Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Last day of 2019

End of year reflection... 2020 is tomorrow. Can you believe it? I cannot! 2019 flew by so fast!!! I actually kept track of all my cards I posted on this blog this year and I have a head count ...

Challenges - 695 (I find my challenges here and here)
Challenges won - 53
Cards made - 365

so ... I entered 695 challenges and I won 53 of them. Most of them I won a "badge" for my blog but I also won digital images, stickers, real stamps, patterned paper, etc.

So many of my friends have stopped stamping altogether. Every year, I receive less and less handmade stamped cards and this makes me sad. I've been stamping for 20 years and I admit I did quit several years ago, I just felt like all the stamps started looking the same and I just lost total interest. That's when I started entering stamping challenges and I continue to do it to make me think "outside the box" and this has truly helped me stick with it or I really think I would've gave up too. I still LOVE making cards and I love sending cards.

I donate a lot of my cards to several organizations each  month. What else am I going to do with them? I certainly don't have that many friends (ha!). I am also in a great organization called Chemo Angels and you can find them here. People who are going through chemo get paired up with chemo angels and we send cards once or twice a week. I have had one since August and even though I have only heard from her once since August (she sent me the most heartfelt letter at Thanksgiving) I know I am a blessing to her and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Chemo Business.jpeg

I want to wish all of you a very happy new year. I am truly blessed you take the time to look at my blog each day! xoxo

Monday, December 30, 2019

This is "knot" good

Atlantic Hearts - Challenge 349

Stamps by Stampin Up
Colored with Copics
Die Cut - Whale Tale and Ocean Waves by Gina Marie Designs





Sunday, December 29, 2019

Happy Birthday Mouse

Make My Monday - Female Birthday

Stamp by Whipper Snapper
Die cut by Elizabeth Craft Designs

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Let me keep this short and to the point ...

Our Hobby Lobby recently did a complete remodel of their stamps and this is one of the new sets in by Art Impressions. I love these hedgehogs so I had to get them. I watercolored him with my Koi watercolor paints.

Inspire.Create.Challenges - Sketch #059
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Anything Goes
Moo-Mania - Triangles


Stamps by Art Impressions
Die cut by Gina Marie Designs

Friday, December 27, 2019

Cut It Up - Challenge #190 White on White with a pop of color

This week's challenge #190 at Cut It Up is White on White with a pop of color. I used this wedding die by Impression Obsession. My son's best friend just got married and I gave it to him and his new bride. I can't wait to see what you make for our challenge at Cut It Up.

Die by Impression Obsession
Sentiment by Stampers Anonymous

Thursday, December 26, 2019

It's (almost) a new year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We sure did!! Now we need to get ready for 2020!!

2 Sisters on the Blog -  New Years
Paperminutes - Happy New Year
Sweet Stampin - Let's Party like its 1999 (2020)
House-Mouse & Friends - Anything Goes


Stamp by Stampendous
Sentiment by TAC (who remembers the The Angel Company?)
Colored with Jane Davenport watercolors
Ribbon added on bottom

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas from North Carolina!

Merry Christmas from my 
grand-pup, Tino and me. 
Is he not the cutest Santa ever????? 
You can bet I will be
framing this picture for 
years to come!! Ho Ho Ho


Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Hope you're on the mend soon

1 more sleep until Christmas ... I sent this to a friend who recently had a total knee replacement.

Animal Friends - Birds
Creations in Pink - Anything Goes in pink




Monday, December 23, 2019

Just Bee-Cause

Only 2 sleeps until Christmas ...

Just Us Girls - Anything Goes

Stamps by Simon Says Stamp


Sunday, December 22, 2019

Strength does not come from what you can do

Inkspirational - No stamping

Hand painted by me
Sentiment found online



Saturday, December 21, 2019

Hand painted flower

Inkspirational - No stamping

Watercolored by me
while watching Emma LeFebvre
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw_Tl4KuOxk


Friday, December 20, 2019

Hope Your Day is Pand-Tastic

Freshly Made Sketches - Sketch 416
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Moo Mania - Anything Goes
Watercooler Wednesday - Anything Goes

Stamps by Art Impressions
Colored using Koi watercolors






Thursday, December 19, 2019

Our Christmas Tree

Here is our Christmas tree and one with our stockings hung on our mantel. I can't believe Christmas is less than a week away. I think I'm ready! I've got most of my presents wrapped and under the tree now and "Santa" is still working on filling up the stockings. See Tino's stocking all the way to the right? Tino is our grand-dog! I will be sharing his fantastic Christmas photo on Christmas Day. It's just the cutest!!!

The Card Concept - Our Christmas Tree or Favorite card of the year




Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Birthday Truck

1 WEEK until Christmas! ARE YOU READY?

I love this new set by Concord & 9th. Once again, they shipped it so fast from Utah I got it in 4 days! Yippee!!  Now to get a head start on my birthday cards for next year!!

AAA Birthday - Balloons and Banners

All stamps by Concord & 9th


Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Hello Holidays

CAS on Sunday - Christmas 
Winter Wonderland - Anything Goes Christmas
Aud Sentiments - Christmas/Winter
Allsorts - Inspired by a Song (Hello Holidays by Trade Martin 2006)
Christmas Kickstart - Last Minute Madness
Papercraft Challenges - Christmas

Stamps by Flora & Fauna
Washi tape for road

Monday, December 16, 2019

You're the Best

Creative with Stamps - Polar Bear

Stamps by Elizabeth Craft Designs
Circle Masking Die by Taylored Expressions


Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Crafter's Cafe - Holidays or I Spy with my little eye something with a C

At the Crafter's Cafe this week, the challenge is:

Holidays  
OR  
 I spy with my little eye something beginning with C

I chose this cute moose image (by QKR Stampede) and I think he would be so cute for Christmas or any winter card really. I can't wait to see you what you create at the Crafter's Cafe this week.


I'm also entering it in these challenges:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch - Sketch 346
Crafting Happiness - Winter
Time Out - Merry and Cheerful


                                         





Bastel-Traum Challenge 84 - Sky

I'm excited to be joining the design team of Bastel-Traum. This is my first card for them and this month's challenge is "sky". I made this card using my sky stencil (someone gave this to me so I am not sure what brand it is). I stamped this balloon scene using this awesome set by Concord & 9th. I punched out the grass using my Martha Stewart grass punch. I've had this punch for at least 15 years I think!! I'm excited to see what you come up with so check out our challenge at Bastel-Traum.



Saturday, December 14, 2019

You are so sweet, I can hardly bear it

I love this little polar bear set by Elizabeth Craft Designs. She had a huge sale over Thanksgiving weekend and I stocked up!! I also love this speech bubble die too. It has a set of 5 big speech bubbles in it.

Color Throwdown - Challenge 573
Creative with Stamps - Polar Bear
Happy Little Stampers - Anything with die cuts

Stamps by Elizabeth Craft Designs
Speech bubble die cut by Elizabeth Craft Designs






Wishing You the Joy of the Season

CAS Colours & Sketches - Favorite past sketch 351 (Mine is Sketch 310)
My Time to Craft - Christmas Flowers

Pointsettias by Power Poppy
Sentiment by Hero Arts








Friday, December 13, 2019

Cut It Up - Challenge #189 Anything Goes Christmas

At Cut It Up this week, the challenge is Anything Goes Christmas. I love this stamp and die set by Concord & 9th. So many cute different stockings you can make with it!!

I can't wait to see what you create with your dies at Cut It Up for our Anything Goes Christmas challenge this week.

The Flower Challenge - Use a Die




Thursday, December 12, 2019

You're Slothsome

Christmas is less than 2 weeks away ... ARE YOU READY?  I think I am and I think "no I'm not ready". So I need to get a move on :).

This is one of my newest stamps by Whipper Snapper when they had their free shipping over Thanksgiving I grabbed up a few new stamps. This sloth's name is Hendrix. Isn't he cute? I stamped the image onto white cardstock, then I stamped it again onto patterned paper, cut it out and paper pieced it onto the cup. Paper piecing is my #1 favorite technique of all I think.

Hand Stamped Sentiments - Challenge 329
Inspire.Create - Challenge 058

Sloth by Whipper Snapper
Sentiment - Computer generated




Image may contain: text

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Merriest of Holidays

Creative with Stamps - Polar Bear
Crafty Cardmakers - Christmas
Make My Monday - Anything Christmas
Crafty Gals Corner - Tis the Season

Stamps by Flora & Fauna



Monday, December 9, 2019

Nativity scene

I love this die by Gina Marie Designs. Such an easy 5 minute card to make!

My Time To Craft - Christmas Scene
Christmas Kickstart - The Christmas Story


Thursday, December 5, 2019

Arm knitted scarves are so fun to make

My other love besides stamping is arm knitting!  I took a class back in September and I fell in love with it and I think I have made 30+ scarves. I've made lots for Christmas presents and I have mailed some to friends "just for fun". I do not use knitting needles at all and I only use my hands to knit them with. Google it, there are lots of you tube videos out there explaining it. It's so fun!! Here is one of my favorite colors I made and I kept it for myself. The maroon one below I sent to a friend who was visiting from FL and yes, she said she'd wear it in FL on one of their chillier days! LOL (Not sure why I am not smiling in that photo)

Fab 'n' Funky - Anything but a card



I am flying to Florida for a few days and will be back on Monday. So I won't post again for a few days.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019