Share Handmade Kindness: Week 4

I lost track of the SHK items I have made this month. Mostly bookmarks because I could crank those out quickly but I also did some hot cocoa packets and more tea envelopes.

Here is a picture of the packets with cocoa and a bookmark.

Anyway, with bookmarks already die cut, I decicded to use them for giving thanks.

I will give these to everyone and anyone and save some for Thanksgiving dinner.

The stamps are from Lawn Fawn and the die is from Papertrey Ink.

A little Wink of Stella and that's all!

I will enter this into the Simon challenges below.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Thanks/Thanksgiving

and 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

I hope everyone has a fabulous holiday and weekend!! See ya real soon!!

Share Handmade Kindness Challenge with Tea Envies

It's a gorgeous day here in Buffalo NY, hoping to break a record by reaching 74 degrees! With that said, I am going to make it short and sweet so I can get outside for a bit of yard clean up!

Jennifer McGuire has launched a wonderful campaign this month: Share Handmade Kindness. A nice gesture, a sweet treat, a hug or a handmade card to brighten someone's day!!
Please go check it out !

 While you're at it, also check out the Kind Campaign and consider donating.
This is a great group of people that started this campaign in 2009 to help stop bullying.

So, aside from the cards I've sent out on Monday and Tuesday, I've been busy finishing up some tea envies.   My husband is hosting a luncheon today at his club and through all of the business and social events that take place, I've gotten to know many of them quite well. There are also quite a few of Niagara students joining them today. Anyway, I thought it'd be nice to give them some handmade kindness.

                                   1.   Die cutting Papertrey Ink cardstock

2. Stamped, labels made, twine cut!

3. Stuffed with Chai, teas, and mulled cider. Folded & closed.

4. All 71 tied and finished.   Yay!

Off to enjoy the day, I'm sure it'll be the last one for quite some time!!

Thanks for stopping!!

Simon Monday Challenge:Throwback

So, Simon's Monday Challenge was to pick a past challenge and I decided to go with the same theme as Emma,  To The Moon, which you can read about here.

I'm still in the fall mode and have not gotten tired of the leaves, the crisp air or the pumpkin flavors yet.
 It IS my favorite time of year!!

I am not quite ready to dive right into Christmas yet although
I have done a couple small projects.

Anyway,  I've been wanting to use this adorable owl stamp I
got from Penny Black that I love and this was the perfect chance.

I stamped my owl in Ranger black archival ink. Masked him off with a circle. Stamped the Tiny Star
Background(Basic Grey) with versamark and used hologram embossing powder. I kept the mask on and colored the night sky with distress inks.  I finally colored my cute owl with my zigs and used some wink of stella. I used glossy accents for his eyes which ended up bleeding a little but it didn't bother me, I still like the way he turned out. I planned on putting a sentiment bubble but didn't like anything I came up with so I left it out all together. It's hard to see his sparkle but he really does shine!!

  I sent this little guy to someone in my Birthday Club on FB. Let me know if you're interested in joining. All you have to do is send three cards a month and two in your birthday month and you receive 35 on your birthday. Lots of fun!!

Papertrey Ink October Blog Hop Challenge

It's that time again!! The 25th is always the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

The Inspiration:

I decided to make a tag, always needed with Christmas not too far off.

Here it is:

It's a tag and/or a card. This is also for the MIM #227 Focal Clusters.

I am also entering the following challenges:

     Simon Says: Wrap It Up

  and the Papertake Weekly Challenge: All About the Base. We were challenged to use a different

shape for a base. It gets you thinking a bit!!

My supplies: PTI Nativity Silhouettes Stamp Set,
 Kaisercraft, Home For Christmas paper
(that I was lucky to receive at Simon Says Create this past weekend,
 A Great time was had by all and a huge THANK YOU to everyone that had
 anything to do with that awesome event!!)
Tim Holtz Mini Holidays 2 Stamp Set, Hero Arts black ink and red twine.
Scalloped and oval dies.

This is a quick post just to get back to my routine Sunday posts and I NEED my own
bed very soon.  After a great weekend I think I will have some overflowing craft MOJO.
 Because of this you should be seeing at least a couple posts this week so I can try out
some of my new goodies.
Thanks for stopping!!

Embossed Birthday

I am always in need of birthday cards and even more now that I haved joined a FB Birthday Club.
So, when I feel like creating it usually ends up birthday or thank you. I decided to combine a couple challenges today. Papertake Weekly Challenge is a new one to me. It was the last week of September so we could take our pick of the themes and I went with the technique theme of embossing and product theme with Distress Ink, I LOVE them ALL, seriously!! I always have trouble choosing colors!

So, here is my card:

I embossed my background with clear embossing powder after stamping with versamark ink and The Grid BG stamp by MFT. I then, just played around with some Distress Ink and water. Peacock Feathers, Milled lavendar and the NEW Wild Violet, love them together! I did not have a dark purple cardstock that I thought matched well so I swiped("No swiping Swiper"-swiping allowed!) the Wild Violet ink across my Papertrey Ink Lavendar Moon CS and then die cut my Happy Birthday(Impression Obsession die) out. Stuck her on with Tombow Mono and shimmered it up with Wink of Stella! Added the heart at the last minute and gave it a coat of Wof S also. Love the final product and actually I did two.

 Here they are together :

I am also entering this into the Virginia's View Challenge # 19

and

The  World Cardmaking Day Challenge found over at Simon Says Stamp.

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge:Anything Goes

AAA Cards: Game #49 Word Play

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Feeling Blessed

I just have to say that I have the BEST neighbors in Cheektowaga!!

 Not only do they,

•  watch our house when we're gone
•  water the plants
•  feed us all the time(with lamb chops, pizza, cakes galore)
•  give a helping hand when needed(quite frequently with outdoor jobs)
•  put the garage door down if we neglect it
•  love our daughter like she's one of the family

 BUT, they also give Fabulous gifts!

Thank you Ted, Janet and Wayne for EVERYTHING you do!!
You're the BEST!!

Papertrey September Blog Hop Challenge

I finally had a chance to sit and make a card to join in on the PTI Blog Hop.

Here is the inspiration/challenge photo, I just love it!!

And here is the card I created using Pti's Rustic Wreath, lots of Zing Embossing

Powder and the Sentiment is from a new Sunflowers set fromTaylored Expressions.

Love the results! Now I am off to get some yard work done before the weather turns.

I'll be back a bit later to hop around, Have fun and thanks for stopping!!

I am also entering this over at AAA Cards:Game #48:Autumn Colors
and here is their challenge image: Don't you want to just walk into that picture?

SAF: Unconventional Materials

So, I decided to utilize more of my unconventional materials and make another card for the challenge
found here.  I used this reflective tape(red and white were in the package):

I used the red and made this:

I die cut hearts out of the tape using the shaker heart confetti die and the circle stamp 

is by Prima. Sentiment is from Monthly Moments:February.

That's all for now!!   Can't wait until next year!!

SAF: Unconventional Materials

So, here is the other card I created with my unconventional materials. You can find the challenge here.

Here is what I used for my card: the red and white(kinda like silver) reflective tape.

and here is my card:

I made two panels, one red and one white of relective tape.

Used the heart coverplate to die cut both. Switched some hearts around.

Mounted it on Soft Stone CS. Added my sentiment onto 3 grey die cut heart borders. Stamped

a sentiment from Love Lives Here and that's it.  

SAF: Unconventional Materials Challenge

So, I started this challenge on Saturday with Stamp-A-Faire and you can find this challenge here.

I think this is the one challenge that got me to really think the most. After browsing around int he hardware store during the week. I had a few items that I knew I'd find in my basement so I shopped at my own house and saved some $$! More to spend on stamps, Yay!

First off, I'd like to show you my first card and see if you have any idea of what I used:

ANYONE???

Here's how it started:

Well, I got some small chain lengths and spread them out and used them like a stencil!

I sprayed some some Prima Color Bloom in Antique Gold and Cobalt. Added some dimension by raising a couple panels and it looked like the sea to me.

 Mounted it on PTI Blueberry Sky and cut fish out of Fine Linen and Blueberry Sky, stamped them and the bkgd and that's it! Used Spring Rain and Simply Chartreuse ink

 I went with SSS Best Fishes Stamp Set.

So, anyway, this is what I got in my basement:

Some red and white reflective tape for $4.99 and the chain link  which I know was a couple bucks at the most.    Wait til you see the next card!

SAF: Accessories-bangles

 So, on to the bangles, which were a big problem for me.  For some reason,

they did not hold their shape very well.  I used the best one I had and painted it a white

pearlized metallic color and that made it open up even more! I stamped it anyway to

see if I liked it in case I decided to try again with different sticks.

Here is my failed attempt at the bangles:

I really do want to try this again, I had many ideas I wanted to try but didn't want to waste 

my time or supplies since the bangles didn't hold shape. I had small felt flowers and felt buttons

to glue on them but didn't bother.

Oh well, see ya'll later!!

SAF: Accessories Challenge

Stamp-A-Faire is over but the links are still open until tomorrow morning 7am! So finish up crafters and get it linked up! You can find the Accessories Challenge here!

Erin made this beauty!

I did not have it in the budget to buy the SAF kit so I just used what I had (which was

definately managable) and here is my necklace!

I didn't have just the right button so I still want to add something to my centers but I didn't have
any beads I liked either. I used ocean tides and grey felt along with some leather and wall paper cuts
I had laying around.

SAF: Make It Work

After a good night of sleep, I feel refreshed and ready to continue to finish up what I started yesterday with Stamp-A-Faire.

 This challenge ,Make it Work  really got me to think about how I could change what I didn't think worked at all.  I thought the PP I used was too busy for the die. So, I scratched it.  While I looked at it, I thought if I outlined the words to define it a bit more, that might help.

Here is what I had:

and here is the card I made after outlining the words. 

I could not help myself with that bottom line. That's ALL I could think of while making this

so I figured why not put it on there? Right? For those of you that are my age, I'm sure you'll chuckle.

Anyway, I think I accomplished what I set out to do. I do think it works now.

That's all for now.

SAF:Red Carpet Finale

Another Day, another Stamp-A-Faire has passed. What fun today was I must say!!  I hope to finish up a few projects tomorrow and Monday. Until then I just wanted to post my last picture for the night. It is quite difficult to get a selfie with a SLR camera, I tried too many times to count so, here I am with my favorite card of the day!!

Good night to all and thank you to everyone of the DT and Nichole for putting all of this together

for us so we could enjoy another fabulous day getting inky with our favorite PTI stamping supplies!!

SAF: Runway Inspiration Challenge

I knew exactly which inspiration photo I wanted to choose, I could see it and I finally got one to come out how I pictured it and thanks to Betsy for her inpiration as well. That'll be all for know. I am itching to get to bed!  

 The inspiration photo:

Here is my card, one of my favorites for the day:

Good night!!

SAF: Pins + Needles

I decided to jump to Stamped + Stitches. I think it's too late for me to be operating any type of machine with needles! So I went with what Heather showed us without a machine and just stamping.
I did the shadow stamping and here is what I made:

Considering what a long day it has been, I am very happy with the outcome and I NEVER use berry sorbet either! Another accomplishment, Garden Gild has finally seen ink!! Yay!!

SAF: Mix + Match Challenge-with Dawn

So, here is my other card from the Mix and Match Challenge from Stamp-A-Faire 2015.( It has been so much fun, so far.)

Dawn gave us some tips on how to choose some colors. I went for Pinefeather because I NEVER use it. Now, I don't know if it's because it's a dark color or if it's because I just don't like to use it but anyway, I decided to stamp(Happy Notes) since I haven't done much stamping today. So, here it is:

I think I should have moved the sentiment to the left, I don't know, it's just kinda blah!

On to the next challenge!!

SAF: Mix + Match Challenge

This was definately a challenge for me and got me out of my comfort zone. The outcome, well, lets just say, I got another card or two. Nothing great but I did learn a few things from Betsy and Dawn.
It was a fun challenge.   Here is my first card for Mixing Patterns with Betsy:

I used the Men of Life PP pack,Kraft and Pure Poppy CS, MFT Circle Frames and Scripty Sayings from Lawn Fawn, the star die from Tipped Tops.   Back in a bit!

SAF 2015:Threads Challenge-Twine

Moving on with Stamp-A-Faire, I cannot believe the day is already half over!!

Okay so, here is another card for the threads challenge. This time I used twine for stitching.

Clean and Simple for sure!!

I think I  eed to go outside and get my pictures, they are coming out sooo dark, will try harder next time, sorry!!

SAF 2015: Threads Challenge

Moving on!! The Threads Challenge is up next.

Laura shows us how to create thread nests. Very cool but I gotta work on this one!

Here is my card:

I had intended to put the nest under the label but I didn't think it'd be seen so I put it under

the thanks and I do think I need more thread! Oh well! I used Heidi Swapp magic paper and some distress inks, mounted it on Limeaid Ice(my new favorite color). The label is from Little B that I backed with some cardstock because they are like post it weight. Added my thanks in Limeaid Ice(Wet Paint Die) and that's it.    Bye Bye!

Stamp-A-Faire: Patterns Challenge

If you have somehow stumbled across my blog today, you're in for a treat as many crafters around the world are taking part in Stamp-A-Faire today.

So, for the next challenge:   I chose the pattern that Heather put together as seen here:

I am trying to vary my cards today so I'll have a nice stash of everything needed, I hope.

Surprisingly, I am keeping up with the challenges and even keeping my space workable,

meaning, putting things away as I go!  The day is moving along quickly and so far without a hitch!!

So, on to my card:

I used Simple Sunflower and embossed the sunflowers with Zing embossing powders onto 

Smokey Shadow CS. I put that panel onto Lime Ice CS after embossing the flower center as 

a border down the side. I then mounted my sentiment from Wet Paint Dies onto a strip of Smokey Shadow PP.      Onto the next challenge!!

Stamp-A-Faire: Bridal Challenge-white wedding card

So, for this early morning challenge, we were asked to make a wedding card

with nothing but white supplies with the exception of a nuetral for the sentiment.

So, here it is folks!!

I used the Pretty Peonies Stamp Set and Dies. Inlaid the happy after I stamped it and embossed it with pearl embossing powder. Embossed the rest of the layer with a Sizzix folder. Added the rest of my sentiment on vellum(double ended banner die) with second generation stamping in black. I finished it off with some clear and frosted acrylic hearts.  That's all for now!