Happy Monday!  I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving and got to spend time enjoying family and friends . . . and doing what you wanted to do!  We traveled to northwest Indiana to visit my in-laws for Thanksgiving and returned home Friday afternoon late.  Then because Mallory was home and she always helps me decorate for Christmas, we started putting up the trees on Saturday.  Her favorite task is to set the Santa collection out.  Of course, this year it ended up in two places, since I can’t help but add a few new Santas every year.  Oh how I love my Santas!

It was a little bittersweet for me when we set up the Christmas tree.  I started collecting ornaments for each of the girls the year they were born.  I have also saved every little thing they ever made while in school.  Last year I boxed them up individually and marked their names on the outside of the box in preparation of them leaving home.  Little did I know then, that Katie would leave.  Sitting in the basement are her boxes of ornaments, a tree and numerous other decorations that I have decided to pass along to my oldest daughter.  I’m so excited for her that she will be decorating her first tree this year, even though I miss seeing all those handmade ornaments that I delicately hung on the tree every year!

Of course, all this decorating along with the weather we are having today (no snow yet), has put me in the holiday mood!  I couldn’t help but pull out Anna’s Snowman for Peace set today.  I guess it’s my way of hoping for a little bit of snow!

I stamped out my scene, colored it with Copic Markers and then cut it out using Spellbinders Square Nestabilities.  Because I wanted to add a background, I left the image in the Square Nestability and used it as a mask for the outside edges.  I stamped the main images out on Eclipse Masking Tape, trimmed them out and masked the main images.  Once I had everything masked, I airbrushed the background with different shades of blue Copic Markers.  To finish off the main image, I added Ranger Glossy Accents to the snowman and Tulip White Puffy Paint for the snow, sprinkled it with glitter and let dry.  The ornament was also highlighted with Ranger Glossy Accents.

• Stamps: Anna Wight’s Snowman for Peace from Whipper Snapper Designs
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; BasicGrey Figgy; SU Always Artichoke and Baja Breeze
• Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Ranger Old Paper Distress
• Accessories: Copic Markers and Airbrush System; Spellbinders Classic Square Nestabilities; Ranger Glossy Accents; Tulip White Puffy Paint; Diamond Gold Ultra Fine Glitter; Sewing Machine; Brads; Ribbon; Venture Foam Tape; Brads; Eclipse Masking Tape
  

Hope you’re having a great day so far!

• Stamps: Anna Wight’s Snowman for Peace from Whipper Snapper Designs
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; BasicGrey Figgy; SU Always Artichoke and Baja Breeze
• Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Ranger Old Paper Distress
• Accessories: Copic Markers and Airbrush System; Spellbinders Classic Square Nestabilities; Ranger Glossy Accents; Tulip White Puffy Paint; Diamond Gold Ultra Fine Glitter; Sewing Machine; Brads; Ribbon; Venture Foam Tape; Brads; Eclipse Masking Tape
  

Hope you’re having a great day so far!

Good morning!  I’m still working on organizing, and promise that I’ll have pics for you when I’m done.  Even though it might be put away, things are still a bit untidy.  It’s amazing how rejuvenated I already feel.  You’ll see in a few days.

I did take a few minutes yesterday afternoon to finish up a card that I had already started.  I had to drop a few things last week to get ready for the Texas show, and this was one of them.

I just love these penguins . . . they are way too much fun!  I can’t decide if this one just fell, or had a little help.

The image was colored with Copic Markers and then the snow was made with Tulip Puffy Paint with Polysparkle EP sprinkled over it while wet.  For the background, I embossed snowflakes in the same Polysparkle EP (which is hard to see in the picture).
I know black and white is not the typical holiday colors, but they just seemed to work here.

• Stamps: Penguin Antics by Anna Wight from Whipper Snapper Designs
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; SU Basic Black and Cool Caribbean
• Ink: Ranger Adirondack Pitch Black and Distress Embossing; SU Cool Caribbean
• Accessories: Copic Markers; Tulip White Puffy Paint; Ranger Polysparkle EP; Venture Mounting Tape; Corner Rounder and Large Oval Punches; Ribbon; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber

Hope you have a great day today!

Good Monday morning!  Hope everyone had a great weekend.  I got some much needed stamping time in . . . as the next few days will be filled with laundry, packing, etc., to get ready for my trip to Texas.  Of course, I’m gonna try a sneak in a little stamping time too!

Speaking of Texas, on Wednesday I’ll be flying to Dallas to spend a few days with Bev.  On Thursday, Bev and I (along with Sharon and hopefully Joan), will be driving down to San Antonio to work the Rubbernecker Booth at the San Antonio Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo.  I hope some of you Texas girls come visit with us!  AND yes, I’m still looking for my

Speaking of Texas girls, my friend Anna Wight has a few new sets being released by Whipper Snapper Designs today!  When I saw the penguin set, Penguin Antics, I knew that was one I just had to have.  Here’s why:

Now it’s quite possible that this little fella had either not enough coffee with his Bailey’s or maybe too much nog with his . . . Christmas Cheer . . . but somehow he has landed bottom up!  Okay, along with me, but I just love the humor.

• Stamps: Penguin Antics and Snowman for Peace by Anna Wight from Whipper Snapper Designs
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; BasicGrey Figgy; SU Basic Gray
• Ink: Ranger Adirondack Pitch Black, Archival Jet Black and Weathered Wood Distress
• Accessories: Copic Markers; Spellbinders Petite Oval and Circle Nestabilities; Sewing Machine; Ranger Polysparkle EP and Inkssential White Opaque Pen; Tulip White Puffy Paint; Venture Foam Tape; Ribbon

Have a great day today!

Happy Saturday!  I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying your weekend so far.  I finally made it down to the studio this morning and am busy working away.  I’m leaving for Texas this coming week, and I’m trying to get some projects done before I go.  I’ve taken a short break because I want to share one card with you today.

I finally got around to doing this week’s Color and Sketch Challenges on Splitcoaststampers.  I’ve had this idea in mind ever since I saw the Color Challenge on Tuesday, but other things had to take precedent.   It also didn’t hurt that I could utilize the Sketch Challenge with my idea.

The images were colored with Copic Markers and then punched with a one inch square punch.  The background panels were stamped with the plaid image from the set.  The sentiment was die cut with Spellbinders Shapeabilities Tags.  Can you find the subtle humor in the card?

• Stamps: Anna Wight’s Harvest Blessings from Whipper Snapper Designs
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; SU Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango and Chocolate Chip
• Ink: Ranger Adirondack Pitch Black, Archival Jet Black and Vintage Photo Distress
• Accessories: Copic Markers; Spellbinders Shapeabilities Ribbon Tags Trio; Square Punches; Ribbon; Brads; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber

I hope you have a great weekend!

Good afternoon!  Yes, I’m running a little behind this morning.  Miss Ellie needed to go to the vet this morning for her annual check up.  She was happy to go for a car ride, but none too happy with me when we arrived at the vets’ office.  I don’t think she’ll come running the next time I shout “car ride - let’s go.”

When I got back from my “little errand,” I checked out the Ways to Use it Challenge on Splitcoast.  I’ve tried to get to the challenges all week, and I did get to the Sketch, but today’s was just perfect.  The challenge today is to use a charm on your project.  A few years ago I bought tons of those little dollar charm bracelets at the flea market and tore them all apart.  I have a stash of charms.  However, all the new ones that I just purchased at Tuesday Morning, I can’t find.  CRS?  Maybe!  Unorganized?  Maybe!  Just really forgetful?  You bet!  Anyhoo, here’s my card today.

I colored the image with Copic Markers and then cut the panels for the image with my square Nestabilities.  I sanded the edges of all the background paper and added dots with a white opaque pen.

• Stamps: Harvest Blessings by Anna Wight from Whipper Snapper Designs
• Paper: Memory Box Homespun Collection; SU Riding Hood Red
• Ink: Tsukineko Brilliance Graphite Black; Ranger Archival Jet Black
• Accessories: Copic Markers; Classic and Scallop Square Spellbinders Nestabilities; SU Scallop Punch; Ranger Inkssentials White Opaque Pen; Ribbon; Charm; Venture Foam Tape; Sanding Block

I hope you have a wonderful day!