Snowman and Friends

 

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a  very 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Are you smelling that big ole' bird in the oven, or have you already eaten and sitting there in you elastic waist pants moaning.  Have you had your nap yet?  Did the Packers beat the Lions yet?  Whatever you do/did for Thanksgiving , I hope you had bunches to be thankful for!

It's our last Digi Doodle Shop.challenge for November and our last week for the animal digi sale.   Don't forget every animal stamp in the store is on sale.  If you spend $7.00 you will get 2 additional stamps free AND $2.00 will be donated to Pet Pardons to save animals from inhumane terminations.  So pop over, check it out and give a help to our precious animals.  

I combined Snowman Friends and You've Got Mail this week.  I loved, did I say LOVED, these 2 images and decided that they would be showcased best in a sidestep card.  I followed Beate's easy peasy directions on Splitcoast Stampers here.   I colored my images with Copics, highlighted with Frosted Lace Stickles and Martha Stewarts Snow Glitter and cut them out..  The sentiment is computer generated amd cut out with a Spellbinder Scalloped Square. Added a couple of Ionic punched snowflakes and a little jewel for bling.  The card stock is Stampin Up.

SIDE VIEW

FLAT/OPEN VIEW

 

CLOSED FOR MAILING VIEW

This card was a fun one to make and came together so fast.  So why not pop over to the Challenge Blog and see all the goodies my teammates have designed for you.  Those very talented ladies have come up with some beauties this week.  I know you are busy making those Christmas cards, so snap a picture of one of them and enter into our challenge.  You don't have to use a Digi Doodle image unless you want to, but if you do there just might be a Gift Certificate in your future!!

Show Me Thursday at Sassy Cheryl's

It's time to show what I am working on to you nosey little Sassettes.  Why don't you snap a picture of something you have going on in your life this week and post it here.  It is so much fun to peek in windows of my bloggy friends and see what life is like for them in and outside their crafting worlds.

I am in Thanksgiving mode this week.  Cleaning, Shopping and cooking for the big day.  My big ole turkey is in the freezer and I have been singing those Christmas carols for days now.  I turn on Pandora on my computer and listen and sing just like I can carry a tune.  Poor hubby.  He swears it is a soothing feeling listening to my singing.  No doubt he is saying that for only 2 reasons:  1)  When I am singing, I am not b----ing, screaming or nagging.  2)  He doesn't want to hurt my feeling because he knows I will start b----ing, screaming or nagging.  LOL

Thought I would share this recipe with you.  It is really good, easy to make, and makes a great gift.  (If it makes it out of your house).  I am afraid I have to make another batch before Thursday, because I was planning on giving it as a gift to 2 of my SIL.  Hey, I had to taste to make sure it was safe, right?

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!  Linda

Captain's Choice

There is a game in golf called Captain's Choice.  It was one my DH liked to play when I was on the course with him.  All players tee off and then whichever ball lands in the best position the whole team plays it.  I think he made that up to get me moving faster along the course, ha ha.  OK, you snarky little peeps - YES,  I used to play golf.  I loved the sport.  But one day I tumbled through my attic into my kitchen and that ended my chances to go Pro!  But alas, I found paper crafting and the courses in Myrtle Beach have never been happier.

Enough rambling.  Here are two cards for my Sassy Cheryl Stump The Boss - Anything Goes Challenge.  I had two made and couldn't decide which to post so here you go.  You are the Captain and it is your choice.  Which do you like best?  They are both Sassy Cheryl images which you can get here.  If you think I couldn't make up my mind about these cards, check out what the Sassy Girls did to their boss this week!

Poor little Whoops just saw her Mommy kissing Santa Claus and is in total denial.  I was going to have the inside sentiment read "I'm telling......but if I had an I-Phone, I would be so busy, I would just forget all about it".  When I ran that by my critic (DH), he gave me "the look".  Sometimes he just doesn't appreciate my humor.

The second one is Lucy Lou swinging on a star.  She reminded me of one of my favorite Christmas movies  Eloise at  Christmas Time.  That is just something Eloise would do to further her current mission.  She is such a determined little stinker.


Recipes:

1) I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - papers Graphic 45 SU So Safron card base (one of my fav colors) Digi printed on another fav - Paper Temptress Cryogen White. Tags are Sizzlit Tag, Scallop; Bo Bunny Brad, Computer Generated Sentiment, Ribbon - His & Hers (Michael's); Distress Inks, Copics and Spellbinder's Labels Twenty-One.

2)  Lucy Lou - Papers are from Authentique, Card Base - SU Cherry Cobbler, Sizzix Nested Star, Baker's Twine, Jingle Bell ( Michaels) Doily from my stash, Sentiment Rub-on American Traditional Designs; Copics and Foam Tape.


Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll!

Black & White Christmas

Totally PaperCrafts has issued a challenge to make a card, tag or project using black and white this week.  I decided to challenge myself even further and not use designer paper, glitter, buttons or ribbons.  I used a sheet of Cryogen White paper from The Paper Temptress, black card stock probably from Michaels and white GP card stock.  Not even a Copic or ribbon in sight.  Can you believe it?  lol.

The tree and black panel are embossed with a  Cuttlebug embossing folder and then I cut the tree out with scissors.  I used a doily (my one added item) for a tree skirt.  I used 4 different punches:  MS Train,  Recollections Snowflakes and SU Scallop Border.  The dog and sled are cut with my Cricut 4 Legged Friends and Stretch Your Imagination  cartridges.  I wanted to stamp Merry Christmas in a banner going across the tree as garland but decided to leave it simplistic.  Believe me I pulled out the ribbon more than once, but self-control won over and I kept it basic.

I like trying different looks on my cards and this is totally different from the one I posted yesterday for sure!  Hope you like it.  I know I will when I go to mail it because it will only cost 1 stamp.  :)

We have two great sponsors this week at Totally PaperCrafts and they are offering some wonderful prizes.  All you have to do is make a Black and White project  and link it here.   You will be entered into the drawing for prizes from these wonderful store.  Check out all the details here.


                                                            

Santa and Friends

It's Red and Green Week over at The Digi Doodle Shop Best Challenge.  How easy will that be for you to create and join in?  Today's image is called Santa's Friends and it is free (with purchase) for the month of November.   Digi Doodle Shop is still having the special where you get 2 free images when you spend $7.00.  Remember $2.00 goes to Pet Pardons.  So click here and pop over for a "look see".  If you use one of their images in the challenge, you get entered twice!  If you don't you can still play with us. So no excuses, let's play! 

I colored my image with my Copic Markers and used a gazillion of them, lol.  Then I went over the presents with a Sakura glitter Gel Pen. To get the snow effect, I used a combinations of Icicle Stickles, MS Snow glitter and Polar White Flower Soft.   Santa's fur is just the Flower Soft.  My DH wanted Santa to have shiny boots and belt, so I applied a little Paper Glaze for shine.  I cut out the image, glued it to a green piece of card stock and cut that out.  I wanted to adhere it to a piece of GP white card stock that was embossed with a Cricut embossing folder.  It was afraid that it wouldn't stick for the long-term, so I used red line tape around the side and bottom perimeter.  Then I popped up the center with foam tape for dimension. 

The layered star was punched with a Creative Memories punch using metallic paper.  The sentiment is a rub on from Paper House Productions.  The ribbon punch is a Friskar's border punch.  The sparkly organza ribbon is from Celebrate It.  The single snowflake is a MS leftover from last year.  I only had two left and I thought quite hard before using it.  It looked like it belonged there, so I made the sacrifice and used it.  LOL

Hope to see you over at Digi Doodle Shop Best Challenges this week.  There are definitely some great prizes at stake and the opportunity to help Santa's furry little friends too!  Come on.  What'cha waitin' for? I know you have a red and green card on your desk this time of year!

PS:  OMG, Santa's not in Blogger Dictionary.  It is coming up in Spell Check.   Blogger needs to get with it, or they will have coal in their stocking on Christmas morning! 

Victorian Santa

We're going Victorian over at Totally PaperCrafts this week. I chose this Santa image off of a piece of paper in my Bo Bunny Father Christmas collection.  I usually like to use stamps or digitals so I can play with my Copics, but this Santa is Sooo Victorian I had to pop him on my card.  I did enhance his color a bit with my Copics.  I gave him some blue eyes and a little more blush on the cheeks.  I sparkled him up with a Sakura Jelly Roll Clear Star Jelly Roll Pen.

One more Christmas card finished.  How are you doing on yours?  Need one more, just pick up something Victorian and wave your magic designer's wand over it and wallah - A Christmas Card. (Sorry, too much Harry Potter on the brain)  Now click right here and enter it in the Totally PaperCrafts Victorian challenge.  Keep on reading and you will see what wonderful prizes just might be in it for you.  


                                                                   Meljen's Designs                                                                    

For Challenge Post

Meljen's Designs is a lovely stamp company owned and illustrated by Melissa Jenkins. She illustrates whimsical digital images inspired by her kids and family. The Meljen's Designs store officially launched on April 1 and is steadily growing! Meljen's Designs has new releases along with a new challenge every Thursday, freebies every Monday and a Guest Designer each month at the Meljen's Designs Blog.  Please visit Meljen's Designs line of stamps at their online store HERE and enjoy Melissa's wonderful images! 

Prize will be FOUR digi images of winners choice.

PS:  Bloggie Buddies, you don't have to make it a Christmas Card.  Any Victorian themed creation will qualify.  Check out the inspirations my talented teamies have created to help get your creative juices flowing.

Challenges:

Heart Song Inspirations - Anything Goes
Clear It Out Challenge - Your Holiday

Life Happens

It's a Sketch over at the Digi Doodle Shop Best Challenges.  I tried to follow it without taking too many liberties.  The toughest thing was not adding a bow.  You know how I love bows, but I did sneak a bit of gingham ribbon in there.  The easiest thing was all these beautiful papers from Authentique's Blissful Collection.  I loved these collections and bought 3 of them while in Wisconsin.  (The devil made me do it, ha ha)

This little sweetie is called Hang in There and you can find it here.  I love kittens but, I am highly allergic to them.  So this is the best way for me to enjoy them.  My Granddaughter Savannah has a beautiful new kitten named Callie and I tried to color her like Callie.  The real Callie has a bit more white in her though.

It is Animal Month over at the shop and for every $7.00 purchase, you get 2 free digis and $2.00 is donated to Pet Pardons.  I will most likely be using animal digi's all month since I am a real softie for animals.  To think that there are  "humans" out there that will purposely cause them pain just ticks me off.  If you are a big animal lover,  pop on over to the store and cuddle up to a few of our furry cuties.  There are so many that I bet you will have difficulty making your selections.  Go ahead, you know you will sleep better having done a bit to help our furry friends.

Lots of Love, Linda

Recipe:  Copics
Papers - Authentique Blissful Collection, White - Paper Temptress - Cryogen White
Digi - Digi Doodle Shop- Hang In There
Sentiment - SU Vintage Vogue Collection
Flowers - Recollections
Leaf Punch - Martha Stewart
Ribbon - American Crafts


Challenges I will enter this in :
Digital Tuesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenges:  Anything Goes

Baby's First Christmas

My friend Jeri asked me to make a Christmas Card for her new granddaughter.  When I saw this Merry Winter Snowman Blub at the Sassy Cheryl Store, I knew I had the right digi.  Isn't he the cutest thing.  I decided to glitter him up in a shaker card with pearls and jewels popped onto the snowflakes for glitz.  Every little princess need glitz, don't you agree?

Those Sassy girls are asking us to use embossing for this week's challenge.  I used a Christmas Tree Cuttlebug embossing folder on my Christmas Ornament sentiment.  The sentiment is computer generated  and then punched out with a SU ornament punch.  Then I chose a  part of the embossing folder that I thought would compliment the ornament and ran it through my Cuddlebug.

Have you finished your Christmas cards yet?  I bet you haven't, so why not pop over to the store, get one of the precious digis Chery has been creating and make it into a Christmas card.  Time is running short you know.  The big guy in the red suit will be here in 46 days.  I mean, I'm just saying. Tee Hee Hee!  Love ya, Linda

Recipe:

White paper and Pinky/Lavender paper are DCWV
White doily mat and bulb are PaperTemptress - Cryogen White
Yellow Stickles glitter
Clear Transparency - 3M
Glitter is MS Snow Glitter and Turquoise glitter
Large Snowflakes punched withTonic Punches
Small Snowflake punched with Recollections Punch
Ribbon and jewels from my stash.
Shaker card created with Red Line and Foam Tape.

Show Me Thursday at Sassy Cheryl's

Sarah the Stressed Stamper and Caroline of Keep It Sweet and Simple were showing recipes and cookies this weekend, so I decided to share one of mine.  I found this recipe in the fall 2011 edition of taste of home Cooking School magazine.  I have made this cake twice and both times everyone went crazy for it.  It is fast, easy and inexpensive and very very yummy.  As you can see from the pictures, this is all I had left from a cake I made yesterday.  There were only 6 people in my house eating the cake.  Where did it all go?

Here's the recipe.  I hope you enjoy it.  I used a Duncan Hines Devil's Food cake mix for my cake.  Easy, peasy!

                                                                                Edna’s Ho Ho Cake

(Edna Miller, Mount Hope Ohio’s recipe printed in taste of home Cooking School magazine for fall 2011)

2 prepared 9 inch round chocolate cakes

FILLING:

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

2/3 cup sugar, divided

2/3 shortening

1/3 cup butter, softened

¾ teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Glaze

¼ cup butter

¼ cup baking cocoa

¾ cup confectioners’ sugar

2 to 4 tablespoons milk

In a small saucepan, combine flour and milk stir until smooth, stir in ¼ cup of sugar.  Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Transfer to a large bowl; cool.  Beat in the shortening, butter, vanilla, salt and remaining sugar until smooth.  Spread between cake layers.

For glaze, melt butter and cocoa in a small saucepan.  Whisk in confectioner’s sugar and enough milk to achieve a drizzling consistency.  Drizzle over top of cake, allowing some to drape down the sides.

I am entering this in Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Some Fun Challenge because I know how those nosy Sassettes love their CHOCOLATE!