Looking Back and Ahead

Where did this year go??? Though I am not sad to see it go!  It was not a good year for us, and I'm praying that 2012 is better.  That being said, our kids are happy and healthy, Chad's cancer is back in remission, and he has been employed for the last 6 weeks.  It's not a long-term solution, so he continues to look for something else.

I went and looked at what I written as my goals for this year, and I didn't do too bad!  I reclaimed some kitchen cabinets, worked on my cookbook project (which will be a perpetual project), and completed all 52 of MFT's weekly sketches.  You will be seeing #'s 51 and 52 in the next few days.  So my goals for this year are:

1.  continue to work on my cookbook project

2.  do more stamping for ME, when and what I want to.

Keeping it simple this year, I have no energy to do much more than that!

I didn't think I was going to get Christmas photo cards out this year, but things came together at the last minute (i.e., the kids cooperated) and I managed to

send some out a few days before Christmas. 

So here are my 5-1/2 year old and 17 month old (going on 3, lol):

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

I love looking at everyone's year in review posts, so I thought I'd add my favorite cards by month:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Thanks for stopping by!

Last SFYTT Sample

Here is my last sample for this month's SFYTT:

I've had this made for a while, I've just been SUPER lazy about blogging lately.  But it's been nice to have a break!  I hope you will join in on the SFYTT's next year, a new round starts next Saturday!

Have a safe and happy New Year!

MFTWSC #50

Here's MFTWSC #50:

I went super simple on this one, as I barely squoze it in on time.  Between work and kids and Christmas prep, not a lot of stamping going on here.  But I don't want to screw up my MFTWSC streak here at the end!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

MFTWSC49

Here's my card for MFTWSC #49:

I really wanted to ink up this cute little snowboarder. I cut the main panel to the size I wanted and cut him out and popped him up so he extends off the edges (which, by the way, is covered in Calico Shine).  There are also 2 rows of scallop "snowdrifts" behind him.  Then, I got the idea to spray the end of the sentiment strip with Calico White, and I LOVE how it looks like snow spray.  I thought about spraying Snowboard Boy with it too, but I thought it would end up looking like he was buried in an avalanche, so I left well enough alone.  I was inspired by my friend Jackie's cards this week where she put long sentiment strips behind her main image.  LOVE IT!!!!

I took a little liberty with the embellishments, there are supposed to be three of them in the upper right corner.  But, there was no room for them, so I put one snowflake embellishment instead.

Thanks for stopping by!

MFTWSC + MFTGUESTDT

I was able to combine the MFT sketch challenge with the MFT Guest Design Challenge this week, woohoo!

We were challenged to Play Tag for this guest design challenge, and here is my finished ensemble:  gift with tag plus coordinating card.

Let's start with a close-up of the card (MFTWSC48):

I used some fun papers on the background, and stamped on another patterned piece.  I then blasted it with calico shine, so you can barely read the words here, lol!  It says, "Though we are apart, you're in my heart this Christmas", from Clearly Sentimental about Christmast.  I layered that sentiment on a piece of paper that I diecut with the Tag-You're It die.  After I cut it, I turned it around and ran it through again, creating the tag top design on both ends.  You can see a little open scallop border peeking out from the ribbon.  And to finish it off, I diecut a fancy flourish that is also covered in calico shine.

And here is the gift tag:



Let's take a closer look at some details:



I started with a kraft Tag-You're It base, then added some patterned paper, a dizzy doily cut from more patterned paper, and another fancy flourish.  You can also see more calico shine.  Yes, I love that stuff!  To make the 3D ornament, I punched 7 circles out of two different papers, folded them in half, and glued them back-to-back.  I fanned it out, added some twine to hang it, and a bow of crinkled seam binding.  The sentiment is again from Clearly Sentimental about Christmas, and I inked it separately to fit on two banner strips.  A few random rhinestones finish it off!

Thanks for stopping by!

December SFYTT

Here we are at the last SFYTT of the year!  One lucky stamper who has participated in all 12 sketches will be chosen as the winner of a prize package that includes gift certificates, stamps, and a year's subscription to the SCS Fan Club.  So if you've done the other 11, make sure you get this last one done too, so you can be in the drawing for the awesome prize!!!!

December's sketch:

There is no official sponsor this month, so I chose to work with stamps from My Favorite Things, a previous sponsor.

I kept things super simple and stayed within the sketch to make this card that will go in my mom's stash.  I used PI Super Boy, File Tab die-namic, and Stacking Stars die-namics.

1. The SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY {SFYTT} will be posted on the first Saturday of each month on www.iheart2stamp.com at 8am EST and will stay open to participants until the last day of the month, unless otherwise noted.
2. This is for fun! Interpret the sketch as you wish and embellish as desired. There are no vendor restrictions, but we would love to see you use the sponsor’s stamps!
3. Each month we will have a Designer of the Month that will be chosen from past month’s participants.
4. Come and play with us on each and every sketch! On Christmas Day 2011 a prize package worth over $200 will be given away to one very lucky and loyal SFYTT stamper that participates in EVERY sketch for the year.
5. To be eligible for the prize package, you must complete ALL of the sketches by each of the deadlines AND link your creation to the link system on that month’s sketch post (the first Saturday of the month). Everyone except for SFYTT Sisters are eligible for the prize package, including Designer of the Month and international players.
6. When posting your sketch creation on your blog, please post the sketch and link back to the sketch post on www.iheart2stamp.com. When posting to online galleries, please use the keyword “SFYTT.”

Jen has lots of links for inspiration on her blog, so check it out.
I hope you'll play along! Thanks for stopping by!

November SFYTT - #2

It's almost time for a new SFYTT, but before we get to that, here's one last sample using November's sketch.  Verve is the sponsor this month, and there's a prize up for grabs, so get your entry in!  You can find all the details HERE. 

Thanks for stopping by!

MFTWSC47

Here is MFTWSC #47 for you:

I always keep my mom in supply of cards, so this one will go to her stash.  I sprayed the leafy flourish with Calico Shine, that stuff is my new fave!!!  Take a look close-up:

Thanks for stopping by, hope your week is off to a great start!  I'll be back tomorrow for another SFYTT sample for this month.

MFT WSC 46

And here is MFTWSC #46.  I pulled out this sweet girl and pieced her pumpkin. The patterned paper is old SU that I've had forever, yay for trying to use up what I have!

My assignment for Thanksgiving this year is to bring the rolls.  Usually I throw a batch in my breadmaker, but this year I am going to try these:

Delicious Dinner Rolls

Though I think I will cut the recipe in half, 9-10 cups of flour is A LOT, lol!!!!!

Peace

This is a total case of Nichole Heady, except I made it in red instead of pink.

I used an ink cube to ink just the edges of each layer of stamps.  I really do love this poinsettia set!  Another stampy, flat, mailable Christmas card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Snowflake Greetings

Another stampy Christmas card class sample!  I used a neat little trick here.  I don't have all those circles as stamps, and I didn't want to do masking/sponging.  So I took some of my clear stamps that were kind of circular and put them on my acrylic block backwards and used it as a circle stamp.  It turned out really well!

The snowflakes here are another SU set I've had forever.  Then I sprayed it with my Mister Huey Calico shine again!

Thanks for stopping by, come back for my last sample tomorrow.

Happiest of Holidays

Here's another Christmas card class sample for you:

When I sat down to come up with this card, I wanted something with lots of stamping on it. My last class was heavy on the die-cutting, so this time it's more stamping.  I also pulled out some OLD stamps for this one, it's almost an all-SU card!

I stamped the card base with French Script and the Medallion, both in crumb cake ink.  The music on the tag is old olive ink on lucky limeade paper, and the house and sentiment are both white embossed.  I added a crinkled seam ribbon bow and a white doily diecut.

Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Hugs & Kisses

Here's another card we are doing at my class this Friday.  Isn't he cute?  He's from Hero Arts and he's been in my stash for several years.  So it was time to pull him out and use him.

I stamped him in Memento Tuxedo and colored him with copics, nothing fancy.  He's nice and flat and mailable!  I think when we make this for class we will glitterfy the "holiday", make it nice and sparkly.

Thanks for stopping by!

MFTWSC45

Um, so this is sketch #45, which means there are only about 7 left, yikes!  I know I keep saying this, but where did this year go???

I pulled out an oldie but goodie for this card, Polar Love.  I had lots of fun with all these bright colors!  The scarf and heart are paper pieced, and they are standing on stickle snow.  I fluffed up the edges of the scallops and added a snowflake/twine/button embellishment.

This is one of those weeks where I'm tired just from looking at what needs to happen in the next 5 days.  And I've got a sore throat and chest congestion.  Yuck.  So it will be early to bed every night for me!  And lots of tea.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week!

Merry Christmas to You and Yours

This one of the cards we will be making at my upcoming Christmas card class.  If you are local, email me for details! becky(at)lakeshorestamper(dot)com

Though I think we will use silver stickles on the edges instead of sugar dust.  You can also see in the picture that I sprayed the music background with some Studio Calico Mister Huey in Calico Shine.  It's very cool!

Thanks for stopping by!

MFTWSC44

Here's my card for MFTWSC #44.  I used that big ole typewriter instead of the oval on the original sketch.  I sent this to Katie Renz last week, and heard the sad news that she passed away today (Monday).  We were on the Limelight DT at the same time, and she was such a sweet, sweet lady.  I was cleaning out my stash the other day and came across two notes she sent me back when my hubby was fighting cancer the first time around.  What an encouragement she was to me!  We will all miss you, Katie.

November SFYTT

It's time for another Sketch For You To Try!!!!!

Our sponsor this month is Verve!!  Yay!  I love my Verve stamps, so I am excited

to put them to good use this month!  Such a unique, beautiful, and elegant line of stamps.

Here is November's sketch:

And here is what I came up with:

I made a sympathy card for my stash.  I used New Mercies, Bloom & Grow, and Framed Wishes stamps here, plus the Floral Circles and Elegant Leaves dies.

1. The SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY {SFYTT} will be posted on the first Saturday of each month on www.iheart2stamp.com at 8am EST and will stay open to participants until the last day of the month, unless otherwise noted.
2. This is for fun! Interpret the sketch as you wish and embellish as desired. There are no vendor restrictions, but we would love to see you use the sponsor’s stamps!
3. Each month we will have a Designer of the Month that will be chosen from past month’s participants.
4. Come and play with us on each and every sketch! On Christmas Day 2011 a prize package worth over $200 will be given away to one very lucky and loyal SFYTT stamper that participates in EVERY sketch for the year.
5. To be eligible for the prize package, you must complete ALL of the sketches by each of the deadlines AND link your creation to the link system on that month’s sketch post (the first Saturday of the month). Everyone except for SFYTT Sisters are eligible for the prize package, including Designer of the Month and international players.
6. When posting your sketch creation on your blog, please post the sketch and link back to the sketch post on www.iheart2stamp.com. When posting to online galleries, please use the keyword “SFYTT.”

Jen has lots of links for inspiration on her blog, so check it out.
I hope you'll play along!  Thanks for stopping by!

Baby Boy

My sister is going to be having a baby boy soon, and so this is the card I made for her upcoming shower.  This is almost a direct copy of a card made by one of the Verve divas, but I cannot read the watermark on the picture I have of it, so if you know who originally made this, let me know so I can give credit where it's due!  The original card had a butterfly in place of the airplane.

The open heart in "LOVE" looked too plain, so I colored it in with a green spica glitter pen.

Thanks for stopping by!

MFTWSC 43

For this week's sketch, I really wanted to use some Christmas paper, so here's a Christmas card!  She is mixing up some magic Christmas cookies in her bowl.  Mmmmm, cookies.

I glitterfied the snowflakes and her batter with stickles, and her apron with my spica glitter pen.

Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Halloween!  We are headed to a friend's neighborhood for trick-or-treating plus som chili, yum!  Be safe.

MFT Guest Designer Challenge

Here we are, time for another MFT Guest Designer Challenge!  Where are the months going??  The theme of this month's challenge is to Bling It On.  Bling is a great way to add some extra interest, especially on CAS cards.

I decided right away I was going to use my rainbow and cloud dies.

I cut all the pieces from different colors of paper, attached them together, added some sticky paper and then poured sugar dust on it.

I cut the clouds out and then covered them in stickles, so sparkly!!!!

The banners in the background are stamped with the text block from First Class Friend, and I used my photo corner punch to notch the ends.

The silver cord and a few random rhinestones add just a little more bling.

The great thing about clear stamps is that you can manipulate them a bit, as I did here with the sentiment.  I lined it up using the rainbow die before stamping to make sure the curves lined up. The sentiment is from Just My Type.

And here's a closer look at my sugared rainbow and sparkly clouds!

I just love die-namics!

You can find all the info about this challenge HERE on SCS.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed my entry!