Exciting News!

Hello, friends!  Happy New Year's Eve!  Tomorrow is my 2nd "Blogaversary" and I am stopping by today to share some very exciting news...I have been invited to join the CASology Design Team!  (Someone pinch me...I must be dreaming!)

For those of you who know me, I adore clean and simple designs and have always been attracted to one-layer, classic card layouts.  Now I am honored to be part of a design team that embraces this philosophy and shares inspiring CAS cards for all of us! 

Here is a list of the other CASology Design Team members...all super talented ladies!

 

Tracey McNeely

Rosemary Dennis

Melissa Chipperfield

Meghan McMillan

Maureen Merritt

Jen Wills

Ardyth Percy-Robb

This is my first design team assignment and I am totally, over-the-top EXCITED to be a part of it!  I haven't missed a challenge since CASology began, and I am looking forward to all the future challenges to come. 

I do hope you will join us each week.  The cue words are always inspiring and fun to interpret...there are so many possibilities!

Thanks again for all your support and lovely comments...you are all the best! 
Have a great day!
Judy

Some Christmas Thank You Cards & Pics

Hello, friends!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends...we had a wonderful eve and day, and now we are enjoying time off to visit with family and friends and just relax!  (Ah, what a novel idea!)

In the midst of all this fun, I realized I have almost 20 thank you notes to send out...so many generous co-workers, friends and family to thank for my birthday and Christmas presents!  I had a few in my stash from last year, but realized I need a bunch more.  I was able to play with some of my Christmas presents (including a cute bird stamp from Purple Onion Designs and some fun designs from WPlus9).  I also used some Hero Arts and Paper Smooches favorites, too.

First up...some quick, one-layer white-based cards.

Next up, three kraft-based cards and a little paper-piecing...

I am still struggling with my computer and camera, but I have good news...I got an iMac for Christmas and my DH is working feverishly to get it all up and running for me!  I can't wait to try it out with all my other iProducts...hope it helps with picture quality!


Just want to share a few Christmas pics...feel free to skip if not interested!

Just as it got dark outside on Christmas Eve, it started to snow!  The kids were so excited...it was truly magical!  You can see a light dusting of snow on our lights out front and some snowflakes flying past the shutters...

I had to sing at the 8:30 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve. Missing from this picture is my oldest son...sorry to say he was home sick with a stomach virus, poor fella.  Mass was lovely, a true celebration of the real meaning of Christmas.

 

 

After the stockings were hung and the cookies and carrots were left out for Santa and his reindeer, we continued our tradition of reading T'was the Night before Christmas by the light of the tree before going to bed.  This year the kids all took turns reading a page...when they were little, Daddy read it to them.  They are growing up so fast!

 



So, Christmas morning arrived and Santa certainly had come!  This shows the start of the opening frenzy...

...and this shows the end, the aftermath!

The funniest, most heart-warming gift I received was a blast from my own childhood...a 1978 Miss Piggy puppet, just like the one I had when I was a kid!  I LOVED my Miss Piggy, and was heartbroken the day I found out my mom had donated it with a bunch of my other childhood toys.  I still have some of my favorite childhood toys...a Holly Hobby doll, a Tender Love baby doll, a teddy bear...but I always wished I still had the Miss Piggy puppet.  Now, thanks to my thoughtful DH (and eBay), I have her again!  She looks pretty good for her age, doesn't she?

Well, thanks for sticking around for a picture-heavy post...and thanks for stopping by!

I hope you are still enjoying the holiday season!
Judy

Winner Day!

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by today to share the name of the winner from my post HERE, in honor of the debut of the 2013 Hero Arts catalog.  Thanks for all your lovely comments!

The winner using Random.org is #10:

 

Marlou McAlees  December 15, 2012 12:11 PM

beautiful card and a beautiful sentiment :)

 

Congratulations, Marlou!  E-mail me with your mailing info and I'll get your goodies out to you ASAP!

I am having a wonderful birthday so far today...when we got home from Mass we had a big breakfast and then the kids and my hubby gave me lots of lovely gifts!  I received some sparkly earrings, some Hero Arts and Purple Onion Designs stamps, a gift card to the local craft store, and a Martha Stewart scoring board.  My daughter gave me a bouquet of origami flowers, awhile my other daughter made a card for me on the iPad...a first!  I hope to find some crafty time to play today...but we'll see how that goes!

Have a great day, everyone!
Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

CASology #24: Star

Hello, friends!  I can't believe we are in the final days leading up to Christmas...I have always loved the excitement and anticipation in these days leading up to "the big day!"  I feel like a kid again, and I thoroughly enjoy the anticipation of that magical eve and morning. 

I am also SO happy to have a break from work and school and sports and activities...nothing more enjoyable than a week off to spend having fun with family and friends.  (With all the recent events in Connecticut, I am especially grateful for this gift.)  Let the fun begin!

So, I'm sneaking in some cards in between wrapping gifts and last minute shopping.  The cue word for this week's CASology challenge is STAR, and I couldn't wait to play along!

Since they are Christmas cards, I am also linking them up to the Simon Says Stamp Challenge.

Both cards use stars cut with Spellbinders dies and Bazzill Christmas-themed patterned papers.  My first card uses a Hero Arts sentiment and a very tiny pearl in the center of the smallest star.

My second card uses a cream card-base with a faint gingham pattern stamped in Soft Vanilla shadow ink.  The star is dry embossed using a Sizzix "argyle" embossing folder; the sentiment is an old woodblock stamp I had in my stash from Morning Star.

Just a reminder that I have a little giveaway going on until December 23rd, when I will draw a random winner.  Check it out HERE.

Thanks again for stopping by...take good care!
Judy

CASology #23: Gift...and a Giveaway!

 

Hello, friends!  I am so glad to share a card for the current CASology Week 23 challenge using the key word "gift."  I pulled out some classic Hero Arts stamps and ultra fine glitter and had some fun!

Stamps Used:  CL434 Just Find Me, H3671 Watercolor Poinsettia, F2674 Long Writing Background

Are you aware that the Hero Arts 2013 catalog is debuting?  Many of the stamps are now available to order.  Check out THIS link for some fun activities including a blog hop. 

 

 

I have been a huge Hero Arts fan for years and bought my first catalog in 2002...over ten years ago!  (I have bought the catalog every year since then, too!)  At that point it was filled with only wood block stamps...can you remember those days?  No clear stamps, no clings, no die cuts, no dry embossing folders...boy, this field has come a long way!  I'm so happy I have been a part of it as it has evolved.

As a way to celebrate and to thank Hero Arts for bringing such joy into my life through this wonderful hobby of ours, I will be giving away THIS Hero Arts set. 

Just leave me a comment on this post and I'll draw a winner on December 23rd.  What better way to celebrate my birthday, my awesome followers, and my love of Hero Arts all at the same time!

Thanks for stopping by...take good care!
Judy

Merry Christmas Sparkle

Hello, friends!  I have another two cards for the CASology Week 22 challenge using the cue word SPARKLE...I couldn't resist playing with some Hero Arts stamps, ultra-fine glitter, and colored gems!

Can you see that I covered this entire snowman with ultra-fine glitter? 

He sparkles so nicely in person!

 

Next up, a sparkly paper-pieced tree!

Trying to dig out the Christmas decorations today...still have mums blooming out front and pumpkins on the stoop, guess I have to move them aside.  Despite the music and the lights all down our street, I am having a hard time feeling the Christmas spirit just yet...not sure why, just not feeling it. 

Thanks for stopping by...have a great day!
Judy

Red and Green Sparkle!

Hello, friends! Just stopping by to share a card I made for two challenges: the CASology Week 22 challenge (cue = sparkle) and the Less Is More Week 96 color challenge (red and green).

  

My card uses green tinsel embossing powder and red gems to add sparkle to my red and green-themed card.  Sorry for the poor photo quality, I had to use my phone since my camera /computer are not cooperating these days!

Can you see the sparkle of the green tinsel embossing powder when the sun hits it just right?

 

 

Quick post today, have to go get ready for our work holiday dinner.  (Of course I have to make dinner for the gang here before I go out!)
  
Thanks for stopping by!
Judy 

Fun with Christmas Cups of Joy!

Hello, friends! Just stopping by with a few cards I made the other day for the fun of it!

I have wanted this Purple Onion Designs stamp ever since I saw THIS card by Donna Mikasa. I mean, wow! So, I totally cased her card and made three variations to use this holiday season.

Thanks for the inspiration, Donna!

(This card uses a sentiment from Hero Arts.)

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Judy

CASology #21: Time

Hello, friends!  It's been a busy week but I am happy to have found some TIME to make a card for the CASology challenge this week.
(Get it? I know, a comedian I am not.)

My first thoughts went to Christmas song phrases such as, "It's the most wonderful time of the year," "It's Christmastime in the city..." etc.  However, I don't have any stamps with these phrases.  (Bummer.)

SO...next thought.  My Hero Arts "Cuckoo" clear set which includes cute clock and time images/phrases.  Perfect!  I paired a sentiment from this set along with a paper-peiced chair image from Jane's Doodles free digi images (look HERE on the right sidebar).  The patterned papers are from the My Mind's Eye "Stella Rose Hattie Boy" 6x6 pad.

I hope you are all having a good week...take good care and thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Christmas Bling Wreath Set

 

Hello, friends!  I am back again with a set of Christmas cards using the Hero Arts Wreath of Leaves and a sentiment from the Very Merry Christmas set.  I added gems or pearls or bows (or some of each) to the cards to give them a little pizazz...some "bling" if you will!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this one is my favorite...

 

 
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Judy

Christmas Cards with BLING!

 

 

Hello, friends!  I hope you all had a lovely weekend.  We had a great time celebrating Thanksgiving with family over several days; on top of that, my oldest son participated in a 3-day soccer tournament that concluded with a second place overall finish (and a nice trophy, too)!   Back to the grind today...and what a crazy week it is shaping up to be!

Despite the busy long weekend, I was lucky enough to find a few hours of crafty time and I made a handful of Christmas cards using all Hero Arts stamps and lots of bling!  I will be entering all of them in the current Hero Arts Monthly Challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would have blogged them all separately but I can see that the week ahead is going to be crazy busy, so this may be my only blog time for several days. 

Thanks for stopping by, I do appreciate your visit!
Judy

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello, and Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends visiting today!

Before we head off to dinner with family, I wanted to share a quick card I made for the Week 20 Challenge at CASology.

When I saw Donna's card, I laughed to myself because I have one favorite Thanksgiving stamp in my stash, and it simply states "Eat Ham."  The stamp is an older Inkadinkado image and I get a chuckle every time I look at this fella.

I embossed the image and watercolored it.  Simple as that.

OK, off to Thanksgiving dinner...thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Scramble Cards and Then Some

Hello, friends!  Just figured I'd share the cards I made as part of this weekend's 24-Hour Scramble at Hero Arts.  No idea what I am talking about?  Check out the Hero Arts Flickr Discussion threads to get all the details.  What FUN!

In the midst of another very busy weekend, I was happy to be able to participate in two of the scrambles.  The first one I did was the second scramble hosted by Judy in which we were challenged to make a "Christmas thank you" card.  (I need lots of these after Christmas!)

The second challenge I did was the final (12th) challenge hosted by Janet following a "time" theme.

(Janet also happened to post a thread regarding a Flickr app for the iPhone and I was thrilled to find it!  I was able to upload pics of my cards and post them in my Flickr account within seconds!  Of course the picture quality isn't as good as my Nikon camera, but it was so much faster!) 

Now for the "then some."  I recently received my goodies from my Fab Five win at Hero Arts (see pic HERE) and I had to play with them.  I used some awesome Bazzil papers I won from Shelly and embossed some HA images in black.

I think this sentiment goes so well with the Nativity scene stamp...I do believe in the miracle, the real reason for the holidays in the first place!

OK, two days of work this week and then we are all off for Thanksgiving vacation!  (I think I can, I think I can!)  I have my cards for Vera's card drive all packaged, ready to bring to the post office tomorrow, and then I'm ready to start focusing on Christmas cards for teachers and close friends.  I'm SO looking forward to it!

If I'm not back in the next day or two, I want to wish all those celebrating the holiday a very Happy Thanksgiving!  I am grateful for all of you and I count you all among my many blessings!

Take good care,
Judy  

Just Trying Something...

Hello friends...I am just experimenting with a Blogger app I downloaded for my iPhone. I want to see if I can actually take a picture and blog about it all from my phone.

This card is an entry for the current Hero Arts challenge.

Here is the card using a Hero Arts blossom flower and Envelope Pattern background as well as a computer-generated sentiment.  Gold Stickles add the needed "bling!"

(Photo quality is not that great but I took this at night...I'll have to try again in the daylight!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

 

Edited to add:  This is the picture I took in the daylight...obviously much better!