2014 highlights

Today is time to highlight 2014 and plan for what is ahead in 2015. This year, I spent time learning to blog. I still have a lot to learn but it comes with a son that I pay to help with the blog, practice, networking and perhaps taking a blogging class. I have had a lot of fun using my stamping supplies and adding to my stash!! Note to self (join hoarders anonymous)!

Here come the top five highlights of 2014:

I entered the digi world ...felt out of my comfort zone but love the results. You can always teach an old dog new tricks!! A look at my favorites.

I became a CCC enthusiast http://dominodebi.typepad.com/sos/card-chain/ . I mailed my card to Mauritius and received a card from Florida.
How much fun to get snail mail that has no bill enclosed! I also learned how to use a light box for picture taking.

I did my first blog hop(Coffee Lover's blog hop.) I commented on all the posts and admired all the creativity. Here is my card for the Coffee Lover's blog hop.

I entered the Jingle Belles Pink Christmas Challenge on my first blog post. My lesson here is listen to others!! My blogging buddy Becca at the Damsel of Distressed Cards http://damselofdistressedcards.blogspot.com/ encouraged me to do it and I won!

I entered the Archiver's Online Make, Share, Win contest. New word carpe dium. The card was featured in their email along with the other three winners!

In 2015 expect great things! My grandson will be born in January. This will be grandson #2.This is my first grandson named Reily.

My youngest son goes through driver's training(EEEEK!)
I will spend the year stamping and having a BLAST!

Sugar Rush

Yeehaw! I got my Sugar Rush stamp set in the mail today from STAMPlorations and a few hours later...a finished card!! I think this is the fastest I have ever used a new stamp!! The Mojo Monday sketch works perfectly.

After fussy cutting the ice cream sundae, I colored it and used tulip pearl paint for the whip cream under the cherry. I had this paper with the ticket stubs for one banner and the flowered paper to match for a few years. I knew someday there would be a perfect card to use it on. I love this new stamp set and the card I made with it!!

This card is posted to Mojo Mondayhttp://mojomonday.blogspot.com/ STAMPlorationshttp://stamplorations.blogspot.com/p/stamplorations-anything-goes-challenge.html Tuesday Morning Sketcheshttp://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/ Simon Sayshttp://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/ Sweet stampinhttp://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/anything-goes.html Loves Rubber Stampinghttp://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/

Made with lots of LOVE

I love homemade things. It means someome has taken the time to put together something while thinking of you. Today, I made a card that was made with lots of love. Although there is no one specific I made it for, someone very special will get it for a valentine. I used the sketch from Retro Sketches

and the photo inspiration from Just Us Girls.

Here is how the card turned out. It is a new Bugaboo stamp and I used some old papers I had. This week I have been using papers that are growing old!! I just love it!!

This card is linked to: Just Us Girls http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ Retro Sketches http://retrosketches.blogspot.com/ Hiding in my craft room http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/ Simon http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/ Sweet Stampinhttp://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Loves Rubber Stampinghttp://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/

Cute Boots

Today, I decided to play and CASE Becca's design. Her blog is The Damsel of Distressed Cards. http://www.damselofdistressedcards.blogspot.com/2014/12/you-can-stand-under-my-umbrella.html Here is her card I CAS'd...but I needed to add a twist.

Becca wanted a sad rainy day but also wanted to incorporate the brightness of the sunshine. I used tissue paper and inked it with Weathered Wood DI. After adhearing it to the cardstock it looks like a grey, dreary day. Then I found this digi stamp that says When it rains on your parade...just put on really cute boots. I added some sunshine in the corner of the sentiment. Then I framed it, added some chalked clouds and raindrops. I added an umbrella and the cutest boots with bling!

I am linking this card to: Sketch Saturday Challenge http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/ Simon Says http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

Love you snowmuch!

I had fun using the My Favorite Things sketch this week to make this card

The snowman stamp is one of my favorite with the hair all over the place and the big heart! I also used a Memory box snowflake to bling it up a bit! This card is posted to: My Favorite Things sketch challengehttp://www.mftstamps.com/blog/Eureka http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/

Candy Cane

An iconic Christmas item is the Candy Cane. It comes in sticks, canes, circles, wreath shapes but it still tastes the same. I wanted to do a vintage Christmas card so I put some Vintage Photo DI on the edges of the card and all the elements. I cut a strip of candy cane paper and applied a red stripe sticker next to it. Then I punched out some vines and holly leaves. I used the Copics marker to get the color I wnated. After stamping Merry Christmas on the card I placed the vines and leaves. To complete the card I added red acrylic dots.

This card is being linked to: Curtain http://curtaincallchallenge.blogspot.com/

Happy Ever After

And the fairytale ends...they lived happy ever after! I made this card to enter into STAMPlorations December challenge. Since it is my third entry, I have hit the limit. I have a niece that will be getting married in 2015 and she will get this card. Happy Ever After will fit into either stamp and layers or stamp and embossing. I needed a wedding/anniversary stamp set and this set can be used to make a variety of cards.

I am posting this card to: STAMPlorations December Challenge http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/ STAMPlorations http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/ http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/p/stamplorations-anything-goes-challenge.html

Bugagoo Birthday Bash

Well, I am ready for some cake and ice cream...are you? Help celebrate Bugaboo's 5th birthday!

Secret Santa

Have you heard of A Vintage Journey? Those craft geniuses have created secret Santa gifts for a fellow design team member. The projects are fantastic! They have so much creativity in their fingertips! Check out the projects they have made and leave them some blog love. Oh by the way, did I mention the prize they have? A Vintage Journey http://www.vintagejourney.com/2014/12/secret-santa-bonus-post-and-christmas.html

A Wisconsin Winter Poem

Home...click my ruby red slippers...there is no place like Wisconsin...Wisconsin is home~ I think Mother Nature is playing tricks on us this year because it is 40 and all the snow has melted but usually...this Wisconsin Winter Poem describes my home.

If you cannot read the poem it says:

A Wisconsin Winter Poem:

It's winter in Wisconsin

And the gentle breezes blow

Seventy miles an hour

At twenty-five below.

Oh, how I love Wisconsin

When the snow's up to your butt

You take a breath of winter

And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful

So I guess I'll hang around

I could never leave Wisconsin

Cause I'm frozen to the ground!

For this tag, I used concord grape and weathered wood distress ink to create the background. I applied some white acrylic paint with sheet rock tape. Then sponged concord grape and edged in weathered wood. I used Stamploragions Mini Media Mixed Backgrounds for the circles in the background with vintage photo DI.Getting out a map, I cut the state of Wisconsin out and dipped it in faded blue jeans DI. Of course, it had to have an acrylic heart!! I stamped a pair of mittens and used baker's twine to hang it on the state. I stamped the A Note From Wisconsin (contents may be frozen) on white paper and curled the edges. For the thermometer, I punched an oval, made the mercury and diamond glazed it. I added lines and a negative twenty-five. Three white metal brads snowflakes and a ribbon dipped in concord grape DI finish the card. I also applied glitter but the photo does not pick it up. My honey thinks I should send the tag to Governor Walker. This card is posted to Stamplorations gallery http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/p/stamplorations-anything-goes-challenge.html Mixed Media Card Challenge http://themixedmediacardchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/12/mmcc-6-home.html

Enough Reineer?

When I saw this Bugaboo digi stamp I knew instantly I had to have it!! I am more a fan of cute, funny stamps than I am of realistic stamps. To start, I used an old, OLD holly circle stamp by Stampendous. I ran old paper DI across my paper and stamped the holly on the edge to create the straight line and curve. Then I colored the holly leaves with a mixture of Spectrum and Copic markers. I used a gel glitter pen on the holly leaves. I wanted BIG red berries. The dog/reindeer image was sized and fussy cut. He was colored with Copic markers. I had some metallic gold to use on the jingle bells. Needing still more sparkle I used the gel glitter pen on the bells and the hat brim. I put the card together and added a few more acrylic dots and a bow.

This card is posted to: http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.ca/ http://doodlepantryblog.com/ http://sendasmile4kidschallenge.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-fun-4-kids-challenge.html http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

djkardkreations: Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

djkardkreManations: Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!Man oh man, he can deliver me coffee anytime~~  You created such a diversion...oh yeah, your card is fab.  Love the blue and brown together!  Your design is great!!

Holiday Coffee Lover's Blog Hop

Coffee, coffee, coffee! I had so much fun making this coffeeology card! My coffee stamp...yes, I only have one, is at my friends house. So, it is punt time. I went onto pinterest digi's and was able to get the coffeeology saying. It is so funny. Friends do not let friends drink bad coffee,Deja brew, expresso yourself along with others. I added some hearts and holly leaves to perk up the card. I just love it.

I also made an aqua and peach card with the same design. I used the stacked cups and rhinestones for this one.

This card is posted to: Thanks for visiting!! Happy Hopping.

Just Horse-ing Around

It has been fun trying to find three of something that match to make sketch challenge 24 at STAMPlorations. This month you can enter as many times as you like, so here is card #2. Talented stampers are creating their own backgrounds, so it is time to give it a try. I used my finger and made the green and blue background. Then I stamped the barn and horse. Being from Wisconsin, barns are big here in our landscape! I found a gold horseshoe sticker. The happiness sentiment at the bottom explains life here in Wisconsin...even though it is cold!

This card is posted to: STAMPlorations sketch 24 challenge http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/2014/11/bi-weekly-sketch-challenge-24.html

A Christmas Hello

I have had fun playing around with the sketch from STAMPlorations. I created a little Christmas Hello using the stamped image, a resin St. Nick postage stamp and a pointsetta. This Old Type Vignette caught my eye and works nicely in sketch challenge 24. On my white background paper I punched the edge and stamped the months of the year.

This card is posted to stamplorations sketch 24 http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/2014/11/bi-weekly-sketch-challenge-24.html

Birthday Buzzards

This is one of my favorite stamps to use for those turning the BIG 50! It depicts old and so it is perfect for CAS ology and uses a stamp and feathers so it will fit into STAMPlorations December challenge.

This card is posted to: CAS ology http://casology.blogspot.com/ Stamplorations december challenge http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/2014/12/december-challenge-stamps-designers-choice.html

Rocking Reindeer!

This is the photo inspiration from House of Cards and it is time to play along. I cut out a circle and stamped the reindeer inage. Then I put the circle in the center of my white square and stamped a swirl and repeated shortening the

swirl as I got closer to the top of the paper. A little glitter on top of the swirls, along with three terquoise rhinestomes. The bow completes the card. This card is posted to: House of Cards http://www.houseofcardschallenge.blogspot.com/

Candy is Dandy

All these sweets are part of the Christmas festivities! I have not used many digi's but decided to try them. They are cute, fun to work with and the Doodle Pantry has coordinating paper! I piled the glitter onto the snow, gum drops and peppermint candies.

This card is posted to: Jingle Belles Challenge http://doodlepantryblog.com/ Send A Smile 4 Kids Pile it on

Build a snowman

With all the snow across the country, it is time to build a snowman! I made a large card in the shape of a tag. Then pieces were cut to stamp images. I wanted to leave a little space for the base card to seperate all the pieces. Embellishments were added and a bow completed the card.

This card is posted to:http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/ Woot! Woot! I just found out today that this card was chosen as a winner in Archiver's Make, Share, Win Contest. It will be featured in their e-mail December 10. I am so excited!!

A blue Christmas

I love the reds and greens that are traditional Christmas colors, but sometimes you just need a different color. I was visiting my sister and did not have all the supplies so my family came to the rescue. My mother donated the blue paper and my sister had the image and die cut so it was time to make a card. I used a snowflake embossing folder for the background. I punched a strip on both sides for the blue layering piece. After stamping the ornament and die cutting it, I added a blue ribbon. Silver bling added to ornament and three snowflakes finish the card. This card is posted