Around the Corner

It really is around the corner. I'm liking that Christmas Day is in the middle of the week. Though it's a bummer for people work M-F, it seems to be taking some of the stress away for me. I keep thinking I still have 4 days to get stuff done. Thankfully, I've managed to be on top of things.

I never did find my cards, but I was able to make 15 new ones and this is one of the newbies.
All of my cards were mailed yesterday, so even the two I have going to New York will arrive by Tuesday.

Stampin' Up red glitter paper and Gina K luxury white for the base. I used a SU set for the sentiment and the border. Real Red ink from SU also and red pearls from my stash. The wars are all from various sized punches. 

So friends, don't wait until Monday to finish up your shopping or baking. That day should b the day you relax and just begin to enjoy.

Hugs & Blessings,

Erica

Christmas Packaging for Church Volunteers

Hi everyone.
I've been super busy with baking cookies, and quick breads, helping my dd with a Bible Study Party and of course, making cards and packaging. I lead a 20 or so mixed group of teens and adults who are responsible for our church pre-K children's ministry. We never know from one week to the next what to expect. But we keep serving. My little awesome group deserves a little something, so I got these ready to give out Sunday along with home-baked cookies.

Since I get easily bored making the same old thing, I couldn't stick with one kind of packaging, so I ended up with quite a variety including paper mugs, paper bags, and chipboard boxes. Each contains some anti-bacterial hand-soap, (an item we use a lot of with little ones), Godiva chocolates and Twix, or Milky Ways, or...you get the pic. I'm aware the teens will probably toss the packaging, but I'm hoping they'll at least show their moms before they do.

We don't have a card ministry, choosing instead to send out store-bought cards. We are a rather a large membership, but I'd so love to get a group of gals doing this once in awhile. I am praying about the logistics and for the courage to actually approach leadership with my ideas.

So, now it's on to wrapping presents...my least fave thing to do, and preparing my Christmas dinner menu.

God Bless.
Erica

The Ten Days of Christmas

Why, you ask? Well, in about that number of days, I will be plumb tuckered out.
I won't want to make another Christmas card, bake another loaf of cranberry bread, scoop another ball of dough onto a cookie sheet, shop for another present, wrap another present, you get the picture.
So, I'd better be done. Since I have never found even one of the 22 Christmas cards I made, having hidden them from my paper and tape runner loving' cat, it's time to get going on some new ones.
These will be considerably more simple. The good news is I managed to take pics of about five cards and here is the first one.

I'm also going to take a chance and toss this card into the challenge at QKRStampede.blogspot, where I hope my bit of gold won't dis-qualify me. Red is the more dominant color I think.
I wouldn't have known about this challenge if I hadn't been checking my fellow team-mate at
Simply Create Too, Mian. She designs for QKR also. Busy and talented crafty lady.

Then there's Less Is More, one of my favorite simple card challenge blogs. I am submitting hoping the base color, white, does not count as a third color, but instead as a foundation color. If it's not, they'll let me know. I used gold paper for the square fancy die cut.

It's on Gina K's luxury white base cs and is embossed with a Stampin' Up folder. The gold metallic paper from my stash is die cut/embossed with a Nestie. The glitter star is made with SU's new red glitter paper and die cut with a Stampin' Up Sizzix die. Rather easy to put together, so I may re-do a few of these.

I am half-way through my shopping. I am not a huge fan of Christmas, so gift cards come in handy. I like to give 'em, and I like to receive 'em.

Have a great weekend. And don't let yourself be stressed.

Blessings,
Erica

What's in a heart

Once again the fab Susan Raihala of Simplicity got my juices flowing. I did have to go to the dies, but only two, as I wanted the sentiment to be on the actual of the inside of the card.

It's early evening here in the Southwest so there is definitely some shadows in that heart. Not having the correct photo equipment doesn't help, but I do hope it comes across the way I intended, which is an imitation of Susan's. It is on Neenah solar white cs and the heart frame is some scrap red. The sentiment is SU's so sorry.  This comes close to being the most simple card I've ever made. Yeah! I'm getting better.

Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge no. 50...Give Thanks

You Betcha I'm giving thanks. Decided to start a 30 day gratitude journal on the 20th of this month.
right on my IPhone...so I have absolutely no excuse not to do it.

So, over at Simply Create Too we are doing a popular challenge at this time of the year.

I used the trendy adhesive tape technique...the one where you put your tape on an ink pad of your choice and then once it's got some dye ink on it yout lay it on a mat size piece of cs in whatever direction you want, give it a light press with your thumb and pull it up. Your left with a swatch of color. Repeat or not. Then proceed with the design of your card. Worked great with some fall colors and Spellbinders' fall foliage die cut leaves which I made using the same technique. The sentiment is from a line called My Sentiments I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I really like the two fonts. Stamped it in craft white onto SU chocolate chip cs, then SU avocado mat.

Join us it's mid-post time, so you still can.

Well, moving on with my day. We're having the most delightful weather here in AZ. I wish it were everywhere and I am sad for the areas of our country where they do not have the weather to be thankful for. I pray that they can find other things to be thankful for.

Blessings,
Erica

Nordic Christmas...Inspired Card

Hi everyone, how's your Thanksgiving lead-up day going? I was shopping yesterday, and was amazed at how crowded the grocery stores were. Looks like they're all prepped and ready to go for my fave holiday of the year.

I am doing quite well making cards for Christmas, and that's thanks to help from card-creators who believe in keeping it simply and do. One of my all-time faves is Susan Raihala who posts on her blog
Simplicity. You've no idea how many of her cards I've saved on my IPhoto app.

I knew I had a stamp that would work as a wreath...maybe that's what it actually is. It's round, but has this separate thank you sentiment in the middle. Anyway, it reminds me of Nordic stuff, so I used it.
It's a clear stamp from 2007 by Inkadinkado's Personal Impressions line.

I used green and red chalk inks by Colorbox and a red sparkly pen for the berries in the blossoms.
The sentiment is from Stampin' Up. I'm gonna finish out my Christmas cards with this card, as I now have 'cb', card boredom, from making 25 or so others. I'll begin posting those right after T-Day.

I do hope Susan will come by and leave me a comment. That will make my week.

Blessings,
Erica

Yep! A Halloween card for the Simply Create Too 48th Challenge

Well, I won't be sending this to anyone, as I don't do the Halloween thing, having decided to focus on Thanksgiving an gratefulness instead of frightfulness. Without really looking, I found this Stampendous stamp in the clearance bin at my local HL store. Since I kinda like spiders....really I do...most anyway, and I love candy corn, I decided I'd go ahead and make a card with it.

At Simply Create Too, we're having our 48th challenge and the theme is indeed Halloween, so I've linked it over there too. Go join the fun. It's the mid-post time and we have a new design team member you can congratulate and do a blog check-out.

Have a great weekend.
Erica

Fun Flip Flop Card

Hi Stamping friends,

The weather continues to cool down in my neck of the woods and I hope you're experiencing similar weather in your area.

Last week I made up my mind to get a flu shot. Since I'm over 60, I thought it was the right thing to do and last year I had actually contracted quite an awful case of the nasty bug. Nowhere on the hand-out did it say how sick the vaccine could make you and that there is no guarantee you won't get a flu of another kind that the vaccine is not engineered to prevent/lessen. RATS! I don't want to be sick this year. I don't have time! Nothing to do except frequent thorough hand-washing , and as little communication with the outer world as possible. Fat chance that.

Stampin' Up has been enjoying a love affair with dies. They call their line thin-lets. I have been accumulating quite a few and I find I'm enjoying them nearly as much as my Spellbinder Nestabilities.  They have made one that that is a card in itself. There are two styles. This is the round one. I think it's adorable when you get a bit bored with the reliable open/shut folded card. It is an A2 sized card so it will fit into the A2 envie. It's easy peasy to make with your die-cut machine, but there are lots of video tutes on ways to use them, so I won't bore you here. Just enjoy. And I hope I won't need to be sending out one of these anytime soon.

Blessings, Erica

Oil Pastels

So this morning...it seems everyone and I mean EVERYONE is beginning their sentences with this word, So, I'm betting English majors are going nuts. I don't quite get it myself.

I bought these oil pastels for $1.50 on a day when I had time to meander through my WAMA. We barely have any crafty items left these days in our local store. Nothing noticeable took over, craft items of note just slowly disappeared. Now and then you can find something in clearance.

There's a pic I took with Photo Booth of me holding said item. I need some serious training in this area. I'd rather be stamping...nuf said.

So what I did was to color in various colors across a watercolor paper on a diagonal. Then I spritzed with water and with a paintbrush, kinda' just painted. Next I put it in an Cuttlebug folder and let it dry. I mounted it on SU's baja breeze cs Next, I made a tiny tag from Nestabilities tags using Memento bahama blue ink and a Hero Arts sentiment stamp and added a bit of blue twine for some umph. Voila, you have a
uni-sex Birthday card.
Blessings,
Erica

I keep telling myself it's Autumn

Welcome to the weekend. It was a beautiful day here in Arizona. We enjoyed low 90s. This is the beginning of the gorgeous weather that we enjoy. It will last right through Christmas. Then, in my opinion, it gets a bit too chilly, but many people think the low 50s are great too.

So back East, my former neighbors are enjoying the falling leaves. I do miss that beautiful sight, but I could do without the raking. This digi stamp shows how much children enjoy this time of year.

Unfortunately, though I know it was a freebie, she is no where to be found. I printed four to a page and used them all. If you use digi stamps, you do need to keep records for blogging purposes.

Nestabilities Fall Foliage and banners, a little washi tape, some fussy cutting and lots of coloring round out my card.  I'm entering my card in the Simply Create Too  Fall/Autumn, no. 47. Why not join us?

Have a fun-filled weekend. 

Blessings,

Erica

Bugs, But No Butterflies

Well, I was feeling badly about posting a card with a snail and making poor excuses for not using a but, so, here is a C&S bug card. That little ladybug is from set as the snail posted last week...CTMH.

Ladybugs are my third favorite bug, after bees and ants. Yes, I love bugs, I do not wave bees away and I do my best not to step on ants. They're right up there with my love for frogs. So here's a ladybug BD card which I'll have to give to someone who likes bugs almost as much as me.

Blessings.
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge no. 46

Hi Stampers,
The weekend has begun. I have a brunch tomorrow which I'm supposed to be making a light dessert for and I just don't feel like doing it. Unfortunately, it's gotta get done, since it's a specific request and I got a text reminding me to do it by the hostess today. I need to go to the store and I'm bummed about it as I put it off and now it's evening...I no longer drive after sundown....ahhh aging. The eye doctor is watching the cataracts, but my health insurance won't cover surgery until they get to a certain point of awful. In the meantime, my 15 yr. old grandson is hoping it won't be until well after he's earned his driver's license..ha ha.

So, at Simply Create Too, I will have a card up for the mid-week post that has a snail image and then I had the nerve to use a sentiment that says, "Love Bug".  Our awesome team leader, Diane, chose my challenge theme for this challenge. But I didn't stick with the program. A snail is not a bug, but I've waited about 4 years to use the set from my Close To My Heart demo days and I was bound and determined to do so with a little word license I'm afraid. I also wanted to use my cloud die that's been around for a while The only new toys are the hexagon shapes and the dsp.

Here's my card.

Simply Create Too challenge blog. You have two weeks. I'll bet you have several bugs in your stamp collection. Don't be like me...follow instructions and avoid having rotten tomatoes being thrown and have a great weekend.

Blessings,

Erica

"New To Me" challenge

Hi Stamping Community....I've been making cards like crazy and I've been in need of some fresh sketches. By blogging hopping and searching, which seems to take over much of my free time, I found
this one here STAMPlorations Holiday Papercrafting ChallengeThe sketch was fresh and new so I went with it.

Here's the sketch I followed.

I just received a bunch of dies from Overstock and the Spellbinders Fall Foliage was one set. Then I used an embossing folder from Darice and a Cherry Lynn die on the top. The banner is from a hostess rewards stamp set in the new catty. The ink is from Memento and the paper is SU and/or Geo. Pac. I used SU's new Candy Dots for the embellies to the  banner. 

This sketch will work with flowers and those hexies that are the rage....gotta use this one again.

Blessings,

Erica

Before I Go Check Out the LIM challenge for the week....

Yup, I've gone and done it again....made a card within 24 hours or so of checking on a challenge and then not posting it forthwith. Has that ever happened to you? Life got busy what with my SIL graduating with a well-earned Masters Degree and his parents coming from NC to share his joy. Having never met them in the 10 yrs., my daughter has been married to their son, this was just too busy and happy a time for me to retreat to my craft room. So, with the new challenge probably hovering in my sidebar this minute, I give you a looksie at the one I made for last weeks.

We were to use watercolors. And so I colored this lone tulip with my water colors and used an embossing folder. Then it's matted on the same cs.

Now for a peek at THIS week's challenge. I hope you can join the Limettes too.
Have a happy and blessed weekend.

Erica

A new embossing folder

The card is sitting atop my laptop. How's that for rushing. And it's night and it's from my IPhone.

I finished this card days ago and sadly I have to use it already. A cousin of my childrens' passed away last week. I was trying to get a sympathy card stash together. We all know how difficult they are to make if you need one right away.  I picked up a new Darice folder earlier this week, thinking it would be very useful for masculine cards. I used my Cheery Lynn die for the leafy vine. I ink-embossed the folder with Tim Holtz brick red distress ink. The sentiment is from SU die cut with a Nestabilitie, as well as the cs.

I will be putting this in the mail first thing Monday.

Count your blessings
Erica

Where have I been?

Hi Stampers,

I have been cruising and visiting relatives. I sailed on the 2nd largest cruise ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Oasis of the Seas. When we docked in Florida, I headed straight to Atlanta where I visit relatives whom I hadn't seen for eons and got to meet some new little ones too. We ate, did some sight-seeing, hit the pool, and overall had a great time.

Here's a card I finally managed to rustle up once my mojo got working. I used the sketch challenge over at Fetch A Sketch.

I don't plan on going anywhere for a while, so I'll be blogging often.

Have a great weekend.

Blessings, Erica

Saturdays just get away from me

Even though I'm retired, I still look forward to the weekends and they move faster and faster the older I get. This last Saturday of the month is no exception.

My card for the Simply Create Too challenge no. 42, Anything But a Card, has been up for 48 hours without a post. So, at this late time, it needs to be short and sweet.

Last year when our home had a small electrical fire, I took up making stickpins while staying in a local hotel awaiting repairs. It is lots of fun. I just wish I used more of them on my cards. But stickpins lend themselves to vintage and shabby chic styles IMO, so I am left with quite a few to stash away. Here is a card I made with a little storage shelf to hold five of them inside. I did not create the storage idea. After lots of tute searching, I pretty much copied Tmika at Scrapdaworld. She makes wonderful projects of all types. Check her channel out.

Lots of pretty papers, border punches
ribbon, brad embellies, a handmade
flower from crepe paper, and several die cuts, a small CB embossed mat in white and one in pink and finally, another stickpin.

Though we're in the second week of our challenge, come join us. It's easy peasy with "anything but a card."

Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More Challenge

Gosh I just get so annoyed whenever the Internet is down. It turned out be our modem, broken after only five months usage. I did find several other things to keep me busy, like mounting 23 boxes of SU stamps and a bit of organizing when I couldn't find my box of loose silk ribbons. So now for my very late posting.

I created this card...which i think qualifies as one since it opens and closed and has both an image and a sentiment. It came in at 3 1/2 x 2 1/2. I stamped a BG woodgrain stamp in Memento rich cocoa onto the "base," which is a Quik-Kutz easel die. Then I added the tiny sunflower image, purchased many years ago, and one I couldn't part with, though I know big flowers are all the rage. Maybe its the tiny ladybug that makes me like it so much. I colored with Copics and and stamped a tiny sentiment from an ancient set....once again though I know big sentiments are in.

There isn't much time left before the new challenge, so hurry on over to Less Is More and be challenged.

Blessings,
Erica

Heather's Card

I posted this image large, so you can see all the details. I only make these gushy fancy cards  for very special people.  It's not a go-to design for me. After it was completed, I sat back and saw that I needed more contrasting papers. I was concentrating so hard on matching the dp, so it all came from one dp package. But I should have included other papers I now see. Ah well, I'm no Becca Feeken. I'm told by the recipient that a friend of hers who also makes card did admire it, so that's good enough for me.

So almost except the base and first mat layer are diecuts from Spellbinders. Flowers and leaves and pearls I picked up from the LA California garment district. Fun place, but quite crowded, to visit.
Lots of distressing and a little dry embossing. The sentiment is from a long ago retired SU set. The little butterfly is a Cherry Lyn die cut.

Will be uploading my mid-post DT submission for the Challenge at Simply Create Too
Hope you're getting ready to have a fun weekend. It's getting mighty warm in my neck of the woods.

Blessings,
Erica

P.S.
I just discovered a most fab blog thing. I found out how to put links into my posts much faster if they're in the sidebars of my blog. Hmmm, what else might I discover if I would only just stop oogling other blogs and concentrate upon my own?

Cheap DSP and the Mojo Monday Challenge

A few weeks ago, when I knew I had less than $5.00 left in my monthly craft budget, I dared to stop by Jo-Ann's. I was determined to get something for less than $6.00 to 7.00 and then subtract my 40% coupon which would result in my staying well within my budget.

What a find. Studio"G" Paper Packs by Hampton Arts. They are rather odd in their weight...sorta between cardstock and heavy-weight paper. The packets contain 15 sheets single sided 6" x 6" pieces.
Each pack is all of one hue. Here I used the green one. I loved the patterns (15). And I bought them in pink, blue, purple and the green. They were $1.50 each. Well, what fun, right, except, I could only use the coupon on one package. Not much of a savings, but I walked out of Michael's spending what I planned to and I like what I got...mission accomplished....this time.

So following the MoJo sketch challenge, here's my card.

Lots of die cuts used, an SU die cut too from a new set called Secret Garden Framelits. Some Studio G stamps, and a bit of bling (used to cover a tiny mistake I made). The card is a 5 x 5, since the challenge says square or round.

Hope you're having a Blessed week.
Stay tuned, I have a tiny haul from Walmart I picked up today. It was just over $15.

Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge...Use your country's flag colors

Happy Friday stamping community. Well, a traditionally fun month for the USA is coming up. It's usually warm throughout the continental states now, so we can break out the grills if we haven't already done so. Here, it is likely to be 110 or so. We've begun our monsoon season as well, so it could end up being dusty and raining.
Wherever you live, I hope you have the best of holidays. And if you hail from another country, please play along with our challenge so we here at Simply Create Too can broaden our horizons.

Red, white and blue are my colors. Easy peasy to combine. I used SU's real red for my base, SU's night of navy and a scrap of white.
I embossed the white banner made with a banner die from DieNamics using a Cuttlebug folder. Then I die cut the blue mat with a Spellbinders die. My musical sheet image from Stampendous is stamped using Memento Paris dusk. This image doesn't have words so it's quite useful.  The Sentiment was in a grab bag from Hampton Arts purchased long ago. I stamped in SU's pigment whisper white and embossed with detail embossing powder in whit. My embellies are glittering stars from my stash and SU night of navy ribbon.

I hope you can find some time to play in our challenge no. 40, and show your patriotism if you'd like.

Blessings,
Erica

It's a Different Kind of BINGO

It's a different kind of BINGO over at Simply Create Too, challenge no. 38.

I had purchased a big background stamp image from SU and knew I could incorporate it into my card.

I went for the letter "N", but put my winning chips are under the letter "I". The challenge for the letter "N" used red, a bow, 3 layers, flowers and a punch or die. In that order, my red is in my dap from SU, my bow is a green ribbon from SU, the dsp is in 3 layers and I used red resin flowers from SU. These flowers are placed on little squares of SU so saffron cs diecut with an SU punch. I got it all.

If you look to the left, you'll see the Simply Create Too team has many new members. During my blog absence, we grew by leaps and bounds. Our fearless leader Diane, saw a need and filled it by giving us all some breathing room with the expansion of the team. Please go check-out the links. We're a talented bunch. and then go play in the BINGO challenge.

Blessings,

Erica

It's Time to Get Gone

Get Gone as in RETIRE. Unfortunately, the gentleman who this card is going to is kinda' being forced out. As with many of the small cities and towns in Arizona, the economy and job security were severely hit. My dd needed something to remind her co-worker that there is life after working hard for many years. I hope he will be able to put it all behind him in a good way and move on toward the rest of his years.

Dark Green card base, off-white mats and various stamps from all over the place, an EK Success border punch and arrow punch and several inks...and I finally got it together.

Blessings,
Erica

Some White Pigment Ink Craftiness

Sometimes, I  look at the 20 or so containers of dry embossing powder, and wonder, did I really need all the colors? In my on-going, yet almost done, craft purge, I just haven't been able to toss even one of them. But when I do, I am going to keep white for sure, followed by black, of course, a little red & green for Christmas, and then silver & gold for so many things, and copper...it's so elegant, then I must keep pink & blue for babies, and that brown...after all it was tough to find. Ah well, you get the idea.

So here, I did indeed use white. Now that color is a story in itself. One must have the right powder. Don't confuse it with transparent, which shows up white in the jar. Then there is the hunt just the right white pigment ink. My search ended with SU's craft white. The secret to using it is to re-ink the pad often, as in every 3rd use or so (if it has been stored for a while).

I wanted a simply masculine-style birthday card, so I used SU's night of navy as a base and stamped and embossed. My mojo is up & running, and when that happens, I don't make note of what stamps I'm using. I'm also making a supreme effort to keep a tidy new craft room, as it is the first one seen upon entering the house from the garage. One does that often in Arizona. I will answer any requests though.

Blessings,
Erica

StarKitty...just doin' her J.O.B

Well some of us have very important things to do it would seem. My 5 yr. old black cat whom the family adores, (some after professing they were not cat-people), was in our backyard with me a few days ago. While I tended to some potted plants, she was quite busy. Needless to say, I screamed and ran inside. After stalking around in front of the door begging to be let in so she could play with her new "toy," I ran quick to get my cell and took this interesting photo. StarKitty didn't know which end to play with first. Of course, once dispensed to lizard heaven, she was whisked inside and her mouth got washed thoroughly...no she didn't mind.

A more post-worthy card to come tomorrow.

Snack-Time

And Finally...a card

It seemed like a good idea to get my mojo working by starting with a challenge and what better one than Less Is More. Challenge no. 119 has us using card stock colors...not the usual white, kraft or black. It's one layer week too. So, I pulled out SU's certainly celery for the card. I used an old shadow square image I just couldn't throw away, and a stamp set from Inkadinkadoo called Meadow. For the sentiment, I chose one from TPC Studio, called Faith Greetings. I stamped the shadow in Memento desert sand, For the wheat (I think), I used my Memento Bamboo pen on the stems, then carefully inked the shock (I think), with Memento Rich Cocoa. The ink for the sentiment  is the same.

So, I'm back in the saddle again and it sure feels good.

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful beautiful blog moms and you are legion.

Blessings,
Erica

Real Quick...No Comment Necessary

Just want to let you all know that I'm back in the saddle...just a few things to re-arrange here and there and a a couple of those, "Do I really need that anymore?" moments. I'm planning on getting a card made for  challenge #119 at Less Is More by the end of the weekend.

Happy Mother's Day Beautiful American Ladies.

My Patience is Just About Done

So Help Me Lord...give me grace. Quite frankly, I think I'd have been much better off just using Ikea cabinetry...cheapo stuff that it is. But no, big shot Erica just had to have the  real wood, dovetailed draws, shaker style which in the end...and I'm not there yet ended up ridiculously expensive and not without issues. I've done no stamping in three months. It was supposed to be near completion today, but when I went to sit at my countertop, I found it entirely too high. Short person that I am, I adjusted my chair which didn't help one bit. Of course, the installer had left already. So now I have to put forth my case that the standard cabinets thoroughly screwed into my newly painted walls are not going to work for me. I am praying he will understand...when he sees the awkward fit, and will un-install the two offending pieces and cut off at least 2 inches from the bottoms. I am certain it can be done, but he won't be happy about it. I have to point out to him that though he may labor for two to three hours it will then be done. I, on the other hand, plan on laboring at what I love to do best most days for the rest of my life. God grant me grace and mercy to do this for some years to come.

It's been so long since I've blogged and Blogger has changed so much, it seems I have to re-educate myself and that's sad since I am not a fast blog learner.

OK, I feel somewhat better now...but not much.

And I Sold It!

Over at Simply Create Too, it was all about Valentine's Day...I missed out on getting up my post as I was in the agony and ecstacy of moving. Yes, we are moved. We're-located only two miles away, but it still involved packing, hauling, and un-packing. Our new home has a very different layout from our former one and my entire family is pleased with it. We are in a totallly different neighborhood and the grands didn't have to change schools. I think even my little dog likes it better.

My rooms are a bit smaller, but both the future craftroom and my bedroom lend themselves to decorating rather nicely. I am skimping on my bedroom, so I can comfortably afford my craftroom and for the first time in many years will not have a TV in it. It was my dh who wanted it and I confess, I did enjoy it too, but I want the room to be used differently. As for my craftroom, I have both a downside and upside. It will have several custom pieces and so will take up to two months to complete. The upside is it's going to be gorgeous. I just hope I don't have withdrawal symptoms towards the last month. I hope to stave them off by reading, enjoying cooking in my gourmet kitchen (gas at last vs. electric), and washing clothes...yes, you read it right. I have my own washer & dryer in my bedroom suite, while my kids and grands have theirs upstairs. No more waiting my turn on weekends.

I have a fun thing to tell you about this card. The cabinet-maker Bob,  had asked me if he could see some samples of what my craft was prior to us talking about my dream craftroom. This was one of several cards I brought to his shop. When he saw this one, he pounced on it asking if I would sell it. Of course I did and he gave me twice my asking price ($1.00, more on that in another post) telling me that no one understands the care that goes into making things yourself....is he ever telling the truth. In addition to being a cabinet-maker, he was a clock-maker in his "hippie" days. Then his boss came in and he also bought a Valentine's Day card. What fun that was. His boss also asked me to make him 20 all occasion cards, which I of course quickly agreed to reminding him that he could count on my best work once my room was completed. He said it would be his incentive.

So, now you'd probably rather not read about my card, so I'll spare you the deets. Though I won't have any cards to show for awhile, I will be posting some thoughts I have concerning all manner of things. I can't promise the eloquence that I have the pleasure of enjoying on the many blogs I read, but you will get honesty and a laugh now and then.

Thanks for sticking around.
Blessings,
Erica

Who doesn't love Anything Goes challenges?

 

Hi Stampers,

I'm in the throes of  packing. It is anything but fun packing a craft room. I've been purging and giving away many un-used items to my grand-daughter's elementary school. They're very happy to get them. Among the many things I had were several dried out ink pads. I'm relieved that I have settled on only two brands of dye stamp pads with only the basic colors. (Stampin' Up and Memento).  I will keep only three craft pads...black, gold and silver. I had sooo much ribbon, but in the last two years, I've made few cards using ribbon. I do have to keep some, since I use them on 3D projects frequently.

And that brings me to the Simply Create Too second week of the Anything Goes challenge. My Oh my, are we getting some great submissions. Everyone loves these challenges as do I.

So, I submitted two projects...using ribbon. The first is an image by Sparkle Creations called Cupcake Ruby. Isn't she adorable. The sentiment is a Studio G dollar stamp. I think they are $1.50 now...still a bargain. Pretty dsp, Nestabilities mats and a Cuttlebug corner, Wild Orchid flowers that I colored up a bit, punched leaves (Marvy?),  some ribbon, bling and copic coloring finished it. I sent this off to one of my BFFs, El. She thought it was one of my best. SMILE!!

The second submission was a little ensemble I made for a young lady who with her Marine hubby had their first baby girl. It was touch and go for a while and the little one came early, so we showered mom with gifts after the fact. I slipped a few pairs of cute socks into the box. I stamped the image and sentiment in Memento rose bud. Cherry Lynn, Nestibilities, Cuttlebug and Lifestyle Crafts dies were all used, some SU pink ribbon, bling and very old dsp were used too. The new mom is a budding scrapbooker so she totally appreciated it. I love when that happens.

I have many cards to show you this week...but time may get in the way.

Blessings,
Erica

I can never have enough

Embossing folders, that is. I started buying them as soon as they hit the stores years ago, and I have several binders full... nearly 75. I'd say I luv 'em, wouldn't you?

So this is a Cuttlebug folder that is one of the early ones. It lends itself beautifully to prayer and sympathy cards. I embossed directly onto the card covering the missed part on the side with a length of SU ribbon. The gorgeous butterfly is made with a Cheery Lynn die. They make the best butterflies, though a bit fussy when running them through my Cuttlebug machine.
The sentiment is from Gina K and the ovals are punched with SU punches.... A few tiny pearls enhance the butterfly and this card went into one of the Christmas packages of all occasion cards I made as presents for Christmas.

Blessings,
Erica

Took This with my IPad

So I took this photo with my IPad and emailed it to myself, then edited in my usual photo editing program, Picassa...yes, I know I ought to be using something better, but it's easy peasy, so it's good for me. It's so dang tough to photograph black and white.

We have the first of the year's Less Is More Less Is More challenges and the divas said B&W, I have this new Quickutz die, feathers. Luv it. So many ideas going around in my head.

It's rare that I can submit one card for two challenges, but I'm doing this time...YIPPIE! I'm also entering it in Monday's challenge at 365 Cards, where we are to round the corners. I think the way I did it really adds panache...(luv that word).

Blessings,
Erica

Keeping it C&S, but Not Always

Hi Stampers,
Part of my problem is that I can't decide on my style. Am I clean and simple, whimsical, romantic/vintage, shabby chic, (I'm not sure what shabby chic really is). I think for 2103, I'm gonna be eclectic, since the dictionary defines it as, "selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems or styles." My approach to card-making is indeed eclectic. I think I just needed to write this, because, I've been switching back and forth, and to and fro like crazy.

No doubt, this card is clean and simple. I am overwhelmed by 12x12 paper and hate the idea of moving it all. I've decided to keep about 1/3 and from now on purchase only 6x6 or 8x8 paper pad collections. As a hobby demo for Stampin' Up, this will curtail hoarding their dsp, as they don't make pads. I have a feeling they will be soon.

I added this card to a package for a businesswoman who often is required to send out to businessmen. I think I ought to try it in brighter colors too.

Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge #28

Drop


Well hello at last my stamping friends. Long time no blog. Actually, I do make many cards, but taking photos is such a bore fore me. I don't have the right set-up either indoors or out and frankly, I'd just rather use every minute of my time to just create. I have easily made 40 cards since my last post.

So since I'm on a design team of Simply Create Too, I had to take one picture....as usual the photo doesn't do justice to the creation. I made this at a friend's house and it was her idea. We decorated round tins in wintery papers, using whatever she had on hand for embellies, including a pretty lace. Then we made 4 round cards in the perfect size to fit into them. The cards are shaped like Christmas balls but actually open up like a card. They fit into an A2 size envie. It was a fun project.

Let's close out the Christmas cards and all things winter with the Simply Create Too challenge no. 28, Let It Snow, so we can get ready for the fun challenges the team has in store for you in 2013.

Blessings,
Erica