My Favorite Things

The theme at the Paper Maniac Inspiration blog this week is “Favorite Things.”  We were to use three of our favorite products from the Paper Maniac store to use on our creation! 

Since I’ve been shopping with Patti almost since they opened, this was easy.  My very favorite thing that Patti carries are my Copic markers.  I love them almost as much as Paper Maniac!!!  I buy the Copic Kit Club every month (I think it’s 14 months now) so I now have quite a selection and it was a lot easier on the budget than trying to buy them in sets. 

My other favorite things are the beautiful stamp from the Unity June store kit and the stunning Crate Paper Restoration DP.  Plus, you all know that butterflies are one of my very favorite things?  Love them!

I have told you before, that I live in the “banana belt” of Idaho.  Our weather is usually warmer and dryer than the rest of the state.  If we get snow, it usually melts by mid afternoon.  That’s part of the reason I live here.

Well, we’ve had snow on the ground for over a week now!!!  Then it snowed on and off all afternoon with a 90% chance of precipitation through tomorrow and still a smaller chance of rain through the week.  IT DOESN’T SNOW HERE!!!  However, tomorrow is supposed to be in the high 30s so maybe some will melt.

Okay, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, maybe I’ll feel better.  It has been a bad day here at the Fairy Studio (that’s what I’ve decided to call my studio—I have a few fairy dolls hanging to help keep my muse going).  They are working on the plumbing next door so I was without water ALL DAY.  They turned it on again and while it was on, I had a phone call that they are shutting it off in 1/2 hour until tomorrow when they get done fixing stuff over there.  Ugh!!!

For the next few days, I’m going to work on making ornaments for my Christmas tree that I can’t get out of my shed until the weather gets better.  (There I am complaining again—sorry).  I have a white feather tree and I’m making some vintage style ornaments to decorate it!  I can’t wait to show them to you as I create and to get my tree set up and decorated!!! 

Maybe I can get out tomorrow to purchase some of the things I need.  I’m not going  out after dark because they are having slide-offs everywhere!!!

I’m breaking my mood now and I hope you have as good day!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Pearls-Gems; Cuttlebug-Nestabillities; Other from stash-ribbon.

Challenges:
Card Positioning System--sketch
Gingerloft Challenge--bows

Grace’s Glow

Tonight I have another image from Thursdays McMahon Vintage release.

Grace’s Glow.  Isn’t she a sweetie.  I keep saying that about McMahon Vintage images, but they are!!!

The snowflakes were a bit of trial and error.  I cut them out of velum with Nestabillities colored the edges silver and added a fine clear glitter.  That really didn’t work at all.  So then I added clear glitter glue (just the cheap kids kind) all over them.  After that, they had to dry a LONG time so I put the rest of the card together.  Still not dry so I put some glitter glue on a couple of roses and went to bed!!!

I added a little Copic clear Spica an her wings and around the flame.

I’ll be back later with another card!

That’s about it!!! 

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-McMahon Vintage; Paper-K&Co.; Flowers-Wild Orchid Crafts; Ribbon-PTI; Cuttlebug-Spellbinders Snowflakes; Other from stash-.

Challenges:
Cupcake Craft--candle
A Spoon Full of Sugar--Anything goes
Everybody Art Challenge--Use shapes
Papertake Weekly--Cut it out--punch or die cut
Digital Tuesday--Let it snow
Crafty Creations--Christmas
Color Create--Robin egg blue, sea foam green, cream--optional winter
Dutch Dare--sketch
Stampin’ for the Weekend--Winter
Friday Sketchers--sketch
Just Us Girls--3-D holiday embellishments

Doubly Distressed

How was your Thanksgiving?  Did you eat too much?  I ate more than usual but didn’t stuff myself.  My sil brought a yummy squash dish that I’m hoping to make tomorrow.  I need some squash.  I’ll share it with you when I get it made!

The challenge at the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge is the double distress technique.  Loved it!!!  As usual, I’ve been making a tag for the challenge.

Beautiful, huh?  Glitter and distress!!!  As I said before, I love doing tags because I just kinda’ fly by the seat of pants in putting them together!!!

Talk to you tomorrow!  I have another card using a new image from McMahon Vintage that I’ll post tomorrow.

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Distress Inks; Sentiment-Tim Holtz; Ink-Distress Ink, Palette; Paper-Tim Holtz Holiday and grungepaper; Flowers-Making Memories; Other from stash-ribbon.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp and Show--distress ink
Compendium of Curiosities Challenge at Studio L3--double distress
My Time to Craft--Tag along
The Stampman Challenge--Christmas with anything Tim Holtz

Let’s Spread Brave Girl Encouragement

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays before us, it’s always good to step back and see the good things of the season.  This is a great way to take an afternoon, you and your family, and spread some goodness and encouragement in your corner of the world.

The following was published on the Brave Girls blog.  Click here to be directed to that post.

Hi Guys!!! TOMORROW WE ARE STARTING!!! We will be handing out kind messages to people on the day after Thanksgiving, all through the holidays. For everyone all over the world who is going to join us in the BGC Holiday Challenge…..here’s a PDF to download 3 pages of messages…so now all you have to do is print them out, cut them out and pass them out….if you want to go a step further, you can pass them out with hot chocolate and cookies!!! Make sure you videotape it or at least take some photos and we will include you in our video in early January.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MESSAGES

if the link doesn’t work, just copy and paste this address into your browser…http://bravegirlsclub.com/pdfs/RWOK-BGC-HOLIDAY.pdf

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Well, watch this little video and we will explain!!! (you can see it much bigger a few posts down from here….)

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US!!! Read all about the challenge HERE

THIS IS GOING TO BE SOOOO GREAT!!!!

MAKE SURE YOU WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE POST RIGHT BEFORE THIS ONE!!!!

A PERFECT LITTLE MOVIE TO WATCH WITH YOUR FAMILY!!! YOU WILL LOOOVE IT!!

100 AWESOME THINGS!!! You might SEE YOURSELF in the movie!!!

see it??? RIGHT DOWN THERE??

If ya can’t see it…..CLICK HERE YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!!

I’m going to print these out, cut them apart and keep them in an envelope in my purse.  What a great way to spread the cheer at the end of the year!

Awareness Wreath

It’s release time again at McMahon Five Designs!

We’re taking a bit easy on you this week with just a few new images.  Most importantly (to me anyway) is our new Breast Cancer Awareness image.  However this month, we have a bit of a twist!

<a href="http://www.mcmahonfivedesign.com/store/store_results.asp?ShopByStyle=35&Section=Breast+Cancer+Charity/" target="”_blank”"><img border="”0”" src="http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l561/Kristine2818/M5D-december-BCA.gif" /></a>

Sue drew a wreath with Happy Awareness as the sentiment so that you can use the image for any various cases out there.  Once again, all you need to do is pledge that you will perform your self exam and Sue will send you the image for free.  Just click on the blinkie above.  Kristine makes these blinkies for us—isn’t she wonderful!!!

Here’s my example for today.

 

New this week...

Adele's Gift

New this week...

Jolly Elf

New this week...

Graces Glow (I’m also working on a card with this cutie!)

Awareness Wreath

Be sure to check out the samples by the rest of the Design Team!

Bonnie, Carolyn, me, Kristine, Michelle, Sue

I have a Thanksgiving dinner poem that I  will share with you later if I can find it!!!  For all my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving and don’t eat too much!  My family isn’t eating dinner until 6:00 pm so I’ll be around tomorrow.  I’m making a couple of pies, rolls and cranberry sauce for my contribution!  I hope I have lots of leftovers!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-McMahon Five Designs; Paper-K & Co; Pearls-KaiserCraft; Ribbon-Papertrey Ink.

Challenges:
Copic Creations--Shading your paper pieced images (I did this on the wreath)

Pixie Thanks

Today is my first day posting on the Paper Maniac blog, Paper Maniac Inspiration.

I only make one Thanksgiving card a year (for the hostess of the meal) and so decided to make a Thank You card instead.  I used Cosmo Cricket Pixie-licious paper and chipboard and the Unity/Cosmo Cricket Pixie-licious stamp set.

It’s supposed to snow a bunch tonight—blizzard like conditions (what’s the difference between blizzard like and just a plain old blizzard?).  They said the storm should hit between midnight and 8 am.  It’s going to be a rough commute but thank goodness I don’t have to commute.

Anyway they’re predicting it to dip into the single digits Wednesday so I went to unhook my hoses and noticed that one of my faucets is leaking.    If it were summer, I’m sure my sis and I could fix it but with it so cold tomorrow I decided to call a plumber.  Hopefully it won’t cost too awfully much.  I’d hate for it to dip into my stamping budget!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Simple Woman’s Daybook

I’m going to start posting my Daybook on Monday’s since I will be posting for Paper Maniac on Tuesday’s.

FOR TODAY November 22, 2010

Outside my window...snow and melting snow.  I love living in Boise where the snow doesn’t stick around very long!
I am thinking...about the things I am planning for our craft day on Saturday.
I am thankful for...my family.
From the kitchen...clean, clean, clean and then maybe some rice Krispy treats!
I am wearing...navy Yellowstone sweat shirt and gray sweat pants.
I am creating...haven’t planned it yet but probably a couple of M5D cards.
I am going...to fix my outside faucet.
I am reading...the same two books.  I haven’t been reading much lately. :-(
I am hoping...that the weather will be good so that my sister can come up for Thanksgiving.
I am hearing...the Young and the Restless!
Around the house...I’m going to try to do my very best everyday and then start every new day fresh! (see the photo I’m sharing)
One of my favorite things...pumpkin pie.
A few plans for the rest of the week:  Thanksgiving Dinner!
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing..

Sorry for the picture quality but it says, “It’s a new day, a fresh start.”  I’m going to read this out loud to myself every morning!

If you would like to take part, go to the Simple Woman’s Daybook blog and share your link.

Blessings,

Christine

I Wanna Ride my Bicycle!

Tonight I have my last card for Thursday’s McMahon Five Designs release. 

I ALWAYS love bicycle images!  Plus I made a card for a man!!!  I didn’t start out making a man card but I love how it turned out!!!

I “colored” the image with Distress Inks—can’t remember the colors. 

I hope you had a good weekend.  We got some snow today.  Enough to cover the ground but that’s about it.  They say we’re in for even more.  I sure hope it doesn’t snow on Wednesday.  It would be a shame if my sister could come for Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Distress Ink; Image-McMahon Five Vintage; Paper-Basic Grey Capella; Other from stash-buttons.

Challenges:
Moving Along with Times--sketch
Get Sketchy--Find something around the house for inspiration

Born to Fly

Finally, I got a challenge finished for the Compendium of Curiosities challenge by my friend, Linda!  Yay!!!

The technique this week is Alcohol Ink Splatter.  This is a fun technique but I got the hang of it after a couple of tries.  I love making tags because you can just keep doing things until it looks good. 

I started with the splatter and then added a couple of Unity stamps.  The blue lace is vintage hem binding and the pink is Artalicious.  I made a cute rosette with Papertrey Ink and then added a little birdie from GCD-Melody Ross.   There is some Basic Grey Kioshi paper on the back and I covered the bird with Kioshi.  It blended to much with the background so I colored it with a pink BIC marker and added some sugar glitter.  Love that stuff and it’s the time of year to bring out the glitter!!!!

Have a lovely and peaceful Sunday all!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp and Show--Whatever makes you happy
Compendium of Curiosities Challenge--Ink splatter
Simon Says--sparkle

Turkey Tail

As promised, another card from the McMahon Vintage that you can buy at M5D.  Love this beautiful turnkey.  I searched Google for a picture of a turkey so I could color it properly.  Most of the turkey’s I see are in the frozen foods department. 

I know I promised to post yesterday but I wasn’t feeling very well at all.  I even went to bed at 10:00.  That’s four hours early for me!!!  I really got some rest last night and I’m feeling much better today!!!

I’ll be back tomorrow with my last card from the M5D release!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-McMahon Vintage; Ink-Distress Ink; Paper-Tim Holtz; Ribbon-Michaels; Other from stash-buttons.

Challenges:
Creative Card Crew--Give thanks
Digital Tuesday--Anything with wings
Papertake Weekly--Autumn
ABC Challenge--Holidays (any holiday)

It’s My Turn. . .

. . . to be introduced on the Scrapbook Royalty blog! 

Wontcha head on over to take a look?  To give you a little enticement, we are having a giveaway for a fabulous prize today.

So, go to the Scrapbook Royalty blog and learn a little about me and possibly win an awesome prize as well.

Be back this afternoon with another M5D creation!

Sugar Plum Fairy

They didn’t look quite this lovely when I saw the Nutcracker ballet!  Isn’t she beautiful!!!  I hadn’t decided on my sentiment so I just put a blank sentiment on.

Here she is close up.  She is one of the new digis being released this week at McMahon Five Designs!

Announcing this week...

Solocosmo Images are now available

in 2 file formats JPG and PNG!

Sugar Plum Fairy

New this week from Studio 313...

Merry Christmouse

Announcing this week...

in 2 file formats JPG and PNG!

Vintage Bicycle

Turkey Trot

Tom Turkey

Turkey Tail

Be sure to check out the samples by the rest of the Design Team!

Bonnie, Carolyn, me, Kristine, Michelle, Sue

I’ve colored up a couple of more images but haven’t gotten them made into cards yet.  I’ll post them this weekend.

I have a special post for you tomorrow.  It’s something about charity and giveaways!!!  See you then!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-; McMahon Five Designs, Paper-Cosmo Cricket; Pearls-KaiserCraft; Ribbon-Offray; Stick Pinks-Maya Road.

Bird Fairy

She’s such a beauty!!!

Just love this image by Kraftin’ Kimmie!

Not much up around here.  I’d love for you to take a look at the post I wrote today for Scrapbook Royalty/Charity Wings.  I wrote about a great way to help America’s heroes in service and get your mind off of Thanksgiving and Christmas for a bit.  Please, go check it out!!!

I’m working on a couple of projects for Thursday’s release at McMahon Five Designs.  We have seven digi images/sets coming out this week.  Wow, seven!!!  I’m working on two and am hoping to get to one more by the weekend.

So, I better sign off and get to creating!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-Kraftin‘ Kimmie; Ink-Pallette; Paper-Webster‘s Pages; Pearls-Kaiser Craft; Ribbon-Offray; Cuttlebug-Nestabillities; Pink-Making Memories; Other from stash-twine.

Challenges:
2 Sketches 4 You--sketch
Kaboodle Doodles--One solid paper, 2 dp, 3 embellishments
Lollipop Crafts--Girly
Stamp with Fun--square
A Spoon Full of Sugar--Distressing
Cute Card Thursday--Anything goes
Lili of the Valley--Anything goes--can use any stamp or digi (doesn’t have to be lov)

Imagined Life

I made this tag for the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge that Linda from Studio L3 hosts, but once again, I’m too late and once again, I promise I’m going to start the challenge earlier this time!!!  The challenge this week was the Perfect Distress technique.  I loved it, especially with this image because it gives the wet, rainy look to this image!  It’s made of Distress Ink, Tim Holtz stamps and Perfect Pearls with a little ribbon from my stash thrown in!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp and Show--Favorite tim holtz stamp

Big Life

Love this stamp—don’t remember where I got, but I love it!!!

How about you?  It’s so upbeat and positive.

It was my great-nephew’s birthday party today and I drove to their house and their were no extra familiar cars outside.  I went in and asked if I came the wrong day.  No, I was two hours late!!!  Oh well, it was fun to be their without the whole crew because then I had her five kids all to myself for awhile.  I dropped of my gift and played with kids for awhile and then came home and settled in for the night!!!  The kids are all so adorable!!!

I hope you have a quiet and peaceful Sunday!!!

Blessings,

Christine N

Medium-Copics; Image-?; Sentiment-?; Ink-Palette; Paper-Basic Grey; Pearls-Kaiser Craft colored with Copics; Ribbon-Offray; Punch-Martha Stewart.

Challenges:
Etsy Inspired--
Everybody Art Challenge--sketch
Basic Grey Challenge--wings

It’s Thursday

So that means another four New Images Released at McMahon Five Designs!

New this week from Solocosmo...

Clara

New this week from McMahon Vintage Digitals....

Madam Margaret

New this week from Studio 313...

Molly Snowday

Penguin

I was torn between creating something with Clara or Madam Margaret but I chose……Madam Margaret.  She was just too beautiful to pass up!  I love the vintage images.  The roses didn’t turn out very well in the photo.  What looks like white gunk here is beautiful sparkly Stickles in real life!!!  The DP is glittery as well so this is a very sparkly card!

Be sure to check out the samples by the rest of the Design Team!

Bonnie, Carolyn, Kristine, Michelle, Sue

Blessings,

Christine

Simple Woman’s Daybook

2nd post of the day.  Please scroll down.

.

FOR TODAY November 9, 2010

Outside my window...crisp sunny day. 
I am thinking...not much of anything really.
I am thankful for...my warm home.
From the kitchen...nothing today.
I am wearing...my favorite lounge around the house sweater and dress.
I am creating...finishing up some cards.
I am going...no where, hopefully.
I am reading...the same two books.  I haven’t been reading much lately. :-(
I am hoping...to continue with my quest for peace in my life all month long.
I am hearing...the Young and the Restless!
Around the house...I’m going to continue working around the house for at least an hour a day.
One of my favorite things...my sweet puppy.
A few plans for the rest of the week:  work on the house of course and find my creative muse!.
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing..

Another photo I took while on my trip to the Utah mountains last  month.

If you would like to take part each Tuesday, go to the Simple Woman’s Daybook blog and share your link.

Blessings,

Christine

Are You Funky?

Have I ever told you how much I love Unity?  Have I ever told you how much I love Melody Ross?

I love it when I can combine two of my favorite things—Unity stamp designed by Melody Ross!!!  Plus GCD papers designed by Melody Ross!  I added a bit of Papertrey Ink cardstock, buttons and ribbon. 

I love this image because all of my life I have been the gal on the right but for the last few years I have been moving further and further to the ladies on the left.  That is not me and I’m moving myself further to the gal on the right.  I LOVE her!!!

I’m off to bed now.  I hope you are having a great week!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Lexi’s Creations--Anything goes
Crazy 4 Challenges--Square card
Sketch Saturday--sketch
Gingerloft Challenge--buttons

My Missing Muse

Along with some of my crafty supplies, I think I left my creative muse in Utah!  Ever since I returned from Utah, I have done very little creating. 

Why you ask?  I don’t know!!!  But I’m bringin’ her back!!!

Tonight I will be creating!  Then I will create some more until she returns.    I dare her to run from me!!!

Good News and and Enabler Alert!

I have such great news!  I am the newest designer for the Paper Maniac store!  Yay!!!  This is my favorite online store that I order from the most.  Patricia offers great prices (many things are sold at a discount) and Paper Maniac is where I buy my Copics.  Their Copic Sketch markers are only $4.99.

I buy most of my Copics as part of their Copics Coloring Kit where you get eight Copics and tutorials for a project for one low price—$23.50 for Ciao and $35.00 for Sketch.  That’s only $4.25 per Sketch marker!  Wow!!!

The best news of all, is that we are having a sale with 20% off ALL stamps for the rest of the weekend!!!  Wow—especially since many of them are below retail anyway.  I know I’m going to go have a look!  Plus, all single sheets of patterned paper are only .25 until supplies last!  Wow again!!!

So go here to the Paper Maniac store to have a look around!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Lucille’s Glance

Don’t you just wonder what she is looking at?  I do!  Lucille’s Glance is one of the new images released yesterday from McMahon Five Vintage images.  But I do think she’s beautiful!!!

I’m feeling a little better today.  I had a few hours this when I felt REALLY good and sat down and finished this card.  Hopefully, I’ll be feeling much better tomorrow ‘cause I want to get out of the house for a while!!!

Have a great Saturday everyone!!!  See ya’ tomorrie!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-McMahon Five Vintage; Ink-Distress Ink; Paper-Making Memories; Other from stash-ribbon, button.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp and Show--shabby
Kaboodle Doodles--Make it vintage
City Crafter--Get your digi on
Mercy’s Card Sketch

McMahon Five Designs Big Release Day!!!

Announcing a

New Digital Stamp Line...

Solocosmo Digi Stamps!

Okay, did you notice how that little girls is colored in the above photo?  That is how I yearn to paint when I make my journal pages.  I love these whimsical portraits that I’ve been seeing around the blogs lately.  The are so beautiful!!!

Swan Princess

Feels Like Fall

Lucille's Glance

Cute Winter Scene

Vertie Christmas Angel

Harit's Accessory Kit

As usual, Shawne’s images (except the accessory kit) come in both .jpg and .png.

Phew, that’s one big release!!!  I made a quick little digi scrapbook page using  the Harit’s kit and the Accessory kit.

Isn’t she the most adorable puppy you’ve ever seen!  I know, I know, I’m just prejudice!

Check out the samples by the rest of the Design Team!

Bonnie, Christine, Kristine, Michelle, Sue

I have a pretty bad migraine today.  I just took some meds and am feeling a little better.  I have a card I’m working on using the beautiful Lucille.  Hopefully, I’ll get to work on her today and get her posted later this afternoon. 

Have a great Thursday everyone!!!  I don’t mention it often enough but I love that you stop by and leave me some love.  I know, I get mushy when I’m not feeling well!!!

Blessings,

Christine