What I did while the debate was on.

I needed something cheery, so made a couple of Christmas cards!
The first is from Stampa Rosa, and is a favorite of mine.

Materials:
 image from Stampa rosa
memento tuxedo black ink
Colored with bic markit markers
Red cardstock embossed with cuttlebug Swiss dots folder

Getting Back to the Craft room

Have spent most of the last 2 months traveling to help prepare things for my niece's wedding. On my long drives, I spend the time thinking about designs. This is what I have so far...

Stickers from paper studio, sentiment from TooMuchFun Rubber Stamps

Stampa Rosa image, Sentiment from Gina K Designs 

images from Gina K. Embossing folder is Paper Studio 

Image from Stampa Rosa (House Mouse) 

Tree Stamp is Northwoods Spellbinders Parisian Accents trim

“Haunted Hop”

Halloween is my husband's favorite time of year, so I start thinking about it early , and naturally images pop into my head.   In fact, I met my husband at a Haunted House when I was in high school! SO I was delighted to be asked to be a blog hop hostess this month with Sean and Regina. Come in, set a spell, and have a snack, LOL. In fact, some lucky randomly selected commenter will score some fun embellishments, so be sure to Comment and leave your name!

If you came here from Nancy Leppek's page, you are in the right place!

OUR BLOG HOP SPONSOR!

Scrapbook Stamp Society is our blog hop sponsor! The overall winner will receive digi’s from our sponsor. Please visit them! Also some of our blog hop host/hostess designers will be offering blog candy as prizes on their blog sites, so please do not forget to visit his/her blog (and leave a comment) to be eligible for bonus blog hop prizes!

LET'S GET HOPPING.....

Now it is your turn to blog hop with all of our friends!

The rules are simple:

1. Leave a comment on my blog first (and become a follower to enter a chance to win the grand prize from Scrapbook Stamp Society)! In addition, I am giving away some BONUS BLOG CANDY!

2. Go down the list of blogs visiting all of them (see below). Leave comments on their blog pages to be eligible for bonus blog candy from select blog hosts. The blog hop host/hostee offering bonus blog candy will indicate that he/she has a bonus blog candy prize so read their blog post carefully. Each blog will have the name and blog address for the next host/hostess in line for the blog hop. Our number 2 on the list is Regina at http://cardsbyregina.blogspot.com (The next blog will be Regina’s and so on).

3. At the end of the hop, a random winner will be chosen for the Blog Hop Grand Prize from our sponsor and select blog hop hosts for Bonus Blog Candy. 

The deadline for leaving comments is Monday, September 24, 2012 at 8pm CST. Winners of the Grand Prize and bonus Blog Candy will be announced Tuesday, September 25, 2012.

The Blog Hop with Sean & Regina participants are as follows:

Sean Fetterman 

Regina Hardy

Zenita Smith 

Lori McAree 

Angela Bonnano 

Patti Gilliam 

Michele Smith 

Jennifer Restivo 

Nancy Leppek

Nancy Mullins <---- You are here!

Madeleen Field 

Roxie Nitti 

Linda Brace Drozd 

My Treat!

My first card uses stamps from Gina K's Spooky Silhouettes Stamp Set.

I stamped the focal image and sentiment on matte white layering weight cardstock, then distressed to give creepy colors. I highlighted the fire and bubbles with stickles.

I created the background by stamping the bat images randomly on the violet cardstock. I embossed them with black powder, then added eyes to the big bats with stickles.

The frame was cut out from an image on patterned paper from Recollections in my stash. I popped up the frame to give it better dimension.

Supplies

orange card stock cut to 5.5 x 4.25"

black card stock cut to 4" x 5.25 '

swiss dot cuttlebug folder

violet card  3-7/8 x 5-1/8"

black grosgrain ribbon

Versamark ink

Ranger detail black embossing powder

Ranger Distress ink in Soot, Squeezed Lemonade, Peeled Paint, and Shaded Lilac. 

white card stock scraps for focal image and sentiment

Stamped images from Gina K. Designs' Spooky Silhouettes.

Stickles in firefly green and  tropical tangerine.

pop-dots

House on the Hill

 This second also uses the same stamp set. I decided to make a "Psycho" type house on a hill, with the walkway formed by the card flaps.
My supplies are mostly the same as before. The difference is that I stamped the moon and embossed it in clear before distressing the sky. I added a few stars with a white gel pen and made a row of grass using the grass edge punch.
 When you open the flaps, the sentiment is revealed along with some cool paper by Recollections, and a bit of lace and glitter. I stamped the images in Versamark and then embossed in black.

To make the flaps, I lined the bottom half with the striped paper, ten cut the flaps  down from the top, contouring to give the feel of a walkway and reveal.

I lined the center of the inside with the distressed orange card stock, then tore off about and inch and distressed that with soot ink. I used redline tape to adhere the lace, then sprinkled Fire Opal glitter over the exposed areas of the adhesive.

Supplies:

Versamark ink pad

8.5 x 10.5" purple cardstock folded in thirds

Orange cardstock, 3.5 x 8.5"

Ranger detail black, clear, and white embossing powders

Ranger Distress ink in Soot and  Peeled Paint.

Stamped images from Gina K. Designs' Spooky Silhouettes.

Stickles in tropical tangerine.

lace bit

designer paper for fold insert. 3.5 x 4.25" 

redline adhesive tape

Martha Stewart Glitter, Fire Opal

You Had Me at "Boo"

Michael's had a clearance shelf with the Sizzix pumpkin dies crying out for me. Taking pity on them, I had to play,

Supplies

• violet card stock cut to 3.5 x 7", scored at 1.75" and 5.25"
• black card stock cut to 1.5" x 2"
• swiss dot cuttlebug folder
• 2 pieces designer paper cut to 3-1/8 x 1-5/8" 
• Versamark ink
• Ranger detail white embossing powder
• Sizzix Pumpkins 2 die
• orange card scrap to cut pumpkin
• orange card stock cut to 1.5" x 2" for front
• Brilliance Silver Pad
• Stamp Images by Hampton Arts

I cut the pumpkin out of orange, and then the face from black card, I used the negative of the black cuts to make the medallion for the front of the card. I rotated and stamped the spider web to get a full circle, and it lined up well! I then added the sentiment and boom!- a 15 minute card.



Thank you for visiting my blog. Now, go to Madeleen’s blog at:http://madeleenscraftcorner.blogspot.co.nz/

GET READY TO GO ON A "HAUNTED HOP" WITH US!

HAUNTED HOP!

The next blog hop with Sean & Regina is coming up on Friday, September 21!  This will be a haunted hop!  Our hostess designers are busy creating some spooky inspiration for you so you can get moving on your Halloween invites and cards!

As always, there will be prizes around every corner!  Lots of fun blog candy to fill up your Halloween craft basket!  

Mark your calendar for the fun!  The Haunted Hop will be at 8 a.m. CST on Friday, September 21!

For updates and more tricks and treats as we approach the hop....go to the Blog Hop with Sean & Regina Facebook page at:  

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blog-Hop-with-Sean-and-Regina/341457002595022?ref=hl

Showers and Birthdays

I have been AWOL latly, travelling every weekend for family events and needs. Took some time last week to make a bridal shower card for my niece, Amanda. She and her fiancee met on the soccer field, hence my cake topper.

My youngest also had a birthday, and since she loves clocks and steampunkery, I made a card with lots of secret pockets. The front featured a stamp from Stampendous. I knew that she would like the cat image. Note the nifty clock and gear brads!

on opening, you change direction

and once more

i like the progression from sepia tones to brighter color.

cheery day!

Some Holiday cards

AS I work on designs for my cards, I am working through some Holiday ideas. The first is a Halloween card that used the sizzix Ghosts2 die, a tiny "bat" punch, and a Martha Stewart Fence punch. My husband, who is a huge fan of this holiday loved this one!

This uses a new Sizzix christmas chain die . I used part of it as a border, and embossing paste in a brass stencil. Simple, but I like it.

FInally the lightbulbs from QuickKutz, a memory box holly die and the stamped sentiment is from Gina K Designs.

I love the textures of this one, especially the suede paper.

starting my portfolio

I was recently asked by a local merchant if I would be willing to sell my cards in his shop. To be honest I have never thought much about it, but it would be a nice to make pocket money for my habit. so, I am designing my portfolio. both use Fiskars birthday greetings, and i was trying to go for two very different sensibilities. What do you think?

predictably, and as i had hoped, my hubby preferred the second masculine version.

Fall weather, please!!!!

As I try to get myself into preparation for the start of school, I thought I would do a couple of fall themed cards.  This is what I came up with,

This was using Mojo Monday's sketch. The colors are off- it is actually on Kraft card stock, and is richer looking IRL. The focal image is the Bitterroot image from Melanie Muenchinger's Stately Flowers and the sentiment is Gina K Designs. the color block dp is also GKD.

Again the sentiment and background image is GKD. I used distressed ink (concord grape, peeled paint, and fired brick) on the background, then heat embossed the wildflowers. The bouquet was assemblished from small blossoms in a floral pick from Michaels. Again, not sure why the colors are off, but IRL it is much more fall-like. Hope your days are comfortable, and that your fall is blessed!

Another crafting Saturday

Reviewing this week:
lots of grading, end of term blues, and escape to the craft room!
First up: another House mouse card, thus timee combining 2 stamps: "Mudpie Tells" and "Cool Breezes." I just love both images and smiled the whole time that I worked with them!

Next up, a Challenge card for Mojo Monday. I have enjoyed Mojo Monday because it makes me use layouts and layering that I would not have otherwise done. Focal image and sentiment are Gina K.

I also made my first pocket card using a template from TooMuchFun Rubberstamps. It is cute and will make a good Halloween card

Finally a challenge for Stamp TV- to use the same shape multiple ways.

This morning I went to a "garage sale" at my favorite Stamp Store "A Small Cleverness" in Orange Park, FL. It is about a 45 minute drive, but always worth the trip. I picked up a few stamps, some good dp, and a store display rack for stickles and reinkers. I resisted the urge to buy dies, as I am trying to condition myself to start saving for my Silhouette Cameo. Pray with me for strength!

Taking advantage of time off

So I have been teaching a lighter load this summer (kids in college, so I teach year round). I has freed me up to spend a bit more time in my craft room (girl cave).

Love my House Mouse stamps! I just got this one on eBay, and paper pieced it for a tablecloth, Watercolored the rest. The sentiment is Gina K, and seemed perfect here.

I had this flourish for a couple of years, part of an unmounted sheet that I had been given as a gift. I love the image, and am using it as a basis for jewelled bling. I cannot justify paying $6.00 per page for those, and I like how this looks.

The image is from the perfect patterns set from Gina K. I like how it reminded me of Frank Lloyd Wright's stained glass, so I colored it and used crystal lacquer. I like it a lot! Sentiment is from Springtime Silhouettes from Gina K. 

This was a CASE from a great card by Susan Sieracki. Hers was glitter card and a more folk art bird. I went with mirrored card and a Hummingbird stamp that I got from Michaels. I love how this turned out. Colored it with Bic Markit pens and applied crystal lacquer to give sheen to balance the mirrored card.

Two more weeks of summer school, then on to the fall term. I may not emerge from my girl cave very much before then!

birthday cheer

Won this cute house mouse stamp on ebay, and thought it would be a great birthday card image. Just sweet and summery. Entered it at Mojo Monday Blog. All dp is Gina K, and the sentiment is also Gina K. Cheery lynn die cut and recollections flower. TFL!

Coffee and friends

So a dear friend just adopted a puppy, and by the nature of his markings, named him Coffee. Precious baby! So in celebration, I made this card.

Coffee beans image is Gina K, sentiment is Inkadinkado, die cut from sizzix.
Now it seems that the resident cats are NOT fans of Coffee, and mom and dad are having to shelter Coffee from his ferocious siblings. So I was asked to transcribe their feelings toward the pup in the following:

Cats from art impressions, come let us ignore you sentiment from a stamp by rubber cottage, and the "better living through denial" and "don't make me have to poison your food" both from Too Much Fun Rubberstamps
I am fairly certain that Coffee will be scared, so I made sure that Mom know about this plot.
Then  made a card for Christmas in July challenges that will go to Operation Write Home.

Christmas in July Blog Hop

There is a blog hop through Monday for Card Crafty Club, with some great blog candy, and great Christmas card ideas.
I made only one new card this week, but plan to work this weekend. I like this a lot, and will send it to my gran who collects owls. Sentiment is Gina K, die cut is memory box, and the owl is hero arts
Have a great day!

• Leave a comment on Sean's blog first (and become a follower to enter a chance to win the GRAND PRIZE of a Gina K. Designs stamp set, a Gina K. Designs designer paper pack, card stock and a some embellishments)!  :) 

• Go down the list of blogs visiting all of them (see below).  Some of our blog hosts are giving away blog candy. If you are interested in being eligible for that, please leave a comment on their blog pages to be eligible for the bonus blog candy from select blog hosts. Each blog will have the name and blog address for the next hop so pay close attention as you read through their short blog hop entries.  

• At the end of the hop, a random winner will be chosen for the Grand Prize and select blog hop hosts for Bonus Blog Candy.  The deadline for leaving comments is Monday, July 23, 2012 at 8pm CST.  Winners of the Grand Prize and bonus Blog Candy will be announced Tuesday, July 24, 2012.

The Blog Hop with Sean & Regina participants are as follows:


Sean: http://cardcraftyclub.blogspot.com/
Regina:  http://cardsbyregina.blogspot.com/
Zenita:  http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com/
Lee:   http://luvleestamper.blogspot.com/
Lori:   http://smilingwhilestamping.blogspot.com/ 
Alex:   http://prettypaperandinkyfingers.blogspot.co.uk/
Madeleen:   http://madeleenscraftcorner.blogspot.co.nz/
Cheryl:  http://ideasforcardmaking.net
Tracy:  http://craftymomfl.blogspot.com
Ceal:   http://simplybeautifulcreations.blogspot.com 
Cheri:  http://stampnboomer.blogspot.com/

Christmas in July

I made this card for a Christmas in July Challenge at STV. All of the stamps are Gina K Designs. and I used Tim Holtz embossing folder on vellum for a soft snowy look, A little color, a little stickles and Voila!

One of my favorite blogs is offering some free printables for Christmas. If you have never been to MaryAnn's blog, you are in for a treat!

What I was doing when I should have been doing chores

So I promised myself that I would actually do chores today. OK so I did a little laundry, some grading for school (up to date, thank you very much) cleaned up my craft room floor and then OMG, I ended up at my craft bench. Hmmmmm. Wonder how THAT happened? LOL.
So these are the fruits of my denial. I made a couple of others but can't share them yet- prepping for a blog hop.

I entered this for challenges at Stamp TV and for Outlawz this week. I really like the effect that watercolors has. The colors are so pungent and so controllable!

I also made this one for STV. and just really liked its simplicity and the bling! I did dry emboss three lines between the image and the sentiment and it looks way cooler IRL.

Have still not got the hang of using lots of layers of stuff. Love seeing what people do, but it doesn't feel organic to my nature. ANd ribbons, well lets say that I just don't get them at all. I try, and I love what others do, but I think that the girlie gene for ribbons and bows is decidedly absent from me. 

Baby it's hot outside, but it's cool in my craft room!

So it's 95 degrees F outside, and there is little that could lure me out. Even the promise of an iced latte seems a bit of a stretch. Luckily, I got one this morning to prepare for the day, LOL. America does in fact "Run on Dunkin! "

 Whilst sippin my java, made an homage card to that addictive brew using Gina K Designs Cool beans set. I used Glossy accents on the bean and dry embossed them to give the pop! Love that set!

So last night I used facetime on my iPad for the first time. OMG. If you have skyped, I say phthhhhhhh. This is skype the way it was supposed to work. Crystal clear picture, perfect audio, and instant. I was conferring with my eldest niece regarding choices for her wedding placecards, and reserved seating cards. We could look at my samples and make decisions so easily even though she is 1000 miles away. Love it! So I was in a Krafty sort of mood yesterday, and made a card to show how cool the white looks against the Kraft cardstock. The Martha Stewart double loop around the corner die punch makes this so elegant! The image was copper powder embossed images from Gina K Designs Springtime Silhouettes set. She loved the combination! (Me too!)