Happy Thanksgiving 2013!

Hi there crafty friends! Happy Thanksgiving to YOU if you're in the old US of A today. Time for some turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and all the rest :)

I am hugely grateful that my in-laws are hosting the meal today, it means I have had so much less to do than normal. I even went and got a pedicure yesterday, it felt SO decadent! :)

I decided to take these cute little salt/pepper shakers to my family that's coming today. I also got a bit nicer of a hostess gift for my MIL and FIL. Cute tags seemed in order. I used my new Amber Waves stamps from CASual Fridays. 

I also used this week's ColourQ challenge #217. Pretty colors, I love the turquoise pop! :)

I made this tag first, and it just was too small, so I decided to make the final 3 using some larger Spellbinders dies.

They are all a little different, just different embellishments on each.

I hope you have a FABULOUS Thanksgiving! And after you are all Black Friday and Cyber monday shopped out, I hope you'll take some time to pop back by here on Tuesday. I have an awesome card and handmade gif tie to show you, with directions on how to make your own-hope you'll have time to check it out! :)

Love, Noelle

Courage doesn't always roar.... cards for two special ladies.

Hi crafty friends, so sorry it's been so long between posts. We have just had a rough month 'round these parts with illness and medical issues. But today I am taking some meals to some sweet local friends whose husbands recently passed. I feel that our small town has seen more than its fair share of death this year, so sad. I know both these ladies personally, and had either not sent sympathy cards yet, or sent them several weeks ago. I thought it might be nice to include a card with the meals. I also thought, they would probably prefer they not be sympathy cards at this point.... just that it might be better to make something a bit more encouraging for them.


I opted for softer colors on these cards, I used some TCP CutUps, some Verve stamps, and some SU! stamps in the background of the sentiments. One went more in blue/gray tones....

And the other in a brown/green palette.

I love this stamp, it really is a wonderful stamp for encouragement....

Thanks so much for stopping by. See you back here soon!! 

xo, Noelle

Black Friday isn't just for Friday anymore! A Meowy Special sale!

Hi there friendlies! Just wanted to pop by and tell you that we are having a MEGA Black Friday sale at The Cat's Pajamas, and it starts TODAY, on Tuesday! You can "fill in" your holes of missing TCP merchandise, or if you've never tried TCP stamps before, this is a great opportunity to do so! Come and check it OUT!

Holiday Hugs, Noelle

TCP Tuesday- "What's On Your Desk?" part deux

Hey there crafty folks! I am back today with another set of cards for this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge! The challenge is to make one card, and then use the supplies leftover on your desk to make 2 more cards :)

I have a relative that I am SOOOOOO very late sending a birthday card too, it isn't even funny. I had a card set aside for her, and decided I'm so late I should just make a new one with a belated theme. Here's what I came up with, using Nesting, Admit One, a few words from Tied Up, the Big Ticket CutUps, and the Bitty Banners CutUps. I also used an older October Afternoon ephemera pack, on all 3 cards.

The second card used Admit One and the Big Ticket CutUps again. I also pulled in the Circus Border CutUps. And, also some ephemera tickets from that same OA pack.

The third card used both stamp sets from the 1st card and the Bitty Banners CutUps, as well as another ephemera card from the OA package. 

I hope you can come play "What's On Your Desk?" with us at The Cat's Pajamas this week!! 

Hugs, Noelle

TCP Tuesday, what's on your desk?

Hey there stampy friends, it's Wednesday evening, so that must mean it's time for another TCP Tuesday challenge, right? I know, I'm a couple days behind the fray, so sorry for the delay! :)

We are having a REALLY cool challenge at The Cat's Pajamas this week. It's called "What's on your desk?" The challenge consists of you making one card, and then using the supplies left on your desk to make another 2 cards. I was really excited about this challenge and pretty pleased with my cards too!

I decided to start with two stamp sets and two die sets for this first card, as well as a pad of DP and a pad of glitter paper. The J*lly H*liday set really does play nicely with our new set Vintage Holiday. I also used the Framed Up CutUps and the Holiday Toppers CutUps on my card as well. I used a paper pad called "Lost and Found Christmas" by My Mind's Eye and a glitter paper pad from American Crafts.

For the second card I decided I'd go a different way with the colors and make a horizontal card for this one. I used the same 4 TCP products, the same designer paper pad, and the same glitter pad.

The final one was only made with the "Vintage Holiday" stamp set and the 2 die sets. I know you're thinking "But Noelle, I don't see any Holiday Toppers on this card?" BUT, dear readers, there is a small glitter star at the the top of the tree there, and that's a negative from the holiday star topper die, so, AHA! Yes, it's on there ;) LOL.

And that is all for me today, crafty friends! Love ya! See you soon :)

xo, Noelle

Courage, Roaring, and Strength

                       

Hi friends, hope you're all doing well. These pics were taken on my new iPad, and they are not the greatest, sorry about that, but I figured better that than nothing, right? ;) I am starting to feel much better from my recent stint with a kidney stone. In the middle of it all, though, my poor hubby fell down the stairs at work and cracked his rib (ouch!) So, we are having one of those "not raining but pouring" times with doctors visits and prescription painkillers. But we have seen so many blessings come out of it, I must say. And, I don't know if its just because I'm getting older or because 2011-2012 were so tumultuous, but I gotta say its been much easier to take all this in stride, and just have faith that things will right themselves in due time. I'll be 39 in a few weeks, and I must say, I'm actually looking forward to my 40s! I like who I am now so much better than who I used to be, I'm a lot more even, calmer, a whole lot happier, and far more comfortable in my own skin. It's so good to reach a place in your life where you are so at peace.

I have a friend who is also going through a really tough time right now. She's just had some troubles these last month that really tug on my heart strings, whereas our issues at our house have been health related, we aren't dealing with grief and loss.... Those are so much more painful than a kidney stone or a cracked rib. I've had her on my mind, and I've been praying for her. Sometimes, though, it's nice to just do something kind for someone else, so they know how truly they are loved. I can't bring back what my friend has lost, but I can let her know-I'm in her corner! :) So, I wanted to make her a card. I used my "Blue Skies" stamps from Verve. And a pad of coordinating papers called "New Leaf" by First Edition Paper. 

Recently reorganized my embellishments and its helped me a ton in finding things! I have all my tags together, and all my pockets, etc are in an adjacent compartment. This is a really old tag and a mini paper bag. For the back drop I decided to layer up a bunch of banners. I used dies from Lil' Imker and TCP to make them. 

The final touch was some rick rack trim and a few MME candy dots. I love me some candy dots! Seems like they go on everything I make lately! 

Well, I'm hoping to get my project done for TCP Tuesday this coming Tuesday, it's a really fun challenge and I've been really missing my crafty time! I also have some 50+ scrapbook pages to share with you, I just need to get the posts written!

Thanks for popping by crafty peeps. See you soon!

xo, Noelle