Blessings

I have been admiring the beautiful fall colors around us - oranges, bronze, yellows and red abound. We even have a gorgeous flaming red bush in our yard. These sights inspired me to use the Blessings stamp from The Project Bin's Eat Pie stamp set for today's card. 

This set is definitely one of my favorites:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: The Project Bin Eat Pie stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa Ink

Papers: Stampin' UP! Bravo Burgundy and Soft Suede CS and AMuse Studio Polka Dot, Heidi Grace (Stripe), and Paper Studio Leaves DP

Embellishments: Paper Studio Mini Brads and a Leaf Brad from an unknown vendor

Falliday Season

The weather is crazy - one day it's in the 70's and the next it's in the teens. It switches back and forth between fall and winter at the snap of a finger. Crazy for sure. Should we call it Fall'ter (for Fall/Winter)? 

In my Play Room it's not Fall'ter season, it's Falliday season. I'm trying to do as many of the SCS Falliday challenges as possible. Today I'll show you three of them that I've completed (in addition to the two I've already shared).

Challenge #1

Thanksgiving Blues

Hostess: Lydia

Make a thanksgiving-themed card with blue as the predominant color.

Time Spent: 32 minutes

Challenge #2

Let's Face It!

Hostess: Dina

Add a face or features to a stamped image of card front.

Time Spent: 45 minutes

Challenge #7

Holidays In a Different Climate

Hostess Janine

Make a card for a climate very different to the one you are used to at Christmas.

Time Spent: 25 minutes

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Technique Tuesday Kind Cosmos stamped with Memento Bamboo Leaves and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections 110# White and SU Blueberry Bushel CS and DP from my scrap file

Punch: EK Success Corner Rounder

Embellishments: Michael's Ribbon and Recollections Rhinestones

Stamp Set: Gerda Steiner Winter Sport Santa stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Ballet Blue and Pumpkin Pie CS and DP from my scrap file

Die: Spellbinders Circle

Punch: SU Banner

Embellishments: Brads from unknown vendors

Stamp Set: Art Impressions Tropical Christmas stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Garden Green CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishment: Heidi Grace Ribbon

Let's Get Messy - Take 4

Today is the 12th, which means it's the day for Hot Mess Success. What is that? Each month Kelly, Barb, Terry and I get messy while making a card. That's the only requirement usually... and I messed up this month... UGH! This month, we had a sub-theme. Our cards were supposed to be Give Thanks. Sheesh! I totally messed up... but WAIT! Here are some ideas... 

I'm thankful for my daughter who lives in Alaska where they go ice fishing. 

I'm thankful that it's not cold/icy here.

I'm thankful for food to eat.

I'm thankful for warm water to clean the gel off of the stencil.

I'm thankful for friends who encourage me to step outside my comfort zone and get messy.

Do any of those ideas count? No, I thought not. So instead I'll just have to say I'm sorry to Terry (whose idea it was) and Kelly and Barb. I'm sorry! I messed up... which seems fitting for the Hot Messes, I guess.

This month's project was just a little messy, but a mess is a mess, right?

First, I taped a stencil onto a piece of 110# Blue CS and then I used a palette knife to add Gina K Glitz Glitter Gel to it. This was my first time to use that particular gel and I was quite impressed with the "weight" of it; it's definitely not too thin.

I also added some of the same gel to the torn edges of two pieces of 110# White CS using a makeup wedge.

You know where I'm going with this, right? It's a snowy scene.

Just look at the fun sparkle:

Not only is this card my Hot Mess Success creation for this month, it's also my card for one of the Falliday Challenges at SCS. Lisa's Cold As Ice Challenge requirement is to add some ice to our cards. Ice fishing it is. (BTW, I track the amount of time it takes me to make each Falliday card. This one took 52 minutes.)

Now be sure to head over to the other Hot Messes' blogs to see their messiness, too...

Barb

Kelly

Terry

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Sugar Pea Designs Have an Ice Day stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black, 110# Blue, and 110# White and SU Blueberry Bush CS

Stencil: Simon Says Falling Snow

Gel: Gina K Glitz Glitter Gel

Embellishments: Brads from unknown vendors

Travel the World - Week 45

Normally my Travel the World cards are posted on Tuesdays, but I have another blog post for tomorrow, so this week's Travel the World card is a day earlier.

This is the 45th week in my Travel the World personal challenge. Each week I am randomly choosing one country (there are 195 countries in the world) and doing a little research on that country. I then select one tidbit of information about the country as inspiration for the card I make.

This week's country is...

Kyrgyzstan

The official name of the country is the Kyrgyz Republic.

Kyrgyzstan is bordered on the east and southeast by China, on the north by Kazakhstan, on the west by Uzbekistan and on the south by Tajikistan.

The only country that is bordering Kyrgyzstan with a name not ending in -stan is China.

The name of Kyrgyzstan comes from a word in the Kyrgyz language meaning “we are forty”, thought to be a reference to the original 40 clans which unified to form the country.

Krygyzstan is one of the 45 landlocked countries in the world.

It is a relatively poor and has an economy based on agriculture. Its main agricultural products are tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits, sheep, goats, cattle and wool.

Yurts still litter the steppes and just 36 per cent of the country’s resident live in an urban location. By comparison, 53 per cent of neighboring Kazakhs reside in towns or cities, 74 per cent of Russians, and 83 per cent of Britons.

Temperatures can top 40C in summer, in the low-lying Fergana Valley, but in the mountains they can fall to -30C in winter.

Osh, the country’s second largest city, is also one of the oldest in the region. Its vast and bustling market – still going strong – was a key trading point on the Silk Road, the overland route taken by caravans heading between Europe and Asia.

Kyrgyzstan’s walnut forests are among the world’s largest natural forests of this type.

Kyrgyzstan’s fourth-largest city, also on Issyk Kul, is a real gem, housing the impressive Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral, a mosque, a zoo and a clutch of museums. The Jeti-Ögüz Rocks, an eye-catching rock formation, lie just to the west. 

There are 11 national parks in Kyrgyzstan.

To say that Kyrgyzstan is hilly is putting it mildly. It has more than 85 distinct mountain ranges. Over 90% of the country is dominated by massive, rugged mountain ranges.

The mountainous Tian Shan region covers 80 per cent of Kyrgyzstan and the country has even been described as the “Switzerland of Central Asia”. Its highest point is Jengish Chokusu, at 24,406 ft.

The Inylchek Glacier of Kyrgyzstan is one of the largest glaciers in the world.

Some of their favorite traditional foods include tea, horse meat and milk, which is consumed in this country far more than cow’s milk. These might be paid for with a three-som (three-dollar) coin; Kyrgyzstan is one of the few countries in the world to have this denomination.

Kyrgyzstan tourists can negotiate with any car on the road; they’re all potential taxis – if the price is right.

Issyk-Kul is an endorheic lake in the northern Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the tenth largest lake in the world by volume (though not in surface area), and the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Issyk-Kul means “warm lake” in the Kyrgyz language; although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Kyrgyzstan.

There are just 29.5 residents for each square kilometre of land – making Kyrgyzstan one of the world’s least crowded countries.

Kyrgyzstan produced the longest poem in history: the Epic of Manas, which is perhaps the most famous part of Kyrgyz culture. Weighing in at a whopping 500,000 lines, this epic poem about the life of the warrior Manas is 20 times longer than The Odyssey. Most records date the piece to the 18th century, though the Kyrgyz people claim it is much older, an oral tale that was passed down until it was recorded in writing in the 1700s. The first complete version was published in 1920.

The national instrument of Kyrgyzstan is this fretless three-stringed device. Virtuosos apparently play it in a range of positions, including over the shoulder, between the knees and upside down. 

Proper nouns aren’t allowed in Scrabble. But it they were, Kyrgyzstan would score 30 points. Of all the countries made up of just one word, only Mozambique could top it.

The Burana Tower is a large minaret in the Chuy Valley in northern Kyrgyzstan. The tower, along with grave markers, some earthworks and the remnants of a castle and three mausoleums, is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun, which was established by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century.

I decided to let this Kyrgyzstan fact be the inspiration for this week's card... Kyrgyzstan’s railway network extends to just 259 miles (it must be all those mountains), making it one of the shortest in the world. Many countries don't have any railways at all, however.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Stampin' UP! Happiness Is a Journey stamped with Catherine Pooler Midnight Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and White and SU Marina Mist CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: Paper Studio Mini Brads and Ribbon from an unknown vendor

Birch Tree Thanks

I've had the Victorine Originals Birch Trees stamp for a while and had never inked it up until this week. Now I'm wondering why... because I really REALLY like it! I stamped it onto colored cardstock and then colored it (lightly) with Prisma colored pencils.

I added just a splash of color with those two cardinal brads (Eyelet Outlet Cardinal and Cardinal Profile).

This card fits the theme for the Falliday Challenge #4 "Bring the Outside In. Misti asked us to feature something from outside on our cards. Done! This card took me 50 minute to make.


Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Victorine Originals Birch Trees and Floral and Sayings stamped with Catherine Pooler Midnight Ink and colored with Prisma Colored Pencils

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Marina Mist CS and MFT Black/White Stripe DP

Punch: SU Wide Oval

Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Cardinal and Cardinal Profile Brads

Walking the Dogs

As soon as I saw the Newton's Nook Walking Woofs stamp set I knew I had to have it. It reminds me of my daughter, the happy "mama" of two four-legged furry family members, and truth be known, she loves ALL dogs. She would definitely say that they make her happy!

Since I love the set, I chose it for this month's Three Musketeers post. What/who are the Three Musketeers? It's Kelly, Barb, and me. On the 9th of each month we each create a card using the same image. We've been doing this for quite some time now - I think this is the 61st month. It's always fun to see the differences (and sometimes similarities) in our cards.

Be sure to head over to Kelly's blog and Barb's blog to see their cards, too!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Newton's Nook Walking Woofs stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Real Red and Summer Sun CS

Die: MFT Blueprint 21

Embellishment: Celebrate It Ribbon

Have a Paw-Some Birthday

There are so many fun furry friends items at Eyelet Outlet - dogs, cats, and wild animals, too. 

For today's card, I used dog/puppy items... I guess you could say, this card has gone to the dogs.

Eyelet Outlet Products:

Party Hat Brads

Paw Brads

Paw Washi Tape

Puppy Brads

I added a strip of the Washi Tape to the inside, too.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Eyelet Outlet: Party Hat Brads, Paw Brads, Paw Washi Tape, and Puppy Brads

Stamp Set: Newton's Nook Paw-some Birthday stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Dapper Denim CS and DP from my scrap file