Snowflake Kisses

It is a rarity for two of my favorite challenge spots to offer up a challenge that I can put into one card. This week it happened! Stampin' Sisters in Christ asks for weather and Penny Black says "Let it Snow" -- and soon it will -- or already has in some places! (awesome DT cards here and here.) Here in the Arizona desert all we can do is dream about snow so little Hedgie is in a snow globe. The snow globe (stamp by Embossing Arts) is stamped on acetate and the contents are raised for dimension.

Rain, shine, or snow, I hope your day is filled with winter wishes and snowflake kisses.

Other stuff: Martha Stewart border punch, sizzix, cuttlebug embossing folders, gems, phrase by my hand, glitter glue, ribbon, snowflakes from stash.

Pieced Bounty

Operation Write Home Mid-Week Throwdown: paper piecing. Visit OWH for details on how you can share your beautiful cards with our folks in the service. When I chose this image, I didn't consider all the little bits and pieces -- I think this will be a one-of-a-kind! When all those little bits were attached, I double embossed the image with clear embossing power -- it really brought out the brilliance of the colors, sealed all the bits, and gave it a more dimensional appearance. The frame is on foam mounts for more dimension.

Stuff I used: Stamps by StacyStamps, Hero Arts, Posh Impression, Costco;

McGill Punch, Sizzix die cut, papers and ribbon from stash.

Got Pumpkins? -- Make Pie!

Halloween may be over -- but it's still pumpkin "season" and this happy Gruffie knows just what to do -- enjoy pumpkin pie. Many of you will recognize this image as the Gruffie who is leaned up against a pile of pizza boxes eating a piece of pizza. The current House Mouse challenge is to make a Halloween card or use Halloween colors so I did both! Be sure to pop by the challenge blog spot to view some amazing and Spooktacular design team cards. Gruffie is dry embossed on the back and affixed with foam mounts for a full tummy!

Stuff I used: The Jack O'lantern is a stamp by Anita's, swirls and little pumpkins are Sizzix, copper glitter by Duncan. Other things: cuttlebug embossing folder, foam mounts, $ store flower, pumpkin seeds and papers from Stash.

Hmmmm, I think I'll go bake one of those Gruffie pies!

Celebrate

Penny Black's challenge is to use a triangle or zig-zag this week. I am celebrating today by inking this Penny Black stamp (dry embossed and foam mounted for dimension) for the first time. The tree (the qualifying triangle) is a Sizzix die cut and Cuttlebugged (is that a word?) The background (snow) is also Cuttlebugged (yup it's a word).

This card (top fold 41/4 x 5 1/2) is sort of an easel card to allow for the tall tree adorned with pearls from stash. The easel stopper and other adornments are foam mounted snowflake sequins also from stash. Stash is the biggest store in my town! The stars are twinkled with Art Institute Glitter and a bit of teenie tinsel stars. You can celebrate too by inking a brand new stamp today! Thanks for looking.

Danger

My grandson is growing up (13 already and is as tall as I am) and I know that he won't be "scared" for not one second with this card -- but I do hope he enjoys it! This was inspired by GinaK's latest StampTV tutorial on making a gatefold with a twist. The twist being that there are two outer components --the skull image attached to one side; danger, attached only to the other side allowing the card to open.

The best fun was creating the inside. The Mummy is attached by a black thread at just the point that will allow him to "spring" from his tomb when the card is opened! There's no danger in having fun!

Details: Stamps: Stampendous, Inkadinkado, Cuttlebug folder, Sizzix die cuts,

Stickers from Stash

Pink Ribbon

To relaunch my blog after a short hiatus, Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge this week was a good place to start. The challenge is to create a "mostly pink" card that also sports a pink ribbon -- this is in honor and prayer for those battling cancer. A gatefold was my choice for this and I am making one for each of my friends who are cancer survivors. Thanks "Sisters" for re-inspiring me.

Details: PSX Stamp, Diamond Glaze, Art Institute glitter, Cuttlebug embossing folder, gold EP, $ store flowers, ribbon - stash.

Swinging Back into Action

I'm swinging back into action. My dh and I have just returned from a great trip to Costa Rica. We saw an amazing array of flora and fauna and had a wonderful time walking and "swinging" in the rainforests. I'll be back in my laundry room soon not only to work in the studio, but I do actually have a suitcase full of clothes to wash!

Still Counting Blessings

House Mouse in and of itself is as much an addiction as stamping. This little guy (Mudpie) was still on my stamping table from a previous House Mouse challenge I called "Sweet Dreams" and he found his way into this colander of fresh fruit - still dreaming away -- but this time counting his blessings. He's colored with watercolor pencils and the grapes are enhanced with crystal lacquer and foam mounted for dimension. All the fruit and colander are sizzix die cuts -- the pear was cut from some tea stained paper I had made for another project. Lace edging by Fiskars border punch. Phrase from Stampendous. Assembled by yours truly, Martha Kay.

Leaves of Fall

I am counting my blessing on these leafs while I am away from my stamping studio. The leaves are sizzix die cut, stamped on and cuttlebug embossed and are attached by the stems only so that they can be moved about to read all those uplifting and encouraging words. Word stamps from PSX, Stampendous, etc. Underlying frame stamped with Too Much Fun Leaf background stamp. Simple but fun to receive yes?

Mardi Gras

While I am on vacation, here's another greeting card recycle project (shredded Christmas cards) inspired by Mardi Gras. The feathers were stamped on purple cardstock, cut out and dotted with glitter glue. Craft punch for swirls

Strum along with me....

I enjoyed making this Iris fold project by recycling business envelopes. The strings are gold cord and the tuning pegs (or whatever they are called) are glitter glue. Corner punched layers on an All Night Media stamped background. Another iris fold project can be found here.

Thanks for coming by today -- please lmk what you think.

M&M's Card Bounty

I love my cousin Marilynn -- she was born just three months after I was and I enjoy repeating the story my mother used to tell that she and her sister, Stella (Marilynn's Mom), had both chosen the name of Martha as their mother's namesake if they were to have a baby girl. Well I came first so I got the name Martha and over the years I have always teased Marilynn that I have her name -- but in fact, she has mine (as a middle name). We have been very close and I now refer to her as my AZ SiS as she now lives in Arizona along with me. A year or so ago, she came to my house for a visit and I showed her my papercrafting studio -- the rest is history -- she is totally addicted! I recently traveled to her city to spend several days so we could play -- and we made 47 cards and still had a lot of time to visit, shop, and share ideas.

Here is one of my favorites from her designs. We made lots of these flowers using nestabilities.

Our favorite tools over this crafting period were cuttlebug folders and nestabilities.

Our favorite lunch: Wendy's frosty

You are the Queen!

I've been been quite remiss in posting -- would you believe I've been busy in the laundry room - doing laundry? (I didn't think so) but anyway, here I present a quick and simple "regal card" from a worn out deck of cards. The Queen's glamour never diminishes. She is definitely the Queen! Cuttlebug background, Michael's $ stamp, craft corner punch flourish. Card Trick 14 -- goal is 52! Then my dh won't have a deck to beat me at cards with! See other card tricks under titles:King for a Day,Drama Queen, Gogh have great Birthday, A Perfect Pair, Lucky Draw, Queen of Diamonds, Queen for a Day, High Handed, Make it a Royal, Friends, Mr. Personality, Casino Royale.

This Little Light of Mine....

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine...." This is a happy song from childhood and Stampin' Sisters verse for inspiration to the challenge this week has brought back the memory. The verse is Luke 8:16 "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light." Dt

member Peggy Sue's challenge is to make a votive holder, or a card or project with a candle on it. I was pointed to a tutorial for a luminaria by Beate when I visited another DT member, Chris. Make your own light and share your creation with us! I plan to make many little lights with the gold pansies and let them shine at our anniversary party. Gold - yup! Pure Gold! It's our 50th this year.

Some details: Pansy stamp by Rubber Stampede, fine line gold ep on vellum, textured cardstock DCWV, nestabilities, copper tape, cuttlebug embossing folder, flowers, pearls, ribbon from stash, glass globs for feet (I thought this made it less "tipable.")

Casino Royale

I learned how to make paper medallions last week for the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge and it was so much fun that I made more than I needed. This week's movie "Casino Royale" (challenge 89) was a perfect follow up as I began to see poker chips in those medallions. The challenge, however is to use a silhouette. I've created my dapper 007 silhouette (Sean Connery in my mind's eye) from a Stamps Happen image of Fred Astaire! He is reveling in his Royal Flush which is indeed a lucky draw from my old gin deck. The edges of the poker chips were touched with Top Boss and dusted with JudiKins Black Diamonds ep. Thanks Cinema Saturday for another great challenge and a reminder of those great 007 flicks!

Other stamps and stuff: Art Impressions, gold gift wrap, Sizzix, EK Success border punch, pop dots, McGill and Marvy craft punches, MS metallic pen.

In my series, this is card trick Number 12 -- to see other card tricks: King for a Day,Drama Queen, Gogh have great Birthday, A Perfect Pair,Lucky Draw, Queen of Diamonds, Queen for a Day,High Handed, Make it a Royal, Friends, Mr. Personality.

Woof!

A new record for me! A daily post for 6 days running! -- I'm all out of breath. I am headed back home to my studio and my favorite pal, Mr. Lucky (a Weimaraner) tomorrow but before getting packed up, I revisit the Clean and Simple sketch this week. This time a traditional card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4. This sketch is a real keeper as it works great for this size too. For details on the Clean and Simple sketch and to see my previous contribution -- go here. Mr. Lucky, here I come -- Woof!

Stuff I used: Sizzix, rose, gems, dp paper from my suitcase

Double Fun

Teddy Stampers' Challenge: my favorite kind of challenge -- create whatever you wish -- but you get double credit for doing "doubles" or adding the recipe of twos. I mention here in case there are readers only to this post, that I am on vacation and therefore have limited supplies to work with but I was still able to go down for double! My Mr. Teddy Fisherman was stamped twice and overlayed for dimension - there are two bees in the picture, two fish, two ribbons, and two words in the phrase. Now that's double talk!

Stuff I used: PSX, Michael's $ Stamp, paper -- Cloud 9 Design, watercolor pencils, crystal lacquer, pop dots, ribbon and scallop circle from my "suitcase."

Best Buddies

I am away from my studio and I am working out of my suitcase but was delighted to find that I had the tools for a new technique as a challenge from Cinema Saturday. The movie: "Best in Show" ; the technique: paper accordian medallions. (There are links for tutorials on the challenge posting or go here.) My answer to the challenge: these little dogs with their jeweled collars are best buddies and just for fun, can be removed from their basket. I didn't have any blue paper to make a first prize rosette for these "Best in Show" dogs, so I gave them their "blue ribbon" on the basket handle and made the polka flowers for them to gaze upon while they reside in their basket. Best buddies -- Best in Show!

Die cuts by Sizzix;E K Success flower punch, Michael's $ stamp "best wishes"; paper, ribbon, gems from my suitcase

Pop a top

Res-Q-Challenge54 asks for red and metal and I just happened to have what I needed in my suitcase to assemble exactly what is called for. I believe the animal is from a Stampin Up retired set -- the metal is -- you guessed it --it is a soda pop tab with a sticker and red fibers added! Leave me a comment and I'll pop on by your blog for a visit.

Plans

Something built with a set of plans, this is what the DT hostess, Grace, wants to see at Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week (Challenge #48). She draws her inspiration from Psalm 127:1a . "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it" I am away on vacation and had no idea what the challenge was going to be but I don't go anywhere without a "few" of my favorite things so I was able to find something in my "suitcase" to play along. This card not only fits the "built with plans" but will certainly bring some nostalgia with it (it certainly does that for me). I love it when a plan comes together!

Stuff I used: Stamp by Mostly Animals, "doodads" by Sizzix. I begged my DH to take me to a Michaels so I could add the little stars and gems. Isn't he a gem?

You are a Friend -- Clean and Simple!

Clean and Simple -- I am away from my studio, but I never travel without a few boxes of what I call "table scraps" (stamped images, punchies, paper cuts, panels etc) and tools, and coloring devices to see what I can conjure up. And, of course, my computer always comes along too so when I saw the latest Clean and Simple Challenge, I rummaged around to find the elements to make this card. I have followed the challenge size card -- (I made it a top fold) and I love it and plan to make more from this great sketch. The hardest part of being away from the studio is thinking about all the glitter and bling I have there -- but keeping it Clean and Simple is (as another internet Martha would say) "a good thing!"

FTL 99

-- To see an additional contribution for this sketch challenge, go here.

Stuff I used: "table scraps" - which includes the stamped images. I will try to credit these when I return home.

Find Peace

What image for you might symbolize peace or rest? That is the challenge proposed by Miesje, guest designer for Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week.

To me any outdoor quietness brings peace to me and brings me rest and a feeling of calm. The card I have created, and the Bible verse that inspired the challenge both bring that to me: Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." I can just envison this scene up in the northwoods on a lake with a loon floating across the moonlit water.

Stuff I used and a few details: Vellum Flower Kit by Cloud 9 Designs (red tag at JoAnns!); Stamps: Embossing Arts, PSX, The Pines (I think I bought this loon stamp in Wisconsin), Sizzix frame, Sizzlets corners, the Loon is dry embossed on the breast, painted with nail polish for sheen and dusted with Art Institute Glitter, and set atop it all with pop dots.

What image brings you peace? You have until this Saturday 7/17 to post an answer to this challenge.

Crazy

Yup! Who wouldn't be crazy for ice cream? --- Even Penny Black's frog knows the answer for a hot summer day! C.R.A.F.T challenge knows it is the answer for a hot summer day too -- that's their challenge. The best things about making the little ice cream cone with a sizzix die is that it didn't melt and it didn't put any weight on me! The "Crazy 4 you" is a sizzlet die cut. I'm crazy 4 your comments. Have an ice cream kind of day!

Stuff I used: Penny Black stamp, Cuttlebug embossing folders, craft punches, Sizzlets, prismacolor pencils, Art Institute Glitter and DeNami Glitter, pop dots

Little Boy Blue

The Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge is to produce a creation in the color blue and/or red. It is very plain to see my choice as everything is pretty much blue -- with four different pattern papers stitched together. The blue flowers are dry embossed for dimension and have liquid applique centers. The charming little boy colored with prismas, is peering with a toothless grin from out of a sizzix frame. I didn't want to make this one girly, girly so bugs are added -- ' cause boys like bugs right? I encourage you to visit Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge to see the fabulous design team creations and consider participating in their great challenges (one every week -- posted on Sundays along with a Bible verse and inspiring commentary). This little boy blue is in the mail to someone I think is very special -- my grandson.

Stuff I used: Stamps by Art Impression, Stampendous. Sizzix, Nestabilities, Emagniations punch, ribbons and bugs from stash.

Green & Purple & Gems

Green, Purple, and Gems. What could be a more fun challenge? This is C.R.A.F.T.'s request this week -- great colors and who doesn't like gems? It was also suggested to consider a medieval theme and I think the image fits for that too. Several layers are attached with pop dots for more well, "pop" -- the gold corner swirls are by Sizzix. My son, the artist, approves this post -- green, purple and gems too! Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Other details: Stamp created from one of my son's drawings, Cuttlebug embossing folders, metallic rub-ons, image colored with Prismamakers and OMS, DP DCWV,

ribbon, gems from stash.