{1.2 pounds} purrfection

Meet Lucky.

7 weeks old.  Cornish Rex.  Purring machine.

Wishing all of my friends a safe, healthy and happy 2012!



{card sharks} final round

I was very excited to learn I had made it into the final round of My Scrapbook Nook's Card Shark contest!  These are my final 2 cards.  The first is based on the card game, Birds and our challenge was to use at least one medium to large size bird on our card.

 

Celebrate Love

 

Our second challenge was based on the card game, Snap. We had to use 2 pattern papers, 2 embellishments and a 2 word sentiment.  I like the idea of this card, but I just couldn't get it to where I wanted it. 

 

BRRRthday Wishes

 

Public voting on the 3 finalist's cards starts sometime on the 18th at the Nook Blog.  

 

Happy Sunday, friends!  I hope happy finds you today!

{card sketch} msw

Lucy gave us an incredible sketch to work with this month, but then again, when doesn't she?  :)

Merriest Wishes

Paper & Embellies: Simple Stories, Sentiment: SRM Stickers

This card took no longer than 10 minutes to make!  Coordinating paper and embellishments sure make it easy!  There are lots of fun challenges going on at My Sketch World this month, both for scrappers and card makers! 

Happy Friday and thanks for stopping by!  My giveaway ends today at 2:00 EST.  Just leave me a comment here.

{banner} christmas (comments closed)

I found this cute felt garland at Michael's for $1.  I'm a sucker for a simple shape and traditional Christmas colors.  I added a few little bits and pieces and my favorite SRM 

stickers and I love the how it turned out.  I have one (undecorated) to giveaway, along with a sheet of SRM Christmas stickers, to one lucky reader!  Just leave me a comment before 2:00 pm EST, Friday, December 16th. 

Tis the Season

I have it hanging on the door of my scrap room and it makes me smile. 

The Paper Variety is having an Anything Goes Challenge this week, it is their last challenge of the year.  They are also accepting applications for a new DT if you are interested!

Happy Wednesday, friends!  I hope happy finds you today.  :)

  

 

{winners!}

2 lucky gals are going to receive some yummy SRM Stickers from me!

Drum roll please....

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*

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the first winner is:

Sherri said...

Beautiful tag! as everything you do is always!

and the second winner is:

Lynn said...

Love, love, love all the sparkle!

Congrats to the both of you!  Please email me when you get a chance and I will put it on Santa's sleigh for Christmas delivery!  :)

Happy Tuesday, friends!



(advent) nook event (comments closed)

Christmas comes with a whole lot of traditions.  The tree, the cookies, the family get togethers.  Doing some sort of Advent Calendar to countdown to Christmas is something Ive done with the boys since they were little.  The last 2 years Brian and I have done a Lego Advent Calendar.   This year the creative girls at My Scrapbook Nook are doing a countdown to Christmas by having 25 of us make a card/tag.  Each is featured on the Nook blog.  My day is today, December 12th.  This tag features old & new, sparkle & distress and ribbon & lace.  I'm loving the big sparkly snowflakes!

12

Papers: MME and Graphic 45, CB Snowflake: EP, Lace: May Arts, Sentiment: SRM Stickers, Sparkly Snowflake: Target, Distress Ink: Ranger, Other: machine stitching, vintage velvet ribbon, twine, bingo marker

An Advent Calendar wouldn't be complete without a small gift, so I'm offering up some of my favorite things, SRM Stickers!  Just leave me a comment before midnight EST, Wednesday, December 14th.  The Nook is giving away a grand prize to one lucky person!  Check out the lovely Leah's blog for a chance to win a 3month subscription (Jan-Mar) to My Scrapbook Nook Kits! 

As always, I hope happy finds you in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season!

{card blog hop} MSW (comments closed)

Calling all card sketch lovers! We’ve asked our designers to choose their favourite Lucy Chesna card sketch and challenge their partner to show you ways to create wonderfully inspiring cards, each with their very own a twist!  Our international designers on this hop are:

My Sketch World 

Jan Tatomir 

Karen Zabuska

Lisa Moen

Lucy Chesna

Marion (Majo) Wybraneitz

Nicole Wise

Sherri Priest

Stacey Wright

The details:

1. Visit each blog and leave a comment.  Read carefully, there maybe be individual requirements as some designers are offering little prizes of their own!

2. After you have visited each Designers blog come back to My Sketch World blog and let us know what you thought. Part Two of the hop ends Monday, December 19th, 11:59 EST.

3. Everyone who posts a comment on each blog will be entered to win ! Winners will be randomly chosen.

4. To receive and additional entry, scraplift a card and link it back to the My Sketch World blog and tell us in your comment what inspired you!

5. Have fun! Be inspired!

My wonderfully talented partner, Karen gave me this terrific sketch of Lucy's to work with. 

My challenge is "sparkly Christmas"  I turned the sketch and made the horizontal and vertical elements the same size with the ribbon and pearls/bling. 

Tis the Season

Paper: Fancy Pants, Ribbon: Strano Designs, Bling & Pearls: Kaiser Craft, Sentiment: SRM Stickers, Other: snowflakes

That layered snowflake is super sparkly!  Here is a close-up:

If you stopped by not knowing about the hop and want to participate, start here.  If you are hopping please visit Karen's blog next!  A lucky blog commentor will enjoy a gift of SRM Stickers!  Enjoy and happy hopping, friends!

{sharks} week 3

Well, it is week 3 at the Nook's Card Shark contest and I'm still alive.  :)  2 challenges are due tonight and I finally found some time to get them done today.  Tis the season, life is busy!  The first challenge is based on Poker Flush, which is any 5 cards of the same suit.  Our challenge is to use 5 of the same embellies on out card.  I'm not sure why, but I found this challenge somewhat difficult.

Share the Joy

Paper & Pearls: MME, Felt Trees: Hero Arts, Doilies: LYB, Sticker Sentiment: SRM Other: embossing paste, pearl-x

I'm normally not much of a technique gal, but I hauled out my embossing paste and some gold pearl-x and made some shimmery snowflakes.  I used the pearl-x on the edge of the doily "snow" too.

The second challenge is based on the card game, Crazy 8's.  Our challenge is to use 8 elements of our choosing on our card.  I made a simple folk art tree with a funky domino base.

Oh Christmas Tree

Paper: MME, Lace: May Arts, Ric Rak: Bazzill, #2 sticker: SRM, Other: domino, star

There has been mention of  public voting for our cards on the Nook blog.   I will let you know when and if that happens and if you are so inclined, you can take a look and vote for you favorite. 

There are 3 things I'm very excited to mention to you all.  The first 2 are awesome DT calls!  One is for SRM Stickers!  If you are a frequent visitor to my blog you know how much a adore these stickers.  If I don't lose my nerve, I will be applying for this team!  :)  The second call is for Tessa's Precocious Paper team.  Her handmade embellishments are beautiful and so is she, both inside and out.  :)  The last thing that has me so excited is that I made $155 at the garage sale my LSS had!  :)  I cant wait till the next one!  I'm going to try to be a little more thoughtful about my scrappy purchases from now on. 

Thanks for stopping by today, I'm hoping happy has found you in some way today!



{card sharks} cheeky valentine

We have 3 new challenges up on the Nook blog this week for the Card Sharks Contest.  One, which is due today (yes, ever the procrastinator) is to make a love themed Valentine card.  I'm not really the mushy/lovey dovey kinda gal so I went a bit cheeky.  :) 

c'mon baby...

I participated in my first ever scrappy "garage sale" at my LSS yesterday.  As I was getting ready for it, my 15 year old asked me if I was a hoarder.  Seriously?  I told him I preferred the term, collector.   :)   I made up kits with leftover paper and embellies and sold over half of them.  Got rid of almost all my stamps and some tools I just don't use anymore. I will know the final amount tomorrow when I pick up my GC.  I still have more to sell so I'm looking forward to the next one!

Happy Monday, friends.  I hope happy finds you today!



{card sharks} Week 2

This will be the first of 3 challenges I hope to get done this week for the Nook's Card Shark contest.  This challenge is based on the game of Bingo.  The challenge was to have some sort of grid on your card.  I made rectangle grids of patterned paper and also just happened to have a couple of these cute  Christmas Bingo cards in my stash. 

'Tis the Season

Papers: MME, Bingo Card: Jenni Bowlin, Sentiment: SRM, Other: lace trim, machine stitching, mini cookie cutter

It is a chilly day here today. I am about to go out and mow the lawn.  The lazy gal's way of getting rid of the last few leaves in the yard.  ;)  The big boys have a soccer game later tonight and Brian has one tomorrow afternoon.  Hoping to squeeze in a little more crafty time sometime this weekend.

Happy Saturday, friends!



{card sharks} #2

The last challenge of the first week of the Card Sharks contest at the Nook is based on the card game, Solitaire.  As a child I would spend hours playing (with real cards!) Solitaire and now I pass the time waiting in line at the store playing it on my phone.  :)  Our challenge is to make a card to bring some cheer to someone who might be lonely. 

Miss You

Papers & Brad: MME, Doily: MS, Sentiment: SRM, Other: glitter branch, handmade flower (thanks Kayla!)

We are on to week 2 as of today.  Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Thursday! 

*I hope, as always, happy finds you today*



{my sketch world}

It's time for a new card sketch from Lucy at My Sketch World! 

Winter Wishes

Paper: MME and EP, Cutting Tool: Slice, Punch: Marvy, Sentiment: SRM

I hope you can join us this month at My Sketch World!  We have some wonderful card and layout challenges for November.  If you are looking for a drama-free,  encouraging creative community to call home, come visit My Sketch World and see for yourself!  We'd love to have you!

Happy Wednesday!



{card sharks} week 1

The Nook is keeping us busy with the Card Sharks contest!  Hilde's challenge is based on the UNO card game and  has us featuring the number 1 on a card.  I love a little banner on a card and had this number 1 left over so I came up with this birthday card.

Happy Birthday

Paper:  MME and EP, Number sticker: MME, Sentiment: SRM, Punches: Fiskars, Marvy

It is a lovely fall day here in Michigan!  There was frost on the ground when we woke up, but it has been sunny all day.  I am thankful I got to have breakfast with my bestie this morning after having all the boys' hair cut!  Hoping to work on the last challenge of the week today. 

Happy Saturday!  Remember, "if you want to be happy, be".



{card sharks} week1

The first challenge at the Nook's Card Shark contest (apparently our first card was challenge zero)  ;) is based on the card game, Phase 10.  Apparently you build on each hand you're dealt until you finish the 10 phases of the game.  Can you tell I've never played?  ;)  Well, our challenge is to make a card in 3 phases.  With certain criteria to meet, we have to create a base, photograph it and then embellish it in any way we like and finally photograph the finished card and post it to their blog. 

Seek  (base)

Seek  (finished)



Paper: MME, Flower: Prima, Cabon: Papier Valise, Sentiment: Authentique, Other: hand stitching, ribbon

Sometimes a piece of pattern paper is so pretty I don't want to do much to it.  I stitched over the ribbon on the dress form and added some stitching to frame it out on the sides.  I cut out the middle of the flower and added that cabon because I thought it was a little too much pink.  Added a couple loops of the twine ribbon and called it a day. 

Today, I am thankful for the sun that is shining on this cold fall morning.  (and for the coffee I will be getting shortly, shhhh.)  :)   Thanks for stopping by, I hope happy finds you today!



{card sharks}

What a busy week I had last week.  Hardly any time was had being crafty.  There isn't a better way for me to jump start my mojo than a challenge or a contest.  The Scrapbook Nook is having a Card Sharks contest.  The first challenge was to pretty up an envelope and hide the sentiment inside. 

Happy.

the sentiment reveal:

Paper, Brad & Chip: My Mind's Eye, Felt Flower: Jolee's, Sentiment: SRM

Can you believe we are already well into the second week of November?  Time is flying by , as it so often does this time of year.  With Thanksgiving right around the corner and Tessa's gentle reminder, I'm remembering to put into words the things I'm grateful for.  Today, it is the peace and quiet in my house.  The busy week I had last week was great fun and I got a lot accomplished, but this morning I am relishing in the stillness of my house.  What are you grateful for today?

Happy Wednesday, friends.



{winner}

A big thank you to those of you who took the time to leave comments on both my blog and the Ella Publishing blog!  I appreciate your kind words oh so much!

I picked a name out of the proverbial hat and the winner is...

SmilynStef!

Email me your particulars Stef and I'll get you those lovely SRM stickers next week!

Ella Cards

Just in case you didn't have a chance to visit the Ella Publishing Co. blog, I thought I would share the cards I made for that post here on my blog.  If you are a card maker, please try to get over to the Ella Blog.  October is Card Month at Ella and there are some amazing ideas and some wonderful eye candy to be seen!  They also have fabulous eBooks and a cool eZine for even more brilliant ideas!

Here are the cards I made for my blog post.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Papers: BoBunny, My Mind's Eye, Mustache sticker: Jolee's, Sentiment: SRM, Fake Snow: Deco Art

Happy Halloween

Papers: My Mind's Eye, Tree: Close To My Heart, Stars & Eyes: K&Co.

I'm submitting this one for the challenge over at The Paper Variety, they are looking for Halloween paper projects!

Oh So Adorable

Papers & Sticker Embellishment: My Mind's Eye

I cant believe the month of October is almost over!  I sent Brian off to school this morning as an adorable version of Harry Potter.  His big brother Brady was Harry Potter 9 years ago! 

I hope happy finds you today!



Ella Love

I'm a guest blogger over at Ella Publishing Co. today!  The month of October is Card Month at Ella and there is a ton of eye candy and wonderful tips on making cards on the blog!  I will be giving away a couple sheets of SRM Stickers and maybe a little something else too.  :)  All you have to do is leave a comment  here and on my post at Ella.  You will have until noon EST this Friday to post.  I will draw a name and announce the winner Friday evening.  Thanks for stopping by!

{merry} 2 ways

The current challenge at the Card and a Half blog is to make 2 Christmas cards with the same patterned paper, each  with a different look.  I love to make Christmas cards.  When Archivers had their 40% off pattern paper sale I bought a 6x6 pad of Aunthentique's Wonder Christmas paper.  I used that for both my cards along with sentiments from SRM.  I also pulled out some Fancy Pants felt that I've had for a couple years.  I love to mix old product with new. 

Merry 1

Merry 2

I cant believe Christmas is just a little more than 2 months away!  Will you be making your Christmas cards this year?  I make a handful of cards and then the boys usually do a fun photo card that we send out.  My sisters and nieces are coming down for our annual Christmas shopping weekend in 2 weeks.  I cant wait!!   Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!



{grid} deconstructed

My friend and fellow MSW DT member, Toni, has a great layout challenge this month! She has challenged us to use a grid on our layout.  I've never met a grid I haven't loved.  :)  All those straight lines make me giddy!  *wink*  I used squares with 2 rounded corners and kind of "deconstructed" what a regular grid would be.  Here is my interpretation:

(fall)

A simple layout about my favorite season.  I love taking photos in the fall.  Things in nature that are in the process of dying are my favorite subject.  I love the colors and textures that accompany the cooler weather of my favorite time of year.  :)  Love this French proverb:

"Autumn is the hush before winter."



{my sketch world}

Lucy has a great new card sketch up at My Sketch World!

Love You

Paper: Scenic Route (miss them so much!), Embellies: LYB, Sentiment: SRM

I had all the LYB Twig stuff out on my desk and found this sheet of PP in my stash.  The circle is really thin wood veneer.  The middle of the flower was a little busy for the sticker sentiment so I added a paper covered chipboard circle to it and then added the sentiment. 

It's rainy and cold here today, perfect crafting weather!  Happy Saturday!



{card and a half} sketch challenge

The Card and a Half Challenge Blog has a great card sketch up until the 19th of this month. 

Thanks

Papers: LYB, The Girl's Paperie, Echo Park; Tag & Leaf: LYB, Clip: Karen Foster, Flower: Prima Sentiment: SRM

With my clean and simple style and my need for a straight line, I straightened it out and turned it on its side.  *laugh*   I've never been good with adding more than one angle to a card or a layout.  I dug into my stash to make this card, that always makes me feel good.  :)  There is a $30 prize up for grabs for the Little Scrapbook Shop.  I would love to see some of you join in on the fun!

Happy Fall, friends!  Hope happy finds you today. 



{happy fall}

Happy Fall, friends!  Around Michigan the leaves are turning lovely shades of orange, red and yellow. The cider mills are serving up sweet cider and warm donuts and, of course, Halloween will be here before you know it.  Do you decorate for Halloween?  I have a few things out and I love the new scented candles I found at Target.  They are layered with 3 scents; pumpkin nutmeg, cinnamin ginger and bonfire nights.  They are by Nature's Wick and when lit, the wick crackles like a fire.  So cool.

I have to admit, with the arrival of my favorite season, my mojo disappeared.  I think it might have taken a trip to Australia.  Liz, if you happen to find it please send it back my way!  ;)   I don't think Ive ever gone through a spell that lasted this long.  Ive had the time, I even forced (laugh) myself to buy some new goodies, but nothing is really helping.  I'm pretty sure the act of creating will help kick start my mojo, so I did manage a few cards this week.   Truth be told, they don't excite me, but at least I'm back at it.  Indulge me for a post and I promise it will get better.  :)

Best Wishes

This is for my October Challenge at My Sketch World, to make a card with Halloween colors (green, purple, orange and black) but not be Halloween themed.  There is a great new layout sketch and some awesome challenges this month, come join us! 

Boo!

I found that ghosty boarder punch at Michael's on clearance a couple weeks ago.  I used a zipper to imitate a fence top for the ghosts to be peeking over.  :)  

Happy Halloween

I made this for The Paper Variety's "Forest Friends" challenge. 

I adore these My Mind's Eye papers and of course, the SRM stickers!  :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Let me know what you do when your mojo disappears!



{reveal day} card sketch

Yesterday Lucy revealed the card sketch for September at My Sketch World. 

Just a Note

vintage dictionary page, Fancy Pants paper, SRM Sticker Sentiment, Precocious Paper Sweet Spots, Kaiser Craft bling

Don't forget about the ABC Crop that is going at MSW too!  Lots of card and layout challenges till the end of the month!  Check out what the other designers did with this great sketch here.

  The Paper Variety is being sponsored by SRM Stickers this week!  The challenge is to use a sticker on your paper project.  It doesn't have to be an SRM Sticker, but I highly recommend them!  :)

Happy Friday, friends!  :)