Jolly old St. Nicholas...

Hello!  Gosh, it looks like another dreary, dark, rainy day in Missouri.  Not complaining, as it could be snow!  Hope your week is off to a great start!

Before I post 'card stuff', I want to take a moment to shout WAHOO!  Our future SIL, his father, and his BIL all finished the Ironman, Arizona!  I am so relieved that it is over, and that they are doing okay.  For those of you who don't know, and Ironman starts with a swim (2.4 miles, I think), then you start the bike ride, which is a 112 mile ride.  After the bike ride, you do the full marathon, which is 26.2 miles.  Whew....I'm tired just talking about it!  I'm so grateful that they are well, especially, given the sadness of the Philly Marathon this weekend.  Thanks to all who cheered them on!

Today's card was another pretty quick card.  The image and sentiment (Stampendous) were stamped, using Memento Rich Cocoa ink, on some patterned paper from the 'Lost and Found Christmas' collection from My Mind's Eye.  Then, the image was cut out, and distressed using a few shades of Tim Holtz Distress Ink.  A few dabs of color with some Copics finished it off.  The image is mounted on a piece of Authentique's "Curiosity" paper.  

A pretty bow later (thanks Amanda!), and ta-da - another Christmas card filed away for mailing to someone special!  The bow really does match the CS - I tried and tried to get the photo to come out with a brick colored bow, but it was determined to look purple.  Oh, well, perhaps my readers have wonderful imaginations, and can imagine a non-purple bow!

 

Hooray!   We have a winner for my Itty Bitty Blog Candy!  The magazine winner is:

 

Sandy Trefger, who said..."Ewww Skunk smell! I feel your pain. I have not had that experience but I fear for it with a house of cats that like to roam in the woods and yes a skunk that does come by for cat food dinners now and then. Your wreath is beautiful and the flowers very lovely! I like them!! And I would LOVE a copy of the magazine if I should be so lucky. Have not seen that publication. Thanks! And I hope you have a wonderful weekend too. ~Sandy T. "

 

Congratulations Sandy!!!  Please email me (mamagilliam at gmail dot com) with your snail mail info, and I'll get this out to you today!

 

Have a good week!  I'll look forward to seeing all of your lovely creations :)

Blessings,

Patti J.

A Day with Inspired Stamps

Good morning!  

Hopefully, your Sunday is already blessing you in measures of oodles!

Today, I have some projects to share that feature Antoinette's beautiful creations from Inspired Stamps.  When Antoinette asked me to be a Guest Designer for the day, to help celebrate their 1st Birthday, I was thrilled!  I had purchased a set or two, and had won a set or two, and had fallen hopelessly in love with their sweet stamp line.  I'm thankful to have been asked!

 This first card features the "Fall Gratitude" set.  Don't you just LOVE it when the DP does all the hard work?

Coloring was done with colored pencils and mineral spirits.

Supplies: Simple Stories "Generations" DP, Stampin'Up Ribbon, Amuse French Roast Ink, Bazzill CS.

Next up is a very simple note card, using the set "Vintage Christmas".

Supplies: Amuse Note Card, Amuse French Roast Ink, Ribbon from Hobby Lobby

 Again, the DP has done the tough work here!  The stamps are from the "Choir Boy/Angel" set.

You have the choice of using the wings and halo, or leaving them off and using musical notes.

Supplies: My Mind's Eye "Lost & Found Christmas" DP, Memento Rich Cocoa Ink, Copic Markers, Sparkly Fluff (Our Craft Lounge), Memory Box Frosty Border Die (Joan's Gardens), Diamond Stickles, Nestabilities Dimensional Squares

 This is another small note card, using stamps from the "Vintage Christmas" set.

I nearly stood on my head, but could not get rid of the shadows...sorry!

Supplies: Stampin' Up White Ink, Diamond Dust Glitter, May Arts Ribbon, Amuse Note Card

 Having a son that is military, and has been twice deployed, and a future son-in-law who has been twice deployed (and is going again in 2012), this little guy captured my heart.  Our son's eyes are almost exactly this color of blue!  This is a center step card, and uses the "Military Solder" stamp.

Supplies: BoBunny Snowfall Collection DP, Memento Rich Cocoa Ink, Copic Markers, Nestabilities, Bazzill CS

 Last, is the "Nativity Set".

A while back, I had seen a tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers for a Pop-Up Stage Card, (by Kim Score) and decided that this sweet little Holy Family needed their own stage!

Here is the card closed with a belly band.

 When the card opens, look what pops up!

Supplies: Bazzill CS, Recollections Snowflakes, Echo Park DP, EK Success Border Punch, Ribbon from Hobby Lobby, Copic Markers, Amuse Woodgrain DP, Sparkly Fluff (Our Craft Lounge), Killer White Tacky Tape (Creative Cuts & More).

I hope that Antoinette's stamps have brought you a smile, today!

Hop on over to Inspired Stamps, and help them celebrate their 1st Birthday!

Thanks for stopping by,

Hugs and Smiles!

Patti J.

Ironman, etc......

Happy Saturday!

Hope that your weekend is off to a nice start.

I'd love for you to send up a few well wishes or prayers for our daughter's fiance, his dad, and her soon to be brother-in-law.  They are preparing to do an ironman tomorrow in Arizona.  Ugh!  I think that's a 2.5 mile swim, followed by something like a 112 mile bike ride, followed by a full marathon.  Did I mention Ugh?  Anyway, we'll be cheering them on from Farmington!

So...I'm pretty sure you are all on the edge of your seats, waiting to hear what the 'etc.' is!  I won't keep you in suspense.  Last night, grandson doggie, and little Sophie doggie decided to take on a skunk.  I'm quite certain that you have, by now, figured out the rest of the story.  Again, did I mention Ugh?  Oh my goodness.  It wasn't bad enough that they stunk, but they came inside before we realized that they had battled the stinky critter, and now it stinks in the house too!  And...if that wasn't bad enough, Sophie had the 'sickies' afterwards, and THAT stank worse than the skunk smell.  Bless her heart, she was a sick little gal last night.  

I have a couple of quick projects to show you today.  

First, using the pre-colored Doodle Pantry set, "12 Days of Christmas Mini's", and a very sparkly red wreath that was hiding at one of the dollar stores, here is my creation:

This set is so versatile!

Next, I have a little something I made up with some felt scraps.  If DD likes it, it will travel to Colorado next week.  If she doesn't, I'm not sure what I'll do with it!  Pretty self explanatory....made three of the little felt flowers, die cut a couple of Spellbinder leaves, put them all together, put a back on them, and then a pin back (not pictured).

I have an Itty Bitty Blog Candy for someone! 

I was lucky enough to have something in the last Scrap and Stamp Arts magazine, so they sent me a free copy.  However, since I subscribe, I now have two copies!  Time to share the wealth!  

No hoops to jump through - if you'd like the extra copy, just leave me a comment telling me that you'd like to have it.  I'll draw one name on Monday, from the comments left on today's post, and send the magazine out on Tuesday!

I'm off now, to do a few household chores.  Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope to see you tomorrow!  I have a few projects using Inspired Stamps to show you :)

Have a great evening - hugs and smiles,

Patti J.

Food for thought: 

Your #1 competitor is seen every morning, looking back at you from your bathroom mirror!

Autumn Collage

Good morning, and happy Friday! 

Yikes, Autumn is fast upon us, and we needed a very quick card...one that I could literally stamp, and take to the post office right away.  On one of my trips to deliver water samples for DH to a lab about an hour away, I simply HAD to stop at Melange, a beautiful gift and rubber stamp store in Ste. Genevieve, Mo.  You all know how it is - the car would NOT turn left at the junction, so I was helpless.  Decided to just suck it up and go with it...lol.

A couple of stamps found their way into the car for the trip home, and haven't yet been inked up.  Today was the day!

This is a rubber stamp by Memory Box, "Autumn Leaves Collage".  Using a Kaleidacolor "Autumn Leaves" ink pad, the image was inked and stamped. The mat and card base are Kraft Cardstock, the ribbon is a Stampin'Up seam binding that was a gift from my friend, Amanda, and the DP is from the My Mind's Eye 'Lost and Found Christmas' Collection.

Thanks for stopping by - off to the post office!

Oops, before I go, I wanted to invite you all to stop by this weekend!  I'm a Guest Designer for Inspired Stamps on Sunday, and have some fun projects to share!  If you haven't been to Inspired Stamps to meet Antoinette and her team, and look around, you should plan a trip soon!  Oh my, you will want everything you see.  If you like the children stamps with huge eyes, you'll be in stamper's heaven!  The Inspired Stamps Blog is fun to visit, as well.  There is quite often a contest or give-a-way going on, as well as regular challenges!

Okay, NOW I'm off to the post office :)

Have a great day, and thanks again for dropping by to visit!

Hugs and blessings,
Patti J.

Food for thought:   Success is not in avoiding mistakes, but in surviving them!

November New Digi Releases at Clear Dollar Stamps!

Hello... 

Happy Tuesday, and thanks for stopping by!

Whew....how did it get to be November 15th already?  

Someone, or something has been stealing my days :)

Well, as it is the 15th, it's time to reveal the new digi's at Clear Dollar Stamps - I think you are easily going to want them all!

The first card features the pre-colored version, and is literally just arranged and printed.  

That's it!  Talk about an easily mass-produced card!  You could even create your own sentiment to include your name, like "Happy Holidays from the Gilliam Family", etc... 

A little pink bow was added, and some Frosted Lace Stickles was added to the dots and hanger of the ornament.

The next card features the outlines version.  The image was colored with Copic markers.  Hopefully, the shading resembles glass :)  Gold stickles adorns this ornament.  The DP at the top of this card is from the Loves Ornament set, and was punched using a Martha Stewart border punch.  The Kaiser Craft Pearls were added for a touch of shine. 

This set is called "Twelve Days of Christmas".  It's pre-colored, so this card was easy-peasy to create. The DP is also from the "Twelve Days" set.  

Please visit the Clear Dollar Stamps site to see all of the new releases.  Each of the DT has created something special for you!  

Have a great day,

Patti J.

Meow....

Happy Monday!

Hello everyone.  Hope that your weekend was a good one.  I was blessed with getting some time with DD last week, and with some crafting time this weekend, while DH is hunting.  Life is good :)

There was a tutorial on Andrea Walford's blog that was part of her 12 Weeks of Christmas, and featured a CD holder type packet.  When I watched the video, I first was skeptical that I'd use it for much, but suddenly, watching hers fill with those little candies, I began to think about the Pet Shelter!  So.....here is my version, and it's filled with some little cat treats that my friend Shirley, donated to the cause!  The only stamping was on the tag, and it's from the Amuse Holiday Tags set.

Here is what I did with the package:

(Cropped off my label...lol)

The DP is some that that Dawn Lotharius sent for the shelter, in a fabulous pet-themed care package.  Turned out pretty cute, don't you think?  I had to use an old Coluzzle for the opening and red oval mat, as the project is a bit wider than 6", so it won't fit through a Cuttlebug, and hand held punches weren't deep enough.  Someday, I hope to have a Grand Calibur - especially, as I may make a LOT of these for the holidays!!!

The photo doesn't do the basket justice, as that shrinky dinky gift bag didn't work well, but here is an idea of what the basket looks like.  I neglected to take photos of the kitty food treat containers that I made (sigh...), and it's very hard to make out any details, but hopefully, you can get the idea!  Thanks so much to my dear friend Shirley, who contributed a LOT to this basket!

Have a great week,
Patti J.

Food for thought:  The replacement cost for trust, costs far more than the original purchase price.

Congrats Angel and Joe!

Happy Saturday!

It is the first day of deer season here - oh, the excitement!  The gathering up all of the necessary tools, clothing, 4 wheeler, stinky scent stuff, and of course the beer and peanuts!  Hopefully, they will all have a great time today - my DH hardly ever takes time away from 'work' for anything, so I look forward to the season for his sake, almost as much as he does.

While he is in the woods, hoping to find that elusive buck with the trophy antlers, I am going to a wedding!  My dear, dear friend, Tami, has a daughter getting married today.  I'm looking forward to the wedding.  It's an outdoors wedding (I know, brrr.....), in a cozy little Chapel in a park, fittingly called,  "The Little Stone Chapel".  Angelita is going to be a beautiful bride!

 
As their invitations were very simple black and white, I thought that their card should be simple, as well.  I had seen these little hearts done into his and hers like this before, many times, and decided to give it a try.  An embossing folder with a Christmas design was used for the bodice.  It's not very visible, but the two lines on either side of the pearls have the Diamond Dust glitter on them, sort of matching what is on the score lines.  The stamp is an OLD dollar stamp from Michael's, and the vendor's name is rubbed off...sorry!


Hope you are all enjoying your Saturday.  I'm going to try to get an hour's cleaning into my girl cave before heading north.  Thanks for dropping by! 

Hugs and blessings,
Patti J.

Food for thought:  Sometimes, people do some really 'odd' things, to get 'even'...