Holly Jolly Christmas

It's coming so fast, isn't it? Christmas will come and go before I know it. How is it that time seems to be speeding up each passing year?! As we decorated the tree on the weekend, I couldn't believe that another Christmas was here. I am nowhere near done, but somehow it always seems to get done by the day.

Thought I'd share a Christmas card that was in Card Creations Vol. 6 this past fall. I always look forward to this issue. It's full of so many great ideas for cardmaking. (and it was soooo nice to finally have a card in there!!)

Hope you're preparations are well underway!

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Good Monday Morning!! It's a cold one out there today! Hope you're managing to stay warm.
Thought I'd share a cookie recipe that is a favorite with my girls. I had to hide them in the freezer yesterday to stop the girls from eating them all!

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter or margarine
1 ½ cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
2/3 cup cocoa
¾ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
12 oz. (350 g) mint chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar, eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Stir in mint chocolate chips. Drop by tsp. full (or cookie scoop). onto a cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheet. Cookies don’t look fully done after required time, but take them out or they will be too dry. Freeze well.
Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a great day!

Traditional Christmas

Not too long ago, I found this set of Christmas chipboard tags from K & Co. I love the traditional cards that just seemed to create themselves with these tags.

The paper is from Cloud 9 Design, ribbon is from Joanne's, the rest is from my stash.

It's a cold and snowy day out there. The sun is out, but the wind is making it so chilly. We're all decorated for Christmas, we just need to work on the cards and make some cookies today. And stay warm!

Hope you have a warm and Christmasy Sunday!

Happy Birthday

I can't believe it's Friday again! The days just seem to fly by! It's been a busy week and I'm just now getting to this weeks' sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You, Laura's sketch #14. It's been fun working on this card whenever I had a few minutes this week.


The card stock and chipboard shapes are from My Mind's Eye, Laundry Line. Leather paper is from The Paper Company, rub ons are from Deja Views, Die Cuts are from QuicKutz, flower is from Prima, vintage button and tulle.
Thanks for popping in and I hope you have a great weekend.

CPS Sketch # 93 (and more!)

This week, it all started with CPS sketch #93. Once I started, I kept on going!! My house may never be clean again!
The first card is based on sketch #93, the rest just jumped out at me!!

The patterned paper is from Baisc Grey, Dotted Swiss Bazzill cardstock, start is from Making Memories, button and twine from my stash, QuicKutz border, wrights ric-rac. I found the 3 D stickers at a discount store.

Flourish die cut is from QuicKutz, Peace sticker is form Bo Bunny, rhinestones are from My Mind's Eye.

Ribbon is from Martha Stewart.

Studded paper is from my stash.

Paper Pizzazz vellum, Hot off the Pres brads, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Stickles.

I made 5 more, all in one evening! These are all going to the girls I work with.

Thanks for stopping by,

Happy Birthday-Cards Magazine

I love, love, love the way this card came together. It just seemed to flow right from the start. The leather flowers were a RAK from Cathy on Cococat's Cardmaking and I'm so glad she sent them to me. I love them! This card was in the October issue of Cards Magazine and eventually made its way to my MIL for her birthday in November.


Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
Patterned paper: The Paper Loft
Rub ons: Heidi Grace
Stickers: Flowers by Jolee’s Boutique
Stamps: Gina K Designs, Stampin’ UP!
Ink: VersaFine
Punch: Circle by Creative Memories

Thanks, hope you're having a great weekend!

A Sketch Explosion!!

So I think I'm becoming a sketch girl!! Since starting to do a few sketch cards last week, I think I'm addicted. It's been so much fun creating for a sketch and checking out what others have done with the very same sketch. The creativity out there is amazing!

This is for Kazan's sketch #14 on 2 Sketches 4 You. It was such a fun sketch to create with. And once I started creating with this October Afternoon paper, I couldn't' seem to stop!!

Flowers: Brown-The Paper Studio, Glitter-K&Co., 3D-Sandylion Sticker Design
Embossing folder: Cuttlebug
Textured paper: The Paper Co.
Ribbon: Martha Stewart-brown, Offray-cream
Chrystal Flourish-: Prima Marketing

So I had all of this lovely paper bits lying around on my table and just kept on going...

Flowers: Red-Making Memories, Cream-Prima Marketing.

Gem: K&Co.

Rub on sentiment: Die Cuts with a View

Flourish die cut: Sizzix

Corrugated paper and leather paper have been in my stash for years.

For this card, all the supplies are the same except the rub on is from Crate Paper, and brad is from Making Memories.

And finally this one came together. The funny thing is that I'm not a huge fan of red or using such bold paper in making my cards. But this combination just seemed right and I love how they all turned out. And it all started with a sketch!

Thanks for stopping by.

Carr's Birthday

Ok...so maybe I'm on to something with these sketches. They seem to be helping the creativity but most importantly, they're helping me get cards done. Who knew?? lol

My friend Barb has been doing sketches for a long time and finally got me onto them. It was o much fun that I'm trying it again this week. Here's my card for this week's sketch (92)on CPS, and it'll be perfect for my friend Carr's birthday next week. The pp is from Crate Paper, flowers are from Making Memories, chipboard flourishes are from Maya Road, inked. I used the script Cuttlebug embossing folder, paper frills from Doodle Bug, the Happy Birthday stamp from Gina K and a vintage button (shank cut off). Hope your week has started off well!

Sketches

I don't often do sketches, I don't know why. But I've seen more and more gorgeous cards created from them, so I thought I'd give it a try this week. Here's my first one for 2 sketches 4 you. This one was a lot of fun.
Blue paper is old from Karen Foster, I've had it for years. The striped is from Basic Gray. Rub on is from K& Co., stocking chipboard shape is from the $ store.

The next one I did was from CPS. This one was a lot of fun too.

Cardstock is Swiss Dotted from Bazzill, patterned paper and 3 D sticker are from K & Co., chipboard is from Maya Road, painted with acrylic paint. Trim is from making Memories.

This was so much fun, I may have to do it again.

Christmas Card

Amazingly, Christmas is just a few weeks away. It always comes so fast and is over way too fast. How are you doing with your preparations? I've got a few gifts bought and have a few ideas for others, just need to get out there and get it done. Here's my card for today. It's a quickie, my favorite kind!!
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
Patterned paper: Best Creation Inc.
Disco Ball Red Hot: Ki Memories
Poinsettia Flowers and brads: Making Memories
Rub on Sentiment: Imaginisce

Happy Monday!

Easy Peasy!!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I like quick and easy things. From meals to cards, I love it when something comes together quickly. Yesterday, I needed a quick insert for a little gift I was sending to a couple of friends, and these little cuties came together really quickly. They're 3 x5" in size and the paper came from my scrap pile. They were so cute, I almost didn't want to let them go!!

The paper is from My Mind's Eye, the flourish die cut is from Sizzix. The large flower is from the Paper Studio, the small is from Prima. The brad is from Imaginsice and the rub ons are from One Heart...One Mind.

Thanks for stopping by...

Birthday Card

Hope you're having a relaxing Saturday after the sugar rush of Halloween. Things are quiet here today, one daughter is off with a friend and the other is upstairs 'chillin'! DH is away for the weekend, so I'm hoping to get some creating done this afternoon.

Today I'm sharing a card I made for my friend Flo. She used to be my neighbour when we lived in St. Albert and I still miss her. She really was the one who got me going creatively with making pine cone wreaths, sewing quilts and eventually scrapbooking , which lead to cardmaking. I really wish she still lived next door.

Cardstock: The Paper Company, Patterned paper: Foof-a-la, Paper Frills: Doodlebug Design, Flowers: Imaginisce, Prima, K&Co, Sandylion, Punch: EK Success, Rub on: One Heart...One Mind, Rhinestones: Me and My Big Ideas.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Halloween and Paper Crafts Gourmet Mag.

Paper Crafts is set to release another great special issue full of wonderful designs and tasty recipes. Read all about it here: Paper Crafts Gourmet. And they've decided to share a tasty recipe and a Halloween tag designed by Alisa Bangerter.
First the Cheesy Garlic Drop Biscuits. Don't they look so yummy?


Cheesy Garlic Drop Biscuits
Alisa Bangerter
This is a perfect recipe to pull out if you are short on time because there is no rolling or cutting. The cheese and garlic add extra kick to a plain biscuit, and kids love them. They are the perfect accompaniment to serve with soups or stews, and are great served with a salad.
INGREDIENTS
2 c. flour
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. butter or margarine
1 1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 1/4 c. milk
Chives (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Mix together dry ingredients. Cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture is fine. Add cheese and mix well. Add milk and stir until just moistened. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Sprinkle top with chopped dried or fresh chives if desired. Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 15 minutes.

Next, this super cute tag...

Enjoy Halloween Tag

Designer: Alisa Bangerter

SUPPLIES: Cardstock: (ivory) Dye ink: (Black) Stewart Superior Corp.; (Summer Sun) Stampin’ Up! Specialty ink: (Mango Lemonade color wash) Stewart Superior Corp. Color medium: (black chalk) Craf-T Products Accents: (black brads) Making Memories; (chipboard bat, moon) Melissa Frances Fibers: (black striped ribbon) Pebbles Inc. Font: (Black Family) www.dafont.com Adhesive: (foam tape)

Finished size: 3" x 4 1/2"

1 Make tag from cardstock. 2 Crumple tag and smooth out. Spray edges with color wash; let dry. Apply chalk. 3 Ink chipboard moon; let dry. Chalk edges and adhere. 4 Ink chipboard bat; let dry. Adhere with foam tape. 5 Print sentiment on cardstock; trim and tear edges. Chalk edges and adhere with foam tape. Attach brads. Attach ribbon with brad.

And finally, a Halloween card from me...

This was done for a Halloween swap on Cococat's Cardmaking.

Patterned Paper: Adornit, Carolee’s Creations
Cardstock: Prism
Stickers and ribbon: Bo-Bunny Press
Brads: Hot Off the Press
Staples: Making Memories

Hope you have a wonderful rest of the evening. I haven't had a chance to try the biscuit recipe, but my girls LOVE cheese and garlic so I'm sure these will be a hit at our house.

Merry Christmas

It's been a while since I've done an Oldie Moldie card, so I thought I'd get one done this week. I dug out my Christmas paper scraps and found these papers that I've had for a while. The script is from 7 Gypsies and the other is from Basic Grey. Flowers and leaves are from Prima and the brad and sentiment are from Making Memories.
Tis the start of the Christmas cardmaking season!!

Hope you have a Happy Monday!

Monogram Card

The challenge over at Caardvarks right now is 'Initial Reaction', all about monograms. Here's my take on this challenge.

Cardstock: The Paper Company
Patterned Paper: Black-Creative Imaginations; Red- American Crafts
Rub on letter and frame: Melissa Frances
Gems: My Mind’s Eye, Bohemia
Trim: Craft Supply
Ink: ColorBox
Scalloped Punch: Marvy Uchida

Pop on over and have a look at all the fabulous samples the design team has created for this challenge.

Go Batty, Get Ghoulish!

During the month long birthday celebration on Cococat's Cardmaking site, one of the challenges is to alter something. This pen holder is from the $ store, altered for Halloween. I found the black netting at the Goodwill store last year.
Come on over and have a look at all the fun challenges happening on our friendly little message board and join in the fun.

Patterned paper: Stemma
Rub on transfer spider: Bo Bunny
All other rub on transfers and ribbon: Martha Stewart Crafts
Tag: Making Memories
Ball chain, black netting, pen holder, candy

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend

Canadian Thanksgiving is on Monday and the weather is supposed to be just gorgeous this weekend. The leaves are turning beautiful colors. My mom arrived last night and is here visiting so we'll have to get out for a few walks through the Conservation Areas, to soak it all in.
She'll be in the kitchen too helping with all the delicious food preparation. Maybe we'll be able to coax her into making some apple strudel for us. Mmmmmm.

Cardstock: Prism
Patterned Paper: Creative Imaginations- Karen Russell
Ribbon: Making Memories
Rubber Stamp: Serendipity Stamps
Ink: VersaFine
Twine: Darice
Acrylic Tag: One Heart, One Mind
Flower stickers: Jolee’s Boutique-beige; Sandylion-black

Hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with family friends and good food!

Melissa Frances

I've been a long time fan of Melissa Frances and tonight I got to meet her and am an even bigger fan! What an amazing lady. She spoke candidly about her fight with breast cancer and spoke very passionately about her desire to educate and make a difference in women's lives. I think she touched all of us in that room tonight. Here's her website Melissa Frances (Just try NOT to drool over her new Christmas line!)
And here is an organization that she's supporting through her Thankful scrapbooking line and a place to learn about breast cancer and receive support from others who have been through the same fight. BreastCancer.org

Melissa brought her fiancee to help with the demo.

The smiles say it all!

So as Melissa asked us to pay it forward...my message to you tonight is...do your monthly self breast exam, have a yearly mammogram and see your doctor regularly, especially if you find something you're not sure of.

Go now...do your SBE and set your computer calendar to remind you to check every month.

Happy World Cardmaking Day!!

We're having a month long celebration on the Cococat Carmaking site. It's our First Birthday. Pop on over and have a look. There are games and challenges and prizes, all organized by the members. There's always room for more cardmakers and we love new members, so I hope you join in the fun.

This is for one of the daily challenges to use an Internet image on your card. I made this earlier this week for one of our Doctors at the clinic. I apologize for the crappy picture of it. I made it late at night and had to deliver it the next morning, last minute as usual!
Image: Internet
Die Cut Heart: Sizzlits
Glitter: Scrapbook Glimmer by Making Memories
Flower: Prima
Loopy Brad: Karen Foster
Texture Plate: Fiskars

Hope you make some time to create today!

Birthday Cards

My very good friend Barb's mom is turning 90 soon and we're showering her with cards. Barb says that she lives on her own, still embroiders and loves to make apple pies. I can only wish that I have such a wonderful quality of life when I'm 90! Here's the card I'm sending her.

I dug into my favorite stash of PSX stickers. I've long had a love affair with these stickers, but the company no longer exists so they're hard to find. I stock up on them whenever I see some. The BG stamp is Stampin' UP, the sentiment stamp is Studio G and the trim is from Creative Impressions.

This is a quick card for a friends' daughter. I love quick cards, I think it goes back to my need for instant gratification. LOL.....

The sticker borders and brad are from Stemma's Holiday Cheer line. I kept looking at them and came to the conclusion that if I didn't know they were from the Holiday line, I would think they were just festive. I hope she thinks the same thing!! Flowers are from Making Memories (white) and Prima (blue).

Hope you're having a wonderful Friday.