Let It Snow

I am having so much fun making Christmas cards! I especially adore snowmen and this little guy is a new Fresh Brewed Designs digi called A Snowman Christmas. This card is for our new challenge over at the Fresh Brewed Blog to use fabric or felt. I die cut the three flowers out of felt and topped it with a button and twine for a fun embellie. Be sure and join us for this new challenge, we always love seeing what you create. Speaking of wonderful creations, take a peek at what the rest of the DT did for this challenge HERE on the Fresh Brewed Blog.

Which Way to the North Pole?

Christmas sure is on its way!! Songs are playing in all the stores (along with crazed shoppers!!), the neighborhood is all lit up, and all my favorite winter flavored coffees are in at Starbucks!!! To help you out on boosting some mojo for those wonderful Christmas cards, we have a wonderful new sketch here at Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

Not only do we have a fabulous sketch, but we also have a very generous sponsor this week. A big round of applause for Di's Digi Downloads!! The prize up for grabs is a gift voucher valued at $10. This is fantastic because all of her images are $2 - $2.50. Of course, as the winner, you can choose more than the dollar amount and simply pay the difference.

I had a blast playing with this adorable image, "Which Way." You can find it HERE under the Seasons and Holidays section. I love, love, love snowmen, so of course I was drawn to this image immediately. The only problem is, Di has so many snowmen to choose from!!! So there's another reason to play along with us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Remember, to be eligible for the prize you must make a comment on our challenge blog. Thanks for stopping by, be sure and check out what the rest of the DT created.

Under the Mistletoe

I fell in love with this image the moment I saw it! It's a new digi from Fresh Brewed Designs called Kiss Me - Santa Baby. Heather has released a bunch of new digis and they all can be found HERE. You may notice that my image is "flipped." To find out how I did that with just a few extra clicks of the mouse, check out today's Fresh Brewed Blog post. I made a gatefold card, soon becoming a huge favorite of mine. If you own a Scor-pal, the markings for the score lines are right on it, making this a quick and easy card to create.

Wonky Merry Christmas

Well the lights are up outside as well as the huge lit wreath above the garage...and now my hubby is done with Christmas preparations! Everything else is left up to me!!!!! That's why I am soooooo stressed over the holidays. Here's a card I made using a Fresh Brewed Designs digital called Wonky Christmas Tree. This is my kinda Christmas card, nothing about it is "traditional."

I also wanted to be sure you were aware of the BIG CYBER MONDAY SALE that will be happening tomorrow at Fresh Brewed Designs. You can do some fun shopping in your pj's with your coffee and bagel (or is that just me who sits in front of the computer first thing in the morning that way?!). I have a few rubber stamps I've had my eye on that will be on sale!!! Oh what fun!!!!

Bugaboo Christmas

So how is everyone feeling today? Still stuffed? Tired from shopping early...or was it late?? I popped into my room and made a quick card with this adorable Bugaboo Stamps image called AKV Christmas - Girl Tree. Did you notice...no designer paper!!! I pulled out some embossing folders instead. Now head on over to Bugaboo Stamps, they have a sale going on, but it ends tonight!!! I'm off to make a purchase myself, maybe I'll see you there!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Ahhhhh yes, a day of eating and lying around watching football! I am thankful for so many, many things, like football and lots of good food!! What's on the menu at your house? Today I want to welcome you to another photo inspiration challenge over at Paper Lovin' Gals. Hope you can join us this week, we would love to see you. What inspires you with this photo?

I went with the Thanksgiving theme and colors. I used a digital stamp from Fresh Brewed Designs called Fall Harvest. I colored the image with copics and sponged blue ink around it while it was still in the nestie after cutting and embossing. The colors are Pumpkin pie, More mustard, Old olive and Chocolate chip. The piece of designer paper is, you guessed it, from my scrap bin! I made a pledge to myself to not buy any more patterned paper and so far so good. It's barely been a month though, but have you seen the fabulous papers out there for the holidays!!!!! They're gorgeous!!!! Stop, breathe, you can do this, you are strong. I will continue to remind myself of this when I get the urge to buy!

Thanks for stopping by on this wonderful day. Enjoy your time with family and friends as well as all that good food!!!!

A Whimsical Sweet Wednesday

A sweet Wednesday it is!! I am off to do a little Christmas shopping today, so wish me luck! Be sure and join us this week for another fabulous Sweet Sketch Wednesday. We are actually bringing back and oldie but a goodie of a sketch this week.

We have a wonderful sponsor this week, Whimsie Doodles. The prize is a $10 gift certificate for the Whimsie Doodles store. Here is a little bio about Whimsie Doodles:

Whimsie Doodles is so excited to be sponsoring the new challenge! In March of 2009 Melyssa Connolly, artist and owner, began turning her whimsical hand-drawn images into digital files for sale online. Whimsie Doodles' digital stamp line features images that range from cute little boys and girls, to punny stuff, and everything in-between. We enjoy sharing lots of samples on our company blog, where we also post challenges and tutorials.

Special Offer:

A special offer for Sweet Sketch Wednesday fans - use the discount code SwtWed10 at the Whimsie Doodles online store and receive 10% off your next order! Code expires 30 days from today.

Here is my card using the adorable image Santa Leah. She is such a sweetie in her holiday sparkly clothes!! I had fun pulling out scraps of designer papers that may not be meant for a Christmas card, but today, they sure helped turn it into one!! Be sure and check out what the rest of the Sweet Sketch Wednesday team created. And don't forget to leave a comment when you've posted your card to be eligible for the prize!!

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. If you're not a football fan, be sure and come back tomorrow, I will have a card to share!

You Rock!!

Hooray, it's Wednesday! My oldest starts his Thanksgiving break today, so I'm taking him shopping for Christmas. The boy is starting to dress up a little nicer for school and totally enjoys all the compliments his clothes are getting him (especially from the girls!!). We are not going shopping on Friday, I avoid the stores at all costs! Our Fresh Brewed Challenge starting today is in honor of Black Friday. Since I'm not the shopper, I chose to go with "black" and use one of the newly released fun and funky cake digitals from Fresh Brewed Designs called You Rock Cake. My only embellishment, if you want to call it that, is Stickles. A good mailable card!!

As you know, the Monday after Thanksgiving is called Cyber Monday. More sales can be found that day without even needing to leave your home! How fun to shop in your jammies! Fresh Brewed Designs is having a sale, even on rubbah, so don't miss it!!!!

Katie's Celebrate Life Blog Hop

Welcome to our "Celebrate Life Blog Hop", our tribute to our Design Team Coordinator here at Clear Dollar Stamps, Katie Renz. Katie was the founder and creator of the Tuesday Tutorials HERE on the CDS blog. We decided to not only hold this blog hop on a Tuesday to honor her legacy, but also to CASE one of her cards. You should have arrived here from Lovely Lisa's blog. If not, please start back at the beginning on the CDS blog.

Here is Katie's card that I am Copying and Sharing with Everyone. I loved the combining of the two nestie shapes she did on it. I also liked the embossing.

Well here is my card, minus the embossing! I was so focused on the layers of papers and nestie shapes that I forgot to emboss it!! Oh bother! And I know Katie with her quick wit and funny sense of humor is up in heaven snickering!! Anyway, the image is from the Snow Friends stamp set.

Continue on your way by hopping next to Terrific Trudy's blog. Thank you for joining us today.

Wishbone Ants

I just wanted to show you what I created using this adorable digi from Doodle Pantry called Wishbone Ants. I participated in their challenge over at the Doodle Pantry Challenge Blog and received this digi set, are you ready, for FREE!!! It's not even in the store yet, but you could get it free!!!! I used the pre-colored image because I am always short on time and don't find coloring relaxing. Now I know I said in my last post that I'm tired of the autumn colors, but I held on for one final card!! I want to submit this card to a few challenges:

Corrosive Challenges - Give Thanks
Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration
Our Creative Corner - Thanksgiving Photo Inspiration
Craft Your Passion - Photo Inspiration

Thanks for stopping by today. Enjoy your Monday. After my workout today, I'll hit Starbucks for my latte fix then hopefully get a card or two done. Phillip has hockey practice right after school then I need to start thinking about dinner...hmmmmm, wonder what it will be?

Thankful Blog Hop

Welcome to your next stop on the Clear Dollar Stamps blog hop. You should have arrived here from Sara's blog, Sara's Sugar and Spice. If you happened to come upon my blog and want to start at the beginning, which I highly recommend that you do so as not to miss anything, go to Lori's blog, Clearly iStamp.

Our theme this month is "THANKFUL." I feel so fortunate for everyone and everything in my life. I am truly blessed and say a little prayer of thanks everyday. I decided to put all of my gratitude into a thank you card. I have to be honest with you, I am tired of the fall colors. I've had enough of the rusts, oranges, greens and mustard yellows. But red, white and blue you say...makes me think patriotic and something else I am thankful for, all the service men and women protecting our wonderful freedoms. THANK YOU!

The two stamp sets I used on my card are Bitty Botanicals and All Around Sentiments. As always with our monthly blog hops, we are offering a prize to one lucky winner, a $25 gift certificate for digital stamps at Clear Dollar Stamps.

Keep on hoppin' by heading on to Barb's blog, Barb's Best Creations next.

Be sure to come back on Tuesday also, we will be having a tribute blog hop for our beloved Katie Renz.

Gobble, Gobble

Yummmmm, I can almost smell the turkey roasting and the pies baking...at someone else's house that is!!! I'm ordering out our Thanksgiving dinner!!!!! Speaking of Thanksgiving, that's the theme this week at Catch the Bug. I could not resist this image from Bugaboo Stamps called Margaret Calendar Month - Thanksgiving. The look on that turkey's face cracks me up. I don't think the turkey is too happy about though!

Enjoy your Saturday. Be sure and come back tomorrow for our Clear Dollar Stamps blog hop. Also, on Tuesday, we are having a tribute blog hop in memory of our friend and fellow stamper Katie Renz. Hope you can make it to both.

Welcome Home

Welcome to another inspiration challenge at Paper Lovin' Gals. What a gorgeous photo, don't you think?!! What inspired me was the wreath and colors.

A friend of a friend of a friend (you know how it goes) asked for a card to welcome home a neighbor serving over seas. I am trying with all my might to get to a more simple place in my card making, so I used an older sketch I found at Clean & Simple Stamping. The stamp set is from PaperTrey Ink called Wreath for all Seasons. Now be sure to stop by and see what inspired the other DT ladies at PLG, their creations are marvelous!!!

I am Thankful

Welcome to our Freshly Brewed Challenge this week. It is as the title says, "I am Thankful." There is so much to be thankful for, so this theme has endless possibilities.

I am thankful for my family, which is made up of all boys (1 hubby, 2 sons, and one male cat!). So masculine images rank up there pretty high for me. I used one of the "Hot off the Press" digis from Fresh Brewed Designs called Daniel Indian. I used, for the very first time (hanging head in shame because I've had it forever) Basic Grey's Archaic designer paper. This is why I have to stop buying paper, and so far so good!!! I am submitting this to the Eat, Sleep, Stamp sketch challenge. Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful Wednesday.

A Sweet Christmas Card

Well, every sweet card begins with a sweet sketch...so welcome to our new fabulous sketch for Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Another one with lotsa layers.

You'll be playing this week for some free digis, 6 to be exact, from our wonderful and totally generous sponsor Digi Stamp Boutique. Get your mojo warmed up and start creating for a chance at this awesome prize!

Now here is my card, using the adorable image from the Rocky Robin collection called Rocky and Christmas Pud. Well let me be totally honest with you, when I saw this image, I saw a chocolate covered strawberry. When I started coloring it up, it hit me, strawberries are dipped in chocolate so why is it on top of the berry here. Then the light bulb came on bright...maybe it isn't a strawberry at all!!!!! That's the beauty of creativity and stamping, you can make it anything you want it to be!!! So a chocolate drizzled strawberry it is!!!! Please check out what the rest of the Sweet Sketch Wednesday design team created, you will love it, guaranteed.

Let's Talk Turkey

Hello and welcome to our digital release day for November at Clear Dollar Stamps. I am always excited for you to see what we release each month because the sets are so fabulous and affordable!! My card features the set Let Us Gobble Together. I love this set for all its humor!! I kept it simple so the image would shine. Now be sure to check out what the rest of the Digital Design Team has come up with HERE on Lori's blog. You're gonna love it!!!!

A Pocket Card

"Show us Your Pockets" is the latest challenge at Bugaboo's Catch the Bug blog. Pocket cards are adorable...so why don't I ever make more of 'em?!! I used THIS adorable Thanksgiving Turtle. Isn't he precious?!! Definitely a quick card, but full of impact. Enjoy your day.

A PTI Christmas

I can't believe it, not only did I not schedule a blog post for yesterday, but I never even turned on my computer!!! Today I have two cards to share - I signed up for a PTI swap over at Split Coast Stampers and here are my two Christmas creations. First is one made using the set Bells and Boughs. Of course I bought the die too!! I so love non-traditional colors for Christmas cards, using Aqua mist and Spring moss, also from PTI, for this one. I even found some designer papers I had from way back when.

Another stamp set and die, but this one from their latest release, called In the Meadow. Talk about versatile! And what a quick card this was to create. This time I used Black, White and River rock as my colors. A good masculine Christmas card for that forever bachelor. I have two more "regular" cards for the swap that I will show later. Until then, have a wonderful day!

Birthday Fishes

Timing is everything...I needed a birthday card and saw a fabulous sketch that one of my favorite digital stamp companies was sponsoring!!! The sketch is Sketches by Carly, and I love it for all the possibilities of layering! Bugaboo Stamps is the sponsor, giving as a prize 7 free digis...I definitely would like to get my hands on that!!!!!! I used a Make it Snappy - Birthday Fishes image. The sentiment I actually cut out from a second printing of the image and popped up...yes, to hide a mistake, a smear of ink when printing. All the designer paper is from my scrap bin. Now, to get it off in the mail before the mailman comes.

A Few Christmas Cards

I had to show you two quick Christmas cards I made yesterday. Quick because I used a digital set from Clear Dollar Stamps that includes pre-colored images as well as digital paper. The set is called Christmas Cuties and can be found HERE. I have two more images and sentiments printed off that will become cards soon. I will show them to you once they are done, which won't take long I'm sure!

Enjoy your Friday. Happy Veterans Day!!

Welcome to another challenge at Paper Lovin' Gals. What inspiration do you get from this photo? I saw lots of white and simplicity. Both are such a challenge for me when it comes to card making because I love layers and colors.
Here's what I came up with - white on white with a pop of one other color (I don't count black as my color, only the red!). Clean and simple, again, something I am striving for because this card literally took me 10 minutes to create. And if I didn't have to go in search of my heart punch and a little black button, I would have had it done sooner!!! I used a set from PaperTrey Ink called Heart Prints. We at Paper Lovin' Gals look forward to seeing your creations.

The Snow is Falling

Well no snow today, but they are calling for it by the end of the week. While I was at my parents' almost two weeks ago, we got up one morning to snow, and lots of it. I helped Dad shovel that wet, heavy stuff and remembered how much I like the warm sunshine! They got 8 inches all in one day!!! YIKES! Enough about the snow, let me tell you about the sketch for this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Fun as always.

And talk about fun, our wonderful sponsor this week is Gerda at Stamp Fairy. She has up for grabs 4 free digi images for our winner!!!! So be sure and play so you have a chance at this fabulous prize!

Here's my card using a Barry Winter image. He is so adorable, isn't he?!! I was so glad I found my felt snowflakes because the colors worked perfectly with my card! Now be sure and check out what the rest of the DT created with their Stamp Fairy images, each one is so sweet and adorable!

What's Cookin'?

Actually, it's our challenge this week at the Fresh Brewed Blog. And I think mine should be in the "What's Bakin'" category! It's that time of year where I make dozens upon dozens of Christmas cookies so this Cookies and Cocoa digital image from Fresh Brewed Designs seemed perfect. Chocolate chip cookies are definitely a family favorite! Last week we had a new digital release of holiday themed images. Now today, Heather is releasing 4 new fun and fabulous cake images, perfect for our What's Cookin' challenge. You can find all the new releases HERE (the cake images will be in the store later today). Be sure and check out what the rest of the DT created on the Fresh Brewed Blog, they are sure to make you smile...and get a little hungry too!!

Candy Cane Ants

On a regular day, when I see ants on a candy cane, I'm grabbing the bug spray!! But not today, because these are the adorable ants from Doodle Pantry! I adore a lot of Doodle Pantry's images, especially the pre-colored ones. Most sets come with both the outline and colored images along with coordinating papers...gotta love that!! Here I used Candy Cane Ants. I printed these guys up a little bigger than I wanted to, but like the saying goes, when life gives you lemons...that's right, make it into a card!!!!!! Talk about a quick card since all the coloring was already done!! I am submitting this for the Doodle Pantry challenge found HERE, on their blog.

Okay, I've come to the realization that I have way too much designer paper. I really must stop buying it or I'll not have any more room!! From now until, EEKS, my birthday in September, I challenge myself to not buy any more paper!! Cardstock yes, pattern paper no. Wish me luck!!

Not 1 But 2 Freebies!!!

Hello and welcome to another Mocha Manic Monday. What is Mocha Manic Monday (MMM for short) you ask? Why it's a chance to get a freebie digital image on the first Monday of every month at Fresh Brewed Designs. You can get not just one image this month, but Heather is graciously giving away two!!! Check 'em out HERE. For my first card, I created a thank you for my next door neighbor. Every year at Thanksgiving time, she bakes me a pumpkin pie, knowing I don't make any myself since I am the only one who eats them. My fingers are crossed that she will make me one this year, and now I have a thank you card ready!! Look out, that could almost be mistaken for being organized!!!!!

And here is my other card using freebie #2. I pulled out some old Stampin' Up designer papers and put them to use. A simple layout and minimal embellishments, now it's ready to mail out. Hurry up and get your freebies HERE today, because come tomorrow, they'll be in the store for sale. When you have your creation completed, be sure and enter it into our "Anything Goes" month long challenge at the Fresh Brewed Blog. By using a FBD image, you'd be in the running for the blog candy! And after Halloween, who wouldn't love some calorie free candy!!!!!

Year Round Calendar Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Year Round Calendar blog hop. As you can see, I am August. You should have arrived here from July's, I mean Sarah's blog. You'll definitely want to start at the beginning at Patti's blog to see each month in order. If you should get lost along the way, go to the CDS Blog for the order of the hop. When Lori released this digital set last month, I thought it would make a perfect blog hop, showing off all the wonderful things you can do with this set. After all, Christmas is coming and what a wonderful gift set it would make!!! I created a card with mine, printing it off twice so I could color in, cut out, and pop up the watermelons. I plan on creating cards like this for each month and give it as a gift set. The recipient would be able to highlight the day of celebration be it a birthday or anniversary, or even a let's do lunch on that particular day. The options are endless. Now be sure to hop and leave comments on all the DT's blogs because we are giving away not one but two sets of the Year Round Calendar!! You will also need to leave a comment on the CDS blog when you're done hopping. Now off to see September at Karen's blog.

Bugaboo's Biggest Fan

If you follow my blog, you've heard me say many times how I LOVE Bugaboo Stamps! Well, I've been selected as their "Biggest Fan" for November!!!!!!! I was spotlighted in their newsletter with a picture and bio!!! What a thrill for me!! And to say thank you for this honor, I made a card using the adorable image Knobby Knees Christmas Candy Cane. I used nothing but scraps and things right at my desk area. Quick, simple and fun! When I was at my parents' last week, I took a lot of digital images and colored them up. Now I can start making up some quick cards. Thank you again Bugaboo for choosing me as your "Biggest Fan!"

I want to submit this card to Bugaboo's "Anything Goes" challenge found on their blog, Catch the Bug. Join in for a chance to win some Bugaboo images of your own!!!!

A New Clearly Inspired Challenge

I still can't believe that it's November!! Where oh where did October go?!!! Since it's the first Friday of this new month, it's time for our Clearly Inspired Challenge. And as you can see, it's a fabulous color challenge. Our colors come from the Clearly Coordinated Collections at Clear Dollar Stamps. If you don't have these exact colors, it's okay, use something close.

Here is my card using the stamp set Poinsettia Joy. My goal was to keep it simple. I've been gone for a week and so desperately needed to get back into my stamp room and create, and simple was the only way to go!! Baby steps!! Now I look forward to seeing your creations for our color challenge. Prizes are up for grabs, check out all the details HERE. Be sure and come back tomorrow for more good news I have to share as well as Sunday for a Clear Dollar Stamps blog hop...I don't want to give away too much about it, you'll just need to come back each day to find out.

I am Smiling From Ear to Ear

I've been wanting to share my wonderful news for several days and now I can...I am now a design team member for a new challenge blog, Paper Lovin' Gals!! New photos are posted every Thursday as inspiration for your creation.

And here is what we have for you this week, a lovely bedroom pic. What inspires you?

I was immediately drawn to the "balls" hanging from the ceiling and thought of Christmas ornaments. I also pulled out the pinks and blues for my color palette. I used an old Stampin' Up set called Crazy for Christmas. The stamped image is long and skinny, so a 3 x 6 card it is!! I really wanted the ornaments to be the star, so no designer paper, but then it looked too plain. Even my love for sewing on my cards didn't add the punch I was looking for. So I pulled out something I very rarely use, glitter! Please don't hate me for what I'm about to say, but I hate glitter!! It's so messy! But it was exactly what this card needed. Now be sure and join us for our challenge this week at Paper Lovin' Gals, and show us what inspires you.