Santa girl

Torico has this adorable image that I have been anxious to color, and finally did it.  She has a sample on her blog that she did of the dress in ivory which looks exquisite.  I was going for a more traditional look and trying to fit this card in for the Colour Create Challenge of red, green and white with snowflakes.  I found this embroidered buttons with snowflakes that I thought worked well using this months SFYTT sketch.

Patterned Paper:  Echo Park
Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Recollection
Stamp:  Torico, Birdie Brown- Santa Girl  http://stamparadise.blogspot.com/
Sentiment:  Hero Art
Ink:  Memento, Black Tuxedo
Spellbinders:  Small Circle
Buttons:  Recollections
Glitter:  Stampendous

Challenges:
SFYTT December Sketch
Colour Create - Red, green and white with snowflakes
Cupcake Inspirations  http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/

What it is all about

Mo Manning has this image, "In the Manger" which I think gives us the true meaning of Christmas.  I find it precious to see this adorable angel peering in the manger at baby Jesus.  Mo's Challenge this week is for the "The Great Outdoors" but what was the stable, but an outdoor barn.  It was more primitive than the way any or us would want to give birth to our child especially now with these fancy birthing suites we have.  I work at a hospital, and know that they were putting chocolates on the mother's pillow after the birth of the baby just like a hotel, but had to lock up the candy because it was disappearing.  I think Mary wanted warmth and food which isn't too much to ask for.
My second card is another sympathy card for Mom using the colors of the Play Date Cafe.

Patterned Paper:  Nitwit

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Recollections, Core-dinations

Stamp:  Mo Manning - In the Manger

Star:  Verve

Border Punch:  Fiskars

Spellbinders:  Large Circle, Large Scalloped Circle

Buttons:  Stash

Glimmer Mist

Sakura Jelly Glitter Pen

Challenges

Sweet Wednesday Sketch

Mo Manning - The Great Outdoors

Patterned Paper:  Sugar Plum Paperie 

Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Bazzil, Recollections

Sentiment:  Verve

Ink:  Memento, Black Tuxedo

Buttons: Papertrey Ink

Ribbon:  Michael's

Lace:  Wrights

Corner Rounder:  Creative Memories

Border Punch: Fiskars

Challenges:

Deconstructed Sketch #29

http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html

So innocent

Sugar Nellie has these gorgeous digital images of girls that are just too perfect.  To me the girls look so innocent that they would never be sassy or naughty and they have perfect hair and their outfits are adorable so you want to get them because they don't look anything like what you know to be real.  All I remember is that when I would try curling my daughter's hair she would want to look in the mirror with each use or the curling iron so it would take FOREVER, and then trying to tell her to hold still and be patient was not an easy task so that it was half flat by the time we would be done.  Oh well, I guess that's why they have these perfect little girls for purchase.
The Challenge for Sugar Nellie is to do something outside your comfort zone.  I used a more traditional background paper and then a little more wild red and tan zebra print which is outside my normal to add the two together especially on a card like this.

Patterned Paper:  DCWV
Cardstock:  Paper Company, Recollections, Paper Cuts
Stamp:  Sugar Nellie - Victoria
Die cut - Cherry Lynne Doily
Lace: Wrights
Scallop: Fiskars
Flower:  Recollections
Brad:  Paper Studio

Challenges:
Sugar Nellie - Something Unusual
Ribbon Carousel - Red & Tan

Fairy Birthday

On Thursday, my step-daughter will turn 29.  When I saw this image of the fairy, I just knew it was perfect for her because she loves mystical things such as fairies and angels. I usually stamp and Copic color my images so this is "out of the box" for me to use a digital image.   I used a Sakura jelly glitter pen and added a little shimmer to the white sparkles in the image, but I don't think they show up very well in the photograph.  I used a Verve birthday sentiment and embossed it in metallic silver to also make it stand out.  All the background paper is metallic.  It just happens to be the colors for this weeks Color Q scheme so that worked out perfectly.  I also plan to make a bookmark to match, and I hope that she enjoys it.

Metallic Paper:  Paper cuts

Cardstock:  Recollections

Sentiment:  Verve

Ink:  Versamark

Embossing Ink:  Zing, metallic silver

Digital image: Paper Craft Kit- Night Elf Fairy

Bling:  Recollection

Ribbon:  Michael's

Flowers:  Prima

Sakura Jelly Glitter Pen

Challenges:

Color Q

Step-daughter Danielle with her brother Jim

Boots

It's all in the boots.  My 19 year old daughter loves boots.  She has several pairs of UGGs and her newest investment was some cowboy boots.  I have to admit she actually looks adorable in them.  Recently she saw "Footloose" with her Grandmother, now she wants custom red cowboy boots for Christmas, or we could go to Texas on her spring break to get a pair.  She is something else.  When I saw this Sassy Cheryl's western Santa, I thought it was too cute to pass up.  Then my other card used Chupa's sketch which has a large flower which I used my Penny Black deer stamp.

Patterned Paper:  My Minds Eye - Countdown to Christmas

Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Recollections

Stamp:  Sassy Cheryl - Cowboy Santa

             Verve - Christmas tree & die cut

Ink:  Distress Peeled Paint

Sentiment: computer font

Spellbinders:  Grand Oval

Circle Punch:  EK Success

Challenges:

Sketch Saturday

Sassy Cheryl - Winter  http://sassycherylschallenge.blogspot.com/

Color Throwdown

Patterned Paper:  DCWV

Cardstock:  Paper Company, Core-dinations, Recollections

Stamp:  Penny Black - deer stamp

    sentiment:  Inkadoo

Ink: Memento, Black Tuxedo & Rich Cocoa

Ribbon:  May Arts

Challenges:

Chupa's Sketch

CR84FN   http://cr84fncolorchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/cr84fn43.html

The race is on

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the race is on towards Christmas.  I'm struggling to get the fall decorations put away and put out the Christmas ones.  Since I have four cats, I almost dread putting up a Christmas tree now.  For years I worried about the kids getting hurt from the tree falling on them, now I worry about the cats toppling it over or damaging ornaments.  The one thing that I do miss is the excitement in the kids about the holidays.  I said to my son yesterday, "How about making some Christmas cookies this weekend?"  and he responding, "Gee, I don't know if I want to."  Years ago it would have been a yes without hesitation.  My response was if I tell your sister that I'm making cookies, I bet she will come home from college for the weekend.  Almost 16 year old boys just don't show the same excitement as they did 4 years ago.  It would be nice if you could adopt pleasant and happy children for the day. hehehe  As parents don't we all wish for that.  That is why I am using this card for the Bearly Mine challenge for my favorite things since it has a happy looking Christmas elf.

Patterned Paper:  Bearly Mine - Christmas Joy, Dots, My Minds Eye
Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Recollections
Stamp:  Mo Manning- Little elf Mim
Sentiment:  Cloud 9
Ink:  Memento, Black Tuxedo
Button: Papertrey Ink
Bakers Twine:  Divine Twine
Glitter: Stampdenous
Stickles

Challenges:
Mojo Monday- Sketch 217
Mo Manning:  Fairies, Santa, Elves
Bearly Mine - My Favorite Things
Karen's Doodles - non-traditional Christmas colors
Scrap Creations - Christmas  http://www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/
Cupcake Inspirations - http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/

my son back in December 2007

my kids at Thanksgiving 2011

Well, I actually got my son to do cookies this weekend!!!

Happy Thanksgiving a little late

I have been working so unfortunately I just haven't found time to sneak on the computer to post.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I made this card for my sister-in-law and brother-in-law following this weeks Color Q scheme.  It has been interesting that I work night shift so I worked on Wednesday and then slept for a couple of hours before driving 90 miles to my parents' home to meet my daughter who was already there since she goes to college in the area.  Then after dinner we drove back to our house and my daughter wanted to do the Friday shopping thing.  I convinced her to start at mid-night (that's more of my normal time to be up anyway).  Her original plan was to go from 4am - 12pm.  Let me tell you by 6am she was dragging.  It was good for her to see what it is like for me to work a night shift and then she expects me to bounce right back to a day shift.  She only has one class on Fridays so she comes home about 11:30am and thinks that after I have just gone to bed around 9am we should go out to lunch.  I only wish I would have taken a picture of her when she was at her "low" point.  She was so tired that when we actually finished she doesn't even remember lying down on her bed and that she didn't eat lunch.  Poor girl now she understands "Shop til you drop."

Patterned Paper:  Nitwit - Enchanted
Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Recollections
Stamp:  Free digital download - Dulemba
Sentiment: Just Rite
Ink:  Memento, Rich Cocoa
Buttons: JoAnn's Basics
Twine:  Just Naturals
Prima Pencils
Spellbinders:  Small Petite Oval, Small Scalloped Petite Oval

Challenges:
Color Q