Oh Deer!!

I've been playing with Glimmer Mist (GM) again! This time the new
"Red Nosed Reindeer" holiday limited edition color! It's soooooo
pretty with those flecks of gold! This card is simple elegance at
it's best. I used the GM on white cardstock, and punched the one
edge once dry. A kraft cardstock (A2 size) base, inked with the
Vintage Photo Distress Ink, the reindeer is a stamp from one of
the new Tim Holtz stamp sets, embossed in gorgeous gold Zing
embossing powder on kraft cardstock. I distressed the edges
of this piece (with that awesome TH distress tool) and added
more Vintage Photo around the edges. A strip of kraft (inked)
under the pretty moss seam binding ribbon.....a Webster's Pages
Sparkler, and I'm calling this one done!

Inspired to pull out some ink and play? I hope so!

A Challenge....

Yes, it's another sketch challenge....from Skipping Stones Designs(SSD)!
It's challenge SSD #103 and here is my entry:


Simply used the same paper set I used last week....it's always fun (to
me anyway!) to try using the same paper, for different cards.....you
get a similar look, but it's still unique! I even broke out the stickles
for this card.....it just never photographs the greatest, but, oh well!

The pretty pink snowflake paper is by WRMK. The snowflake stamp
and the snowman are from SSD "Sassy Snow" set, and the jewels in
the centers are American Crafts brads.

It was an extra "challenge" to get this card done with all the Thanksgiving
festivities this week.....hope everyone had a wonderful time with family
and friends!

See you again soon.....try to get a little crafty time in today....you've
earned it!!!

I Found A New Sketch Site!!

Have you heard of Cardabilities?? This site looks awesome!!
I'm so amazed how many of these sites are out there! I'm going
to start playing along over there!! This sketch....#43, is my first
time playing!! This card is the result:


Super simple....just kraft, white, and teal cardstock, I used my Tim Holtz
swirl embossing folder (it's the impressed side), and the On The Edge
snowflake die. The snowflakes are stamped using an image from the
Skipping Stones Design (SSD) set I played with yesterday, and I used my
Sakura glitter pen on these too! They are stamped using Broken China
distress ink. The lacy edge on the bottom is a Martha Stewart punch,
and I inked all of the kraft with Vintage Photo ink. It felt like it was
"missing something", so I used the twine to attach the sentiment.....
another stamp from the SSD set.

If you would like to check out the Cardabilities site and play too.....the
link is HERE.

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!!! Will be another post
sneaking in here over the next few days.....if you need a breather
from all those yummy goodies!! And remember.....still waiting to
hear from my winners......I'll give you all until next Tuesday!!

Whoop, Whoop, Winners!!!

Yes, today is winner announcement day!!! But first.....I have
not been playing over at Skipping Stones Designs Stamps for
soooo long! Been busy with Christmas cards as you saw this
past week!!....LOL! But I decided to play with SSD sketch #102
which you see above. My take on it is here:

The snowman and snowflake stamps are from their "Sassy Snow"
set. He's colored with Copics #'s RV06, BG15, G00, and YR04,
inked the background with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink. The pink
snowflake paper is WRMK, the background is Core d'nations
embossed with the Tim Holtz swirl folder, and sanded and
distressed a bit on the edges. I blinged up the snowflakes with
my Sakura glitter pen, and the base cardstock is all kraft.
Then a few pearls and a bit of twine....and it's called done!!

Now as for winners of blog candy.....the following people please email
me at lauracox@mailcity.com......

Deb G

Jeannie (aka Blue)

Vicki & Don

And last but not least.....Dragonfly Dreamz!!

I am going to "surprise" you all....but let me just say....there are
goodies like, Glimmer Mist, twine, crinkle ribbon, glitter, stickles,
etc., etc. going out in the mail!! Contact me ASAP, and I'll be
mailing goodies out after the holiday weekend!! Congrats!!!

Well, to everyone, have a wonderful Thanksgiving....still hoping
to get another post or two in, we'll see!

Time for the "Leftovers"....

Well, it's time for the end to the series of cards made with one
Echo Park Season's Greetings Paper Pack. I made the card
above with a kraft cardstock base, the chipboard santa,
"tis the season" sentiment, and button, the "north pole"
sticker, and the "nice list" is a journal box. Some twine and
red Want2Scrap pearls finish it off. A quick, adorable card
for the holidays.

Then, I just still had so many goodies, left, I thought I'd make
some tags too.....

I used a few stamps from my stash, the tags are inked with Distress
Ink in Walnut Stain, the Happy Holidays is from the journal box sheet,
the noel and poinsettia are from the sticker sheet. A pretty punched
edge on red cardstock, some red pearls and bling, and yes, my fav, a
bit of twine finish them off.

And in honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I thought it was
only fair that I share my leftovers.....



This week you saw 12 cards and 3 tags....and there is still THIS much
of the papers and stickers left....to make more cards, to scrap with...
so many options!

Hope you enjoyed this week, I sure did.....but time to get busy, and
use up my leftovers.....to finish making my holiday cards!!

Remember to leave a comment.....today is your last chance to get in
on my drawing....I'll post a winner early next week!!

Thanks to everyone that has dropped by to say "hi"!! Hope you've
gotten a lot of inspiration this week.....and dont' go too far, there is
always another project right around the corner!!

Holiday Greetings....it's day 5!!

Are you tired of me yet??.....lol. Ok, I've gotta say....today, these
are two of my fav cards. Again, how easy can you get....both just
a layer of pretty paper from the Echo Park Season's Greetings
collection (the 2nd card, I roughed up the edges a bit), on a base
of kraft cardstock. Both cards a second layer, corners rounded,
inked with Vintage Photo ink (the top, kraft cardstock, the bottom
card, the gorgeous stripe).

The top card....that center piece is just one of the journal boxes in
the collection....it's so pretty on it's own! A little twine, the wreath
and sentiment from the sticker sheet in the collection, a bit of
glossy accents on the berries on the journal card and wreath, and
it's done. Simply gorgeous.

The finish on this second card:


Yep, another journal box....those make card making a snap!!! Then I
added the crinkle ribbon (I pleat that using score tape) and bow, and
topped it with a snowflake sticker, the large chipboard snowflake, and
a chipboard button from the collection as well, tied up with twine. A
few of the red Want2Scrap Pearls, the "happy holidays" sentiment
from the alpha sticker sheet in the kit.....and it's also complete!

Still getting inspired? Maybe for a little weekend crafting, I hope!

If you are so kind as to leave a comment, I promise you will be entered
into a drawing for all kinds of pretty goodies.....and remember.....if you
aren't a follower.....make sure to do that too.....lots of fun stuff to come!!

Oh The Joy!!

The joy of getting my holiday cards done before Thanksgiving!!

Hope you all are enjoying my little Echo Park cardmaking series....
if it just inspires a little bit....to get your cards started, to realize
cardmaking, is fun, and really very easy once you start, to just
take some time to enjoy a little crafting goodness in your day!

So both of these cards....super simple, and pretty self explanatory...
used the Echo Park Season's Greetings set, the stickers (JOY,
the tree's in both cards, and the postage stamp in card 2), the
border paper (that black dot banner border above), and Distress
Inks....Black Soot for the card above, and Vintage Photo for the
card here:

A simple torn edge on kraft and brown cardstock, a little inking,
and we have trees in the forest. It's funny....I kept looking at this
card....wanting to add more....bling to the trees, snow to the
ground, but I just fell in love with the "picture postcard" simplicity
of it. Hope you enjoy it too!

And remember to stop by again over the weekend, the series is
2 more days....and yes, I do believe I've saved the BEST for last!!

Ok, lastly, you know the drill....if you leave a comment, and
become a follower if you aren't already....I have some great
blog candy goodies in store this week. And guess what.....
I may also have more than one set of blog candy....just say'n.
So make sure you say "hi"!!

A Day 3 "Three Fer"

Ok, it's true...ya caught me.....the above card is a little bit of a misfit
in my "one pack Echo Park" series. But I just finished this little guy
up and wanted to share. That super cute snowman is a Stickables
stamp from Great Impressions. Isn't he just adorable? Love it!
I inked him up with Distress Ink in Broken China, and the papers
ARE still Echo Park...lol. A little crinkle ribbon, a twine bow, button,
bling, and pompon trim add the finishing touches.

And now back to our regular scheduled programming....

This is definitely made from the Echo Park Season's Greeting goodies!
The papers, the chipboard ornaments, the "Merry Christmas" sentiment
cut from the journal box sheet. I used my EK success punch (it really
is my fave right now!) for that pretty lacy edge, and yes, I used twine,
too....a SHOCKER, I know....lol. The bling swirl is from Want2Scrap....
I cut the swirls apart to get more for my money....do you??


And next up is another cutie patootie snowman.....

Wow, it doesn't get more simple than this.....I am LOVING the
journal boxes in these Echo Park kits!! They are awesome for
cards!! That's what the holly/aqua piece under Mr. Frosty is!
Just a few layers of that pretty EP paper, a little red pearl
bling....and the snowman and season's greetings are sticker
from the EP kit as well.

Hope you enjoyed the little "extra" goodie today....and I hope you
are getting some card making inspiration!!

See you again tomorrow.....but don't forget those comments today....
lots of goodies!! And remember to comment HERE at Cutter's Creek!!

Day 2 is here!!

Here are the cards for day 2!!

Today's cards.....more simple easy designs, and again, all from that
same awesome paper set...Season's Greetings from Echo Park (EP)!!

These 2 cards are a similar design....but a very different look.

The card above, starts with a kraft base. The strip on the left,
with the poinsettias, is from the border strip paper in the set....
I just love the variety on that sheet for making cards!!
The punched edge (I used an EK Success border punch on the
swirled cranberry cardstock in the kit) adds a bit of elegance
to the card, along with the pretty bling swirl from Want2Scrap.
Have you check out their bling? Wow, it is awesome....and the
price is certainly right!!! Kim sells it at Cutter's Creek....you can
find it HERE. The "Merry Christmas" sentiment, is from the EP
Season's Greetings chipboard.

I did "fussy cut" the large poinsettia that is under the word
"Christmas" from the same poinsettia paper the base piece
on this card is cut from. The papers were inked with Distress
Ink, in the Vintage Photo color.

This next card:
starts with a red cardstock base, I added the green/dot EP paper,
a rectangle of red in the middle, and then layered on another piece
of the border strip....that pretty holly print, then simply added the
Seasons Greetings sticker from the EP sticker sheet in the set,
a bit of twine wrapped on the left side, and more of the gorgeous
Want2Scrap....this time red pearls finish the card off, as yummy
berries, and an accent on the upper left corner.

Again.....you can easily "pop" these cards up a notch with some glossy
accents on the berries, or by embossing the red layer on that last card,
etc. But I was trying for quick and simple, but yet impact!

Hope you like today's cards.....let me know what you think by making
a comment here and also at Cutter's Creek HERE, and you'll be entered
for the blog candy!

One Pack....lot's of "leftovers"....

Well, Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so in honor of the
yummy meal and leftovers we'll be having soon.....I thought I'd
show just how easy it is to make a bunch of holiday cards, to get
that chore checked off your "to-do" list, and still have "leftovers"
to make even more....or to scrap with or whatever your little
heart desires!!

So first up:

So pretty, but sooooo simple, quick and easy! Love, love the Echo
Park Season's Greetings collection! Here I used 2 border strips
(the snowflake and the white/black dot). Just cut and adhered to
a basic kraft cardstock base (standard 5&1/2" by 4&1/4"). I added
a black strip of cardstock, then embellies.....the pearls (from Want2Scrap),
the ornament and black star "button" from the EP chipboard that
matches the Season's Greetings set, a button from my stash, a bit of
twine, and last but not least, the "Merry Christmas" greeting from
the border strip paper as well.

Next up, and even more simple....


Red cardstock base, black cardstock trimmed to show a hint of the
red. The poinsettia paper cut about an inch shy of the bottom, inked
with Black Soot Distress Ink, and then a journal box from the EP set,
framed out in the red cardstock. The "Tis" is from the alpha sheet
in the set, the banner with "The Season" is from the sticker sheet in
the set (and foam dotted), and the corners and poinsettia in the upper
left corner....from the EP chipboard set.

The best part....if you want to bling things up more, or layer more,
you could do that very easily as well.....but I wanted big impact
with minimal items.

Hope you enjoyed these first 2 cards.....and please come back
tomorrow, I'll have 2 more from the same set!!!

And guess what.....even better....if you leave a comment for
me HERE on the Cutter's Creek blog, as well as here on my blog,
you will be entered to win some amazing blog candy!! Nope....
not telling what it is, you will just have to wait to find out!! But
it's REALLY some great goodies!!

Remember to take time to craft today.....and remember to come
back to check out the new cards posted tomorrow!!

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes....

Do you have a special dream? Something you secretly wish, deep in
your heart, will happen for you someday? I think we all have one (or
more!) and I also think we can make these dreams come true if we
just believe....in God, in our family, in ourselves!! This card was inspired
by just those types of dreams!!

The idea came to me, when I saw the "Once Upon A Time"inspiration
challenge over at Our Craft Lounge (OCL)...it's challenge #OCL91.

And the card was inspired by this stamp set:

Spring Sketches from OCL. If you follow my blog, you might remember
a card last week "You Brighten My Day". It just used the stamps "as is".
Do you ever look at a stamp and wonder what it could become? It's one
of my favorite things to do! Below is how I used these stamps to make
the Cinderella "Pumpkin Carriage"....

I punched the center out of the large flower to make the wheels....
I stamped the tulip twice to make the "pumpkin". I made the
pumpkin twice, and cut a "slice" off of one side, and added it to
make the carriage a bit bigger. The line was stamped twice to
make the reins. And again the result was this card....


The twine from "The Twinery", I made the stick pins with various beads
in my stash, the paper is the MME Lost & Found "Madison" collection,
the rosette is from MME as well, the "believe in yourself" is from Unity,
and I used Spun Sugar and Vintage Photo distress inks.

Remember.....to believe in yourself, and your dreams!! And give yourself
the time to "go for it"!!!

Stay tuned....tomorrow....the beginning of a weeks worth of fun.....

Leapin' Lizards!!! We Have a Winner!!!

Ya'll want to know who won that awesome twine package yesterday??

Well, you do have to wait just a minute....lol.....while I give the deets on
this page I did. Yes, more yummy twine....it's just my fave embellie
right now! I used some older Scenic Route paper from my stash, basic
cardstock, and Crate Paper "Toy Box" Journal set, and Thickers.
Simple, basic, quick LO.

Ok, now that we've had the commercial announcement....lol....time for the
lucky winner!!! I ran the #'s thru Random (dot) Org, and the lucky
number was.....

The Number Four!!! Ok, Kinda funny.....I just watched the movie,
"I Am Number Four" a couple of days ago....what are the odds?....lol.

So that means.....mommyx2.....girl....you win!!! Contact me at:
lauracox@mailcity.com to claim your prize!!! Congrats!!!

There is a fun series on my blog all next week for quick and easy Christmas
Cards.....make sure to keep an eye out!!

Til' next time!! Take some crafty time today!!

My Craft Spot....I'm featured!!

I am so excited to be the Featured Designer today over at
My Craft Spot!!! Kimberly even sent me the yummy twine in
the pic above as a prize to send to one lucky person that comments
on my blog today!!! Make sure to leave a comment for your chance!!

For my feature, I made a couple of special projects. First this treat jar:

I love "upcycling" old packaging....sooooo, this jar is an old nut container,
I used American Crafts cardstock, and the new Tim Holtz embossing
folder....I ramped up the embossing with the Tim Holtz Distress Ink,
in the new fall "Gathered Twigs" color! And the crinkle ribbon is the
gorgeous Pumpkin Spice color available in Kimberly's shop over at
My Craft Spot....and so is that pretty Thanksgiving twine!!

The little candy treats that will fill the jar are made from American
Crafts brad packaging! More of the yummy crinkle ribbon and twine
and the "give thanks" sentiment is from My Craft Spot as well....from
the awesome "Happy Fall" set! Here is a close up:



And the back looks like this:


The "blessings" is a stamp from the same versatile stamp set, and
the idea is....everyone takes a treat....writes down their blessings
from this past year, and we put them in the jar, then pull them out
and read each one while we enjoy our dessert at Thanksgiving this year!

And because one is never enough.....I made 3 note pad gifts using more
American Crafts cardstock, the new BoBunny Forever Fall collection
(that's where those fun metal accents came from too!), and I also used
the Thanksgiving twine and another great sentiment from the "Happy Fall"
stamp set on this one:


This note pad has more pretty Pumpkin Spice crinkle ribbon,
and the blessings stamp....

And last but not least.....some Cranberry crinkle ribbon on this
version, and I just love this sentiment stamp from that same
collection....


I hope you found some fall inspiration here today!!! Remember
to leave a comment to win that awesome twine, and make sure
to check out "My Craft Spot" HERE to see all of the wonderful
twine, crinkle ribbon, and stamp sets!!!

Thanks so much, again, to Kimberly for featuring me today!!!

Stay tuned....

Well, time got away from me again....lol. But here is a sweet little card
made with the absolutely gorgeous new Authentique papers (Gathering)
and stamps from Our Craft Lounge (OCL) (the Dandy Days set). Tim
Holtz makes an appearance (you know it....lol) with Vintage Photo Ink.
A little button and twine finish off this simple card.

Hope you enjoyed....but make sure to stay tuned.....Friday is gonna be
a fun (and prize filled) day!!!

See you then!

Two Fer....Um, Wednesday?

Yes....I've posted TWICE today!!! Two fer Tuesday a thing of the past....
this week anyway!

Made this card using Our Craft Lounge (OCL) "Spring Sketches" stamp set
and the papers are all from the Echo Park "Be Mine" collection. Yummy
twine and buttons and bling from my stash finish it off! It's for entry
into the pink challenge OCL89 over at OCL's blog! You can check it out
HERE.

Hope this little card "brightened your day"!!! Have a fun one...and
find a little craftin' time!

Fall's Beauty

Do you take the time to "stop and smell the roses"? Or at least the time
to stop for a brief moment and enjoy the beauty of Fall!! The colors,
sounds and activities of Fall are so wonderful.....crisp apples, the reds,
oranges, and yellows of the trees, the chilly mornings, sometimes with
just that brush of frost. And I'm always excited, because, with the
shorter days.....I now see the sunrise every morning....gorgeous!!

And of course, that is the inspiration for the card above! I used Distress
Ink in Peeled Paint, Rusty Hinge, and Scattered Straw, to get the soft
background (on just simple white cardstock). Then I stamped it in
Vintage Photo with the crackle stamp from the new Tim Holtz (TH)
Christmas Stamp set Joyful Song. The edges of this piece were distressed
with the TH edge distressing tool, and then inked up with more Vintage
Photo. The pumpkin on the bottom is from the TH embossing folder,
and inked up with Peeled Paint, and Rusty Hinge....then coated with
Rock Candy Crackle, and then hit with Vintage Photo ink after it dried.

To finish it....foam tape to adhere the pumpkin, and some seam binding
ribbon, a button and some twine.....the Lovely You sentiment is from Unity.

Hope you are inspired to enjoy some fall colors.....both outside, and in your
crafting!!