A Few Things on my 2014 Bucket List...

Hello there!!

I have been thinking a lot about things that I would like to learn or improve upon in the new year.  I don't like to make resolutions, because honestly, I never keep them.  Instead, I am making a small goal list.  Some of the items on the list are crafty, some are health related, and others are general self improvement goals.

Here are a few...

In 2014, I'd like to...

Learn to Knit!

I've always wanted to learn how, and I've purchased a few needles and some yarn, but I always get discouraged.  I want to make 2014 the year when I really learn how to knit successfully enough to complete a project. 

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Learn Modern Style Calligraphy!

I took several calligraphy classes in highschool, and I do know the basics, but the style that I was taught was more of an old English style.  I love the look of the more scripty, handwriting style of calligraphy and am so excited to learn!

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I've been doing some research and came across book reviews  "Modern Calligraphy" by Molly Suber Thorpe.   Needless to say, this book when right on my wishlist!

Experiment more with Watercolors!

I absolutely love the watercolor trend, and in the new year, I hope to learn some proper watercolor techniques that I can incorporate into my papercrafting.

And now for a few non-crafty hopes...

Run!

In 2013, I started the Couch to 5k program.  I got discouraged after a knee injury, and just stopped.  I was making decent progress for someone who is not a runner, and while I was doing it, I loved it.  It is my hope that 2014 will be the year that I finally run a 5k.

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Read more!

I have really been enjoying my books lately, and I thought it would be fun to add a reading goal to my 2014 list.  I have been using Goodreads a lot and I love seeing what my friends are reading.  Feel free to add me! :)

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That's it for now... I am excited for the new year!!  I hope your 2014 is wonderful!

Thanks for stopping by!! :)

Top 10 of 2013

Hello there!  As I have done for the past few years, I put together a sampling of my favorite projects in 2013!  Hope you enjoy! :)

Happy Birthday Gemini (Papertrey Ink and Mama Elephant)

A Whale of a Time! (Lawn Fawn)

Hamburger Cookies (Clear and Simple Stamps)



  Sending Smiles (Mama Elephant)



Twinkle, Twinkle (Mama Elephant)

Thanks from the bottom of my he{art} (Paper Smooches)

Rag Doll Crayon Scribbles (Clear and Simple Stamps)

Halloween Tags (Mama Elephant)

Cool Friend (Lawn Fawn)

Rag Doll Christmas Couch (Clear and Simple Stamps)

Hope you have a happy New Year and will come back for a visit in 2014!!  Hugs!

The Last Pinspired Challenge - #24

Happy Christmas Eve!

So sad that today is the last Pinspired Challenge.  If you have not read the Pinspired blog, we decided as a team that it was time to close Pinspired Challenges.  We have all had a wonderful year, and we are so thankful that you have joined us for the challenges.  I really enjoyed pouring over all of the eye candy in the galleries!

Now for our final challenge...

Challenge #24 is sponsored by Fresh Squeezed Stamps!  The winner will receive one stamp set of their choice :)

For my card today, I used the new Flurry die from Clear and Simple Stamps.  This die is HUGE, about 5" across, so I diecut it off the edge of a piece of 4" x 5.25" cardstock.  On the piece of white cardstock the same size, I used Distress inks to sponge a rainbow of color, and then mounted the snowflake pieces up on foam squares.  Finally, I added some detail with white gel pen to mimic the icing detail in the inspiration photo.

Be sure to visit the Pinspired Blog for more challenge details and inspiration from the rest of the design team! Can't wait to see your take on this challenge!

:)

Gift Card Holder {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Happy Christmas Eve Eve!

Today, I have a gift card holder to share with you using bits and pieces from Clear and Simple Stamps Collection 9.  I used the A4 Note card dies and A4 Envie and Liner dies to create quick and easy packaging for a gift card.

I stamped the notecard with the snowflakes from Cover Prints 1, and added the little elf and a sentiment from Rag Doll House: North Pole on a Favor Flag diecut.  I used the same snowflake image to create patterned paper for my envelope liner.  For the polka dots, I selectively inked the circles image from the same set.

 Finishing up last minute things before the big day...  Have a great day!! :)

Rudolph Tag {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Oh my heavens... 8 days until Christmas!  How did that happen?!

I am all done shopping and am busy wrapping up a few odds and ends before the big day.

I decided this year, that I would buy patterned wrapping paper that wasn't necessarily Christmas prints so that I could use it for other occasions if I had left overs.  I love polka dots, and jumped on this paper as soon as I saw it.  Because it is not overly Christmas-y, I added my own little Christmas...

Clear and Simple Stamps came out with a genius die with their Collection 9 release.  The Partial Tag dies will turn any of your existing dies into a tag!  So smart, right?!  Is your head spinning with possibilities?!

 I used my Little Critter Pals 2 stamps and dies to create this little reindeer tag for atop my polka dot package.

I diecut the reindeer from white card stock, and then paper pieced parts of him.  What wasn't paper pieced was colored with Copics.  Some jingle bells, googly eyes and a sparkly nose, and he's looking quite festive.

I am also featured on the CSS App today!  Click here to be taken to the full version.

Off to do  more wrapping!  Happy Holidays to you! :)

Lawnscaping Challenge #72 - Arctic Colors

Hello there!  Happy Monday!!  It's time for another Lawnscaping Challenge!  Challenge #72 is to create a project using "Arctic" colors.

This challenge is sponsored by the super fabulous Lawn Fawn!!

For my project, I pulled out one of my winter faves, Making Frosty Friends.  I can't tell you how  much I have been using this set lately, especially with the addition of the coordinating dies!

I chose shades of purple and gray to create my arctic scene.

Gosh I just love those snowmen <3 p="">

Be sure to stop by the Lawnscaping blog for more challenge details and lots more inspiration from our design team.  I hope you'll play along for a chance to win a great prize!! :)

Thanks for stopping by!! :)

Welcome Baby Claire!!

Hello there!  Today, a bunch of the Lawnscaping girls are throwing a virtual baby shower for one of our own... Elise and her husband welcomed Baby Claire earlier this week, and I couldn't be more thrilled for her!  You should have come by way of Lynette's blog.  If you've gotten lost, or want to start at the beginning, you can head on over to Laurel's blog.

Here is my card, using some of my Lawn Fawn faves, Critters Down Under and Bon Voyage.

Sending love and congratulations to you and your husband, Elise!  Enjoy every second with your baby girl... they grow up SO fast!!  Hugs!!

Next stop on the hop... Charlene! :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day! :)

A Cozy Christmas Couch {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hello there!  How is the week half gone already?!  How is December almost  half gone already?!  I am having a blast playing with all of the new goodies from Clear and Simple Stamps Collection 9 release.  Today, my card features my CSS faves, the Rag Dolls.

When I saw the newest installment in the Rag Doll series, Rag Doll House: North Pole, I started thinking about all of the wonderful possibilities!  I paired the North Pole set and a few of my other Rag Doll sets and created a fun living room scene, all decorated for the holidays!

I stamped the couch from Rag Doll Scenes 3 onto patterned paper and cut it out, adding some shading with Copics.  I stamped, colored and cut out the tree from the Santa's workshop image and adhered that behind the couch.  Then I stamped, colored and cut out a few of the sitting Rag Dolls and placed them on the couch.  (notice Emma's little bow in her hair?  That is the same bow from the top of the tree!)  Everything was adhered to the card base which I stamped with the Brick background.  The oval rug image is also from Rag Doll Scenes 3.  To create the Santa wall art, I stamped the Santa, and colored him, then added the "frame" with the wide end of a Copic Marker.  After everything was glued down, I inked the edges a bit with an ink blending tool to warm  things up a bit.

This one is for my sweet hubby this Christmas <3 p="">

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Pinspired Challenge #23

Hello there!!  Happy Tuesday!  It's time for another Pinspired Challenge!

This week's inspiration photo features one of my favorite color combinations - Aqua and Red!

Challenge #23 is sponsored by Some Odd Girl!  The winner will receive 3 digi images!

For my card today, I used some of the new release from Clear and Simple Stamps.  The snowflakes are from the Flurry Days stamp set and the sentiment is from Flurry Days Sentiments.

For more inspiration and Challenge #23 details, please be sure to visit the Pinspired Blog.  Hope you'll join us for a chance to win an awesome prize! :)

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!

Lawnscaping Challenge #71 - Tags or Treat Bags

Hello there!!  Can you believe it's December 2nd?!  Holy cow, I have so much to do before Christmas!!  Today, the Lawnscaping Team is sharing Challenge #71, ideas for Tags and Treat Bags, perfect for gift packaging!!

Challege #71 is sponsored by Simon Say Stamp!

For my tag, I used Winter Gifts and Cozy Christmas.

Be sure to visit the Lawnscaping Blog for more challenge details and lots of inspiration from the design team!!  Hope you have a great day!  Thanks for stopping by!! :)

Clear and Simple Stamps Customer Appreciation - 2013

Hello there!  If you follow Clear and Simple Stamps, you know that every year, they reward their customers with a Customer Appreciation gift.  There are different tiers which depend on your level of spending throughout the year.  For 2013, the theme is "Cherish."

Here is a little ensemble I created using some of the stamps from the Customer Appreciation set, along with Special Bundle, Hearts Combo, Grass Combo, Ric Rac/Pinking Edge and the Cube die.

Be sure to visit Lori to see another project using this set, and the CSS Blog has more inspiration and all of the details!  

Thank you for choosing Clear and Simple Stamps!! :)