and I love that the card is still one layer.

I am starting to put aside some cards (including this one) to send in for the Caring Hearts Card Drive...have you heard about it?  Check it out HERE.  I have sent in cards every year and I am so thrilled that Vera is doing it again. 



Finally, I want to say thanks so much for all your sweet comments here and at my Flickr photostream...it is such an honor to be in the company of such thoughtful, generous ladies.  You renew my faith in humankind!

Have a great day,
Judy 

CASology #14: Leaf

Hello, friends!  I am just under the wire here with two cards I made for the current CASology Challenge using the cue word "LEAF."  I broke out some Hero Arts goodies and kept it as clean and simple as possible...my favorite kind of cards to make!

My first card was inspired by the style of the "CAS Queen" (in my book) Susan Raihala.  First I stamped the sentiment onto a cream card base using Peeled Paint distress ink.  Next, I stamped a leaf from an older Hero Arts set called "Decorative Leaves"  using Soft Vanilla shadow ink three times, then once with a combination of Peeled Paint and Vintage Photo distress inks, onto a piece of white cardstock and popped it up.

For the next card, I uesd the same sentiment but a different older Hero Arts leaf image called  "Leaf with Stitching."  I inked the leaf with Soft Vanilla and Soft Leaf shadow inks and overstamped the sentiment in Peeled Paint.  It's a very subtle, soft card.

   
That's it for today...back to the mountain of laundry that awaits!
Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

CFC73: For the Girls

Hello, friends!  It was a cold, damp, deary day here in New Jersey...it's starting to get dark earlier and earlier, and signs of fall are appearing all around.  (I hate to say it but I actually saw Christmas wrapping paper in a Barnes and Noble book store last night.  Ugh...not yet!) 

It was a perfect evening to make a card for the current challenge at CAS-ual Fridays in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.  The theme this week is For The Girls: Create a Clean And Simple card that celebrates the women in your life.

I received a wonderful sentiment stamp a while back (from the talented and very thoughtful Donna Mikasa) and thought this would be the perfect occasion to ink it up.  I broke out my Bubble Gum Midtone Ink and the Hero Arts/Sizzix Stripes and Frame set, added the With Hope sentiment in black, and mounted it onto a black card base.  I then pulled out an already painted and fussy cut Traditional Butterfly from my stash, added some glitter to sections of the wings and a black gem on the body, and mounted it on the card. 

By the way, have you seen the latest news at CAS-ual Fridays?  Do you know they are having a big HUGE announcement on October 19th?  Apparently CAS-ual Fridays is getting a new little sister and they want us to all spread the word!  If you post their special button on your blog sidebar (see mine at top right), you can enter to win a special prize!  Details can be found HERE.  You bet I'm in!

As always, thanks for visiting.  It means so much to me!
Take care,
Judy

WCMD - Christmas Blessings

Hello, friends!  Yes, I know World Card Making Day was technically yesterday, but I am just finding a spare minute now to make and post some cards for the occasion.  (Luckily I can still submit my WCMD cards HERE.)  I was able to peek in at some blogs yesterday (in between four soccer tournament games) and I loved everything I saw...wow!  What a wonderful passion we all share, all over the world!  I think it is so cool that I have gotten to know so many card-makers from all over the world, all on-line!


So, I broke out my Hero Arts Greatest Gift clear set and embossed the image and sentiment in black.  I stamped two different backgrounds using Peeled Paint Distress Ink and also inked around the edges of the die cut nativity image which is popped up for dimension.  Finally, I added a touch of gold Stickles on each star.  I am entering both of my cards in the current monthly challenge at Hero Arts.

HA Background Stamps: (CG245) Classic Fabric Design in Peeled Paint distress ink,

(S5507) Envelope Pattern in Wet Cement mid-tone ink

HA Background Stamps: (S5213) Dots and Flowers in Peeled Paint distress ink,

(S5507) Envelope Pattern in Wet Cement mid-tone ink,

black dots drawn in with black fine Sharpie

 

I hope everyone enjoyed World Card Making Day.  I am happy I was able to find a little time to play along! 

I know WCMD makes for a lot of blogging, so thanks for stopping by...I do appreciate it!
Judy

CASology #13: Zoo

Hello, friends!  I am so proud of myself, I squeezed in some time to make a card during the school/work week!  I had to play along when I saw the CASology Challenge using this cue:

When our kids were younger, my husband and I often took the kids to the zoo.  No matter how many times we went, they always wanted to visit the "petting zoo" section, and they always wanted to pet the sheep.  They would laugh aloud at the sound of the bleating sheep!  Thus, the inspiration for my card.

 

Stamps: Paper Smooches "Pretty Phrases," sheep from Sandylion

Paper Punches:  Martha Stewart grass and fence border punches 

Embossing folder: Sizzix "Three Dots"

I embossed the sheep image in black, colored some minor accents with Copics, then cut it out.  I also dry embossed the sheep to add some texture.  I tried to make the sheep look like it was walking through the grass near a wooden fence...that is the image I remember when visiting the petting zoo, the sheep coming through the grass to the edge of the wooden fence, my kids excitedly reaching their hands over to pet them. 

(If my now 13-year-old son knew I was posting such memories he would be horrified.)

My card was inspired by this sweet CAS card by design team member Tracey McNeely.  Be sure to check out her card and all the DT cards this week, they are so cute!

Thanks for stopping by...the weekend is approaching!
Judy

CFC72: Inspired By My Blog Header

Hello, friends!  Today I have a card to share that is inspired by my blog header.  It is part of the "Toot Your Own Horn" challenge at CAS-ual Fridays this week!

When I started my blog almost two years ago, the sweet Patricia Rey (her blog is Scrapflower) offered to design my blog header for me...at no charge!  She actually made two different blog headers for me, but I have stuck with the second one because I love the colors and the sweet bird image! 



When I saw this week's challenge at CAS-ual Fridays, I immediately thought of the pretty papers in the My Mind's Eye "Fine and Dandy Girl" designer paper pad.  The sweet bird images remind me of my blog header bird!  The colors are similar, too.  I paired it with paper from the My Mind's Eye "Ooh La La for Her."  They go together so well!


I used my Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Eight to mimic the shape of my header.  The die cut sentiment is made from a Cuttlebug alphabet die set called "Olivia," and the stamped text is a Hero Arts  sentiment. 

You can see here, with sunlight hitting it directly, that the heart is actually popped up for some dimension.

 

I will also be entering this card into the Simon Says Stamp! Anything Goes Challenge.

I had a lot of fun making this card...it always pleases me to be able to use my stash of patterned papers.  Thanks for stopping by, I do appreciate it! 

Quick shout-out to my newest followers... THANKS for joining and welcome!

Have a good day!
Judy