Valentine Sweets and Mice

I had a lot of fun making this Valentine's Day card and gift set for my husband! This is my design team project for Everybdy-Art-Challenge #78 this week, where our theme is Valentine. The other design team members have made some gorgeous valentines--I hope you'll visit them and join our challenge! I'm also entering this into quite a few other Valentine challenges:

• Belli Challenge #84, Ribbons
• By the Cute and Girly, Love
• Charisma Cardz Challenge 5, I Love You
• Crazy 4 Challenges C4C23, Valentine
• Creative Card Crew Challenge 44, Valentines
• Cupcake Craft Challenge 77, Red and White
• Our Creative Corner, Masculine Valentine
• Pile It On Challenge #5, To the One I Love
• Stampin' for the Weekend, Love is in the Air
• Stamp Something, Love Somethings
• Stamp With Fun Challenge #45, Hearts
• The Pink Elephant Challenge #53, Valentine

I tried to make it masculine-looking, but that's not easy for me--I like to make everything fussy and fancy! I covered the box with star dust stickles and popped up the cute little mouse. I punched the little red hearts out of red glitter card stock, including the solid heart underneath the black lattice heart, and added red stickles for more sparkle. I've neglected my little mice lately--I've missed them! I saw the cutest sentiment today, on a heart-shaped candy dish in a gift shop, and I wish I had seen it before I finished this card: "I love you more than candy!" Wouldn't that have been perfect? Oh well, next year!

The pail is filled with my husband's favorite cinnamon hearts from See's. This pail is 5 inches tall; the shorter 3.5 inch pails are in stock at 7 Kids. I think these pails would also be nice filled with Easter or birthday treats, don't you?

Ingredients:

• Card Image: Penny Black 1916J Sweet Slumber, also available in the Piece of My Heart clear set; SU sentiments. Images on pail: Penny Black 1590F Loving Mice, and 1584F Sweet Thoughts
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU
• Paper: Doodlebug, Reminisce, SU card stock, Stardream Metallic card stock (white), Best Creations glitter card stock, Arches watercolor
• Embellishments: Zva crystal heart flourish, Star Dust Stickles, Red Stickles, Pop-It Shapes, ribbons from my stash
• Sizzix Big Shot, Nesties circles and blossom dies, Martha Stewart punches

Thank you for visiting, and I hope you have a great week!

Tilda and A Few of My Favorite Things

Update February 9: This card made the Top 3 at La-La Land Crafts! I won a cute LaLa stamp too! Thank you so very much!

The Colour Create challenge this week is one of my favorite color combinations, which matches my favorite papers, and that was the starting point for this card! I used the sketch at Roses on Paper, and I'm entering this card into these challenges:

• ABC Challenge, N is for New Stash: Martha Stewart punches, crystal flourish
• Colour Create Challenge 37, Soft Pink, Soft Blue, White, and Silver
• Just Magnolia, Hearts and Flowers
• La-La Land Crafts Challenge #24, Hearts
• Pile It On Challenge #4, Enough of Winter Colors
• Roses on Paper Challenge 30, Sketch
• Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #68, Hearts
• The Pink Elephant Challenge #52, All About Pink

I used my new Martha Stewart Lattice Heart Deep Edge Punch for the top panel of the sketch. I love it, but it has taken me a while to figure out a good place to use it--I finally did! I used my new Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page set for the pink card base. I haven't done this before, because you can only make certain size squares with these sets. I had to choose between a small card (5 inch square) or an oversized card (6.75 inch square). I have a box of 6.5 inch square envelopes, but this card won't fit in one of those--oh well!

These are some of my favorite things: these colors and papers, roses, hearts, lace, silver heart charms, and of course, Tilda! My friend Mindy showed me that this Tilda is not just for Christmas! I love these new self-adhesive crystal flourishes by Zva Creative--they are so pretty and easy to use.

Card Ingredients:

• Images: Wrapped Tilda from the Magnolia So Jolly/Under the Mistletoe collection; SU sentiment
• Inks: Versafine, SU
• Papers: Papermania Blueberry Hill, SU card stock, Best Creations glitter card stock, Arches watercolor
• Embellishments: Prima roses, Zva roses, Zva crystal flourish, heart charm by Blue Moon Beads, Pop It Shapes; ribbon, lace, tulle and buttons from my stash
• Tools: Sizzix Big Shot, Nesties, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Martha Stewart punches, SU oval punches, EK leaf punch

Thank you for visiting today. My next post, hopefully tomorrow, will be a Valentine card and a little matching pail to hold treats for my Valentine!

Tilda Thank You Card and Awards

Update February 9: This card made the Top 3 Scoops at Pile It On! I love the blinkie! Ladies, thank you very much!

Update February 5: This card made the Top 5 at Stamp Something! Thank you so very much!

This post is all about saying thank you. This card is for all of you who leave such nice comments on my blog: you are so sweet, and I thank you very much! It is also my design team card for Everybody-Art-Challenge #76, where our theme is Thank You Card. I have used the lovely sketch at Friday Sketchers, and this card is my entry into these challenges:

• Friday Sketchers #87
• Incy Wincy Challenge 28, Put Your Hats On
• Pile It On Challenge #4, Enough of Winter Colors
• Stamp Something Challenge, Delightfully Delicious Something
• The Pink Elephant Challenge #52, All About Pink
  
  

Card Ingredients:

• Images: Strawberry Tilda and You're So Sweet, both from Magnolia Lazy Summer Days Collection; SU sentiment
• Inks: Versafine, SU
• Papers: Doodlebug, SU, Arches watercolor
• Embellishments: Zva pearl heart flourish, Zva pearls, Star Dust Stickles, Pop It Shapes, charm from The Charm Barn, red heart by Making Memories, ribbon from my stash
• Tools: Sizzix Big Shot, Spellbinders Nesties Heart and Scalloped Heart dies, Martha Stewart picket fence edge punch (one of my favorites!), Cuttlebug embossing folder, EK circle punches
  

Apparently it's award season all over, not just in Hollywood, hee hee! I received this lovely award from Mandy--thank you very much!

I received this delicious award from Christine--thank you so much, and it was lovely working with you at Fussy and Fancy! I also received another of these yummy cupcake awards (now I'm craving cake) from Kelly--thank you--you are so sweet!



Thank you for visiting me today, and I hope you have a wonderful week! Happy crafting and big hugs,

April

Fussy and Fancy Tilda with Hearts and Flowers

Update Jan. 30: this card made the Top 5 at Allsorts! I'm honored--thank you, ladies!

Happy Friday! It's time for our third challenge at Fussy and Fancy Friday, and our theme is Hearts! Our challenge sponsor is Stamp Happens, who generously gave us Fussy and Fancy Girls some lovely Bo Bunny paper to work with! There is also a wonderful Bo Bunny kit for our prize. Please check out the design team's creations--they are gorgeous!

This is my design team card for Fussy and Fancy Friday, the brilliant sketch is from Papertake Weekly, and (of course) I've found some other challenges that this card will fit:

• ABC Challenge, M is for Masking - I masked part of the sentiment stamp
• Allsorts Challenge, Week 36, Hearts and Flowers
• Belli Challenge #83, Hearts
• Crazy 4 Challenges C4C21, Pretty in Pink
• Creative Inspirations Challenge 45, Feminine
• Cute Card Thursday Challenge 97, Blooming Gorgeous
• Just Magnolia, Hearts and Flowers
• PaperPlay Challenge Week 4, Pink White and Green
• Papertake Weekly Challenge, Sketch #33
• Splitcoaststampers WT255, Textiles

Yes, I know, I'm making a habit of using the same image twice in one week! I couldn't help it--this Sweet Tilda is so, well, sweet! I experimented with a few new (to me) embellishments here. I stretched white tulle across the center panel, and I made the fluffy bow out of pink tulle. I found this gorgeous venice lace trim with hearts, and machine-stitched it to the pink paper. I used these pearl floral sprays for the first time, too. I went a little crazy with embellishment and stickles, didn't I? Oh yes, and I ran out of brown card stock, so I used brown patterned paper for the square brown mat!

Card Ingredients:

• Images: Sweet Tilda and A Gift from the Heart, both from the new Magnolia Raising the Ceiling collection. I masked off the "a gift" and used "from the heart" only--it's a dual-purpose sentiment stamp!
• Inks: Versafine, SU
• Papers: Bo Bunny "Love Bandits" patterned paper, SU card stock
• Embellishments: Zva Creative crystal heart flourish, Zva Creative roses, Zva Creative pearl dots, heart charm by Blue Moon Beads, Star Dust Stickles; Pop It Shapes; all else from my stash
• Sizzix Big Shot, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 4, Cuttlebug Love Language embossing folder, Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edge Punch, Martha Stewart Scroll Heart punch and leaf punch, SU Curly Label punch

Please forgive me--I'm behind on commenting, and I received a couple of awards I haven't yet posted--I promise to catch up soon.

Thank you so much for visiting! Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

April

Magnolia Sneak Peeks!

Edited: I did not make these cards! I took these photos of sample cards at the Craft and Hobby Association tradeshow!

Edited: I've just been told that these photos are in the new Magnolia Ink magazine. and the card makers' names are listed there. Unfortunately it is not yet available in the U. S., but it is on pre-order.

On Sunday I attended the Craft and Hobby Association Tradeshow. My first stop was the Magnolia booth, where I took photos of the gorgeous sample cards. I wish that the card makers' names had been listed with their cards. Many of the samples featured not-yet-released Magnolias, and above is my favorite. Isn't she the most beautiful little princess?

Another of my favorites, both Tilda and the swan!

Another little princess...

Sorry about the focus here; it was on a high shelf and I had to hold the camera up at arm's length. Trust me, this little bride is gorgeous, and so is her dress!

What a beautiful couple!


Another beautiful bride...

The most adorable pirates ever...

A gorgeous springtime Tilda...

I loved these large displays of Tilda and Edwin.

This is Sweet Tilda, part of the Raising the Ceiling collection, on pre-order now. I was inspired by this lovely card when making my latest card. Brown and blue was a difficult color scheme for me, but this card helped me see the possibilities.

I was so excited to meet Jay Jay at the show; she was demonstrating at the Stampavie booth!

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek--I can't wait to get all of these stamps!

Tilda in Blue, Brown and White

Hello again, crafty friends! This is my design team card for Everybody-Art-Challenge. This week's challenge #75 is a color scheme: brown, blue, and white. The other design team members have created some beautiful cards to inspire you; please check them out. One of my stamping idols, the super-talented Debby, is our guest designer for the next two weeks! I hope you will join us, too. I followed Jay Jay's sketch at Just Magnolia this week, and this card is also my entry into a few other challenges:

• Just Magnolia Challenge, Jay Jay's Sketch
• My Time to Craft Challenge 76, Elegant Rose
• Simon Says Challenge, Punch It

Card Ingredients:

• Images: Sweet Tilda from the Raising the Ceiling collection, on pre-order now; SU sentiment
• Inks: Versafine, SU
• Papers: SU, Arches watercolor
• Embellishments: Prima roses, Zva Creative pearl dots and crystal flourish, charm by Blue Moon Beads (I found this one at Michael's, but there are lots of others at 7 Kids), ribbons from my stash
• Tools: Sizzix Big Shot, Nestabilities Labels 5, Nestabilities Classic Ovals, Martha Stewart eyelet lace punch-around-the page punch set, Martha Stewart rose leaf and circle medallion punches, SU oval punches, Pop It Shapes

Everyone has been posting their winter photos lately, and I felt so left out because I didn't have any snow pics to share, hee hee! Well, we did get snow, it's just sort of in the background. This is the view up my street; my house is just to the right of the photo. We had rain all last week, but it only snowed up in the mountains, as usual.

Below is the view from a nearby shopping center. It's crazy here--snowy mountains, palm trees, and yes that is a seagull flying by!

It's not as beautiful as the winter scenes I've seen on some of your blogs, but it's home!

Thank you for visiting me today. My next post will be some sneak peeks of new Magnolias from the CHA tradeshow!

Hugs,

April

Valentine Cookies Tilda

Tilda is baking cookies for Valentine's Day! I love this little Chef Tilda, and if you've visited my blog before, you know I like to make baking-themed cards. It's less work than baking, easier clean-up, and much less fattening. In fact, Tilda's cookies are fat-free, sugar-free, and calorie-free, guaranteed!

I made this card for these challenges:

• Belli Challenge #83, Hearts
• Creative Card Crew Challenge 43, Punch It
• Magnolia Down Under Challenge #30, Valentines
• Magnolia-licious Highlites, Pretty in Pink
• Papertake Weekly Challenge, Pretty in Pink
• Simon Says Challenge, Punch It
• Stamp with Fun Challenge 42, Sketch Saphira

I went punch-crazy again; I found yet another new Martha Stewart heart edge punch! I made the cookies with two different MS heart punches. I ink-distressed the caramel-colored paper with caramel ink, for a browned cookie look. Then I "iced" the cookies with the eyelet heart punch. I made the baking sheet from silver card stock. Hey, who took a bite out of that cookie?

Card Ingredients:

• Images: Chef Tilda and Rolling Pin from the Magnolia Yummy for the Tummy collection; sentiment from Winter Kit/Raising the Ceiling Collection
• Ink: Versafine, SU
• Papers: Making Memories Love Notes, SU card stock, Arches watercolor paper
• Embellishments: heart charm by Blue Moon Beads, chef hat charm from the Charm Barn, SU button, ribbon from Hip Girl Boutique
• Tools: Sizzix Big Shot, Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Die and Nestabilities Scalloped Rectangle, Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, Martha Stewart heart edge punch and heart punches, corner rounder punch, Pop It Shapes

I'm going to the CHA show in Anaheim on Friday and again on Sunday. I'm so excited to go craft-shopping! It's still raining cats and dogs here...

Have a great weekend!

Hugs,

April

Shabby Chic Tilda and EAC Sketch

This is the sketch for Everybody-Art-Challenge #74. I had fun with this sketch; I think you will, too. Be sure to check out the EAC Design Team's creations--they are all wonderful!

This is what I made with the sketch; I flipped it because I wanted Tilda on the right, so she could blow those little hearts to the left. Is she sending her love? Blowing kisses? She's so cute!

I also made this card for these challenges:

• A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge 87, Lots of Layering
• Creative Card Crew Challenge 43, Punch It
• Creative Inspirations Challenge 43, New Year, New Products - new stamp, heart and bird punches
• Just Magnolia Challenge, Thank You
• Simon Says Challenge, Shabby Chic

I love these papers--they're so shabby chic. I ink-distressed and machine-stitched, but I don't like roughing up the edges of my favorite papers--I just can't do it! I used a paper doily behind the circle element (Juanita!), and piled on lots of frilly and feminine touches. With all these hearts and roses it's a combination thank you/Valentine card. It reminds me of my favorite antique stores filled with shabby chic white furniture, vintage jewelry, and antique laces, linens, and greeting cards. I haven't been antique shopping in a while...I think I need to go again, soon!

Card Recipe:

• Images: Magnolia Tilda Blowing Hearts, SU sentiment from Carte Postale set
• Inks: Versafine and SU
• Papers: Papermania "Blueberry Hill," SU card stock, Arches watercolor paper
• Embellishments: Prima white roses (sponged with pink ink), Blue Moon heart charms, Zva Creative heart pearl flourish, Star Dust Stickles, gingham ribbon from Hip Girl Boutique
• Tools: Sizzix Big Shot, Nestabilities oval and scalloped oval dies, Cuttlebug heart embossing folder, Martha Stewart punches

I'm paying this week for those weather comments last week--it rained all day Monday, and it's supposed to rain all week long! That's fine with me, though; I love the rain.

Thank you for visiting me today, and I hope you have a great week!

Hugs,

April

Fussy and Fancy Winter!

Happy Friday everyone! This is my design team card for our second challenge at Fussy and Fancy Friday. Our theme for the next two weeks is Winter. I've found a few other challenges that this card will fit:

• ABC Challenge, L is for Layering
• Cupcake Craft Challenge 73, Going Girly
• LaLa's Weekly Wednesday Challenge #21, Shaped Cards
• Pollycraft Monday Challenge #31, Winter Birthdays
• Roses on Paper Challenge 29, Winter
• Stamp with Fun Challenge 41, Snowflakes

I know, this is the second time this week I've used this Tilda--did I mention that she's one of my favorites? Well, now I promise to put her away for a while.

My husband says I should call this card "punch crazy," because I really did go crazy with my Martha Stewart snowflake "punch around the page" set! I had a lot of fun with it, can you tell? I used the corner snowflake punch on the corners of my card front--I was trying to make it an octagon shape--I hope I succeeded. This is the first time I've used my Octagon Nestabilities; I don't know why I haven't used them before. I guess I get stuck in an "oval" rut.

Card Recipe:

• Images: Magnolia Tilda with Gift from the So Jolly/Under the Mistletoe collection, SU sentiment
• Inks: Versafine and SU
• Papers: Doodlebug, SU card stock, Best Creation glitter card stock, Arches watercolor paper
• Embellishments: Star Dust Stickles, gems and ribbon from my stash
• Tools: Sizzix Big Shot, Nestabilities Octagons and Scalloped Octagons, Martha Stewart snowflake punches, SU oval punches

Still no snow here in southern California (there never is and I've been hoping for it since I was little), but we did have rain yesterday, and we're supposed to have rain next week. Our winter doesn't look anything like this card!

I hope you have a good weekend!

Hugs!

April

Winner of Sweets for the Sweet!

Hi friends, thank you for all the nice comments. I have just pressed enter, and the winning number is Comment #25--Vicky (Angeldrummer)!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:25
Timestamp: 2010-01-14 20:11:34 UTC

Congratulations, Vicky! If you will email your address to me at aprilroseblog@gmail.com, I will send your little treat out right away!

Thank you, everyone--this was fun--I think I'll do this again soon!

Hugs!

Fabulous Flower Punches!

I need these, don't you? These Nellie Snellen Flower Punches are fabulous--they are designed to created beautifully embossed punched flowers. You punch out a flower, emboss it in the companion embossing punch, and voilà--a perfect flower with dimension and texture! There is also a punch to make the stamen, and a lovely branch punch, too. This is a complete set, or they are available individually. They are available for pre-order at 7 Kids College Fund, and will be shipped in late January. I'm going to pre-order the whole set today!

Click HERE to pre-order yours!

Snowflakes

Hello friends! This is my design team card for Everybody-Art-Challenge #73, where our theme this week is Snowflakes. I know much of the U.S. and Europe is bitterly cold and covered in snow, but here it felt like a nice spring day! Sorry, not to rub it in, but I would have to drive at least an hour away, up into the mountains, to find some snow--hee hee! I used this week's sketch from Sketch Saturday, and I found a couple of other winter and snow challenges, so this is my entry for these challenges:

• Roses on Paper Challenge 29, Winter
• Sketch Saturday Week #85
• Stamp with Fun Challenge 41, Snowflakes

This is one of my favorite Tildas--isn't she cute in her warm coat, hat and thick tights? I love using Star Dust Stickles everywhere! I hope you can see it--I used it on Tilda's jacket collar and cuffs, and on her hat pom-pom. I covered the punched pink and aqua snowflakes with it--it makes them more durable as well as sparkly. I used white glitter card stock for the white snowflakes and the flourishes; in real life they look like they have stickles on them, too. I used Tiara Glitz Stickles on the package--it's a blend of silver and pink glitters. I had fun with aqua, pink and white pearl dots--can you tell?

I used the same size Labels 4 Nestabilities die for the white and aqua mats, but I hand-trimmed the white one along the embossed line to make it smaller. I really like this shape; it's one of my favorites.

Card Recipe:

• Image: Magnolia Tilda with Gift from the So Jolly/Under the Mistletoe Collection
• Inks: Versafine and SU
• Papers: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses 12 x 12, SU card stock, Best Creation glitter card stock, Arches watercolor paper
• Embellishments: Star Dust Stickles, Tiara Glitz Stickles, Pearl Dots, ribbon from my stash
• Tools: Big Shot, Nestabilities Labels 4, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Martha Stewart snowflake punches, EK flourish punch

Thank you for looking, and to those of you in the cold weather: bundle up like Tilda and try to keep warm! Or better yet, stay inside and craft!

Hugs!

Candy for Current Followers Only!

This drawing is over, and the winner has been drawn and announced.

Hello to my sweet followers--I have some sweets for the sweet here! I'm offering little bit of candy to my followers. It's just a little something to thank you all for the kind comments and support. It is a Magnolia Jam Tilda and a 6 x 6 pad of Basic Grey Sugar Rush paper. To enter you must be a current follower and leave a comment on this post before 12:00 noon PST (GMT-8) Thursday January 14. I'm not going to use Mr. Linky, I'm just going to number the comments and use Random.org to pick a number. I've never done this before on my personal blog, and I'm doing it for current followers only to thank those who have followed me without incentive. Please do not post this in your sidebar, just leave me a comment and cross your fingers!

Hugs and Good Luck!

Tilda in Pink and Burgundy

Update Jan. 10: this card made the Top 5 at Stamp Something! Thank you so much, ladies!

Hello dear blogging friends! I hope 2010 is treating you well so far! This is my design team card for Everybody-Art-Challenge #72, Favorite Color Combo. I have several favorite colors, and several favorite color combos, but I had to choose just one! I'm also entering this into these challenges:

• A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge 85, Hearts - I love hearts!
• Magnolia Down Under Challenge #29, Stamp with Another Use - Jam Tilda for Valentine
• Roses on Paper Challenge 28, Colour with Favorite Medium - watercolor with inks
• Stamp Something, New Somethings - new stamp and heart punches

Now, if you look at this card in today's post at Everybody-Art-Challenge, you might notice this one is slightly different. What can I say? I changed my mind--I used a new, different punch for the two hearts. I think this one better complements the heart edge punch and the paper. Also, I turned it into an easel card. I left the front of the card fairly plain, because I love the hearts in this paper and didn't want to cover them up. I also love my new Martha Stewart heart "punch around the page" set, and wanted this detail to really stand out. This sweet little Tilda is new, too!

Card Recipe:

• Image: Jam Tilda from the Magnolia Yummy for Your Tummy Collection; SU sentiment
• Inks: Versafine and SU
• Papers: gorgeous heart printed paper is Basic Grey Bittersweet; SU cardstock, Arches watercolor paper
• Embellishments: heart charm by Blue Moon Beads; ribbon from my stash
• Tools: Sizzix Big Shot, Heart Nestabilities, Scallop Heart Nestablilities, Ribbon Tags Shapeabilities, Cuttlebug Love Language Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart punches (scroll heart, solid heart, and looped heart "punch around the page" edge and corner punches)

Thank you so much for looking!

I'm going to be offering a little bit of blog candy soon as a thank-you to all of my lovely followers, so stay tuned...!

Hugs,

April

Fussy and Fancy New Year!

Happy New Year to all! This is my design team card for our new challenge blog, Fussy and Fancy Friday. Our theme is "new," so I've made a new year card, and used new stamps and a new punch. This card is also my entry for these challenges:

• Cupcake Craft Challenge 71, Celebration
• Simon Says Stamp Challenge, Simon Says Party
• Sketch and Stash Challenge 25, this sketch
• Stamp with Fun Challenge #39, Happy New Year
  

Card Recipe:

• Images: from the Magnolia Winter Collection, which will be available soon for preorder at 7 Kids College Fund. I still don't think this is our little Tilda; I'm sure it's her big sister!
• Papers: Doodlebug printed papers, SU and Stardream card stocks, Arches watercolor paper
• Inks: Versafine and SU
• Embellishments: Pink Gems; Star Dust Stickles on her corsage, wings, and sparkly party shoes! Her evening bag is a charm from The Charm Barn; ribbons are from my stash.
• Tools: Sizzix Big Shot, Nesties, Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, Martha Stewart eyelet lace punch

Thank you for looking, and I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year!

EAC: Happy New Year

This is my design team card for Everybody-Art-Challenge this week--our theme is Happy New Year. Our challenge will last for two weeks, so we can all have a nice break for Christmas.

I've used the sketch at Just Magnolia, but I rotated it. I first saw this lattice punch used there by Bev, and I was inspired by her card. I made an easel card so I could have a place to use the rose stamp, but I can't find any challenges for easel cards this week. At Colour Create is the lovely color scheme of pink, burgundy and ivory, with the added option of roses. I hope it's okay that I also used green.

Yes, I did receive my Magnolia winter kit! But let me start out by saying that this can't be our little Tilda--this must be Tilda's older sister! That being said, Tilda's sister is a princess in the 2010 Rose Parade! Here she is, riding on her parade float; she must have taken off her crown. I hope she remembers to wave at all the parade watchers! I'm sure you all know that the Rose Parade takes place in southern California every January 1. I went to the parade once when I was a teenager; we slept on the sidewalk all night so we would have a good view when it started in the morning! That was fun when I was young, but now I prefer watching it on TV from the comfort of my sofa. The lattice punch and corner punch details remind me of rose parade float details.

• Images: all stamps from Magnolia winter collection (these will be available for preorder soon at 7 Kids)
• Supplies: Versafine and SU inks, Papermania printed papers, SU card stock, Arches hot press watercolor paper, Prima roses, Stickles, ribbon from my stash
• Tools: Nesties, Sizzix Big Shot, Martha Stewart Lattice deep edge punch and leaf punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder and Vintage Corners, SU blossoms punch

I plan on making and posting one or two more projects before Christmas. Thank you for looking, and if you're too busy to read any blogs this week, I'll say it now:

Thank you all for your sweet and supportive comments! I wish you all a joyous and merry Christmas!

New Beginnings at PaperPlay

This week's challenge at PaperPlay is New Beginnings: make a project for something NEW, i.e. a new baby, new home, new year, etc. The challenge will run for three weeks, until January 6th. I've made a new baby card, and I've (loosely) followed this week's sketch at Mojo Monday. I've had this sweet stamp for a while now, and decided it was time to ink it up. I think I should have used some Stickles on this card, though. I've been using Stickles so much on Christmas cards, this looks like it's missing something without it!

Card details:

• Images: Inkadinkado 96677 Bear Moon, SU sentiment from So Many Scallops set
• Supplies: Versafine and SU inks, SU papers and card stock, Arches watercolor paper, charm by Blue Moon Beads, ribbon and brads from my stash
• Tools: Nesties, Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU scallop circle punch, EK moon and stars edge punch

Isn't this little bear sweet? Just looking at him makes me sleepy!

Thank you for looking, and have a great weekend--the last one before Christmas!

EAC Sketch and Snoopy

This week at Everybody-Art-Challenge we have this wonderful sketch by Iris. I hope you will join us! This is my latest Snoopy card for my dad--his Christmas card.

We don't get snow at Christmas; that's why I've painted grass instead. This reminds me of my dad's lawn--he grows the greenest grass I've ever seen. I had fun with the Stickles again, I used it to make Snoopy's Christmas lights glow! I drew the red light bulb myself--don't look too closely at it.

• Images: Stampabilities I1017 Decorated Dog House, digi sentiment from Funky Fairys
• Supplies: Versafine and SU inks, SU card stock, DCWV paper, Arches watercolor paper, everything else from my stash
• Tools: Nesties, light bulb edge punch by EK, oval punches by SU

Thank you for looking, and happy crafting!

Gingerbread Teapot

Isn't this just the cutest stamp image? I love this little Christmas teapot. It reminds me of the story of The Nutcracker (the ballet, not the book), when Clara goes to the land of sweets. There are dancing candy canes and gingerbread children, and the Chinese dance represents tea. This is my design team card for PaperPlay Challenges this week, where our theme is to be inspired by a book or movie. They've made several movies of the Nutcracker ballet, so this works, right? Anyway, I'm still making Christmas cards and gifts, so I chose a Christmas story.

This is another of my paper candy cane hearts, and the little tote I designed for holding real candy cane hearts (see here and here for more).

This is also my entry for these challenges:

• By the Cute and Girly, Let's Go to the Movies
• Creative Card Crew Challenge 40, Gold or Silver
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge Week 78, Christmas for the Girls

This is the reverse side, with a space for signing.

Supplies:

• Image: Penny Black 1276H Jolly Teapot, a retired stamp available at PB Stamps.
• Supplies: Versafine and SU inks, Doodlebug papers and brads, SU card stock, Arches watercolor paper, Stickles in Gold and Stardust, ribbons and eyelets from my stash
• Tools: Heart Nesties

Thank you for looking, and happy crafting!

Let It Snow #2--Tilda

There I was, making a Penny Black mouse card, when the postman delivered my Christmas Magnolia stamps! I preordered them at 7 Kids College Fund--they seem to be the first U.S. retailer to get these in stock! So, I just had to make another card with one of my new Tildas for my gig as the guest designer at Simon Says Stamp Challenge this week, where the theme is "Let It Snow." I'm also entering it into these challenges:

• Incy Wincy Designs Challenge 21, Snowflakes
• Just Magnolia Week 34, A Card for Someone Special
• Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #19, Snowflakes
• Magnolia Down Under Challenge 28, Bedazzled
• Stamp Something Challenge, Glitzy Somethings

This image is Magnolia Tilda with Gift, and all the supplies are the same as the card in my previous post. (This means I'm too tired to type any more tonight!)

Thank you for looking, and happy Wednesday!

Let It Snow #1--Mouse

Well, guess who is a Guest Designer at Simon Says Stamp Challenge this week? I know, I can't believe it either, but it sounded like fun when Lorraine asked me! As the time got closer I got more and more nervous. A month ago I decided which stamp I wanted to use and had the papers all picked out. The stamp I decided on was one of the Christmas Tildas I had on order. By last Friday I had given up on my new Magnolias arriving in time, so I started on a card with this cute mouse instead. This stamp is called "Let It Snow," the same as this week's theme at Simon Says Stamp--perfect! I'm also entering this card into these challenges:

• Cupcake Craft Challenge 69, Sing a Christmas Carol - "Let It Snow"
• Friday Sketchers 81, Sketch by Beatrix
• Incy Wincy Designs Challenge 21, Snowflakes
• Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #19, Snowflakes
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge Week 78, Christmas for the Girls
• Stamp Something, Glitzy Somethings

This great sketch is a lot like last week's sketch at Penny Black, and looks like a nine-patch quilt square. So, I added the "quilting" by stitching around the squares. When I bought my new sewing machine two years ago for quiltmaking, I never dreamed I would use it to stitch on paper!

The ink and card stock colors I've used are SU Amethyst and Brocade Blue, and in real life they match the printed papers perfectly--but not in photos!

• Images: Penny Black 1524K Let It Snow, sentiment is a digi from Funky Fairys.
• Supplies: Inks by Versafine and SU, Stemma papers, SU cardstock, Best Creation glitter card stock, Stardust Stickles (my current favorite!), charm from The Charm Barn, everything else from my stash.
• Supplies: Nesties, Cuttlebug embossing folder, 4 different Martha Stewart snowflake punches, SU oval punches

The postman did deliver my new Magnolias on Saturday, so I made two cards for my guest designer spot--see my next post for the other one!

Thank you for looking!

EAC: Red and Green!

Update Dec. 14: this card made the Top 5 at Cupcake Craft Challenges! :D

Hi everyone! This is my design team card for this week's theme at Everybody-Art-Challenge--red and green--perfect for Christmas cards! I finally received my Christmas Magnolias! I almost hugged the postman on Saturday, hee hee! I'm also entering this card into these challenges:

• Cupcake Craft Challenge 69, Sing a Christmas Carol - Deck the Halls (with boughs of holly!)
• Just Magnolia Week 34, A Card for Someone Special
• Magnolia Down Under Challenge 28, Bedazzled
• Simon Says Stamp Challenge, So Charming
• Sketch Saturday, Sketch #80
• Stamp Something Challenge, Glitzy Somethings

Images: Magnolia Tilda with Gift, Holly Post, and Jolly Holly

Supplies: SU and Versafine inks, SU card stock, Creative Imaginations paper and gems, Best Creation glitter card stock, Arches watercolor paper, EK candy cane, Michaels ribbon, Stickles, charm from The Charm Barn.

Tools: Nesties, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Martha Stewart holly and holly edge punches, SU scalloped circle punch

Thank you so much for looking, and I hope you all have a great week!

Pink Snowstorm!

Actually a pink and blue snowstorm--that's what my husband said this looks like! This is my design team card for PaperPlay Challenges this week. Our theme is Christmas without red or green. Please join us--I know you're all making Christmas cards, and it's fun to use colors like pink, blue, purple, etc.! I've used the great sketch at Sketch and Stash; I love the three embellishments down the right side. This card is my entry for these challenges:

• A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge 80, Nontraditional Christmas Colours
• Cute Card Thursday Challenge 89, Swirly Girly - I think this qualifies as girly, don't you?
• Sketch and Stash Challenge 24, Sketch (see Supplies list for stash details, none of it is very new, let's just say I've been saving it up!)

After I took the photo of this which is posted at PaperPlay, I decided it needed more sparkle. So, I added more Stickles everywhere--it is such fun to use! This is a new photo, taken after I went crazy with the glittery stuff. I even added Stickles to the snowflakes and swirls which are made from glitter card stock--glitter on glitter! Now, I know my card is a bit crooked here, but the important thing is, can you see all the sparkles?!

Image: Penny Black 1517E Thinking of You

Supplies: SU and Versafine inks, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses 12 x 12 papers (first time I've used them), Best Creation glitter card stock, SU card stock, brads and ribbon from my stash, and lots of Stardust Stickles!

Tools: Nesties, Martha Stewart snowflake punches, EK flourish punch

Here's a bit of fun news: I have a card featured on the Simon Says Stamp blog today; I'm delighted and honored! Thank you Steph--you made my day! That Apple Crisp card was my design team entry for both EAC and PaperPlay, and it landed me both gigs!

Thank you for looking today, and happy Christmas card-making!

Candy Cane Heart Tilda

Update Dec. 6: what fun--my little Tilda won first place in the Magnolia Down Under Challenge!

Here I am again, with another of my candy cane hearts. This time I made a little gift tote, which is custom made to hold a candy cane heart (for details on those, please see the preceding post.) I have been awaiting the arrival of this new Tilda so I could seat her in this candy cane heart; I ordered her for just this purpose! I'm entering this into the following challenges:

• Colour Create Challenge 32, Green Red & White
• Creative Card Crew Challenge 39, Christmas
• Cupcake Craft Challenge 68, Red & Green
• Magnolia Down Under Challenge #27, Christmas Decoration/Card
• Stamp With Fun #35, Christmas

I also decorated the back and left a blank area for signing. This is how it looks when filled with a lovely candy cane heart:


Image: Magnolia Sitting Tilda with Candy; digi sentiment from Funky Fairys

Supplies: SU and Versafine inks, Basic Grey paper, SU card stock and red ribbon, charm from The Charm Barn, flower by Making Memories, green ribbon and red heart eyelet from stash

Tools: Nesties, Sizzix candy cane die, Martha Stewart holly and branch punches, SU oval punch

Edit: I dreamed this little heart tote up all by myself; I figured out how to cut and make it. If there is a tutorial out there for it, I couldn't find one. If I had followed someone's tutorial, I would have given them credit. At first I tried stitching two hearts together to make a pocket, but it was too small, and the candy cane heart broke! :( So this solution occurred to me in the wee hours of the morning, hee hee! :)

Thank you for looking!

Everybody-Art-Challenge: Stitching

This is my design team card for this week's theme at Everybody-Art-Challenge--stitching, real or faux. This is the first time I've ever stitched on a card with my sewing machine. I've used the lovely sketch at Penny Black this week. To me the sketch resembles a nine-patch quilt block, so I thought the stitching complemented the sketch well. Now, if this candy cane heart image looks familiar, it's because I posted a similar design on October 9:

Obviously I really like this design; read to the end of this post for more about candy cane hearts!

I'm also entering this card into these challenges:

• Charisma Cards Challenge 47, Anything Christmas
• Crazy for Challenges Week 13, Punch Happy
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge Week 77, Sketch by Beth
• Simon Says, Winter Love

Image: Penny Black #3343H Snuggle, SU sentiment from Yummy set (yes, I use this one a lot!)

Supplies: SU and Versafine inks, DCWV paper, SU card stock, Best Creations glitter card stock (used for mistletoe and holly), Arches watercolor paper, charm from The Charm Barn, stickles (added to mistletoe and holly), ribbon and silver cord from stash

Tools: Nesties, Martha Stewart holly and branch punches, EK rock fern punch (mistletoe!), SU oval punches, Crop-a-Dile (berries), Cuttlebug "Love Language" embossing folder, Sizzix candy cane die

I have been in love with candy cane hearts as a design element for years. There is a candy store near me, Logan's Candies, which still makes candy canes by hand. They also make these candy cane hearts, which I adore! (The ribbons they use read, "Jesus is the Heart of the Season.") They are delicious, but I use them mainly as decorations or small gifts. I put one at each person's place at the table for Christmas dinner. That brings me to my next creation...but first I must write that post. Stay tuned...

Thank you so much for looking, and have a great week!