paper & ICE

May Your Blessings Outnumber the Shamrocks that Grow (MOJO226)

2012-02-01T09:19:00.000-08:00

Hey there, I'm still not feeling so hot, but have realized that sitting and "carding" as my hubby calls it, really doesn't make me feel any worse! Plus, I think it lifts my spirits. Lately I have not felt like doing much at all. I talked to my doc yesterday & she thought the side effects of the new meds I'm on should start to even out within the next 2-3 weeks. I'm functioning, but sort of just saving my energy for the "important" stuff! I did get the house cleaned up last weekend, actually I should say mostly the boys cleaned up. They have been so good about mama not feeling her best! I love my boys! :)

I got these gorgeous new Lucky You/Shamrock stamps/dies from Verve! I had not placed an order there in awhile, now they offer matching dies! I am such a sucker for stamps with dies or punches that match, LOL ;) Plus, I LOVE St. Patty's Day! My great-grandfather was an immigrant from Ireland. When I was growing up my Papa used to sing me all these little songs and limericks.

I don't have any St. Pats Day sets. I have a few that have a shamrock in them or can be made to look "Irish," but I really liked this set. Plus I really feel like this is so versatile. You could make a birthday card, or a good luck card at any time of year with these sentiments. Anyway, enough about me raving about my new stamps, onto the card! I decided to use the latest Mojo Monday 226 sketch.

I did flip the sketch vertically. I just felt it added a certain dynamic that I wanted, particularly since the sentiment was rectangular instead of square. I used 3 different shades of green on this card. That's a trick I recommend if you are using only one real color on your project. I used Stampin' Up! Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, and Pear Pizzaz. I really felt this card NEEDED stitching, like it was sort of non-negotiable! LOL.

The Verve dies come with these little clear positioning tools, so you can get a perfect cut around your stamp every time! They really were easy to use. :) All this Wild Wasabi DSP is really old SU! from a 6" prints pack. I used solid cardstock in Neenah Solar White, Garden Green, Black, and Kraft.

Well, that is it for me today! I am hoping to get some more projects done today. "See" you soon! :)

xoxox, Noelle

supply list: stamps and dies: Verve; inkpads, solid cardstock, and DSP: Stampin' Up!; green adhesive button: Pebbles; sewing machine with black thread.

DUST IT OFF!: My gosh that DSP is so old. OOOOOOOLD! ;) Use it up!

Valentine Pocket Pages (CQC122)

2012-01-31T12:03:00.000-08:00

Hello there, time for another fun, Valentine-y color combo at the colourQ!! Here's the palette for you, loving the kraft and the black, personally.

I decided these would be fab colors for making some pocket pages for the boys old Valentines. I made one page for each, and when I was done, could NOT find Collin's Valentines from last year anywhere? But had a bag from the previous year, so that's why his is a little different. If I come upon the other ones, I guess I'll just make a new page!

Now, if you've never made these pocket pages before, I tell you, you really SHOULD give it a go. It's a wonderful way to save those birthday, baby, and holiday cards that we never really know what to do with. It's also a great alternative to leaving the INSIDES of your scrapbook covers blank.. You can adhere these to the inside of the covers with that super sticky tape, and then people can easily pull out the cards and take a look... I did that with the boys baby albums. :)

Here's a pic of the pocket on the back:

Now, you could use foam squares, too. I particularly like the foam tape, though.... You really should use something to give the pocket some depth away from the page, so it won't fall apart when you put the cards/memorabilia in. You can get HUGE rolls of this foam tape (made by Scotch) at the office supply store for around 25-30$. I know that's a lot, but I've had mine for years, and just finished the roll! If you have boxes of cards and things around, you could even do a whole album of these. they are really fast pages, since you don't need to figure out layout or embellish a lot. Really it's just the pocket, and you can add a little decoration at the top of the pages like I did here, but the rest of the page likely won't show, once you fill the pockets.

I used a set of Patterned Love stamps I got from my last Spotted Canary prize package. Using an extra-large acrylic block, I was able to position all 4 stamps at once, and just stamp each page one time. easy peasy... Also used my TCP Heart Trio CutUps die set and my fave punch for the edge of the pocket.

I used my labelmaker to add the boys names to each page, I hand cut a fishtail at the end of each label for decoration and I added some cute little monkey stickers I had leftover from last year's Valentines.

Well, that is all for me today! Hope you will come join us at the colourQ. I'd love to see what you'll come up with!

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamps: Inkadinakdo; die: TCP; labelmaker: Dymo; stickers: K&Company; punch: EK Success; foam tape: Scotch; glass baubles: K&Company

DUST IT OFF!: Sometimes buying in bulk can really pay off! On this project, I finally used up the massive roll of foam tape I've had for years. Plus, scrap that memorabilia! No one will ever look at it in a shoebox anyway :)

Sprinkle Hearts Valentine (TCPTUES194 & PP80)

2012-01-29T14:33:00.000-08:00

Hi there, I'm still not feeling so hot. :( I'm not sick anymore, but my health problems (which are normally not present THANK GOODNESS!) really have me feeling crummy. Between a low thyroid and a painful cyst, I have just not been feeling very "me" the last 4-5 days. I know that everything will get ironed out in the next few weeks, and I am SO blessed that it's nothing more serious, but I just feel "bleh." So, I'm sorry if I'm slow publishing and/or returning comments. I'm just moving slow right now, if my hubby and kids can accept that, I guess you can too, right? ;)

This card is for TCPTUESDAY, I really wanted to play with my new TCP Valentines stamps again before Valentines Day! They are also having a Valentine's Blog Hop over there, just use any TCP CutUps or TCP stamps for your Valentines projects, and you can link up, it's on the sidebar on the TCP blog. For this card I used "Gimme Some Sugar" and "Build A Bingo" on the tab. This is also using Anne Marie's FAB sketch at The Paper Players! Here is the sketch:

I had seen this gorgeous CAS card on Julie Masse's fabulous blog in December, and I asked her via the Die Cutting Hints thread on SCS how she dry embossed with her die. As it turned out, I already HAD the tan embossing mats needed, I bought them thinking they were for something else, and then, when I couldn't figure out how to use them correctly, they got relegated to the bottom of the box where I keep my dies and pads. Well, thanks to her, now I know how to use them! I thought the Heart CutUp would be such a cool dry embossed background, so that was my jumping off point for this card. Still pushing myself to be a bit more CAS, and on this card, I think it paid off.

Have you noticed how mirrored dressers and consoles are making a comeback? Well, I thought Sprinkle is just known for being SOOOOO fabulous and chic, that she would probably have a mirrored piece of furniture to give her lollipops away from, so I colored it silver. I actually intended to add some Crystal Effects to the lollies, but I guess that will happen after publishing this, LOL!

I really liked the way it turned out to use all the different reds and pinks on this card, lots of fun! Well, I will see you on Tuesday for another ColourQ challenge! I've got a fun project all ready to show you for that. See you then! :)

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamps and heart die: The Cat's Pajamas; punches: EK Success; felt flower: K&Company; decorative paper: Martha Stewart Crafts; markers: Zig, Stampin' Up!, and Inkadinkado; flocked tag: Heidi Grace Designs; solid cardstock: Stampin' Up!

DUST IT OFF!: That tag is really old as are the punches used on this card.

Wait, wasn't Christmas just a few weeks ago? (Jingle Belles and Merry Monday challenges)

2012-01-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

Well, yes it was just a few weeks ago! ;) but I'm trying to get a jump-start on next year's cards. I haven't played along at Jingle Belles since last year, and I missed those gals! Also, Lesley is doing a new Christmas card challenge at her blog, too! This week, Jingle Belles challenge is to make a card inspired by their AWESOME new banner! Check it:

And Lesley's Merry Monday challenge this week is to use the following sketch:

Yesterday, I saw this GORGEOUS card over at Christina's blog. I LOVE the way she used the negative space & anything with rainbow stripes makes me happy! I thought this might be a cool sketch to try the negative space idea with. Here's another shot of my card:

I used the elements of the line of bells, the red glitter and the idea to use a vintage looking font from the banner. I didn't take too many liberties with the sketch, except for the fact that I didn't put my sentiment in the corner. You can see I'm still challenging myself to go more CAS. I cut my DP to size, punched a partial circle and added a strip of red glitter paper to the side where the circle had been punched & trimmed. I punched the bells from some foil paper and added a baker's twine bow and red gem to each bell.

Well that is all for me today! Hope you are having a good week! Hugs, Noelle

supply list: stamp: Inkadinkado; circle & corner punches: EK Success; bell punch: Martha Stewart Crafts; red glitter paper & red gems: Recollections; silver paper: Martha Stewart Crafts; decorative paper: Memory Box

STRIKE! Bowling card

2012-01-24T18:05:00.000-08:00

Hello there! Let me start off by apologizing if I have not returned your comments. I'm not ignoring you, I promise. I have been SO busy, and now I have a virus, and I've also had a few other health problems as well. Nothing serious, but I don't feel so hot! So very tired... and my house is starting to look like an episode of "Hoarders!" Ok, admittedly not QUITE that bad! But definitely more cluttered than I'd like. Are you secretly fascinated with that show or totally creeped out by it? I am.... (now, not so SECRETLY) fascinated. But I like to see how people's minds work. Plus, it makes me feel **so much better** about my housekeeping skills! LOL! ;)

This card was my other PC reject from the last round. No worries about that, I'd love to share it with you guys right now. :) I only told you about that because I used a sketch from the call, it looked kind of like a sunset. I thought the bowling idea was clever, we will have to see if there are any bowling cards from the sketch in the issue. It's quite possible that several folks had the same idea!

A former project Bowling for Birthday Party Invitations has been popular, so I thought you might like this one, too. LOADS of kids have bowling parties, and there really aren't that many papercrafting products out there made specifically for bowling. Trust me, I looked everywhere when I was making those invitations!

To make the "alley" I started with a rectangle of woodgrain patterned paper. I then cut another rectangle of the same size from veneer paper. I randomly cut the veneer paper into diagonal strips with scissors, so they would meet up where the circle shape was. Then I adhered every other strip onto the patterned paper. The "ball" is just a punched black circle, with three smaller holes punched in a triangle shape. Then, using foam dots I adhered a smaller, darker circle behind the holes. The sentiment is sticker letters. Pretty simple really. You could use the extra veneer paper strips to make a second "alley" for a second card if you wanted to make several for invitations. The other great thing about this card is, it doesn't require a lot of fancy tools. Back to Basics, I like that!

Well, I hope YOU are not sick, and that instead you are having some fun, crafty time today. Big hugs! :)

Noelle

supply list: DP: American crafts and Authentique; sticker letters: Authentique; punches: EK Success; solid cardstock: SU!; wood veneer sheet.

Birthday gift card holder (CQC121)

2012-01-24T07:57:00.000-08:00

Well, hello hello! This is my card for this week's colourQ challenge 121! Check it out, very rich and earthy toned this week!

Initially, I thought these colors would make a great teacher card, but I am ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS out of birthday cards when I need 'em! And, since I make so many cards in a year, I've decided that is RIDICULOUS! I should always have a birthday card (or 10!) on hand. I'd been toying with the idea of a card/gift card holder. So, this is what I came up with...

I made my card, and then made that lower panel with the mustard color punched edge, with no adhesive on the top, to create a pocket to slide the giftcard into. This way, it can be a card and a gift all in one!! I couldn't find a coffee cup stamp when I looked around my stash. I think I **DO** have one somewhere, but it's really small. I used lots of different stamps, and brands of things on this card, it was sort of all over the board!

This is such a cute latte girl stamp from MFT. Also I had never inked up this awesome mini clear Friends Words stamp I got from my last Spotted Canary prize package for the background, which is heat embossed in white EP on Kraft cardstock. I used and old SU! set called "Wow Flowers" for the birthday sentiment on the right. Though this isn't a very "birthday-ish" birthday card, I think it's really cute and fun for anyone who likes coffee! (like me, or pretty much all of my friends...) ;)

Well, that's all for me today! Hope you can come play with us at colourQ this week! Would love to see what YOU come up with!! :)

hugs, Noelle

supply list: Stamps: Inkadinkado, MFT, SU!; punches: EK Success & Martha Stewart Crafts; pillow stickers: K&Company; ribbon and solid cardstock: SU!: adhesive button: Pebbles; DP: K&Company

Happy Birthday, Brady!!!

2012-01-22T15:27:00.000-08:00

Hi there! Sorry about the quality of these pics, I am doing a quick post from my iPhone. I just wanted to show you this birthday card I made for my nephew who is just turning one!! Admittedly, this card is a bit busier, and more my typical style than the CAS cards I've been trying lately. This card is all old product, except for that little label. Just a mishmash of things that have been lying around for AGES!! I did use my new build a bingo set from TCP to highlight the "1" on the card.

And that's all folks!! Hope you're having a great weekend! :)

xo, Noelle

Valentines Banner ("I Love U")

2012-01-21T08:20:00.000-08:00

Hi there! Linking this back to the Blog Hop for Valentine's projects at TCP! You can check out the deets here.

Not a long post today, but this was a little Valentine's project I'd been wanting to get to for awhile now :). I made a little banner to enhance my Valentine's Decorations yesterday. You might remember the Liberty Banner, and the Lucky Banner that I made last year to hang in this same spot. I did not have a banner die for those 2 projects, so if you don't have a banner die, and would like to make a banner, those are both great posts for that. ;) But you might remember that I recently splurged on the Pennant die, over at TCP, I also used their Heart Trio die on this project. Nothing real "technique-y" about this project, just cut and embellish. LOVE that kinda stuff, don't you? :) Here's some more pics....

I used stickers for the letters, but you could always stamp, use die-cuts, or chipboard letters if you're in the market for something similar! I think on all my banners, I've used punched pieces behind the letters to "frame" them.

I chose the colors: Kraft, Pink, and Red. I thought this would coordinate well with the other decorations I had, and the beige walls/mantel in my home. An interior decorator tip for you: Group like items together that work well in color/style and scale. By creating "vignettes" or displays like this one; you can make your seasonal home decor feel seamless, even if (as in this case) there's not really any other pink or red in the room, since I'm a blues and greens kinda gal! Further questions? Comment here, and I'll get back to ya! Have a stellar day :)

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: dies and Peppermint Divine Twine: The Cat's pajamas; decorative papers: Martha Stewart Crafts; punches: EK Success; border stickers and glass baubles: K&Company; letter stickers: October Afternoon

DUST IT OFF!: If you would like a banner, but don't want to invest in a banner die, please check those previous posts for tips on making fun banners with punches and squares of DP. :)

Thank you! (PP78)

2012-01-20T11:32:00.000-08:00

Hi all! I am SQUEEZING this in under the wire for the gorgeous color combo at Paper Players this week! I really wanted to play this pretty, feminine color combo that LeAnne came up with! Aren't you proud? TWO pink cards in one week?!? I must be feverish or something! ;)

Here's the pretty palette:

So, I don't think that I ever told you, but I WON the fabulous blog candy at Lynn's blog! I was so tickled! TWO fabulous PaperTrey Ink sets (both not available for sale) and some pretty Maya Road gems that look like crystals, I was even MORE tickled when I get the package yesterday, because I LOVE stamps like this, but for some reason I never buy these floral kinds of sets. I really lean far more towards cutesy/funny and sometimes graphic and text stamps. But then I see all these GORGEOUS cards in the blogosphere with these kinds of stamps & wish I had some! So, I thought I'd make Lynn a little note, to say thanks (Lynn, if you're reading this, sorry the cat's out of the bag, but this will be heading your way, SOON!;)

I felt the color combo at PP really was the perfect fit for this card. And, since I am challenging myself to go more CAS these days, do you see that 2/3 of this card is only a SINGLE layer?? so pink, **and** CAS? Wow, I know, you're probably thinking you clicked on someone else's blog! ;)

So, I cut my card from Neenah cardstock, I can't remember what the color is called, but ivory-colored is a good description. I scored the card front into thirds. I stamped the bottom panel with the challenge colors and the sentiment in black in the center panel. Then I had to leave for Pilates & mid legwork (gotta love reformer, I'm pretty sure I'll be in a fair amount of agony tomorrow! Thinking of cards takes my mind off the pain! LOL) I was thinking that a dry embossed matted panel on the top, might be really pretty... So when I got home, I did that, and the final touch was a pretty Prima flower. Pretty simple card, really. Would make a good jumping off point for a mass-production cardfest in the future :)

Have a great weekend!

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamps: PTI; cardstock: Neenah & SU!; embossing folder: Cuttlebug; flower: Prima; inkpads: Memento and SU!

DUST IT OFF!: Both that flower and embossing folder have been gathering dust for AWHILE! :)

Gimme Some SUGAH! (TCPTUES193)

2012-01-19T15:30:00.000-08:00

Hello there! I am linking this back to the Blog Hop for Valentines at TCP!!

I am having a busy week, but had to make a little time to play with this week's TCP Tuesday. I was initially a bit nervous about these colors! You know how pink is not really my thing! ;) But, I figured these colors would work well with my new stamp set from there Gimme Some Sugar. I thought I'd give Sprinkle a little kissing booth, so she could get all the kisses she wants! ;)

I went a bit more CAS on this card than I tend to. I still am thinking I might need to bling it up a bit! But, I've been trying to rein myself in a little, since I really admire all the GORGEOUS Clean and Simple cards I see out there! Besides, these stamps are SO stinkin' CUTE, you don't really need all the extra!!

I paper-pieced the bottom part of the stand and the banners. I colored Sprinkle's hat, eyes, and collar with regular markers. I added some Peppermint Divine Twine and a couple buttons to embellish. And, that's all folks! Have a great Friday! BIG hugs :)

Noelle

supply list: stamps and twine: TCP; patterned papers: Stampin Up! and American Crafts; solid cardstock: Neenah and SU!; markers: Zig and SU!

Love me, love my GRAMMA (CQC120)

2012-01-17T08:39:00.000-08:00

Hi there! Hope you all are doing well :) It's time for another super-YUMMY color combination at ColourQ!! I am SO in love with these colors! Here is the palette:

Do you LOVE this, too? Soooooo pretty! I knew it was not going to be a color combo for the boys pics. But I had been wanting to do a page or two about my sweet Gramma for awhile. My Gramma was such an amazing role model for me. She and my Papa lived down the street when I was growing up, and she watched us when my Mom worked. Now that I am a Mom, I feel so very humbled when I think of all the things they did for me, all the energy they invested in my upbringing. I was/am so very blessed! Here's the 2 page spread:

I found several pics from through the years. The one in the middle on the left page is my Gramma holding me when I was a newborn. :)

I used a lot of my new goodies from The Cat's Pajamas! LOVE this new die, the Lacy Floral Die. I used it both as a mask for some spray ink, and adding the die-cut peeking out from behind the photo strips. I used the Circus Border CutUp for the trim pieces that I cut from some Rich Razzleberry colored DSP. I thought the Build-A-Bingo set would make cute accents for the pages, since I remember my grandparents playing board games with me for hours as a kid! Yahtzee, checkers, Bingo, Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, you name it, we played it! :) Here's some more pics:

And here's a couple more shots of each page:

And, since I had everything out already, AND Gramma's birthday is in less than a month:

Well, that is all for me, today! I hope YOU can come join us for these lovely colors this week at the ColourQ! Would love to see what YOU'LL come up with!! Big hugs!!

Noelle

supply list: solid cardstock, ribbon, and inkpads: Stampin' Up!; decorative papers: Creative Memories, Stampin' Up!; stamps and dies: the Cat's Pajamas; spray ink: Tattered Angels/color: Jack Frost; punches: EK Success/Stampin' Up!; felt roses: K&Company; die cut cardstock piece on card: K&Company; faux button on card: Studio 112; scalloped circle die: Spellbinders; lined cardstock: Creative Memories; large decorative aqua gem on first page: Jolee's Parcel; resin flower on card: prima; letter stickers: The Paper Studio; clear gems

DUST IT OFF!: The DPs are really old, as is the ribbon.

Birthday Bingo

2012-01-14T20:48:00.000-08:00

This was one of those "have to" kinda cards, like "I HAVE to make that card right now!" Even though it was 10pm, even though the Broncos got slaughtered in last night's game :( (as a side note, I SWEAR I heard my Papa yelling at them from heaven last night! ;) I was so inspired by this week's Tuesday Trigger that I HAD to play! Here it is:

When I saw this I couldn't help but notice the bright colors and the fun numbers pattern. I LOVE using numbers on birthday cards, it just seems to "fit." I also ALWAYS seem to be out of birthday cards! I thought the bright colors would be a good fit to make a card for anyone: man, woman, adult, or child, I think this would be a good, FUN card for anyone. I used my new fabulous new Build-A-Bingo set from TCP! I really think this set will be a major fave. It's just so versatile, and I love the graphic style. This isn't the last time you'll see this set here this week, as I used it more than once on my colourQ pages that you can see on Tuesday! **wink wink**

I folded the DP corner down, for two reasons. One: I wanted to emulate the different patterned edge that the quilt in the inspiration pic has. two: Anytime you are making something this bright, and this busy, you really must create a visual "blank," that is, a place for your eye to land and take a rest. Creating that blank, or plain spot, also helps direct the eye the way you want it to move. Keep in mind that the eye likes to move left to right, as it would when you are reading a book, so if you can create that clockwise flow, you'll find that your projects are visually far more pleasing than if you just laid stuff down. Keeping all that in mind is also the reason I used the vintage gold library clip, instead of black or silver, I wanted it to blend with the kraft cardstock behind it. Just a few tips of the trade, from my old set design and interior design classes!

Initially, I had planned to use a solid, thinner ribbon, but I had this one out already, and when I started fussing with it, I realized that this oversized, striped bow would give a real element of FUN to the card! Something I felt it was lacking until I added the bow. This is a hand-tied bow, unlike many of my bows which are made with wire. I felt the bow should be full, but not perfect, that's why I hand-tied it. The party hat was a last minute addition, but I think it worked beautifully, I used my pennant punch (pennant die would also have worked fine, or you could hand-cut a triangle, no biggie). I added some red glittery gems for the trim and ball on top of the hat.

Well, that is it for me today! So exited to see that I have reached 100 followers! Thank you ALL so much for checking in here. Hope your day is wonderful! :)

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamps: TCP; DP:MME; ribbon/pennant punch/solid cardstock/inks: Stampin' Up!; mini library clip: Stampin' Up!; red gems: Crystal Stickers by Mark Richards

DUST IT OFF!: Those library clips and ribbon have been in my stash a WHILE, still love them, still use them ;)

Sun Shaped Card (OCCC)

2012-01-13T18:28:00.000-08:00

Hello there! I had made this card to submit to Paper Crafts, and it didn't get picked up :( Sadly, it's been one of a long line of disappointments this week; but I'm all good. Nothing that's critical, or terribly serious. I think the Lord is just trying to teach me to lean on Him. I'm sorta a slow learner, so I gotta keep learning! ;) LOL!

On a **good** and cheerful note, I had this card featured at Our Creative Corner last week. Spotted Canary showed this page on their Facebook feed, and my Circus K Cup Caddy was Pick of the Litter at TCP on Wednesday. I'm kind of a perfectionist.... and truly, need to work on not being so tough on myself! :)

So, as a happy surprise to me, the challenge at Our Creative Corner this week is "Show Us your Shapes!" make a SHAPED card, since I had this one all made and photographed, I thought I would write a post and link it up. Do you like it? It's pretty bright, I like the happy rainbow, though I am **SICK** over the fact that I LOST the darling cloud die that coordinates with this rainbow die from Lil' Inker, so I had to use my MFT one. Which is also super cute, but I really LOVED the Lil' Inker one with the perforated edge! :( I'm thinking of asking them if I can just order a new cloud, and not the whole set. I did use the Lil' Inker stamp on the inside sentiment, though! :)

Have used my heart punch for sun's rays before, and I did that again. I am still not sure if this card would have been cuter/better had the rays gone all the way around the card instead of stopping at the fold? Well it IS fun and sunny! Hope you like it anyway :) Have a wonderful weekend! I got my new TCP order, so I'll be "playing" this weekend!

Big hugs!! Noelle

supply list: dies: Lil' Inker, MFT, Spellbinders; circle cutter: CM; heart punch: EK Success; DP: American Crafts (I think?)

DUST IT OFF!: The paper was a scrap from this card for my stepdad's 70th. That circle cutter is 10 years old and I've had the heart punch and scalloped circle dies for a couple years, too. :)

Valentine-y Valentine

2012-01-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

Hi there! Wanted to share this card I made, sending this off to my friend in CA. Here's some more detail shots...

I started out making the card front with one piece of this Kelly Panacci die-cut Cardmaking Pad. You can see the die cut on the side, and for the mat, I flipped what was left of that piece over and the polka-dot print was on the back, and I used that. For the card front, I thought one of these tiny brown paper bags would be a cute little pocket for a tag I made. I stamped the sentiment at the top, and added a border sticker, some red ribbon and some Peppermint Divine Twine.

Used one of these darling baubles, and another strip of tickets from the Circus Valentine Adhesive Borders that I used on my K Cup Caddies the other day, some punched hearts, and a few teeny pillow stickers complete this VERY "Valentine-y" Valentine. :)

Hope you all are doing well! Very big hugs!!

Noelle

supply list: patterned papers, pillow stickers, border strips and bauble: K&Company; paper that hearts are punched from: Martha Stewart Crafts; punches: EK Success; stamp: TCP; mini brown bag: Canvas Home Basics

Little Girl Birthday Cards

2012-01-11T12:51:00.000-08:00

Hello, there! Just wanted to share these cards I made today... Evan was invited to his friends birthday party (they are twins), and then a couple days later Collin got invited to his friend's SISTER'S party (presumably so his friend won't be bored). Funnily enough, the parties are same day, same place! Different girls, though... Both Collin and Ev cannot WAIT to go to JungleQuest and play :) Additionally, you might remember the cards I made for my goddaughter, and for her sister, who're both having birthdays soon. Needless to say I spent quite a bit of time in the "pink aisles" at Target today, trying to pick presents for FIVE little girls! ;) It was fun, and I think I picked good, but as a mom to 3 boys, I'm always a bit intimidated by the pink aisles! Also picked up wrapping stuff while there, the paper and tissue both look like this:

So, that was my jumping off point/inspiration for the cards... I like to match things if possible, and remembered I had a partly cut into sheet of DP that was kraft with colored doilies printed on it, so that was what I decided to use for the main panel.

Since I'd gotten the twins a large gift to share, I figured I'd better make them each their own cards. :) Must be hard being a twin, in that way, where everything is shared. I know Evan LOVES it the most when I put his name on things, since he knows how to spell/write his name now. I thought the girls might like that, too. Tried to make them slightly different, but coordinating. The pink felt butterfly was in my SWAP goodies from last Fall, I can't tell you how many of those little die-cut pieces I've used!! Thanks a million, to my DT member, Kara! The pink felt rose was in my Valentine's goodies and the dies/punches and yellow pom trim were already out, have been having fun making a LOT of stuff lately, and I need to clean up! ;)

The last card was for the party Collin will be going to, this is terrble, but since it's his friend's sister, I don't know her name! LOL, guess I could ask, but I'm a little embarrassed that I don't! Same paper/colors, a bit different on the embellies.....

Well, that is all for me! I kept Evan home from school today, he's tired and we got about twice as much snow as was forecasted! I've hooked him up in the kitchen with all the play-doh stuff! Keeps him busy for hours, but makes a HUGE mess!!! LOL! Hope you stay warm and have a great one :)

hugs, Noelle

supply list: dies: TCP and PTI; punches: EK Success; decorative paper: American Crafts and Stampin' Up!; felt rose and aqua velvet button: K&Company; gems, yellow pom trim; letter stickers: October Afternoon; stamp: Stampin' Up!

DUST IT OFF: had that paper for awhile, had used last year for some Easter projects, I think... Punches and scraps are always a great way to make layered embellishments, super easy, too! :)

Whale of a Valentine (CQC119, PP77, TCPTUES192, and SFYTT)

2012-01-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

Hello there! I was a super-duper, multitasking, crafty chick yesterday. I made all three projects I posted yesterday and this card, for colourQ, plus some other challenges. Whoohooo! Feels so good to get things DONE!! :) Time for a SUPER fun, bright color combo at the colourQ!! Check out this fabby palette:

Groovy, huh? I normally don't care for light pink, but I really like this tempered with the gray, and then adding the bright orange and bright pink, super fun... I made this for the Paper Players Challenge, a theme challenge of LOVE

I also used this month's Sketch For You To Try, The Cat's Pajamas is their sponsor this month! Plus, even though I made this card the day before I knew about this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge , as it turns out, the challenge is to use EMBOSSING, and this qualifies! So, since I'd used a TCP set, thought I'd link up there, too. Here's the SFYTT sketch:

I was really bad in 2011 about playing this sketch, and it really is one of my faves, so I'm hoping (fingers crossed!) that I'll manage to play every month this year. :) here's my card, you likey?

So, this isn't really a Valentine's stamp set, as I'm sure you know... However that's one thing I tend to love about my TCP stamps is that they are adorable, but not so specific that you can't use them a little differently. I have fun thinking outside the box with their stamps. :)

I started out with the whale, I dry embossed him with a inked up embossing folder. I paper pieced his hat, and set him aside. I added a heart that was stamped from the other stamp set. He's carrying his Valentine to his whale ladyfriend with his tail. ;) Hope that is not too**WEIRD** but I thought it was kinda funny.... But you know, it was just me talking to stamps all day yesterday, so you never know, I could've crossed that artsy/insane line. It's happened to me a time or 2! ;) LOL....

The round panel with all the stamping took FOREVER! This was actually my 3rd circle. I was only using PART of the sentiment "You're a Whale of a friend" and PART of the "Happy Valentine's Day" stamp from the "Beary Good Year" set. So I inked up the "You're a Whale of A" part of the stamp with an orange inkpad, and stamped, and then I'd ink up the "valentine" part of the other stamp with a pink marker, and stamp that. Then I repeated this process, about seventy million times, because if I'd screw up the stamping (and these are really tiny stamps, plus, inking stamps up with markers is not an exact science!) then I'd have to start ALL over again! And, the stamping is STILL not perfect, sadly :( But it gave the look I was going for.

I also decided to decorate the inside of my card:

I thought the heart doily and felt rose would add to the "Valentine-y" feel of the card. And, you might notice I did not mat my DP panels this time, Whaaaaaat? Am I feeling all right? ;) Yeah, I am, I just didn't want the background to be bulky, and I like the way it turned out without the mats, maybe I'll challenge myself to try that more often. :)

Well, that is all for me today! I hope you will join us at colourQ this week! I always love to see what you create!

Big hugs, Noelle

supply list: stamps/dies: TCP; decorative papers: Martha Stewart Crafts, Stampin' Up!; scalloped circle die: Spellbinders; solid cardstock and inks: SU!; felt rose: K&Company; heart doily: Target Dollar Spot 2011; ribbon: American Crafts; gems

DUST IT OFF!: The embossing folder, the ribbon, and the brighter papers are all old. The Going Gray color has been retired for quite some time.

Circus Valentine/K Cup Caddy

2012-01-09T13:43:00.000-08:00

Well hello, hello! I am having a lovely "stay in and do nothing but craft" kind of day... in fact, I am bummed that I have to leave in a bit to go to the school! ;) When I saw the January project of the Month at The Cat's Pajamas, I KNEW I had to make one.... er... two... maybe more? You see I LOVE my Keurig, and I know several other folks who do, too. My hubby, my mom, my friend in CA, my friends here, and I think this would make a truly **BRILLIANT** Valentine for folks! Who needs another box of chocolates? And the best part? The template is PRINTABLE, yes I said printable! No tracing and measuring! So all you have to do is run one sheet of regular letter-sized cardstock through your printer, then follow the cut and score lines, what could be easier? I love that! So... I had these Circus Valentine Border stickers from K&Company (LOVE this line of theirs, very cute and clever) and one of them says "Love is a 3 Ring Circus" on a strip of tickets. Too perfect for my hubby, as with 3 boys, our LIFE is a three ring circus, I swear! I was wishing I had one of the darling TCP circus stamp sets, but I don't :( I may have to add one to my next order, which will be tonight, the new release happens TONIGHT, and it is fabulous! :)

Here is the link where you can go to get the directions for these Caddies and download the template.

Anyway, I decided to make PJ from A Beary Good Year into a clown for this project. I stamped the "Happy Valentine's Day" stamp repeatedly in gray ink on gray cardstock, and then stamped PJ over the top. I paper pieced his belly and nose with red heart paper and added a red gem for his clown nose. I colored the top hat in the set with wild, circusy colors, and I put a Valentine in his hand, and a heart on his chest. I made a card to coordinate with the caddy using the Circus Panel CutUps and the sentiment from Beary Good Year:

and I made a second, simpler caddy with different border tickets from the pack, this one for my Mom, I'm thinkin?

You should DEFINITELY head over to The Cat's Pajamas and check out the New release!! It's truly fabulous, the best EVER, I think, and that's saying a lot, since you know how I love me some TCP stamps!! I just placed a big order, so you'll see some fabby new TCP goodness here, soon ;)

big hugs! Noelle

supply list: stamps/dies: TCP; tickets: K&Company; ribbon and cardstock: Stampin' Up!; doily: Dollar Spot at Target

Pretty Little Cards

2012-01-08T20:10:00.000-08:00

hi there! I have been so busy I just haven't had time to take pics or write much, but I made these last week and thought you might want to see. The first two are fun little Valentines (I was thinking perhaps for the boys teachers?) The 3rd is for one of my dearest friend's youngest baby who will be one in a few days! Just for fun projects! I'm planning on making things and taking several pics tomorrow, so I'll be back SOON!

Big hugs!

Noelle

*all supplies on first two cards are from EK Success Brands, last card was made with my pennant punch and some scraps.

Bunny Be Mine (TCPTUES191)

2012-01-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

Hello there! Sorry for my absence. I've been making fun things, but just haven't had 5 minutes to take pictures, sit down and type! And here I thought things would calm down after the boys went back to school? No such luck. But, enough of my whining, here is my card for this week's TCP Tuesday 191. And here is the inspiration photo:

If you go over there you should scroll around a bit, there are THREE adorable Sneaky Peeks from the sets/dies that are about to be released. Can hardly wait to place my next order! :)

Onto my card, I pulled the colors of course, from the inspiration pics, the soft feel of the fabrics, the rustic feel of the burlap in the kraft cardstock, and of course the Valentines theme! I used the Circus Panels CutUps for both the piece the bunny is on and the sentiment. I used a stamp set that I will never part with, it has such an important place in my heart! This sweet trio of tutu-clad bunnies from Tutu Much, I used the largest bunny here. Along the side I used some Valentine tickets I had in my stash, and for the sentiment, I used both the Tutu set and the Beary Good Year set. I actually stamped the "I Love You Tutu Much!" sentiment repeatedly on the red panel is red ink for a tonal effect. You can see better here:

The final touches were some gems, some Peppermint Divine Twine (red pink and white!), and a red felt heart I got in my SWAP goodies in October. I don't have the heart CutUps, otherwise I would have cut my own heart, but i felt it definitely needed a felt heart right there, so this will have to do!

Well, I hope you like my card! I hope it's "swanky" enough for ya! ;) Have a fabulous day!

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamps and dies: The Cat's Pajamas; patterned cardstock: MME; Copic markers: Peppermint Divine Twine; gems; tickets: K&Company; red button: pebbles

Mexico scrapbook page (CQC118)

2012-01-02T19:18:00.001-08:00

Hello, hello! it's a new year, and so far I am loving every minute :) Check out these GORGEOUS colors for this week's colourQ challenge! Really hope you can come play with these fresh new colors, for a fresh new year! Here's my page :)

This was a little tough for me, since I didn't have any Cool Carribean or Cameo Coral, but I tried to come close with strips of scrap DP from my bin. I hid the journaling in the glassine bag behind the photo, you can see better here:

I managed to find a few Mexico and vacation stickers that gelled with the colors, so I added those, too. I also added a few tropical fish cabochons, who could resist a little Nemo or 2 on a page, right? The title was actually supposed to be the lyric from the James Taylor song, but I think I screwed it up! Haha! I think it's supposed to be "oh, down in Mexico.." LOL, blonde moment! (it really is my natural hair color, so I have an excuse, right?)

Well, that's all for me today! Hope you will be able to come and play with these fresh new colors at colourQ! I'm not going into a full supply list, since all the DPs are scraps, but they are primarily My Mind's Eye, and K&Company. The stickers are Jolee's and K&Company. Thanks so much for popping by!

hugs, Noelle

DUST IT OFF!: Pull strips of patterned papers from your scraps to create a fun, happy backdrop for your page!

I'm Swanky! :)

2012-01-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

I was truly tickled PINK when I saw I am the Swanky Stamper for January at The Cat's Pajamas. I love their products, and another thing I really love (and a reason I feel truly HONORED to receive such a title..) is the level of fabulous artistry that their designers exhibit. The entire TCP DT is a true inspiration to me. Here are some of my TCP projects from December, Thanks a million, Alma. :)

New Year, new challenge! (OCCC)

2012-01-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!! I am admittedly a bit hungover today, oy, I am getting old! ;) We had some friends over last night, we have been celebrating New Year's Eve with them, nearly every year since before we had kids, and now we have 5 kids between our 2 families. Last year, Craig had cancer and had just finished chemotherapy, so this year was a really nice celebration now that he is doing much better :)

I decided to try a new challenge, since I am feeling like trying new things. This is for Our Creative Corner. The theme is "bright and happy new year" and here's the palette:

Fun colors, huh? And even though it wasn't part of the palette, I really was digging on the black in the photo. These are not colors I use often (particularly together!) but I thought it would be a nice way to start out the New Year, new colors, uninked stamps & something that's a bit of a departure from my usual style. I made this card for my goddaughter, who will be 5 in a few weeks.

Keeping in mind that it was for a little girl is why I added all the gems and the resin flower. I stamped the main image down twice, once on yellow and once on purple, and I paper pieced the center of the image. I stamped it down on yellow again and punched the 5 out with a heart punch. I adhered that and added some MORE gems. The green panel was stamped with the polka dot background stamp and heat embossed with black EP. I die cut the bottom of that panel.

Well, that is it for me today, HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: solid cardstock in Black, Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Summer Sun, and Lovely Lilac: Stampin' Up! gems: MME; stamps: Unity and Inkadinkado; resin flower: Recollections; heart punch: EK Success for SU!; dies: TCP and PTI; black EP, heat gun, Memento Black inkpad

DUST IT OFF!: Two of these colors of cardstock are retired. All the stamps were previously uninked.

Ev's Valentine (MFTWSC52)

2011-12-30T16:23:00.000-08:00

Ok, so clearly, I'm anxious for 2012 to hurry up and GET HERE!! Also, I had so much fun making Ian and Collin's Valentines the other day, that I thought I'd go ahead and make Ev's, too. Cute, huh? OF COURSE, I used the only set I can seem to possibly use when it comes to Ev, MFT's Little Loveosaurus. In fact I made his Valentine last year with the same set and a different MFTWSC sketch! Here's the sketch for this week.

Isn't this cute? I used the same tickets I'd used on the other boys' Valentines for the long strip. I stamped on there the "My Little Loveosaurus" stamp repeatedly down the strip. I colored the image with Copics and paper pieced his costume, this is actually a Christmas paper, but it has some pink in it, and I really liked it for this application as well. :)

The tag the character is on and the tag I punched the heart from are both ANCIENT flocked valentines tags! LOVE using that old stuff up! :)

Well, I'm going to keep this short and sweet, hope you have a very Happy New Year! Big hugs!

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamps: MFT; punch:EK Success for SU!; tickets: Tim Holtz; valentines tags: Heidi Grace Designs; DP:MME & Crate Paper

DUST IT OFF!: Use some old tags to punch shapes from.

Young Man Valentines

2011-12-28T21:30:00.000-08:00

Hi there! I was needing crafty time today, not for a challenge or an order, but just for me. :) Do you ever feel that way? Sometimes I get so wrapped up in challenges, design work, submissions and orders that I feel I need more crafty time? I know, weird, but I just feel I want to play! With whatever I want and whatever colors or layout my little brain can fathom. :) So that's what this was, experimentation, some new product, and some really old stuff too. Do you like? My boys are getting so big! I'm particularly referring to the older 2. Ian is 11 and just got his first CELL PHONE for Christmas. I shouldn't sound so shocked since the whole thing was my idea, but hey, then I have these moments of total disbelief that my first baby is a "tween." He seems so grown up, too. Here's a recent pic:

Isn't he handsome? He's smart, too, and athletic, and kind and well, just about all things that would make a mom proud. I actually bought these "My Guy Ian" stamps from The Greeting Farm with him in mind! Not only because of his name, but because the "older" feel to these stamps seemed to fit. So here's the Valentine I came up with for MY Ian....

I started out with this DP in mind. I used my SU! heart punch, my new PTI banner die and some canvas flowers on these cards (all newer items). Then I used the chipboard hearts & the red suede photo corners (OLD items!) Here's a closeup on "Ian" do you like his jeans? For all the clothing on both these characters, I used Copics and then watercolor pencils over the Copics to give the clothing a "woven" look. You can blend the watercolor pencils with the Copics. I don't think I would try using a blender pen on top of the Copics, I didn't try it since the Copics worked well, but I have a feeling that might cause the cardstock to fuzz or pill if you mixed the water based blender pen with the alcohol ink markers.

After coloring his hair with Copics, I added some extra hair strands with a Stampin' Up! marker in Soft Suede.

I was really happy with the way the first card turned out, so I decided to make another for Collin. :) Collin is 9, incredibly bright and funny. he's an an avid reader. He lights up any room he's in. He has a way of making everything he tries look easy. Here's a pic of him that I took at his school party:

Here's the card I made for him:

It's similar to Ian's card, same layout. I made this character with a burgundy sweatshirt and a blue and yellow baseball cap, since Collin wears these items often. I decided to do brown cords on this one instead of jeans for a change of pace. Here's a closeup on this little guy:

Well, I hope you like my cards, I had fun making them :) It may be a wee bit early to start on Valentines, but I don't mind telling you, I am HUGELY excited for 2012 to hurry up and get here! 2011 has been a YEAR (and not a good one) around here. Multiple broken bones, a car accident, multiple serious surgeries for my family members, and much much more. And while I'm sure that 2012 won't be trouble-free, I am hoping it won't be the bad-news-every-week kinda year that we've just been through!

I hope YOU have a very Happy New Year! Big hugs!

Noelle

supply list: stamps: the greeting Farm and TCP sentiment; DP: My Mind's Eye and K&Company for banners; die: Papertrey Ink; canvas printed flowers: BasicGrey; buttons: Crate Paper; tickets: Tim Holtz; heart punches: EK Success for Stampin' Up!; red chipboard hearts: Heidi Swapp; red suede photo corners: making memories; markers: Copic and SU!; watercolor pencils

DUST IT OFF!: Those chipboard hearts and red corners are SOOOOO old! Felt great to use them up! Perfect color, too :)

CQC #117 Soccer Scrapbook layout!

2011-12-27T11:39:00.000-08:00

Hi all! We are having a fun, EASY challenge over at colourQ this week! Just in case you are having a hangover from too much sugar, noise, busyness; like yours truly, this will help you wet your feet back into crafting! Here's the palette:

Here's my pages, I still had a few pics that needed scrapping from when Ian played soccer. Black and white just screamed "soccer ball" at me. ;)

So, the other color of my choice was obviously GREEN! All that grass in the pics, what other way could I possibly go? I started out by cutting out the large soccer balls from a piece of soccer DP I had. I put those in the outer two lower corners of the layout. I matted my photos in black and arranged. For the title, I used some dotted DSP (old SU! Night and Day pack from a few years back). I cut the title letters on my Cricut and stamped them with a black soccer ball stamp. I accessorized with a few coordinating stickers, and a plain journaling block.

This "xtra pix pocket" is a bit of a departure from normal, but something I have done before... This was the last of Ian's soccer pics, so I wanted to include all the pics, not just the ones I had room to scrap. I cut a slit (actually more of a very skinny rectangle) into the paper. On the back side of the page, below the hole I'd cut, I created a pocket with scrap paper from the layout and foam tape. On the front of the page I added the "xtra pix pocket" label and a few stickers to hide the edges. Here's some photos, so you can see.

Front of pocket

back of page, this is adhered with
foam tape so the pocket is deep enough
to hold all the pictures.

Well, that is it for me today! Trying to get the tree down and the house cleaned up! Oy, is it ever a MESS! Be back soon! :)

big hugs, Noelle :)

supply list: DP: Stampin' Up! and Creative Imaginations; stamp: Stampin' Up!; Cricut for title; assorted stickers; green star stickpins: Little Yellow Bicycle; Dymo labelmaker with black tape

DUST IT OFF!: It's ALL old for this one! :) Enjoy!

Coffee Tumbler makeover (TCPTUES190)

2011-12-26T19:13:00.000-08:00

Hi there! I just wanted to show you this fun little project I made for a second run at this week's TCP Tuesday 190.

I picked up this coffee tumbler at 50% at Starbucks. Gotta LOVE that holiday clearance! The cool thing about this, is that the inside and outside parts of the tumbler unscrew from each other and the clear acetate insert (with the snowman)comes out.... So my little crafty brain starts thinking, if that insert comes out, then I could make another insert to go IN, right? In fact, I could make several of these to go in here, and just change them out for different seasons, wouldn't that be fun? But, for now, I'm just making this one! ;) Since I can take it out when it comes time to wash the cup, it can be used over and over! :)

CUP WITH ORIGINAL INSERT

Here's the sketch for TCPTUES, love this!!

SKETCH

And here's the insert outside the cup, so you can see that I followed the sketch.

And here's some more shots of the cup put together:

and... it goes without saying probably that every paper on this project was a SCRAP! Oh yes! You know how I love diggin' around in that scraps bin! ;)

Well that is all for me today! I'll be back soon with a new colourQ challenge! :)

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamps and dies: The Cat's Pajamas; papers: Scraps; markers: Copic & Zig; oval cutter: Creative Memories; white craft ink and white embossing powder

DUST IT OFF!: No new papers were cut in the making of this project. :)

BLOG CANDY WINNER!!!

2011-12-26T18:06:00.000-08:00

Hi There!! Hope you had a very Merry Christmas or are having a happy Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. I used a random number generator to pick a number between 1 and 11, and it picked number SEVEN, which is Peg!!

Peg said:

"Hi Noelle thanks for the chance to win. I follow you on my Google Reader feed and love to see how you use up older products because heaven knows I have lots! My favorite Christmas gift...hmmm, there are a few but I would say the pinecone wreath that my parents made me the last Christmas we had my mom with me is the current leader. Have a fun holiday! I don't have a blog so I can't help on the traffic stuff but appreciate the chance to win!"

Peg, please email me your mailing addy to mcadams01@msn.com, and I will mail your package tomorrow if I have your info by then! Thanks to all who participated! :) I will be back soon with a fun crafty way to spice up your cold coffee tumbler ASAP!

big hugs! Noelle

YOU'RE THE BEST! Merry Christmas! :)

2011-12-25T16:02:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful blog friends! Today is my birthday, too. :) When looking back over my last year of life; I have to say that I count this blog and all the wonderful friends I've met doing this among my blessings! YOU'RE THE BEST, just like this card says. Thank you so very much for all your friendship, inspiration, support, and comments.

I needed to send a little note out last week, and I like the way this CAS card turned out so much, that I think these will be my Christmas thank you notes, using (you guessed it!) a variety of scraps and old product! ;) I had been coveting both these dies from PTI, and I am SOOOO glad I got myself a little birthday present! I'll show you when they are done.

And remember, I am drawing the winner for my Christmas blog candy TOMORROW, if you're already a follower, you just have to go to the BLOG CANDY post (link is on the sidebar) & comment. If you want to join in and you're not a follower, just become a follower and then comment at that post. So far there's only a few (less than a dozen), so comment to win! I'd love to send YOU a little late Christmas gift.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a GOOD NIGHT!

Much Love, Noelle

supply list: DP: Stampin' Up!; dies: PTI; stamp: Verve; patterned tape: Martha Stewart Crafts; pink pearls; black inkpad

Final Christmas card for 2011 (TCPTUES190)

2011-12-22T09:48:00.000-08:00

Hi there! We had a BIG snowstorm here in CO last night! Almost a foot and still falling! I have a fondness for days like this when we are forced to stay home and do fun Christmasey things :) We plan on a Sour Cream Twist making, sugar cookie decorating, holiday movie watching, hot cocoa drinking, kinda day :)

Plus I was feelin' "cardy" so I managed to get ONE more Christmas card made before it's

**TOO LATE** gasp! (insert Macauley Culkin "Home Alone" face here) ;)

This is for this week's TCP Tuesday 190 sketch challenge!! Here's the super-fab sketch, I LOVE this, must save for a day i have more time to do more cards with it! Would be awesome vertical as well :) I omitted the oval, but added another rectangle with the sentiment.

I used some SU! DSP from last year, I have a ton of it left, and using different papers from the same pack really makes it a snap to coordinate! I used good ol' A Beary Good Year to make this fun card. Gotta love PJ! I paper pieced his belly and face. I colored the rest of him, the Santa hat, and the candy cane with Copics and fussy cut it all out. I added some Frosted Lace Stickles to the hat. A final touch was to add a snowflake cut from the new Snowflake Lace Paper die and an adhesive button.

Well that is all for me today, have a holly jolly Christmas (or a very happy Hanukkah or a joyous Kwanzaa) and I will be back for a brief post on Sunday night. :) And don't forget, my birthday is on Christmas and I'd love to send YOU a birthday present with my blog candy giveaway! Click on the linky on the sidebar there to comment to win. :)

holiday hugs to you! Noelle

supply list: stamps and die: TCP; papers, cardstock, ink: Stampin' Up!; glitter button: Recollections; bakers twine: Crate and Barrel; Stickles; adhesive button: Pebbles

Christmas Eve Scrapbook page (CQC116)

2011-12-20T12:57:00.000-08:00

Hi there! Time for another fun Christmasey color combo at colourQ!!!

Here's the palette! Love the kraft, don't you?

I knew I definitely wanted to use this pic from Christmas Eve last year. I found this paper in my stash, it is kraft with red foil flowers on it. The flowers reminded me of poinsettias. For the border around the page, I used my new Martha Stewart Crafts Ribbon Loops Punch Around the Page set that I won in my last Spotted Canary prize package! And, don't forget, I am offering the Double Loops Punch Around the Page set as part of my BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY! There's only a few more days to enter, so I hope you will go comment!! If you link up to those punches, you can see the set that's being given away retails for over 27$.

Ok back to the page! I used one of my vintage look Santa tags )I showed you another style of those tags here.) The Santa tag coordinated well with the border sticker I used on the kraft banner at the top, the sticker shows Santa unfurling a paper that says "Dec. 24" PERFECT for this page! For my journaling block I die cut a kraft lined journaling cardstock and a green mat. I dressed the ornament up with a silver foil top and a holly sticker from my stash. The title was made with green stickers (a perfect match for the Lucky Limeade color!)

Well, I hope you like my page! Please give yourself a little break from shopping, wrapping, and baking to have some "craft therapy" by playing with us at colourQ!! :)

have a merry day!

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: punches: Martha Stewart Crafts and EK Success; paper and border sticker: K&Company; journaling cardstock: Creative Memories; tiny tag and solid cardstock: SU!; Santa tag: Cavallini and company; sticker letters: October Afternoon; dies: Spellbinders; number stamps: making memories; 3D sticker used on ornament: K& Company

DUST IT OFF!: that tiny tag, mini letter stamps, border sticker, and even that cool paper are older. the tag and stamps are several years old!

Bits and Pieces

2011-12-19T22:27:00.000-08:00

"It's the most iiinsane time of the year..." Sing with me now! ;) hahaha!

I am doing really well, actually. I'm feeling a lot more "together" this year than I often do at this time of year. I think the fact that my kids got off school a few days earlier than normal really helped me to be proactive about getting my shopping DONE (yes, it's done!) and even the wrapping, baking, cards; while not totally done, are far more done than usual at this time of year. So it's all good.

There's been a LOT of this going on, handmade goodies, gift packaging etc. These aren't the greatest pics, but I wanted to show you some things I did and ways I simplified and saved some money this year. :)

Ok, first up GOODIE BOXES! These are for those friends and neighbors with whom we exchange goodies. the original plan was to make boxes from cardstock. Of course, these handmade boxes were going to be hand stamped, with fabulous big bows on top and some kids of glitter involved.....

Ok, FAST FORWARD to reality!! LOL, I found these Ziploc containers in a holiday green color at the grocery store. Easy and fast to decorate the tops with patterned paper scraps, some old holiday stickers and premade tags. Of course I had to throw a little bakers twine in there, too ;)

I was still needing a few more little gifties and didn't want to spend a lot, so here's what I did... I found a recipe for peppermint bark. It's super easy and only uses different kinds of chocolate chips and sprinkles. So I made little jar mixes so folks can make their own once all the holiday sweets are gone. I added these cute spatulas that I found at Hobby Lobby last week for 2$!

My **EXTREMELY TALENTED*** (yes, he made me write that) ;) hubby made these great tags on the computer with the holiday motif and the recipe. Check it.

I made 4 of these, but forgot to snap a pic before I gave one away... Decorated the jar lids with some scraps of holiday DP and a variety of snowflakes. I also added premade tags to the recipe.

So these were QUICK, EASY holiday gifts that used up scraps, stickers and tags; just a plethora of the way-too-much Christmas stuff I've got laying around here. Perhaps it will inspire you to do the same? Hope you are having a very merry holiday season!

And remember, I am drawing the winner for my Christmas blog candy on the 26th, if you're already a follower, you just have to go to the blog candy post (there's a link at the top of the sidebar there...) and comment. If you want to join in and you're not a follower, just become a follower and then go to that post and comment. so far there's only a few, so comment to win! I'd love to send YOU a little Christmas gift. :)

big hugs, Noelle

DUST IT OFF: Before you reach for that new pack of stickers or uncut papers to decorate your holiday treats, stop and look around! Try and find some things you would like to have used up and out of your hair! :)

Snowbunnies (TCPTUES189)

2011-12-16T18:58:00.000-08:00

Hello there! My boys were totally driving me up one wall and down another this afternoon! Funny it was only the first day off of school, too. I fully admit to popping them in front of a movie and making this card ;). Not that it stopped their fighting, but at least gave me a mini-escape from it! SOOOO glad hubby is taking vacay time while they are off. We ALL need a break!

so the TCP Tuesday challenge is to use TCP christmas stamps AND the bracket die (the one I used on the bottom!) if you have it. I am insanely IN LOVE with this Freezin' Season stamp set and decided to isolate the snowbunny part of the image. I stamped three and fussy cut them out (I cut off their spindly arms and drew them back in on the card because, whilst some of you have some MAD SKILLS when it comes to fussy cutting, I do OK, but not THAT great!) ;) besides, I wanted to make them hold hands! :) I paper pieced their scarves adding polka dots to the center bunny's scarf with my Copics. I also added (tough to see here) some Frosted Lace Stickles to the tops of their ears.

The background was done with some spray ink (the color is fittingly called Jack Frost!) and I used a die cut made from this Snowflake Lace Paper CutUp die. which I used as a mask. I also did that on this card.

Not much else to tell, I guess. Guess I should rejoin the household (now that the kids are IN BED!!) ;)

have a stellar evening! Don't forget about my blog candy there on the sidebar!

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamps and dies: TCP; DP: Authentique and MME; Copics; spray ink; white pigment ink and white EP

Cookie Exchange!

2011-12-16T13:59:00.000-08:00

Hi there!! I just wanted to share this little project with you. This is the time of year when we are all scrambling around trying to get all those last minute gifts for neighbors, teachers and friends done. I am having a cookie exchange with my family soon. I am so tickled with the way this project turned out. Especially since the ONLY thing I bought to make these was the cookie ingredients! The recipe I used is at the bottom, if you want to check that out. But these egg containers would also work well for cake balls, mini cupcakes or muffins, mini cookies, etc. :)

I used only scraps and old stickers, tags, etc. on this project. I decorated the outside of 4 old egg cartons that I'd saved. It FELT SO GOOD to use up so many old things that were just sitting there, taking up room! I printed the recipe out on Kraft cardstock and border punched the right side, added a few more stickers and it was done. The only real tip I have if you want to try this is to use a REALLY good, super-sticky adhesive because the egg cartons are hard to stick to.

Some more pics...

And here's a pic of the inside, if you want to use my recipe, I highly recommend using the little cupcake liners to keep them from sticking to the carton. :) Thanks for popping by!! Recipe is at the bottom.

hugs and general merriment! -Noelle

Peppermint Oreo Cookie Balls (no bake recipe!)

1 package (15.5 oz.) Oreo Cookies

1 package reduced-fat cream cheese

1 can store bought chocolate frosting

¾ tsp. peppermint extract

sprinkles

Crush Oreos either in food processor or with rolling pin.

Mix in peppermint extract. Mix in cream cheese a bit at a time.

Roll mixture into balls. Microwave frosting for 30-45 seconds until runny.

Dip each cookie ball in frosting and set on wax paper lined cookie sheet.

Add sprinkles before cooled.

Once all cookie balls are ready put in freezer to harden.

**With a food processor: crush cookies in processor.

Add extract and pulse. Add cream cheese a bit at

a time and keep pulsing machine until mixture is complete.

Christmas ornaments/tags

2011-12-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

Hey all! Happy Thursday! First off I'd like to apologize for being so tardy and flaky with returning comments lately... Has just been one of those weeks where I go go go go alllll day long & fall into bed exhausted in the evenings. I haven't been keeping up with my blogroll or commenting very well, so please forgive me! :( The boys are about to be off for 2 weeks of holiday merrimient, so I'll do my best, but am not making lots of promises right now. Should be back to normal again by the New Year, you know how it goes! :)

After I finished my colourQ project the other day I went a little crazy die cutting ornaments from Christmas scraps! I figured these could be gift tags, or ornaments, or both! And the great news is that I used nothing but scraps/old supplies and made ALL of these in about 20 minutes! More pics...

Love to make something useful out of leftovers :)

Have a great one!

hugs, Noelle

Glitzy Snowy Joy card (PP76 TCPTUES189)

2011-12-13T15:05:00.000-08:00

Hi there!! I just wanted to share a card with you that I made last night. This is for TCPTUES189 to make one more holiday card before the holidays hit and for the last Paper Players challenge this year! Here's the PP palette:

So I wanted to use my new goodies from the Cat's Pajamas! I used the new Snowflake Doily Die as a mask for some shimmer spray on the inside panel and the two "gates" of the gatefold card. I actually was almost out of Smooch Spritz, but I was able to make some of my own by mixing the bit left I had of the gold and the white, and adding a couple drops of yellow ink, and some water! I think I'll buy some pearl powder so I can make my own in other colors, it was so easy & that stuff can be pricey! Here's a tutorial if you're interested in doing the same :)

For the front banner, I stamped the "wishing you J*Y" in Cherry Cobbler ink, and then I embossed the jingle bell in gold EP. I added some Stickles to the bell image. I die cut the big snowflake in gold glittered paper.

Well, that's it for me today!

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: dies and stamps: Cat's Pajamas; solid cardstock in ivory and Cherry Cobbler: SU!; Stickles, gold EP

Ornaments card and bonus tag (CQC115)

2011-12-13T07:58:00.000-08:00

Hey there! Time for another FUN color combo at this week's colourQ!! Lots of OLD (but GOOD!) product on this card! I did a lot of digging through my retired SU! colors to make this card! Here's the palette!

Now, I don't have Regal Rose, so I used the VERY old Rose Romance, which, when it retired I bought two packs of 8 1/2 x 11" cardstock and I am still working through it. It's very similar to Regal Rose, albeit slightly darker. I also used some old stickers on this card, I swear I must buy a pack of fancy ornament stickers annually, but somehow when it comes to my tree trimming scrapbook pages they don't get used. The sentiment is another old sticker and I found that holly button at the bottom of my ziploc of Christmas embellishments, but I'm pretty sure it's Dress It Up brand.

As I was finishing up my card, I found this super cute tag in a tag pad, very similar to the challenge colors, so I decided to make a set since the card had only taken a few minutes. A mat from a scrap of DP, a red mat, a felt snowflake and a length of ribbon, and now I've got a tag to go with my card. This tag is so festive, I think it might even dress up a plain (read: BORING!) gift sack under my tree ;) Here's a couple more shots and I'll be on my merry way!

have a great one, hope you can come play this week at colourQ!! :)

hugs, Noelle

supply list: patterned paper: Provo Craft Cricut pad; 3D stickers and decorative tag: K&Company; punch: EK Success; felt snowflake: Hobby Lobby; holly button: Dress It Up; sentiment sticker: unknown

DUST IT OFF!: Well, there's nothing new about these projects, but they turned out quick and cute, just the way I like it! :)

pretty little (rejected) cards & things that are important to remember

2011-12-11T13:36:00.000-08:00

Hi there, I just wanted to share these 3 cards that I had submitted to the latest issue of Paper Crafts. One of my goals for this year was to get published, and I've been a bit sad that it won't be accomplished this year. But it will be a new goal for 2012! :)

However I think it's important to say, I don't have real problems. This morning in church, our family was lighting the Advent wreath and doing the readings. As we were waiting to go up to the front, we started to chat with a man that was standing in the back with us, also waiting to go to the front of the sanctuary. We introduced him to our kids. He looked shocked when we told him our youngest son's name was Evan. He said that he'd had 3 sons also, and that one of them had died one year ago today, and he was there to dedicate the Christmas Tree in memory of his son. His son's name was also Evan. Tears filled my eyes as he relayed his story & we hugged.

Losing one of my children is my (and any parent's) greatest fear. I can't imagine suffering so great a loss and I was so impressed by his faith and undying love for his child.

So, here's some pretty cards for you today. no, they weren't right for a magazine this time, but maybe another time they will be. Hug your kids today!!

love, love, Noelle

2 cards for TCP Tuesday! (TCPTUES188)

2011-12-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hi there! Things has been CRAZY 'round here as the holiday season flies into full swing! But I just HAD to make a few minutes to play with my new goodies from The Cat's Pajamas. Isn't that new snowflake doily die just GORGEOUS? I'm a smitten kitten ;) The challenge this week is to use the following palette:

Lovin' this, particularly for winter cards, such a nice change from the ordinary. They are selling a new twine over there with pink, red and white intertwined, wouldn't that be SO fab for Valentines? Well, I mae TWO cards for this challenge, and here is numero dos.

This card was inspired by a (sadly) Paper Crafts mag reject I made last week. Will post soon so you can see!

On this one I made a layered embellishment with some of the snowflakes cut from the doily die and the large TCP snowflake die. I used silver EP to heat emboss the "SNW" (which is all one stamp is their new set J*lly H*liday).

For this one I colored, Stickled, paper pieced & glitter gemmed this super cute new stamp "Freezin' Season." I backed him with the new die which I cut out of foil covered cardstock. I added the sentiment at the top with one of the snowflakes that was left and a little gem. :)

Well, that is all for me today, BIG HOLIDAY HUGS to all and there's only a couple weeks left to enter my BLOG CANDY giveaway!! Linky is on the sidebar there, I'd love to send YOU a Christmas present! :)

xoxo, Noelle

Supply list: dies and stamps: The Cats Pajamas; foil paper: Martha Stewart Crafts; patterned papers : Echo Park and MME; silver embosing powder, craft ink and heat gun; red glitter gems; Frosted Lace stickles; Copic Markers; circle and square punches: EK Success

ColourQ114 anything BUT a card! :)

2011-12-06T09:05:00.000-08:00

Hi there! I have been so excited to show you this week's color combo at colourQ! When Arielle posted it she mentioned that this was her favorite color combo of the year, I have to agree! Look at this gorgeous yumminess!

Love love LOVE this! And that darling snowman is just too sweet, I think I may have mentioned before, that I am such a snowman girl!! I just love them & if you saw my house around this time of year, you would laugh, because there are so many! ;)

This week, we are challenging you to make anything BUT a card in the challenge colors! I decided to make a Christmas ornament:

The little button on the bottom is in the Celery color, I realized when photographing this project, that the green got a little lost, since there was such a small amount!

I used some Spellbinders Christmas ornament dies (they are the 2011 version). I cut 2 pieces of each color, since I wanted to sandwich the string between the 2 parts & have the red part of the ornament hang freely. The Santa, the "ho ho ho" and the kraft punched piece are on both sides of the ornament.

Here's a closeup on santa, so you can see his glittery trim hat and flocked beard:

I had a lot of fun with this project! It was really nice to make something that was not a card or a page! :) What do you think you might come up with?

I used my "leftover" piece from the center of the frame to make this little ornament with a double sided sticker and some felt accents.

Not right for colourQ, but I'm sure if I can't find a place for it on one of my trees, I could tie it to a gift or something! Gotta love a 5 minute project! Here's the back:

Well, that is it for me today! It is a gorgeous snowy day in CO today, and it's perfect, since it's a day that I just get to stay in & craft. What could be better? :) Have a super day!

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamp: Inkadinkado; dies: Spellbinders; felt snowflakes and deer: Hobby Lobby brand; punch: EK Success; paper: Echo Park; markers: Copic; flocking powder: Inkadinkado; Frosted Lace Stickles; jingle bell: Dollar Tree; green adhesive buttons: pebbles; red glitter gems; baker's twine: Crate and Barrel; silver glitter paper & 2 sided snowflake sticker: Martha Stewart Crafts; turquoise glitter

DUST IT OFF!: Not a lot of old goodies on this, but using the leftovers to make a second ornament saves me from having "dust off" supplies later! :)

Birthday Cards

2011-12-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

Hello all! Once again, not a ton of time to write, but I did want to share these cards I made for my stepdad and stepbrother's birthdays, which are this week.

My stepdad is turning 70, and my parents are having a big party tonight! Should be fun! :) I love the way this card turned out:) I cut the "70" on the Cricut and dry enbossed it with the inked up stars embossing folder. The sentiment was made with some punches and a die cut piece that was in my SWAP goodies, I really REALLY need to order that little banner die though, I've used every one she sent that was pre-cut! The stamps are one of the alphabet sets with several of each letter so you can spell out whatever you'd like on your block and stamp the whole sentiment at once.

This one is for my stepbrother. I created a little banner with punches. I also added a little red die cut felt heart that was also in my SWAP goodies from October. I backstitched the top of the banner with red baker's twine and added some red glitter gems.

That is it for me today! Don't for get to sign up for my blog candy giveaway by clicking on that link on the sidebar! :)

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamps: Martha Stewart Crafts, TCP; punches: EK Success an EKS for SU!; solid cardstock: SU!; papers: Authentique, MME, American Crafts; Plantain Schoolbook Cricut Cartridge; stars embossing folder: Cuttlebug; dye inkpads: SU!; gems: various; bakers twine: Crate and Barrel; stickpins: Little Yellow Bicycle; dies used for heart and banner: PTI

2 Glitzy cards for TCPTUES187

2011-12-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

Hey there! I was a lean (well, not as lean as I'd like!), mean crafting machine yesterday! I managed some magazine submissions, 2 birthday cards, these 2 cards, gift tags/ornaments, AND my project for next week's colourQ! Whew! But of course, 24 hours of neglect to my house and it looks like a bomb went off! Time to clean, so I'll keep this short!

I recently ordered some new dies and other goodies from The Cat's Pajamas! Last week I was the randomly chosen weekly winner, so I got 10$ in credit, plus they've had some great sales over there lately! I got 3 new dies in the mail, the scalloped border, the pennant die (finally you won't have to listen to me whine anymore about how I don't have one!;) and that lovely snowflake die. I used them all on these 2 cards, the challenge was to make something SHINY!! :)

So this first card with PJ is pretty fun! I added a border on the right using a glittery paper & the scalloped border die. Used lots of rhinestones, even highlighting the pattern in the paper with teeny little rhinestones. You like? :) PJ is paper pieced from a scrap of kraft plaid paper and I even gave him rhinestone buttons. He's holding a flag made from the new mini pennant in the set, I stamped the sentiment on there.

On card 2, I used all 3 new dies. I used the gold paper again, some red glitter gems and some gold ones too. I tried to temper the glitziness with the muted DPs and a wood snowflake behind the glittery one. I used the scallop die to create the "landscape" for the trees which have wood trunks from that same wood sheet. Initially I was going to add PJ in his Santa hat to this card, but once I got working on it, I really liked the way it turned out.

Well that's it for me right now! I've got some more goodies to show you in the upcoming days, so stay tuned! :)

Hugs, Noelle

supply list: stamps and dies: TCP; papers: SU!, MME, and Authentique; glittery paper: Martha Stewart Crafts; gems: various; inkpads: SU!; stickpin: Little Yellow Bicycle

Sparkly and Sweet (CQC113, PP74, JB48)

2011-11-29T11:57:00.000-08:00

Well hello there! Hope you all are doing well today. I am having a great day so far. Started out with a 3.3 mile walk/jog with a friend, and came home and realized that I could successfully navigate 3 challenges with one card! Dontcha just LOVE it when that happens? So, before I get much further, let me link you up. This is for this week's colourQ challenge 113 Please come play with us this week at CQC! Love these shades of BLUE! :)

It is also for Lesley's sketch challenge at The Paper Players 74.

And it is the final challenge at Jingle Belles for this year (**sniff sniff**) the challenge is to incorporate food into your card!

So, I figured by going with a gingerbread man, using the colourQ colors and using the PP sketch I would be a super-duper multitasking crafty chick today. ;)

I started out by cutting my gingerbread man. I used this same guy last year on one of my fave Christmas cards of all time! You can check it out here. So I cut him out with the Cricut, making a shadow for him in the Marina Mist color. I die cut the squarish shape for him to be layered on. I accented him with some googly eyes and these old silver button embellies I found in my stash. The supply list on this post will be short as so much of what's on this card is so old I really don't know who made it! Once that piece was all done, I set it aside. I made a regular A2 sized card base, but as I went to put it all together, I realized I needed to go bigger to fit all my elements! So this is a 6" square card.

The rectangular panel is a snowflake acetate sheet laid upon an old scrap of SU! DSP. I used a punch to make the tab and sticker letters to spell out "sweet."

The strip across the bottom is a laser cut felt ribbon, so pretty! I accented it with some blue pearls.

Well, that is all! I hope you like my card & don't forget about my blog candy giveaway! If you're already a follower, all you have to do is click and comment on that post! Have a super day! :)

hugs, Noelle

supply list: Cricut cartridge "from My Kitchen;" dies: Spellbinders; stickers: Jolees and K&Company; punch: EK Success; snowflake acetate: Hambly; snowflake felt ribbon: martha Stewart Crafts; patterned papers: stampin' Up! and unknown; silver buttons: unknown; blue pearls: unknown; googly eyes; solid cardstock in challenge colors: Stampin' Up!

DUST IT OFF!: So many old goodies on this card I don't know where to begin! the buttons, the stickers, the paper, it's all old, but it's alllll GOOD! ;)

Mixed Media Let it Snow sign

2011-11-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

Hi there! I don't have much time to type today, so I'm gonna be speedy. This project was born of necessity! Well, the necessity for me to have proper visual aesthetics in my house that is.... I know, crazy designer girl. I had this little display goin' on in my house:

Now, everything's cute, and the scale is good here, but that little snowman trio in the back left hand corner doesn't quite "gel" with the other items. The style of it is more country not vintage like the rest. It's going to find a new home, by some more countrified winter decor & here's what I made to go in it's place:

I had considered hitting up Gordmans or TJ Maxx looking for just the right thing to go in that corner, but who needs to spend money when you have all the goodies on hand to make just the perfect thing in the perfect size that you will love? :)

Heres quickie tutorial on how I made this...

1. start with a 12" canvas. I used a metallic stamping marker (very similar to a paint pen)to color all the outside edges gold, but you could always use acrylic paint instead.

2. Decoupage music sheet scrapbook paper to front of canvas using Mod Podge. While still slightly tacky, lay a laser cut snowflake scrapbook paper on top of the music sheet. Spray liberally with brown metallic spray ink. Move sheet around and spray heavier in spots to make some snowflakes "pop." 3.Remove laser cut paper and use a blow dryer to surface dry the canvas. This will give a crackly finish where the spray is heavy.

4. find large die cut letters (or cut your own s, n, and w). Stamp lightly with a snowflake stamp and sponge brown ink onto all edges. Adhere to canvas with glue dot's leaving room for snowflake "o."

5. Using gel glue and glass glitter completely coat a chipboard snowflake with glitter. Let dry overnight.

Color another chipboard snowflake with metallic pens in gold and silver. Accentuate center of flake with a wood snowflake and blingy sticker.

6. Adhere both snowflakes to canvas with glue. Let dry.

And that's all for me today! I am rushing, but will come back soon and add a supply list. One of the great things about this project was that everything used to make it was 2-3 years old except for the canvas I bought a few months ago. I hope you like my sign as much as I do. Some more detail shots are below. :)

Hugs!! :) Noelle

CHRISTMAS BLOG CANDY!!

2011-11-27T19:50:00.000-08:00

So... do you think you've been good enough to have Santa stop by your place this year with some new crafty goodies? I don't know about you, but my hubby and I have chosen to skip doing gifts for each other this year. Money has been a little squeaky as of late, and it's the responsible thing to do.

So, maybe you are like me. maybe Santa is more concerned with filling the stockings and under the tree with gifts for the kids and relatives & there's no crafty presents for you?? Well, then, this just might be your lucky day! This is my Christmas BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY & it's simple to play.

1. You must be a follower of this blog.

2. Leave me a comment on this post. Would be fun if you included your favorite Christmas gift ever, but it's not a requirement! ;)

3. It would be very nice if you would mention and link this post onto your blog. My hope is that I will get some more traffic, etc. Again, not a requirement, but I would really appreciate it!

4. On DECEMBER 26th, 2011, I will use a random number generator to pick the winner, each person only gets entered once, so no point in commenting more than once.

Here's a closer peek at some of the goodies included!

list of goodies:

*1 Martha Stewart Crafts "punch around the page" 2 punch set with corner and edger punch

*2 Inkadinkado clear stamp sets NIP

*1 package Jolee's Parcel dimensional embellishments NIP

*1 Inkadinkado silver starlight pigment inkpad NIP

* 1 package Recollections pastel metallic brads (package may have been opened, but none were ever used)

*2 packages Sticko stickers NIP

*2 Unity stamps, unmounted, brand new 1 sentiment and one flower stamp

*1 Michaels stamp reads "Family" NIP

*1 spool pink lovebirds ribbon NIP

Well, that is it for me! Happy Christmastime! :)

big hugs! Noelle

button tree Christmas card

2011-11-27T19:13:00.000-08:00

Hi there! As I was floating around blogland I came across a new challenge I hadn't seen before. It was the challenge at Just Add Ink and this week (that link will take you there) was for the "Bah Humbug"challenge. You can use a Christmas sentiment, but no Christmas product on your card. This card was actually a Paper Crafts mag reject that never got posted. But the call for the magazine had been for the exact same thing, so I knew it would fit the requirements of the challenge since it had fit the requirements of the call!

So to make a Christmas card without any Christmas goodies? Not really too terribly tough. In this case I CASEd my own card from last year! I had loved this O Button Tannenbaum card when I made it, so that was the jumping off point for this little guy. I started out with a DP base and a red mat, I think that DP is MME "Stella and Rose." I cut a triangle by cutting a rectangle first, then finding the center point on one of the short sides and cutting up to that point from the each lower corner with my paper trimmer. I used my favorite tree die (looks to be currently on sale if you likey;).

I used the technique I had described in the "Button Tannenbaum" post for the buttons...

"I picked out my buttons and fooled with the layout of them a little on the tree which I had taped down. Then I adhered each button down with a glue dot, and that step is important, even though it will gum your needle up a little. it would just be too hard to keep your layout otherwise. Then, I used a paper piercer and punched a little hole through each button hole. I laid down a paper piercing mat beforehand, but the backside of an old mousepad works just as well. Then I threaded my big needle with a long piece of my Crate and Barrel bakers' twine, (I'm doing my darndest to use up all 2300 feet!) lol, in all seriousness, I'm using it on my Christmas presents TOO! And I stitched through the holes I had pierced. It took a bit of time, but was SO much faster than if I hadn't used the glue dots or pirced the holes. Those two steps saved me loads of time when it came to the sewing."

All the buttons were from my stash and that red and beige upholstered brad was really old, just from a box of random embellishments I had laying around. Probably either from Oriental Trading or Recollections would be my guess. Used the red tape in my old-school labelmaker for the sentiment.

Well that is all for me tonight! I am currently working on a pretty sparkly, mixed-media home decor item I can't WAIT to show you!! But... first it has to dry! See you soon! :)

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: DP: My Mind's Eye; baker's twine, Crate and Barrel; buttons: SU! and other manufacturers; labelmaker & red tape: Dymo; upholstered brad: ???; solid Real Red, Old Olive, Soft Suede cardstock: SU!

DUST IT OFF!: that upholstered brad is so old! And I bought that 2300 foot spool of bakers twine over a year ago, and it's still going strong! :)

A Little Christmas Giftie and Holiday Decorations

2011-11-26T15:39:00.000-08:00

Hi there! So sorry it's been such a long wait. I know, I know, we had 22 people (including us) here for Thanksgiving & then yesterday was complete and total chaos! I also want to apologize for being so tardy on returning comments, I was about a week behind when I FINALLY got caught up this morning!

Have spent quite a bit of time putting up the Christmas decorations up, which, in my world, is no small feat! I know most people have a bin or 2 and their tree, mine's more like 8 large bins and requires me to essentially take all of my "regular" decorating stuff down and put up all the Christmas stuff instead. First I start by laying those silk pine garlands draped with white mini lights over everything that doesn't move. Then there's ALL the other stuff and it is crazy! Being that my birthday is on Christmas, I have received many a snowman (I collect them, and must have 30+!), Santas, pine trees, and gingerbread men decorating items throughout the years as gifts. But the thing is, I really do love it! Yes it's a lot, but I so enjoy being in my house with all this sparkly merriment around me! ;)

Ok, so enough of that (for now anyway, but will be posting several pics at the end of this post!) I wanted to show you part of a gift I made today.... Had decided for this person that some Christmasy kitchen goodies from Crate and Barrel would be a great gift, but I wanted to personalize it a bit. So, I am including a family recipe and one of my Grandma's vintage cookie cutters in the box. Here's some pics so you can see!

These are the recipe cards, I used an old stamp set (SU!) to stamp the cards and then I used my fave edger punch along the right side of each. Did some simple embellishing & I really feel that this will help make the gift extra special! I also embellished the cookie cutter with some ribbon a wire Santa and a jingle bell. But once the bow is pulled, it will all come right off so it can be used.

Detail shots:

Well, the embellishments COULD come off, but if you're me you hang your vintage cookie cutters on a slim 5' tree in the kitchen! Along with all your other "food/kitchen" themed ornaments! ;)

One of the "ornaments" on my kitchen tree.
This is one of my Grandma's old cookie cutters.

Kitchen tree, yeah I know the topper
is crooked in this pic! LOL

And here's my "pot rack" actually a planter I turned into a pot rack a couple years ago. I change out the display inside the basket seasonally. Here's my winter one! :)

And here's some family room shots, that's where the stockings go!

mantel

one of the built in shelves

Here's a great tip if you are ever planning on
expanding your family...
When there were just 3 of us, I bought three
DIFFERENT gold velvet stockings and
personalized them myself with gold puff paint.
As our family grew it was easy to find
another gold stocking, and since they
didn't "match" to begin with, they didn't look out of place!

shelf next to mantel

And here's some dining room shots:

I saw this one in a magazine, use large ornaments
hung with decorative ribbon off of a hanging
light fixture. With three boys I chose these
PLASTIC ones that look like vintage glass from Tar-jay. ;)

dining room table centerpiece

And finally our REAL tree. This is the first year it has been in this spot. I usually have it in the curve our staircase creates, but you might remember, I put Ev's Art Center there! It looks ok here, I think, but I did have to do a bit of furniture rearranging!

Christmas Tree

And, I got my BLOG CANDY photos taken! Will be back soon with a post for that! :)

Well, that is it for me today! I hope you are having a FABULOUS Thanksgiving weekend!

Hugs, Noelle

supply list: papers: Echo Park and Crate Paper; glitzy snowflake sticker: K&Company; snowflake button: Dress It Up; stamps: Stampin' Up!; pens: Zig; Diamond Stickles; punch: EK Success; red glitter gems; snowflake ribbon: Michaels; jingle bell: Dollar Tree; red wire Santa: ??

DUST IT OFF!: That wire Santa is so old I have no clue where he's from or when I got him, but I've got a few, maybe I will embellish some of my other vintage cookie cutters. Also that stamp set is one a friend gave me that she did't use anymore, I never used it until today! It's pretty old, the box is all yellowed and cracked! ;)

Can't.... resist.... the.... stamps..... (TCPTUES186)

2011-11-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

I should be cleaning the bathrooms.
I should be vacuuming.
I should be thawing bread dough for tomorrow's fancy breakfast.
I should be checking the turkey to make sure all 22 lbs. of it are thawed.
I should be setting the table.
I should be dusting.

I'm not doing any of the things I **should** be doing, instead I did THIS... and now I am writing a post about it!

I just couldn't resist when I saw this awesome inspiration photo for this week's TCP Tuesday.

Isn't this lovely, elegant, wintry, and fresh? I loved it and I loved the idea of making a TCP card in this kind of feeling since most of the cards I make with their stamps are more bright, modern, and bold.

I thought I'd start with this little guy, one of my fave TCP stamps. I stamped him on DP, and I colored him with watercolor pencils and blender pens, except for his face and coat, on which I used Copics. I added some pale yellow flock to make his mittens "fuzzy."

Obviously, I was inspired by the colors and the feel of the inspiration pic. But one way I took the pic a bit more literally was by interpreting the mitten by making an accent for the bottom of the card out of braided craft felt. It's soft and wintry. I accented that part with a punched jingle bell from a wood sheet and a bow made from seam binding.

I used a vintage look ticket for the sentiment (which is from the TCP set "Beary Good Year") I accented that with some adhesive buttons.

And that is it for me today! I really DO need to get to my "should" list now, plus I now need to add "Should clean craft room" to the list!! ha! Have a stellar day and a very blessed Thanksgiving!!

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamps: The Cat's Pajamas; papers: Crate Paper and Echo Park; watercolor pencils/blender pens; Copics; library clip/solid cardstock in Ivory, Sage Shadow, and Kraft: Stampin' Up!; brown inkpad: Memento; adhesive buttons: Pebbles; ticket: Tim Holtz; jingle bell punch: Martha Stewart Crafts; seam binding: SU!; bakers twine: Crate and Barrel

DUST IT OFF!: If you have some old watercolor pencils laying around, try those on your next project instead of Copics!

Braces Off Layout (CQC112)

2011-11-22T07:16:00.000-08:00

Hello there! It's time for another great color palette, this week at the colourQ! Here's the palette!

I think these are great Thanksgiving colors, and aren't these muffins/cupcakes in the inspiration pic so cute? I want to make cupcakes that look like Indian corn! Adorable with those jellybeans on top! I didn't have very many good Thanksgiving pics. But I thought these pics of Ian right after he got his braces off last Fall were too cute & he was wearing a brown tee in the photos, so I decided to GO with it! Here's my layout.

I started off with a sketch I found on a site that was new to me. The blog is called Got Sketch, and some very good, dynamic sketches are on there! I really liked this one that I ended up using. I often find that if I want to scrap quickly I stick to my "regular" methods, but layout is a place I struggle sometimes, so when I want to scrap FABULOUSLY, then I go to a sketch, it makes all the difference in my pages!

For the second page, I kind of just went off of the first one with the color blocking, etc.

For the title, I had the "braces" sticker in my stash. For the rest of the letters, I stamped these Cartoon Alphabet Stamps down on the Daffodil cardstock, and then overstamped them with another Inkadinkado stamp in the Cherry Cobbler ink. Then I cut them out induvidually and taped them to my punched border strips that I used as my title blocks. I offset two circle punches to create those orange rings around the "L" and next to the journaling. As a side note, this was a MAJOR 'punch-heavy" page! I used 3 circle punches, a star punch, a border punch and a corner rounder punch! Good thing I have so many, at least, that's what I keep telling my husband! LOL ;) The tooth shape was an SVG file I downloaded to use on my Cricut with my SCAL software. Here's the link at My Time to Craft blog. Since I didn't have any other themed items to use on my page, I thought the tooth really worked!

For the "swirly" shape in the lower RH corner of the sketch, I used a linear stamp (from my new prize package!) and heat embossed it with white craft ink and white EP.

I used some mini stickers and some bakers twine to make this "floss" block, heeheehee... Wish my son WOULD floss more often!

You can see the bottom of that "braces" dimensional sticker here, I thought that was SO cute! :)

First page

Second page

Well that is it for me today! I am hosting the BIG family Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday! But my family is awesome, so everyone brings something. :) But I still gotta clean and thaw that big bird! I hope YOU all have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Much love, Noelle

supply list: punches: EK Success; star punch: EK Success for Stampin' Up!; all stamps: Inkadinkado; dimensional sticker: Jolee's Boutique; inkpads in craft white, Cherry Cobbler, and Basic Brown: Stampin' Up!; cardstock: Bazzill; Cricut/SCAL software/free tooth SVG file; mini letter stickers: lilybee designs; journaling cardstock: Creative Memories; journaling pen: Slick Writer/American Crafts; bakers twine: Crate and Barrel

DUST IT OFF!: That big braces sticker has been in my stash waiting for an opportunity to be used for AGES, plus, my trusty punches, many are 8-10 years old but still get plenty of use! :)

2011-11-20T18:14:00.000-08:00

Hi there, I just wanted to share that my cards were featured both this and last week as "A Cut Above" at The Paper Players. I am truly humbled that I would be featured at a blog that I consider to have such a talented DT. I haven't played many challenges lately, and I was so excited to get this recognition. Thank you so much! What a wonderful treat, I am truly grateful!

:) Noelle

Dan's Birthday Card ala TCP Tuesday

2011-11-19T11:23:00.000-08:00

Hey there! Hope you all are having a great weekend so far! We sure are! The boys went to my Mom's for the weekend, and we are getting our Christmas lights up (well, my husband is... I'm blogging, actually ;) and we are going to go grocery shopping for Thanksgiving and maybe a little Christmas shopping done, too. :) All because my Mom and stepdad are **AWESOME** Thanks guys :) The new dog is doing really well, too! :)

I needed to make my bro a birthday card, and so I thought I would use my TCP stamps! They really are all my favorite birthday sets. I had only used this darling stamp set Catch My Drift a couple times & I thought it would pair well with these new papers from MME. The other set I used is the super-versatile A Beary Good Year. Here's the link & sketch for TCP Tuesday 185 this week:

Great sketch, huh? I though the filmstrip idea would be cute to frame some of those tiny images from the Beary Good Year set. :)

I started out by stamping my balloon bear onto Kraft cardstock. I colored him with a variety of pens. Some chalk markers, some SU! markers and some Copics. I fussy cut him out and popped him up with dimensionals on some of that new paper, which I am quite smitten with! It's called "Fun Day" from MME. For the filmstrip I cut a strip of Basic Gray cardstock to a 1 1/4" width and cut a slightly smaller strip in the Daffodil Delight color to adhere behind it. I punched 4 1" holes in the gray piece, and then after I adhered them together, I stamped those small images in the holes on the yellow cardstock. I did a bit more coloring on that.

I really really love/covet this fabulous Icing die from TCP! I think it would be fabulous on scrapbook pages too! But alas, I don't have it, but was tickled to see a similar punch in the prize package I recently won! So I used that to punch a little accent strip for the filmstrip.

The final touch was some bakers twine wrapped round my card. For the circular accent on the sketch, I used a punched circle, punched wood star, and some cute new stickpins.

I hope you like my card! I really am happy with it, good thing it's going to a special brother! :)

Have a stellar day!

xoxo, Noelle

supply list: stamps: TCP; punches: EKS for SU! and Martha Stewart Crafts; solid cardstock in Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo & Basic Gray: SU!; coordinating inkpads: SU!; patterned papers: MME; stickpins: Little Yellow Bicycle; Memento Black inkpad: Markers: Copic, Zig Chalk markers, and SU!; wood veneer sheet; red glitter gem

Midnight Stamper

2011-11-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

Hi There! I don't have much time to type today, but I wanted to show you this pretty card that I made last night (insomnia, again!). I am embarrassed to admit that after getting a rather large prize package in the mail the other day, I actually went to the craft store and bought 2 new punches as well? Yes, I know, call it a sickness.... ;) Do any of you suffer from the same obsessive craft supply collection syndrome? I feel ya...

Anyway, my new card was a combination of an idea I saw on Lisa's blog when I was Guest Starring at jingle Belles, she made a felt ornament that hung off of her card and could be removed and used on a Christmas Tree! LOVE that idea, and that's what I did here, too. That white circle (which you will see in a minute has 2 sides) is actually an ornament that can be removed and hung on a tree! :)

The flower was made with one of my new punches (yes, one of the ones I bought!;) The Carnation Flower Punch. You punch your pieces and then curl the strips up to make flowers! Pretty cool huh. This one turned out ok, but I hope to get even better with these! :) I used my new Retro Flower Punch from my prize package to make the leaves. The stamps I used are also from my prize! Ok, here's the backside of the ornament...

Admittedly, another new punch, this is the Large Snowflake Punch. I punched it and glittered it with some cheap green glitter from my stash. I ran a string between the two sides of the oranment, and tied a bead on the bottom half and looped the top half so that it could hang on a tree. Here is the inside of the card, so you can see someone could just undo the tape and voila! Ornament time! :)

Here's a pic of the card closed. I took the die cut piece that I'd cut out to "frame" the ornament, and taped it to the inside, so it all fits together when closed. I really love the way this looks... :)

And that's it for me today, I need to make my brother a birthday card soon, so I hope to be back this weekend! :)

hugs! Noelle

supply list: punches: Inkadinkado; stamps: EK Success; bead: Jolee's; bakers twine: Crate and Barrel; lined cardstock: Creative Memories, DP: echo park; silver adhesive button: Jolee's; green glitter: Michaels dollar bin; die: Spellbinders

Prize package win & more pics of the new dog

2011-11-16T12:47:00.000-08:00

Hi all! No time to craft today, but I got my latest prize package from the Spotted Canary website yesterday! I wanted to show you my haul and let you know that I will be doing a blog candy giveaway from this pile very soon! So, if you want to be eligible, please follow me, either through the followers tool or through networked blogs. I won this package for my participation in the Fashionable Felt Challenge (that's a link to the projects I entered).

Here's some pics of Comet and Nova! Everyone is getting along GREAT, it was a total risk we took bringing her home on such an impulse, but I'm glad we made the choice to! :)

I am hoping to get to play with some of my new fun goodies, very soon! Hoping to have some time tomorrow!

hugs, Noelle

Nova

Comet (L) and Nova (R)

Turkeys and Trees

2011-11-15T13:05:00.000-08:00

Hi there! I am going to do one 2 card post today, as we are still adjusting here in new dog-land. ;) Actually, our new Pom (who we have named Nova) is precious and she and Comet are really getting along beautifully! I think this was totally the right move to get this dog, and she is truly one of the best things to happen to me all year, too sweet! :)

Ok, card one is for this week's colourQ 111. Great fall colors this week, I made a Thanksgiving card! Here's the palette:
And, I also used this old sketch from Mojo Monday 109. This is an old sketch, not a current challenge, as is the second sketch I used... here it is!

Ok here's card number two! I meshed both the Paper Players 72 and Jingle Belles Sticky and Sweet Challenge which is to use stickers! You can see that embellishment at the top is a dimensional sticker! Here is my card:

And here is the palette from the Paper Players & the old Mojo sketch I used:

So, here's a lot of pictures, but not very much writing, sorry! I hope you like my cards! :) And, I hope you are having a wonderful week!

Hugs, Noelle

Birthday Party decorations and a new family member! :)

2011-11-14T13:14:00.000-08:00

Hi there! WOW, we had a crazy weekend! Collin's Wii themed party was Saturday night and Sunday, well Sunday we ended up with a new family member, more on that after these decorations to show ya! Here is the centerpiece I made for Collin's party above. Some detail shots...

While getting these pics loaded, I realized that I had never posted the very similar centerpiece I made for Ev's Little Einsteins themed party in September. So, here you go!

If you have a Cricut and the SCAL software, you can download that Rocket cut file here. The other thing I made for the party we just had was cupcake pics. Here's a couple pics:

I think cupcake pics are such a great way to keep the cake part of the party cheap! I just used scraps and toothpicks to make these.

Ok, so here's the scoop, I may be a wee bit busy this week, as we have a new dog! About 3 1/2 years ago we adopted Comet (the larger Pom on the LH side in both pics) and he has just been the sweetest, calmest, friendliest little dog you could ever imagine! So, I had often told my hubby that if the opportunity ever came up to adopt a female Pom (not for breeding or anything, just so I can finally have a girl! haha!) that we might just have to. Well, we went to Petsmart yesterday, and there was a lady there from the Colorado Peke and Pom Rescue and she had this darling little female Pom for adoption! Her name is Nala (like in the Lion King), she's 7 years old, and super calm and sweet. So far so good! Don't she and Comet look so much alike? She is smaller than him, he's 20 lb., she is around 11 lb. So anyway, I might be just a little preoccupied this week trying to get everyone settled, so bear with me! Have a great one! :)

Hugs, Noelle ;)

50th birthday SURPRISE for my aunt :)

2011-11-12T15:32:00.000-08:00

Hi there! After Collin's birthday dinner last night, my Mom took the boys to spend the night at her house. I gotta say, my Mom has been SO generous with babysitting help since she retired, thank you Mom! :) So, Hubby and I were able to attend a 50th birthday SURPRISE party for my aunt that was later in the evening. :) I am so bummed to tell you I **FORGOT** this card & the little gift I had bought for her. She lives in a different state and just happened to be visiting, so my cousin threw her a surprise party. So, I guess I will be getting a package in the mail this week. I just hate it when I do dingy things like that!

Here is the card I made for her! I used some pretty K&Company papers on this, I love this collection, it's called Sweet Nectar. I used the coordinating mat stack to cut out the "50" on my Cricut. I used an old stamping system I have where the stamps are magnetic, and there's a metal block you can arrange the stamps on to make a word. That is how I stamped the "& fabulous!" part on the card. Those are fun stamps, I used to use them A LOT when I was a beginning stamper and didn't have very many sentiment stamps. But it still comes in useful from time to time! :)

I used an edger punch on the top of the DP where I did my stamping. I made a bow around the card with some seam binding I ordered awhile back from SU!. I added a mini library clip, a resin flower, and a pretty paper red and white dotted rose for embellishments. All in all, I thought it was a fresh, pretty card. I hope my aunt likes it! :)

Well, that's it for me today, gotta go clean my house so 10 boys can come destroy it for Collin's party this weekend! LOL, life of a Mom! :)

hugs, Noelle

supply list: papers: K&Company; paper & resin flowers: Prima; All Mixed Up Cricut cartridge; seam binding, library clip, solid cardstock & gray inkpad: Stampin' Up!; mini letter magnetic stamps: making memories; punch: EK Success

DUST IT OFF!: That magnetic stamp set is really old, I'd say 8-10 years at least! Still works great! :)

Happy 9th Birthday, Collin! :)

2011-11-11T07:32:00.000-08:00

Hi there! happy 11/11/11! today is actually my middle son's birthday, Collin is NINE today, I can hardly believe he has gotten so big! Curse of a mother, I guess... This is a pretty cool day to have a birthday, actually. I told him that unless he lives to be 109, he will never have an 11/11/11 birthday again. Here's his card, I'm really happy with the way it turned out, and it doesn't have the 85 zillion layers that many of my cards do. Ha! ;) Here's my boy a couple weeks ago & as a little one!

Ok, now I've had my little walk down Memory Lane, we can get back to the crafty goodness that is this card. ;) I'm so happy with it, because it IS a really cool boy card & works well for an older boy, too, but it really is still bright and fun, I think. :)

I started out with an already cut and scored white card that I'd had from before. I masked off the top and bottom scored sections with painters tape and stamped the video game controllers in each section. I decided to use some DP in the center section, and die cut some pieces for the sentiment. After the sentiment and DP were on, I wrapped some ribbon around the top and bottom of the middle section, and I really liked the dimension that added to the card. The final touches were some punched stars with a button and a "9" metal tab on top of the sentiment.

All the stamps are from the PTI set Game On. You might remember that I made the invitations for Collin's party a couple weeks ago with the same set. :)

Well, I hope you like this card... I am very happy this is our last kid birthday of the year. By mid-November, I'm always a little "birthdayed" out since my boys' birthdays all fall in a 7 week period. Have a great one! We are doing some party stuff this weekend, should be fun! :)

hugs! Noelle

supply list: stamps & dies: Papertrey Ink; punches: EK Success; ink & solid cardstock: Stampin' Up!; ribbon: Stampin' Up! and Hobby Lobby; patterned papers: My Mind's Eye (lime twist collection); metal "9" tab: Tim Holtz

DUST IT OFF!: Oh, my star punches, I've had them for years & they are so wonderfully versatile! Gotta love that! :)

Plaid Ian

2011-11-09T17:55:00.000-08:00

Hey there, Hope you are doing well. This is a funny little card I made last night with my new stamp. I am not sure how I feel about it.... I was in a really weird mood when I sat down to craft yesterday afternoon.... I think it came out in the card! My Dad was in a heart surgery, and I was somewhat anxious at the time. VERY glad to tell you he is recovering nicely. :)

I started out by scoring a white card at 1" and 2 1/2" to divide the card into 3 sections. My thought was to do some simple stamping on the top, and bottom sections, and then add a strip of this plaid paper in the center section. After I made the card, the plaid paper was just too busy, so I pulled it off & added the red paper instead. Well, I did my stamping, and then thought I should color the stamped plaid pattern. After I colored the stamped plaid pattern, I realized it was really really wrong! Way too bright, too many colors... Oy. What a mess. So, I decided to mask it off with some scrap paper and painters tape & spray it with dark brown Smooch Spritz. this REALLY helped a lot, and is one aspect of the card I like alot, as the bottom panel is only the one layer, I really like the depth that spray gave my screwed up coloring and stamping! Ha!

I stamped my little Ian (like my son!) stamp on some white cardstock & colored him with Copics. I cut him out & added a little brown flock to the center of the sunflower, and the button on his hat.

I used some PTI dies to cut out a base to put little Ian on. I stamped the sentiment on top of the green polka dots I'd stamped on the top section of the card. I tied the ribbon around the card, and there's a funky little card for you. Not my fave card ever, but he will do. Hope you are having a great week!

hugs, Noelle

supply list: stamps: The Greeting farm, Martha Stewart Crafts, and Lil' Inker; Log Cabin Smooch Spritz; corner rounder punch: EK Success; dies: Papertrey Ink; markers: copic, Stampin' Up, Inkadinkado, Zig; ribbon: Hobby Lobby; patterned paper: BasicGrey

Giddyup (CQC110)

2011-11-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

Hi there folks! Here's my layout for this week's colourQ challenge 110! Great Fall colors here, I think, and I love that pop of blue!

I gotta admit, this spread turned into an exercise in frustration! First, I couldn't find photos that would work with these colors. Then I couldn't find a good sketch. Then I didn't have enough of one of the papers, then my Cricut and the SCAL software were really mad at each other. Cutting that title took me over an hour! But all in all, I love the end result, so I'm glad that I kept at it!

As I mentioned, there was no sketch to begin with, I knew I wanted to make the layered star embellishments you see in the corners with circle and star punches, I felt like that would give the page a very western feel. I cut the title out on my Cricut, using SCAL software and a font called "Wildrodeo" on an old SU! DSP. I stamped the Pool Party bg papers with an old SU! stamp and the Dusty Durango ink. I cut two frames from that rusty "Durango" shade and I wanted to make thicker frames of the Suede color to peek out from inside the frame, but I only had one piece of that brown paper in the right color, so I cut it into strips instead and just adhered the strips to the back of my frame so they peeked through. Same look with one sheet of paper, gotta love that!

For the title strip, I took a woodgrain printed paper and I punched a white strip with a border punch. I cut a peach piece with the Top Note die and stamped Collin's name on it. I made it so the die cut piece was peeking out from between the 2 layers of the title strip. To finish it off I added a cool oversized brad that happened to be the right color, yea!

On the second page, I die cut some lined cardstock for my journaling. And I added a few horse stickers and horseshoe stickers to finish the page.

It's funny in a way that this page goes up today. My Dad and his wife gave Collin these lessons as a gift. My dad is having a 9 hour heart surgery today, and so I am thinking of him more than normal. I am trying to give my worry to Jesus. I hope you all have peace in your hearts today.

xoxoxoxox, Noelle

supply list: stamps/ink/die: Stampin' Up!; punches: EK Success and EK for SU!; mini letter stamps: Image Tree; patterned papers: SU! and American Crafts; stickers: Paper House Productions and Jolee's; lined cardstock: Creative Memories; large tin horse brad: Karen Foster

Joyful Deer (Jingle Belles, Paper Players)

2011-11-07T08:02:00.000-08:00

Hi there! Hope your weekend was great! :) I had an extra hour of sleep Saturday night, so that made me a very happy girl. :) I decided to get my craft on Sunday afternoon & got my pages done for colourQ (you'll get to see them tomorrow!) and finally a challenge card done? Yep, it's true :) I am for the first time ever playing over at The Paper Players, and also at one of my **fave** challenges Jingle Belles with this card. I also got to use some fun, NEW goodies on it! Check it....

Now, sweet Anne Marie is the host at Paper Players for this challenge. Anne Marie is a follower of **this** humble little blog, and I have to admit, I am very flattered she is a follower, because I love her work! :)

Here's the "recipe card" for this week's challenge at PP. Cool huh? Now the challenge at Jingle Belles is a challenge to use something CLEAR, so my patterned acetate card front is (and this being a Christmas card!) are the qualifying factors over there. It seemed like the 2 challenges would mesh well. I have to admit, I'm really not a big fan of when people play 17 challenges with one card. I hope I'm not offending anyone by saying that, but it seems that often the card doesn't "fit" ALL the challenges it's linked to, in that case. I'm a one, or like today, maximum of 2 challenges per project kind of girl. I'll only mix challenges if I feel I can blend them without "watering down" one of the challenges.

I was at a crafts show with my Mom this weekend! Super fun, I love craft shows! Though I don't mind telling you, this one was CRAZY packed, I have rarely seen those kinds of crowds, whoa! At the craft show, there was a booth for The Greeting Farm stamps! One of the "characters" of their stamps is Ian. Well, my son is named Ian, so I had often thought of picking up a couple "Ians" for my stamp collection! But I never had, until this weekend! I got Hello Ian and the stamp you see here is from Forest Friends. Don't be surprised if you see more of these cute stamps join my collection, either! Especially since they gave me a coupon at the craft show. ;) And I had no idea this company is really close to home for me, they are located in Parker, CO! Isn't this little deer precious? :)

Ok, well for layout, I was stumped, I had to include 3 patterned papers, two ribbons, a punch (I actually used 2 punches!), acetate, glitter, and I wanted to use my new stamps, WHEW! However was I going to fit all that on one little card? Well, I found this OLD Mojo sketch that looked like it would work, I didn't follow it EXACTLY, but this was my jumping-off point.

I started out by making my card base. I cut a 2 sided patterned paper to 4 1/4" by 12", and my acetate to 4 1/4" by 6." I used the same border punch on the end of both pieces. Then I trimmed the acetate so the total length was 5 1/2." I scored my DP right below the punched area and measured 5 1/2" from the scored line & cut. Added a little adhesive to the top of the acetate piece and I slipped that underneath the scored flap that now was coming down the front to create that front flap you see on the card.

I then moved on to my dear little deer. I stamped her on white cardstock and colored her with Copics. When I was done with my shading, I used my colorless blender pen to dot some ink along her back and the top of her head, I was trying to make white dots like deer often have along the top of them. It gave a cool look, but not as white as I wanted, so I added a few more white dots with a chalk marker. I fussy cut her out and adhered her to a patterned paper panel. I gave her a jingle bell brad for a collar, because I wanted her to look like a baby Santa's reindeer.

For that blue panel with the sentiment, I cut an Island Indigo scrap to size. I stamped some little snowflakes on it using VersaMark ink, and then I stamped the "joy" sentiment over that using the black Memento ink again. I added a rhinestone flower sticker to the "o" in "joy." After all that was adhered, I adhered a brown grosgrain ribbon around the bottom of the card, and then a light blue thinner ribbon on top of the brown one. The final touch was a very glittery snowflake 3D sticker backed with a punched piece and popped up with a foam dot.

So, I think I got all the recipe pieces, though if you count the patterned acetate, the punched piece behind the snowflake, the piece the deer is on, and the front and back pieces of my card base, I think I have **five** DPs? Hope that is not TOO many! I do think this card ended up a wee bit busier than I would have liked, but I'm leaving it as-is. You know how much I like patterned paper! I also used 2 punches, and I hope the glitter on the snowflake qualifies as a sprinkle since it's not loose glitter.

I hope you like it! Have a fabulous day & I will see you back here tomorrow morning with another colourQ challenge! :)

hugs, Noelle

supply list: stamps: The Greeting Farm & Inkadinkado; DPs: Little Yellow Bicycle; markers: Copic; punches: EK Success; snowflake sticker: Jolee's Parcel; ribbon: The Ribbon Boutique (Hobby Lobby) & Stampin' Up!; snowflake acetate: Hambly Screen prints; solid cardstock in Soft Suede & Island Indigo: SU!; ink: Memento Black and VersaMark

DUST IT OFF!: Uh, that snowflake sticker is from last year, but that's about it... my scrapbook pages for tomorrow have some more fun, older product on them, though! :)

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas! (MFTWSC44)

2011-11-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hi there, friends! Hope you are all doing well, today. :) We woke up to this scene this morning, which resulted in a SNOW DAY for the boys! They have been having so much fun playing outside in the snow, putting up our few Thanksgiving decorations, and I think later on we will bake a little something! :)

While they were occupied outside, I started on this card that had been swirling around in my brain for awhile.... Last weekend, I didn't have my class at church, but the boys did have Sunday School, so, while I had an hour to burn, I went to Barnes & Noble for a soy latte and a look around, I happened upon these **fabulous** vintage look Christmas tags, at 20% off! :)

Here's what the tags look like, so pretty, all glittery and vintagey....

So, I had been thinking on this, even looked around at sketches, but nothing was floating my boat... then today, it's all wintery here, and I spied this new sketch at My Favorite Things! Oh, so perfect for these new tags! :)

I ended up making a 5" square card, but in retrospect would have preferred a 6"instead. I needed a bit more "square footage" than I ended up with! Here's my card:

Everything was going along swimmingly, and I was thinking I'd have room for a sentiment stamp in the lower LH corner of the card. I was also under the mistaken impression at the time, that this was a Mojo sketch, and so I would need a Verve stamp. Uh, wake up, Noelle! MFT! Then I started to panic a wee bit because the only MFT Christmas set I have is the one I used to make this card last year (no longer available). So, what's a girl to do? You want to include some product from the challenge site, but are out of room and don't have the right stamps? Well, here's what I did, I inked up the word "Christmas!"on one of the sentiment stamps & then I stamped it on a teeny tag, I attached it to the vintage tag with a pearl brad, which actually helped hide the hole in the big tag anyway, and I managed to squeeze in a little MFT, anyway! :)

The DPs I used are new (and the tag), but everything else on this card is from last year or older. In fact, that mini tag is really old!

Well, I hope you like my card! Enjoy your day, whether it be snowy like mine, or a bit on the warmer side! :)

Have a stellar day!

hugs, Noelle

supply list: decorative tag: Cavallini and Co.; mini tag: Stampin' Up!; stamp: MFT; Patterned papers: Authentique; embossing folder: Cuttlebug; oval cutter: Creative Memories; glitter photo corner and decorative tape: Martha Stewart Crafts; border sticker: K&Company; pearl brad: The Paper Studio; glitzy snowflake brad: Karen Foster; solid cardstock in Real Red & Garden Green, dye inkpad in Real Red: SU!

DUST IT OFF!: Lots of oldies but goodies on this card, including that mini tag, which is probably close to 10 years old! :)

Gratitude (CQC109)

2011-11-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I am in **LOVE** with these gorgeous rich tones for colourQ this week! Don't you love them, too? Here is my card, which I had so MUCH FUN making! :) I really felt like my Mojo came to visit for this card!! :)

Here's the fabulously RICH palette for this week:

I love this Island Indigo shade and haven't used it much... The layout of the card came from last week's sketch at The Paper Players. I'm **embarrassed** to admit that I didn't follow that blog before.... and then there were some FABULOUS cards in the colourQ Gallery last week, all that used this awesome sketch. Check it!:

So, that was the jumping off point for this card. I loved that banner trailing down the side, so I had to make one :)

I started off with the dry-embossed background in the houndstooth pattern. I used the Cherry Cobbler red for that main panel, and then I brayered and sponged the Soft Suede ink over the top. I matted that piece with a Soft Suede mat, and mounted both pieces onto a Island Indigo card base. For that strip with the sentiment, I heat embossed that "gratitude" stamp in white EP on an Island Indigo strip, and matted in with a Pumpkin Pie strip. Both pieces were distressed with one of those razor distresser thingys.

Then I started on my banner. I cut a white strip to size, and then stamped it in the challenge colors with these stamps, which I often go-to for background stamping like this. When I was going through the box that holds my dies and embossing folders, looking for the houndstooth folder, I had spied this tree die which I hadn't used in ages and is just so very cute! :) So I decided I would layer the tree on top of the banner, and use buttons for the "leaves."

I pulled buttons from all different containers and jars looking for just the right combo of colors and sizes/shapes. I didn't have any buttons in the Island Indigo color, so I used some clear buttons I have that have coordinating punches so you can back the buttons with paper or cardstock. I used glue dots to stick down my buttons after playing with the arrangement of them a bit. The final touch was two clear heart-shaped buttons under the sentiment that I stitched into place with orange baker's twine. Believe me, it was no easy feat stitching through 5 layers of cardstock! Even though I pierced the holes first, there's just no making 5 layers of cardstock and glue dots an easy match for a needle and twine! LOL!

Well, that is all for me today! I hope you will come play these luscious colors over at colourQ this week! I'd love to see what you come up with! :)

hugs! Noelle

supply list: stamps: Inkadinkado & Autumn Leaves; embossing folder: Cuttlebug; tree die: My Favorite Things; buttons: Papertrey Ink, Stampin' Up!, reclaimed buttons; mini punches to cover buttons in paper: Stampin' Up!/EK Success; white embossing powder and heat gun; VersaMark inkpad; solid cardstock and ink in challenge colors: Stampin' Up! orange bakers twine: Jillibean Soup; square punch (for "tail" of banner): EK Success; edge distresser

DUST IT OFF!: That gratitude stamp is really REALLY old! From the same old set I pulled these stamps for the Halloween treat bags from last week! :)