A Little Helper...

Happy New Years Eve everyone!!!  I know this is another Christmas card but I promise, it's my last. Hee  And, I couldn't help but look at this adorable Saturated Canary image, Spritz, and think of him as also "Baby New Year".  Right?? I just love his little tummy and big wide eyes!!

I threw a bunch of image, cut outs and die cuts onto this card because it's how I imagine a tiny little Santa helper seeing things.  Everything, all colors, here and there and everywhere!  ;-)

My card base is Pure Luxury Grass Green followed by some Red Hot.  I added several different pieces of DP I found in my stash.  The little "Sweet Holiday Memories" tag was also from some DP and I cut around the candy dish and popped it up on top of the other piece to add to the Christmas candy stash this little helper might have his eyes on.

I used my Spellbinders dies to add a few accents in Red Hot as well.  My image was printed on Cryogen from the Paper Temptress and colored with my Copics.

I hope you have a safe and happy New Year!  The kids, hubby and I are, as usual, having our annual New Years Eve "carpet picnic".  Lots of good munchies spread out on a blanket on the floor while we watch some of our favorite movies and jump now and then to NY to see the New Years brought in first by our east coast friends and family!

Here's to a GREAT 2013 and to all your dreams coming true and much health and blessings to you and those you love!  Thank you for all your support during 2012!!! It means so much to me to have you share in what I love to do and to take the time to comment and leave a little love.  You are forever an inspiration and blessing to me as well!

Be safe in however you plan to bring in the New Year and I'll see you next year!  *HUGS*




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Daddy Deerest....

Happy Sunday!! I hope you're relaxing and enjoying the final days of the year.  Again, I am sharing one of the final Christmas cards I made this year.  THIS card was a special one for my dad.  He is a true deer hunter at heart and though he loves the sport, he has a HUGE back yard area where several deer stop by and play and yes, eat from the feeder and salt lick he has out for them.  I guess even though he loves the hunt, he really enjoys watching them play and romp around as well.  Plus, it's really cool to sit in his family room and watch them from the windows when we visit.  :-)

My card was created using Christmas Deer from StampinUp.  From hearing dad talk, it's the rack on the deer that is the "cream" and I thought this deer had a perfect one for the holiday.. of course, trimmed in ornaments!!  Ha!  My card base is Pure Luxury Fresh Asparagus and layered with a bit of Dark Chocolate.  I added some DP from my stash and a bit more Fresh Asparagus before adding more DP.  My image was stamped on White and I sponged the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Vintage Photo after distressing it a bit.  I added my sentiment on more white and layered it with Cranberry Tart.  A few self-adhesive copper nail heads finish it off.  I add a bit of twine along the side for a bit more rustic look.

I decided to show you my inside since I don't always do that and I really liked how this one came out.  I ALWAYS do the insides of my cards and since this was such a simple design I felt a need to stamp more.  Hee

I used my White again on the inside and did more distressing with Tim Holtz Ink.  I added some of the DP from the front to accent the bottom and a few of the larger copper nail heads.  My sentiment and image is from Gina K's Merry Little Christmas Stamp TV Kit.  I hope your holidays were special and you had just the right gift for everyone in your life.  Sometimes my cards are the EASIEST way to give something that is fitting for that person.  Trust me... my mom and dad are the worst to buy for.  I guess as you get older there's not much you really want or need.  Doesn't make for fun shopping that's for sure. Ha!  But... I can say, I know everyone was pleased with the gifts they got this year.

Have a great Sunday... relax and give yourself plenty of time to absorb the past year and get ready for an even better 2013!!!  Thanks for stopping by!!! *HUGS*

It's Finally Done....

Yes I know... I've been missing in action.  But you know what??? Christmas is OVER!!! Woot!! Woot!!  As much as I love the holiday, I'm soooo NOT a shopper!! I hate shopping regularly and Christmas shopping just about makes me crazy as a loon!!!  Ok... maybe you know me and ya... maybe it's not just Christmas time I get that way... Hee Hee

My image is Xmas Shopping by Kenny K.  He has some really super fun images there... go check them out!

I started my card with Pure Luxury Sandy Beach and added a layer of Fresh Asparagus with a  little DP from my stash. I printed the image on Cryogen White from the Paper Temptress.  She is colored with my Copic markers.  I added a little Red Hot card stock around for a border.  A bit of Stampendous Frantage Shaved Ice to add a touch of snow, some punched swirls and shiny ruffled ribbon to finish off my Christmas look.

I have just a couple more cards I'll share before the New Year so I hope you bear with me.  Because I too took a small break/vacation from work and I'm slowly moving back into it.  Sometimes it's hard to get things moving when the kids are home on vacation as well... KWIM?? ;-)

I hope you had a fabulous Christmas and I hope you made tons of wonderful memories to last a lifetime!  We sure did! Now I'm off to work with my new laser printer I got as a gift.. somehow I can't get it to print properly but.. worse comes to worse, I'll send it back for a new one.  :-)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great Saturday!!!! *HUGS*




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Uhhh Santa??!!!!

I just love this adorable image from Mo's Digital Pencil called "Santa's Hat".  OMGosh he reminds me sooo much of when my son was just a baby boy... *sniff sniff*.  I miss those "believe in Santa" days.  :-( But the upside is I love the awesome conversations we have and watching him grown into a wonderful, kind-hearted, smart young man.  Somehow I feel I'm doing something right when I see that.  :-)

My card starts with some Pure Luxury Ocean Mist card stock.  I added a bit of Red Hot and some DP I found in my stash which was perfect for this little peeker.  I colored my image with my Copics after printing it on Cryogen paper from the Paper Temptress.  I added a few rhinestone flourishes and a bit of twine to finish off my card.

I hope you are ready for the holidays.  It seems I always think of one more thing to do or grab or to FINISH even! LOL  But I suppose in the end it all gets done and as always, it will be a fabulous Christmas, as always.

Thanks for stopping by today and have a great Saturday!!!  *HUGS*

 Copics I used:

Sorry I inadvertently deleted the photo and don't remember all the copics.  :-(

Latte Love...

Oh yes... I'm going to need a lotta latte to get through this weekend!!!  Final days of shopping and grocery store runs for all the get together dinners and lunches.  Oy!!!  Fortunately, all I REALLY have left to buy are stocking stuffers and Christmas pajamas for my kids.  But... I will have to run to the store for fixings.  Sunday afternoon we are going to my mother-in-laws for a soup lunch and I'm in charge of making my infamous potato soup... secret recipe! Hee  Then... Christmas Eve, we always go to my parents' house for their annual Open House.  Mom ALWAYS makes a run to Sam's Club for food, ham and such but EVERYONE brings something and there is a TON of food... something for everyone's liking!  My dad complains every year that SHE buys to much because she knows everyone is going to bring things too and then they have a load to worry about later.  But hey... that's what HER immediate kids are for... oh yeah... bring out the Tupperware containers mom! LOL

My precious image is another Saturated Canary image, "Latte".  I had so much fun coloring her with my Copic markers!!

My card began with Pure Luxury Cranberry Tart card stock.  I layered on some Fresh Asparagus and then some DP I found in my stash.  I distressed the edges of my Cryogen paper from the Paper Temptress which I printed my image on and used some Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Distress Linen along the edges.  A few little punched swirls, snowflakes and twigs finish off my card.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Anything Goes - Traditional Colors
The Emerald Faeiries Challenge Blog - Christmas
Celebrate the Occasion  -  #93 Christmas
Loves Rubber Stamps - Merry Christmas
Ladybug Craft Inks - Anything Goes at Christmas
Digital Tuesday Challenge - Layers

I love how she came out and she looks so cozy warm BUT happy!!! That makes ME happy.  If I put a latte in my hands, I KNOW I can conquer the weekend! Hee

I hope you are ready for the holidays and I hope you have all the energy and latte you need to keep you going!!!

I appreciate your stopping by and remember to stay warm; we are heading into that white stuff (shhhhh snowwww) tonight so I'm doubly ready for something hot and full of caffeine!!  Have a great Wedsneday!! *HUGS*



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Why Thank You, Miss Cammie....

Eeeeeekkkk!!!!!  Bwahahahaha... Oh Cammie, I love you dear and I just couldn't resist!!!  But hey, I've been there!!!  In October I helped my son bring in the Halloween decorations and duhhhh... HE left them outside in the box, bringing in just what he was setting up next.  But mom... oh nooo... I brought the whole box in and with it... TWO mice which managed to (I'm POSITIVE) FLY out of the box and into my kitchen.  O M Gosh!!! But, just to make little Miss Cammie and I feel better, I must say... my son was HORRIFIED!!! LOL  My 6'2", 15 year old was hopping on the counter quicker than I could say... "Get the broom!" LOL  One jumped into the garbage can and I yelled... "Take it outside!"... but noooo... that 15 year old boy yelped again and jumped for the counter... AGAIN!!! LMBO  Oh, what I wouldn't have given for a video of that!!!  Ha ;-)  So Cammie dear, you're not alone but I will say... my two were caught and gone!!! I hope yours is as well.  *HUGS*

My card base is Pure Luxury Wild Dandelion layered with Blue Raspberry and a bit of Lemon Drop.  I added a bit of DP from my stash which I might add, reminded me of tear drops... Ha!  My image, "Too Cute to Be Afraid Of!" by The Paper Shelter,  was printed on White and colored with my Copic markers.  I added a bit more Blue Raspberry for a border.  I used Melanie Muenchinger's, "Lots of Letters" to create my sentiment, which I'm sure is all our little mice friends wanted to say... hee.  I mounted it using Pop Dots.

All good fun aside, I am so glad my mice are gone and I certainly hope Cammie's are as well.  But I could NOT resist dedicating this post to her as I know exactly how she felt.  And, what a perfect image for two gals who had their scare by such a tiny creature. Hee

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope your Friday is fabulous!!!  Let the weekend begin!!  *HUGS*



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Pink Flakes??

Sure.... why not?!!  Tis the season and I am all about making it "different" and "memorable". LOL  So why not some pink snow???? I mean, you gotta admit, it's better than yellow, right?? LOL  Or.... seriously?, I wanted to do black!!!  And well... I may still so keep your eyes peeled! LOL

For today's card I used some Pure Luxury Bubblegum Pink as my card base and then layered on some Black Onyx.  I added some DP from my stash as I felt it went well with both "sentiments" on my card.  I heat embossed my snowman from Gina K's Stamp TV Kit, "Merry Little Christmas" and then stamped my sentiment from the same set.  As you know... *wink*... both are songs... hee!  I then punched my snowflakes out of the Bubblegum Pink and adhered them adding last some Stardust Stickles.  (MY FAV Stickle color!)

I created my card to kick off this week's Twisted Thursday over at The Outlawz Challenge site.  The challenge I posted for today was to do an "Anything Goes" card with the twist of adding snowflakes!  So... there you have it!!!  PINK Snow!!!  How purty, right?  :-)  Head on over and add your snowflake creation.  Prizes to be given as always!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great Thursday!!! *HUGS*

Here's to the Boss....

Hello everyone and welcome to a special blog hop for a very special lady.... Suzanne Dean.  

Today the Design Team from Suzanne's site, Color Me Creative, are hopping along to give our friend and "fearless leader" a HUGE HUG and Thanks!!!  

If you've ever met Suzanne, you know 1) what a HUGE heart she has and 2) how fun, witty and TALENTED she is!!  Suzanne's site has tons of information and inspiration and WE get to help spread the word about her awesome classes by way of her bi-weekly challenges sponsored by some fabulous crafty companies!  This month Suzanne is having a month full of challenges where you can win some wonderful prizes and have some fun along the way, but we wanted to take time to thank Suzanne for all her hard work and dedication for not only us but for all the members on her site and those who are lucky enough to have attended her classes where she shares her talent and coloring tips with us all.  

Suzanne is not only a pleasure to work for, but a wonderful friend with a big love for zebras!! That's right... today we are sharing our "zeebie" (as she calls them) designs dedicated to a wonderful lady who we simply say, "Thanks".  We hope you enjoy the hop and remember, the Holiday Bash at CMC is under way and you don't want to miss out on all the fun, excitement and awesome prizes so be sure to stop in and enjoy the holiday spirit with us all.  You can find all the information you need HERE.

I created a card using a Saturated Canary image, "Color Me Wonderful" who reminds me of Suzanne at her Copic classes.  Hee

I started with some Pure Luxury Black Onxy card stock.  I added a layer of White and then some Basic Grey paper I found in my stash.  I colored my image with Copics and cut around her before mounting her on the card with Pop Dots.  My "Live" sentiment is from Gina K Designs set, "Inspirational Blocks".  

For me... Suzanne represents life at it's best.  She lives every day to it's fullest and I have never met anyone so full of the desire to enjoy it to the best of her ability!!  I feel very blessed to be Suzanne's DT Coordinator and to have the pleasure of working so closely with her!  Suzanne is more than just my boss, she has become a very near and dear friend and hardly a day goes by that we don't yell at each other... and I do mean YELL!!! LOL  Cause, it's how we roll!!! Hee  I hope she and her family have a wonderfully magical Christmas and an awesome New Year!!!  

Enjoy the hop... here's a list of participants to help you get started:

Tina Gilliland (You're here!!)

Anary Baumgarth

Andrea Murdock

Brook Guinn

Jenn Cochran

Marie Gamber

Michele Speara

Patricia St. Martin

Shelby Goolsby

Thanks for stopping by today and have a great Wednesday!!!

 Copics I used:

Thermal for Winter!!!

Ohhhh soooo warmmm!!!!  Yes.. that's it!! Thermals PJ's for winter time!!  And what goes with that??? A PARTY!!!!  Yayyyy!!!  I LOVE Tami's new set, "Perfect Plaids" definitely brought those old fashioned "trap door" thermal undies to mind when I first saw this pattern. LOL  NOOO I never had any but I laughed every time I saw them on TV.  Hee Hee  AND... what's better than that.... having Melanie's set, "Lots of Letters" to put the message out loud and clear!!  I just adore those dimensional boxes she added to the set too.  I feel like it's Scrabble time when I see them.  Ha!

My card started out using Pure Luxury Red Hot card stock.  I added a layer of Black Onyx which I offset under the White so that it resembled the squares in Melanie's set.  ;-)  I stamped the plaids on top and bottom before adhering the letters using Pop Dots to give them some more dimension. A little twine and the warm invite is ready!!

I'm sure you'll be seeing more of these wonderful plaids AND letters for a long long time!  Thank you for stopping by today and a great weekend! *HUGS*

CMC Holiday Bash Month Long Challenge!!!

Starting December 7th the CMC Classroom will have its annual month-long Holiday Bash Celebration! Nothing more fun then having some fun challenges, games and prizes to start the season off right!? I hope you will find time to stop in and look around, join in and just have some fun. The Holiday Bash is really my way of THANKING ALL OF YOU for your continued support, friendship and patronage to the Classroom. So a lot of fun and a way to WIN SOME HUGE prizes from our sponsor!

Details:

*Starts Dec. 7th with a Holiday Blog Hop featuring projects by the CMC DT to kick off the month-long CMC Challenge!! And another way for you to win if you hop along!

*Every week will be a NEW Challenge and Prize...think scavenger hunts, puzzles, games!

*Charity Raffle - We are giving away a NEW Silhouette Cameo machine to a lucky someone! How can you win it? Everytime you participate in a challenge during the month you get an entry for it. Also for every $3 you donate to the Charity (TBA) you get an entry. Every year I pick a different Charity to help...so far we've raised $3200 over the years..and to me the season is all about GIVING so that's why I always include this.

If you came here by way of Suzanne Dean's blog, you' re in the right place.  If not... that IS the place to start the hop!  :-)

My card was created using Saturated Canary's, "Christmas Angel".  I just ADORE all the Saturated Canary images... so so cute and this one is no exception.  I started with some Pure Luxury Blue Raspberry card stock.  I added a layer of Turquoise Sea and then DP from the GK Patterned Paper Pack, "Blizzard".  My image was stamped on White and used my Copics to color it in.  I gave her some "silver wings" and added my Stardust Pure Glitter Pen to give it a bit more sparkle and some Diamond Stickles to the snowflakes.  I didn't have good luck with my photos showing all the shimmer of the card today but in real life it's just so so glitzy.  :-)  I trimmed around my cute angel and used some Pop Dots to adhere her to the front of the card.  My Tree and sentiment, "Believe" were cut using my Silhouette Cameo.  

Now, head on over to see what Holiday fabulousness Jenn has to share with you!!  Don't forget to leave comments as you go for a chance to win a prize!!!  Three people will be chosen!!! 

Also remember to enter the challenge for a chance at a new Silhouette Cameo!!! Woot!!  And, of course, you can donate if you don't have time to enter the challenges also.  

Have fun and good luck with all the goodies our sponsors are putting up for the challenges!!!  

Thank for stopping by and have a great day!!! *HUGS*




 Copics I used:

Just a Thought...

Oh it's that time again... gifts and more gifts!!  Today I spent the morning working on a few little journal/books that I wanted to give to my nieces who love journaling and who is ALWAYS (like their auntie) in need of a new one. Ha!!  These are small and compact and I believe sturdy enough to throw in a bag for just a few thoughts and notes.  My sweet friend, Melanie Labelle, had made one for me a while back and I have had it sitting on my craft desk waiting for a chance to make one as well.  I just love it!!

I used a large Inkssentials Manilla Tag to create the book cover.  I began with scoring it at 3 1/2" and then another 3 1/2" using my Scor Buddy.  I covered one side with some Tim Holtz Distress Stains.  I stamped my images from Theresa Momber's, "Elegant Florals"  using my Versarmark.  I clear heat embossed the ferns in clear embossing powder.  I covered the entire tag again using the Pickett Fence Distress Stain.  I wiped off some of it using a dry rag which removed it from the clear embossed areas.  I then used some images from Theresa's "Timeless Treasures" in brown and green to add more texture.  I distressed the edges and added some Distress Ink in Vintage Photograph.

For the inside, I simply cut my card stock to fit the book and again distressed the edges and added more Vintage Photograph.  The inside of my tag/cover was colored with more Distress Stain in Antique Linen.  I thread some twine through my cover and pages to hold it all together.  Likewise, I used the twine to attach to the tag hole and wrap around the book to close it.  A few Tim Holtz embellishments, some copper nail heads and my book is complete.  

I finished two of these day and below is a pic of the other one I completed.  

If you'd like to make your own book/journal... HERE is the site where you can grab the instructions.  I used different mediums than they suggested, but in the end it's YOUR creation.  Do it as you want and have fun!!!

Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful Thursday!!!

Gina K November Inspiration Hop Day 3

The Design Team for Gina K. Designs welcomes you to another fabulous Inspiration Blog Hop! Gina and the Design Team will inspire you with many beautiful ideas! And as you hop through their blogs, make sure to leave a comment on each of them because we will choose a few random comments and those stampers will each win a grab bag of Gina K. Designs products! To see the full list of winners check the Big News forum at Stamp TV a few days after the hops.  Ready to start our final day on the Inspiration Hop???  Let's get going....

First up... Tami Mayberry's, "Perfect Plaids"... 

I had so much fun deciding on what colors I wanted to use with Tami's awesome plaid stamps.  I LOVE using plaids for Christmas cards.  Just makes me feel all cozy in the winter! LOL

I started my card with Pure Luxury card stock.  I embossed my Red Hot and added the layer of White which I stamped using my Memento inks.  I used three different images from Tami's set to create the different colors on my plaid.  I added a bit of twine and some self-adhesive pearls which I colored with my Copic markers.

Next up... Gina K Designs, "Snow One Like You"...

For this card I went with a CAS design.  I wanted my birdhouse and cardinal to be uncluttered and pure.  I simply stamped the image and colored with my Copic markers and then used my Scor Buddy to add a frame around it.  I think not only would this make a great simple Christmas card, but could easily be used as a bit of cheer or encouragement. 

Now check out even more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team:

• Gina K
• Tami Mayberry – Illustrator Perfect Plaids
• AJ Otto
• Becky Oehlers
• Beth Silaika
• Carolina Buchting
• Carolyn King
• Cathy Tidwell
• Deb Felts
• Emily Giovanni
• Giovana Smith
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy
• Lori McAree
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Vicki Dutcher

Thank you for hopping with us during the last three days.  Don't forget to leave your comments for a chance at the Gina K Designs products bag of goodies!!  Have fun making those special Christmas cards and as always, I appreciate your stopping by!! *HUGS*

Copics I used: