FSS - Hearts & Roses

My card today is made with a FANTASTIC newly released set of Digi's and colored images from Fred She Said called Hearts and Roses.  The Roses actually come in 7 different colors in the same set. My card was made with the Pink Roses.

The inspiration for this card came from This weeks Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge.

The papers are from the New paper pack from Close to my Heart Called Sweetheart. This paper will be available on February 1st.  The half pearls, from CTMH, were white, but I colored them pink with a Copic Marker.

The Ribbon is from Flourishes and the Dots around the "forever" is a stamp from Waltzing Mouse.

The Hand Stitching was done with Embroidery Floss in Tulip and White

Other Challenge Blogs this card was made for:
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - 5X7 or Big Card
Sparkle Creations - Pink, Brown & White
Tuesday Throwdown - Valentine
My Time To Craft - Spots and Dots
Bunny Zoe's - Love is in the Air
Paper Playtime - Use the word LOVE
Paper, Scissors & Rocks - Use Red
Simon Says - DOTS
Woodward USA - Pink, Red & White
The Corrosive Challenge - Lace & Pearls
One Stitch at a Time - New
Stampin Sisters in Christ - New
Pile  It On - Anything Goes
Creative Belli Blog - Lettter "P"
Cupcake Inspirations - Pink, White & Black
Papertake weekly - Ribbon and Pearls

Waltzing Mouse Blog Waltz & Sketch Challenge

The 17th of every month, Waltzing Mouse Stamps has a Blog Waltz for customers to participate in. So I thought I'd play along this month. The theme is Valentine/Love.

The inspiration for this card came from the weekly Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge. I thought I may as well combine both in this one card.

The papers are from a new paper pack from Close to my Heart called Sweetheart. The flower was made with the same paper.

I used two Waltzing Mousr Stamp Sets fro my card. Holiday Labels #14 and Fancy Phrases.

I did some paper piercing in the corners and sdded some flat pearls.

The Hand Stitching around the card was done with matching Embroidery Floss.

Other Challenge Blogs this card was made for:
2 Sisters - Flowers
Elephantastic - New Beginnings
Kraftin Kimmie - Fancy Florals
Secret Crafter - With Love
Aud Sentiments - Only Two words in sentiment
Glitterbabe's - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - New Beginnings
The Creative Cottage - Something New (Papers and two stamp sets are new)
Stampin' B's - Use a Die Cut
If the Shoe Fits - Inspiration Picture
Just Add Ink - Monochromatic
Phindy's Place - Valentine/For a Loved One
Stamp Something - Anything Goes
Wags 'n Whiskers - With Love
The Crafty Pad - Something New
Let's Ink It Up - Anything Goes
Pile it on - Anything Goes
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Something New (Papers, stamps, techinque)
Lexi's Creations - Say it with Love

FSS - English Robins

Good Morning to you all on this beautiful, sunshiny, Bitter Cold, Sunday Morning. We've been fortunate not to have much snow yet this winter BUT, the past two months have been bitterly cold.

I want to start thinking Spring with my card making, but I can’t seem to draw myself away from these Gorgeous Winter Bird Series from Fred She Said. The birds come as Digi’s and Pre-colored images, which is what I chose to use today. My feelings on the pre-colored images is, why re-do something that’s already perfect. The other day I used the Chickadee and today I’m using the English Robins. The only one left is the Cardinal. I may have to do that one tomorrow. If you haven’t picked up on these images yet, you don’t know what you’re missing!

I got the inspiration for this card from the Critter Sketch Challenge. I love to start my creations with a sketch challenge.

I used the Olivia Paper Pack from Close to my Heart and matching Embroidery Floss for the Hand Stitching.

Other Challenge Blogs this card was made for:
Incy Wincy Designs - Go Dotty
Kaboodle Doodles - Do it with Digi's
Paperworks - Recipe_3papers, 3 embellies, an animal
AiFactory - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare - All Stitched Up
Meljen's Designs - Rouind or Square card
Glitterbabe - Anything Goews
Paper Crafting Journey - Digital
Stampin' B's - Use a ie Cut
Stamp n' Doodle - Winter in the Woodsa.

FSS - Better Than Chocolate

I was determined to play along with the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge this week and also to get a head start on making Valentines. So, I chose this fabulous precolored image from Fred She Said called Better than Chocolate.  I Love coloring with Copic Mrkers, but I have to tell you that I have fallen in love with all of Fred's precolored images too.

My image was printed four times. The heart lid was cut out and layered with foam tape. The rose was cut out twice and layered. The rose in the upper left corner was printed twice and cut out and layered.

For my card I used some new papers called Sweetheart from Close to my Heart. I also used ribbon, red assortment buttons and red bling from CTMH.
The foourished stamped on the background is from a new CTMH stamp set called Dreams Comr True. All of these NEW CTMH products will be available February 1st.

The hand stitching was done with matching Embroidery Floss.

Other Challenge Blogs This Card Was Made For:
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Red, Pink & White
My Time to Craft - CHOCOLATE!
Crazy for Challenges - Pink & Brown
Secret Crafter - Tons of Texture
Kenny K's - Love You
One Stitch at a Time - Love and Valentine
Crafty Cardmakers - Red and a Die Cut
Craft Your Passion - Tie One On
Cupcake Craft Challenge - Something New
Kaboodle Doodles - Do it with Digis
Lexi's Creations - Say it with Love
Woodware USA - Hearts
Victorine Originals - Tag It
Bunny Zoe's - Love is in the Air
Paper Crafting Journey - Let's Get Digital
Pixie Dust Studio - Let's Play Tag
Stampin B's - Use a Die Cut

FSS Chickadee

Oh My, It's almost the middle of January already and I'm only now starting to get my Mojo Back after the Holiday break. Better late then never.

My card today was inspired by a sketch from Inspirational Card (IC) Sketches. And of course with the fabulous Chickadee from the Fred She Said Winter Bird Series. This happens to be one of the pre-colored images. 

The other inspiration for this card was from Our Creative Corner who had an inspirational picture of a Chickadee.

The papers are from the Magnifique Paper pack from Close to my Heart. The blue sparkles are from the Blue & Green assortment from Close to my Heart.

The Hand Stitching was done with matching Embroidery Floss.

Other Challenge Blogs this card was made for:
Aly's Sunday Challenge - Wings
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Wings
The Crazy Challenge - An Animal.  Is a bird an animal??? They have a duck as a DT card so I guess my bird qualifies.

FSS Bird Series Ornament / Gift Tags

Happy New Year to you all!!!

I hope you all have a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2011!

Here is a picture of two of my precious grandchildren that I care for during the week. I am so blessed to be able to do this. I don't get much done during the day, but they grow up so fast and I wouldn't trade these days for anything.

Jeffrey is almost 18 months and Mya will be 4 on February 22nd. This is the same little guy who was screaming on Santa's lap in a picture a few posts back. It's hard to believe that little mouth could open that wide! If you want a good laugh, check it out!

I think this Christmas Holiday season was the busiest I've had. It all starts the day after Thanksgiving when we go and pick out our tree. Between the decorating, cleaning, baking, cooking shopping un-decorating, cleaning, and putting things away again, I've been so out of touch with my card making. I still haven't gotten my mojo back but I have these three ornament/gift tags I made and forgot to post last month.

It's hard to see, but the top left one is copper metallic paper and the top right is silver metallic.

I used the Fred She Said GORGEOUS Christmas Bird Series.

I had such high hopes of making tons of ornament/gift tags with all of the fantastic Christmas images from Fred She Said for gifts and this is the only set I got done. I actually may make some now for next year.

Melonie Mouse

Good Morning and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!!!

I can't tell you how strange it is to be making Christmas Cards last week and a Valentine today.

My term with the Sweet 'n Sassy DT is coming to an end today after 21 months. I find it hard to believe that it's been that long. As my final DT card, I used a soon-to-be released Pre-colored Digi called Melanie Mouse. 
The papers are all from a Close to my Heart paper pack called That's Amore.

The hand stitching was done with Ecru Embroidery Floss.

Snow Friends - SSS87

Well, here we are just one week until Christmas! 
I'm not wishing my life away, BUT, I hop the winter goes as fast as the rest of this year went. I hate this cold weather.I guess if I never had to leave the house until Spring, I'd be fine.

My card today is a combination of a special swap card I had to make and the Sketch challenge over at The Sweet Stop Sketch Blog. I LOVE the sketches that Korin has each week. So, if you've never played along and you need some inspiration to get your mojo going, I suggest you play along sometime.

This time of year, I really need to kill two birds with one stone and this worked out perfectly. It should have been finished last night, but I did a really stupid thing. I tried to scan the card when I thought all of the liquid applique, that I used for the snow, was dry. Well, it wasn't completely dry and when I took it from the scanner, I had quite a mess on the card and the scanner. So, I had to make another image and try again. This time I left the LA dry before heating. I like this appearance much better. It doesn't get as bumpy and has a smoother appearance. However, I didn't make it in time to post on the challenge blog along with the other DT cards.

The papers I used are from the Magnifique Paper Collection from Close to my Heart. The image is called Snow Friends, also from CTMH. 

One of the requirements of the swap is to use two embellishments togeher. So, I took a clear button, punched a small circle in white and a snowflake in blue and glued them to the back of the clear button (also from CTMH), then I added a blue sparkle to the center.  Lots of sparkle on this card.

The Hand Stitching around the card was done with matching Embroidery Floss.

FSS - Winter Chickadee - SSS86

Well, here it is Saturday already and only two more weeks until Christmas. I've been having an issue with tendonitis in my thumb for the past week so I don't even have my Christmas cards made yet.  I'm hoping it feels better by Monday and then I'm spending the whole week making them. But I guarantee you one thing, they won't have hand stitching on them! *Ü*

My card today was inspired by a sketch at The Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge. Korin always has the greatest sketches so if you need some inspiration too, hope on over and play along with us this week.

The papers and Ribbon are all from the Mistletoe collection from Close to my Heart.

The Chickadee is from the Christmas Birds Series from Fred She Said. This image is one of three birds that comes in digi or pre-colored format.
The Hand Stitching was done with matching Embroidery Floss.

Other Challenge Blogs this card was made for:
Digi's With Attitude - Anything Goes

FSS - Wreath &Christmas Rose

I love playing along with the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. For this card, I used the Fred She Said Christmas Wreath and the Christmas Rose. Both come in Digi or pre-colored. As much as I love coloring with Copic Markers, I chose the pre-colored images for my card just to get it done faster.

I love this wreath and I love the candles and roses so I decided to combine the two. This is the beauty of Digi's. You can make them what ever size you need. I think I may have to make a similar card in a 5.5 x 5.5 card so I can make the wreath bigger. Christmas card making may be coming to an end, but I think these images would make beautiful Winter Birthday Cards too.

I used Red Embroidery Floss for the Hand Stitching.

Other Challenge Blogs this card was mae for:
A Spoonful of Sugar - A Christmas Card
Tuesday Taggers - Deck the Halls
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes

Jeffrey with Santa

I don't have a card to share today so I thought I would post a picture of my Grandson on his first visit with Santa. He's almost 17 months old and didn't like sitting on a strangers lap. This picture makes me smile!!!
His sister wasn't along that day so I hope we can get a picture of her with Santa too. 

Paperwhites - MMSC82

I thought I'd never get this card finished. I kept changing it because there was always something I didn't like about it. I have to tell you though that it looks so much better in person. It's night time and I had to scan it rather then take a picture of it.

I made this card for Two of the Flourishes Challenges. The first is the Timeless Tuesday Challenge to make a Christmas card with a flower other than a Poinsettia.  However, I must have missed the deadline for my submission to this one. But, I used the Flourishes Paperwhites Stamp set.  Their second challenge was The Winter White Challenge.
It's hard to tell from the photo but the image was stamped with Detail Gold Embossing Powder as was  some of the paper panel edges. The Ribbon is gold and the matting behind the image is gold.

The card was inspired also by a Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #82 I usually go with the fancy sketch but this time it just didn't work with my stamped image.

The Hand Stitching around the card was done with Gold Metalic Embroidery Floss. This was one of the thing that was giving me a problem. It is very hard to work with. 

Winter Basket - SSS85

Here is one of my favorite Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Images. It's called Winter Basket.  I printed it the size I needed and colored it with Copic Markers.

The inspiration for this card came from this weeks sketch over at The Sweet Stop. If you need some weekly inspiration, try the sketches there. They are some of the best.

The papers I used are some retired Christmas papers from Close to my Heart.
I also used one of my new Nesties called Beaded Ovals.
The Hand Stitching was done with Red Embroidery Floss.

Other Challenge Blogs this card was made for:
ABC Christmas Challenge - "Y" is for Yuletide
AI FActory - Winter
Glitterbabes - Buttons
Twisted Thursday - Holidays with Buttons and Bow

FSS Ornament #2

This week Fred She Said Store if sponsoring the Betty Bee’s Buzz Challenge Blog. You can pick up a freebie from Fred, so, why not play along and get a chance at winning a $20 gift certificate for the Fred She Said Store. You will be amazed at how much you can get for so little money.

My card today was inspired by this weeks sketch over at The Critter Sketch Challenge Blog. But the main inspiration came from this gorgeous Christmas Ornament #2. The image comes with or without the Holly.

I printed the ornament twice, colored them with Copic Markers then cut the ornament out of the one, used foam tape and layered it for more dimension. I added some red stickles to the red part of the ornament so it looks like little red beads.

Cocoa's Stocking - SC309

I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving. I actually can't believe that it's December 1st already. The time is just flying by and I hardly have any Christmas cards made. I think I'm going to have to concentrate on them for the next two weeks.

I was so excited to get this card made today to try out my new camera that Santa brought me early. Don't you just love Black Friday specials!!! I've been wanting a Digital SLR camera for years now. And of course I have to learn how to use all the bells and whistles before Christmas, right!!! My old camera was only 6 years old but very obsolete. It only had 3.1 MP and hasn’t been taking very good pictures of my cards lately. My new baby has 18 MP. Woo Hoo!!! Anyway, enough about my camera. Onto my card.

I played along with the Splitcoast Stampers Wednesday Sketch Challenge.

The Digi Image I used is called Cocoa’s Stocking. This is a new release today from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps. You may want to head on over and check out all the new digi releases for this month. I printed him out and colored him with Copic Markers.

I punched out several pine sprigs in white, glittered them, and used them as embellishments to finish off the focal point.

I used some Basic Grey paper for the base and then used my cuttlebug embossing folders for the next two layers. I thought the brick wall looked cute behind Cocoa.
I also used my new Labels 15 Nesties

I added liquid appliqué and glitter to the top of the stocking and yellow glitter to the star.

The hand stitching was done with red Embroidery Floss.

Other Challenge Blogs this card was made for:
Digital Tuesday - Animals at Christmas
A Crafty Little Place - Anything Goes
Cards For Men - Christmas