Snow Friends

This cute little card is made with a stamp by  C & C Designs and colored with Copic markers.

You'll notice that I tend to do a lot with the Copic markers. These are simply the BEST markers around. They are an alcohol ink and SUPER for blending. And with over 350 different colors, I can always find a color combination that I like. Even though I DO think they need more purples (but I like that I can mix two markers together to get the purple I want and the markers don't cross contaminate!!) For more information on Copic Markers check out https://copicmarker.com/
But I digress.

Back to the card. C.C. Designs makes tons of cute stamps. These cute little guys were purchased at Picture This and used in a class that I taught there. I used this colorful snowflake paper by Bella Blvd. as the backdrop for my stamp as well as coordinating purple cardstock. I added some matching ribbon and a snowflake by Impression Obsession. I popped out a Candi dot in the center and embellished with Crystal Stickles. I used the Versa ink square 'Cement' to ink around the stamped image.

Contact me for information on the Copic colors I used to complete this stamp!

Happy Snow Day!

Rosette Snowman

 All this snow and cold has me thinking snowmen. I made this one for a class earlier in the month. Cute border die by Impression Obsession was used on the left side of the card. The snowman was made using the Tim Holtz Sizzix Rosette dies. The snowman arms are cut from a tree die by Impression Obsession. I just cut off twigs for his arms like I do at home:) The hat and scarf are from the Winter Owl die by Spellbinders. I hand cut the carrot for the nose.

I thought my little snowman turned out cute. I put the carrot nose facing up and the hat way back on the head as if he was looking up, but you could put the carrot off to the side and add eyes and a mouth with black pearls.

White On White

Using white on white for your cards can make them look classy. I like using white on white for winter cards. I made this card for a class I taught at Picture This.

Started with a white card base. White card stock embossed with a snowflake embossing folder cut to 5 1/4 x 4 then adhered to the top. Then card stock torn into strips to make 2 different size hills was added next. I added Crystal Stickles to make the hills and selected snow flakes stand out. Then added my Marianne Filagree Snowman (both layers) to the top. I did cut off the little hanging part from the head. You may remember that I used this die in a card earlier this month. http://craftingconnieo.blogspot.com/2014/10/filigree-snowmen.html

Cozy Fireplace

Snow and cold and Christmas is coming, what better way to keep warm than a nice cozy fireplace? Who wouldn't like to get this sweet card in the mail? I know I would! Perfect way to say Merry Christmas!

Fireplace, logs, fire and stocking are all by Memory Box. Cats are by Impression Obsession. Greenery is a strip die by Cheery Lynn. I added red pearl accents to make the berries. Layered on top of a patterned paper to look like wall paper to bring it all together. You could add some mini ornaments to the greenery to spice it up a little....I could see those playful kitties definitely wanting to break some of those! Or how about part of a tree peeking in from one side? The options are limitless!

Yummy Cheesy Bacon Potato Soup

With the arrival of colder temperatures and snow I thought it was the perfect time to throw some soup in the crock pot. Last year I discovered a recipe for Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup. I couldn't find the same recipe this year, so took what I could remember from when I made it last year and added some other things I found in recipes this year and made this soup. Better than last years!! Doesn't take my family of 5 long to go through a 5qt crock of soup!!

Here is my 'adjusted' recipe for Cheesy Bacon Potato Soup!
(all items listed for a single batch unless otherwise noted)

32 oz box chicken broth
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
Sliced carrots (I used about 1 1/2 cups for a double batch)
Diced onions (I used half a large onion for a double batch)
32 oz bag of frozen hashbrowns (the big chunky kind)
Cooked, diced bacon (I used a pound, divided, for a double batch. 3/4 lb in soup, 1/4 lb for garnish)
Salt and pepper to taste

I cooked in on high for 4 hours then turned it on low until the family was all home and ready to eat.
Served with shredded cheddar cheese and bacon

SO good. My husband raved and raved about this soup! Hope you enjoy!

Pretty Poinsettia

Christmas wouldn't be complete without some poinsettias!! This classic looking card is made using the Great Impressions Poinsettia stamp.I stamped it on cream colored paper with a brown ink. Colored it in using Copic Markers and cut it out with the Spellbinders Nestabilities circle dies.
I cut out burgundy paper using a Spellbinders scalloped circle die.

Background papers.....bottom paper is a patterned quilt looking snowflake. Top paper is coordinating metallic paper embossed with the Darice wire fence embossing folder. Coordinating ribbon is used to meld the two pieces of background. Everything is put together on a green cardstock that matches the greens used in the poinsettia stamp.

Put all together this card has a vintage look towards it that reminds me of my childhood. Nostalgia reigns this holiday season!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Here is a quick and easy card that could be used as a Christmas card or for someone's winter birthday.

Card front is cut 5 1/4 inches by 4 inches and then embossed with a fun winter embossing folder then attached to a white A2 sized card.

Banners are cut out of coordinating papers using the Dienamics fish tail banner dies and overlapped slightly. Snowflakes are cut from Impression Obsession snow flake dies and Basic Grey Sizzix snow flake die.
Inked with coordinating Versa ink and the smaller flake popped up.

I finished it off with coordinating bakers twine tied into a bow, leaving the tails hanging down to add a touch of whimsy.

I used teals/aqua because it is one of the most popular colors for Christmas this year (in the scrapbooking/card making world anyway!)

Happy Creating!

Paisley Daze!!

It is no secret to those that know me really well that I LOVE Paisley!! All kinds of paisley. So when I found this little lost and lonely single paper on the sales floor I was in HEAVEN!!! And what better to go with paisley than banners? Nothing, right? It's a total country thing, I think.

There is definitely a lot going on with this page! Another simple layout that can be flipped into just about anything. I used the Dienamics fishtail banner dies to do the banners in coordinating patterns and colors. Inked them with the Aged Paper Distress Ink then punched holes in each corner with the Crop-a-dile. (Don't you LOVE that little tool?) Then I just strung my twine through and adhered to the page. I added a contrasting line of paper in bright green behind my photo mats that were embossed with one of the dot embossing folders. In the corner I used a little rosette made using the Tim Holtz Sizzix rosette die and added some green vines.

I think this might be one of my top 10 favorite pages that I have done!! What is your take on this simple layout?

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Sometimes great creations are sparked from 'waste' from other creations. This cute little fella was inspired by the negative from the Elizabeth Craft Penguin Die. (The below circled section of the die.)

When I saw the cut out, I thought it looked like an alien. So added some green on the back and cut around it. Still needed something.......google eyes!! After the eyes were added, I thought it looked like a bird! Someone said it was a turkey (with Thanksgiving coming around you can imagine how quickly the mind took that leap!!)! So we came up with this card! Totally cracks me up every time I look at it!

 The fence is by Impression Obsession, tree dies from Memory Box, turkey rosette is a Tim Holtz Sizzix die strip and the turkey feet are a flower by Cheery Lynn. (So many uses for dies other than what they are intended for!!).
Gobble Gobble!! Happy Thanksgiving!

Bright and Cheery Summer Fun

Here is another of those scrapbook pages I got done the other day. This is #3 of the 4. (Come back in a couple of days to see #4!!) This was yet ANOTHER lonely little paper sitting on the store shelf. All alone.....feeling neglected! Seriously, I'm a sucker for those last sheets of paper that it seems like no one wants. I even seek them out. Don't like doing 1 page layouts? Cut that sweet little paper in half and use a coordinating color cut in half and viola! you've got 2 pages!!

Okay, now back to the page. I'm really happy with the way that this page turned out. LOVE the bright oranges and pinks and greens! The flower on the lower left is a design on the paper and I wanted to bring that out in the of the page!

Flowers are cut out using a Cheery Lynn die and topped with a Candi Dot in opposite colors. Green borders are punched out with a Martha Stewart lace scalloped punch. I used one of my many floral embossing folders to emboss the mats. Title is custom made by the girls at Picture This. Page is inked with Faded Paper Distress Ink by Tim Holtz.

Word of caution on the ink I used. It goes on really GREEN, but as the ink dries and sets it is fades more into the color you see here. So don't get all weirded out like I did (I only freaked out a little!!)
What can you do with this simple layout? Let me know what you came up with!

Dancing Penguin

It is almost impossible to not smile and want to cuddle this adorable Dancing Penguin stamp by Great Impressions! Just looking at this little sweetie puts a smile on my face and warms my heart. He's just so dang adorable!

He reminds me of the penguin from Happy Feet. Too cute for words! (Squeeeeee)

I made this card using Teresa Collins papers, cardstock and Kpress for stamping on with black Momentos ink. Momentos is my FAVORITE ink to stamp with if I am going to be coloring with Copics.

I used the Dienamics fish tail banner dies for the saying. And highlighted the words with Copics R39 & B41. I added a little bit of tan and green twine to finish it off.

For 'Happy' (I don't know if he has a real name, but I'm going with Happy!!) I used Copics R20 for his blush, YR16 for his beak and feet, R37, R39 for his scarf, B41 for the snowflakes, C3 for his fluffy coat and outlined his face and tummy inside the fluff with C0.

I cut him out with Spellbinders Nestabilities circle dies and Viola! We are all set for dancing!! Can't you just imagine the smiles getting this little gem in the mail would give a person? Gonna send some smiles out this year! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Perfect in Plaid

A couple days ago I told you I had found some time to get some scrapbook pages made. Here is another one of the ones I created using a simple basic design. Once again you can use pretty much anything to flip this into a page to fit your needs.

The colors and patterns in this one were made with the inspiration of some pictures that I need to scrapbook of one of my nephews on a camping trip.

I cut the banners different lengths and embossed 2 of them in different patterns to give the page more texture. I also inked the banners with a white ink to help that texture pop a little  more.

I left a large white rectangle to either put a row of smaller pictures in, a title or some journaling. Or perhaps a combination of the three. I inked the white and the stars with a brown ink to give it a little more bang and popped up a couple of the stars for even more dimension.

Oh, and this was another of those lonely single sheets still left on the sales floor.You could hear the poor thing crying (or maybe that was me?) So sad to see those poor lonely papers!

Little Floating Reindeer

Great Impressions has come out with some really cute Christmas stamps on their recently released stamp boards. This little floating (or is he sinking?) reindeer is one of my favorites!! Just brings out the kid in me!

Isn't he just the cutest? Here I used some of the new Teresa Collins new Christmas papers for the background. I cut my ovals out using metallic text weight paper in brown and cream. I also used the metallic text weight papers for the bow that I cut out with the new Marianne die. Isn't is adorable?

I used the following Copics:

  B41 for the snowflakes,  

  R37, R39 for the scarf,

   E21, E23, E93 for the reindeer

  (E93 being used only for the insides of the ears)

 and then finished is off by using

Clear Wink of Stella for glittery accents. 

Speaking of Wink of Stella....have you tried any of them yet? Do you like the brush or the pen ones the best? I've used both and can't get enough of them. And by all the buzz in the blog world, no one else can either! If you haven't tried them out yet, you really should!!

 

Pretty in Pink....and purple

Finally had a little bit of extra time to work on some scrapbook pages. Between home and work everything has pretty much revolved around Thanksgiving and Christmas lately.

This was a lonely paper sitting on the shelf at the store. Don't you feel sad for all those lonely papers? I do. I think they just beg for someone to buy them and turn them into something pretty!

This is a basic layout that you can do with pretty much anything you have laying around. Don't like flowers? Try using stars, or just circles or any other favorite embellishment! You can use brads instead of the gems. Or turn it on its side and use the small squares as blocks for your title. 3 letters not enough? Add more squares.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy!!

Feel free to share with me your take on this simple layout! I love to see your finished projects!

Snowman Fun

 Well, they say that tonight we are going to start getting some accumulation of that nasty white stuff. Yes, snow is on the way. And if you can believe the weather guessers, there will be a lot of it.
Just what all of us crafting people want to here. (NOT) One good thing about a snow storm is that we are forced to stay in the house. And what better thing to work on in early November snow storms than our Christmas cards?

 Here is one of the Christmas cards I made this year. Cute little Great Impressions snowman having a bit of fun with some snow flakes. Copics used were: C7, C10, R37, R39 for the hat, R37, R39 for the scarf, B04 for eyes, B97 for buttons, YR09 for carrot nose, R20 for blush, E57 for branches, B41 for snowflakes, Outlined in B000. Clear Wink of Stella brush was used to accent snowflakes and ground.

Happy Snowman making!!

Christmas Berry Card Set

Have you seen the cute paper pic sets out there and ever wondered what you would do with them? I took this sweet Christmas set by The Hobby House and made them into Christmas cards. This set came with 6 circle paper pics in various sizes. The 3 pictures are each repeated.

Lets start with this sweet little mouse swinging on an ornament. I cut the cardstock for the front and wrapped the gold ribbon around and tied it in the front before mounting the cardstock on the card base. Then I placed the paper pic circle I had punched out on the front. I cut out this Memory Box Star Wreath in a coordinating color and pop dotted it around the paper pic. I finished it off by adding these cute Candi Dots to the upper right.
 

 

I used the other of the mouse swinging on an ornament for this card. I cut out a circle from coordinating cardstock with the Spellbinders Nestabilities circle dies then put the punched out paper pick on top. I added the gold string from the top of the paper then added Memory Box Holly and Berries die. I used a white pen to add accents to the berries, I finished off the card by adding Crystal Stickles to the bubbles in the picture. 

 This little girl and her kitty are featured in my next card. I mounted her on coordinating cardstock cut out using the Spellbinders Nestabilities Scallop Circle dies. I added ribbon around the card front and adhered to the back before mounting front on card. Added the girl and Candi Dots on the ribbon. I used a couple of the C shades of Copics around her image to make her pop out a little.

Isn't this little snow angel and her critters totally adorable?  She was sized a little larger than the A2 size card I wanted to make. Instead of doing a square card, I decided to cut part of her off. I carefully cut her with my paper cutter. I added a cardstock border to the front of the card then added the angel. I kept is simple by just adding some Candi Dots  to the lower right corner and a cute little bow to the upper right corner. I outlined the image with a couple of W shades of Copics to make her pop out a bit more.

The last two images were used to make scrapbook pages, but I forgot to take pictures of them. I hope this gave you some ideas on how to use those adorable paper pic sets that you see!!

Filigree Snowmen

This is a newer die that came in at Picture This. I had to buy it right away as I think it is super adorable!! I have a card class coming up using this die in white on white but thought I would try something different. This die with a brown background and white filigree reminds me of a gingerbread man!

The background is an embossing folder by Darice, Merry Christmas is a die by Cheery Lynn and the evergreens are by Impression Obsession. The filigree snowman is by Marianne. Bakers twine finished it off.

Sensationally Simple Snowflakes

You can tell we've been making a lot of Christmas samples at the store lately. These are two cards that I made for our Christmas Extravaganza in early October. They have 2 things in common.

1) They use a snowflake die.

2) They are colored with Copics.

Let's take them one at a time. 

The background of this card is embossed with a large dot patterned embossing folder. The snowflake swirls are stamped on a white paper with Momentos black ink. (I always use a Momentos ink when I am going to be coloring with Copics. ) I highlighted the stamp with different blue and gray Copics.  Then the stamped image is mounted on a blue cardstock. I cut out the Basic Grey snowflake and popped it up on the card. Added a white Candi dot to the center. I added Crystal Stickles to the snowflake and stamped image to give it some sparkle.

For this card I stamped a Hero Arts little snow bird on white Copic approved paper with Momentos black ink. Colored it in with Copic markers. Then took a green cardstock A2 card and cut a circle out of the front with Spellbinders Nestabilities dies circle. I mounted the bird to show through the circle and then cut out this cute snowflake wreath by Memory Box and mounted it around the circle. Simple and sweet!! You could stamp your favorite Christmas, winter or birthday saying underneath, or just leave it plain. 

It's so Tweet!!

Embossed Christmas

For these simply elegant Christmas cards I used embossing folders. Such cute designs and so easy to make. These embossing folders are the larger 5X7 size. Both cards are A2 sized cards. I just wanted to show how easy it is to make cards with any of the embossing folders, even the bigger ones!!

This embossing folder I did in two different colors of metalic text weight paper. This is a larger sized embossing folder and I made it into a A2 card size. The Merry Christmas was at the bottom of the embossing folder so I did it in the red and fussy cut it out to highlight it. I used a gold metalic paper for the background, setting it off with gold ribbon and adding a little gem to one of the ornaments.I mounted the entire thing on red metalic cardstock to finish off the card.

This embossing folder is a tree made up of objects that are all about Christmas. Also a larger sized embossing folder that I made into an A2 card. I used a white metalic  text weight paper (can you tell I like to use metalic papers for Christmas??) them embossed the image and adhered it on a white metalic cardstock card. I used a star shaped gem in the center of the star on the tree for a touch of bling to set the entire thing off. I really like the simple classy look of this card.

Hope you all are having fun making your Christmas cards this year!

Winter Wonderland

I whipped up this card quick before work the other day. Well, not really quick, but I did it before work. :) This card was inspired by a tutorial by Spellbinders using the icicle die. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pdUd8C53ww

I used a new Darice Snow die for behind the window, and Versa Color inks for the icicles and other inking. Elizabeth Craft White Diamonds glitter was used. The snowflake die was from the Impression Obsession Mitten and Snowflake set. 

This was made in A6 card size. 

Stamps by Judith Tree of all Seasons

I thought it would be sweet to use the Stamps by Judith 'Tree of all Seasons' stamp to do some Christmas cards. I made a couple different cards with the tree and Judith Stubbies. What fun!!

I used the entire tree stamp to do this card, and stamped it with the ornament, candy cane and pine cone stubbies. Colored them all in with copics. The blue border is done using a Fiscars border punch.

To make this card, I stamped the pail on the paper and then masked it off before stamping on the tree. I added some bulbs and holly leaves. After coloring the bulbs, I added Glossy Accents to make them look more real. Border punch by Fiscars. 

Both cards are colored with Copics.  Can't wait to try more variations of this tree!!

Card Kit n Caboodle

Lisa and I collaborated together to make up this adorable Christmas Card kit for Picture This. If you love to make cards but don't know what you do or you've never made cards before but would like to give it a try, purchasing kits is a good way to go. This kit contains everything you need to make these 4 cards along with a picture of the cards and instructions how to assemble them. Everything is already cut for you. Kits include envelopes so you'll be mailing out your cards in no time!!
(This kit uses sticker sheets and several already cut dies by Memory Box, Impression Obsession and Marianne.)

Picture This sells several other card kits that can get those creative juices flowing as well. I'm proud to have designed several of their kits for sale! 

Fantastic Fall!!

If you have never used the Susan Louise paper pics or Susan Louise acetate pics, you should give it a try!!
The leaf in this picture is a Susan Louise acetate picture.  Nine leaves came on a sheet.

To make this card I cut apart the acetate pictures. Stamped a tan sheet of cardstock with a Stamp by Judith saying. Then cut a circle using the Spellbinders Nestabilities circle die towards the bottom of a brownish orange piece of cardstock. I adhered the acetate to the back of the orange cardstock, then placed the tan card stock over the cutout to show through behind the leaf and adhered it to the back of the orange cardstock. I added a tree branch from Impression Obsession and cut out the leaves in a variety of colors. Then added a squirrel from the Impression Obsession squirrel set.

Stamp the inside and you are all ready for a fall birthday or event!! Thanks to Susan Louise acetates for this quick and adorable card!!

Happy Howl-O-Ween!!!

Trying to catch up on my posts from how hectic it has been!

Just a quick little post with some inspiration for a little Halloween fun!! Bought this cute Great Impressions stamp the other day and had to color it up right away!!

I used Copics to color and Wink of Stella to add a little bit of sparkle. Dies by Cheery Lynn, Spellbinders and Impression Obsession.

I tried coloring in a couple different ways. I hope you enjoy!!!

I outlined the image to make it pop off the page.

Closely following the colors used by Great Impressions with just a few changes. Wink of Stella pens to high-light the images and make stripes on the cape.

I used the brush Wink of Stella on this one to give it some sparkle and make it pop Also switched up the colors a little bit!

Hope you and yours have an amazing Halloween!

Pretty in Peach

Picked up these papers over the holiday weekend. I found them sweet, but didn't really know exactly what to do with them.

For this page I used Cheery Lynn Doily die, flower dies, flourish dies; Memory Box picket fence die; Impression Obsession cat dies, ribbon and pearl accents to make a page perfect for a cat lover! I embossed the photo mounts with a cute argyle embossing folder. You could use the doilies for journaling or dating the pictures.

This page has embossed photo mounts, Cheery Lynn flower die, flourish die, leaf die and doily die.
You can use the doily for your journal entry.

Lonely Last Papers

I have a soft spot for those papers in the stores that are all by their lonesome!! Those last papers no one else seems to want to buy. I feel bad for those papers......some of them are the most awesome pieces of paper you will find!! Some are not so pretty and others have an awesome back on them!

This paper was full of elephants on the front side. They were cute but not something I would need for myself. Then I turned it over, and found this cute pattern on the back! Score!

Add some banners (blue one is embossed with a Darice embossing folder). Sunflowers and Flourish by Cheery Lynn. Added some twine and Candi's dots and now we have a cute page! I'm loving the way that it turned out!

Coneflowers

Working on some card ideas for work. I currently have a view of some pretty coneflowers and daisies off my deck so thought this card was appropriate!

 

Inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest, I used the Cheery Lynn daisy strip die to make 'coneflowers'. The centers are punched out suns that I shaped with a stylus and glued into the center. I think it turned out cute!! I'm definitely going to have to make more of these cute cards!!