CC302, PPA #74 & PWC 12/21 - Happy Birthday

Hi everyone!

Did you have a lovely Christmas holiday?  Mine was fantastic.  I feel so happy, and content with everything at the moment.  Ever had that total feeling of peace within?  That's where I am right now. *happy sigh*  I'm happy that I got the chance to get some extra crafting in too.  Lately, I've felt as if I am only creating projects to meet my DT obligations, and I was getting in a rut.  Thank goodness for 4 day weekends. :)

I needed a birthday card for another co-worker.  She's one of my favorite people in the office, and she loves the color red.  Can't go wrong with the classic red, white and black color combo.  I love how this card turned out.  It's simple, and elegant, and I know she'll love it.  She's one of my biggest fans and I wanted to make sure she got a nice card.  I used THIS sketch, THIS color challenge, and am also going to enter it into THIS challenge.  I'm off to work, but I'll be back with another crafty project soon. 

Hugs!

CCC Week #4 - Deck The Halls

Happy Sunday!

Did everyone have a wonderful Christmas?  I got some really nice gifts, and had a wonderful time with my friend, volunteering at the shelter yesterday.  It truly makes me appreciate everything I have even more.  I have another Christmas Card challenge card for you.  This weeks challenge is to CASE a DT card from any of the previous weeks.  Keep in mind that these challenges are optional and any Christmas or winter card will do.  For this weeks callenge, click HERE.

I cased Alanna's card from 2010, Week #18.  You can see her card HERE.  I changed the layout, and colors, and love it. 

I hope you'll head over to the CCC blog to see the wonderful cards that my friends have made for you today. 

Have a great, relaxing day!
Hugs!

Twisted Sketches #39 - Wise Men

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope that you and your families have a safe and happy holiday weekend.  As you're reading this, I'm spending the day with someone very special to me, and we're volunteering at a local shelter.  What better way to celebrate than to help others. 

I have a new Twisted Sketches project for you today.  The sketch is fantastic, and the twist is: Faith - any how, any way.  Very fitting for today, if you ask me.  For this weeks sketch challenge, click HERE.

I really dig how this card turned out.  I went with non-traditional colors, again, and am happy with how they work together.  I hope you can see all of the details.  There are some of my favorite things on this card. :)

I hope you'll head over to the Twisted Sketches blog sometime this weekend to see what my friends have made for you.  They're wonderful!

Have a blessed day!
Hugs!

2011 CCC Week #3 - Merry Christmas

Happy Sunday!

It's definitely starting to cool off here in the DFW area, but I heard a rumor that it's supposed to get up to 70 degrees here tomorrow.  Now that's not very holiday like, is it?  I guess I shouldn't complain, I get to wear my flip flops for another day. lol

Sunday means another Christmas Card Challenge.  For this weeks challenge, we were to incorporate holiday travel of some sort.  Keep in mind, the challenges each week are optional.  Any Christmas or winter card will do.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

I was very happy that I had this image of Sledding Chloe from Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps.  Without her, I would have had to use the internet once again to find an image.  I colored my image with my Copics, and then used some of my new Nesties to cut it out.  I embossed the background with the Tim Holtz snowflake texture fade, added my sentiment and was done.  Pretty simple, but I really like how it turned out.

I hope you'll head over to the CCC blog to see what everyone has created for you today.  As usual, they're all pretty fantastic.

Hugs!

US #86 - Give Thanks

Good day to all!

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend so far.  I have another Unscripted Sketches project for you today and I must say, it turned out really pretty.  There's an optional piggyback challenge, to use NO patterned paper.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

Isn't it pretty?  I love this color combo.  It's one of my top 5 color combos, and I really should use it more often.  Not using any patterned paper is more difficult than you'd think.  Fortunately, I have tons of tools and gadgets, and machines that helped me create this card, without any patterned paper.  I really dig my card today, and I know just who's going to get it.

The other designers at US have created some wonderful projects for your viewing pleasure today.  I do hope you'll have time to go check them out, and maybe play along with us this week. 

Have a great weekend!
Hugs!

2011 CCC Week #2 - Peace

Hello and welcome to week 2 of this years Christmas Card challenges!

The challenge this week is to incorporate angels in your Christmas card.  Keep in mind that all challenges are optional and any Christmas or winter card will do.  The idea is just to help get you stocked up on your cards for next Christmas.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

I have to admit that I struggled immensly with this weeks challenge.  I searched, and searched through all of my stuff and could not find one single angel in my stash.  So, I went searching on the internet and came across this adorable vintage photo.  I printed it onto textured cardstock, and sanded it ever so slightly to give it a bit more of an aged look.  I added my sentiment and a pop of red with the twine, and was done.  I love how simple and pretty this card turned out. 

So, in reality, I would have loved to use the angel pictured below for my card, but wasn't sure how that would go over.  I decided I'd just share the photo with you here instead.  Isn't he lovely? ;)

I hope you'll head over to the challenge blog to see what my friends have created for you today.  They're all pretty awesome.

Have a great Sunday!
Hugs!
Steph

Twisted Sketches #37 - Ho Ho Ho

Yola!

Yep, I'm back again with my second post of the day.  For this weeks US project, please scroll down. 

I have another Twisted Sketches card to share with you.  I love these sketches.  They allow for all kinds of interpretation.  The twist this week is: Shine - any way, any how.  For this weeks sketch challenge, click HERE.

For my "shine" part of the card, I used a transparent ornament with glitter, and glossy cardstock, although you can't really see how shiny everything is in the photo.  The sentiment and snowflakes are all glossy cardstock.  I'm actually quite pleased at how this turned out.  I completed one card, and then totally trashed it because it was terrible. lol  I really like this card though.  From the reindeer on the background paper to the cute twine bow on the ornament, it's fantastic.

I hope you'll head over to the Twisted Sketches blog to be inspired by everyone's cards today.  I can't tell you how amazing they all are!

Hugs!
Steph

US #85 - My Angel

Hi everyone!

How is your weekend so far?  Good I hope!  I'm so excited to share another Unscripted Sketches project with you today.  I recently had some photos of my daughter taken, and couldn't wait to play with them.  For this weeks sketch challenge, click HERE.

I'm a less is more kind of gal when it comes to my scrapbooking.  I want my photos to be the main focus of the page, and this beautiful Bo Bunny paper allowed me to do just that.  This is one of my favorite photos of Sydney.  You can't really tell, but everything is black and white except for her blue eyes, blue earrings, and the blue streaks in her hair.  I really like how this turned out and can't wait to use more of the photos I had taken of her.

Please head over to the US blog to see what my friends have created for you.  They're all gorgeous, as usual!

Have a great weekend!
Hugs!
Steph

My Favorite New Toy & Some Photos

Good Monday to you!

How was your weekend?  Did you do anything fun or exciting?  I had a busy weekend, that ended with a trip to Ikea on Sunday.  Thanks to my wonderful friends Cherie, Susan, Jen and Lynn, I got a very nice gift card for my birthday.  Below is a picture of what came home with me after my trip up there.

Isn't it lovely?!  I have wanted an Expedit shelf for a couple years now, but hadn't really been able to afford it.  Thanks to the gift card, and some birthday money I had saved up, I was finally able to get it.  The most wonderful thing about this, is that it's the big one, not the smaller one, and I got it at the same price as the small one because I bought the display model from their "damages and as is" area.  Talk about luck!  I love how decluttered my area looks now, and how nicely the boxes I chose go with my new bedding (I know, I know. But I'm a matchy matchy kind of girl).  Anyway, a HUGE thank you again to the lovely ladies who bought me this amazing belated birthday gift.  :)

I mentioned that I had some photos to share also.  My friend Taj took some photos of my daughter over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Here are a few of the gorgeous photos she sent me.  I truly believe she's as amazing as a photographer as she is a paper crafter.

 My goodness how she's grown!  I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful, gorgeous daughter.  Thank you Taj for doing such an amazing job!  These photos will always be some of my favorites.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!
Steph 

2011 Christmas Card Challenge Week #1

Greetings!!

I'm SO excited!  Today is the first week of the new Christmas Card Challenges year.  I can't believe that I'm already starting my Christmas cards for 2011, but I'm so thankful that I am.  This year was a breeze to get everything sent out.  I did it all this week.  Easy peasy, and I'm done!  I hope you'll join us this year.  I cannot even begin to tell you how helpful it is at the end of November to have everything done and ready to go. 

Anyway, onto this weeks challenge, which is to create a monochromatic Christmas card.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

I went with purple.  A color I love, but don't use that often.  I find it very difficult to work with, and I'm not sure why.  I love the look of my card with the deep, rich purple, and the cream.  And aren't those roses wonderful?  Gotta love Maya Road.  I got the layout idea from someone on YouTube, but don't remember who, sorry.  When I find it again, I'll give credit here.  I love the simplicity of this card.  I am going to make a couple more in different colors and take them to work.  They're still asking for more Christmas cards.

I hope you'll head over to the challenge blog to check out the few small canges we made, and to see who our guest designer is for the month of December.  Yep, you read that right, she'll be joining us for the entire month. :)

Have a wonderful Sunday my friends!
Hugs!
Steph

Unscripted Sketches #84

Hey everyone!

How is your weekend going?  So far, mine is crazy, but tomorrow I get to be a bum.  Yay for being a bum! lol  So, I have another Unscripted Sketches project for you.  For this weeks sketch challenge, click HERE.

I'm digging the layered look, and I like the snowflake underneith my bow, but boy did it take me forever to get this layout worked out.  I had the idea in my head, but apparently there was a lot missing when it came to putting it together.  Anyway, it all worked out in the end. 

I hope you'll head over to the challenge blog to see what my friends have created for you.  Have a great weekend!
Hugs!
Steph

Christmas Card Challenges Week #52

Hi everyone!

Can you believe it?! We've made it to the last week of Christmas Card challenges for this year! Wow, I'm so excited, and have been inspired every week by everyone's cards. It is truly a pleasure to be on such a great team, with such a wonderful "head elf". I love that I have accumulated so many cards, and have zero stress at this time of year. There will be a few announcements on the 1st of December, so be sure to head over to the challenge blog to see what's up for 2011.

Now, onto this weeks challenge, a sketch. Peggy has been a blessing in helping us create the sketches for this year, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the ones she's created for us for the next year as well. For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

I really like how my card turned out. I had never thought to stamp the sentiment onto patterned paper before, but think I'll do that more often now. The sketch allowed for me to use some new goodies I've had in my stash as well. I like the ease of use of Tim Holtz's tissue tape, and the felt Christmas tree border adds a nice touch as well. I finished it off with a modified MFT snowflake, and made it sparkly with stickles, even though you can't see it that well. All in all, it's a very pretty card, in reall life, and I'm sure someone in my office will buy it. lol

I am truly blessed to have finished the year, and to have had your support. I hope you'll head over to the challenge blog to see what my friends have created for you, and to see who our final guest designer for this year is. Don't forget to keep an eye on the challenge blog for our announcement on the 1st as well!

Much love,

Twisted Sketches #35

Hi ya'll!

This is my second post of the day.  Please scroll down for my US project.

I have another Twisted Sketches card to share with you today.  I love these sketches!  The twist is layer, any how, any way.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

I've been using my Spanish sentiment stamps a lot lately.  Pensando en ti means thinking of you, by the way.  I have several co-workers who have requested cards, so I figured I'd start putting them to better use.  I love how this card turned out.  I wanted simple, but with several layers.  I think I accomplished it pretty well.

I hope you'll head over to the Twisted Sketches blog to see what everyone else has created for today.  Again, I'm totally blown away by how amazing these ladies are.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Steph

Unscripted Sketches #83

Hi everyone!

Yay, it's Saturday!  I scheduled this post so that I could sleep in this morning.  I love it when I've got everything together so I can do that. lol  I have another Unscripted Sketches project for you.  For this weeks sketch challenge, click HERE.

I went with something different for today's sketch.  I found it a bit difficult at first, but once I figured out what kind of project I wanted to create, it actually came together quite quickly.  By the time you're reading this, it has already been purchased. lol  I made the mistake (or good move) of taking some of my extra cards and projects to work a couple weeks ago, and boy did my co-workers buy them up quickly.  They've even asked that I take any extras I continue to have to work so they can buy them too.  I currently have zero stash of anything anymore. lol  I'm definitely not complaining, more in shock, that they all sold.  Anyway, I filled the gift bag with chocolates and peppermints and it was a big hit.

I hope you'll head over to the US blog to see what my friends have created for you today.  They're all pretty amazing. 

Have a great day!
Hugs!
Steph

Thankful For...

Her.

Isn't she beautiful?  They don't stay little very long, do they?  Just had to share this with everyone.
Steph

Christmas Card Challenge Week #51

Wow, there's only one week left for this years challenges.  As I was creating this card, and it's really amazing how wonderful it is, feeling like I've accomplished something.  I have consistently created a Christmas card just about every week this last year.  How helpful these challenges are for me.  I'm so happy to be a part of it.  So, enough rambling.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

Aren't these mittens adorable?  My friend, SuzyQ, let me borrow her stamp so that I could use it for this weeks challenge.  I paper pieced them and then matted them on several Nesties.  At first, I didn't like this color combo, at all.  But after working it out, I really like these colors together, for a non-traditional look.  What do you think? 

I hope you'll head over to see who our wonderful guest designer is and to check out what my friends have put together for you today.  So tell me, how many Christmas cards have you made this year already? ;)

Much love!
Steph

Unscripted Sketches #82

Yay for Saturday, again!  Are you enjoying your weekend?  It's finally starting to cool off again here in the DFW area.  I love the fall!  So, I have another Unscripted Sketches project for you today.  For this weeks sketch challenge, click HERE.

I love the simplicty of this card.  I was able to whip it up in no time too.  The felt snowflake is my favorite thing on this card.  I like how the bling adds just the right touch of something. 

I hope you'll head over to the US blog to see the other wonderful projects posted.  Hopefully, you'll get to play along as well.

Hugs!
Steph :)

New Blog & Look, Same Old Me :)

Hi everyone!

Gmail was being weird about allowing me to have two email addresses and how I could use my blog, so I decided it was time to switch everything over to one email and one blog address.  I hope you'll take the time to sign up and follow me again, and I hope that this isn't too much of an inconvenience for everyone.  I know this is going to be the right thing to do, in the long run.

I'll be back on Saturday with my next DT post.

Have a great day!

Steph