Tucson

An on-line friend of mine once went on rampage once and sent all sorts of people personalized cards. Here is the ultra cool one she sent me.

She obviously thinks I'm far more vogue than I really am.

The Fine Print: Background and lady stamps by Hero Arts.

Perky Peacock

Hey look what I found--a perky peacock card that I made at a workshop 4.5 zillion years ago. Or maybe it wasn't quite that long ago. Maybe it just feels that long ago, you know, how sometimes one whole day feels like an entire week long. Usually that happens only during the workweek, but you know...

The Fine Print: All the this and that's by Stampin' Up since it was a SU workshop.

Hark! Hear the Bells

Merry Monday's challenge this week is to use bells on our cards. I know I have little jingle bells somewhere but I'm not a fan of putting that much bulk onto my cards. That left me with.... well, nothing.

Nothing, that is, until I remembered a paper embroidery pattern I had.

Then, ta da! This card was born. It was totally fun to make. I haven't done paper embroidery for at least half a decade or more so extra kudos to Merry Monday for keeping me on task for Christmas cards and for getting me to revisit old techniques.

The Fine Print: I got nothing for you. I got this particular paper embroidery pattern from a class I took but I'm quite sure I saw it in a paper embroidery book once too. The paper, ribbon, and greeting sticker is all from my stash.

Desk Day

Here we again at the place that some people refer to as Hump Day but the rest of us consider to be What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday.  Follow the link to check it out.

Overall my desk doesn't look too much different from previous posts. Those more eagle eyed of you may spot something largely different (no, not the hubby lurking in the background; he's the same one as always).

Here are some things that I am currently working on and/or ignoring (mostly the latter). I need to get a birthday card out to a friend so the postage stamps are front and center to jog my memory as are the birthday dies.  The Pets paper was used to cut out elements for a doggie house card that I made recently. I have some newer A Muse Studio stuff out to play with too.  The stuff stacked to the left needs to be put away as does many other things.  Hey, do you guys see a cassette tape on my desk? It is amazing the interesting things you find when you start poking in all the corners.

The Fine Print: Card parts and stamps by Club Scrap, crown brad from my stash. A very appropriate card all things considered.

Whoops

Dear Blogger,
Could you please let my dedicated readers know that I am okay after yesterday's near fatal craft accident. You might want to warn them the dangers of gravity as well because it turns out that if you precariously balance a box of stamps on a high shelf and then crouch down there is a really, really, really good chance that they will come crashing down on your head.  The upside to this crazy turn of events is that they were cling mount stamps and not wood ones so I'm much less concussed today.  'Kay, Blogger? Can you let then know all that? Thanks!
Signed,
PJ

The Fine Print: I'm fine, 'tis but a flesh wound.

Many Thanks

Check this out! My illicit fancy cut and fold doggie house won top honors over at the Shopping Our Stash blog. I'm so tickled!  The latest challenge is to use plastic.... perhaps shrink plastic, acetate, plastic buttons or other plastic embellishments.

I have the cutest plastic flower buttons I wanted to use on a card. I wandered over to my hanging organizer which has some embellishments in glass jars and promptly dropped the jar with fancy sequins onto the tile floor. It shattered into tiny bits and none of it was salvageable-- Such tragedy!

That put me off playing for bit so for now you'll have to make due with this business envelope sized thank you card I made awhile ago. It's all I got... well, I suppose I could should you some glass shards and ruined sequins. *sigh*

The Fine Print: Card toppers, stamps, and parts by Club Scrap. BTW, the kitties wanted to help pick up the mess. I think we got by without anyone getting glass in their paws.

BEEcause I Said So

I don't have a card of my own to show you today so I thought I'd show you this card that was sent to me awhile ago. I often pin this card to my bulletin board to admire it in all it's springy glory.

And also to covet this stamp BEEcause it is so much fun. My reason for sharing it is to ask you if you know who makes the stamp and/or the name of it BEEcause I would like to own it myself. I can't ask the person who made the card BEEcause it was made by own of those people who don't sign the backs of their cards.

The Fine Print: I don't know! If I had to guess I'd have to say that this looks rather Penny Black-ish.

Rainbow Bridge

A card for a friend because it hurts to lose a furry family member.

The Fine Print: Paw Print by Memory Box, greeting by Endless Creations.

Merry Berries

Last week's challenge at Merry Monday was to make a card using the chalkboard technique and this week it is to make a card with berries on it.

What does one have to do with the other you ask? Well, I made 4 chalkboards and only used 2 and there is something about those black and white chalkboards that make me want to pair them with holly and berries.

Thus, this card was born. I used glitter glue on the berries to keep the card rather flat for ease of mailing.

The Fine Print: Greeting, snowflake, and holly leaf dies by A Muse Studio, designer paper by DCWV.

Workdesk Number Tree-fitty

Hello and Welcome to the 350th week of What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday, a fun and oddly satisfying blog hop where we show off our work spaces.  This is mine from this past weekend.

From left to right on the desktop proper you'll see a bunch of cards. Some are incoming, some need to be outgoing (if only I'd get motivated) and some just need to be put in the Christmas card box (cranking those out this year!). There is a clear stamp of leaves that I used for the ATCs I started last week. The long card with the girl on it I finished off because I need to send a birthday card (and I still haven't sent it!),   There are pencils, ATC left overs, my notebook to keep me on track, Copics, foam tape, the finished ATCs, a pile of random cards and papers, scissors, rules, filmy cloth bag, more scissors, more tape, ink pads, more copics, and some new stamp sets.  Whew.  That's a lot.

The table behind me is getting quite a workout too. You can see my stamp travel bag in the background, my big shot, paper cutter, empty plastic bin with a mini catalog on top, cut up cardstock, a memoir, a stamp cleaner pad and of course, a geiger counter (you mean not every crafter has one?).

Here's one of the finished ATCs that I had in pieces on my desk last week that I was asked to share. The theme of the swap is "short and sweet." I hope this captures that.

The Fine Print: Possum stamp by Stampin' Up, greeting by DeNami Designs.

Lots of Thanks

I have good and bad news.  The good news is I got rid of the treadmill that was taking over my living room and making me feel guilty.  The bad news is that got me on a whirl and I started rearranging all sorts of things around. That's bad news because even though I can still get to my desk I haven't been creating lately. That means y'all will have to make do with this card I made last year (so last year).

The Fine Print: Card parts and topper by Club Scrap. Large scallops created with a circle punch.

Bent Out of Shape

Over at the Shopping Our Stash blog their latest and greatest challenge is called Bent Out of Shape. They are asking that you make a shaped card. Well, a rectangle is a shape but I know that isn't what they mean.

A zillion or so years ago a stamping friend sent me a card in the shape of a doghouse. I immediately traced it so I could duplicate it, which was probably highly illegal and I should be lounging in prison now getting three hots and cot (and cable TV) for free. I say that because she included a flyer about the company whose template it was and they suggested it could also be a birdhouse. I don't remember the company otherwise I would give them credit now, although a quick Google search shows dog house templates a'plenty. If you open the house all the way up, this is what it looks like.

The Fine Print: Dog stamp by DOTS, greeting stamp by Hero Arts, designer paper by DCWV (both the roof and the cut out flower and hydrant), bone punch by unknown, and of course, that contraband dog house template.

Purple and Green Gal

This year I decided to challenge myself by... well, um... by joining challenges! You know how challenges are--they tell you what to do but often those directions are usually far reaching so you still have a lot of range to get creative in.  There are a lot of good ones out there.

So much so that I haven't always gotten my card made in a timely manner. I'm collecting quite a number of not-finished-in-time challenge cards on my desk.

This one was for the Snarky Sisters T is for Technique challenge. The technique I chose was paper piecing, because that one doesn't take a lot of talent. I finished it up this weekend because I am in need of a birthday card and this will make a great one.

The Fine Print: This is one of those Julie Nutting doll stamps which are cool, but rather large so not the best for card making unless you need some business envelope sized ones (its good to be different sometimes). Oh yeah, happy VD to y'all!

SU Cards

Here are the cards I made at a workshop the other evening. I think these are both fabulous cards--kudos to the lady who picked them out. It was a fun evening.

The Fine Print: All products and supplies by Stampin' Up, some retired, some current. Stamps used: "Artistically Awesome" and "Stipple Rose."

Sympathetic Post

I'm quite sorry that I don't have photos of the fabulous cards I made at a workshop last night to share with you. I'm sure I will tomorrow, so no need to continue to wallow in sorrow today. Perhaps a couple of cards made several months ago and can ease your suffering.

The Fine Print: Stamps, toppers, and card parts by Club Scrap "Tilescapes." Also, for easing suffering try one or more of the following: whiskey, wine, women, song, retail therapy, nachos, or chocolate.

Cute Critter Christmas

Over at the ABC Christmas Challenge the current challenge is C is for Cute Critters. While I can't say for certain, I am quite sure that some of the my first Christmas stamps had cute critters in them. So in my usual over achieving fashion I pulled out a couple of them to make some simple Christmas cards.

The Fine Print: Christmas mouse by Penny Black, Caroling Duo by who knows! I never remember to look and see before I put the stamp away. Peace and Love greeting by A Muse Artstamps. Stitched circle die by MFT and scallop circle by Spellbinders. Large scallop border punch by EK Success. Papers and ribbons from my stash. 

Workdesk Wednesday #349

Another Sunday showing of my desk so you can see it in action. Most of the action seems like piled up stuff but I assure you it is not.  Okay, maybe it is.  All those stamps lurking under the overhang are collage style stamps that I adore but never use. It is time that they find themselves a new home where they will get inky. Front and center has bits and parts for an ATC exchange I joined. I am just gathering supplies for the ATCs so I can work on them at a crafty gathering this evening.

The left desk has a stack of made cards and cards in progress, including several birthday cards I made recently. Some of the in progress cards have been there for weeks. I need to either finish them up or toss in the towel.

The right side of the desk has my newest Stampin' Up stamps to play with and a lovely gift from a friend (a Wink of Stella pen!).

And here's a card that has been sitting in the pending folder since fall. This was made for one of those challenges. The challenge item was the pumpkin seed. I didn't get very creative with mine as you see here but some folks really went to town with them. That's all I got for you!

The Fine Print: I think that frilly pumpkin is by Cottage Cutz but I could be making that up, greeting by Taylored Expressions and stitched leaves by Lawn Fawn.

Chalkboard Christmas

As a kid I hated chalkboards and chalk. It had to do with being allergic to chalk and chalky substances. I remember a teacher forcing me to write at a chalkboard anyway (under the guise that it was non-allergic chalk) and then my hands itched terribly all afternoon.  All that to say I don't have fond memories about chalkboards so I wanted to curl into a little ball and weep when I heard that Merry Monday was doing the chalkboard technique this week.

So after I was done sniveling, I put on my big girl panties and dealt with it. After all, the chalkboard technique does not involve actual chalk or chalkboards. It does, however, involve heat embossing that is a whole other story!

So these are my two messy chalkboard cards. I had heat embossed up a couple more greetings but haven't gotten around to them yet. It turns out that the chalkboard technique isn't nearly as tramatic as I envisioned. You should try it out!

The Fine Print: Greetings, big snowflake, and red/cream ribbon by A Muse Studio, small snowflakes by SU, holly punch by Martha, woodgrain embossing folder by Sizzix, papers and frilly ribbon from my stash.

Happy Birthdays!

I had great visions this weekend of finishing off all sorts of challenge cards that I've started and not completed. I also had great visions of sitting on my behind. Guess which one won out?! I wasn't a complete lazy bum though and did make three birthday cards (and apparently only photographed two of them).

I made this fun card for my country farm girl friend who is having a birthday somewhere in the vicinity of Valentine's Day. I never remember if hers is the day before or the day after.  And no, that doesn't make me a lousy friend; I have no clue when my brothers' have birthdays either. I just know the general timeframe (mid-20's of August and November).

This brightly colored garden kitty card is for my kitty loving friend. I know this card doesn't look very birthday-ish but it has birthday greetings on the inside and that makes it a birthday card.

After faithfully joining the Merry Monday Christmas challenge every week I commented to a friend that I need to find a birthday challenge to join in on a regular basis to stay on top of birthday cards. She pointed me in the direction of Seize the Birthday.  They do an anything goes feature or you can follow their suggested topping if you'd like more guidance.  My two cards fall under the anything goes theme.

The Fine Print: Top card stamps by Stampin' Up, bottom card stamp by Peddler's Pack. Is it just me or does that top bunch look like a rough crowd?

Cuppa Joe

I made this card a couple weeks ago to send to a friend. I had grand visions of lots of layers and banners and ribbons and borders and embellishments. In the end I came up simple is better. Or at least, simple works just fine.

The Fine Print: Stamps by Stampin' Up, stitched rectangle by MFT, ribbon by Hero Arts and heart brad by Recollections.

I {Heart} Hearts

With Valentine's Day fast approaching I thought I should make a few more cards. At first I was stumped for ideas but then I decided to copy myself.  That decision was made easy because I found an identical card blank and the same snippet I used before.  You'll see I did change up little girls though.

Then I decided to use up some other random pieces I had lurking around in my Valentine pile to make this happy heart dog. Much like the Christmas pile that thing isn't going to get used up in my lifetime either, but I keep plodding away at it.

I used glossy accents on the pup's nose and eye for a little touch. I thought about glittering the heart but I needed a VD card for a guy so I left that frilly touch off.

Well, that's me using some bits and pieces so it's off to the Snippets Playground. That's twice in one week. It's like it is becoming a habit or something.

The Fine Print; Valentine stamps by Stampin' Up (two different sets), LOVE greeting by Copper Leaf Creations, foam heart from Joann's crafts, and everything else from my stash 'o stuff.

Workdesk Wednesday-A Fabulous Day

Here I am joining up with the bestest blog hop around for the second week in a row. Check out Workdesk Wednesday if you fancy a peek at other's work spaces and latest creations.

I don't actually have any latest creations today as I'm fussing about with the Valentine's cards I made previously. The idea is to get them in the mail (wait for it......) before Valentine's. Radical, I know!

Here's an artistic view of what's on my desk. The far left pile is things in progress which is growing instead of shrinking like I'd like. In the middle of the desk I was adding some small sequins to the unicorn cards and on the far right side is a stamping kit I just got in the mail.

If you came here to see cards, here is a random easel card I made a couple of months back.

The Fine Print: For the purists WOYWWers the desk photos are from last night. It is mostly picked up now and the stamp kit opened. Also, only 3 Valentine's mailed (so far!).  Easel card stamps and parts by Club Scrap "Random Doorways."

Here Comes Santana Claus!

What do you get when you cross Satan and Santa? You get whatever I scribbled into my little notebook to remind me of the Merry Monday Challenge this week.  It looks suspiciously like Santana Claus,which I suspect looks more like this guy:

Than he does these guys:

So there you have it, a couple of quick Santa Claus cards that I whipped up last night out of the few holiday bits and bobs that I pulled out and already put away.

The Fine Print: The problem with being that efficient is I forgot to check and see who made that Santa stamp before I put it away. It's a wood mounted stamp that I've had quite a while and use often (but apparently never show on my blog). Stitched circle die by MFT, scallop circle by Spellbinders, designer paper by Basic Gray (top) and DCWV (bottom), ribbon, pearls, and holly pick leaves from my stash.  Merry Not Christmas, Y'all.

We Have Ourselves a Reader...

Challenge #236 over at Shopping Our Stash is to make a card inspired by a book. Now then, I'm an avid reader but nothing came to mind that I could translate into a card. I'm sure after this challenge closes tons of things will come to mind.

Mostly I read true crime, biography, detective style mystery, and zombie stories. I came up with some weird ideas but lacked blood splatter and didn't feel yanking out the H'ween stamps for zombies. So I decided to go back in time when I was younger, more innocent and read things like nursery rhymes.

I have fond recollections of Hey, Diddle, Diddle, the cat and the fiddle and that cow jumping over the moon. There seems to be lacking a little laughing dog, but we definitely have a dish running away with the spoon.  I'd like to think the dish and the spoon are running towards the dishwasher, but I am known for flights of fancy.

Since I used a snippet of orange paper and that blue backing layer I'm heading out to Pixie's Snippet Playground as well to see if anyone knows the next line to this little ditty: Jack and Jill went up the hill, to do some hanky panky.

The Fine Print: Hey Diddle Diddle by Stampabilities, border punch by Martha, designer paper from DCWV and CTMH. Extra credit points if you know what the title of this post is referencing.