Joy to the World

Hello - this could very well be the last Christmas card I make for 2011. I needed one more card and so I made this one this evening. I may have to make one more but I won't need that until New Year's as I won't be seeing that person until then so it gives me lots of time. This card was made with Magnolia Tilda with Teddy Bear. I used paper that I had in my paper drawer (not sure which company they are from). The poinsetta's are made from my Marianne poinsetta die (I love this die cut - it is so much fun making these flowers). The swirl is also a Marianne die. The bench is one of my older Magnolia stamps. I used a Martha Stewart border punch for the bottom and a piece of gold ribbon. All the coloring is with my copic markers. I have put a Big Shot machine on my Christmas list and i have been throwing lots of hints to my hubby - I will see if he picks up on my hints - lol!! Well off to bed for me it is really late. 4 more sleeps till Christmas (actually only 3 for us as we celebrate on Christmas Eve) hard to believe it is almost here and we may not have a white Christmas where we live as there in no snow in the forecast for the next few days and only mild winter weather. I hope you have a great day and Merry Christmas in case I don't post again till then. May your Christmas be filled with joy, peace and creating special memories with your families.

Your stamping friend, Debbie

Magnolia-licious Star Challenge

Hello - My weekend was not as productive as I had hoped - with working during the week - it seems that there are just too many errands to do on the weekends and with Christmas only one week away it seems my errand list has more than doubled. I did manage to get a couple of cards made and I was checking out the Magnolia-licious blog and the challenge this time is to use as many stars as possible on a card. I used my new Marianne die cut that has lots of stars as well as my new Tilda stamp. I again used the Bo Bunny - Winter Collection paper (which I absolutely love). The sentiment is by Whimsy. I added some lace and jewels to finish off. I colored with my copic markers and paper pieced her coat and hat. I actually was happy how it turned out. I guess this year I will have to buy a couple of cards to finish off my Christmas list as I just won't have the time to get many more cards made before Christmas. I am definately going to start my Christmas card making much sooner for next year. Well time to head off to bed - I am sad that the weekend is over - weekends go way too fast for my liking. Have a great Monday - thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Your stamping friend, Debbie

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Hello - Well this is the largest card I have ever made but in order to get the two Magnolia images on the card it needed to be large. I purchased these 2 Magnolia stamps in November and this was the first time either was inked up. I just fell in love with this Tilda and knew that she would go well with the Christmas house scene. The paper is all from Bo Bunny - Snowfake Collection. I absolutely love turquoise and browns together so when I saw this paper I knew it would have to come home with me. I used my copic markers to color and this was so much fun as I love to color and there was lots to color. I added some lace to the backqround, a sizzix die for the corner and a Marianne swirl die as well as some prima flowers. I am not sure how well it shows on the picture but I added lots of sparkle to the snow areas. Tilda is popped up a bit to give it a more 3 dimentional look. The sentiment is from Cornish Heritage Farms. Thanks for stopping by for a visit and have a wonderful Tuesday evening! Try and keep warm - it is quite chilly outside.

Bye for now
Your stamping friend, Debbie

A Country Snowman

Hello - It was a very emotional weekend as it was my grandmother's funeral - although it was so nice to see so many family members that I haven't seen in some time. I had a bit of time on Sunday evening to spend in my craft room but my brain was just not being cooperative in the creative department so I found this "old" stamp from Hero Arts that I have had for years and thought it would be an easy one to do - no creative thinking just lots of coloring and that was perfect for me last night. I have made this card in the past coloring with my Tombow markers but it was fun to color with my copics. The image is the card so I just layered with some paper and that pretty much finished off the card. I hope to get in the creative mode this week as I still have a few cards to make and send out - yikes - can't believe how fast December is passing by! Have a great week - bye for now.

Your stamping friend, Debbie

Baby Card

Hello - my niece is expecting a baby next weekend and our family all pitched in to buy a new stroller for the baby. I was asked to make the card to go with the gift. It was hard to switch from Christmas mode to Baby mode but I did manage. It actually felt good to create this evening as it has been an emotional day with my Grandmother just passing away. This card is made with a Penny Black stamp. I used nestability dies for the two background circles. The sentiment is from some designer paper. The swirls are a Marianne die cut. I added some pearls and flowers and some faux stitching to finish off. I used my copic markers to color the cute hedgehog. Thanks for stopping by to visit. Have a great day!

Your stamping friend, Debbie

Whimsy Snowman

Hello - I was not able to get much crafting done this weekend as planned. My Grandmother was not doing well and we had to travel to see her (she passed away last night so I am grateful that we did go and see her on the weekend). I did manage to get this one card made though. It is a Whimsy stamp - I thought this snowman was very cute. I am not sure of the name of the paper I used - it all came from a paper pad set but I am not sure which one. I used my round scallop nestability for the background. I added 3 little white pom-poms for the snowballs. I guess the colors are non-traditional Christmas colors as well but I like the color combination. I hope you have a great week - it will be a difficult one for myself but I am hoping to spend some time in my craft room as that is a healing place for me. Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Your stamping friend,
Debbie

Pretty in Pink Tilda

Hello everyone - I am very happy today as it is Friday and I don't work weekends! I am hoping to spend much time in my craft room this weekend working on Christmas cards - I so love being in my craft room and creating - it soothes the soul (for me anyways). This is a new Tilda I just bought at our local scrapbooking store. The background trees are also Magnolia - I think I bought that stamp last year. The smaller snowflake is a Martha Stewart punch and the larger one if from a cricut die. I used the diamonds from the larger snowflake to make the tree ornaments. The oval she is standing on is a Stamping Up punch and the 2 gift boxes are die cuts from my quikutz. I added some lace on the side and added a few jewels and pearls as well. I am not sure which company the sentiment is from. This is a change for me - using such soft colors - I usually use more bright and contrasting colors but I like the soft look too - I am entering this in the 7 Kids College Challenge (non traditional Christmas colors). Thanks for stopping by for a visit and hope you have a crafty weekend - I am certainly going to try!

Bye for now
Your stamping friend, Debbie

Holly Christmas

Hello - I made this card for a special aunt of mine - she always loves and appreciates handmade cards so I always try to make her something special. I just purchased this new Tilda (not sure of her stamp name). I loved this image when I first saw it and then I had to get the Memory Box die called "holly vine" to go with this stamp. I colored her with my copics and used Tim Holtz Bundled Sage for the background. The corner (top left) was a sizzix die as well as the other larger cream corner. The sentiment is a Penny Black stamp. I added some lace, ribbon and flowers to finish off the card. I was happy with how it turned out and will enter it in the latest Magnolia-licious challenge. Thanks for stopping by to visit my blog and for your very kind comments. Have a great day!

Your stamping friend, Debbie

Santa Claus is coming to Town!

Hello everyone - I bought this stamp a couple of years ago and I am not sure which stamp company he is from. I have to admit this was the first time this stamp has seen ink as well. Not even sure what prompted me to choose him - maybe I felt sorry for him that he has not seen any ink - ever. I actually had fun coloring him and putting this card together - I made 4 of them using different background paper (this was my favorite combo. I used copic markers - the darkest red on the coat was R29 and then I used the next few numbers down to get the shading. I added some sparkle to his hat and coat trim. I hope you had a wonderful weekend - back to work for me tomorrow - I am having fun making Christmas cards - lots more still to make - hopefully will have some more regular posts over the next couple of weeks as I get all my cards done.

Your stamping friend, Debbie

A Birthday Card

Hello - it has been a while since my last post - the days just fly by and I am not sure where they go but sometimes I wish I could get them back. It is my neice's birthday and I made this card (I actually made it some time ago but thought it would be suitable for her birthday). It is a Kanban Stamp but I am not sure of the actual name of it. As I made this card some time ago I do not have the copic marker list but it is colored entirely with copic markers. This was a challenge for me as the dog's body is a huge area to fill. I would like to practice more with technique for doggy fur though. As the image is pretty much the card - I just layered paper and the sentiment is also from the same Kanban set. Thanks for stopping by for a look and if you are from the States - Happy Thanksgiving to you!! Hope your weekend is filled with family, fun and fantastic food!!

Bye for now
Your stamping friend, Debbie

I wish it could be Christmas everyday!!

Hello everyone - I just purchased this new Penny Black stamp set called "Christmas Every Day" The reason I bought it was mostly because of this adorable Teddy Bear image. I just love him!!! I colored him with Copic markers (I didn't keep track of my numbers - I know it was the E20 markers though) and then using paper from Cottage Christmas Paper Pad (I love those smaller paper pads as they always have great coordinating colors and the print is normally smaller which I love) I paper-pieced his jammies - don't you just love his little fluffy belly sticking out!!!! I think it is so cute!!! Anyways I used my Cricut Christmas Noel cartridge and cut out the window in the background. The paper used was also from the same Cottage Christmas Paper Pad. The image is from the same PB stamp set as well. I used Tim Holtz Vintage photo to distress the edges somewhat and used my new Marianne Design Creatables die cut to cut and emboss the poinsetta flower. At the end I added a couple of copper brads in each corner to add to the rustic type look. I layered cardstock and patterned paper and then added some faux stitching around the edges of main image and sentiment. I am going to enter this in the Papertake Weekly Challenge this week as the theme is Christmas Cards. I actually love how this card turned out and my mind was thinking as I was trying to sleep and I envisioned this card all in blues so I will try and make that as well. Thank you for stopping by to visit my blog I really appreciate that you take time out of your busy day to visit. Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday and keep warm - we have snow where we are - way too early for my liking!!

Bye for now
Your Stamping friend, Debbie

Oh so cute!!

Hello and I hope this post reaches you in good health - this is definately the time of year for colds and flus. My second Christmas card is made with a brand new stamp that I just purchased - its a Tina Wenke stamp called "Alex in the snow with puppies" If you have followed my blog you will know that me and dog stamps kind of go together - I cannot resist a cute doggy stamp!! As soon as I saw this one it was "got to have it". I colored in the image with my copics (list at bottom) and then I cut the image out. I attached with pop-up squares to give a bit of 3 dimentional look. The background is layered with various cs and dp from Cottage Christmas paper pad. The sentiment is also from the same dp. I used some TH Distress Ink - walnut stain around the background sky. I also used swiss dots cuttlebug embossing folder for the sky. The snowflakes are a new diecut - which I absolutely love and know I will use for many projects. The diecut is from Memory Box and called Crystalline Border. I added a bit of clear stickles to the snowflakes as well. Copics used were BG15,13,11, R27,24,22,20, E44,43,42,27,13,11,02,00, W7,5,3, C4,2,0. Thanks for stopping by for a look and hope you have a wonderful day.

Your stamping friend
Debbie

My First Christmas Card for 2011

Hello I know it has been a very long time since my last post - my summer was absolutely crazy busy and things don't seem to be slowing down too much since but I am starting to find bits and pieces of time to spend in my craft room so I guess that is a start. This is one of my favorite stamp sets from Penny Black and I love coloring them. I have to admit though that I do need to re-acquaint myself with my copic markers - I have actually become quite rusty with using them - I need to spend some time again using them - sorry I didn't keep track of the colors I used for this card. Well one Christmas card done - many, many more to go - lol!!

Thanks for stopping by to have a look and have a fabulous day
Your stamping friend, Debbie

My New Kanban Stamp Set

Hello - I was so excited to get this new Kanban stamp set. I had never heard of this company before but when I saw this set with the dog - I instantly fell in love and knew I had to own it. I had a lot of fun making this card - I loved all the coloring! I used my copic markers to color but again did not keep a list of the colors - (I know I am bad) will try and remember for next time. As the image is so large there is not too much extra on this card. I used some older paper once again and my SU corner punch and 3 small brown brads and that was it to finish off this card. Thanks for stopping by for a visit and have a great weekend! Tomorrow is Friday and I am super excited about that - I LOVE weekends!!!

Bye for now
Your stamping friend, Debbie

Happy Birthday

Hello - it has been a while since my last post - spring/summer is a very busy time for me and my family. It is my mother-in-law's birthday today and I made this card for her. I used one of my older Magnolia sets and some scrap paper from my old paper stash. I just purchased the new swirl die on the card which cut beautifully using my cuttlebug. I also used my nestability circles and embossing folder for texture on the inside circle. I used Tim Holtz ink (aged mahagony) around some of the edges. I used copic markers to color the image however I did not keep a list of colors as I was in a hurry when I made this card this morning. The sentiment is a C.C. Design sentiment. I am quite happy with the results of this card - I thought it might be a bit too busy looking with the design paper I used but it actually isn't too bad. Thanks for stopping by to have a look - I will check to see what challenge I can maybe enter this one in - haven't entered a challenge in a very long time - it might be fun to do that again. Have a great day!!

Your stamping friend, Debbie

More Birthdays

Hello - May is a month that has many birthdays so I made yet another birthday card. This one I made for my son's girlfriend - she will be 23 on May 16th. I really love the Penny Black Betsy Bluebell collection and had lots of fun making this card. I used copics to color (see list at end of post) and layered using various design paper and cardstock. I used my oval nestability and ribbon for accents. I cut out actual ribbon and glued it on to the birthday gifts as well. I cut out the flowers in the background from the design paper. I like the bright colors - it speaks spring/summer to me and we are in such dire need of spring/summer weather! (or I guess I should re-phrase that and say I am in much dire need of warmth!). On Sunday we had an amazing warm sunny day - it reached 19 degrees - I washed off my outside deck and we even ate our dinner out there for the first time this year. On Monday it went right back to cold, windy, ugly weather again!! I was not impressed to say the least. I hope you have a great week and I just found out that there is a new scrapbooking store that opened in town - pretty exciting!! Bye for now!

Your Stamping Friend Debbie
Copics Used: E25, E37, E00, E02, E30, V09, V15, V0000

Another Birthday Card

Hello - this card I made is for my girlfriend's birthday that is coming up in May. (Don't worry she doesn't know about my blog!). I made this with a stampin up stamp that I have actually never even inked before - it was brand new. I can't remember when I bought it - I know it was a long time ago. I am actually looking through a lot of my older stamps and trying to make use of them. I colored the image with my copics and used my new nestability die for the fancy circle. I added green and pink brads in all the holes around the circle. I used a Magnolia swirl die to put in behind the main image and layered with various cardstock and designer paper. She is a dear friend and I am sure she will like this card. I am excited to give it to her.
Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Hope you have a great weekend - I plan on spending some time in my craft room.

Your stamping friend, Debbie

Happy Birthday Card

Hi - I am back! I haven't been in my craft room since before Christmas and just haven't been in the mood to work on anything until I had a friend over last week to help her with coloring and that was all it took! I was totally inspired once again and have not been able to think of anything else - I knew it was in my blood - lol!!. I was a bit worried when I felt the way I did - I really was hoping I would get my creative desire back. I guess sometimes that happens when we lose interest. I know I went quite crazy before Christmas making cards and I probably just burnt myself out a bit. Anyways my niece's 10th birthday is the beginning of May and I made this adorable Magnolia card. As this was my first card since some time - I didn't keep track of any of my copics used. I used paper from my paper stash and my nestability die cut for the circle. I added some ribbon, flowers and jewels as embellishments. Thanks for stopping by for a look!

Your stamping friend, Debbie

A Goodbye for now

Hello everyone - it has been a long time since my last post but I have made a somewhat difficult decision to close my blog for the time being. I am finding that my life is kind of going in a different direction right now. After Christmas I made some new year's resolutions and one of them was to make more time for some of the other things that I want to do. I love to read books and so that is one of the things I am planning on doing more of this year, I love to work on jig-saw puzzles - another thing I want to do more of and a long lost passion of mine is cross-stitch - I have many pictures that are half done that I want to complete. My husband and I have committed ourselves to doing more exercise so both of us go 3 - 4 times per week to Bikram yoga and in the winter we ski and in the summer we hike and I also work outside of the home. I still have a great passion for card-making and scrapbooking and I will still continue to do both but I will not be posting to a blog anymore. I found what happened to me was that I felt I needed to have a card made at least one a week if not more and it became more like a job than a hobby for me. I don't want to feel pressured and that I have to make a card so by not having a blog that takes away that pressure and gives me the freedom to just create whenever and not have to worry about getting it posted. I just want to thank everyone who has followed me and all the wonderful kind comments that I received. It was fun to try it out and to have the blog for the 6 or so months. Maybe once I retire or some other time I may be inspired to start again but for now I am happy with this decision. I will definately continue to follow the blogs that I do now follow - it gives me great inspiration to see what everyone is doing. I admire all of you who can be so committed to your blogs but for me at this point in my life it is not the right thing to do. Thanks for your understanding.

Your stamping friend, Debbie