So...

...2012 is going to start out very busy for me, craft wise.  Why, you ask?  Because of this!

I have been invited to be a Bellie Girl!  I'm super excited that I will be on a DT that forces us to use our old, hoarded and neglected stash.  I'm joining an amazing group of ladies, and I couldn't be more honored to be on the team.  Our challenges post every other Wednesday, so I hope you'll join me and use up some of that stuff you just had to have that hasn't ever been used.  I'll be back on the 4th of January with my first project as a Belli Girl.  :)

Have a great day!
Hugs!

2012 Christmas Card Challenge Week #4

Merry Christmas!!

I hope that you and your famlies have had a wonderful holiday, and that you're enjoying the company of your loved ones and friends.  I'm currently in Austin with my mom, sister and brother in law.  I'm super excited about that! 

I have another Christmas card for you.  This week, we have a wonderful sketch created by Peggy Toole.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

Here is my card.

I wanted to keep my card simple, like the sketch.  I found this awesome Prima lace with bling and pearls, and had to have it.  I'm not a huge pink fan, but I think it's gorgeous for this card.  Very clean and simple.

I do hope you'll head over to the CCC blog to see what everyone has created today.  Maybe in the next few days, you'll get some time to start on your cards for next year?  Either way, I do hope you have a wonderful holiday. :)

Hugs!

Happy Birthday

Hi ya'll!

Seeing as how my Christmas cards were mailed out earlier this month, I can start to focus on a few other cards that I need for work, and family.  My co-workers birthday was on Monday, and this is the card I made for her.

I love how this turned out!  I've used a lot of my favorite techniques in this card.  I'm happy to report that she loved it, even more than I do. lol  I've combined the following challenges into my card.

Paper Sundaes #100 - Celebrate

Corrosive Challenge #139 - Anything But Christmas

Sparkles Forum - Anything but a Christmas Card

The Crafty Pad #152 - Anything but Christmas

I don't really have much else going on this week.  Just work, work, and more work.  I hope to be able to create another something crafty this week, before I head to Austin for the weekend.  I'm really excited.  My mom is coming to spend Christmas with us at my sisters.  It's been over a year since I last saw her.  I'm SO happy!

Have a great day!

Hugs!

Addiction

ad·dic·tion

   /əˈdɪkʃən/ Show Spelled[uh-dik-shuhn] 

noun:

the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming.  

I am posting today with a plea for help.  I do not know where to start, except to say:  "Hello, my name is Stephanie, and I'm addicted."  Maybe someone can knock some sense into me before I'm too far gone.  lol 

Addicted to what, you ask?  Well, I'm totally addicted to these babies!

*sigh*  Yes, I have a bad addiction to Nestabilities.  I got an amazing Christmas bonus at work this year and guess what I bought?  40 (yes, i said 40) new sets of Nestabilities.  The ones in the photo above aren't hung on my rail on the wall yet because I'm not sure how to hang all of them, but the rest have all been put away nicely.  Here is what they look like, all together.

You might be asking why I think I'm addicted.  And although the photos don't really do them justice, I counted them all, and I own 94 sets of Nestabilities.  If you do the math, well...let's just say I could have put a down payment on a new car, or even bought a cheap cash car with the amount I've spent. lol  I'm feeling rather ashamed at the massive amount of these dies I have purchased, but I can't seem to stop buying them.  I almost feel as if I need to hide in the closet with my laptop every payday, so no one will catch me buying any more.  hahaha!

Anyway, it's a good thing I will be busy starting in January, as I must start using all of these pretties so I don't feel like I've wasted all that money.  Anyone else have an addiction to something like this?  Anyone ever have a crafty intervention to your addiction and live? lol

2012 Christmas Card Challenge Week #3

Hi ya'll!

It's time for another Christmas Card Challenge!  It seems kinda funny to be creating Christmas cards for 2012 already, but I can't tell you how easy it is come next fall to have all of my cards done and ready to send.  It was a piece of cake this year!  Anyway, onto this weeks challenge, which is to use non-traditional Christmas colors.  Right up my alley!  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

Of course, if you know me, you know how I love the non-traditional colors for my Christmas cards.  Here is what I came up with.

I used THIS sketch for my card and love how it turned out.  Now, I know what you're thinking.  My card looks completely different than normal.  Hopefully, you'll find it more appealing, like I do.  Unfortunately, the weather hasn't been cooperating lately, and I've been working so much that it's dark when I go in, and dark when I leave my office.  This has been a big problem for a while now, and I finally decided to just make a generic light box to photograph my cards in.  I bought some white foam board, and put a box together, leaving the top open for my lighting.  Once I got my photos taken, and edited, I wound up with this one.  I think it turned out pretty darn good for my first attempt.  The colors are as true as they are in real life, and I'm totally stoked that the main focus is my card, and not the background.  I've been photographing my projects outside for so long that I find this simple photo to be kind of cool.  Now that I've got a light box, I won't need to worry about trying to rush and finish my projects so that I can get my photos in the natural lighting.  Yay! lol  I've combined the following challenges in my card as well.

Annabelle Stamps Challenge - Say it with Christmas Cards
Card Makin' Mamas Challenge #35 - Christmas
Delicious Doodles Challenge #8 - Xtravagant Xmas
Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge 11/16 - Ribbon
Fairy Fun Friday #68 - Holly Jolly Christmas (No red or green)
Inkspirations #100 - Christmas Creations (anything goes)
Raise The Bar #86 - Christmas
Stampin For The Weekend #22 - Christmas
CHNC #51 - Anything Goes
Speedy The Cat's Friends Challenge #86 - Christmas Card
One Stop Craft Challenge Week #162 - Christmas Sparkle (I have snowflakes on my background paper and pearls, hope that works)

I do hope you'll head over to the CCC blog to see what my friends have put together for you today.  It's week three, and it is already turning out to be a wonderful start to the new term.  You'll see what I mean once you visit today. :)

Stay crafty my friends!

Yay!

I was excited to learn that I had made the Top 3 at Stamptacular Sunday.  THIS is the card that was chosen.

Thanks to them for selecting my card!

FYI Challenge #20

Hello everyone!

I apologize that I am so late in posting this, but it's been crazy, and I totally spaced it off.  I know, bad Steph! lol

Here is this weeks inspiration photo for Challenge #20 at FYI.

I love this photo!  It's hard not to believe He exists with breathtaking sights such as this.  I apologize I don't have a card to share today.  I will get something posted soon though. 

I do hope you'll head over to the FYI blog to see what my Lovely Lotuses have created for you today.  It's the last challenge of 2011.  We will be returning on the 5th of January, which means you have three weeks to play along this time.  We do hope you'll get the chance to join us.

Have a great day!
Hugs!

So Excited, I Might Hyperventilate! lol

I'm super excited, and still in shock.  Finally, I can share some exciting news with all of you!  I was invited to be a part of this...

...and I couldn't be any happier.  I'm feeling very blessed at this wonderful opportunity.  You must check out the list of amazingly talented ladies I'll be joining for at least three months, beginning in January.  You can see all of them HERE.  In case you're unfamiliar with Cardabilities, it's a bi-monthly sketch blog.  The sketches are posted on the 15th and 30th of each month.  I do hope you'll be able to join me on this new adventure. I'm really, really exited! :)

Off to find a paper bag...
Hugs!

2012 Christmas Card Challenge Week #2

Yola!!

Here we are at week #2 for the next year of Christmas Card challenges.  Have you gotten most of your cards for 2011 done yet?  I have to say, I'm so thankful to be a part of this amazing team, and I'm so relaxed now that my cards have been mailed out already.  *happy sigh* 

This week we were to incorporate doodling into our Christmas cards.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

Here is what I came up with.

I did something a bit different this week.  I am usually running around trying to find gift tags for my gifts, last minute.  I've decided that I am going to make a few gift tags here and there this year as well.  Then, all I have to do is add them to my gifts, and I'm not so crazed at the end of the year. :)

The new design team are rockin these challenges ya'll!  I do hope you'll head over to see what they've done this week.  Super fab!

Have a great week!
Hugs!

Drunken Stampers #80

Hi ya'll!

Welcome to the next Drunken Stampers challenge!  This is the last challenge of the year so you've got plenty of time to play along.  We'll return after the holidays with more fun challenges. 

So, this challenge is: Glittery Holiday.  I'm not sure if Peg knew this when she chose this challenge, but I'm phobic to glitter.  Well, loose glitter anyway.  I don't know what it is about it, but I don't own ANY.  lol  Thank goodness for Stickles!  Anyway, for this weeks challenge, click HERE.

I do hope that I was able to pull it off enough to everyone's liking.  I added some bling, and some Stickles to the snowflake.  It's definitely glittery.  I'm quite pleased with how this turned out.  The color combo is yummy and the embossing adds just the right touch for me.  Since I work late during the week, I've lost the ability to take my photos in my regular spot outside.  I'm having to now get my photos at work, wherever I can find a spot.  I'm hoping to find a new "home" for my picture taking soon.  I've combined the following challenges into my card as well.

Sweet Sunday Sketch #146 - Sketch

Paper Sundaes #98 - Recipe: Red, Stripes, Die Cuts, Stitching. (I used die cuts and stripes)

Pile It On #49 - Bling It Up

Stamptacular Sunday #141 - Christmas Color Combo (Baja Breeze, Black/Chocolate, Sahara Sand)

Card Caravan #7 - Make It Sparkle

I do hope you'll head over to the Drunken Stampers blog to see what everyone has created today.  They're wonderful!

Have a great day!

Hugs!

2012 Christmas Card Challenge Week #1

Hi y'all!

It's an exciting day today!  We are starting our new year at the Christmas Card challenge blog.  We've got some great new challenges, an amazing and talented new design team, and some cute stamps up for grabs each month.  I am totally blessed to be a part of such a wonderful team.  Sparkle has been the best, and the ladies on the team are always a joy to work with.  Not to mention, I'm completely ecstatic at the end of the year when all I have to do is send out my cards.  Huge bonus! lol  I do hope that we can inspire you to join us each week and help build up your stash of cards throughout the year. 

So, onto our first challenge, which is to create a One Layered Christmas card.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

Here is the card I made for this week.

I wanted to go with a "less is more" kind of thing.  This is as one layered as I get. lol  I kept it simple, and without a sentiment for now.  I couldn't decide on what I wanted to say, so I figured I'd leave it alone, until I knew what I wanted to do.  I love the simplicity of this card.  The traditional Christmas colors are beautiful together, and the debossing adds just the right touch, for me.  I think I might make a few of these, in different colors maybe, and take them to work.  I've combined the following challenges into my card as well:

Colour Create #85 - Red, White & Green

Pals Paper Arts #122 - Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke & Very Vanilla

Delightful Challenges 11/30 - Let It Snow

Raise The Bar #86 - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

As always, the cards posted on the CCC blog are fabulous.  I hope we can tempt a few of you to play along with us each week.  Either way, I would recommend at least checking them out. :)

Stay crafty my friends!
Hugs!


What's in it?
Paper:  SU! Whisper White & Riding Hood Red cardstock
Stamps: The Girls Paperie Tinsel & Twig
Ink:  Black Staz On
Accessories:  Cuttlebug, Winter Wonderland Embossing Folder, Maya Road Acrylic Snowflake, Artichoke Satin Ribbon

Wow...Very Cool!

Hello friends!

I've been super busy, and hadn't realized that I was chosen for some cool honorable mentions for THIS card.  Check them out, if you get the chance.

http://www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2011/11/week-89-colors-of-nature-winners.html

http://colourq.blogspot.com/2011/11/colourq-challenge-112-winner-crowned.html

http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/2011/11/going-grey-with-scrap-creations_28.html

http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/2011/11/tuesday-throwdown-76.html

Thanks y'all!

FYI Challenge #19

Hello everyone!

How's it going?  Can you believe it's December 1st already?!  Goodness gracious!  No wonder I'm walking around feeling lost these days.  It's because time is going by way too fast for me, and I can't seem to figure out where it goes.  I guess that's just how it goes sometimes.

I'm excited!  I have a new card for you today, for the next FYI challenge.  This challenge we're being sponsored by the wonderful and adorable Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps. 

SCRS has some absolutely adorable images!  If you haven't checked them out before, you must go see what I'm talking about.  You can visit them HERE.

Now, onto the inspiration photo. 

I love the deep, rich, vibrant colors in this photo.  The contrast between the soft sky and water and the bridge and buildings is fabulous.  I also love the reflection on the water from the lit buildings.  I'm told, by my Lovely Lotus Michelle, that this is a photo of Brisbane.  I might have to make a trip to see it myself sometime.  It looks beautiful.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

Here is the card I put together for this challenge.

I tried to get as close as I could to the colors in the photo, but in my picture, they don't look as similar.  I think the sun washed the colors out a bit.  Either way, I like my card.  Again, when I'm struggling with what to do, my Distress Inks always save the day.  I used THIS sketch, loosly, for the format of my card.  Loving the look of the lace with the seam binding bow.  I feel like I've added that type of layering to all of my cards as of late, but I can't get enough of it. lol  Anyone else have a technique they use ALL the time, no matter what? 

Anyway, the projects posted by my Lovely Lotuses are absolutely fantastic, as usual.  I do hope you'll head over to check them out, and to see the new announcement posted. 

Have a great day!

Hugs!


What's in it?
Paper:  SU! Crumb Cake & Whisper White cardstock, Fancy Pants Oct 31st Patterned Paper, Little Yellow Bicycle Paper Doily
Stamps:  SU! Bliss & Heart/Swirl Background, Verve Dream Big
Ink:  Spun Sugar, Milled Lavender & Dusty Concord Distress Inks, SU! So Saffron Dye Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black Dye Ink
Accessories:  Cuttlebug, Smooth Circles & Lacy Circles Nestabilities, Deep Purple Felt, Pretty In Pink Pearls, White Seam Binding, Ivory Lace

Peace, Joy and Love

Hi everyone!

I do hope you had a wonderful holiday and weekend.  It's back to work for me today, and I'm dreading it.  I have been gone and can only imagine the piles of stuff that are waiting for me to tackle on my desk. lol

I got some extra time to create some more stuff, just for fun.  If all goes well, I'll have something posted two or three times this week.  Here is my first card.

I love the very non-traditional look these colors give to this Christmas card.  If you know me, you know how I love the non-traditional colors for my cards at Christmas time.  It was a bit challenging to get everything how I wanted it, but all in all, it turned out pretty well.  I've got another card to add to my pile, and that's all that really matters.  I've combined the following challenges for this card:

Unscripted Sketches #134 - Sketch
Crazy 4 Challenges #115 - Snow
OCCC 11/26 - O' Christmas Tree (include a Christmas tree of some sort)
Crafty Contaigon Challenge 11/26 - Leftovers (use your scraps, just about everything on my card is a scrap of some sort)
PDCC #108 - Maroon, Copper, Tumeric (I got as close as I could)
Paper Sundaes #97 -  Winter Wonderland
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #140 - Anything Christmas

I hope you have a good week.  I'm off to get ready and make the dreaded drive to work on a Monday after a holiday. lol  I'll be back soon with another something crafty.

Hugs!

Drunken Stampers #79 & Christmas Card Challenge Week #52

Hello everyone!

I hope you and your families had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  If any of you were brave (or crazy) enough to hit the Black Friday sales, I hope you got some great stuff.  My sister wanted to go Black Friday shopping this year, but after thinking about it, we changed our minds. lol

I have one card for two of my design team challenges today.  Fortunately for me, both of the DT's for this card were nice enough to let me combine challenges.  For this weeks CCC, which is to use vellum, click HERE.  For this weeks Drunken Stampers challenge, which is to create a monochromatic project, click HERE.

I'm so bummed, and feel a bit lame.  In all of the hoards of crafty supplies I have, I couldn't find one piece of vellum to use.  You'd think that I'd at least have a small scrap, but no.  Not one piece.  I guess I will have to see about investing in some vellum now.  I really like how this turned out.  I used like 5 different shades of blue, and some new (to me) seam binding.  I also used some more new Verve goodies on this card too.  I know just who will get this card, now that I think of it.  Hopefully, they'll like it.  Blue is their favorite color.  I've combined the following callenges in my card today:

Sweet Stop #136 - Sketch

Hiding In My Craft Room #22 - Holiday (any holiday)

My Sheri Crafts 11/26 - Let's Decorate for Christmas

Sweet Stampin 11/26 - Punches and/or Dies

Addicted To Stamps #18 - Christmas Cards

Christmas Inspirations #37 - No Image Christmas Card

I do hope you'll head over to see what my friends at the CCC and Drunken Stampers blogs have created for you today.  As always, I'm inspired by their projects.

Hope you have a great day!

Hugs!

2012 Christmas Card Challenge DT Announcement & Blog Hop

Hi ya'll!

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm SO excited today!  Today we're announcing the new Design Team for the first 2012 term at the Christmas Card Challenge blog.  I have been invited to stay on another term as the DT Coordinator, and I couldn't be more honored.  It's been a fun journey with some of the most awesome women, and I couldn't leave them. lol  We also have some AMAZING new designers, and I can't wait for you to see what they come up with each week.  They will begin on the 4th of December. 

Now, we're doing this DT announcement a bit different.  We have never had a blog hop at the CCC, and decided that we're going to announce everyone via blog hop.  Almost like a scavenger hunt to find out who the new designers are.  Fun, huh?  What does that mean exactly?  Well, it starts at the CCC blog, and then you're directed to the next blog, which happens to be all of the new, and some returning, designers blogs.  Along the way, you'll get to know each of the new designers, as they share a project and tell you a bit about themselves.  We have a few returning designers, and six new designers, along with 6 new guest designers. 

Don't forget to leave some blog love for each of them, as there will be one lucky winner of some cool Christmas goodies.  I mean, what's a blog hop without some candy, right? :) 

So, if you've arrived here at my blog from Sparkle's blog, you're on the right path.  If not, you can start HERE, at the CCC blog.  Please make sure to check back every Sunday, that's when the new challenges are posted.  Now, it's time to head over to Alanna's blog.

Happy blog hopping my friends!
Hugs!

With Gratitude

Greetings!

I hope you're having a good week.  I'm currently on vacation at my sisters in Austin, and enjoying every minute of being a bum. :)  By now, I'm sure you've come to read how close I am to my sister, so any chance I get to spend time with her (and my bil), is awesome.  We will be cooking the full spread for Thanksgiving, and I can't wait to eat. lol  I do hope you and your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

I created this card, just for fun.  I love it when time allows me that option, it doesn't happen often.

These colors are gorgeous together, and I'm quite pleased with my outcome.  I have to say, again, that every time I break out the distress inks, I'm always amazed at how beautiful they work together.  I've got some more new Verve goodies on this card as well.  I knew who I wanted to give this card to immediately.  I hope she liked it.  I've combined the following challenges into my card:

Mojo Monday #216 - Sketch
Shabby Tea Room #89 - Inspiration Photo (The Colors of Nature)
The Pink Elephant #126 - Give Thanks
Victorine Originals #21 - Thanks
Clear It Out Challenges - Orange & Brown (Must use old stash, I used some older ribbon and flowers)
ColorQ #112 - Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight & White (I got close!)
Going Grey With Scrap Creations - Thank You
The Stamping Boutique #20 - Thanksgiving
Tuesday Throwdown #75 - Lots of Circles
Use It Tuesday #20 - Giving Thanks (I used some older ribbon and flowers)

That's all for me.  I'm off to go pick on my brother in law and joke with my sister.  That's our favorite thing to do. :)  Don't forget to check back on Saturday.  I've got an exciting announcement, and there's a fun blog hop scheduled. 
Hugs!

Christmas Card Challenge Week #51

Hola ya'll!

I hope you're having a good weekend.  The weather here in DFW is strange for the end of November this year.  I was hoping it would be cold by now, but alas, we're in the 80's this weekend.  Bleh!  It just doesn't feel like fall to me yet.  Boo!

Anyway, enough rambling.  Here is my card for this weeks CCC, which is a color combo of Black & White.  Remember, the challenges are optional.  Any Christmas/Winter/Holiday card will do.  And, you don't have to use a SCRS stamp on your card, but we sure love it when you do!  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

I got a really nice gift certificate to Verve Stamps for my birthday, so I ordered some new Christmas stamps to play with.  I love their Christmas stamps!  I wanted to keep it simple, and clean, and hoped it would have more of an elegant look.  I think I accomplished my goal, and I love this card.

I do hope you'll head over to the CCC blog to see what everyone else has created for you today.  They're all so different, and lovely.

Hugs!

FYI Challenge #18

Hi everyone!

So, in the craziness that is my life these days, I completely spaced it off and forgot to create something for FYI challenge #18.  I will probably post something later, if time allows. 

I may not have a project to share, but I didn't want you to miss out on seeing the inspiration photo.  Check it out!

My gosh, it's absolutely breathtaking!  The magnificent sunrise (or sunset), the texture and sharp edges of the rocks, the brilliant colors, how you can see for miles from this point, all amazing.  After finding this photo, I have come to realize that maybe I need to prioritize some things in my life so that I can see these kinds of places with my own eyes.  Life's short and I don't want to miss anything.

Please, please, please head over to the FYI blog to see what my Lovelies have created for you today.  I must admit, they've outdone themselves.  Absolutely stunning.  Click HERE for this weeks challenge.

Have a great day!
Hugs!

Christmas Card Challenge Week #50

Greetings!

I'm totally in shock that we're at challenge 50 already.  It doesn't even seem like it's been a whole year that we've been creating Christmas cards.  Time has definitely passed me by this year, quickly. 

Our challenge this week is Deck the Halls.  You can use holly or wreaths or you can interpret it in however you like.  All challenges are optional, as always, so any holiday card will do.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

I started out with a completely different look, in my head.  Unfortunately, this wasn't a card that turned out anything like I had hoped. lol  I'm kinda digging it, but haven't really decided as to whether or not I'm going to leave it as is, or re-do it.  I guess we'll see what happens.  I used THIS sketch.  I {heart} their sketches. :)

I do hope you'll head over to see what the other elves have made for you today.  They're very cute!

Hugs!

Drunken Stampers Challenge #78

Hey everyone!

I hope you're having a good weekend.  I apologize for the delay on this but blogger didn't cooperate with me this morning, and my post didn't go live as scheduled. 

I'm excited to bring you the next challenge over at Drunken Stampers, which is, Up In The Air.  You can interpret this in any way you like.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.

I had hoped to use some kind of hot air balloon on my card, but alas, I don't have anything with hot air balloons.  Boo! lol  Instead, I took a different route and went masculine-ish, with this antique airplane.  It paired really nicely with the sentiment I found in one of my other stamp sets.  I used November's Sketch For You To Try and think it turned out pretty well.

I do hope you'll head over to the Drunken Stampers blog to check out what my friends have come up with for you today.  They're adorable!

I'll be back soon with another something crafty.
Hugs!