29 November 2007

Mark Your Calendar...


for an ALL DAY celebration over at Cornish Heritage Farms Forum in honor of Lisa Strahl's BIG 30th Birthday... not to mention the release of Lisa's 16 New Backgrounders on Saturday; December 1st!

All of us from CHF have been "Etch A Sketching" some FUN-tabulous challenges, games, prizes and chatter starting at 10 AM EST until the last challenge posted at 10 PM EST! It just wouldn't be a party without all of you, so spread the verbal invite... NO RSVP necessary! *wink*

In the meantime... Lisa of Mona Lisa Moments has been working on 30 incredible gift giving ideas using her new backgrounders just for all of you!
I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

27 November 2007

Gift Bag Greeting...


I offer my most humble apologies to all who visit regularly! The vortex of life swept me up and sucked me in... *wink* Honestly... work, family, volunteering at Sophie's school, submissions to publications and preparing for an upcoming release over at Cornish Heritage Farms hasn't allowed me to many couch and bon bon moments!

Well as I'm sure you've all noted... the commercialism of Christmas grabbed a foot hold prior to all of us giving appropriate Thanks! Every year I promise that I will start next years Christmas cards in January... definitely no later than February, however it takes all of January to re-coop from the fatigue of the month prior! Then along comes Cupid! Next thing I know... Christmas has arrived once again?! How in the world does it always sneak-up and bite me in the preverbal butt-ocks?! *scratches head*

Black Friday lent inspiration to my design for this "gift bag" greeting. Target offers the greatest gift bags, wrapping paper, tissue, etc... every year in my opinion. Another inspiration was Cornish Heritage Farms SOTM for November Starry Snowman by my friend and accomplished Artist Asela Hopkins and Snowflake 1. Tomorrow will bring a new attempt at photographing this card a wee bit better. Blogger has been an issue lately with photo size?!

Wishing you safe travels this Christmas whether it's finishing up some of your shopping, attending Christmas functions or taking to the friendly skies or driving to be with loved ones.

List of Supplies:

Stamps - Cornish Heritage Farms November 2007 SOTM.

Cardstock - Stampin' Up! Soft Sky, Blue Bayou and Vellum. BasicGrey Designer Fruitcake.

Ink - Versafine Onyx Black, Brilliance Platinum Planet (snowflake 1 on vellum) and Stampin' Up! Blue Bayou.

Embellishments - Sakura Glaze Black Pen (snowmans eyes/buttons), Marvy Uchida Puffy Velvet Fabric Marker (snow), Creative Impressions Snowflake Brad, A Muse Creative Candy Mini Star Gems and Stampin' Up! Blue Bayou Double Stitched Grosgrain.

Other - Paper Piercer, Stampin' Up! Ticket Punch and Oval Punch and Provo Craft Decorative Edgers.

Technique - Direct to Paper and Paper Piecing.

IDEAS - Use your sentiment or verse as your tag on a gift bag greeting card. Accentuate an i with an embellishment or punched piece that pertains to the holiday or occasion.

Use designer or paper stamped with images for paper piecing technique.
I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

12 November 2007

Honor Our Veteran's...


Today marked the official Veteran's Day holiday for New Hampshire.

Feeling the need to show my support, patriotism and remembrance... I chose to create a card honoring our soldiers.

"Our freedom has been purchased at the price of our fallen soldiers."

What did you do with your "freedom" today?

10 November 2007

Halloween Or Harvest...


Better late, than never...

October came with an invitation to join a few other stamper's in a private HALLOWEEN card swap. A card wouldn't "hold" a couple of $pot stamps, ribbons, embellishments and chocolate that were personally picked around the holiday. My friend, Mare reminded me it was to be a "card" swap? I couldn't resist sharing all the neat things offered this year. Next thing I knew... Mare was purchasing a few goodies herself! *LOL - wink*

Cornish Heritage Farms is a Christian based company. However, CHF stamps are very adaptable through techniques, color combinations and embellishment choices for any holiday season. This "handbag" could go either way... Halloween or Harvest! *wink*

A close-up of the decorative closure provides the viewer with more details. Unfortunately a photograph doesn't do a card or project justice as viewing it in person.

List of Supplies:

Stamps - Cornish Heritage Farms Petite Patterns Bckgrndr., Cheesecloth Bckgrndr., Montana Tree Bark Bckgrndr. & Kim Hughes Collection "Pretty Birds" Set

Cardstock - Lively Lavendar, Black, Foggy Gray, Sunny Yellow, Dirty Brown & Pumpkin Orange.

Ink - VersaMark, VersaFine Vintage Sepia, VersaFine Onyx Black & Pumpkin Orange (moon's edge).

Embellishments - Sakura Glaze Black Pen (owls eyes), Barbara Twombley's UltraFine Glitter (moon) & Scotch Brand Dimensional Tape.

Other - Marvy Uchida Giga Scalloped Oval & Mega Oval Punch, Paper Shapers "Whale of a Punch" Tree (branch), Martha Stewart's Scalloped Circle & McGill's 1/16" hole punch.

Technique - Direct to Paper, Paper Piecing, Watercolor with blender pen (owl image)

Thank-you for the invitation Tami Wood to swap with yourself, Kristina of BALANCE, Rhiannon of Rings Like A Bell & my good friend Mare of It's All About The Journey. Rhiannon was so kind and generous for sending me an Inkadinkado stamp. As a personal "thank-you" to Rhiannon I added her into MY swap. Hopefully everyone enjoys their Harvest Handbag with all it's little surprises.

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

08 November 2007

Ornament Of Thanks...


Unbelievable! I'm having a hard time "wrapping" my mind around the fact that in less than two weeks it will be Thanksgiving! If anyone has some extra time their willing to part with... I'm definitely in the market of purchasing some! *wink*

Yesterday was "family turkey day" at A.E.S. My husband, Dave and I joined our daughter at noon for a meal served by the administration.

As you may remember... Tuesday marked the day of Kim Hughes newest releases from Cornish Heritage Farms. After receiving "scripty words" and brainstorming. A glittery ornament with a "garland of thanks" was a way of adding a different spin on the average thank-you card. However, it wasn't a real hit...

1. Start with a card base no smaller than 4 1/4" X 4 1/4" folded. Using Sizzix's Circle #1 Die. Cut your cardstock with a slight fold within the die edge. Run the card through the Xyron and apply Barbara Twombley's glitter.

2. Punch a piece of silver shimmer cardstock using a 1 1/4" square punch. Round two edges with a corner rounder and adhere to the back of your card.

3. Create a template for your tree pieces. Trim, stamp with desired image and layer with dimesional tape or dots. Trunk can be achieved by either trimming or punching a smaller square. Sentiment was heat embossed using VersaMark with silver detail EP.

4. Accessories used were Queen & Co. "sprinkles" brads of turquoise and bright blue as Christmas ornaments. The star brad was used as the tree topper.

IDEAS - A hanger can be added so the recipient can use it as a decoration. My only concern was not wanting to "overdue" it! *wink*

Cut-out stamped and colored images as ornaments or brads that resemble candycanes, santa hats, reindeer, etc....

Easy Peazy... not to mention a fun twist as a "thank-you" for all those over the top gifts you receive this Christmas! If "time" allows... this will be our families thank-yous as well. THANK-YOU Kim for a truly wonderful set of sentiment stamps with many endless and fun possibilities!

There's mention of the possibility of some snowflurries here in New Hampshire today... hopefully they stay "south" of us! *wink* If your on stamping time... ENJOY!

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...



06 November 2007

Swizzle On Over...


It's a "Tini-release" of six new sets from Kim Hughes Collection being revealed at Cornish Heritage Farms as of today!

As if you hadn't already surmised... the sentiment FRIENDS was a focal point to this design. Ever searching for a new twist for incorporating a sentiment or idea to my designs... the "swizzle" stick was my inspiration! *wink* Swizzle sticks were originally used as advertisement for airlines, restaurants, lodging... so what better way to advertise the CHF Collection of Kim Hughes "Scripty Words." Today's swizzle sticks are more of a fun novelty! Not being of the nature to indulge or consume many cocktails... the past week and a half has obviously had a "spirited" effect on me! *LOL*

List of Supplies:

Stamps - Cornish Heritage Farms KiM HuGhEs Collection "Scripty Words", Petite Pattern Bckgrndr & Paisley Bckgrndr.
Cardstock - Vellum, Teal, Olive, Coral & Blush.
Ink - VersaFine Vintage Sepia & VersaMark.
Embellishments - Hero Arts Teal Gemstones, Clear EP Detail & Dimensional Tape.
Other - Paper Shapers Flower Paper Punch, Paper Piercer & Paper Distresser.

It's a rather bleak Tuesday weather wise here in New Hampshire. Happy Stamping if your fortunate to slip some in today!

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...