Gooooooo Raiders!!!!

Hello and happy Thursday evening to you!  This was intended to be a Thursday morning post, but I've been helping with baby Max today, who didn't sleep for his mama very well last night, and this is the first chance I've had to upload my card and make a post.  I did get in a little card making between his naps, so it's all good!

My card today was made with the Cheereater image from Peachy Keen Stamps.  I followed along with the sketch challenge #313 on SCS  this week for the layout, and I have to tell ya that it was a doozy, and a wonderful challenge.

 

The image was stamped with Memento ink and colored with my Copic markers.  I've had this basketball textured paper for almost two years tucked away in a drawer just waiting for a fantastic use for it.  I am very aware that this cute little Cheereater image is a football fan, but in our small town, we don't have football.  I know, I know... *GASP*.  Football is big in many of the larger neighboring towns, but our little school is lucky if we can find enough players for a basketball team.  I have three nieces that play basketball, and this card is for my niece Bailey.  I needed a number for the jersey, and my dad was close and knew her jersey number, so a Bailey Cheereater was born!  LOL!!!   This year was Bailey's last year to play Jr. High basketball, and her team did very well, by taking the conference title, and  that's a HUGE deal for a school of our size!!  Goooooooo Raiders!!!!

I hope you've enjoyed a glorious day, and that you're making plans for a Happy New Year celebration!  Happy Stamping!

Crazy 4 Cocoa Challenge 5 & Exciting News!!!!

Good morning!  Today, I have the next challenge for the Crazy 4 Cocoa Blog, and some exciting news to share with you.  First up...  The exciting news...  I have the distinct pleasure of being a part of the Midnight Madness Challenge design team for the next three months!!!!  Woooohooo!!!  Can you say, excited?  I've been keeping this under my hat for quite a while, and it's NOT been easy, let me tell ya!  I'm looking forward to a wonderful experience, making life long friends, and learning a lot along the way.  It's gonna be LOADS of fun... I just know it, and I'm thrilled for the opportunity!!  :)

Now on to my challenge card for today.  The newest challenge has just been announced over at the Crazy 4 Cocoa Challenge Blog, and this week, the challenge is Let's Celebrate!  For my card, I chose to use the Cocoa with Cupcake image from the so sweet Cocoa stamp set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I colored the image with my Copic markers, and cut it out with my nestabilities.  I added some hand stitching with twine around the edge of the circle, and added a twine bow to the cupcake.   The rhinestone flourish by Zva Creative gave this just the right sparkle and bling to this card.  One of my favorite tips is to use the clear rhinestone embellishments, and color them with my Copics to match whatever I'm working on.  That way I always have the perfect color for any project right at hand.  That works on pearls, too!! 

Cupcakes seem to be the trendy way to celebrate now days, and I've seen so many amazingly decorated cupcakes out there.  A few months ago, my niece and I played with the Cricut Cake machine I bought for her when she graduated from culinary school and made adorable little sailboat cupcakes for her little brother's birthday.  They turned out sooooo CUTE!!   Now, there is a whole market out there for pretty cut outs to wrap around your cupcakes.  Now THAT'S something to celebrate!!! 

I hope that you enjoyed a blessed Christmas with your family.  Ours was wonderful, and this old girl is definitely ready to get back into a more normal routine.  Thank you so very much for stopping by today!  I wish you a blessed and glorious day and lots of happy stamping!

Happy Christmas Eve!!   I've got a couple of cards to share with you today, but I'll make it snappy, because I still have a little bit of wrapping to do, and LOTS of cooking ahead of me.  Are you ready yet?  Oh, the excitement builds, it's snowing outside, and it's beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas... FINALLY!!

The first card was made with the Gingerbread house die from The Scrapping Cottage.  Some Martha Stewart Holiday paper from my hoarded pile of paper was the perfect compliment to this cute little die cut.  Everything was cut with white card stock, and colored, then assembled.  The sentiment comes from Peach Keen Stamps Christmas Greeting Words stamp set.

 The second card I made using the Ornament With Tree die, and I used the negative pieces to piece in the opposite colors for a little different effect.  I used some fabulous glittery card stock that was gifted to me by my sweet friend, Kelly in our last Kit Cat kit.  It's sooooo pretty IRL, and really makes a stunning looking card.

I want to thank you for stopping by today, and I wish you a very merry and blessed Christmas!! 

Crazy 4 Cocoa Challenge #4

Good morning!  It's time for Challenge #4 over at the Crazy 4 Cocoa Challenge Blog, and this week,  is a color challenge.  Get out those Brown, Red, and Blue colors, and let's see where creativity leads you!  For my card, I chose to use this cute little Cocoa hiding behind a strawberry from the Feeling Fruity Cocoa stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I stamped it with Memento ink, and colored with my Copics.  

 The patterned paper is from Stampin' Up!,  as is the striped grosgrain ribbon and the buckle. I cut the circle and scalloped circles with my Nestabilities, then distressed the edges with some Tim Holtz distress ink in vintage photo.  I added some rhinestones to the corner, and this card is ready for a happy home!!  I'm really trying to make sure that I actually use/send my cards, instead of hoarding them.  Does anyone else do that, or is it just me?  I make cards nearly every day, but I'm the one that never has a card, or one I'm willing to part with.  LOL!!  It's a little early for a new year's resolution, but that's mine.  I actually want to make sure more of my cards find a happy home.  :)

Thanks for visiting today!  Don't forget to check out the wonderful samples from the rest of the Cocoa Crazies, and if you've got some spare time before Christmas, why not pull out those Cocoa images and play along with us?  We'd love to see what you do with this challenge!

Have a glorious day, and happy stamping!! 

Hello and good afternoon!  I have a winner of the blog candy I was offering in celebration of the Big Birthday Bash Blog Hop for Kathy J.  Random.org chose lucky commenter #53, and that is:  *Drumroll*

Cathie W.

I have already been in contact with Cathie, and her stamps are out of here and on their way to her today.  I would like to thank each and every one of you who hopped along in celebration of our sweet Kathy, and I only wish I could send stamps to each and every one of you for your thoughtful and kind comments.  

Thanks for stopping by today, and have a beautiful day, a very Merry Christamas, and lots of happy stamping!

 

Happy Birthday Blog Hop

Hello and good morning!!!  I couldn't be more excited to share a blog post with you than I am today, because we're having a very special blog hop to honor the birthday of one of the sweetest, and most amazing women I've ever had the pleasure to meet!!  It's Kathy J's birthday, and I am honored to be a stop on this birthday blog hop to celebrate our Peachy Queen's special day.   If you arrived here from the talented Kim's Blog, then you're on the right track, but if not, then please go back to the Peachy Keen Stamps Blog , and hop along from there, so you don't miss one single, amazing creation!!

I often tell the story of how excited I was when I first applied for the Peachy Keen Stamps design team.  I didn't know much about Peachy Keen Stamps when I applied, other than there was something that immediately drew me to the artwork.  I couldn't exactly explain it, at the time, but something about the adorable whimsical images that I saw on the website felt familiar and comfortable to me, and I told my husband that I REALLY wanted to be a Peachy Keen Designer, but I was fairly new to watercoloring, and hadn't touched a Copic marker at that point, so I was afraid to get my hopes up.  A few days after I applied, when I had more time to sit down and really check out the PKS website, I found the What's So Funny stamp, and it hit me who Kathy was! I immediately recognized that artwork, because I had painted it many, many times.   Kathy had been my tole painting buddy for years, and she didn't even know it.  I had purchased Kathy's Paint On A Happy Face books a long time ago, and painted from them (especially Volume 1) till I wore them out, and here, I had literally stumbled upon her website, and I had no idea that she had gone into the stamping business!!!  Well, needless to say, that when I received the email that I had been accepted as a designer for PKS, I was way beyond elated!!  Talk about surreal!!!!!

This past July, when I got the opportunity to attend CHA, and work in the Peachy Keen Stamps booth, I was in absolute Heaven!!  Not only did I get to meet my crafty hero and her beautiful family in person, but I was blessed to get to meet so many of our wonderful customers, and share what I love by leading make and takes and teaching Copic techniques.  It was a dream come true for me, and one that has given me fond memories to last a lifetime.  I can never thank Kathy enough for not only the wonderful blessing of the opportunity to design for Peachy Keen Stamps and be a part of the PKS family, but also for a friendship that will last a lifetime and for memories that I hold in my heart forever!  

Kathy, here's to you on your special day!  I hope that your day is one that brings you joy and happiness, and makes you feel loved, because my talented friend...  YOU INDEED ARE!!!!!!  Thank you from the bottom of my eternally blessed heart for everything, and especially for your friendship.   I love ya, Kathy, and HAPPY,  HAPPY  BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!

Now, enough of the mushy stuff!  *sniff, sniff*  On to the card!  For Kathy's birthday card, I had to ink up a stamp set from Peachy Keen Stamps, of course that I've had for a while, but hadn't seen ink yet.  I knew I wanted to use these cute little kids from the PK-241 Happy Birthday Kids stamp set, and make them look like the members of our family.  Everyone in my immediate family has also had the pleasure of meeting Kathy, except for my sons, and I wanted Kathy's birthday card to reflect wishes from the whole bloomin' bunch!!  So on this card, are me and Al (had to add glasses for us), Tyler, Cassidy and Baby Max on the left side, and Trevor (complete with goatee, LOL) and his girlfriend, Kallista on the bottom.  Everything was colored with my Copic markers, and I added plenty of stickles to the cake, and party hats.  There's also a little bling of rhinestones on top of each hat.

 I sent this off on it's way to Green Bay  onTuesday, so hopefully it's arrived at it's destination, and Kathy will have it in hand to enjoy with all her other beautiful birthday cards.   You do know that there are going to be prizes awarded to random commenters along this blog hop, don't you?  Oh yeah, baby!  Angelica is going to choose 10 winners from ALL comments on ALL blogs to win one of Kathy's favorite crafting items.  In addition, I'm throwing in some blog candy of my own.  One lucky commenter who is a follower, and leaves a comment on this post will win both the Baker's Man Jr. and Patty Cake Jr. stamp set from me.  Please remember that you do need to by a follower of my blog (I do check), and leave a comment, and that's all you need to do to be entered to win.  I will choose and announce the  winner on Monday, December 20th.  Here's what you could win:

Thank you so very much for hopping along with us today in celebration of Kathy.  Below, please find the blog hop list from start to finish, just in case you get lost along the way!  Thanks again, and happy stamping!  Your next stop on this hop will be for a visit with Heidi.  She's always got something wonderful to share, and I know today she'll knock your socks off!

Peachy Keen Stamps Blog http://www.peachykeenstamps.blogspot.com/
Angelica & Adrianne - http://www.handmadebyangelica.com/
Viv - http://craftinghaven.blogspot.com/
Kim - http://www.paperpunchaddiction.com/
Lorie - http://www.thethinkinspot.blogspot.com/
Heidi - http://gotscraps.blogspot.com/
Janice - http://stampingwithjanice.blogspot.com/
Joanna - http://scrap-making.blogspot.com/
Nikki - http://scrappinnavywife.blogspot.com/
Erin - http://www.erinleecreative.com/
Emma - http://www.creativetimeforme.com/
Ruthie - http://septemberninth.blogspot.com/
Samantha - http://samanthacasey.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://our2angelsinheaven.blogspot.com/
Jessica B. - http://thatzuneek.blogspot.com/
Abby - http://www.scrapbookaholicbyabby.com/
Gaby - http://www.gabycreates.com/
Linda- http://www.krazyquilling.com/
Dobea - http://dobeaalberts.blogspot.com/
Theresa - http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com/
Jessica K. - http://thecreativestamperspot.blogspot.com/
Glorajean - http://glorascrafts.blogspot.com/
Liz - http://skittles-and-scrapbooks.blogspot.com/
Jessica M.- http://www.KinderStampo.com/
Jenny - http://www.crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/
Kimmy - http://scrappinwithkimmy.blogspot.com/
Sandra - http://365daysofcricut.blogspot.com/
Sarah - http://www.pinkcricut.com/
Mandy - http://stamping4u.blogspot.com/
Lauren - http://laurenscraps.blogspot.com/
Raven - http://love4stamps.blogspot.com/
Janis - http://pausedreamenjoy.blogspot.com/
Momo - http://madebymomo.blogspot.com/
Paula - http://morethanfavors.blogspot.com/
Corri - http://www.buglvr.blogspot.com/

Crazy 4 Cocoa - Anything But A Card

Hello and  good day to you!   Challenge #3 is up on the Crazy 4 Cocoa Challenge Blog, and this challenge is for anything but a card.  I have a need for Christmas tags this year, so that was my cue to come up with this fun and vintage looking tag.  I used the  A Cocoa Kind of Christmas stamp set, and colored Cocoa and the ornament with my Copic markers.

 By adding some sponging to the edges of the tag with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink, and pairing that with this great crinkly ribbon that was left from my Kit Cat kit this month, I think the vintage look was achieved nicely.

Are you all ready for Christmas?  Oh boy!  Am I ever NOT ready.  I still have shopping and wrapping, and LOTS of things to do, BUT, I have some crafty things that I need to complete first.  Hopefully I can have everything wrapped up (and I mean that literally), before long!

I want to thank you for stopping in today.  May God bless and keep you today and always.  Happy stamping!

Love ya,

Ya Better Watch Out...

Ya better not pout, ya better not cry, I'm tellin' ya why, YES... Santa Claus is coming to town, and he's coming soon!  WOW!  Where has the first third of this month gone?  I've still got lots to do before the big day, but I'm still finding time to craft and make cards, and my card today showcases the adorable Santa With Reindeer stamp from The Scrapping Cottage.  I'm really loving these Cottage Impressions stamps, and I've been having lots of fun coloring them with my Copic markers.

The sentiment for this card came from PK-859 Christmas Greeting Words from Peachy Keen Stamps.  I added lots of glitter to the snow on the ground and in the reindeer's antlers, but the photo didn't pick up on it so well.  The DP is from K&Co., and the grosgrain ribbon is from Stampin' Up!.  I thought the rhinestone swirls went really well with this pretty paper.  The larger image calls for a simple layout, and after cutting this out with my square Nestabilities,  it just fit on this standard size card. 

I hope your decorating, baking, and everything that makes this season special for you is going well, and as scheduled.  I'm happy you could stop by today, and I wish you a glorious weekend, and happy stamping!

Love ya,

Crazy For Cocoa

Have you heard that there's a new challenge blog out there, called the Crazy 4 Cocoa Challenge Blog?   Well, there is, and it's brand new, as we're only on our second challenge.  The first time I saw cute little Cocoa, from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, I knew he would be a popular fella, and after only one year, he has gained quite a following and in indeed is a very popular little guy.  The Crazy 4 Cocoa Challenge Blog is a place to showcase all of your cute Cocoa inspired creations, AND be entered to win some great prizes when you do.  Hop on over to the blog today, where you'll find all kinds of inspiration from all of the Cocoa Crazies and Cocoa Fans.  I was thrilled when Korin asked me to join the Cocoa Crazies team, and I'm really looking forward to seeing all of the wonderfully creative cards and projects that are coming our way from this new challenge blog.

 For this card, I used the Cocoa in Santa's Hat image, and colored it with my Copic markers.  The Ho, ho, ho... sentiment is from the Peachy Keen Santa stamp set from Peachy Keen Stamps.  For the fur I used some liquid applique, and when you heat it, it makes that pretty fluffy three dimensional fur.  I LOVE that stuff!!  The patterned paper is all from  Basic Grey's Jovial collection, and embellishments are the flat back pearls and the polka dotted satin ribbon, which comes from Paper Trey Ink. 

Thanks for joining me today!  Have a blessed day, and happy stamping!

Love ya,

Peachy Keen Challenge #42

Good morning!  Is it cold in your neck of the woods?  It's a balmy 15 degrees at my house, but I have a card to share with you today that will give you the warm fuzzies.  Here we are, ready for another Peachy Keen Challenge, and this time the challenge is to emboss.  You can heat emboss, dry emboss, or both, if you like, just make sure to include some embossing on your card or project.  For my card, I cheated a wee bit as I used this beautiful embossed card stock from the Penny Lane collection from My Mind's Eye.  This paper is absolutely gorgeous, and I just couldn't pass it up!!  

 Do you LOVE this image, or what?  The first time I saw these adorable mice from the Colby and Jack Cheese stamp set (PK-350), I couldn't wait to get my hands on them and get to coloring.  As usual, I used my Copics, and I added lots of brush strokes to give little Colby a look like real fur.  It's definitely a technique I want to keep practicing, but I like the way this one turned out.  I cut Colby out with my Nestabilities, and embossed the edges, then while the die cut was still in the frame, I sponged some Baja Breeze ink around the image with a sponge dauber, leaving the embossed edge white.  I just couldn't resist giving this little beauty some blue eyes, and bows to match those big beautiful eyes!  Kathy has outdone herself with these images, my friends.  If you like to color, then you're going to love the size and versatility of this stamp set.  There are are six great sentiments included in this stamp set, along  with stocking caps for accessories.

Guess what?  If you decide to play along with our challenge at Peachy Keen Stamps, you could win a fabulous prize!!  One lucky player will receive the Peachy Keen Santa, and Snowman Winter Greeting Card stamp sets, and if we get 100 players, there's an added bonus of a 12 piece set of Copic Ciao markers to a random winner!  WOW!!!!!!  Grab those embossing tools, and let's see what you've got!!  Upload your creations to the Peachy Keen Challenge website for your chance to win, and for complete details, including photos of the stamp sets being offered.  While you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful creations from all the Peachy Keen Designers.  Their work is amazing, and inspirational, as always!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I wish you a warm and beautiful day, and lots of happy stamping!

Love ya,

Kit Cat Sunday!!!

Good morning!  It's Kit Cat Sunday once again, and I have a fun little project to share with you today.  Our sweet Kelly sent out the most amazing kit this month, and along with the wonderful supplies and pretties she sent, was a suggestion to step outside our card making comfort zone, and create a handmade gift for someone special.   Included in the kit was a gift tin, and a wooden star ornament to decorate.  Well, I have to admit I had to think on this one a while, but creativity finally found me, and away I went!!  

 First up, we have the actual star ornament, which I covered around the edges, and inside with some of the beautiful DP from DCWV (I think), and I embellished with the gorgeous sparkly red glitter paint, rhinestones, and the pretty poinsettia, with a sparkly green brad center.  I used a good dose of Tim Holtz distress ink in Vintage Photo to distress, and stain the edges of the wood ornament. 

 This is the outside of the tin, and I kept it very simple, using this beautiful crinkle ribbon for a bow, and finishing off those pretty rhinestones on the ornament.  Once again, I finished everything off with the distress ink, and lots of sponging.  I love the look and contrast of these elegant papers and the distressing.  It gives it such a beautiful vintage feel, which I LOVE!!

This is the inside of the gift tin, which I covered with some more of that gorgeous paper.  I have to shout out a special "THANK YOU" to Kelly for sending such a wonderful kit, and giving me the chance to step outside of my comfort zone to create something that hopefully will give the receiver enjoyment for many years to come.  I love ya, Kels!!!!

Now, you've got to go check out what the rest of the Kit Cat gals have created with their kits, because

Kelly

Michelle

Jeanette

Susan

Will have some amazing things to share with you, too!!!  Have a blessed day, and I hope you get to enjoy some happy crafting this holiday season!  

Love ya,

Oh By Golly...

Good morning, or almost afternoon.  I have a Christmoose card to share with you today that I made with some of my new Cottage Impressions stamps from The Scrapping Cottage.  This one focuses on the adorable Moose with Lights stamp, and was colored with my Copics.  Still no video for you, and I'm sorry about that, but on a happy note, I do think I have my Flip camera battery problem solved, and it seems that this may be a problem that a lot of people have, so now at least I don't feel quite so bad.  Hopefully things will settle down a bit, and I can crank out a couple of videos for you in the next few weeks.  We've sure had our share of excitement since Thanksgiving, and speaking of excitement, little Max and his mom got to come home from the hospital yesterday!  Yay!!!  They're back at the doctor's office today to have his billirubin levels checked.  He was a little jaundiced, and had to have a billi blanket for a few days.  With any luck, today they will take that away, and we won't have a glo baby anymore.  :)  

So back to this cute card, I stamped Mr. Moose with Memento ink and colored with my beloved Copics.  This large image is great to color, but calls for a larger card, so I made this one 6x6.  The patterned paper comes fromBasic Grey's Jovial collection, and I did some hand stitching with twine around the panel behind the moose.  Plaids and stripes are used together on this, and I love the look, although I would NEVER go there myself!  LOL!!!  The fun and fantastic sentiment for this card comes from Peachy Keen Stamps, and is included in the PK-332 Peachy Keen Stanta Set.  I've been working away on some Christmas ornaments using the acrylic and chipboard ornaments from PKS, and I should have those to share with you soon.  If you haven't been to the PKS website, you should go and check out the amazing give away they're sponsoring this month!  You won't believe it when you see/hear about it!  It's AWESOME!!!!!!

 Below is a picture of little Max from this morning before he left for the doctor's office.  We just HAD to capture this adorable Elmer Fudd hat complete with fuzzy ears, which you can't see in the photo.  He's such a sweetie, and we're so proud of him!!!

Wishing you a blessed day and weekend and of course, happy stamping!  

Love ya,

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

Welcome! We are delighted to have you with us as we celebrate the Good News of our Savior's birth!  We are a small band of blogging crafters who love God, and in the midst of all the seasonal festivies, we wanted to take some time to focus on the real meaning of Christmas:  the birth of Jesus Christ.  Of course there's nothing wrong with hustling and bustling about to find the "perfect gifts" for our loved ones.  But when you stop to think about it, there will never be a gift more perfect than the gift God gave us in Jesus.
 
If you arrived here from Lori's Blog, then you are hopping along in the right order, but if you haven't had a chance to start at the beginning with Heather's Blog, then you're going to want to go back and begin from there so that you don't miss one inspirational work of art.

For my card, I used the Season of Love and Christmas Scriptures stamp sets from Sweet -n Sassy Stamps.  I cut the medallions from white card stock using my Fleur De Lis Pendant die from Spellbinders.  The Holy family was stamped in Versamark and embossed with gold embossing powder, and I finished this card off with some coordinating satin ribbon and clear rhinestones for embellishments.  

Your next stop on this glorious blog hop is at the very talented Maria's Blog.  Please note that when you reach the end of this hop at our dear friend Catherine's Blog, you are invited and welcomed to share your Reason For The Season Creations by uploading with the InLinkz provided.  I would also like to thank our sponsors who have graciously donated the following:

• Fresh Brewed Designs:  4 Christmas/Faith digital images plus 2 of winner's choice
• Simply Betty Stamps:  Jude & His Shenanigans Crew Christmas Collection (6 digital images)
• The Stamping Boutique:  2 Faith digital images plus 4 images of winner's choice

3 winners will be chosen (one for each store prize above) from comments on select blogs, but it is a secret as to which blogs the winning comments will be chosen from.

 

Should you get lost along the way, below is a complete list of stops with links to make your travels a little easier.  Thanks so much for celebrating the true Reason For The Season with us today!  May God bless and keep you today and always!

Heather  http://joemamainks.blogspot.com/   

Kadie  http://mymindseyecreations.blogspot.com/

Karen  http://krbskorner.blogspot.com/

Kelly  http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Lori  http://mycomfortcottage.blogspot.com/

Lorie  http://thethinkinspot.blogspot.com/

Maria  http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/

Paola  http://paola-sama.blogspot.com/

Sammi  http://stuffbysammi.blogspot.com/

Stacy  http://impressionsofaribbonaddict.blogspot.com/

Susan  http://pinkflannelpajamas.blogspot.com/

Catherine  http://paperaddictcatherine.blogspot.com

 

Love ya