Tuesday, November 30

Skating Mia!


Happy Tuesday!

It's another 'ACLP' day!  Today the designers at "A Crafty Little Place" are featuring creations using the Basic Grey CURIO LINE of papers!  If you love romantic, shabby chic, then you will LOVE these papers!  This normally isn't my style or choice of papers, but I do love the colors!  DO NOT adjust your monitors!  The colors here are light peachy-pink, kraft brown and mossy-green yellow!  Skating Mia makes these look even prettier, don't you think?  I used last week's Card Pattern's sketch (below) to inspire my layout and I used Copics to color match Mia to the papers!


Pop on over to ACLP to see what's new and find all of these items at the Die Cuts R Us store today!

Enjoy your day!

Papers: Basic Grey Curio line
Image: Jane's Doodles Skating Mia
Coloring: Copic Markers
Pearl: Kaisercraft

Thursday, November 25

GOBBLE GOBBLE!!!!!!!


Happy Turkey Day!  Today marks the official release of 3 commercials out of 4 being about Christmas and what you 'just have to get' your children, spouse or yourself on December 25th!  HAHA!  And don't think that you will be able to ride in an elevator or be put on hold without hearing 'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas' or any other traditional Christmas song!! 

SO, I might as well kick it off with Melissa Jenkin's NEW release (below) featuring this uber cute Christmas tree and a couple mugs of cocoa!  And it wouldn't feel like Christmas without carrolling snowmen and a glimpse of homemade Gingerbread men ornaments hanging from a primative Christmas tree or two! 

See all of them HERE at the Whimsy Stamps store and pop on over to see a handful of creations by the Meljen's Designs DT on the blog, which also announces the new challenge of the week, Buttons & Bows!! You could win 3 images of your choice, including ANY of these below, if you are randomly picked! 
I based my card on this week's Sweet Stop Sketch Blog challenge below!  I didn't finish the inside due to time constraints (had to bake some cookies, you know!), so I can't officially enter it, but I do like the sketch!  Korin always has good sketches!!


Thanks so much for checking in on me! 
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with PIE and NAPS!  That's what I am aiming for anyways! 

Blessings to you and yours!!

MY CARD: papers: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses
Button: Stampin' Up!
Crushed glass glitter by LSS.

Tuesday, November 23

Joy Snowman!

HAPPY TUESDAY!!!!!! 

Are you excited that Thanksgiving is just TWO DAYS AWAY??? I don't know about you, but I LOVE ME SOME PIE!!!!!!!! HAHA!  There's nothing else that says 'Thanksgiving' better than some homemade pumpkin pie!  I can't wait to eat some!   But, since I have to wait, I might as well get crafty and make some cards, right?!!

SO, here you go!!!!!!!!! A Crafty Little Place isn't having a 'formal' challenge this week, but asked us to use these awesome papers by Basic Grey from the Marjolaine line!  Aren't these beautiful?  When you first look at the collection, it doesn't really make winter come to mind, but I really wanted to use this sweet Joy Snowman digi by Jane's Doodles, so I made it work!


A close up of the glittery SMOOCH by Stampin' Up!, isn't is lovely?  It goes on like a nail polish and dries quickly, so that is wonderful for last minute gals like myself!  The bottom scallop of the card was made by a punch by EK Success, snowflakes by Martha Stewart punches and of course I used COPICS for coloring and crinkled seam binding by Prairie Bird Boutique!!


Pop on over to 'A Crafty Little Place' to see this week's challenge post and all of the creations that the Design Team made using the Marjolaine line by Basic Grey!  And don't forget that Claudia couldn't wait until Black Friday to begin offering awesome steals and deals!  Check out the Die Cuts R Us store every day this week, INCLUDING Thanksgiving, to get in on some awesome sales!



Papers: Basic Grey Marjolaine 6x6 collection
image: Joy Snowman by Jane's Doodles

Sunday, November 21

WANT ONE????

If you are ONE of the FIRST 12 people who place an order for $100 or more beginning tomorrow at the


you will get one of these totally awesome Limited edition sets by Quickutz!!!! 

See the glorious details HERE on the ACLP blog!  Claudia just couldn't wait for 'Black Friday' to show her appreciation to her fabulous customers, so you are going to be able to take advantage of her generosity as early as TOMORROW!  Start making your shopping list NOW!

ENJOY!!

Face the SPARKLE!

Hi PEOPLE!  Long time, I know!  It has been a crazy-busy week!  Besides the typical 2 hours of homework every night with the kids, regular shopping, cleaning, and homey stuff, Eli and I had haircuts, then had a few jewelry things to wrap up AND I had to figure out coordinating clothes for ALL SIX of us for our new Church Directory picture!  Who KNEW that doing that would be so much work!?  Josh came home this weekend to be in the picture, too, of course!  And his paternal-grandma is having her Thanksgiving tomorrow so he's getting a headstart on that pumpkin pie! I AM SO JEALOUS!

Just a few more days of the Fall/Thanksgiving 'feeling',
then we will be facing this..............


YES, that's right, all things Christmas! YAY and BOO at the same time for me!  When the holidays come I am a wicked stressball, but I ALWAYS end up being blessed with wonderful memories, so that's good!

My card features a Happy Holiday Wreath by Meljen's Designs and is supah BLINGY with Martha Stewart extra fine glitter to let you know about the new challenge this week!  You have till Wednesday to get your card entered for a chance to win three images of your choice, so play along!!  My papers are by Basic Grey, the Jovial 6x6 line that you can see HERE at the Die Cuts R Us store and my wonderful crinkled seam-binding ribbon is from Patsy at the Prairie Bird Boutique!!

Pop on over to Meljen's main blog and check out the challenge details!  OH and you have just one more day to get in on the Fisher Moose giveaway HERE, too! 

GOOD LUCK!

Saturday, November 20

New Challenge Blog!!!!!!!!!!

If you know me, I LOVE challenge blogs!  Well, I got wind of a new challenge blog called Card Makin' Mamas!  Isn't that the cutest??? So easy to remember, too!!!!!!!!

A new challenge has been posted and I AM SURE that you can play along this week, because it is ALL about HOLIDAYS!!!!  So link your creations to the CMM challenge blog and you could just win their prize this week!!!!!!!  What is it?  Well, "JUST" four images of YOUR choice from Meljen's Designs digi line!!  That's some incentive, eh?

I have a holiday card being posted on here tomorrow that I am going to be entering into Jessica's challenge, I hope you can play along, too! 

See you in the morning!

Tuesday, November 16

Special Release TODAY!


Today we are celebrating the LIFE of Keith L. Smith!  Who is he?  He is the father of Melissa Jenkins, the creator of Meljen's Designs!  Melissa's father passed away one year ago today and we have decided to celebrate his love for fishing with a special release of these images below!  Aren't they cute?

Today, of course, is bittersweet for Melissa.  While I am sure she is sad and misses him terribly, I KNOW she is grateful for all of those special moments she shared with him and that HER KIDS shared with their grandpa!  We hope that you celebrate his life with us today!  There's a special give-away of Fisher Moose on the main blog HERE and also on FACEBOOK HERE!  Enter both to double your chances to win!

You can find all of these images (and MORE!)  HERE at the Whimsy Stamps store! 

Love you, Melissa!
I am thinking of you today!

Altered Challenge at ACLP!

Papers: Basic Grey's Pyrus Collection


Good morning, Ladies!  Here's a new challenge from A Crafty Little Place!!  AND LET ME TELL YA, it was definately a CHALLENGE for me...  I am not an altered art type of gal, but I do like how this turned finally.  I used some GORGEOUS papers by Basic Grey from the PYRUS LINE!  LOVE THESE, they are my new favorite papers!!!  When I saw these pears and funky flowers, I just fell in love!  These subdued fall colors reminded me of caramel apples, so I decided to use some caramels I had in the pantry for this 'altered challenge' at ACLP!! 

Won't this make the cutest gift?  I think KayLee's teacher may get this next Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but then again, it's kind of tricky to give 'caramels' when you don't know if they are caramel-lovers or if they have dental work that keeps them from enjoying them!  Oh well, my mother-in-law LOVES caramels, so maybe she will get this instead!

 Close Ups of the Pyrus papers by Basic Grey and candy bucket!

I used a punch by EK Success for the double scallop at bottom and my trusty circle and scallop circle Nestibilities by Spellbinders for the bucket top. A little dab of Prima flowers with a coordinating brad and an array of ribbons from my stash give it a nice touch at top!

I hope you enjoyed my candy bucket and that it inspired you to join us at A Crafty Little Place with an altered project!  I can't wait to see what you make!

See you tomorrow!

Monday, November 15

HUGE News from Claudia & Company!


There's some exciting news from Claudia, owner of Claudia & Company Stamps and the Die Cuts R Us store!!  See the full announcement HERE on the blog, but in short........

Select Puddle Jumpers are NOW going to be available as DIGITAL STAMPS!  WOOHOO!!  I don't know about you, but that IS some exciting news to me!!  AND my card is an awesome example of "WHY"!!

I used the teddy bear (below)from the Puddle Jumper SAMMY digi set for my card today!  I took the teddy bear and made it larger (JUST ONE of the THINGS you can do with DIGITAL stamps, TEEHEEHEE!) into a Christmas bear!!   The set of Sammy and Bear is just $3.50, so affordable for such a versatile set! 

And let me remind you that when you purchase digital stamps, there are No shipping charges!!  That can save a lot of money, not to mention that when Claudia emails the images to you, you can begin to create with something NEW without ever having to leave your home to purchase some crafty-goodness!  And on a cold, wet, and almost-wintery day like today that is not just wonderful, it is CONVENIENT!! Haha!



Also, another big announcement is that Claudia is going to be holding a special sale the week OF Thanksgiving!  No more waiting until BLACK FRIDAY to take advantage of great deals!  That's right! You will be able to take advantage of special promotions beginning a week from today on November 22nd!  Be sure to check out the sale at the Die Cuts R Us store on Monday! 

Till then, why don't you POP on over to the main blog and check out all of the new creations by the Design Team?  You will be glad you did!


ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Thursday, November 11

New Release in RUBBAH!

Woo-hoo, more rubber stamp designs are here! Join in the hop (it starts at Crissy’s blog) and see two new designs by Melissa and other lovely designs by Crissy and Ann!



These are a part of Melissa's new and exclusive Whimsy Stamps line and will ONLY be available in rubber. Here are Melissa's TWO new rubber stamps!!

‘Cozy Little Snowman’

Melissa said, "This one was inspired by the little Rankin Bass ‘Frosty the Snowman’ cartoon with the little magician’s rabbit! Also, I just love woodland creatures in wintertime."


‘Elf Bell Mouse’



Melissa said, "This little one was my favorite, and came to me right away. I love Christmas mice, they remind me of the ‘‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ poem…and the bell this one is holding was inspired by Santa’s sleigh bell from the ‘Polar Express’."


Purchase them HERE at the Whimsy Stamps store!

Tuesday, November 9

Getting into the spirit with a Color Challenge!

Papers: Basic Grey Jovial Collection
Image: Wreath by Maree Truelove
Pearls: cream


A new challenge is facing you at A Crafty Little Place!  It's a color challenge!  And what gets you into the spirit of the holidays better than the colors of RED, WHITE and GREEN?? 
 
I used some wonderful papers by Basic Grey, from the Jovial line which are just drenched in these holiday colors!!  Just gorgeous!  You can see the Jovial collection that Claudia has in the Die Cuts R Us store HERE!  
 
For my card, I used Maree Truelove's new wreath image and of course had to add some Prairie Bird Boutique seam binding ribbon to add some shabby-chic style!  A Stampin' Up! button threaded with some twine atop the ribbon really shows off the color challenge nicely!
 
Be sure to check out all of the Designers color challenge cards using the Jovial line at the ACLP blog!  I look forward to seeing what you make this week at A Crafty Little Place
 
See you tomorrow!

Friday, November 5

WINTER CELEBRATION HOP!



Welcome to the
Claudia & Company Winter Release Party! 

If you are already 'hopping' then you should have come here from Krista's awesome BLOG
If not, you may want to start at the beginning HERE!

You have seen a couple of sneaky peeks over the past week, but here's the full collection of images!  Introducing a new Gingerbread House, by Jane of Jane's Doodles.......



Then of course, the beautiful Wreath by Maree Truelove......


And Skating Mia by Jane's Doodles........

Hop along and leave some love as you go to be entered into the prize drawing!  All of these images can be found at the Die Cuts R Us store!  And of course you can see tons more inspiration at the Claudia and Company BLOG each week! 

I hope you enjoyed my cards today!  If you like, become a stalker, er uh, I mean a Follower!  I love having new crafty friends!  Hope to see you again soon!


{Now, HOP ALONG to Margie's Blog
She's super stylish!
AND so are her creations!}

Here's the complete list.......
Nicole (you are here!)
Our wonderful guest designer:

Thursday, November 4

New IMAGES & some inspiration!


Using Meljen's Designs 'SKIING MOUSE' and some fabulous papers by Stampin' Up! I made this card for some seasonal fun!  Gotta love Baja Breeze, my most favorite color by Stampin' Up!  I swear I am going to paint my entire house inside AND OUT this color some day! HAHAA!

AND BELOW........
some AWESOME new images by Melissa!

Released just today, these images just scream "THANKSGIVING", don't they?  I am finally getting some autumn weather here in Southern Indiana!  Took long enough!  It was mid-October before it dipped into the low 70's during the day!  Check out all of the Design Team creations on the Meljen's Designs BLOG HERE and also check out the new 'SHAPE CHALLENGE', too!  It's another easy one!

See you tomorrow!

Wednesday, November 3

Another Sneaky Peak!

Howdy Peeps!  Here's another preview of what is to come this Friday at Claudia and Company!  Another fun winter image for the WINTER BLOG HOP!  Jane of Jane's Doodles outdid herself with this image!  Isn't she sweet?  I used a "BFF" sentiment from the So Random stamp set HERE for my card, along with ribbon and papers by Stampin' Up!  A little Copic coloring and VIOLA!  A really sweet card!


This card was inspired by this week's sketch by MOJO MONDAY below!  Gotta love a little MOJO!

Come back tomorrow to see some new SCHTUFF and also be ready for Friday's Winter Blog Hop!  There will surely be prizes to win and fabulous creations to get your MOJO MOVING! 

Enjoy your day!

Tuesday, November 2

Sketch Challenge!!


SugarStick Digital Image: Grandparents
Papers: Basic Grey's Wander Sampler pack

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Another challenge from A Crafty Little Place!  This week it is a sketch challenge!  Put it together with a "masculine" twist and you can enter this week's challenge HERE!  I used Basic Grey's Wander paper line for my card, adding a bit of Not Quite Navy blue cardstock as an accent color.  A touch of twine through my button gives it a nice touch without over-doing it for a MAN-card!  The man image is ONE of two from the Grandparents SUGARSTICKS collection by Lori Boyd!  You can see her images, these papers and the sentiment (Miss You) vertical set in the Die Cuts R Us store HERE!

I think I may send this to my minister that just retired last year.  I really do miss him and I think he would appreciate a personal note letting him know how much he's missed by me and my family!  Miss you, Steve!



Hope you face the challenge this week at ACLP!

Monday, November 1

Meljen's Designs Freebie of the week!

 
Look at this fabulous Holiday Bird!  Melissa, fabuloso creator of Meljen's Designs, is really giving us some versatile freebies!!  This one could be used now for a fall-Thanksgiving card or you could color it up in holiday colors, too!  AND in the Spring, why not make it yellow, like a canary?  You will use this one a ton, I am SURE!

Be sure to click on it to get the bigger version in a new window, then right-click to save it on your computer!  Print away and Create!  Don't forget to face this week's SEEING DOUBLE challenge HERE!!  You could just win some freebie images just for playing along!

Thank you, Melissa!!

Howdy!