Rustic Christmas

Hi all - Happy Wednesday! After a rainy holiday weekend, we're enjoying some nice sunny weather today!! I'm getting a chance to play in this week's Merry Monday challenge from Deanne to do something rustic on a Christmas card.

When I think of rustic, birch trees always come to mind and I love the birch bark candles in the inspiration photo! I knew I had a birch cutting plate around here somewhere (but not in the drawer where it was supposed to be). After about an hour of searching, I found it - yay! But I couldn't find the matching deer set. Then I spotted a deer I had cut on my Silhouette - it would work! I also knew I wanted to use some buffalo plaid paper because that screams rustic to me, plus some twine. Here's what I came up with:

Supplies: Paper - Stampin' Up kraft; American Crafts Christmas (Target bin); 
My Mind's Eye On the Bright Side 6x6 pad (woodgrains); Pop-tone Black
Stamp - Hero Arts CL722 Merry Christmas Messages
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 21; Silhouette Design ID14718 Deer
Taylored Expressions Birch Tree Cutting Plate; Hero Arts DC201 Number It Stamp & Cut
Other - May Arts string twine

I visited my parents for the holiday weekend and yesterday was my mom's birthday. She wanted pizza for her b-day lunch so we bought a Papa Murphy's pizza to bake at home. Then we celebrated with a little cake I got at the grocery - yummy chocolate!! If I get a chance tomorrow, I'll try to blog the party and the card I made her.

That's it for today. I'm off to lunch with a friend who I don't see as often as I'd like. Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!!

Merry Monday Mistletoe

Yes, I know it's Tuesday - I'm a bit behind on Merry Monday where Colleen asks us to make a Christmas card with mistletoe.

Yay! I have more than one stamp set with mistletoe on it and, hard to believe?!, I've never made a card with mistletoe. I found two sets with varying lengths of mistletoe and my thoughts went to a dangling sprig. I had already cut a bow intended for a Merry Monday wreath back in April (never finished). I decided to repurpose it for the mistletoe sprig.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Pop-tone Black, 
Michael's Green, American Crafts plaid (from Target's hot spot at Christmastime)
Stamps: Hero Arts CL998 Happy Holly Days and CL797 Under the Mistletoe
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20; Hero Arts DI316 Happy Holly Days Frame Cuts; 
Tim Holtz Christmas Bells die (retired Sizzix # 658765)
Other - Copic Markers, Stickles, foam tape, Fired Brick Distress Oxide Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Our chorus show was fabulous on Sunday!! Many said it was the best show ever - quite a feat in over 60 years of chorus shows! Next we'll perform on the Great Northern Union Chorus "On to Fame" show, June 3rd. GNU chorus is like our male counterpart and they'll be off to their International contest in July. Yesterday we had a potluck dinner instead of rehearsal and revealed our "Sweet Adeline of the Year", a years of service award. Preparing for that put me behind on Merry Monday but I managed to get a card done this afternoon after doing some chores I couldn't do on Sunday.

Thanks for stopping and be sure to check out the inspiration from the MM Design Team!!

Mermaid thanks and Birthday cat

Hi all - hope you're enjoying the weekend! It's a soggy one here - I kidded a friend that I'll soon need to borrow her husband's fishing waders to walk through my back yard! At least it isn't hailing today and thankfully when it hailed on Tuesday, my new car was in the garage!!

I finally had time to make a card using this month's sold-out My Monthly Hero kit. I don't have much in the way of ocean stuff so enjoyed coloring the mermaids and ocean critters from the kit. I went shopping yesterday & happened to find a Memory Box seaweed die set to complement the kit's seaweed.

Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Enchanted Garden 6x6 (rock pattern); May 2017 My Monthly Hero kit (Ice blue); 
Pop-tone Blu-Raspberry (for card); Anchor Paper colored vellum; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - May 2017 MMH kit
Other - 3M foam tape, ink & sequins from the MMH kit, Copic Markers

Dies - May 2017 MMH kit, Memory Box Seaweed Stalks 

I doodled the texture on the mermaid tails - had better success with the one on the left, oh well.... Anyway, this card went to sister Tami who sent me a valance she made. She sewed me a Bali Wedding Star quilt last year, plus some pillow shams. I decided I needed a matching valance and she quickly whipped one up - it looks great!

Next, a birthday card for my friend Sue who likes cats as much as I do. I spotted this Laurel Burch set by Stampendous and couldn't resist it. I enjoyed coloring this large cat (the set has two others, plus some butterflies), then decided to pair it with a balloon.

Supplies: Paper - Pop-tone Blu-Raspberry (for card); Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

Lawn Fawn Beachside 6x6 pad; Michael's red

Stamps - Stampendous Laurel Burch Cling Indigo Cats; Hero Arts CL674 Circles (sentiment -retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20 and 26

Other - Michael's star gems, Crayola colored pencils

I adore Laurel Burch designs and have a couple of tote bags with various cat images on them. One of them has traveled around with me & is getting rather shabby looking! I got the other tote from my friend Connie and it's the perfect size for my chorus music folder - love it! Speaking of chorus, I'm looking forward to tomorrow's show at Concordia University!! We had our tech rehearsal last night and I helped with the stage decorations - fun!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the weekend!!

All about the Turquoise, Green and Purple

Hi all - time for Merry Monday. This week Marcia challenges us with a fun color combo of turquoise blue, green and purple. Easy one for me as I love these colors, especially PURPLE!!

I had several ideas floating around but ended up playing with a window die I bought a while back and hadn't used yet. The sequin packet from the latest Hero Arts My Monthly Hero kit contained the challenge colors - perfect!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Hero Arts Grass  Layering Paper, Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper, 
the Paper Studio glitter paper, Michael's turquoise, scrap of patterned green
Stamp - Hero Arts CG685 Hand Drawn Snowflakes Bold Prints
Ink - Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Broken China, Wilted Violet, Cracked Pistachio; Distress Twisted Citron & Embossing Ink
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20 and LJD Rectangle Peek-a-Boo Window; 
Hero Arts DC195 Christmas Trimmings Stamp & Cut; Spellbinders S4-433 Holiday Greetings (retired)
Other - Stampendous white embossing powder; Hero Arts sequins

I started by cutting the stitched rectangle from turquoise paper, then cut the window into it. I white embossed the snowflakes onto watercolor paper and smooshed it into a mix of Distress Oxide inks, dried it and added a bit more color in spots. I layered the sparkly sentiment with another cut of a patterned green so it stood out a bit more from the background. Added a layered snowflake & sequins - done!

Busy week ahead preparing for our City of Lakes Chorus Spring Show "True Colors" on Sunday. It'll be so fun! We invited a guest group from the Twin Cities - Prairie Fire Lady Choir, plus three of our chorus quartets will perform. If you're in St Paul on Sunday afternoon, find us at Concordia University.

That's it for today; thanks for stopping!! Be sure to check out all the inspiration from the Merry Monday Design Team - gorgeous cards this week!

Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing everyone celebrating in the USA a Happy Mother's Day! I'm sharing four cards to honor my mother, her sister who's like a second mom to me, and the two Queen Mum friends from my Sweet Adelines world.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Parchment folded A2 card and Classic Crest Solar White; BoBunny dotted, 
Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Collection, Pop tone Black, Michael's green
Stamps - Hero Arts CL980 Happy Mother's Day and January 2017 My Monthly Hero kit, plus matching dies
Dies - Dee's Distinctively Wreath Builder
Other - Michael's gems, Copic Markers, white gel pen, and foam tape

I hadn't done much with the Hero Arts Mother's Day stamp set I bought last year so I pulled it out for this year. Mom got the card at left with the large flower from the set; on the inside I used one of the set's sentiments: "I'm so lucky to have you as my mom". Both my mom and my aunt have supported me all my life and I'm grateful for their love!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Parchment folded A2 card and Classic Crest Solar White; Pop tone Black; 
Bo Bunny Love & Lace Collection 6x6 pad, scrap of music paper from unknown

Stamps - Hero Arts CL980 Happy Mother's Day, DC182 Butterfly Pair Stamp & Cut, and 
April 2017 My Monthly Hero kit, plus matching dies
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20 and Blueprints 26
Other - Michael's gems, foam tape, ink from various MMH kits & Memento Tuxedo Black; colored pencils

I had so much fun playing with the April 2017 My Monthly Hero Kit to create the elegant Queen Mum on the left for Mother Mary, voice teacher and friend extraordinaire. My other Queen Mum and friend Lou got the card at right. I just love the soft pink rose paper from the BoBunny pad - wish I had more!!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you're having a wonderful day!

Silver Silhouette

Hi all - back with another Merry Monday card for Sue's challenge to use a non-black silhouette. Originally I had considered a CAS card but got sidetracked by another idea. So, I went ahead and created the CAS card after I finished some chores yesterday.

Supplies: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Tim Holtz kraft metallic

Dies - Penny Black 51-254 Manger

Stamps - Hero Arts CL998 Happy Holly Days

Other - Versamark Ink & Ranger Silver Embossing Powder

As with Monday's card, I layered several die cuts for some dimension. Stamped and embossed the sentiment - done! This card took less than 10 minutes to create - definitely one for those who like to mass produce. Plus, it's a much shorter supply list to blog - LOL!

Thanks for stopping by and remember to check out this week's Merry Monday offerings!

Merry Monday and a couple of thank yous

Hi all - another busy week/weekend. I was in Arizona visiting my sisters and helping my parents return home for the summer. My goodness, was it ever hot there - it got up to 106F one day! I was glad to come home to 60s and it was perfect weather for singing at Como Park last night.

Time for another Merry Monday - this week Sue challenges us to use a non-black silhouette on a Christmas card. A lot of the Design Team went with white as in the inspiration photo; be sure to check out their wonderful cards!

I chose a lovely Penny Black Nativity die and cut it from gold foil. I thought it would look good with some shades of blue card stock. Here's my card:

Supplies: Pop tone and Michael's card stock; the Paper Studio glitter; Tim Holtz kraft metallic
Dies - Hero Arts DC187 Peace Stamp & Cut; My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20; Penny Black 51-254 Manger
Stamps - Hero Arts w/Basic Grey CG327 Notebook Paper (retired)
Ink - Tumbled Glass Distress Ink; Other - Michael's star gem (hard to see in photo)

I layered several die cuts of the Nativity for dimension. I cut two of the sentiment, using the light blue one as a shadow for the glittery one. At first I had a solid stitched rectangle but decided to stamp it with an old favorite notebook background. I almost made a CAS with just the die and a stamped word sentiment but next thing you know, I was layering - oh well, maybe next time....

I needed a couple of thank you cards for recent visits so I whipped up a couple of cards last night. In the photo below, the card on the left went to my sister Tami who shared her hospitality while I was in AZ. The card on the right went to my aunt and uncle I visited the week before - I'm a little slow getting that one in the mail!

Supplies: BoBunny dotted paper, Michael's green card, Hero Arts Mandarin Layering Paper, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Collection
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20, Many Thanks, Flutter of Butterflies Solid & Flutter of Butterflies Lace; Hero Arts DC182 Butterfly Pair Stamp & Cut
Stamps - Hero Arts DC182 Butterfly Pair Stamp & Cut and CL663 Thanks a Bunch (retired)

That's it for today. I plan to share some Mother's Day cards on Sunday if I get a chance. Thanks for stopping and have a crafty week!

Night Before Christmas and Chorus news

Hey everyone - I'm back from an exciting Sweet Adelines Regional contest weekend but more on that later... First up, this week's Merry Monday challenge from Nina who wants us to use the theme of the Night Before Christmas.

I know I have some Night Before Christmas paper around here somewhere but haven't found it yet!! In my search, I happened upon a pad of My Mind's Eye paper, though. I found a piece with the final phrase of the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Pool folded card, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, My Mind's Eye Christmas
Stamps - Hero Arts H5267 Santa with Gift (retired from 2009) & CG690 Confetti Bold Prints (on card)
Other - Copics, foam tape, Michael's gems, Hero Arts Soft Pool ink, snowflakes from ??

I can't help but brag a bit about my chorus City of Lakes who scored our highest ever (a bit higher than 2 yrs ago) at our Regional contest this past weekend! This will take us to the 2018 International Contest in St Louis. Here I am at center with my two roomies Connie and Pat (both of whom are International Quartet Champions with 4-Star Collection. My old Chord Company quartet lead and bass, Heidi & Jan, competed with their new quartet Spice and won. This qualifies them for the 2017 International contest in Las Vegas this October. Choruses go next year because it takes a lot of planning for that many people; it's easier to arrange for a quartet so they go the same year they win.

That's it for now. Chorus has a show coming up on May 21st so I'd better get practicing! Also, for any of you Twin Cities residents, we're doing a free concert at Como Park's Pavilion on May 7th. Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty week!!