Just Playing.....with Snow....lol!!!

Just a quick one I made while waiting for the laundry to be done. Only the sentiment is stamped. Kept it pretty simple AND flat for mailing.

Crazy4Challenges #14 -- Gift Card Packaging

I am so pleased to be the hostess for the December challenges for the Crazy4Challenges team. I hope you all will be able to take some time and play along with us during the month. I know that December is a busy time, but we all need some play time, right?????

My challenge for this week was to make some type of gift card holder. I used the Rejuvenate set by There She Goes. Now I know that this does not look very 'holiday-ish' but it was created to put a spa gift certificate in that I bought someone for the holidays.

Please take a moment to go check out the creations of the rest of the team. Here are the links to our blog and to the blogs of the team members.


Crazy4Challenges Blog
Barbara Anders
Cindy Haffner
Frances Byrne
Jessica Diedrich
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Joycelyn Turner
Lori Boyd
Lynda Benden
Mercy Kerin
Robin Willis
Vicki Garrett

Snowflakes

This was one of the last holiday cards I made for this year's stash. I believe I am DONE!!! Most of them are addressed. The flat ones have their postage on them.....the others (and that would be most of them) are ready to be hand canceled at the post office. This was a CAS (clean and simple) card made using the SU snowflake punch and a Martha Stewart punch. I CB'd the black background with a snowflake embossing folder, added some red bling to the center of the snowflakes, and heat embossed the SU sentiment.

What a delightful day I had yesterday!! A friend and I headed to New Haven to go to IKEA to meet a college friend who we have not seen for several years. (It was also a continuation of my birthday festivities.) What a wonderful day we had....full of laughter, shared memories, catching up with news of families and friends, shopping, and some deelish Italian food. It is simply amazing how, when you are with good friends, the time flies!!! And....how, even though we hadn't seen this friend for several years it was as if we had seen her yesterday....guess that is a sign of true friendship.

Stampin B's Challenge #35 - Acetate Window

Well, Nicole surely challenged us this week -- we had to do make a card with a clear acetate window. I must say that this card LOOKS simple enough, but to get that window done correctly (or almost correctly...lol!) required a degree in engineering.....at least for me it did!!! I used my Nesties to cut out the various layers of the 'frame' for the window, with many errors ending up in the garbage. Oh well, in the end I am very happy with the results. Not must stamping done on this one, but I know that the recipient of this thank you card will appreciate the efforts.....and, after all, that is why we do what we do!!!

Now be sure to visit the Stampin B's blog to see the work of the rest of the team. They truly dazzle me week after week, and I continue to be thankful that they invited me to play with them.

A Sketchy Brawd

Well, yesterday this 'Old Brawd' was a virgin......and now she is well used. I am having such fun making cards with 'her'. Thanks to Rox for this fabulous sketch challenge on SCS, which helped me to get another birthday card done. This image is part of the OLD BRAWD set by Totally Stampalicious.

If you would like to see the other card I made with the OLD BRAWD, look at the previous post.

Late to the Party Once Again....

When I finally got down to the stamp cave tonight, I not only wanted to stay away from holiday cards, but I also wanted to play with some new stamps. This set called 'Old Brawd' had totally caught my attention when my fellow Crazy4Challenges team member, Joycelyn Turner, and her partner sneak peeked this set from their new stamp company, Totally Stampalicious. This 'Old Brawd' certainly fits in with my circle of longtime friends and colleagues known as the OLD FARTS CLUB or OFC.

Well, in the Teapot challenge this week, Mrs. Boz gave us a few possibilities. One was to create a card showing what you would most like to be under the tree on Christmas......the best present of all.....WELL.....you are probably tired of hearing me say this, but my friends, both far and near, are the best gifts I have ever received.......so, to find one of them, or even a new friend, under the tree would be fabulous!!!!

(Hi Carol....so glad you 'missed' me.....lol!!!!)

Crazy4Challenges #13 Punch Happy

I am sometimes a literal person.....and on this challenge, issued by Frances (StampOwl), that tendency is evident. She told us to go punch happy. Well, if you look at this, you will see that I used three different border punches, a flower punch, and photo corner punches. PUNCH HAPPY should be the name of this card.

The image used is by Kraftin Kimmie, who was kind enough to share this image with the team. It really is such a sweet scene.....AND....a nice change from holiday cards...IYKWIM!!!

Now be sure to visit the Crazy4Challenges blog and the blogs of the team members. The following links will help you to do that.

Crazy4Challenges Blog
Barbara Anders
Cindy Haffner
Frances Byrne
Jessica Diedrich
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak (You are already here...thanks for stopping by.)
Joycelyn Turner
Lori Boyd
Lynda Benden
Mercy Kerin
Robin Willis
Vicki Garrett

Hope you are all enjoying your long, holiday weekend!!!

Stampin B's Challenge #34 - Thanksgiving!!

As I have said before, I just LOVE this tall thin gal stamps from American Art Stamps. Maybe it is because my 'dream' is to be tall and thin, rather than the opposite as I am.......BUT.....probably I like them just cuz' they are the cutest things on two skinny legs....lol!!!!

Vicky Gould, my dear stamping buddy (who I am determined to meet some day soon), was our hostess for the challenge. She chose a Thanksgiving theme for the challenge.

Now be sure to go to the Stampin B's blog to see the creations of the rest of the team....AND please play along with us.

AND.....please remember that starting next week, on December 3, we will begin posting our challenge and the team's cards on Thursday instead of Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

A Time for Thanks!!!
At this time of season, we all take the time (or we should) to count our blessings. Blessings can be the little pleasures in life as well as those that are bigger or more eventful. I would like to take this moment on my blog to thank all of my friends, both near and far....(those I have met in person and many of those I haven't)......for the gift of their friendship and support. As I have said before, I am truly blessed with wonderful and caring friends who have been there to share my joys as well as my challenges.

I am thankful for the many stamping friends who share my love for this addictive craft. You have brought such joy and inspiration to my 'therapy'. The Splitcoast and blogging communities have become such a pleasant part of every day.

For my friends from my teaching years who stop in to see my blog, know that you are appreciated beyond any words I could write.

I wish each of you, whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving today or not, a wonderful day full of all the things and people who bring you joy.

Happy Thanksgiving, All!!!