Merry Christmas

Good day to all!

It's Monday, which means it's back to work for me.  I would LOVE to stay home with R and my daughter, but it's too busy at work to take time off at the end of the year.  I'm thankful that they will keep each other company, and truly love spending time together.  That makes it so much easier, for everyone. :-)

Here is the next card I made with the January SSS Card Kit.  This is pretty CAS, for me, which I'm getting more comfortable with.

These colors together are one of my favorite!  The contrast of the dark purple, and light aqua are so appealing, to me.  I have a feeling I'll be using this color combo again.  It's also my first time using Perfect Pearls.  I really love the sparkle they give to the snowflakes.  To tie the flowers into the rest of the card, I added a bit of ink to the petals, which I then used to sandwich some silver and white twine from Pretty Pink Posh.  Simple and beautiful.  I dig!  I'm going to submit this card for the following challenges...

Pile It On Challenge #49: Christmas/Holiday Cards
Friday Bloggers Challenge: Holiday Cards
Christmas Card Challenge #4: Anything Goes

That's all for me today.  I'm hoping to get some more time in my craft room this week, so I have more to share with you.  I am excited about Friday though.  Be sure to stop by, to see why!

Have a wonderful day!

What's In It?
Paper: SU! Whisper White Cardstock, Light Aqua Cardstock, White Grid Journaling Card
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Holiday Envelope Sentiments, Simon Says Stamp Holiday Hellos, CASual Fridays Snowflake Greetings
Ink: VersaMark, Simon Says Stamp Fog Dye Ink, SU! Coastal Cabana Dye Ink
Accessories: White Paper Flowers, Pretty Pink Posh Silver Twine, Ranger Grape Fizz Perfect Pearls

Warm Birthday Wishes

Hi ya'll!

How has your weekend been?  Everything here is covered in white, and it's freezing.  R is NOT happy about the cold weather, but he's done a good job at staying warm, indoors. lol  Hulk on the other hand, has had a blast in the snow.  It's his first time being in it, so he's having fun rolling around in it, and trying to eat as much as he can.  He was adorable on Thursday night, jumping up and trying to bite at the snowflakes, as they hit him in the face.  He's so big that you forget he's still just a puppy. lol

While R has been cooking, and watching football, I have been in my crafty space.  I am excited about today's card.  I recently received my Simon Says Stamp January Card Kit, and oh my goodness, are the papers gorgeous!  I LOVED every single one of them.  I actually made three cards with it already.  Here is the first.

See what I mean about the papers?!  I adore this color combo, and am going to use every bit of my card kid this month, for sure.  I used some of my new SSS goodies that I got from R for Christmas on this card.  I layered the two snow flake dies, and then added another silver one (that you can't see) from Pretty Pink Posh.  For a bit of interest I clear embossed some polka dots on the sentiment panel, before stamping my sentiment in three different fonts.  I'm a bit bummed that you can't tell in the picture, but "birthday" is stamped in a deep purple and then clear embossed as well.  It's rich, and shiny, and gorgeous in real life.  I'm also kinda bummed that you can't see the sparkle on the wreath under the sentiment.  It's coated with a layer of Dazzling Diamonds.  This card turned out exactly how I had hoped though, and I'm sure the recipient will love it as much as I do.  I'm going to submit this card for the following challenges...
 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Seize The Birthday: Birthday (optional: silver and gold, which I did not use)
Crazy 4 Challenges #266: Winter Themed Birthday Card

I'll be back soon, with my next card.  I hope you have a wonderful day!

Hugs!

What's In It?
Paper: Bazzill Deep Purple & Aqua Shimmer Textured Cardstock, Light Gray Cardstock, SU! Whisper White Cardstock, Bo Bunny Patterned Paper
Stamps: Reverse Confetti Lots To Say, Mama Elephant Polar Pals, Simon Says Stamp Sparkle & Shine, Simon Says Stamp Christmas
Ink: VersaMark, Memento Tuexdo Black Dye Ink, VersaFine Imperial Purple Pigment Ink
Accessories: Nestabilites Large Smooth Circle Dies, Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circles Dies, Simon Says Stamp Maryanne Snowflake Die, Simon Says Stamp Kate Snowflake Die, Memory Box Frostyville Wreath Die, Pretty Pink Posh Snowflake Confetti, Studio Calico Purple Gem, SU! Dazzling Details

With Sympathy

Hello friends,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  We had an amazing time this year.  R and Hulk surprised me by coming up the week before Christmas, and will be staying until after the New Year.  R never really confirmed he was coming, since he swore he would NEVER visit Iowa in the winter. lol I would have been a bit disappointed, but I would have understood.  The drive from Dallas to where we are is over 14 hours, and the weather in KS is usually quite scary around the end of the year.  He spoils me!  Although I'm sure he was not happy about the drive, he made my Christmas, and I am thankful that they made it safely.  I have been blessed beyond belief this year, and was glad that I was able provide an awesome Christmas for my family.  And even though the gifts aren't what we celebrate, it was cool to see their faces.

Unfortunately, one of my dear crafty friends lost her mother on the 23rd of December.  Her mother was a very strong woman, and won several bouts of cancer, before succumbing to it.  My heart breaks for my friend.  I know she was very close to her mother, and I can't even imagine how she must feel.  I cannot imagine  life without my mother, and am getting teary eyed just thinking about it.  We will keep my friend and her family in our prayers, and I will be here for her, in any way that I can be.

Here is the card I made for her.

 

My friend is a huge fan of the CAS style of cards, so I tried to make something that she would really love.  In this time of grief, I am hoping to send her a smile, even if it's only for a brief moment.  You can't tell in this photo, but the sentiment is embossed in silver.  I love the simple, yet gorgeous effect of embossing these days.  I was happy to find the following challenges, to help me pull my card together.

The Friday Mashup #190: Sketch w/Theme (my loose interpretation)

CASology #127: Light (I created a "sun" with my distress inks)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

showCASe your style #5: Die Cut (I used my new SSS Stitched Circle dies)

I'm off to have some brunch (R is cooking), with everyone, and spend time with them.  I am hoping that once things calm down a bit, I will get some crafty time this evening.

Have a great Saturday!

What's In It?

Paper: SU Whisper White Cardstock

Stamps: Clearly Besotted Sweet Little Sentiments

Ink: VersaMark, Squeezed Lemonade & Mustard Seed Distress Inks

Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circles, Pretty Pink Posh Amethyst Sequins