Inktegrity Keeps Getting Sweeter and Sweeter!

Are you ready for some more sneak peeks? This morning I featured Inktegrity's Mint Sundae on my blog.... and this afternoon you get a sneak peek of Inktegrity's North Pole. Isn't this just the cutest image?!?!? The possiblities for using it are just endless.

I used teeny teeny tiny brads to make eyes for the three ice cream scoops. Add some sparkle (thanks to Copic Spica pens and Stickles glitter glue) and an embellishment or two (ribbon and chipboard snowflake) and the North Pole comes to life.

Be sure and check out what the other design team members have done with this image. You can find their links on the right side of my blog. AND be sure to go to Inktegrity tomorrow to get your own images!!!

Image: Inktegrity North Pole
Ink: Copics

Inktegrity Sweet Fun!

The Inktegrity new releases are almost here.... just a little bit longer and you'll be able to get these images yourself and start creating some sweet (yummy!) cards.

For now, you'll just have to feast your eyes on the sneak peeks of these delicious images via the cards created by the Inktegrity Winter Design Team. This group really is outstanding... go look at some of the things they've created on the Inktegrity blog: http://inktegrity.blogspot.com/

Here's a card I created with the Inktegrity Mint Sundae image and one of the sentiments from the Inktegrity line, too. Just makes you hungry for ice cream, doesn't it?

Remember, the Inktegrity new releases are coming. Can tomorrow get here soon enough???

Image: Inktegrity Mint Sundae
Sentiment: Inktegrity Sweet Holidays
Ink: Copics
Sheen: Lumiere by Stampin' UP!

Non Traditional Merry Christmas

I cannot believe I've been swapping cards with the Sisterhood for almost a year now. Wow! This month was Lindalee's turn to hostess. She chose a fun theme - Christmas! BUT she also gave us specific instructions. We could not use the traditional red and green color scheme. What's a girl to do??? Go with some of Stampin' UP!'s in colors, of course.


Although the colors are not traditional, I did choose a traditional theme for my card - baby Jesus!


I must admit I am not very fond of this card. It looked much better in my head than it does on paper. But my friends over in the Sisterhood are very forgiving so they will give me another chance next month. I love that group!!!


Image: Stampendous Blessed Babe Window and Stampin' UP! Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel (both stamped with Versamark and embossed in gold)
Border Punch: EK Success
Papers: Stampin' UP! Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, and Bermuda Bay
Ribbon: Stampin' UP! Crushed Curry Polkadot

Dream BIG

I believe in setting goals and dreaming big dreams. After all, if we don't challenge ourselves, we are less likely to develop as we should. This is true in all aspects of life. One of my goals has been to be on a Design Team. Therefore, you can probably imagine my delight when I received the email from Joni of Inktegrity, asking me to serve on her Winter Design Team. Thrilled! Elated! Ecstatic! Overjoyed! You choose the jubilant adjective and I'm sure it will fit.

I am so excited at the prospect of showcasing Joni's images through cardmaking and other projects. To show my appreciation for this opportunity, I wanted to create a card and put it here in my blog, even before my term begins.

I chose the "Hi" ladybug image from Inktegrity's Dream Big series. This is a digital image, which was very simple to resize (you can make it any size you'd like) and print on my home computer/printer. I heat set the ink as a precaution, to ensure that the ink didn't bleed when coloring. It was a lot of fun to color, too.


To give the image a bit of dimension, I elevated the magnifying glass part of it, making it stand out.

It was so much fun creating this card with Inktegrity's Hi ladybug. I look forward to many many more fun crafting opportunities as an Inktegrity Winter Design Team member.



Joni, thank you for helping me fulfill one of my goals. This is truly a dream come true for me!

Image: Inktegrity Hi ladybug from Dream Big series
Coloring Medium: Copic markers

Got Moose?

I've been a fan of Riley stamps for a long time now. I think this little moose is just adorable. Imagine my surprise when I learned that he has a new owner. Stamper's Ink is the proud new owner of Riley the Moose and friends! They are located in Shawnee, Kansas. I have never been to their store, but plan to go the first chance I get. After all, they were voted Kansas City's #1 Arts and Crafts store.

Here's a link to their website, in case you're interested:
http://www.stampersink.net/

And if you're like me and can't get to the store very often (or at all) due to the distance, you can purchase the Riley stamps online!

I'm sure glad I've Got Moose! cuz I just love Riley and his friends!!!

Image: Riley and Snowman
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Markers

Rocker Hanna

I recently received an incedibly fun card kit from Joy. It was so much fun creating a card with the items she included - an image (Rocker Hanna), 2 pieces of designer paper, and a paper clip.

Joy also sent matching kits to some other members of the Different Kind of Card Club. It will be fun to see what they create from the same items.

Image - Hanna Stamps; Rocker Hanna
Ink - Copic Markers

Mark Your Calendar

Did you know there are a lot of really strange holidays? It's true!

I make a scrapbook/stamping calendar for my parents every year for Christmas. I've been doing this for well over 10 years now. It's a wonderful project. I usually do a google search for bizarre holidays and note some of them on the appropriate days. It's such fun!

Then, a few weeks ago, the Sisterhood stamping group that I am privileged to be part of, had "Unusual Holidays" as the theme for the monthly cards. It was a great theme!

So mark your calendar and get ready to join me in celebrating National Goof Off Day (March 22)!

O Holy Night

Yes, I know it's the week before Thanksgiving, when most Americans are preparing to gather with their families to feast on turkey and all the fixings while reflecting upon the many blessings in their lives. I know that it is still over a month until Christmas. I know!

BUT at our house Christmas begins early. We decorate early. We shop early (and often!) We listen to Christmas music and watch It's a Wonderful Life early. Christmas begins early at our house.

I created this card featuring a scene from the first Christmas centuries ago. It was a holy night; a night of significance. Christ was born and Christmas lives on in our hearts today.

Enjoy the season! Reflect on the holy night. Christmas is coming!

Image: Rubbernecker Nativity

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Markers

4 Month Card Club

I have had the great privilege of being part of a 4-month club commitment that involved card kits, friendships, and creativity!

Michele, our hostess, put together our team of four - Nikki, Diane, Dani, and myself. Each of the four months, one of us had the fun of putting together a card kit and mailing it to the other four. Each team member then made four cards and mailed her creations to each of the other three members.

December is MY month and I chose this adorable Rubbernecker elf image for my kit along with the required sentiments, two 4 X 4" pieces of patterned paper, and an embellishment or two. I hope Nikki, Diane and Dani have fun creating cards with the kits. I know I had fun supplying the kits and creating my cards.

The other three months were equally fun. In September, Nikki sent us the precious angel kit. In October, Diane sent us the Hope Bella Kit. In November Dani sent us the snowflake kit. The cards I created with their kits are shown below.

Thank you Nikki, Diane, Dani... and our wonderful hostess Michelle. It's been a lot of fun!

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

Raindrops keep falling on my head...

Do you ever feel that way? I know I do.

Sometimes it's actual rain. Rain that seems to go on for hours, days, weeks. Other times it seems like I'm getting drenched with one problem or stress after another.

Sometimes my friends or loved ones shower me with kindness... that's such a blessing!

Whatever rains might be heading your way, I hope you have a little buddy who's holding the umbrella for you!

I wish I could give credit to the maker of this stamp/image. I purchased the stamp secondhand and there is no manufacturing information on it. If anyone knows, please let me know and I will gladly post the information. Thank you!

Now for some tunes from B. J. Thomas:

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head... And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed.... Nothin' seems to fit... Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'

So I just did me some talkin' to the sun... And I said I didn't like the way he got things done... Sleepin' on the job... Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'

But there's one thing I know... The blues they send to meet me won't defeat me... It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head... But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red... Cryin's not for me'... Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'... Because I'm free... Nothin's worryin' me

It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head... But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red... Cryin's not for me'...Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'... Because I'm free... Nothin's worryin' me

Santa Claus is Coming

Gotta love that BIG GUY IN THE RED SUIT! I created these two cards for Barb's card swap.

The Hampton Art image is so cute with Santa pulling the sleigh while the "reindeer" rides for a change.






The Whipper Snapper image is fun with Santa resting at the chimney as he prepares to deliver some presents.










Ho Ho Ho... before we know it, Santa Clause will be coming to town! Don't you love that BIG GUY IN THE RED SUIT???

Pink Christmas

Pink is one of my favorite colors... but I've never thought of using it as a color for Christmas cards. Jenn, on splitcoaststampers changed all that. She posted a Pink Christmas card swap, and visions of pink began swirling around in my head. This is the card I finally came up with. It features Stampin' UP!'s Season of Joy stamps, Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots embossing folder, and the most gorgeous ribbon that I received as a gift from my online friend Paola from Canada.

Where Are You From?

My friend Kelly has an incredibly fun card swap going on... Where Are You From? She's challenged each of the participants to create a card that reflects where she is currently living. She posed the question, "What is it like in your neck of the woods?"

I'm sure many of the crafters will have much more exotic locations than mine, but my card definitely reflects my current home.

I live in a very small, unicorporated village in northwestern Illinois. Our village has about a hundred houses and two churches... that's it! We are surrounded by farmland, which boasts some of the best corn you will ever find. But perhaps the thing we are most known for here in northern Illinois is our winters. Winters that include lots and lots of snow. (I know Kelly will like that part of my card, because she's from Miami, Florida where they never see snow.)

I used a Northwoods stamp to create my card and some glistening snowflake designer paper.

I love the glitter button that I just recently purchased at Scrapbook Garden in Wichita, Kansas. If you're ever in/near Wichita, I'd highly recommend stopping at this wonderful scrapbooking store. It's incredible! I just found it a week ago on my return trip from visiting my daughter in western Kansas.

We may not have beaches, mountains, or city skylines. We may not have malls, amusement parks, or tourist attractions. But this is where I'm currently from... Welcome to my home!

November KitCat

Here it is, the first Sunday in November already! This year is just whizzing by. Before we know it, we will be decorating for Christmas, which is just fine with me!

The KitCat has been busy getting ready for this day, though... no time for decorating yet. It's the first Sunday of the month, so we are posting our most recent creations. This month Michelle sent wonderful kits to each of us. She even let us choose a holiday for our kit. I chose Christmas. Surprised?

I was delighted to get the wonderful kit filled with images (Sugar Nellie Manga Girls - Woo Hoo! I didn't have any of them so was really excited to have a few images to play with.) She also sent us Pink Paislee and Basic Grey designer papers, some Pink Paislee ribbon, a piece of embossed snowflake paper, and some diecut snowflakes. It really was a fun kit to play with.

I colored my Sugar Nellie with Copic markers (Skin White, Blush, Lime Green, Wax White, Cadmium Red, Caribe Cocoa, and Africano) and added some Cotton Candy Stickles to the trees on the designer paper and the buttons on the image. I used Stampin' UP! Kiwi Kiss as my card base.

I hope the other kittens (my KitCat pals) like my card! Now let's go see their creations:

Catherine – PAPERADDICT
http://paperaddictcatherine.blogspot.com/

Kelly –SANDCASTLE STAMPER http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Lorie – The Thinkin’ Spot http://www.thethinkinspot.blogspot.com/

Michelle – MISC. MICHELLE http://ticketbelle.blogspot.com/

Susan- Pink Flannel Pajamas http://pinkflannelpajamas.blogspot.com/