Christmas Wishes...

Hello everyone! Today I want to start off by thanking you. I want to thank you for the time you spend with me. I want to thank you for your amazing and greatly appreciated comments. And most of all I want to thank you for your support. You gals truly rock and are amazing! 

The last couple of months have been busy busy busy for me what with working 7 days a week, teaching card making classes and blogging. My house is a wreak and hubby has learned how to use the washer/dryer! I'm still undecided if his learning is a good or bad thing, lol, he doesn't sort laundry...yikes! I feel like next week will be bustling with activity and the week after we will be trying to wind down from Christmas and gearing up for the new year. With that in mind and with my schedule lately, I've decided to take a little time off here on the blog. These next two weeks will let me get caught up on things and plan new fun things for you here on the blog. I promise to be back after the first of the year!!

Right now I'm in the middle of planning for my next class. I thought that I'd change it up just a bit  because we all are guilty of taking pictures at Christmas then not doing anything with them - how's a  a mini (6X6) scrapbook with a holiday theme sound? This will force us to actually use all those fun photos! 

The little photo album I chose holds 20 pages so I thought in class we could make 10 then the gals can finish it on their own however they want to. I only have 5 pages done so far...

After looking through the paper collections The Stamp Pad is carrying I decided on the Santa Express collection by Doodlebug. I used a 6X6 paper pad (I'm so addicted to them!!) so the paper size and images on the papers are perfectly sized for the album. The twine, washi and stickers are all from Doodlebug also. *hint: when making an album to put photos into later remember to unsticky stickers using baby powder and to not fully glue other elements down so that the photos can be easily slid into place. I've done a little distressing with ink and spritzing with color on a few of them and I added a little journal card using an ATC sleeve on the snowflake one. It's harder than you think to sit down and come up with all these pages looking different while using the same papers, lol!

Well, I've taken up enough of your time today. Again, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart...you are truly awesome and I appreciate you!! I'd like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and joy & happiness for the new year. I'll see you back here soon and can't wait to hear about your holiday celebrations!!

Week #242 - 'Shabby Chic Holiday'

I'm sooo sorry y'all but wow, I've been burning my candle at both ends here lately and was unable to make a project for today's challenge over at The Shabby Tea Room. Sometimes in life you have to do what you have to do even if it means making yourself crazed! I hope you enjoy what rest of the DT has made using products from our gracious sponsors!! 

Week #242 - 'Shabby Chic Holiday'

Hello shabby friends and welcome to another fun week of inspiration and creativity here in the Tea Room!  This week our challenge is called 'Shabby Chic Holiday'!  Please create a card/project INSPIRED BY THE PHOTO USING PINK, AQUA, IVORY + GLITTER!

FOR YOUR SUBMISSION TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE WEEKLY PRIZE AND HONORS: Because we are sponsored weekly by wonderful businesses who have graciously donated products and in the interest of fairness to all participants, any entries that do not follow our simple challenge rules will remain in the gallery but will not be eligible for the weekly prizes and top honors. Thanks for your understanding and participation!

I am pleased to introduce you all to this week's Guest Designer, Beth Johnson!  Beth earned this Guest Designer spot for her win in the Tea Room during the Week #238 challenge - 'Spooky Wishes'.

And now for some more beautiful inspiration from the Shabby Girls (please click on each designer's blog link to view additional photos of their projects) ...

Debbie Marcinkiewicz -  Paper Sweeties
{Creator}

 Alyson MacDonald - Paper Cake Trail
Creations by AR: Ornaments Box Set
Digital Papers by Janet Etsy: Romantic Paper

Diane Hover - Nellie's Nest
Creations by AR:  Ornaments Box Set
Digital Papers by Janet Etsy:  Christmas Baubles

Lenet Mos - To Scrap or not to Scrap, that is the Question
Creations by AR: Ornaments Box Set
Digital Papers by Janet Etsy:  Christmas Circles

Rebecca Deeprose - Paper Primrose

Creations by AR: Bottle of Cheer

Tracey Kelly - Trace Elementz
Creations by AR: Gift card box
 Digital Papers by Janet Etsy:   Sweet color paper 2 &Christmas Circles

Now, hop on over to our Shabby Girl individual blogs to see lots more creative and beautiful inspiration, additional pictures and instructions for these projects!

 The Shabby Girls are pleased to welcome our sponsors -Creations by AR and Digital Papers by Janet Etsy!

 Sponsor #1:

Creations by AR is all about paper crafting specializing in 3D templates, cutting files and digital images. Visit www.creationsbyar.com for inspiration!

I am pleased to offer The Shabby Tea Room participants a challenge discount of 10% off entire purchase during the week of my sponsorship.  The discount code is challenge10.

Sponsor #2:

 

My name is Janet, I'm Polish, live in the south of Italy and the mother of two children!!  I am a printing technician by profession, but an artist by passion.  I really like to draw and photograph everything with my camera. I am in love with old graphics and illustrations, and I always have my colored markers and pencils around me to sketch with.  I'm so happy to be sponsoring this week's Tea Room challenge!

Janet

Tea Time Terrific Top Three first place winner will receive three collage files.

Tea Time Terrific Top Three second place winner will receive two collage files.

Tea Time Terrific Top Three third place winner will receive one collage file.

 

Please link your creations at The Shabby Tea Room by Sunday, January 4th to play along. Winner and Tea Time Terrific Top Three will be announced Monday, January 5th. We will have an all-new challenge for you to play along with on the 5th as well, so please come back and visit with us again for another chance to win!

Valentines in December

Hi everyone, how was your week so far...are you glad it's finally over like me? I'm ready for some down time. I haven't had a second for myself in quite a while. Last weekend was supposed to be quiet but then I ended up working full days at the little stamp store I teach at. We had over 800 people come through the store plus 3 class sessions going on not to mention that I taught a class on Friday night! Wow, last weekend was something! This weekend I'm supposed to go shopping with my Daughter-In Law. She's not a shopper, lol, this should be interesting!!

Alrighty, on with today's card. Before I show it to you I have to explain it because y'all are going to think I'm a bit touched in the head for making a Valentine in December. While that really isn't up for debate because I know I am, lol, I'll explain anyway. ;) You know that I've been filling in here and there at the stamp store I teach at right, well, we recently got in a new product and all the ladies pick it up, look it over, say how pretty it is then put it right back down. We all know what that means...we need a sample showing how to use the product! Last Friday night I was once again battling insomnia so I whipped up this little Valentine card. I NEEDED to use the feather as it was the product that doesn't seem to be floating off the shelves and I just bought this new Key To My Heart die set from Taylored Expressions (LOVE LOVE LOVE Taylored Expressions!!) that I've been just dying to use (the lattice die , stacked "blooms" and the sentiment from the Many Mini Holiday set are all from Taylored Expressions too - Obsessed much?? hehehe).

Unfortunately all of the sparkle doesn't show up in pictures but there is a TON! I started off with a white A2 sized card base and using a make-up sponge randomly swiped on Momento Angel Pink ink then randomly swiped on a little bit of Hero Arts Shadow Ink - Bubble Gum. I set that aside and cut the lattice from Doodle Bug Sugar Coated paper (gotta love some glitter paper) and adhered it to the base. I next layered on a small white doily then ran a touch of TomBow glue down the vein of the feather and attached it. I die cut the little flower scallops out of white cardstock then distressed the bottom and top with the Momento ink and the center one with the Hero Arts ink. I stamped the sentiment in the Hero Arts Ink, added a bit of twine and then attached them to the card (I popped the top layer up on foam tape but the other 2 are flat). Using the glitter paper again, I die cut the keys and lock then adhered them to the card too. The die makes little hearts from some of the cut outs in the keys and lock so I used those too, why throw away perfectly good sparkly hearts, right? To finish it all off I added the little Doodlebug button/brad thingies and brushed Crystal Stickles (with a make-up sponge) onto the feather and sentiment.

Well I hope you like it and why not get started on Valentines. If we can have Christmas in July then we should certainly be able to have Valentines in December (hehehe)!

A Team up between DeNami Design & Stamp Nation

Hi everyone! Today I have a super fun surprise for you! Have you ever heard of Stamp Nation? Well, it's a really cool "one stop shop" for crafters to join challenges, watch videos / tutorials in the "classroom", gather ideas for inspiration, have virtual parties, give a ways and access to tons of information & help using message boards.

This week DeNami Design and Stamp Nation are joining up together to bring you LOADS of fun and prizes!! DeNami Design will be offering 4 DeNami prize packages on their blog and Stamp Nation will be offering 2 DeNami prize packages on their blog as well! But wait, that's not all...I've heard tell that one of the prizes up for grabs is a subscription to Stamp Nation! So be sure to stop in at the blogs to find out all the deets and enter to win one of these awesome prizes!!!

Now remember what I said last week about sketches...they can be fun! Change them up, put your own spin on them or do them just as they're shown, but don't let them intimidate you...honestly, they CAN be fun (cross my heart)!  Here's the current sketch challenge (starts today) going on over at Stamp Nation.

Here's my take on this sketch....

Notice how I changed up the shapes of the panels and added my own little twist? I made a tall A2 sized card base (4 1/4 X 5 1/5) instead of a square, my 2nd panel is a flag shape instead of a square, I punched the edges of the 3rd panel and my sentiment panel is a scalloped oval instead of a plain rectangle. I also added ribbon to the top of the card as well as a sprinkling of gold stars. As long as the basic elements are there, you can twist, turn and rearrange a sketch into anything you want!

I started off with a tall folded A2 card base in black and adhered the music sheet patterned paper from My Minds Eye - Lost and Found Christmas. I found a shimmery gold paper in my stash and die cut the smaller of the two banners from Lawn Fawn's Stitched Party Banners and adhered that flat to the card. I cut a piece of cream card stock and randomly stamped (Momento Tuxedo Black) DeNami Design's Mini Music Notes all over it then edge punched along both sides of the length with a Martha Stewart punch. Using Vintage Photo, Antique Linen and Tea Dye Distress Inks I added color to the cream strip and adhered it flat to the card base. Using a scalloped oval nesting die from Xcut I die cut my sentiment panel and stamped it with DeNami Design's new Silent Night Holy Night sentiment then added color as I did with the cream strip. I attached this to the card base using foam tape for a little dimension. To finish it all off I added a few punched stars (from the same shimmery gold paper as the banner), rusty bells from Paper Sweeties and red glittery ribbon I found in my stash.


Well that's it for me today.  Don't forget to stop in at DeNami Design for the full details and to enter to win one of the fabulous prizes!!

Fun and easy gift set

Hi and happy Monday!! I told you last week that I had some fun news to share today. Well, guess who's once again guest posting over on the DeNami Design blog...yup, it's me again!!

I made a simple little card and gift jar set that can be made in a jiffy and easily changed up for any season or occasion! Make sure to stop by to check it out. :)

Winter Trees Shaker Card

Hi everyone, hope all is well with you! Yesterday the weather got above freezing and finished melting all the ice that we were hit with Sunday night / Monday morning. My week is finally looking up, it's almost over here at my "real" job and tomorrow I'm taking off early...woo-hoo!!...so I can go play at the stamping store I teach at. I have a class to teach tomorrow night too, so that's even more fun! I'm really looking forward to the weekend. I'm just going to relax and take it easy after working in the stamp shop for black Friday then teaching an all day double class on Saturday! I'm thinking I deserve a little R&R ;)

Did you know that DeNami Design has a sketch challenge running?? I'm sooo excited and couldn't wait to make a little something so I could join in! There's still time for you to play, it doesn't end until Sunday, December 7th.

Remember, sketches are ALL about your interpretation, they are meant to be fun so flip it, rearrange it, change it up and put your own spin on it. Take my card for example - instead of a paper strip going down the  left side of the whole card I used a length of ribbon on my focal panel and instead of my flag being on the lower right corner I simply added a tiny one to my bow.

Well, I was going to post this  tomorrow for the challenge but since I'm going to be a bit busy playing around I thought I'd post it today...

 I made a fun little shaker card! I started off with a white card base (A2 sized). Then cut a white panel and stamped on my sentiment, F244 Tidings Of Joy, then dry embossed it. I set that aside and made my little shaker piece to which I added die cut trees, S S02 Extra Fine glitter from DeNami and clear sequins from Pretty Pink Posh. After adhering it to the dry embossed panel I tied on a length of ribbon and attached the whole piece to the card base. The bow needed a little something and I still needed to add a flag as per the sketch so I added the little tag/flag that I die cut then stamped with the pine sprig from the PF02 Classic Christmas petit four set. To finish off the card I added a large die cut tree and I originally added Extra Fine Glitter to it using a Quickie Glue Pen to it but the glitter didn't show up as well as I wanted it too so I broke out some Stickles to make "snow". 

I'm also going to add this cutie to the gallery on the DeNami Design blog. Did you see the post where we can share our Christmas creations? HOW FUN!!!

Well that's it for me today! I'll see you back here on Monday with another fun Surprise!! I hope you have a terrific weekend :)

Exciting News - Guest Posting

Hi everyone, I know it's only Tuesday, but I have some exciting news to share!! Guess who's guest posting on the DeNami Design blog today???? EEEKKKK, I'm so excited and what an honor!!!

Stop by the Winter Branch Card Ideas post and see how I was able to use one little stamp from my "must have" collection to create several looks :)

Hope you like my ideas and I'll see you later! :)

The Shabby Tea Room - Challenge #241

Hi all!! I'm sooo sorry I'm late posting today. Computer issues...sigh. I had to wait until I got to work this morning and then I was late getting to work because we woke up to a blanket of ice and sleet covering everything, good grief!! Well, I'm finally here, have edited my pictures and am writing the post. It's taken some doing that's for sure! 

How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was nice even though it was hectic. I worked at the place where I teach card making. Black Friday was a mad house!! However, when I finally had two seconds and looked at the clock it was close to closing time. Wow did the day speed by! Saturday I taught a double card making class (8 cards in total) that was basically all day. And Sunday dawned with chores to do...no rest for me this holiday weekend, lol! I can say that I basically enjoyed every minute of it except the whole chore thing! ;)  Well enough of me gabbing, let's get on with this post shall we?

Hello shabby friends and welcome to another fun week of inspiration and creativity here in the Tea Room!  This week our challenge is called 'Waiting For Santa'!  Please create a card/project INSPIRED BY THE PHOTO AND INCLUDE A STOCKING + LACE!

FOR YOUR SUBMISSION TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE WEEKLY PRIZE AND HONORS: Because we are sponsored weekly by wonderful businesses who have graciously donated products and in the interest of fairness to all participants, any entries that do not follow our simple challenge rules will remain in the gallery but will not be eligible for the weekly prizes and top honors. Thanks for your understanding and participation!

I made a stocking from a DARLING little treat box template...

 I just love this little (I shouldn't say "little" because it's anything but as you'll see in the next picture!) treat box! I simply printed out the template onto copy machine paper and trimmed off the excess then using Washi Tape in 2 places taped it to my patterned paper and cut it out by hand. EASY PEASY!!

I wanted to show you how big the treat box really is to I took a picture before adding the stocking to the reverse side. As you can see it's about 7 1/2" deep! Most treat boxes don't hold very much, but this cutie sure will! I was even thinking what a cute little place setting this would make. You can attach a tag with your guests name on the front of it and tuck a napkin along with silverware in the treat box area. What a fun and unique place setting, right? 

Items Used:

Paper Sweeties - Joy, Joy Sweet Cuts

The Cutting Cafe - Christmas Stocking Box

This week our wonderful sponsors are: 

Paper Sweeties offers high-quality, on trend acrylic stamps, coordinating metal dies and pretty embellishments. Our heartwarming images allow paper crafters to create handmade from the heart treasures that will be keepsakes for years to come!  We carry adorable dolls with interchangeable outfits and accessories ... plus we also have a wide variety of wonderful all-occasion sentiments, labels, frames and accessory sets along with coordinating dies - perfect for every paper crafted project! You'll enjoy using your Paper Sweeties stamps, dies and embellishments to create projects for card making, scrap booking, party invitations and favors, home decor, gifts and so much more!

Winner will receive a $20 gift certificate from the Paper Sweeties boutique!

Sponsor #2:

The Cutting Cafe is your one stop for affordable cutting files and printable stamps. We offer a huge selections on just about any occasion.

This week's lucky winner will receive three cutting files from The Cutting Cafe!

 

Please link your creations at The Shabby Tea Room by Sunday, December 14th to play along. Winner and Tea Time Terrific Top Three will be announced Monday, December 15th. We will have an all-new challenge for you to play along with on the 15th as well, so please come back and visit with us again for another chance to win!