Best Friend

My fifteen year old nephew had a birthday earlier this month & this is the card I made for him. The breed of dog on the card is a Cairn Terrier & this is same breed as his dog. This is also the same kind of dog that I have. Both our dogs are a light tan color, thus the choice of ink color- creamy caramel.

I stamped the background with the 'ruff', the 'bark', and the paw & bone acrylic stamps from Inkadinkado's dog set using creamy caramel. Then using the color spritzer tool and my chocolate chip marker, I misted ink over the craft card stock. That look is especially great for guy cards as it adds color and dimension without adding 'girly' embellishments.

Below is a picture of my little dog, Karlee.
Have a great day!

Marilyn

Card Recipe:
Image: Terrier (Stamp Gallery), Dogs (Inkadinkado), Happy Birthday (Teeny Tiny Wishes)
Paper: Craft, Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, Chocolate chip, Vanilla
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Twine, Spritzer tool.

Poppy Hearts

Here's the card I made for the Featured Stamper challenge. Anne, aka jdmommy, is a wonderful artist. I chose this card to case. Several new products were used- Sugar Rush paper from Basic Grey; the pearl pin and pearls aren't exactly new but this is the first time I used them; the embossing powder called Zing from American Crafts. I got the Zing powder from this cool webstore that offers daily specials. One special per day & when it's sold out there is nothing else for that day. CHeck it out if you like good deals; Peachy Cheap.

Have a great week!

Marilyn

Recipe:
Image: Weather of Not (retired SU!)
Paper: Crushed Curry, Tangerine Tango, Real Red, WW (SU!), DP- Sugar Rush (Basic Grey)
Ink: Real Red - craft
Accessories: Zing embossing powder-Poppy (American Crafts), mini dot ribbon (offray), pearl pin and pearls (unknown), real red brads (SU), paper piercer (THoltz) and mat pack (SU!), loopy heart punch (MS)

Razzleberry Violets

Last night I stayed up late to paper craft. This is one of the cards I made for three challenges. First, the Inspirational challenge (IC215) where I chose these floral prints from Nell Hills as my inspiration. I used the colors from this week's SCS color challenge (CC253): pretty in pink, chocolate chip, rich razzleberry, a neutral (I picked black) and a bonus challenge to incorporate hounds-tooth. Additionally, I chose a sketch challenge from August, SC243.

I chose the February stamp from the retired set "Stamp of the Month". It retired before I started stamping, but I really like it & so I waited patiently until I could find an inexpensive set on Ebay. I think it makes a nice female birthday card. One of the things I purchased with Christmas money from my in-laws was more Copic sketch markers. Last year, I received the basic set, which contains a 12 markers, one from a different color family. With my in-laws generosity, I now have twenty more markers that blend with these basics. So I think I am now equipped to learn Copic coloring.

On a personal note, we had the services for my mother yesterday. It was beautiful & lots of friends and family were present. My youngest daughter left about an hour ago; she's heading back to college & my oldest daughter leaves tomorrow. So for better or worse, I will be having a lot more time on my hands.

Thank you for your support, your inspiration and friendship! {{{Hugs}}}

Marilyn

Always

Today was the Featured Stamper challenge over at Splitcoaststampers. I enjoyed looking thru WeeBeeStampin's gallery was a real pleasure. Here is her blog. This card was pretty simple, but I like how it turned out. One little tip on this card is about my corners. I do not own a ticket punch instead I use a small circle punch 1/4 inch. I insert my paper with the punch upside down where I can see a little triangle of paper or 1/4th of the punch circle and then snip that tip.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

Recipe:
Image: Always (SU!)
Paper: Dusty Durango, Melon Mambo, White, DSP-RazzleBerry Lemonade (SU!)
Ink: Pink Passion
Accessories: Heart border Punch (MS), Melon Manbo polka dot grosgrain ribbon (SU!),

Icy Leaves, Purple Sky

Happy Saturday! It is still freezing here in the Midwest but the wind has died down in St. Louis so it actually felt warm at 6 degrees. Well, maybe I should say felt warmer than the past few days.

This card was created for two challenges. The SCS Inspirational Challenge, IC214, finding inspiration from M.Wilson's etsy store. I chose her Indigo and Onyx print except I changed the colors to purple hues. The second challenge was the Paper Craft Planet's Sketch Challenge, SK010910.

I find purple challenging although I love it. I just never seem happy with coordinating colors with purple (except for my fav- blue). I messed around for hours, changed colors, then finally settled with the pixie pink. What's your opinion of purple? I am not sure how much I like the card, but I like that it is done. Even though it sounds like I am whinning~ I had a wonderful afternoon with no commitments & I just played! Maybe tomorrow will be a better mojo day.

Have a great evening!

Recipe:
Stamps: Best Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Chocolate chip, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Orchid Opulence, Pixie Pink (SU!); DP-Pocket full of Posies (DCWV)
Ink: Perfect Plum, Craft White (SU!)
Accessories: Boho Blossom & Modern Label punches (SU!), Scallop Corner punch (Marvy), Winter White embossing powder (SU!), purple gemstones (Paper Studio)

Fore Brother

My older brother's birthday was this past Tuesday (5th). He is a huge golf fanatic so I purchased this Stampabilities "Vintage Golfer" stamp with him in mind several months ago. His birthday sometimes catches me off guard because it is so close to the holidays, but I was prepared this year. I am trying something new this year. SPecifically, I will make all my birthday cards for the month in the preceding month and prepare the envelopes for mailing. This month I chose cards from my existing stock for many of the January birthdays. Let's see how this works~ I am hoping to be better at getting cards to their destination on time.

On a bitter-sweet note, my 89 year old mother passed away last evening. Mom moved to a nursing home about four miles from my home in late May. She had been living with my sister for four years~ a real blessing for all of us & so giving of my sister; but Mom became increasingly weaker so it was time for round the clock care. Nearly thirty years ago, I moved from my home town to St. Louis (about a 3 hour drive). So when Mom moved near me in May, I was able to see her nearly every evening; something that was not possible since I was a young adult. What a blessing to be able to spend so much time together! Unfortunately, her health continued to deteriorate and last evening I was at her bedside when she passed peacefully.

The pictures below are from December 27th, when I organized a family holiday gathering at the nursing home for my family- my siblings and our children. Not all of Mom's grandkids could make it, but we had a small family crowd. My mom loved it! The first picture is Mom and all her children (Mom, me and my three siblings). The second picture is me with my family~my husband, and my two daughters. Although I am sad to have lost the best mom and the best role model in the world, I am happy as she is free of pain and with her love, my dad. If you have a spare minute or two, say a little prayer for Mom and my family.

Sledding into the New Year!

Happy New Year Once again! I love having time off from work to goof off in the studio. I am positive that I wouldn't be able to stand being away from work after a while...like 6 months or so. LOL! Seriously, I am blessed with a wonderful career that is stimulating and challenging (in a positive way) that allows me to live a charmed life.

Today I chose to participate in the SCS Ways to Use it challenge which was to incorporate time in your card theme. I also wanted to play the CPS sketch challenge. I love sketch challenges so CPS is one of my favorite blog challenges. There is a little prize & the due date for posting is 1/2, so there is plenty of time to play along.

Not too much exciting about this card, but it is nice to be back creating!

HAPPY NEW YEAR~!

Recipe:
Image: Vintage New Year Greeting Card
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, DP-Prestwick (retired SU!)
Accessories: Scor-Pal; Snowflakes: red (SU! felt flurries), blue (3D felt stickers-JoAnne's)

Happy New Year!

Hello! I am happily celebrating the new year now. I am off work until Monday 1/4 and plan on stamping my heart out! I love the holidays and I had such an enjoyable time with family and friends. My husband and I saw the Broadway musical 'White Christmas' when it was it here in St. Louis. He surprised me with 6th row tickets...what a treat. The entire musical was great but I was so impressed with the tap dancing~ it was the best I have ever seen!

Another holiday highlight was when a small group of girlfriends went to the symphony to hear the Holiday Concert featuring vocalist, Lisa Vroman (best know as Christine in Phantom of the Opera) and the St. Louis Children's Choir. One of my friend's daughter sings in the Children's choir so that made it extra special. Our symphony hall, Powell Hall, in St. Louis is just beautiful- gilded gold, white marble, and red accents. Plus it was decorated for the holidays too. Below is a picture of the lobby area so you can appreciate the beautiful day we had.

I am not a dancer, musician, or singer. These talents are amazing to me thus I am grateful when I can enjoy through others' sharing their special gifts.

My card today was made using a vintage greeting card image. I purchased a CD filled with hundreds of holiday and winter images that I am really thrilled about. I used the sketch challenge from SCS today (SC261). I am not totally thrilled with the card, but it will probably take me a few days and cards before I get in back into the swing.

Happy New Year!

Recipe:
Image: Vintage Greeting card
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Craft (SU!), DP- Indian Summer (DCWV)
Ink: Riding Hood Red (SU!), Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz-Ranger)
Accessories: Button, RHR ribbon (SU!), Stampers Floss (TAC)

Holiday Gifts

Here are some of the gifts I made this holiday season. The first picture is a holiday snowflake pail filled with goodies- gloves, lip protection, hand lotion, notepad, tea, chocolate, photo/note holder or a 'purse' magnet. I gave these to the twelve people that work in my group except my assistant and my managers who received a store bought gift.

I made similiar ones for Brian's and my siblings except the contents and pail were different. The adult nieces and nephews recieved goodies in a small gift bag. We have twenty nieces and nephews so we just filled the bags with little things like packs of gum, chapstick, deck of cards and chocolates. We don't usually give to siblings and the nieces and nephews but I wanted to do something a little special and started hunting for stocking stuffer type items as early as August. All in all, I made nearly over forty holiday pails and gift bags. It was a lot of work but fun and definitely worth it to give an unexpected treat.
Below is a picture of how I decorated the banana walnut bread that I baked for my colleagues on the leadership team for our group. I loved the way these bread bands and tags turned out. I baked eleven loaves...and didn't even save one for us. What was I thinking?!?
This last picture is the gift I made for my best crafty girlfriends. The glass jars started in life as a Starbuck's Frappuccino bottles. I got the idea of using SB glass bottles from SCS except they were filled with M&Ms. As you can see, I filled my jars with buttons (not m&ms), and I also gave each friend a SU! keychain that was tied to a red ribbon bow. I had purchased the key chains over the summer when I was a demonstrator. The jar lids were decorated with a stamped circle image and ribbon was wrapped around the lid edge. I stamped each friend's initial in red, outlined with a green glitter pen and then punched and layered on top of a double band of designer paper.

I didn't realize until I took the picture that my friend's first name initials (Monica, Linda and Jody) are the same as my full name initials- MLJ.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Happy new year!!

Merry Christmas!

Hello friends and Merry Christmas!

This past month has been a whirlwind with children returning home from college (yipee!), business travel and end of the year reports, holiday shopping, attending and hosting holiday parties and gathering with friends & family, and daily visits with my mother. I have created a few new things but I haven't had the time to post. Later this week you will see a small collection of those holiday cards and crafts. In the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas!