It's Christmas!

Well, not yet, but it will be here before you know it! Today's CSAYL challenge is hosted by Vicki. Her challenge was to create a card using *traditional* colors: red, green and a splash of silver and gold.
For my card I used Making Handmade Cards' Bella and Christmas Doodle sets.
Bella: :Bella #37 & #52
Christmas Doodle: Doodle x-mas 02

This is a super easy card to make and the digi prints and images make it even easier! I colored with pencil colors and added some glitter to the top of the tree.
I'm the kind of person that always wonders "why?", so I ask WHY are Christmas *traditional* colors red and green (with gold or silver)? We celebrate Christmas because of Jesus and He was born in a stable/manger (brown-wood/mustard-y straw), wrapped in swaddling cloth (white or off white), so why aren't those colors traditional? Okay, I've probably just lost some subscribers thinking I'm insane, but that's okay. Just wondering.

Good Things...

come to those that "bait". Aaron has been "baiting" for me to get this project done so he could eat these AND for us to decide if we wanted him to have facebook. Both happened today. Ü

As soon as I saw Lizzie Anne Designs' set "The Great Outdoors" the fish reminded me of these candies that are available here (not sure if this is a candy that can be found anywhere). I printed the water paper from LAD's "The Great Outdoors" and the fish paper from their digi set "Surf and Sand".

*Tip: If you print the design to a smaller size the image will shrink too.*

The ribbon goes around the paper and ties in a knot, so that the box of candy can slide out.

Chillin' and Grillin'

We've had a few Indian Summer days that make it still seem like summer. Here are a couple of cards using Lizzie Anne Design's Chillin' & Grillin' stamp set.

I love this picnic basket. I love old picnic baskets especially. There is something about having a picnic that just seems to make life slow down a bit and one is able to enjoy family, friends, food and fun. I remember when Benjamin was little and Bruce would be in the field in the summer and wouldn't get to see Benjamin much. I would pack a picnic basket and we would have an impromtu picnic in the back of the pick-up. Sometimes if the tractor needed to keep moving, I would go to the field while Bruce ate and got to spend some time with his son.

I also remember days gone by when both boys were little and I would make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit and juice and we would spread a blanket in the yard and enjoy just being outside. Makes me want to pack a picnic lunch now. Ü

Okay, back to the card...I drew the red plaid on the cloth coming out of the basket to make it look like gingham. I stamped off the ants onto the sentiment after stamping twice on scrap paper to make them very light. The plaid patterned paper is from Basic Grey's June Bug 6 x 6 paper pad.

It doesn't show up in the scan, but these flip flops are very sparkly. After coloring them with markers, I colored them with a clear Spica pen. Paper is My Mind's Eye.

LAD sketch hostess

Today I am the hostess for the weekly Lizzie Anne Design sketch. Here is the sketch I designed for you today.I used the trees from The Great Outdoors and the digi paper from the same name.I would love to have you play along. The optional challenge is to use Lizzie Anne Designs digi paper. If you play along you can upload your card here.

CSAYL week #31

Which means there are 21 weeks left til Christmas! Are you ready? Do you shop all year long or wait til last minute or something in between?

Sankari is our hostess this week and she has challenged us to make a NON A2 card. This could be a long rectangle or a larger A2 size or a shape.

I made this card at my SIL's when one of her co-workers came over one evening. She brought some cards that she had made at a card club and I instantly knew this would be my non A2 card.
I used Lizzie Anne Designs "Christmas in the City" stamp set. It was PERFECT for this!I paper pieced (with Basic Grey papers) the window stamp. I don't have a link for the pattern, but you can probably figure it out with this picture. The roof pulls out to stamp a sentiment on. The house is folded at the bottom and has adhesive on the sides. Kind of like a pocket card.

Be sure to stop by the CSAYL blog to see what the other diva's designed. You won't be disappointed!

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

I can't believe my oldest is 17 today! We are very proud of the young man that you have become. This last year of high school is going to be very bittersweet.

Fall is on it's way...

When I think of fall, I think of cooler weather, leaves changing colors, apple cider, pumpkin patches and looking for acorns (as well as many other things).

Today is the first day of school and we've been having some cooler weather (will probably be 100* now that school is starting *insert rolling eyes* Ü) and fall sports will be starting in a couple of weeks and life will get VERY busy here.

Today I am sharing another image from the September Monthly Mix by Lizzie Anne Designs. The name of the set is "Something to Crow About" and you can scroll down and see the other cards I've made with this set.

We live up the road from Oak Grove. Aaron and I like to go down and pick acorns before the squirrels get them all and I use them to put in an old wood bowl I have to decorate for fall. Aaron....he just likes to collect them. Ü

I used LAD's sketch for this week for my inspiration for this card. Tricia is our hostess this week and the extra challenge was to use multiple patterned papers.

I love matching papers from several companies. I used Cosmo Cricket's Gretel Autumn for my main background paper; Making Memories Lauren Tweed for the square and My Mind's Eye (big paper pad) for the stripe.

Want to play along? You can post here.

Something to Crow About

Have you seen the sneak peek for Lizzie Anne Design's new Monthly Mix set? Oh my, it is so full of fun images.
Here are some cards that I have made using this set. The first one is "Something to Crow About". This would be the perfect card to send someone with a handwritten note about something new going on in your life. Who wouldn't want to receive a handwritten note?

My next card has one of my favorite images from the set...apples. Soon it will be apple picking time here, which means GALLONS and GALLONS of cidering (my word, have no idea if it's real word or not Ü), jellies, apple cobbler, pies, cinnamon rolls and whatever other apple recipes I can find. LOL! This card is perfect for a special teacher or to send along with an apple food gift. I will definitely be using this stamp ALOT.

This last card is one of those that you never like to have to make, but it is part of life. I thought this tree makes the perfect sympathy card. Simple and yet elegant.

Have you joined the Monthly Mix program yet? You can get a new set delivered to you every month! For more info go here.

Chirstmas Card #30

WOW! I can't believe this is week 30! I still have two to catch up on, but still am amazed we are 30 weeks into this challenge. I actually have more than 30 cards done as I have made some for some DT work that you will get to see later.

Maria is our hostess this week and she chose a sketch for us to do. This had me stumped from the time I saw it and then last nite it hit me and I love how this turned out! I turned the sketch on it's side and had the large oval be my sentiment.

The snowflake is cut with a Cricut Cartridge and then I added glitter to it. The cardstock behind the sentiment is silver and really shines in real life.

Milk Carton fun

I absolutely love this milk carton project designed by Becky Roberts. I bought her pattern awhile back and have just now sat down to get one completed (actually I made 2 but that will be another post). I have 5 of her patterns and can't wait to have time to get the others made. They are sooo easy to make with her super duper step by step colored instructions. You will NOT be disappointed to order from her.

I was browsing SCS to see what the latest challenges have been and this project fits last week's color challenge #230 of Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa and Blush Blossom.

It turned out so cute, but still needs something at the top. I'm not sure what yet. I need to figure out what I'm going to put in the boxes and who I'm giving it too, then maybe add a tag.

I used retired SU! paper.

Dream Create Inspire

I loved the sketch that Frances used on this card of hers and was inspired to create a card using Lizzie Anne Designs purse stamp from their "Hey Sunshine" set (August Monthly Mix).

I used paper from Basic Grey's Lemonade (yellow) and June Bug lines.

Lemonade Pocket

You can't tell on the photo, but I used a clear Spica pen on the straw, lemons and part of the lemonade. It is sparkly in real life. Ü

These pocket cards are super easy to make and it's fun to be able to give a little fun gift as well with the card.

It's National S'more Day

YUM! Can you believe there is actually a National S'more Day? You can read about it here.

Ooey gooey yumminess!

I bought Hershey bars and large marshmallows yesterday to make s'mores and had no idea there was actually a day for S'mores until I rec'd an e-mail from Skip To My Lou.

I decided to make S'more Bars instead. This is a recipe that I found in a grocery store when Bruce & I were first married and it's been a favorite ever since.

S'more Bars

1/2 cup margarine (softened)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup graham carcker crumbs

1 cup flour

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (you could use milk chocolate, just not as good Ü)

1/2 cup chopped pecans (opt)

2 cups miniature marshmallows

Beat margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Add combined flour and crumbs; mix well. Press onto bottom of greased 9" square pan. Sprinkle with pecans, chips and marshmallows. Bake @ 375* for 15-20 minutes or until marshmallows are golden brown. Cool; cut into bars. (as you can see in the photo, I used large marshmallows...I didn't have miniature ones on hand)

Here is a s'more card to go along with the recipe. Ü This card uses Lizzie Anne Designs digi paper as well as s'more image. Digi Paper is from The Great Outdoors and the stamp is from the set by the same name.

I used today's sketch challenge on Lizzie Anne Land. Come and play along with us.

In the Spotlight

Today's Christmas Stampin All Year Long was to use the spotlight technique. Vicki is our hostess today.

I used Just Chillin' by Darcie's. This set has great sentiments as well as a couple of penguins and a snowflake flourish.

I used Basic Grey and SU! patterned papers. I just "spotlighted" the center part of the tree by paper-piecing it and adding some glitter.

I am behind two cards, so hope to get those caught up today. School starts next week, so I have a lot of organizing and creating to do to be ready for a big change in our lives.

OCL sneak peek day 3

Today is the last of the sneak peeks for Our Craft Lounge. Tomorrow you will get to see the full sets and a chance to win one of them.

I have two cards to show you today. The first one is using this adorable set called Hoppy Holidays. Are these frogs cute or what?!

My second card is using two sets called Snowy Sayings and Snow Place Like Home.

Want to see more sneaks? Look at this awesome list full of inspiration...

Granny’s Potion
Heather McNally ~ http://heathermcnally.blogspot.com/
Deb Felts ~ http://withastampandasong.blogspot.com/
Camibria Turnbow ~ http://cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/
Jennie Black ~ http://jenniebstampin.blogspot.com/

Happy Holly-Days
Kendra Wietstock ~ http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com/

Holiday Cruiser
Holly McMillen ~ http://toyzhaven.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Carol Halvorson ~ http://happinessblooms.blogspot.com/
Kim Teasdale ~ http://paperintheworks.blogspot.com/
Vicki Garrett ~ http://www.summerthymestudio.blogspot.com/
Jennie Black ~ http://jenniebstampin.blogspot.com/

Hoppy Holidays
Debbie Fisher ~ http://debbiedee.blogspot.com/
Elena Joldersma ~ http://www.theredhairedgirl.com/
Cindy Haffner ~ http://cindyhaffnerscorner.blogspot.com/
Jennie Black ~ http://jenniebstampin.blogspot.com/

Parka Penguins
Pam Hooten ~ http://www.pamhooten.blogspot.com/
Denise Marzec ~ http://www.thepaperlandscaper.blogspot.com/
Rose Ann Renoylds ~ http://paperdelightz.blogspot.com/

Shop ‘til Ya Flop
Kisa Peters ~ http://kisaspapercuts.blogspot.com/
Tammy Hershberger ~ http://www.stamphappy-tammy.blogspot.com/
Jennie Black ~ http://jenniebstampin.blogspot.com/

Snow Place Like Home
Debbie Corbari ~ http://www.dbdoodle.com/
Debbie Fisher ~ http://debbiedee.blogspot.com/
Rose Ann Renoylds ~ http://paperdelightz.blogspot.com/

Snowy Sayings
Denise Marzec ~ http://www.thepaperlandscaper.blogspot.com/
Debbie Fisher ~ http://debbiedee.blogspot.com/
Rose Ann Renoylds ~ http://paperdelightz.blogspot.com/

Spook-tacular
Kendra Wietstock ~ http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com/
Libby Hickson ~ http://stampinlibby.blogspot.com/
Jeanne Streiff ~ http://inkypaws.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Randi Wall ~http://www.thedarkmermaid.blogspot.com/

Tweet Winter Wishes
Jennie Black ~ http://jenniebstampin.blogspot.com/
Sharon Harnist ~ http://www.paperfections.typepad.com/
Bethany Paull ~ http://bethanypaull.blogspot.com/
Cindy Lawerence ~ http://onehappystamper.typepad.com/

OCL coffee

Here is my second project today using this fun new set soon to be released by Our Craft Lounge. I bought this coffee drink for my SIL as a thank you for letting us stay here for a week, while my oldest DS is travelling with my brother.

But it's boring to just give her this, so I covered it with pretty papers so it looks like this:

Here is a view of the top:

Be sure to scroll down to see the card I posted earlier today.

OCL Blog Hop

**EDITED to add only the blog that are showing a release today**

I am so excited and honored to be a part of Our Craft Lounge's blog hop showcasing new stamps that will be released soon. For 3 days we will be showing you sneaks (I will have another sneak on Wed) and then on Thursday, we will be giving you a chance to win a set that we chose.

Today I get to show you a sneak peek of "Fueled by Caffeine". I love this set and I don't even like coffee! Ü But I do have coffee drinking friends (do friends let friends drink coffee? LOL!!) so I will be able to send this card to one of them. I do love tea (hint hint Cami....would love a tea set) and I think that several of these images could easily be used for tea projects. In fact I have one to show you.

Okay on to the project...

There are several that are showing sneaks today, so be sure to check out these gal's blogs. If you get lost along the way, you can go to the OCL blog or forum and there is a list there as well.

Autumn Garden
Holly McMillen ~ http://toyzhaven.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Jennie Black ~ http://jenniebstampin.blogspot.com/

Cheers
Kendra Wietstock ~ http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com/
Jeanne Streiff ~ http://inkypaws.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

For-bitten
Pam Hooten ~ http://www.pamhooten.blogspot.com/

Friendly Flowers
Kisa Peters ~ http://kisaspapercuts.blogspot.com/

Fueled by Caffeine
Lila Holgate ~ http://lilascreativecorner.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Bethany Paull ~ http://bethanypaull.blogspot.com/
Tammy Hershberger ~ http://www.stamphappy-tammy.blogspot.com/
Debbie Fisher ~ http://debbiedee.blogspot.com/

Jolly Ornaments
Amber Hillman ~ http://www.ambersantics.blogspot.com/
Taylor Usry ~ http://musingsofanaddict.blogspot.com/

Merry Wishes
Heather McNally ~ http://heathermcnally.blogspot.com/
Kendra Wietstock ~ http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com/

Nuts About You
Kendra Wietstock ~ http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com/
Taylor Usry ~ http://musingsofanaddict.blogspot.com/

Debbie Corbari ~ http://www.dbdoodle.com/
Libby Hickson ~ http://stampinlibby.blogspot.com/
Randi Wall ~http://www.thedarkmermaid.blogspot.com/

Sweet Tooth Terrors
Val Stangle ~ http://www.valeriestangle.blogspot.com/
Deb Felts ~ http://withastampandasong.blogspot.com/

Witch to Wear
Carol Halvorson ~ http://happinessblooms.blogspot.com/
Joy Kennedy ~ http://joyofstamping.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Be sure to stop back later as I have a fun project made with this set. I'm at my brother's and am having my nephew help me with their computer.