Friday, October 30, 2009

It's The Great Pumpkin!







Well, I've been making cards all day today -- I just haven't had time to take pictures. So instead I thought I'd share some pictures I took tonight at the Pumpkin Guy's house. That's what we call the guy who makes an awesome display like this every year. His whole front yard is filled with HUGE pumpkins that he carves and then illuminates from inside with car headlights. These babies are way too big for candles. Every year he has a theme and this year's is, as you probably already guessed, Charlie Brown! Last year's theme was Dr. Seuss and the year before that he did the Seven Dwarfs. The neat thing about it (other than the smile it brings to your face) is that he doesn't charge a fee to see the pumpkins. He does it just for people to enjoy, and boy do they. We've never been there when there hasn't been a ton of people.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween tomorrow. My son is too big (and cool) to go trick or treating anymore, and if he decides to go anyway he certainly won't want Mom going along. Sniff sniff. It seems like just yesterday he was dressed up as Cookie Monster and was barely able to climb the porches to knock on the door and I had to hold his little hand every step of the way. Oh well, they grow up fast. Thank goodness for scrapbooks so we can remember when they were little!

Hugs!
Sue :o)

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #2







Hi everyone!

Here's my submission for challenge #2 at The Play Date Cafe. What a BEAUTIFUL color combo this week. I haven't had my fill of pumpkins yet, obviously! The pumpkins are made of scalloped ovals I cut on with the Cuttlebug and Nestabilities dies. I stamped each oval with an autmn spray stamp and then sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink before assembling them into pumpkins. The "grass" was a scrap I found in my stash, and the leaves were punched from card stock and then I used my paper piercing tool to add some texture. Oh the little crystal moon was something I found in my stash too. The background is just black card stock run through the Cuttlebug with the swirls embossing folder.

Stamp Credit: Stampin' Up!

Click here to check out this week's challenge at The Play Date Cafe!

Hugs!
Sue :o)

Another Quick and Simple Christmas Card


Hi everyone!

Here's another quick and simple - and shiny Christmas card! This one is pretty straightforward too. I embossed the image (Great Impressions) on watercolor paper and then colored it with my ZIG markers. The snowflake punch is from Martha Stewart and I attached the button with Diamond Glaze. The shiny snowflake background was made by taping the turquoise foil paper to a piece of light blue card stock and then running it through my Cuttlebug with the snowflakes embossing folder.

I'm happy to report that I did find a place to purchase more foil paper and card stock! I found the link on True's blog for The Paper Temptress. Oh my goodness. This place is to-die-for as far as paper goes. I'm sure I will be spending a lot of $$$$ there in the future.

Today is the first day this week I am able to stay at home and play in my craft room, so I'll be working on cards all day today and hopefully listing a bunch of new ones in my shop on Saturday or Sunday. Be sure to pop in for a visit!

I hope you're all having a lovely day!
Hugs!
Sue :o)

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A Quick and Simple Christmas Card




Hello everyone! I whipped up this card last night while playing around with a bunch of foil paper I found in my stash. It was super simple and I just love the results. The image was embossed and colored on watercolor paper and then cut out with my nesties. I taped the gold foil paper onto a piece of white card stock and then ran it through the Cuttlebug with the snowflakes embossing folder. The rest is just layering.

Now I have to ask - does anyone know of a good place to buy more foil paper (or foil card it's called sometimes)? I only have a limited stash of it and well ---- I want more! LOL.

I hope you're all having a happy Tuesday!

Hugs!
Sue :o)

Stamp Credit: Penny Black

Monday, October 26, 2009

Isn't This Sweet?


Let me state right away that I did NOT make this beautiful card. One of my sweet customers sent it to me for Halloween! I love it so much I just had to share it with everyone. Isn't that sweet? Thanks V.!

I also have some other fun stuff to share today - links to the wonders I find while trolliing the internet instead of doing housework. LOL. (Honey, if you're reading this - I did do housework today). Be sure to check out these fun finds!

Click here to see an awesome paper storage idea.

How many of you remember your mom carrying one of these beauties - or maybe it was just my mom. LOL.

I have several of these wonderful little pendants - and I want more!

If you love cake you MUST visit this awesome cake website. Be sure to explore!



That's all for today, folks! I'm still getting over this yucky cold and thanking my lucky stars it wasn't the flu! I hope you're all having a great Monday!

Hugs!
Sue :o)

Friday, October 23, 2009

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #1







Hello everyone! Here's my submission for The Play Date Cafe challenge #1. I have to say that the colors for this challenge are not ones I'd think to use but I'll darned if I don't love them! I guess that's the purpose of color challenges, right --- to get us to think outside the box! My card is on the cutsie side and pretty straightforward. The stamp is one of my favorites from Penny Black. I embossed it on watercolor paper, cut it out with my scalloped oval Nestabilities dies and then colored it with a combination of watercolor pencils and my ZIG markers. The papers are from K&Co. and I made the flowers with punches and some brushed nickel (looks like it anyway) brads. I'm including a picture of the inside of the card too. I always finish the insides of my cards because it's sort of a let down to look at the front of a pretty card and then open it up and see nothing inside. I think it's fun to make the inside of the card a surprise too!

I hope you're all having a beautiful day. It's rainy and gray here today but I have lots to keep me busy inside the house - so I don't mind! Thanks for stopping by and please visit again!

OH (one more thing)! If you'd like to play along with the color challenge at The Play Date Cafe click here to go to Julie's blog for all the information! There are prizes involved so don't miss it!

Hugs!
Sue :o)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

I Finally Got Her Done!







This is the Halloween card for my niece -- isn't this little witch the cutest? She's a digital stamp from Enchanted Inspirations. You can find a link to Michelle's blog on my sidebar. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this image - it was just finding time to sit down and do it!

I printed 3 copies of the image - 2 on white card stock and one on purple. I wanted the dress to be a vibrant purple and I just wasn't liking what I came up with using markers or watercolors. So I paper pieced the dress instead. I just printed it off, cut it out and the glued it down on one of the white images. Everything else is colored with my ZIG markers. I used the second copy printed on white to color in and cut out all the little candy corns on her dress. The stars I colored with my silver gel pen and I went over the little polka dots with a copper gel pen. Oh and do you like the little fringe at the bottom of her dress? Once I cut the purple dress out I turned it over, added a strip of double sided tape and then cut little pieces of black embroidery thread and stuck it into the tape. Once that was done I turned it over and gave it a trim.

The rest of the card was pretty easy. I sponged the witch's panel with both black and navy blue ink. The flowers were made with a combination of punches and Cuttlebug dies. Oh and that orange and gold polka-dotted paper I got at the Target Dollar Spot.

Thanks for stopping by!
Sue :o)

Quick & Simple Birthday Card







Hi Everyone!

I wanted to share this card I made last night for my girlfriend's little boy. It's nothing new in the way of techniques, but I just love the way it turned out. The stamp is from High Hopes Rubber Stamps. I embossed it in black with clear power and then colored with my ZIG markers. Then I just used a leftover piece of wrapping paper from the gifts and used it as background paper.

I just ordered some more High Hopes stamps from 7 Kids College Fund and I can't wait to get them. Their images are SO adorable and really fun to color. I also ordered some beautiful flower stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps so I should have plenty of fun stuff to play with next week.

As for this week -- sigh. I just got over a cold and then I woke up this morning with a sore throat and a headache. I'm praying it's just allergies from the change of season but I feel lousy. We'll see what I get done today.

Hope you're all having a great day!
Hugs!
Sue :o)

Monday, October 19, 2009

Fall Decorating







I might be a little behind in the game, but at least I got it done --- almost anyway. :o) I didn't get much done in the craft room this weekend so I thought I'd share some pics of my favorite fall decorations. I love pumpkins and have a collection of them on my side table in the dining room, but my favorite is the big glass one shown in the second picture above.

I'm hoping to get to work on a Halloween card for my niece tonight. I was going to do it this morning, but I left to get an oil change and somehow ended up at Target, Kohls and Joanne Fabrics. I never did the oil change BUT I got a new purse, two new pairs of jeans and a bundle of craft stuff that I just couldn't live without. Somehow I don't think my husband will be as impressed as I am! LOL!

I hope you're all having a lovely day!
Hugs!
Sue :o)

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Enjoy The Season




Boy it's been a crazy week in my house! It seemed I had somewhere to be every day of the week. It was all good though. One of my gal pals (and volunteerism motivators) asked if I'd come and help out the book fair at her daughter's school and of course I just had to do it. This is the same school my son went to when he was in elementary school (I was PTO Prez there for 2 years too) so it was nice to go back and visit with the teachers and staff again. I love the school book fairs anyway so it didn't take much motivating by my friend to get me to do it. I worked half a day yesterday, went shopping with one of my best friends this morning, and now tonight we have my nephew spending the night!

This is a card I did earlier in the week. I used some more Christmas chipboard pieces like I did on my last post. The holly stamp is by Penny Black (scored at the estate sale a few weeks back) and I added some buttons and silver star brad. The papers are all DCWV.

I'm really hoping to get busy on some more Christmas cards this week, but already my week is looking like its going to be a busy one. We have a potluck after church tomorrow and then we're going to dinner with family in the evening (better wear eating pants), and then I've got nothing but errands on Monday and 2 school convocations to attend during the rest of the week. Sigh. I don't know why, but it always seems that Fall is such a busy time in our lives! I'm sure I'll find time to stamp though. I always do!

I hope you're all having a great weekend!
God bless!
Sue :o)

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

A Holly Jolly Christmas




I finally got around to making some Christmas cards! Isn't this little snowman the cutest? He's from Penny Black (got him at 7 Kids College Fund) and I embossed and colored him on watercolor paper. I used an old speckle stamp and turquoise ink to add some "snow", and then beneath him I added crystal Stickles for some sparkle. That reminds me - I need to buy a new bottle of crystal Stickles. When I went to use it this time the tip was clogged. I tried routing it out with a stick pin and when that didn't work I got the bright idea to cut "just a little bit" of the tip off the bottle. Well, I cut a little too much of the tip off and when I went to use it I ended up with a sparkly desk and fingers. LOL. Oh well. These things happen. The big snowflake is chipboard, the medium ones are from Martha Stewart, and the little ones came from a punch I bought a long time ago. The blue background paper is Basic Grey and the rest is just card stock. I think he turned out pretty cute!

Well I'm off and back to my craft room to work on some orders! I hope you're all having a great day! Blessings!
Sue :o)

Monday, October 12, 2009

Great Pumpkins!




I've been making the little mini pumpkins out of punched ovals for weeks now - you think it would have dawned on me sooner to make them out of BIG ovals from my Nestabilities dies. Oh well - I'm a little slow. It's the sinus infection! I put this card in my shop earlier and it sold right away so I'm definitely going to make more. Again I'm a little slow, but I was thinking of running the next batch through the Cuttlebug in the Swiss Dots or Swirls embossing folders. We'll have to see how that looks.
Anyhoo - I have been listing cards all morning and since today is also my birthday I am going to take the rest of the day off and relax - or shop (I'm undecided as yet). I also wanted to comment on the picture of my big cat Mouse (named after the little critters she used to line up on my back porch every day). I was looking for her yesterday and found her all snuggled up in a stack of blankets - it reminded me of the Princess and Pea. :o) The girl has the right idea too - it's been in the 40's here for the last few days. I may join her there in that pile of blankets.

I hope everyone is having a great day! Hugs!
Sue :o)

Thursday, October 8, 2009

It Might Be a Coincidence...


Well, I stayed up the other night and made a ton of Get Well Soon cards and now... I have come down with a cold. What are the chances of that? Maybe I should make a bunch of I Hope You Win the Lottery Soon cards - or I Pray An Anonymous Millionaire Pays Off Your House cards. LOL. I hate being sick - especially when I can't stop sneezing. Stamping and sneezing are not compatible!

Anyway, here's a card I did last week. This stamp is by DeNami. I just love the bold lines in their stamps! I got this one at an estate sale a few weeks ago and I was thrilled because I haven't found a stamp store nearby that sells them. As I often do - I embossed the image on watercolor paper, colored it with my ZIG markers and then cut it out and adhered it to the card on foam tape. I really love the way it looks with the lavender and green and white paper too.

I hope everyone is having a great week so far. I'm hoping to be back in craft room later on. I'm making some homemade chicken soup right now so hopefully that'll get me on the road to recovery. :o)

Blessings!
Sue

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Quick Get Well Wishes




Hi Everyone!

It seems I've finally returned to my night owl status! For the last few weeks I've been dragging by 9 and officially in bed by 9:30, but last night I was up until well after midnight. I wanted to make some get well cards for my shop and I actually got quite a few done. This is one of them and I really like the way it turned out - so much so I plan on making a bunch for myself when I get some time. Ha! Unfortunately that won't be happening today as I we're rearranging furniture in two bedrooms tonight. My son just got a new desk and I need to make room for it, and then we have to move the bed away from the window in our bedroom which means moving EVERYTHING. I like the bed by the window during the summer, but when it gets cold (like I know it's going to) I like it clear across the room.

Anyway, back to my card. It was so simple. The flowers are Stampin' Up!. I stamped the flower three times on purple paper, cut them out and then attached a brad to the center of each flower. The rest is just card stock and DCWV background paper. Oh and sorry about the cruddy lighting in the pictures. We've got clouds and rain today.

Okay I'm off to clean (ugh) bedrooms so my big, strong, handsome hubby can move furniture tonight while I stamp. :o) I know he's going to read this from work so I'll probably get a phone call anytime now.

Have a great day!
Sue :o)

Monday, October 5, 2009

Look Ma - No Stamps!




Yeah I'm a little goofy, I know. :o) I was at my friend's house the other day and we got to playing with her Cricut, and after cutting out this cute little spider, spider web and bat I thought I'd challenge myself to make a card that didn't use any stamps! It wasn't a hard challenge since I am a terrible hoarder and have scrapbooking supplies I don't even remember I have. The words are all scrapbooking stickers I found in my stash. I added the googly eyes to the spider and then mounted the bat inside on foam tape. This card is going to my girlfriend's kids up in Wisconsin.

I hope everyone had a great weekend! We had a busy one. I cleaned house on Saturday and then we had friends over for dinner. Also, my nephew spent the night here with one of his friends. His buddy had trouble sleeping and didn't officially nod off until after 1 a.m., so needless to say I was tired and lazy on Sunday. It didn't stop me from shopping though. LOL. We went to the bookstore and I got the new Somerset Studio magazine, and then we bought a new desk for my son so he doesn't have to do his homework on the coffee table anymore. I'm a little bummed out today because I had to go back to the vet and pick up Cleo's ashes. I came home and had a good cry, and then I put her little urn on the bookshelf next to the rocker she always slept in. That was her favorite spot in the house so it seemed a fitting place for her.

Well, I'm off to my stamp room - hopefully to get started on some Christmas cards and some birthday cards I need this month. I hope you're having a blessed day!

Sue :o)

Friday, October 2, 2009

New Cards in the Shop!




Hello everyone!

I just finished up posting some new cards in my Etsy shop! There's one new everyday birthday card and the rest are all Autumn/Halloween related. The card I'm posting today is one of them. I had planned on stampin a lot of Halloween cards for the shop this year and I even ordered some cute stamps for that purpose. I seem to have hit a snag though. I ordered the stamps from someone on Etsy. She never sent the stamps and didn't return any of my messages, and now I find her shop has been closed. Sigh. Never one to be deterred by misfortune, I began sifting through my stamps to see what I had that could be modified for the occasion. LOL. This is what I came up with and I think it turned out pretty cute. The stamp is from Penny Black and I just stamped and colored it and then added the punched leaves to make it look like kitty is in a pile of leaves. It's not the cute like trick-or-treaters I wanted, but hey - sometimes we have to adapt, right?

Thanks for stopping by!
Sue :o)

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Fall and Halloween Inspiration


Hi everyone!
I don't know about you but I spend quite a bit of time trolling around the internet - just looking for inspiration. Some of my favorite places to visit are Flickr and Etsy, and then of course - I have a never ending stream of blogs to follow. :o) I thought it would be fun to post links to some of the fun places I've found - just in case anyone else needs a little eye candy to get the mojo up and running. I hope you enjoy!

Adorable Halloween cookies I found on Flickr. Click here.

An awesome altered haunted house I found on Etsy. Click here.

Halloween charms by Sally Jean. Click here. (this is a must see)

A Halloween bento box - way cute! Click here.

A spooky Halloween party table. Click here.

A gorgeous fall fabric wreath. Click here.

A halloween button tree - absolutely adorable! Click here.

A funky candy apple necklace. Click here.


That's all I've got for now!

Hugs!
Sue :o)