Happy Monday!

Well hello everyone and happy Monday! I know Monday isn't always the most looked forward to day of the week but it's a nice day here in Ohio! It's 60 right now with a high of 64! It will be 60 again tomorrow too. Now, if it would only stay that way! At least the kids will be able to play out a bit.

So, I have a question for you guys. What die cut machine do you have and how well do you like them? I have my article running on Craft Critique today about the love for my Sizzix. It got me thinking though if everyone else is as passionate about their own machine like I am. So, leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Also, I am trying to get things lined up for specific days of the week on here. I enjoyed doing it before but things just got so hectic around here. I think that I am in a good position now to do that. I have my own laptop now so I don't have to keep running back and forth between computers. That is such a help! Anyway, I am thinking a Nestabilities day, a Super Simple Day, a smARTworks day, possibly a Starving Artistamps day, or maybe sketch day. I don't want to fill the whole week up, just 2-3 days so I can challenge myself and possibly others. So, if you have any input please share!

Both of these next cards are made with Nestabilities. I was having a hard time thinking of what I could use the tiny rectangles for but once I pulled these ornaments out they worked perfectlt. And yes, I know Christmas is over but I didn't get the dies till after Christmas so I had to try them out with whatever I had on my desk!

• STAMPS- Ornate tooled leather background, Ornaments 45.08 (Starving Artistamps)
• PAPER- Real Red, green CS
• INK- Palette Hybrid Nior, Versamagic Cloud White
• OTHER- Nestabilities rectangle and scalloped rectangle dies, Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder, ZIG markers, Sakura Stardust pen, pop dots

This one is a set of 8 I made for my momma. As soon as I saw this stamp I thought of her. She is always joking about being a queen. But the truth is, I think she is! Size is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4.

• STAMPS- Just the Queen (American Art Stamp)
• PAPER- pink CS, black CS
• INK- Palette Hybrid Nior
• OTHER- Nestabilities rectangle and scalloped rectangle dies, Cuttlebug Circles embossing folder, Copic markers, Sakura Stardust pen

Well, thanks for stopping by and everyone enjoy their Monday!!!!

I am the master........of disaster.

Hey guys! When coming up with my post title all I had to do was look at my stamp area. What a mess! I have been stamping and stacking and scooting and pushing things around to finish up all of the Christmas stuff I have needed to get done. And by the way, I'm still not done with tags for my hot chocolate bags or the labels for the cookies and muffins I haven't made yet. No worries! I work better under pressure! Who needs sleep anyway!

I wrote up my top 5 favorite blogs over on Craft Critique yesterday and let me tell you, it was REALLY hard to choose! I think I did a good job though at showcasing the ones I really love and if I was able to do a top 15 that would have been even better! Heather shared a link that I wanted to post here that I thought was pretty cool. SheetLoad of Cards is a blog that has a monthly free ezine for card layouts. Their motto is 'Our goal is to increase your card stash using one layout, a few sheets of paper, and a short amount of time.' Sounds good to me! Anyway, it's definitely worth checking out!

Okay, so I have finished quite a few cards since I posted last and they are all Christmas ones soooooo I am going to post quite a few today. I will save a few for a few days from now but since it's so close to Christmas I'm probably going to pack them all into a few posts. We'll start with the penguin ones. These guys are just so cute! I colored them all with Prismacolors and OMS and then outlined them with my Copic B21 Baby Blue marker. Then of course you've gotta add glitter and rhinestones!

• STAMPS- Penguin Games (Stampendous), Merry Christmas (Studio G)
  
• PAPER- Rob and Bob Studios Christmas Stack (last years), black CS, Certainly Celery CS
• INK- Palette Hybrid Nior
• OTHER- Snowflake brads (JoAnn's), rhinestones, glitter, snowflake button, ribbon

Well, I need to get back to the Photo Story (slideshow with music) I'm making for hubby's grandparents. Still have quite a bit to do. If any of you guys are interested you can go to the Microsoft website and search 'Photo Story 3' and it will bring up a post to let you download it for free. I used it 2 years ago when I did one for my dad's memorial and I had to pay $30 for it but now it is free. I like it and it really does make a special gift. If you decide to try it out and have any questions then feel free to email me and I can help you out as best I can.

Hope you all have a great day! I'll be back tomorrow (trust me, I'm gonna type my entry up tonight while I'm snuggling on the couch with Joe!).

Super Simple Friday

Good morning all! I got a few minutes to make a few cards yesterday for my own Christmas card stash! Woo-Hoo! Now, only 50 more to go! LOL I'm not panicking yet. Yet is the key word though! I have a feeling the majority of them will be 'super simple' which is fine with me because I really like simple designs. AND with the fabu stamps I have it makes cards like that easy peasy! So, without further ado, here are my super simple cards for today.

The birdies are back! These guys don't want me to put them down and that is fine by me! I love these guys! This card seems so Mod to me but I think it totally rocks if I do say so myself! I stamped the birdies and sentiment with Colorbox chalk ink and then outlined it all with my *must have* gray Copic marker. Glue on some rhinestones and Viola! Done! Took me all of about 3 minutes to do!

• STAMPS- DK-04 Birdie Fun (smARTworks), Happy Holidays ($1 stamp from Michael's)
• PAPER- Paper Trey white CS
• INK- Colorbox chalk Warm Red and Olive Pastel
  
• OTHER- Copic gray marker; rhinestones

You also can't go wrong with Paper Trey for a classy card! These ornaments from the Take a Bough set are soooooo easy to work with! Nichole Heady is pure genius! Plus my shipments always come super fast cause the warehouse is only about an hour away. Hmmmm, I wonder if they give tours.......

• STAMPS- Take a Bough (Paper Trey)
• PAPER- Paper Trey white CS
• INK- Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Positively Pink, Going Gray classic inks (SU)
• OTHER- ribbon

Oh, and I HAVE to share is extra cool-super proud-amazingly awesome picture with you that I took yesterday. I LOVE my macro lens!!!!! Here are snowflakes.....

Keep warm everyone!!

Tea to warm you up!

So, it's smARTworks Tea Party time again! Time to share all of our cards we made using a sketch that is provided by one of the team members. This time around Susan Liles gave us the sketch. When I first looked at it nothing struck me, but in true Heidi style (waiting till the last minute that is!) I was able to use my brand new rubber from smARTworks that came in the mail yesterday. Everything I ordered was from the supplement that just came out and I was so happy with what I got! I started cutting out this morning and putting my Tombow glue on the back to make them tacky. I know I am on the DT so it's kinda my job to persuade you to want to buy them but I don't think these really need much persuading!!! For the Combo Sentiments set (designed by the great Dina Kowal of Mama Dini's Stamperia herself!) you cannot beat the price at 25 stamps for $13.50. Then you have the Combo Companion set that goes perfectly with it for $7.50. Here and here are the links that you just have to check out!!!

Anyway, rambling done. Here is the sketch:


And here is my fantabulous card! And bling-y too!

• STAMPS- DK-01 Combo Sentiments (brackets), DK-02 Combo Companion(merry), DK-04 Birdie Fun (smARTworks)
• PAPER- Cranberry Crisp CS, BasicGrey 'Fruitcake' DP
  
• INK- Old Olive, Cranberry Crisp
• OTHER- Crop-a-dile, large eyelets, Slit punch, rhinestones, ribbon, Stickles, pop dots

If you wanna check out everyone else's version of this sketch just click their links:
Donna
Susan L
Dina
Trish
Susan T

Well, we got our first official snow of the winter last night and it's still going this morning. I might try and get a few pics when it slows down later. Hope all of you stay warm and comfy!!! Be back tomorrow!

Christmas is Creeping

Wow! December 3rd already! Christmas is creeping up and before you know it we'll be opening presents by the tree, or at least the kids will! I better get my booty in gear! I have soooo much to do and not a whole lot of time to do it in! Thank goodness I have been done shopping for the kids for over a week already! It's weird though. I don't feel super Christmas-y yet. Maybe it's because I have already done all of the shopping. Maybe wrapping will get me in the mood!

Anyway, I want to share some holiday cards with you done with Starving Artistamps rubber. When I got this holly berry and leaf I was really excited to use it and I must say that I am very happy with my creations!

First is my super simple one layer card. I made a mask for the holly leaf and stamped each 'stem' with 2 leaves and 3 berries all over the front, distressed the edges, added a ribbon, and used my alphabet stamps for 'comfort and joy'. Easy peasy lemon squeezey!

• STAMPS- holly leaf and berry 45.11, alphabet 41.02 (Starving Artistamps)
• PAPER- kraft CS
  
• INK- Versamagic Cloud White, Colorbox Chestnut Roan
  
• OTHER- ribbon, edge distresser
  

Now I am quite particular, but I love this one! The idea for the ribbon just kind of slapped me in the face as I was cutting out the holly leaves. I wasn't even planning on doing it. Don't ya just love surprises!? All I did was take a longer piece of red ribbon, fold it in half, and tie a normal knot in the middle. Then, I cut 2 small slits in the kraft CS (big enough for the ribbon to go through) and then slipped the ribbon through the slits and taped it on the back side so it wouldn't budge. Cool huh?

• STAMPS- holly leaf and berry 45.11 (Starving Artistamps)
  
• PAPER- red, kraft CS
  
• INK- Colorbox Olive Pastel
  
• OTHER- ribbon, scoring blade, craft knife, pop dots

Well, thanks for stopping by today! Stay warm! It's super chilly here!

P.S. No one guessed the sister-in-law right on my last entry. It was Mandy. Thanks for trying though!!

Tea Party, smARTworks style!

Well, it's Wednesday and we all know what that means! No, I'm not talking about America's Next Top Model. It's Tea Party time!! I can't believe it's been two weeks since our last party! Time is flying!! This week Donna provided the sketch for us!



We were supposed to do something 'different' with the strips in the background. I do realize that ribbon isn't that creative but I thought it went nicely with the paper and image. Kind of 'lightened' up the card.

• CMS-11 Old St. Nick stamp set (smARTworks)
• Make it Possible 'Holiday Wishes' paper stack
• Colorbox Warm Red, Olive Pastel chalk inks
• ribbon
• pop dots

If you'd like to play along we'd love to see your work! Put a link to your card here or on any of the other DT members' blogs! If you need some inspiration, just check out theirs sometime today!
Donna
Susan L
Dina
Trish
Susan T

Thanks for stopping in!! I made a few more cards with my Take a Bough set from Paper Trey! I'll share those tomorrow!! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Real winter weather

Well, today I don't have to worry about getting in that 'holiday feel' with the weather as cold as it is outside! High of 42 today which will probably feel like 32 with the wind blowing as hard as it is!

I finished some cards on Sunday but have been busy running here and there picking jeans up for Joe for his trip to Chicago next week and doing some Christmas shopping while I am out. And trust me, Christmas shopping while your kids are with you is no easy task! But when I was in Kohl's yesterday I hit the jackpot with tops for the girls. They had a lot of adorable (I got 6) long sleeved tops in Ava's size for $4.80 each and they also had a lot of short sleeved 'girl power' like shirts (I got 7) for Jolee. I figured she could wear a long sleeved shirt underneath of them. That is still in, right? LOL Those were only $3.40. She will love them! Anyway, sorry for my rant!

Here is one of the cards I made on Sunday. I used Beate's weekend sketch challenge #26. I really liked the layout of this one and it came together pretty quick. I used that chunky glitter again for the snow and to be honest, I will probably use it again soon!

• ABC-Sweater Teddy stamp set (smARTworks)
• Make it Possible 'Holiday Wishes' stack paper
• Stazon jet black ink
• Chalk ink and blender pen
• Copic grey marker
• light blue crayon and OMS for sky
• ribbon
• pop dots

And HOORAY! I got my Paper Trey Ink sets yesterday!!! And the paper and labels! Well, come on, I had to see what all the fuss was about the paper! It's awesome! Very thick and white. What more could you ask for? This is my first card with the Take a Bough set. I literally made this card in about 3 minutes. It only took that long because I was trying to choose which ornament stamps I wanted to use since there is such a selection! Now I know that if it gets down to the wire for my Christmas cards I can always pull this set out and have a very sophisticated quick card!!!

• Take a Bough stamp set (PaperTreyInk)
• Colorbox Olive Pastel, Lime Pastel, and Warm Red, Chestnut Roan chalk inks
• Prismacolor silver pencil (for the strings)

Well, you guys still have a few hours to leave a comment on this post to win my blog candy! I have gotten so much enjoyment out of reading all of the wonderful gifts you have given that have meant so much to others! Keep on giving! Until later, see ya!

Lizzie Anne

*This is actually getting posted the morning after I had planned. Isn't life crazy sometimes!?*

Wow, this post was started this morning. I got side tracked and forgot to finish it up! So, sorry for the late post!! My article on Lizzie Anne Designs ran on Craft Critique yesterday so I wanted to give more details on my projects.

This first one uses the Fairy stamp with a Chritstmas twist. I used BasicGrey Dasher paper and used watercolor papers and re-inkers to color her in. I also added stickles once I gave her wings time to dry. I also used velvet ribbon which I think gave it the perfect touch!

• Fairy, Christmas stamps (Lizzie Anne Designs)
• BasicGrey Dasher DP
• Cranberry Crisp CS
• Stazon Jet Black ink
• aqua painter and re-inkers
• Marvy Giga and Mega scallop circle punches
• Coluzzle oval template
• Stickles
• ribbon, pop dots

I just love this snowman one! Too bad Clinton got ahold of it and wrinkled it beyond repair! It was so easy though that I can remake it, or even a few more. The card is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 and I just put the top half in the embossing folder to run through the Sizzix. I inked up the embossed snowflakes with Cloud White and added glitter to the edges and under the snowmen. Can't get much easier than this!

• Snowmen stamp (Lizzie Anne Designs)
• Cool Caribbean CS
• Stazon Jet Black, Versamagic Cloud White chalk inks
• Cuttlebug Snowflakes EF
• aqua painter and re-inkers
• glitter
• ribbon, pop dots, edge distresser

I found this last project to be pretty humorous! Why? Because I do all of the stuff that would be in here for my hubby anyway (yes, he is spoiled!)! Between you and me, I only filled out the first 4 because I couldn't think of anything else to write! After I was done with it I gave it to my daughter to play 'tickets' with. Now, I really love the idea of this! It just doesn't really work for me. I embossed the black and matted the ticket with Tempting Turquoise. I then hole punched them all and threw them onto a ring I had picked up at Walmart.

• All Guy stamp set (Lizzie Anne Designs)
• Tempting Turquoise CS
• Versamark ink
• black embossing powder
• large jump ring
• hole punch
• ribbon

Well, seeing as how this is being posted way later than I expected Happy Halloween! I hope any of you who are taking your little ones out to trick or treat have a good time tonight! Jolee is going to be a Doctor, Ava is going to be a Leopard, and Clinton is going to be a Pirate. I can't wait to get pictures!! I'll probably share some tomorrow!!

By the way, I'll be posting some blog candy this week (FINALLY!!) so keep an eye out!!!

Snowman again!

I just can't help to want to make cards with this guy, so if he pops up every other post, sorry. He is the perfect size to be able to add other things on the card but not too small to become the image that's not the focal point. Plus, I love snowmen! I challenge you guys to show me some snowmen as cute as he is! There might be a few but I haven't seen 'em! SO show me! Show me cards that you have made with snowman stamps or post a link to where you can buy them! Trust me, I'd LOVE to see!!!

• ABC-Starstruck, Middie Messages #2 stamp sets (smARTworks)
• The Paper Studio DP
• Word Window punch
• aqua painter and re-inkers
• ribbon
• pop dot

This was one of the final cards for my first quarter DT batch for smARTworks. I have been on a kraft paper kick lately (yes, admitting you have a problem is the first step!) so I wanted to try it with my little birdie! I stamped everything on the kraft paper and colored except for the middle balloon, which I stamped on a piece of scrap kraft, colored, and popped up on the card. I did the same with the star. I used my pen to draw the 'hill' and the balloon strings.

• ABC-Birdie Bitties, Middie Messages #2 stamp sets (smARTworks)
• kraft, black CS
• Stazon Jet Black
  
• Prismacolor pencils and OMS
• Sizzix folk star die
• black pen
• pop dots

I don't have a whole lot of time to chat today but I wanted to post these cards. I had fun with the 'Tea Party' yesterday with the Cookies! Can't wait to do it again in a few weeks! Don't forget that you can view all of the cards made by the smARTworks DT by vising From The Cookie Jar ! You'll find the sets we have used so far listed on the left side of the blog.

Hope you guys have a great night! Enjoy your Grey's!!!

smARTworks Tea Party!

Good afternoon everyone! Today will be a pretty fun day because it is the first 'Tea Party' of the smARTworks design team! Every other week (Wednesday) we will be taking turns posting a challenge for ourselves and hopefully you guys as well, if you'd like to join in the fun. This week it is a sketch done by the fab-u-lous Dina from Mama Dini's Stamperia. She is our DT 'momma' and she threatened to take my stamps away if I didn't participate. Just teasing! But isn't that what moms usually do? I know I do! Anyway, this sketch was really fun and as soon as I saw it I knew which smARTworks stamp I wanted to use! He is one of my favorites!! So, without further ado, here is the sketch and the my version of the sketch!



I do have to admit that I completely *heart* this card! It helps though that I also *heart* this snowman oh so much! Can snowmen really get any cuter than this!? And he even has a little birdie on his hand!

• ABC-Starstruck, Middie Messages #2 stamp sets (smARTworks)
• MME 'Front Porch' DP
• Certainly Celery, white CS
• Cuttlebug Swirls EF
• Stazon jet black ink
• aqua painter and re-inkers
• Copic gray marker
• brads, pop dots

Check out the talents of my smARTworks DT buddies! Susan T, Susan L, Dina, Trish, and Donna!

So, if you get a chance sometime this week play along and post your results here! I'd love to see them!!

See ya later alligator!!

A little bit Christmas

I have a feeling that if I stepped outside right now I might be blown away. Although, with my 10 lb. weight gain in the last few months, maybe not. It is really windy though and since I am so important to so many people I don't think I'll take the risk. By the way, those 'so many people' are my kids and hubby who depend on me for food and clean clothes!

I feel guilty lately that I haven't been blogging as often as I would like. It seems like when I get a project done, I don't have time to immediately take a picture, resize, watermark, upload, and write an entry. Then, once I realize I don't have time to do it that day I just tell myself that I'll wait to post once I make another card. Sometimes that doesn't happen, sometimes it's a card I can't share yet, and sometimes, just sometimes, I actually make more than one card and still don't have time to post. A lot of that has to do with switching computers to do the photo editing and then switching back to the laptop to post. If I could just do it all on the laptop on the couch while I watch a movie with the kids, it would solve oh so much! Since I use hubby's there is a 'don't load up my laptop with a bunch of programs and pictures so it's turtle slow' rule. Oh well, guess I'll just have to bat my eyelashes for my own!

My Cosmo Cricket chipboard review was posted on Craft Critique today. I did the following project to show how awesome it is!


I used 3 4x4 chipboard coasters, covered them with BasicGrey Fruitcake paper, and sanded the edges. Then I covered the edges with red antique glitter that I found at a yard sale. This is the first time I have used this glitter because I am seriously hoarding it! I have a light gold and green too. Just beautiful! Anyway, I gave each letter 2 coats of acrylic paint and sanded them down too. Added large eyelets and pop dotted them onto the chipboard. As I was making it I was wondering who I could gift it to but the more I thought, I decided to keep it for myself. I always give away the things I make. Not this time. It's a keeper!

• 4x4 heavyweight coasters
• BasicGrey Fruitcake DP
• Cosmo Cricket buck naked chipboard alphas
• green acrylic paint
• fine grit sandpaper
• BasicGrey file set
• eyelets
• glitter
• ribbon
• spiral clip and brad

I really love how this next card turned out! This is an Artful Inkables flower from Starving Artistamps. When I got it I knew I wanted to do something different with it. Since I have been stuck on using kraft paper lately I thought that emboss resist would be the way to go. Well, one thing lead to another and it ended up getting more colorful than what I had first imagined. I'm glad one thing lead to another though!

• KSAI-103 Blossom and leaf, 42.02 Best thing in my life (Starving Artistamps)
• kraft, black CS
• Stazon Jet Black ink, Veramark
• black embossing powder
• Versamagic Cloud White. Pixie Dust, Aloe Vera Chalk ink, Colorbox Rouge chalk ink
• sponges
• ribbon
• push pin

This is also done with all Starving Artistamps products. I actually pulled out my crimper for this one too! Love the brown and the teal together!!

• P24.02 Tight weave, 46.04 Thanks a bunch, 45.12 Snowflakes (Starving Artistamps)
• Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, white CS
• Chocoalte Chip, Taken with Teal classic ink
• crimper
• sponge
• ribbon

I saved a few to share for tomorrow. Maybe I'll get a chance later tonight to write up my entry so I make sure it can get posted tomorrow.

On my last note of this really long post, I love you guys! Really, I do! I appreciate everyone who visits my blog and leaves encouraging comments and sometimes helps remind me why I love doing this so much! Hope all of you have a great evening!

Just can't wait!

Okay, so as part of Craft Critique we recently got a chance to get some Lizzie Anne Designs stamps! How cool is that!?! When I say recently I mean I got mine yesterday! I just couldn't wait to play! We (CC) will be doing a review on their stuff soon so those of us who recieved their stamps have to make some projects to post. Well, these stamps are so stinkin' easy to use I decided to go ahead and share my first card with you all. However, I will probably have to keep the rest a secret until the Craft Critique articles are posted. Oh, I also used the latest SCS sketch challenge with this too. I think I will be doing that one again! So, here is this beautiful lady in all of her glory!

• Fairy, Fairy Saying (Lizzie Anne Designs) stamps
• Stazon jet black ink
• Copic (body, wings, dress) and ZIG (hair, star) markers
• Chocolate Chip, cream CS
• Floral (Sandylion) and Polka Dots (*I think* Wild Asparagus) DP
• crystal Stickles
• decorative scissors
• pop dots
• push pin

The next one is a super (and I mean SUPER) simple card! No layer! My fave! The boxes are going slightly downhill though but isn't that part of the charm!? I inked up my Stampabilities square and stamped the middle one first so I could *try* and line up the other ones. Then I masked the bottom of the box and stamped my smARTworks flowers in each box. I also added glitter to the flowers with my Stardust jelly roll pen and then swooshed {for lack of a better word} it around with my finger while it was still wet. I also used a push pin for the paper piercing in between the diamonds.

• Flowers FL-18, Delight WD-27 (smARTworks), square (Stapabilities), diamond border (See D's) stamps
• kraft CS
• Versamagic Cloud White chalk ink, Stazon jet black ink
• Stardust gitter pen
• post it (for masking)

The next card is one I did for Jen del Muro's sketch challenge over at i{heart}2stamp. I really liked the card until the very end, when I added the stickles. Adding those things to my red ink totally funkified it! So, for future reference, don't use stickles on dye ink. The green ink is chalk ink and it turned out just fine which makes it look even more weird. Oh well, I'll just send this one to somebody I don't like very much. LOL That's what my cousin Amy and I always say when we aren't thrilled with how something turns out. Then we proceed to say 'I better not see it in MY mailbox!' I miss you Amy! Come visit!

• All of this paper was scrap, so I have no idea who makes it! Sorry!!!!!
• Whimsy Christmas (See D's) stamps
• Colorbox Olive Pastel chalk ink, Real Red classic ink
• Coluzzle circle template
• Stickles
• pop dots

Now I am off to throw some more laundry in the dryer and stamp some more!! Thanks for looking!

Lots-O-Cards

Good morning all! It was quite a busy week for me this past week and weekend. I did find time however, to squeeze in some stamping time! First thought I want to show all of you even more birthday RAKs I have gotten! I feel so loved!! I also want to say that Donna, I have wanted that Sweet Tier stamp for a looooooong time and having your card in my pretty little hands finally convinced me to buy it! So, I thank you, although my hubby doesn't! {wink} Julie even sent me a little Rhonna Farrer stamp inside her card. Man I love happy mail! And Trish I MUST know where that little birdie came from! Too cute! Thank you all very much!



Now I want to show you part of what kept me a little busy this weekend! I have taken on yet another crafting endeavor! Hair bows! My sister is a Gymboree junkie and is always showing me the new lines and bows that people make to go with them. Even though Gymboree is a TAD too expensive for my taste I have fallen in love with some of the bows I have seen to match! So, I did a little (okay, a lot!) of research and made some of my own. I wanted to start out with corkers but it kind of didn't just stop there. I am in the process of finishing my Halloween corker bows right now and will share a pic once I get everything attached to the barette. Here is one I made in about 2 minutes though. It matches a shirt I got for the girls at Children's Place last fall. I loved the colors and even though I'm sure this bow won't match anything else in their wardrobe, I think it matches this too perfectly!


Alright, now lets get down to business! I got my stamps for the Starving Artistamps DT and I had to sit down and make a few things after I came back from the mailbox! Here is what I ended up with.


This one uses all SA stamps. I thought it would look nice to distress the edges.

• KSAI-102 Clematis, 47.10 Wishing you, P25.01 Harlequin BG stamps (Starving Artistamps)
• Always Artichoke, kraft CS
• Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Versamark ink
• edge distresser
• ribbon
• pop dots
  
  

The next one used the new Doodle Facotry Halloween stamps. This pumpkin head guy makes me grin every time I look at him! Maybe it's because some days I feel like how he looks! Spaced out and in need of a vacation! Although, in this instance he seems a little worse off than I usually am. My head is most always attached! I just masked his body in the right spots and stamped his arm sticking out 'holding his head'.


*Sorry for the interruption but I am switching back to my 'normal' format. I was trying something different at the start of the post but it just takes too much time, and I'm too lay to switch the first part back!*

• P24.02 Tight Weave BG, Pumpkin Head, Halloween Sentiment, Halloween candy stamp(Sonlight Impressions via Starving Artistamps)
• Really Rust, black, white CS
• Stazon jet black, Versamark ink
• ZIG markers
• decorative scissors
• pop dots

Here is another pumpkin head card. I stamped him regular though. Okay, you tell me, does this look like he is standing in the snow? Or ice skating (as Jolee said)? I didn't see it before but hubby and kids kept saying it. Is it true?

• Pumpkin Head, Dead Tree stamps (SunSpiritStudios via Starving Artistamps)
• black, white CS
• Stazon jet black ink
• ZIG markers
• Copic grey marker
• staples
• edge distresser
  

Part of the reason Tracey said she picked me to be on the team was because she liked my one layer or no layer cards. So, I wanted to make something simple but classy and I love brown with snowflakes! I also did paper piercing through the snowflakes to make it look like flurries but it's hard to see in the pic.

• 45.12 Snowflakes, 41.02 Alphabet 1/4" stamps (Starving Artistamps)
• kraft CS
• Chocolate Chip ink
• ribbon

Finally, this last card comes with sadness. A close friend of my mom's and a good friend of our whole family passed away a few days ago. She was a wonderful person and a dear friend to my mother and my heart not only aches for her husband but also for my mother. This is the card I made him and I also included a long letter about what amazing people they both had been in my life. If you can say a quick prayer for their family.

• BasicGrey Mellow DP
• Heidi Grace Winnefred St., Studio G clear stamps
• Chocolate Chip ink
• Marvy Mega scallop circle, super jumbo circle punches
• ribbon
• pop dots
• push pin

Take time today to give your loved ones a hug because you simply never know what could happen tomorrow. Love all of you out there! Thanks for reading and God bless!

Such a relaxing weekend!

Hey guys! Just checking in! Our family had a nice, relaxing weekend together. The kids and Joe swam in the pool we got (just one of those easy set ones) and we watched movies together and ate junk food and pizza. It was great! Joe had been working every weekend for 3 weeks so it was nice to have some family time.

I had to write my article for Craft Critique on my favorite tool and although I will leave that a mystery, I will say that I made this thinking I might put it in the article but decided not to. The glitter I used it super super old. I would guess at least 30 years or so from the packaging. I have green, red, and this gold color. I am hoarding them though becacuse they give the actual 'antique' look! It reminds me of those old Christmas bulbs your grandparents or parents hang on the tree.

I can't decide if I actually like this tag or not though. Still getting used to it I guess.

• DCWV CS
• BasicGrey Fruitcake paper
• Marvy Giga and Mega scalloped oval punches
• Cropodile and eyelet
• sandpaper
• glitter
• ribbon
• pop dots
• black marker

I thought it would be fun to do the Blog Scattegories that is going around. I love the game Scattegories! My family and I always used to play that and Balderdash. Yes, we are very good bs-ing!

• Your Name: Heidi
• Famous Artist/Band/Musician: Hannah Montana
• 4 letter word: Hand
• Vehicle: Honda
• TV Show: Happy Days
• City/Town: Honalulu (wish I was there right now!)
• Boy Name: Harper
• Girl Name: Hayley
• Occupation: Hair dresser
• Something you wear: Heels
• Celebrity: Halley Berry
• Food: Hot Dog
• Something found in a kitchen: Honey
• Reason for Being Late: Having a baby (I've had the chance to use that 3 times!)
• Cartoon Character: Henry (from Oswald)Something
• You Shout: "Honey, I'm home!"
  

Well, that was harder than it looked! You should try it if you haven't already! Well, I am off to try a sketch challenge from Mama Dini's blog. If you get a chance today, you should try that too!