Friday, December 25, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
I have a CAMERA
She said, "NO...do you NEED one?". I said, "Yes, I do, I use one all the time". She got up...went home and got a camera and gave it to me. She said she had two and had been trying to give this one away and no one needed it.
I am so excited....oh I said that....well, I AM!!!
It's a Sony Cyber-shot. It's about two years old....but it's AWESOME! I don't have a manual or anything with it...so will have to go online and read up on it to find out how to use it.
Now, I can take photos and post them!! I just need to get a USB cable so I can connect with my computer and I am off and running.
WHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Thank you Lord!!!!
Hugs,
Char
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Well, still no camera and my friend forgot his camera the other day when we got together so can't post photos. But, I got to thinking......I can still 'Communicate'. I am not really good at describing cards but I can talk about other things until a camera magically appears.
One of the things I have been wondering about is HOW much does paper crafting/stamping play a part of your Christmas holidays? Or, whatever holiday your family celebrates.
Do you make all your cards? How about decorations, place setting cards, gift wrap, tags, gift bags? What are some other ideas you have come up with?
I would love to hear what you do in the way of rubber stamping and or paper crafting.....for the holidays.
This year, I made some adorable Santa Pants to give to friends and family. I filled them with candies and a little gift. As soon as I can, I'll post a photo and the directions. I got the idea from my little buddy, Rita Holmes, who got it from someone else.....and so on and so forth....you get the idea.
Another yearly favorite things to do is to give Snowman Soup to those that you want to give a little gift to such as the mail lady, beautician etc.
I just find cute snowman mugs at the Dollar Tree, Wal Mart....for $1 or so.....fill it with one pkg of Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate (which is on sale almost everywhere right now), a few Hershey Kisses, a little packet of mini marshmallows and a candy cane as a stirrer stick. I wrap it with cellophane and tie it with ribbon. You can make a little gift card to go with it explaining about Snowman Soup. You can find some poems here.
So, now it's YOUR turn!!
Hugs,
Char
Monday, December 7, 2009
18 Days till Christmas
The tree is up and decorated, the house is decorated and now all that is left to do are the cards and gift wrapping....which will be easy since most everyone is getting either money or GC's.
Actually, I already started my cards but then got side tracked by getting ready for a 5K walk on Saturday. Now that is over, I can concentrate on my cards and a few Christmas parties that I have to attend. Well, I don't HAVE to....but you know.....
I am also still collecting fun ideas to do with my Granddaughter while she is here over Christmas vacation.
My Sister came on Friday and I helped her get her cards started. She is doing a version of a card I had sent her last year.
She is doing hers on Purple card stock with different colored trees. They are going to be really elegant! If I have a camera when she finishes them, I'll take a photo of one of them.
These are super easy to do....just take a lot of folding!
Wednesday is another stamping get together and then Saturday is a Christmas stamping get together....oh the fun continues!!!!
Have a great day, everyone!!
Hugs,
Char
Friday, November 27, 2009
Happy Belated Thanksgiving
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Even in saying that, I know that holidays can be the most stressful time of year.
Things that happen during the holidays seem magnified and the drama can be more intense. I am sure you can all relate to some extent.
We decided that this year, we would spend our Thanksgiving at home. We were invited to family and friends, but we just really felt the need to stay at home. We had a nice, small turkey dinner for just the two of us around 1pm and then took a 2 mile walk with our dog enjoying the 'spring like' weather.
Later that evening, we were invited to some friends to celebrate a birthday. That was fun! We hadn't planned on going anywhere....but finally gave in :-)
Talked with some family members and friends on the phone and just were truly thankful for the many blessings in our lives. We all have stress and worries especially during this economy but it doesn't take much to find blessings all around us if we just take the time to stop and count them.
Hopefully, this weekend, after we get our tree up......I can sit and make some cards. My friend promised to take some photos again! I sure miss my camera!!! :-(
Have a great day and if any of you go shopping today....be careful....and hope you find some great bargains!!
Christmas decorating can now officially begin!!
Char
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
I used the Autumn Cuttlebug embossing folder and DCWV card stock for the base.
I used the Marvy Circle and Scalloped Circle punches to make the base and his tail feathers and even his gobbler and feet.
I love doing punched art....and am trying to come up with ideas for every holiday using the punches we carry in our TAC catalog.
Once again....no stamping....but hey....it's called Papercrafting!!! I love it!!!
And, I did stamp something on the inside.
Friday, November 20, 2009
I used a stencil rose and embossing paste and then colored it with chalks.
Adding a scalloped edge on the edge of the card and a ribbon.... just the little touch it needed.
Have you tried your stencils and embossing paste yet?
As you can see......I haven't been stamping much....but have been playing with different mediums and ways to make cards.
Have a fantastic day!!!
Char
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Happy Birthday
This is a card I made for a good friend of mine.
I used the Stylized flowers Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background.
Then, I used a brass stencil and embossing paste to make the butterfly and colored it with chalks.
It takes a little longer to do this technique as you have to allow the embossing paste to dry before you can move on with the card....but it's so much fun!
I have been playing more and more with my stencils and paste since getting a card from another stamper. I had just forgotten about doing this.....
Hugs,
Char
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Cuttlebug Embossing Folders are FUN!!!!
Still no camera with which to upload photos...but, my friend Richard, came to the rescue once again and brought his digital camera over so I could take a few photos.
This one was done using the Cuttlebug embossing folder "Stylized Flowers".
I used DCWV card stock and sanded it after embossing it. Then I added a clear 'whatever' to the center of the flower.
I used a scalloped border punch and layered decorative paper over white card stock.
Then, I attached a couple of tied ribbons to a ribbon I had attached to my layers.
I am really enjoying my Cuttlebug folders. They are so much fun....can you see I didn't even do any stamping? But, there is a saying on the inside...so I did stamp! :-)
Char
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Stamp Something for Jaimie
I made a card for Jaimie Cates. If you haven't already heard about the blog hop to send cards to Jaimie and the story behind it, you can read about it here and take part, too.
This entire thing just breaks my heart and my prayers and thoughts go out to her and her family.
Won't you send a card to her, too? I can't participate in the prizes....it just seems wrong somehow to win something from someone else's pain. But, I truly understand these gals holding this blog hop to encourage people to show support for her. It's just my own personal decision.
Thanks for reading about her and even if you can't take part.....please send up a prayer on her behalf!!
Hugs,
Char
Monday, November 2, 2009
I WON!!
I entered my name in the Whimsy's Seasons of Change Blog hop and was notified that I won one of the designer's cards and the stamp she used (a new one of course) to make the card. How exciting!!
Here is the link so you can see the card! But, it's so much prettier up close and personal!!
Stamped Art by Lisa Cook
Can't wait to play with the stamp too!!
Then, on October 31st, I decided to follow along on a
Hallopalooza
'mystery' blog hop. It was fun reading portions of a mystery at 24 different blogs and trying to figure out who the killer was.
Of course, along the way, you left comments and each blog gave away a prize. The grand prize was awarded to someone that actually guessed who did it!I won one of the prizes.....a book called Women only Over Fifty (WOOF) at http://www.woofersclub.blogspot.com/
Sometimes, it pays to be down sick with nothing to do but surf the web! :-)
Have a great day! And, remember to surf the web!!!
Hugs,
Char
Thanksgiving is getting closer....
On this card, you can tell I used the Pumpkin Cuttlebug folder and then sanded it....to give it a distressed look. You can do that if you use DCWV white cored paper. It's so much fun!!!
Then, I used the Cuttlebug pumpkin die cut and embossing folder for the little pumpkin. I ran it through again using green just for the leaf and stem and then glued it on.
I have done a few variations of this using different colored card stock and ribbons.
I LOVE the Cuttlebug folders!! I wish I owned them all!! But, I am having fun with the ones I have!
See ya tomorrow,
Char
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Another Halloween Treat
Ok, another Halloween treat because I didn't have access to photos earlier!!!
Truly, I AM working on something other than Halloween, now. I'll be posting more later. I need to hook up with my camera toting friend, again :-)
These little spiders were a blast to make. I did them in bright orange and black (the orange didn't show up too good) and made some others in Pink and black. They hold a little Mint inside. Didn't they used to make Mints that were ROUND??? I couldn't find any that were packaged round....but oh well, they worked!!
My stamping buddy, Richard, did some really COOOOL ones....but alas...I didn't get any photos of them. They were silver and black and shiny! And, naturally, being a man....they tend to be more on 'technical' side and he gave his spiders 8 legs!! I was making mine with four...and comprised and made them with 6.
I don't think kids will look at them long enough to notice...do you?
Char
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Hmmm, cell phones come in handy!
Since I have been without a camera, I have had to get a little resourceful to be able to share cards on my blog.
Today, I got the bright idea of taking photos with my cell phone. Good thing I didn't take too many...as at .25¢ each, it could get a little spendy. We don't have texting etc on our cell phone as we just don't use it enough to warrant the extra cost.
BUT, now that I know I CAN send photos to my computer...hmmmmm. I think it will be a little cheaper, in the end, to just reinvest in another camera :-)
Since it's officially Halloween, I figured I would share one of my creations with you. I got this idea from another Angel but since I didn't have Google eyes, yet, I took some glass do dads...and colored the backs of them with a black marking pen...and attached them to my cheesecloth. Inside is a Hershey Bar. I made some others after I got some Google eyes and they are cute, too, but only took one photo.
This one is going to my Son's girlfriend, who loves Chocolate!!!
Just have to get it to her one of these days!
Hugs,
Char
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Get Well
Once again, I dived into my scrap stash and found some background paper that I thought was just perfect for the occasion. ( If having a by pass operation is considered an occasion. I tend to think of occasions as going out to dinner, seeing a movie....celebrating an anniversary or birthday)......well you know what I mean.
Anyway....I came up with a plain and simple, masculine card that just says it plain and simple...GET WELL SOON!
Hugs,
Char
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Same flower different card
I scalloped green card stock and attached scalloped Penelope designer paper to the top of that...tied a ribbon around the two pieces and then layered them onto pumpkin colored card stock.
I stamped the flower images with my favorite Palette ink pad, Burnt Umber, cut the flowers out and then attached them using pop dots. Then, I glued on some buttons.
I added the "stems" to the middle of the card. Once again, I am thinking they need some leaves.
Back to the stamping table :-)
Char
Monday, October 26, 2009
Card reposted
Well, I did alter it....using some of your suggestions.
But, I think it still needs leaves or something. So, I will once again take it to the stamping table and see what I can do.
I think I am going to do this challenge every now and then......it's fun to see what you come up with :-)
Hugs,
Char
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Pet Sympathy Card
This is for a dear friend who lost one of her pet Dachshunds, recently.
Having lost 3 of my cats the past 3 years, I can empathize with how she is feeling!!
I used a stamp I had gotten...who knows where...but thought it was cute at the time....but then never used it.
Using a sage green card as a base, I layered brown, green and white card stock along with some of TAC's Willoughby designer paper.
Hope she likes it and it brightens her day a little!!
Char
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Sympathy Card
And, I bought the With Sympathy set from TAC just because we do have to make these from time to time.
It's a little late...but that's ok, too! Having been there, I know that everyone thinks of you right off the bat...and then as weeks and months go people move on and sometimes forget that you are still struggling with the loss.
I used brown card stock as the base....with layers of brown, white and TAC's Amelia designer paper on top...that had been scalloped with a border punch. I added the verse and ribbon....and added a note inside.
I'll share the other one, tomorrow!
Hugs,
Char
Friday, October 23, 2009
Website Share
http://www.imacrs.com/popups.htm
They still have the Just A Note template but some of the others I had purchased, they no longer carry. I may have to get a few more....I see that they have added some.
Hope you have fun with them!!
Hugs,
Char
My Embossing paste card
Well, she sent me directions alright....she also sent me some embossing paste, some fine glitter and a brass stencil so I could try it myself. She even included a plastic knife!!
So, this was my first attempt!
Not too bad.....although you really can't see the color added to it or the sparkly glitter! I think I got the paste too thick....so I am going to try it again real soon!
Here is the inside of the card.....
I used a Pop Up stencil to do the inside of the card. I hadn't used those stencils in a long time, either!! I'll have to get the rest of them out and play again!
I think I am going to try and play with different accessories that have been sitting idle for awhile!
Have a happy stamping day!!
Hugs,
Char
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Delicious Fall
I used brown card stock and layered a piece of rust colored card stock that had been punched with a scalloped border punch and then added a layer of TAC's Penelope designer paper on top of that. I added a ribbon, some felt leaves and stamped "Delicious Fall" and adhered that to the front.
Wish I had gotten more of those leaves when I was over in Salem...but didn't know if I would use them or not. But, I found that they are a lot of fun to play with.
I have to admit, Fall is probably my favorite season of the year. I love the earth tone colors and I find that I buy a lot of those colors.
It's fun playing with different color combinations but I do admit....my favorite are the earth tones!
Hugs,
Char
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Something different
I used Scarlet card stock and some background paper I had in my scrap folder. It just happened to go together.
I stamped the little girl image from the "Ice Cream Social" set from TAC. I stamped the ice cream image from the same set on the red layer with Moonlight White Brilliance pad and then added three colored flowers attached with a brad.
You'll have to forgive not cropping this one....I thought I did....duh!
Hugs,
Char
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
More Pumpkins
Ok....I DID stamp....see Happy Harvest? I can't help it, I like using only papers, stickers and other embellishments to make cards, sometimes.
Can't wait to stamp some more this week. I really need to move on to Thanksgiving cards!!
Hugs,
Char
Monday, October 19, 2009
Happy Monday
I am trying to spend at least one day a week using up all the left over card stock and designer papers I have saved over the past year or two. I hate just putting it in a box and letting it sit there.
I'll have some others to show you through out the week and hopefully will also get some cards made from scratch, this week, too!
The spider web on the card, came off of the next card.
So picture it at the top of the spiders string :-)
Hugs,
Char
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Another Share
A week later, I got it out again with my box of scraps and added a strip of Scarlet card stock and a strip of light green DCWV card stock.....tied a green grosgrain bow...and added three little red plastic thingamabobs...that someone had sent me as a RAK. I can't remember what they are called....but they are sure fun to play with. I'll have to find out where she got these!
See??? Still not much stamping! I am trying to show newbie stampers that they don't have to have a gazillion stamps and accessories to make cards.
I have been having a blast!!!
Char
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Where there's a will.....there's a way!
make lemonade!! :-)
I stamped with a couple of friends, today, and took a bunch of cards with me for show and tell. That's my favorite time when everyone shares what they have done during the previous weeks or month.
One of my friends, Richard, has become a STAMPING MONSTER!!! He's blaming ME for getting him hooked :-) he he he
He is relatively new to stamping and is slowly building his 'stash'....remember those days?
Well, he sure didn't let not having many stamps or accessories slow him down! He had a passel of cards to show off! I wish I had my camera so I could have snapped a few photos and shared them here.
BUT......WAIT.....the good news is....I had taken the 14 or 15 cards that I had been working on to show and Richard has a digital camera so I asked if I could take photos of them so I could have something to share on my blog for the next week or so. I was so happy!! I hate being without my camera!
When he gets them uploaded to his computer and sent to me, I will have PHOTOS once again to share!! WHOOHOOOO!!! (Really, Richard...no rush....really....it's ok...tap tap tap) :-)
DUH..I just happened to think......why didn't I have him take photos of HIS cards while we were at it!!!
Anyway, I came home and got busy making more cards...as he's promised to come over this week since it's his vacation and stamp with me.....so I better be ready to take some more photos!
THANKS RICHARD!!!!
I remembered that I hadn't shared all the projects we had done at WAG...so here is another one I came up with. I called it a "Hang in there" card.
I got the idea from a Christmas card I had gotten last year and used the mittens from that card as a template for this card.
You can't really see it too well in the photo, but I used the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing folder on the white layer. The 'mittens' are hung on Scrapper's Floss that is strung across the width of the card. I used the Tombow White Gel Pen to add dots around the scalloped circle.
While I am at it....here is another share!
This card used the Scor Pal to make grid lines across the card. Then, I made a slit at the top of the fold...in the middle...and inserted my ribbon through and tied in a bow on the front.
I used a Shish ka bob skewer as the plant pick. I just punched a hole at the top and bottom of the inside of the card....and ran the skewer through the holes.
A friend of mine had made a card similar to this for me, although using different stamps, and put it in a bouquet of flowers from her garden. I LOVED the idea!!!
I used the flower image from the TAC set "Simply Divine" and Palette French Lilac ink.
And, of course, I had to add a little bit of Purple Stickles to the centers. Love my Stickles!!
Happy Stamping!!!
Char
Friday, October 16, 2009
Put your Big Girl Panties on and deal with it!
But, it is what it is! Right? Can't do much about it now, so, I say to myself, put your Big Girl Panties on and Deal with it!!! :-)
I just need to get creative! Hmmm, that may take some thought.
But, luckily I did take quite a few photos of my latest cards....it's just that they are mostly all in the same designer papers and colors so there won't be much variety.
I used Willoughby designer paper from TAC, (Love this paper) Scarlet card stock, Brown card stock and one of the images from the TAC stamp set "Happy Trails".
It needs something.....hmmmm....
So, now I am off to do some more creating and maybe I can figure a way to upload them. I just may have to send them to my friend for her to upload for me.
Have a great day!!!!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Snow?
Speaking of December, here is one Christmas card I have been working on. I made several like this using different colored themes. This one was using Olive card stock and Willoughby designer paper from TAC. Then, attached a brown swiss dot ribbon and added just a thin line of Stickles.
Here is another, basically the same but using brown card stock and TAC's Amelia designer paper.
I like taking one image and trying different color combinations.
I have a few more to share in the next few days.
Then, I'll have to get creative in how I share my ideas since I won't have a photo to upload. Should be fun, right?
Have a great day!!
Char
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Copic Ciao Markers Promotion
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Click here for a flyer with complete information on the entire Fall into Fabulous promotion!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Camera broke
Oh well, I knew it would happen sooner or later. I dropped my digital camera while out on a walk and I can't get the zoom lens to work now. I can't take pictures if it won't go in and out. BUMMER!!!
But, thankfully, I had that day of stamping and had taken photos of my cards so I can share for awhile till I either get a new camera or figure something else out.
This card was done using a bird image from "All Things of Nature" and TAC's Willoughby designer paper.
The left side piece and the bird piece were a part of a "card candy" project we did at WAG last year. I am just now using them :-)
I guess since my camera is on the blitz, I'll have to get creative on things to share till I can get a new one.
Have a GREAT DAY!!!!
Hugs,
Char
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Same card, new ribbon
Still not the look I have in my 'head' but it will do for now till I come up with something different.
Now, here is a new share for today!
This is basically the same card as a day or so ago but I colored in the sails and ocean.
Now I need to jump to a new stamp or two. Not that I am getting tired of these stamps but maybe need to do a few more Fall themed ones.
And, I have a baby shower card to make so should be thinking of what to do for that.
Have a great day!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Another Share
Don't really care for the ribbon....might have to change that up a bit.
I like the collage stamps as you don't really have to color them if you don't feel like it.
I made quite a few masculine cards probably because I was using olive and browns.....but it's OK as I always am low on those cards, anyway.
Have a Great day!!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Stamp Stamp Stamp
I spent all day, yesterday, stamping and came up with about 25 cards. Some were Christmas themed but I will share those later.
Here is one of the cards I made, yesterday! I used The Angel Company's Ship Collage stamped with Burnt Umber Palette ink, stamped it on a tan card stock and layered it on Brown card stock and then attached that to Amberly Grace designer paper which had been layered onto brown card stock. Add ribbon....and you are done!
I kind of like the soft blues and browns together.
Actually, I am seeing a theme in my stamping...a lot of earthy tones!
I do love TAC's designer papers!!!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sad day
I just found out this morning that our dog's "Mom", Peanut, had to be put to sleep.
Peanut was 17 and going downhill rapidly but I am so thankful that I got a chance to have her here to visit for a day last April.
She was a sweetheart of a dog!!!
Here is a photo of her on the right and Annie in the foreground and Annie's 'Dad' Raider near the door. I had such a fun day that day!!
Here is a photo of Dad and Mom! Raider is 10 in this photo.
We'll miss you, Peanut!!!
Love Grandma!
Friday, October 2, 2009
New Look on Blog
This weekend I'll probably be working on some cards and spending time with hubby working around the house. We have to start getting our garden etc. ready for winter. Yep, it's a coming! We even heard we could have SNOW this weekend! WHAT??? It's only October! Well......we had a reprieve last year with snow not coming till December. So, it's probably true. But, it won't last as the weather isn't quite cold enough just yet for it to hang around long.
We'll be removing the A/C from the window here in my office, too. Bye bye till next summer! Now it's drag out the afghans, long pants and socks to keep warm till we absolutely HAVE to turn on the heat.
What are you up to this weekend??? Hopefully, spending time with family/friends or getting ready for Fall/Winter!
Have a great weekend everyone!!!
Hugs,
Char
Western Angel Gathering
It's been such a blessing to me to be the founder of this wonderful gathering and I look forward to many more years of bringing this event to fruition every year. It couldn't have been done without the many, many helpers over the years. They have been truly awesome in their willingness to jump in and help and spend countless hours coming up and working on projects to share.
With that said, here is another of the projects we had this year at WAG. It's called Christmas Tea folder. The inside has a little tea bag and a poem. The poem was sent to me by a friend (she is the one that sent me the folder) I added my touches and the poem and then TAC came out with a stamp that had almost the same poem in their next catalog....so am thinking she may have submitted it.