Merry, Jolly, Joyful Christmas

Laura Jean hosted a swap on SCS that had two of my favorite themes--Winter and Christmas.  I love the season and I love making cards that showcase the season too.  I took two spots in each category and this is the second of the two cards for the Christmas category.  Again, like the one from Saturday, it uses some non-traditional Christmas colors.........

Here is the inside of my card:

Image/Sentiment—Stampin' Up Seasonal Sayings

Cardstock—Gina K White; SU Riding Hood Red, Pretty in Pink, River Rock; My Mind's Eye Be Merry Patterned Paper

Ink—SU Riding Hood Red

Accessories--SU Riding Hood Red Brads and Riding Hood Pleated Satin Ribbon

Best of Christmas ~ Dancer

Laura Jean hosted a swap on SCS that had two of my favorite themes--Winter and Christmas.  I love the season and I love making cards that showcase the season too.  I took two spots in each category and this is the one of the two cards for the Christmas category.   Both of these cards highlight non-traditional Christmas colors--check back in a few days to see the second card.

Here is the inside of my card with the sentiment:

Image/Sentiment—Stampin' Up Best of Christmas/Sentiment More Merry Messages

Cardstock—Gina K White; SU Bravo Burgundy, Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate; Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses Designer Paper

Ink—SU Bravo Burgundy

Accessories--Clear Rhinestone Brad; Pink Round Brads; SU Pretty in Pink 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon; Nestabilities Labels 4; EK Punch

A look at our Decorations

It is the 5th of the month, so I am back with another challenge of the Crafty Gals! We are a group of bloggers who have monthly challenges, caring comments & fun chit chat on SCS—our favorite stamping site to visit.

However, this is a bit of a sad post, even though it is filled with holiday decorations from my house as it is the last Crafty Gals post.  Melina set up this wonderful group a few years ago, but has decided that it is time for it to come to an end. It has been great to share our creations along with stories and friendship with all of the wonderful ladies in this group.............  but all good things must come to an end.

The challenge that Melina posed to us this month was to share our decorations or our Christmas Card.  I love Christmas and decorate from the top to the bottom of the house--inside and out.  There is a tree in every single room of the house, including the bathrooms as well as a few in the family room and the living room.  Here are some of the trees and decorations:

This is the main tree in the living room--with over 700 ornaments.  Yes, I did count one year as I have been asked how many as well as how long to decorate.  It takes about a day to do just this tree--with a few breaks.

 

Here is a close up of a couple of my favorite ornaments from my parents.  They--my parents and the ornaments--came from Germany and I think the gold and pink ornaments are more than 100 years old.

 

 

I added a new tree this year where all of the ornaments are from trips and vacations.  The top ornament is a sugar maple leaf that we got in Montreal in May.  I plan to showcase the most recent addition to the top of the tree each year.

 

Here are two trees that honor my favorite sports teams--the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers:

 

The glass you might notice in the background is a window that was in my parent's house.  It was in a very old farm house that was torn down in 1963 and was then installed in the new house they built that same year.  When we sold the house and farm about 20 years ago, we took the door to a local hardware store and they removed the glass.  I had it framed and it hangs in my house now.  It is in remarkable shape for being probably close to 100 years old too.  It is a beautiful piece of etched glass that has deer in the middle.

 

These two trees highlight my years as a coach and a teacher.  The one on the left has teacher related ornaments and the one on the right on the fireplace hearth has all sports ornaments.

 

This is the tree that was new last year and has all ornaments related to wine:

 

 

The tree in the master bedroom has purple and silver ornaments:

 

 

Here are the trees that grace our bathrooms--the one on the tub is in the master bath and the other one is on the sink in the guest bathroom.

 

This is a window ledge that displays a collection of snowmen:

 

And finally.....  This is one of my favorite displays.  It is a small nativity that came from Haiti.  Rebecca has done fundraisers in the past for our friend Michel who goes on medical mission trips to Haiti.  Rebecca sings and plays guitar at a local restaurant with all donations along with a % of the food that evening given to Michel.  She gave this sweet nativity set to Rebecca and the crèche is a coconut:

 

 

I hope you enjoyed the trip around our house viewing our Christmas decorations.  I did not show you any of the trees from the family room in the lower level as they are not yet...............  off to do those now as we have a Christmas party with around 20 people coming on Saturday!  Tomorrow I will start the preparations for the party and I have a few ideas of treats to make. 

 

Please be sure to check out the blogs Crafty Gals! They are all listed on the blog role on the left.  I am sure you will be awed with the decorations and/or Christmas Cards that will be posted.  I will miss posting on the 5th of each month...........................

 

Proud to be on the Naughty List

If you are looking for my Twist of Faith card, please scroll down. 

 

 

I am back with another {PIN}Spirational Challenges

December 3 - 9
 

Here's the photo to inspire us:

 

Our sponsor this week is Sassy Studio Designs.

 

There were some wonderful images that we could chose from.  All of the images were a bit sassy!  I went with an image that is just a bit naughty--maybe a bit like me!  I tried to use some round images on my card--like the patterned paper as well as the five pink pearls.  Thanks so much Sassy Studio.

Here is the inside of my card. I might send it to someone who might not be on Santa's nice list this year!

 



Image/Sentiment—Sassy Studio Designs--Sassy Bunny Pin-up Digital Image and sentiment

Cardstock—Gina K White; Stampin' Up Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Basic Black; Bazzill Countdown to Christmas Countdown/Lights of Christmas Patterned Paper

Accessories—Copic Markers; SU Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon; Pink Pearls

I hope you will play along this week with the {PIN}Spirational Challenge, too! Be sure to go to the challenge blog and add your creations for the challenge this week! You can also check out the rest of the DT Creations with the links on the left sidebar.

Baubles and Bows

If you are looking for my {PIN}Spirational Challenge Post, please scroll up.

I am back to share this weeks card for the Twist of Faith Card Challenges!  Please stop by and check out the Twist of Faith Card Challenge Blog where we invite you to share your uplifting, healing, inspirational and scriptural card creations. 

 

 



This week our Challenge is #66--Baubles and Bows.  Use your favorite image and/or sentiment to make a card that showcases the Christmas Spirit og Baubles and Bows!.
 

Our sponsor this week is Digi Darla
 

 

There were some wonderful images and sentiments for us to chose from for the challenge.  Thank You Digi Darla for the wonderful digis to work with this week! 

I added a gold bell brad on the cute cat's hat.

 

 

 

This is the inside of my card with lots of baubles:

 

 

Image/Sentiment—Digi Darla Cat Christmas Digital Stamp
 

Cardstock—Gina K White; Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler, Primrose Petals, Pear Pizzazz; Bella Blvd Christmas Countdown Tree Park

Accessories—SU Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Ticket Corner Punch; Gold Bell Brad; Copic Markers; Sizzix Thin Ice Ornaments Embossing Folder

I hope you will play along this week with the Twist of Faith Card Challenge too! Be sure to go to the challenge blog and add your creations for the challenge this week! You can also check out the rest of the DT Creations with the links on the left sidebar.

Best of Butterflies

This is the one of the two cards I made for Linda's Swap on SCS--Butterflies Everywhere.  Linda has a wonderful love of butterflies, for various reasons in her life.  I have quite a few stamps and punches of butterflies--so I gladly took two spots.  Can't to wait to see the creations I get back!

Image/Sentiment—Stampin' Up Best of Butterflies

Cardstock—Gina K Ivory; SU Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry; Echo Park Paper-A Walk in the Park-Flutter Patterned Paper

Ink—SU Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories--Doodlebug Designs Halloween Doodle Bakers Twine; Orange Brads; SU Elegant Butterfly Punch

Crafters of Faith~Innocence of Children

Today is the last day of the month and I am here to show you to my Crafters of Faith card! The Crafters of Faith blogging group is a joyous blending of Christian friends ~ joined together to fellowship, share our faith, build friendships and craft together!   

Darlene is our hostess for this month-and she gave us this wonderful challenge:

 Matthew 10:13-16
"People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them."

I have always loved the image that this brings to mind. The culture of the day was such that children were valued even less than women were, so once again, Jesus is teaching that he came for the least ones in society. My biggest pleasure in teaching Sunday School is always experiencing God's love and grace through the accepting eyes of children.

So, with that in mind, look through your treasure trove. What do you have that shows the innocence of childhood? The pleasure in simple things? The wonder of nature? The pure fun of our world? What speaks to that child-like spirit that you remember from your childhood? Try to create something that takes you back to your childish, unquestioning, innocent faith in God. Create a little bit of heaven on paper!

I inked up another stamp from the Country Pumpkin line of Peachy Keen Stamps--also designed by Lorie Souther--like the Thanksgiving card I posted on Thursday.  I think this little girl shows the essence of little girls to a "T"!

I also wanted to try to not use one of Darlene's un-favorite colors on this card--pink.  I know--there is shade of pink on the card--but it really is Melon Mambo and I know Darlene is not opposed to that color.  So--my little girl showcases shades of bright and bold colors--just like I envisioned Darlene as a little girl--Bright and Bold.  And--you know--that also describes her to a "T" right now as an adult!  Thanks for a sweet challenge Darlene and thanks for being a wonderful friend!

 

Here is the sentiment on the inside of the card

 

Image/Sentiment—Peachy Keen Stamps Country Bumpkin--Madisyn

Cardstock—Gina K White; Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Melon Mamba, Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP

Ink—SU Melon Mamba

Accessories—Copic Markers; Melon Mamba Brads; SU Pacific Point Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you do check out the other November creations from the wonderful ladies in the Crafters of Faith group! The blog list is on the left side--please check out all of the cards.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

It is the 28th of the month and it also is Thanksgiving Day, so I am here to welcome you to another round with the Calendar Girls!

Who are the Calendar Girls? We are a group of bloggers who want to have a place where friendships blossom, creativity abounds, and encouragement prevails! In keeping with that dream, this blog group has been created so we will have a place to interact and enjoy being fellow bloggers.  Jeanette decided on the theme for this month and here is the challenge for the group:  

We're going to go with VERY EASY and NO STRESS for the November theme, since we'll all be busy with Thanksgiving, etc.

Sooooooooooooooooo.... we'll go with Terry's suggestion: Thanksgiving theme......anything goes.......food, thank you card, Thanksgiving anything. And as a wee bit of extra fun, let's include Barb's suggestion: share a story of the best or worst food we have eaten on that day in the past. 
 
I inked up a Thanksgiving image that I got a couple of years ago and had not used it yet.  It was designed by one of the ladies who is in a thread I frequent on SCS called the SOTC--Sisterhood of the Traveling Stamps.  Lorie Souther created this cutie for Peachy Keen Stamps.

Here is the inside of my card: 

 

We were asked to share a story about our worst or best food we have eaten.  I love turkey--white meat only!  I also love stuffing and the special mashed potatoes that are made with sour cream and cream cheese--no calories there!  One of my favorite side dishes my SIL makes is sweet potato soufflé--it is a recipe that is made at The Fireside Dinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson, WI--which is two blocks from my brother's house.  Yum--and again, low calorie.......  So--you see that I really, really like most of the food that is served at our Thanksgiving meal--and I am trying really had to come up with a worst meal.  But--about 30 some years ago, I took a train trip with some friends to New Orleans.  We left that left the afternoon before Thanksgiving and we arrived late Thursday morning.  We found restaurant that had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and the dressing had oysters in it.  I just could not eat that....................

Image/Sentiment—Peachy Keen Stamps Country Bumpkin Stamps-Tanner Turkey

Cardstock—Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Crumb Cake; Gina K White; Flair Designs Thanksgiving Words Patterned Paper

Ink—SU Chocolate Chip

Accessories—SU Tangerine Tango 1/4" Stitched Satin Ribbon; Tangerine Tango Round Brads; Copic Markers; A*muse Word Window Die; Creative Memories Corner Rounder

Please check out the blogs of all of the Calendar Girls—there are 10 of us, so it might take you a bit.  I am sure you will enjoy all the Thanksgiving creations! All of the blogs are listed on my left sidebar. Thanks for joining us this month!

Frosty and Friends in Three Colors

I am back to share this weeks card for the Twist of Faith Card Challenges!  Please stop by and check out the Twist of Faith Card Challenge Blog where we invite you to share your uplifting, healing, inspirational and scriptural card creations. 

 



This week our Challenge is #65-Use three colors.  Use your favorite image to make a card that showcases any three colors.  Be sure to include an appropriate scripture or inspirational sentiment. 
 

Our sponsor this week is StampArt by Kathryne
 

 

There were some wonderful images for us to choose from for the challenge.  Thank You StampArt by Kathryne for the wonderful Frosty Friends digi to work with this week!

I did use three colors--Cherry Cobbler, Soft Sued and Gumball Green--for the most part..............  I know Frosty's nose is orange and his little friend is yellow, but the three main colors are in the designer paper as well as the colored image.  Really, they are!  The sentiment is from Our Daily Bread. 

Image/Sentiment—Stamp Art by Kathryne Frosty Friends Digi/Sentiment Our Daily Bread-Peace and Joy
 

Cardstock—Gina K White; Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler, Sot Suede, Gumball Green and Snow Festival Designer Series Paper.

Ink—SU Cherry Cobbler

Accessories—Copic Markers; Green Button with Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine

I hope you will play along this week with the Twist of Faith Card Challenge too! Be sure to go to the challenge blog and add your creations for the challenge this week! You can also check out the rest of the DT Creations with the links on the left sidebar.