Merry Monday Challenge

Yikes - I'm back for a second post today!  Usually I'm the one who goes weeks without posting - oh well...

Anyway, I found my way to the Merry Monday Challenge Blog.  Here they celebrate making Christmas cards every week - love that!!  In earlier posts I've mentioned my plan to make at least 4 Christmas cards a month this year so I think the Merry Monday challenge will help with that goal.  Here's the card I make for the current challenge to use a house on your card:

For my house, I used a stamp and cut set called Snowy Houses that Hero Arts made for Archiver's, back when the physical stores still existed.  I colored it with Copic Markers, added some Stickles, Glossy Accents (on windows) and Liquid Applique (for the snow).  The Stitched Hillside Borders are by Lawn Fawn - just love, love, love these.  The gingerbread man is another HA/Archiver's stamp & cut - Cookies Set  The falling snow was made with the Tiny Ink Spots background by Hero Arts, inked with Picket Fence Distress Paint for a bit of texture.  

OK - that's probably the last time for a while that you'll see two posts from me in one day.  Happy crafting and if you fancy getting on track with your Christmas cards, check out Merry Monday!!

More Christmas cards for 2015

Happy MLK Jr. Day!  Like many in the US, I have today off for the holiday and found some time this morning to make a few more Christmas cards for 2015's stash.  Woo Hoo - I'm now officially 2 months ahead of my planned schedule (4/month) by making three more cards.

First a duo using a fab design block stamp from Hero Arts called Winter Sparkle:

I just love all the fun words in this background stamp!  I used a tree from an older clear set Tree-mendous to overstamp on the backgrounds.  I also stamped the card on the left with a subtle Envelope Liner Background to give some texture.  The card base on the right was stamped with Notebook Paper, a fun cling stamp also from Hero Arts.  Papers are from Basic Grey's Evergreen line - love, love, love it!!

I'm building a collection of Lawn Fawn stamps and dies too.  Just love so many of their winter and Christmas stamps and picked up a darling one this month - Winter Bunny, along with the matching die.  Also used their Stitched Hillside Borders on this card - adore this set of 4 borders!!  The tree and the sentiment are from Hero Arts - the Winter Fun comes from a build your own snowman clear set that I bought a few years ago.  The tree is from a clear set called Happy Holidays.

Through a mention on a card in the Hero Arts Flickr group, I found a blog hosting weekly challenges for making Christmas cards:  Merry Monday.  What a great idea!  I plan to visit them often to keep on track with my Christmas card goal.  This week, the team challenges us to make a card with a house on it.  So, you'll probably see me back later in the week with a house card.  Until then, happy crafting and thanks for stopping!!

Christmas cards - in January??!

Belated Happy New Year everyone!  I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions but last year I made a plan with my friend Heather to make 2 Christmas cards per month so it wouldn't be such a time crunch in December.  Well, I got behind right away but then I caught up and even exceeded my goal.  Still, I ended up sending a few Hallmark cards in 2014.  So this year, I decided to up my "quota" to 4 cards per month.

I'm happy to report that over the last week I have made 9, count 'em NINE, Christmas cards.  So, I'm very proud of this start to my 2015 Christmas collection.  Besides those cards, I also made 6 birthday cards, an anniversary card, and a sympathy card. Oh, and we had a Scramble over at the Hero Arts Flickr group and I made a card there too - see it here, if you're interested.

So here are my Christmas cards - sorry in advance for the long post!  To make up the 9, I did some similar cards to a few of these.  This first pair is an anniversary card and a Christmas card using the same Christmas set - Peace Joy Love - by Lawn Fawn.  To be honest, these were the cards that kicked off my Christmas card project.  I had this darling Lawn Fawn set that I'd never used and when I was looking to make an anniversary card for my aunt and uncle, I zeroed in on the Love image.  How perfect for an anniversary with those two cute birds, I thought!  Since I had the set out, I decided to do a Christmas card too (and made a second, slightly different version of it too - not photographed).

This next trio of cards uses papers from Basic Grey's Evergreen 6x6 pad - love, love, love this paper!  One of the sheets has HOLLY and JOLLY all over it.  The first thing I did was cut out some of the Js, Os, and Ys to make JOY.  After I did that a couple of times, I decided to use the whole words Holly and Jolly on a card.  The & was cut on my Silhouette.  I made a second one of the card on the upper left - had a lot of fun with that one - the birdie papers are so colorful!

I was home sick on Wednesday and after sleeping most of the day away, I had enough energy to play with a new Tim Holtz Festive stencil.  I used Distress markers on a piece of soft yellow patterned paper from Evergreen.  I trimmed the panel and cut it in two pieces so I could make two cards.  I stamped each one with a fun background by Hero Arts called Winter Sparkle.

Papers here were also from Evergreen and the background stamp used (and in the top two cards of the trio above) is called Notebook Paper from Hero Arts.  Have used that stamp in many cards this month - love it!  Hard to see in the photo, but I brushed Wink of Stella on the pine needles in my stenciled piece.

Finally, I made this doggy card this morning.  I bought this fun Inky Antics clear set last year and meant to make a 2014 Christmas card for a dog-loving friend.  Well, I didn't get it done for 2014 but now I'm ready for 2015!  The background stamp on this one is another fave from Hero Arts - the Envelope Liner Background.  Colored the doggy with Copics; the snowflake sequins are from Lawn Fawn.

So, that's my start on 2015 Christmas cards!  I'm so  impressed with myself - LOL.  What's your plan for getting your Christmas cards done?  Whatever it is, have fun with it and thanks for stopping!!

Christmas decorations galore

I love Christmas decorating - just inside, not out.  We've never been ones to decorate outside, other than a simple wreath on the door.  But I just love my Christmas trees and ornaments!!  I've posted in past years but there's always something new to share :)

This year I have a new tree for the family room - it's a 7' slim tree which makes it impossible to layer 2 and 3 ornaments on a branch like I enjoy doing on my big ol' chunky tree.  Well, it's so much work to put up, I didn't even bother to do the chunky tree this year!  I'm really enjoying the slim tree.  I have to share a special new ornament I received from my friend Heather in Ireland.  You may remember I had the chance to visit Heather and her family in May - had the time of my life and I'm sorry I'm not there now to enjoy Heather's fabulous cooking!  Anyway, yesterday a thick package arrived from across the pond - thanks Heather!!! The cross ornament was in the package along with a bunch of other goodies:

It came from Newbridge Silver which is a beautiful shop we visited when I was in Ireland.  Engraved on the cross  is the Irish phrase Nollaig shona duit = "Merry Christmas to you" according to Google Translate.  And on the bottom half it says Nollaig faoi shéan is faoi shonas duit = "December under denied under you happy" according to Google Translate.  Huh???  So I asked Heather and she says that it is a traditional greeting that means "A prosperous and happy Christmas to you."  She assured me there was no denial involved - LOL!

On the left is the Irish angel ornament Heather sent me last year - love it!  When I showed Heather the photo, she admired the red and white birdhouse - it's a Hallmark ornament, so sweet.  And here's the entire tree:

My brother was unloading some of his decorations and I ended up with the crystal angel topper.  You can't see in the photo but she's holding a long trumpet - so gorgeous!  And can you see the umbrella at the top of the stairs?  I had to use it at the bus stop - it was 35F and raining in MN - crazy weather!!

Here's my other new item - a table top ornament holder that looks so old fashioned with its heavy embossed metal base and cookie cutter topper:

My other trees are similar to the past so I won't bother showing them again.  And where's a card you ask?  

Here's another card I made using the fun Hero Arts clear set Frosty Wishes.  It had a matching die set that must've gone like hotcakes since they aren't in the shop right now.  I actually wish I'd bought more die sets - you could really make a bunch at a time if you had more dies.  It's a bit of a pain to cut one twig arm at a time if you're thinking of mass producing.  Of course, if I knew how to do it, I could cut a bunch on the Silhouette....

Hope you're enjoying the holiday season - I certainly am!  Thanks for stopping by!

Secret Santa 2014

Well, despite a busy fall and holiday season, I still found time to participate in a Secret Santa exchange over on the Hero Arts Flickr group.  My friend Heather organized it and Cindy C. helped this year so Heather could still have a Santa. Heather organized the group which included both me and Cindy, then Cindy organized the other half.  I ended up with Cindy's name and, thanks to her, I can share this photo of what I sent her:

On the left, miscellaneous die cuts I made - different labels and snowflakes - I was very into snowflakes this year.  The card used a new Hero Arts background "Winter Sparkle which I overstamped with the Tiny Ink Spots background - so reminds me of falling snow.  The poinsettia is also from Hero Arts and has a die to go with it.  I chose not to use the die and just fussy cut it, also layered it with part of a second one - colored with Copics.  On the ATC I used a couple of bottle brush trees from another new Hero Arts set called Family and Friends.  I stamped the Tiny Ink Spots again - it's so fun - and added lots of gems and sequins (Lawn Fawn).  The stamp and cut set I sent (got with a coupon so I didn't go over the limit, honest!) was a fun label set - bought one for myself while I was at it.... I found these cute linen covered wooden letters at Michael's or JoAnn's - don't remember which.  I had fun decorating Cindy's C by painting the edges in Chipped Sapphire Distress paint and staining the linen with Tumbled Glass Distress stain, then stamping over it and adding - you guessed it, some felt snow flakes from Hero Arts.  In the little sparkly taffeta bag was a bunch of odds and ends - snowflake buttons, some wooden bits, sequins, and ribbon.  I just wrapped it all in tissue paper and then tied it with the stretchy red and white ribbon Cindy so artfully displayed.

Laura Norris ended up with my name and I received my package on Monday (today was the big reveal so that's why I'm able to post now).  Many thanks to Laura for all the goodies she sent me!!  Here's the photo of the ATC and card she sent me:

Don't you just love the darling reindeer in the red sweater?  And the card has the sweetest reindeer brad on it.  I love the white embossed trees on the rich blue!  And here are the goodies she sent:

Some fun Goosebumps, tape, labels, baker's string and a bag of little wooden items - totally different from any I've ever had.  Too bad you can't see the darling owl hiding in there!  She didn't photograph a pile of images she stamped for me to color, along with some music themed patterned paper (she knows I'm a singer!).  Oh my, Laura - you were too generous but I can't wait to get crafty with it all.

Thanks Heather for organizing and thanks Cindy for helping; it brought of lot of crafty fun to the holiday season!  And thanks again to Laura for her generous goodies and lovely ATC and card!!

Another Scramble, another Christmas card done!!

It was Scramble time again, our 99th, over on the Hero Arts Flickr Group.  Natalie had the fun theme of using older Hero Arts stamps.  I should be embarrassed -- I used a set from 2011 that I bought then but hadn't used until today!  Here's my card:

The older stamps were CG466 Be Jolly - such a fun background I've used many times - and CL547 Happy Holidays - that's the one I'd not had a chance to use before and it's sooooo cute!  I stamped Be Jolly tone on tone with Festive Berries Distress ink and then added the JOY from Happy Holidays in Pine Needles ink.  Tied a May Arts ribbon around and popped it up with foam tape onto a green card base stamped tone on tone with the Tiny Ink Spots background - that's not a Christmas stamp at all but a fun one from 2012.  Added some gems and the stamped Christmas tree that I fussy cut and added a gem star from Doodblebug.   Now all I need is a sentiment inside and another Christmas card is done - yay!  I'll never get enough for my card list but I've got more than usual.  I will use Hallmark cards once the handmade ones run out....

Hope you're having a crafty day!  Thanks for stopping by! 

It's been a while!

As usual, I'm slow to post - it's been a busy Fall!  I sing in the City of Lakes Chorus and we recently returned from Baltimore where we competed in the Sweet Adelines International Chorus Competition.  I'm thrilled and proud to report we came in 6th (we were 7th in 2012; we couldn't compete in 2013 since you have to "sit out" a year).  For our semi finals round we performed "My Foolish Heart" and "That's How You Jazz & The Jazz Jam Medley".  See it here.  If you watch the video, I'm in the fourth row, a couple people to the right of center from the audience viewpoint.

Here's a photo of me with my former quartet members in our chorus rehearsal room wearing our semi-finals costume.

After landing in the top 10, the chorus was eligible to perform a 12 - 15 minute finals package to determine the final standings.  Our package revolved around the story of Rosie the Riveter, doing that song plus two contest songs and a reprise.  The cast included Rosie and her two friends and Harvey, the factory boss (played by director Scott).  We had a lot of fun with this package.  See it here.

Here's a photo of me with my friend Connie as we were leaving for the finals.

In the video you will find me in the same place in the chorus.  My friend Connie's former quartet 4-Star Collection (the 1997 Sweet Adelines International Quartet Champions) has a cameo in the reprise.

We had such fun in Baltimore!  We stayed at the "headquarters" hotel, the Hilton which is attached to the convention center - so convenient!  Other than rehearsing and competition, we don't have time for too much else but we walked around the harbor, did a bit of shopping, and ate at a wonderful family restaurant in Little Italian called Sabatino's.  We all ordered 1/2 size portions and they were still too much to eat for one meal!  Of course, that was after we shared an order of garlic bread - to die for!!

The Melodeers of Chicago won the chorus contest and the quartet champions are Bling! - both were amazing and will represent our organization well over the next year!

Well, back to reality of work and getting Christmas cards made!  Yesterday, I participated in a Scramble on the Hero Arts Flickr group.  The theme offered by Theresa, the host of the event, was Snow.  Perfect - a chance to make another Christmas card!  Here's my card:

I used the Hero Arts Tiny Ink Dots background, inked in white, as snow behind my white embossed snow flake.  This Dazzling Snowflake isn't being sold on the Hero Arts website right now, but I do see it here at Simon Says Stamp.  The sentiment is from a fun current Hero Arts clear set "Friends and Family" - just love the trees on that one!  Thanks for stopping by!