Diane Started it!

Diane and I were making Christmas cookies when suddenly.........

I hope you are having as much fun as we are!!

(((HUGS))) Patti

What's the Buzz?

We are getting our first "big" snowfall and I am thrilled!! I hung some lights today that look a lot like my blog header! : ) I love colored lights!

I finally decided on a design for my Christmas cards tonight. I normally create about 2 or 3 different designs so that I don't get "bored" when making my holiday cards. This year, however, I'm on a strict time AND money budget : ) so I have decided to stick with one simple design. I did not add any "chunky" embellishments so that I will not have extra expense at the Post Office. I really like how they turned out. Tomorrow when I am snowed in!! (yahooee!!) I will begin to put them together. I will post them later this month. : )

Here is a card I made using my Crafty Secrets Clear Stamps called "Bug's Life". I just love this set - check it out there are some really funny bugs doing really funny things like perhaps getting ready for the "Ugly Bug Ball" right, Dad??!! (*wink)

I apologize for not including a complete supply list but I don't have access my supply list tonight. If you are curious about any of the supplies let me know and I will update the post.

Calendar Pages

Finally December is upon us! Thank you for stopping by to see my "old" calendar pages. I loved my Calendar so much this year that I have re-ordered another set for next year! The calendar pages are approximately 4.5" square and fit on a regular CD case that you fold out to create an easel. It is a sensational idea! I got the CD case and pre-printed calendar pages from a company called Touche' Rubber Stamps.

It finally feels like winter in the north woods of Wisconsin. The temperature is only 22* with a "wind chill factor" of only 16* brrrr! There is a little snow in the forecast but not enough for me! I say bring it on!! : )

Have a super day!! and thank you for stopping by my ant hill.

Patti

November Calendar Page

Hello November!

I just love the papers I used for this page. They are retired Stampin' Up papers and like so many of the retired SU papers I'm really sad to see them go! The image is a retired TAC image (is there a pattern here! LOL).

I enjoyed November! I hope you did too. Happy belated Thanksgiving friends : )

Patti

October Calendar Page

You have heard the expression "it's a dog's life" : ) maybe we should be saying it's a House Mouse' life!! bye bye October.

September Calendar Page

August Calendar page

My favorite House Mouse was cooling off in August : ) doesn't he look relaxed!? maybe that was why I never got this posted in august LOL too busy relaxing? heeheehee Actually in Wisconsin, this past summer, there were VERY! few hot days

Diane's first ever handcrafted card!

I've had the honor of introducing my friend Diane to papercrafts!! We have been having a great time having some little "classes" while I get her acclimated to this fun new worldof paper and ink!! : ) . She is doing awesome and it is apparent that she has definitely being bitten by the bug! heeheehee

Here are a couple of pictures of cards we made the other day. This is Diane's first ever handcrafted card! : ) I'd say she is a natural! what about you? : )

Diane selected the colors for this card from my Stampin Up papers. The image is called "Huggy Bellas" by Stamping bella. The background on the Certainly Celery green was stamped with Versamark using a stamp set from MSE. The ribbon is an Offray ribbon. We both used sentiments from The Angel Company. We gave the girls a little bling using my all time favorite glitter pen "Stardust" by Sakura.

Thank you for looking!! Have a super day!!

Patti

ant news

I know I have been seriously! MIA. How have you been?? I have missed my blogger friends : ) I hope to hear from each of you again very soon.

We've had a few challenges at "my ant hill" in the past few months but for the most part life is good! Sadly, our Africa trip has been post poned but we are praying the Lord will make a way for us to go in January 2011. We are thrilled that we have a new long-term house guest, a dear friend, Diane, who has shown an interest in papercrafts!! (Yahoo it does it get any better than this?!) I'm looking forward to Blogging & BLURFING! once again. I've missed my card making and have especially missed seeing all your fantastic creations!!

I know I promised a few of you that I would post my calendar pages for August through November - and I will! but please bear with me a little longer while I get the pictures of my pages taken. For now I wanted to share a card I made using Stampin' Up papers and a Crafty Secrets clear stamp image. You will notice a couple of Cuttlebug embossing folders too. I created this card for you! : ) and for all my sweet cyber friends who send me notes of encouragement and friendship! I'm back!! : )

But enough about me! I'm off to go blurfing to see what you ladies have been up to! : )

Thank you for stopping by my ant hill!

(((Hugs))) Patti

Bye bye June

Hello July! Here is my July calendar page. This one is kind of boring heehee I must have been tired when I made this one. I like August better so stay tuned for next month!!

We have been having odd weather here in northwestern Wisconsin. First it was dry then came a heat wave next was rain and now it has been cold!! and cloudy for days. I hear we are supposed to warm up and finally see that sunshine. I am ready! : )

I hope you have "sparkling" plans for the 4th of July celebrations in your hometown!!

(((Hugs))) Patti

Saving the best for last!!

My friend Janice sent me TWO Stampin' Up stamp sets for my birthday for no other reason than that she is amazing!! One of the sets she sent, Fresh Cuts, has a great 3.5 x 3.25" collage image. I used that image on this card on the far left. Knowing Janice loves House Mouse I added Mudpie, one of the delightful creatures in the House Mouse Family. This image is called "Sweet Dreams". I combined the two images using one of my favorite products, Masking Magic. Masking Magic is a Therm O Web product. It is simple to use!! I stamped my sleeping Mudpie on the card stock and then stamped the same image on a sheet of Masking Magic. I cut out the image from my Masking Magic sheet and carefully peeled off the paper backing. This left a super thin sheet of clear "cling" that I positioned exactly over the image I had stamped on my card stock.

Are you following me?? : ) Don't let me confuse you - this is a very easy product to use.

After my image was carefully covered with the Masking Magic I inked up my Fresh Cuts collage image and stamped it on my card stock. Some of the image went right over the face of my House Mouse image but after I removed the piece of Masking Magic the overlap was removed leaving a new image on my cardstock created by both images! My sheet of Masking Magic removed very easily because it has a "cling like" tackiness to it and yet it does not actually stick to the cardstock. Because of this it is not going to move or shift on you when you are stamping and it is re-usable. Doesn't this product open up a wealth of options for combining different stamped images? Try it yourself and if you need any help let me know!! : )

The rest of my card came together with a little help from a friend (*wink*) I struggled with how to finish off the upper right hand corner. The end result is three strips of black card stock and a self adhesive pearl by KAISERscrapbook. Love this card! Love you Janice!! thank you for your generous! gift and for the gift of your friendship!!

Have a great day friends and stay cool! : )

(((Hugs))) Patti

MORE thanks!! : )

Here are two more Thank you cards I created using some of my birthday gifts!! : ) This WONDERFUL! paper is from Stampin' Up. My sweet friend Cheryl gave it to me. I am Very Very sad to learn I can no longer get this paper!! boo hoo!! but while I had it in my hands I was a happy stamper! I also used one of my new Nestibilities for the circle and scallop (love those things!) and two different Cuttlebug folders - both are my favs "Swiss Dots" and "Floral Fantasy".

I have missed blogging and blurfing but the summer keeps me so busy. I hope you are all having a wonderful summer and are happy in your heart.

(((Hugs))) Patti

Espresso My Thanks!

Here is another Thank you card I created last week. I love this paper from Close to My Heart : ) and the stamp set, "Coffee Tea" from Crafty Secrets has been getting a good work out as well. One of the things I received for my birthday was a couple of these little instant coffee packets from Starbucks. I don't like coffee but I put them to good use by including them inside my thank you cards! I love that little waving coffee bean! heehee who knew coffee beans had personality!?!

have a great day

Patti

My friend Cheryl.....

from Wisconsin (about 5 hours from where I live in Wisconsin) blessed my socks off! when she sent me a 12x12 packet of "Sweet Always" paper!! and a few other goodies!! I guess you will agree she is the one who is sweet always! : ). Cheryl and I have never met but we are fast friends nevertheless. I know we will meet one day - maybe this summer! woo hoo!! She is always kind to me and I am blessed to call her friend! Cheryl doesn't have a blog but she should - she is a talented papercrafter!! Thank you, again, Cheryl.

I created this card using an old Mojo Monday sketch and was inspired to re-use this sketch because another one of my good friends, Judy, sent me a birthday card using this sketch!! Check out Judy's blog she always has fantastic card creations on her blog. Thank you, again, Judy I loved my card!! : ) and Thank you Cheryl and thank you friends for stopping by to take a peek at the Thank you cards I made this week : ) I still have more to come so stay tuned!

The papers I used are all Stampin' Up. I used the Script Cuttlebug embossing folder and a wonderful image by Hero Arts.

One more acknowledgement. Many Mondays ago when this Mojo Monday sketch was introduced my friend Susan created her card using this image (or at least one of the dolls from this set). I want to credit Susan for her spectacular card (way better than mine) and for the idea to use this image on the card and if I am not mistaken it was actually Susan who "forced" me to buy this set (*wink*) when I saw her card. Check out her blog too - and get ready to be impressed!!

So many thank yous!! so little time : )

BIG (((((((HUGS))))))) ladies!!

Patti

And the Winner is....

JEss!! toot Toot!! Congratulations Jess. Please e-mail me with your address.

And Thankyou ALL!! for celebrating my birthday with me!!! BIG (((Hugs))) Patti

List Randomizer

There were 28 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Anonymous (JEss)
2. Jen
3. Rubberstampingzone
4. Lynne in NI
5. Gi Gi
6. Doris
7. Creativika
8. Annelis
9. Lindsay
10. Anonymous (Lucy from Holland)
11. Jessie F
12. JaniceW
13. Chrisi
14. Gina
15. Marit Meijer
16. Theresa K
17. *G*
18. Karen
19. Teri
20. Judy
21. Princess Danell
22. Amanda
23. RDH
24. frogers
25. Kathy
26. Susan
27. GiftsbyHeidi
28. Cindy K

Timestamp: 2009-06-11 16:04:30 UTC

CPS119 and Thank you!!

Here is a fun Thank you card I made for my friend, Theresa. Theresa is a Close To My Heart demonstrator and an "honorary sister" : ). She was so sweet to give me the "Be Yourself" stamp set for my birthday!! I love it. There are 8 wild girls and 6 fantastic sentiments in this set. Love it!! Love Theresa!! : )

I thought this chick needed some Retro paper and so I used an oldie but a goodie from SEI called "Beatnik Boy". My tab was cut using QuicKutz and the teeny little Thank you stamp is also from CTMH. I topped it all off with a piece of denim trim I bought at Walmart.

My design for the card was a response to the CPS challenge this week. I almost didn't take this challenge because I was not sure I wanted to do a long thin card for Theresa but I really think this image goes great on a long thin card!! I hope you think so too.

Have a great day and don't forget to check out Theresa's web site and the CPS challenge blog.

Patti

Mojo Monday #90 and Thanks!

I had such a wonderful day yesterday making cards to thank my friends and family for the sweet cards and gifts I received for my birthday. Here is a card I created for my friend Lisa who actually gave me this set for a gift!! I love roosters, as a matter of a fact, I plan to decorate my kitchen in roosters in a couple of months!!

I used the wonderful challenge at Mojo Monday's blog for the design of my card. I really love the challenges at Mojo Monday. They are always fun to do and definitely get my mojo moving : )

For this card I used solid cardstock by Stampin' Up. Sadly I have long since cut off the label on my delicious patterned paper. This is a scrap I used and after this card I'm afraid this paper is just about gone! : ( some papers are so great I wish I had 10 sheets!

I stamped my rooster on the patterned paper for the fine detail and then I stamped him on a solid cream colored paper, colored it and cut it out. I then placed it on the card using a pop dot to give dimension and so that I can have a clear image even though it looks like he is stamped right on the patterned paper. I like the result when using this technique.

I also used my Oval and Square Nestabilities by Spellbinders and a little snippet of some unknown gingham ribbon.

Thank you Lisa for your friendship and for your kindness to me and for all the giggles! And thank you friends for stopping by to see my cards : )

If you have not already done so - there is still time to sign my June 1st post to qualify for my blog candy. I will be drawing a winner tomorrow June 10th. : )

Love, Patti

Tea-Riffic

I enjoy swapping with my friends at Inspire, Swap, Chat, a fun and active site created by Mariah Oliveria. I made this card for a swap that Karen Walsh hosted. We were to use a tea related image and include a tea bag in our card somewhere. The cards I received back from this swap were awesome! Great job Karen!! : )

I used cardstock from Stampin' Up. "Spots and Dots" and "Swirl" embossing folders by Cutlebug. I was able to use my new Nestabilities!! for this card. I believe this may be the very first time I got to use these - wonderful!! creation by Spellbinders. The image is from my "Coffee & Tea" set by Crafty Secrets. The inside sentiment was computer generated.

Today, I am ThRiLlEd to have the whole day "off" to make "Thank You" cards for the gifts I received last week!! I had a wonderful birthday and will enjoy making some cards to present to the family and friends who blessed me - a double blessing because I have not really had much time to play with paper for the past several weeks. I hope to post some of the cards I make today - later this week... we'll see how that goes! heeheehee.

If you have not yet done so, please scroll down to the June 1st entry and post a comment to get a chance to win my Blog Candy : )

Thank you for stopping by. Have a great day! Patti

Birthday calendar page and Blog Candy

I wish I could somehow keep my Blog Candy post up at the top but I cannot figure out how to accomplish that! (old dog new trick this blogging heeheehee) so I will mention the blog candy again. Just scroll down to the next post and you will see the details there.

This month I decorated my calendar page with a Bella image : ) I love Bella and you KNOW I love my birthday so this was a great combo! : ) These calendar pages are great additions to scrapbook pages after the month has past.

Have a wonderful day! and thank you for stopping by to visit me on my birthday!! (((Hugs))) Patti

It's my BiRtHdAy! BlOg cAnDy TiMe!!

I love my birthday! I mean I really really love my birthday!! No matter how old I get I never stop loving my birthday. On June 4th we celebrate around here!! : ) Actually my wonderful husband usually spoils me and we celebrate a Birthday Week!!

I want to give away this 21 piece clear stamp set by Heidi Grace, and the Prima flower assortment(sorry party hat not included). All you need to do to qualify for my blog candy is to comment on this post and if you like you can link my blog to yours but that is only if you want to : ) In your post please tell me your birthdate (year is not necessary) and maybe a fun memory of a birthday - either yours or someone elses. That's all you have to do!! : )

I will select the winner on June 10th using a random generator (if I can get someone to help me figure out how to do that LOL) After all I am not getting any younger heeheehee. My international friends are welcome!!

Thank you to all my "regular" visitors and welcome new friends!! Thank you for stopping by to help me celebrate my birthday!! : )

Patti

Anne and me.

My friend, Anne and I met on-line through the Papercrafts magazine site a couple of years ago and have enjoyed getting to actually meet face to face three times now : ) She is a SWEETHEART! and a talented paper crafter! This is a picture of the two of us taken at the Stamp Expo in St. Paul, Minnesota a couple of weeks ago.

I got to see Anne again this weekend when I drove to her ---> amazingly beautiful home nestled in the woods in Wisconsin to bring her a gift of some tomato plants.

The best part of the day was getting to meet her sweet little boy, Joe. He is over the top cute! and as sweet as his Mom.

Meeting on-line friends is such a joy. Anne and I live about 2 hours apart but compared to some of my friends that is close! : )

I hope you get to hug a friend today! : )

Patti

Sending Hugs

I have not really been able to create any new cards for the past few weeks. We have been busy with family life and spring planting but my gardens are holding their own and my hubby had a business trip today so I was able to spend a little time playing with paper and blurfing!

Here is a card I made some months ago but I love it : ) I would love to know the maker of this great image. I got this image from a stranger at a retreat and failed to get the name of the company. But I love her! I want to hug her. I bet she'd cover you up with a hug don't you?!? : )

until I can get back to some papercrafting I just thought I'd send a smile or two out to my friends so you do not forget all about me! heeheehee

Have a great evening!

Patti

I've received an award : )

I received this Lemonade Stand blog award from Judy. It's an award for bloggers that show great attitude and gratitude. Judy has a beautiful blog!! Please go visit her. She is a talented papercrafter and a sweetheart!

The rules for this award are:
*comment on this blog
*cut and paste the award logo and use it on your own blog
*nominate 5 to 10 blogs you feel show great attitude and gratitude
*link to your nominees within your blog post
*comment on their blogs to let them know they received the award*link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation

I appreciate you selecting me, Judy, for this fun award but especially for choosing me as a friend! : ) You are too sweet !!

I would like to nominate
Heather's Blog
Lisa's Blog
Karen's Blog
Mickey's Blog
Lorraine's Blog

These ladies are all talented! and fun!! and oh so sweet please take a few minutes to pop in to their blogs you will be inspired I assure you! : )

Have a great day! Patti

Life goes on

I have not been able to spend time playing with paper or visiting my on-line friends recently because we have had a death in the family. My sister-in-law lost her battle with cancer - she was only 52 years old. She knew that she was going to spend eternity in heaven with Jesus so we are happy for her but she left many hurting hearts behind.

I am late posting my calendar page this month. I like this one : ) I love this paper and I enjoy seeing the calendar page on my desk - it just looks so happy and springy!!

I am wishing this sentiment for you today!! Thank you for stopping by I love hearing from you. I'm hoping to get some time to go and do some "blurfing" because I have greatly missed visiting my friends!! Hopefully I will be posting a few cards I've made and some that I am finishing up this week for a few swaps I have been in. At any rate the sun is shining and I am happy in my heart and I pray the same for you!

(((Hugs))) Patti

LOL ATC Challenge

It is my turn to host the challenge on ISC. For the challenge this week I asked my friends to create an ATC. or Artist Trading Card.


These are popular little masterpieces that measure 3.5 x 2.5" and for some are collected but never! traded!! heeheehee but for some, like me, they make their way to cards - like my little chicken who laid an egg. The inside sentiment reads: Happy Belated Birthday!

I asked my friends to create an ATC to make us Laugh Out Loud!!

Here are a couple I put together for them to show what I was thinking of.

Perhaps you would like to join our challenge too. Just follow this link after signing in go to "Forum" then "Challenge" and you will see the weekly challenge. You might also like to go to "Chatting" and introduce yourself too! : )

Have a great week!! Patti

Christy's Challenge card

One of the sweetest girls I know has been the "hostess" for this weeks challenge on ISC (Inspire, Swap, Chat) a fantastic new message board. If you enjoy chatting with fellow papercrafters and if you enjoy card swaps, games, contests and FUN please join us at ISC.

Christy's challenge for all of us this week was to make a card that moves in some way! I reached waaaayyy back in the archives of my papercrafting idea file to bring out a fun little spinner card.

Thank you Christy! you sure gave us a fun challenge this week!! (((Hugs)))

Below is a "tutorial" of how I created my card. I hope it makes sense!

Supplies Used:
Solid Cardstock by Stampin' Up
Patterned paper by ProvoCraft
Image by Crafty Secrets called "Fishing buds"
Sentiment is by The Angel Company
Swirl embossing folder by Cuttlebug
Photo Corner Punch by Stampin' Up
Nickels by US mint : ) heeheehee

Spinner card

Cut a 5/8" slit in top layer card stock

Place one nickel under cardstock

add a round (it has to be round) foam dot to the nickel

place the second nickel on top of the first - sandwich foam dot in the middle


Place a piece of two sided tape on top of the nickel sandwich : ) Then place your image on top of the nickel.


Finally glue your top layer cardstock to your card base **Using a double thickness of foam tape** It is important that your foam tape is thick enough or else your nickels will not spin. Also be cautious that you do not place your foam tape too close to the opening causing interference for your nickels.


Holding your card in front of you - you can tilt it to the right and then to the left and your image (my fish in this case) spin and look totally cute! : )

Please ask if you have any questions and I will do my best to answer them!

Also please let me know what you think ! : ) and tell me have you ever created a card that has moving parts??

Patti

CPS112 and a Thank You!!

Here is my "take" on the CPS112 challenge. I love these challenges!! They are always so much fun to follow. Please check out their site. If you enjoy sketch challenges you are sure to enjoy the talented designers you will find there.

I wanted to create a Thank You card for my friend, Theresa. Theresa is a Close To My Heart demonstrator. She recently put me in touch with a different rep who was able to sell me the "Just Because" CTMH stamp set. Theresa is always very helpful! if she can't get something I want - she finds me someone who can!! so, Theresa : ) Thank you!! for being so sweet to me, friend!!

BIG (((Hugs))) Patti

Supplies used:

Cardstock by Stampin' Up
"Just Because" stamp set by: CTMH
Versamark and white and red embossing powder
"Swiss Dots" Cuttlebug embossing folder
Flowers from an unknown company : )
White brads for flower centers from CTMH

Mojo Monday and Use It! challenges

With Rae's Use It Challenge in mind I grabbed some black for my card base, 4 different patterned papers, a Glitter gel pen and some ribbon. I then proceeded to go mad! ok, slight exaggeration! I had to change my paper selections so many times I almost threw the whole idea in the trash! LOL In the end I tried my very best to use 4 different papers and if you really stretch your imagination I did get 4 different papers in this card but I think I failed this challenge! LOL

I have had very limited paper crafting time the past two weeks so I thought I would combine this important card for a good friend graduating Dental Hygienist School with the Use It Challenge and the Mojo Monday Challenges. I really loved the Mojo Monday sketch this week. If you struggle to find motivation for your card designs I would definitely recommend this wonderful and challenging blog!

I hope you like my card - it isn't the most amazing fit for my two challenges but if the weekly challenges are supposed to motivate us to get out of our "box", get our "Mojo" moving and use up our vast amount of product then I ACED these challenges.

Thanks for looking and please leave a comment I love hearing from you!!

Patti

Supplies Used:
Solid cardstock in black and light yellow by: "Stampin Up", Green polka dotted paper by: "Around the Block", and the colored polka doted paper and the pink strip under the ribbon are from the same double sided pp by "GCD Studios"
Image: "Dentabella" by: Stamping Bella, Sentiment by "Close to my Heart"

CPS Challenge better late than...???

I think I may be too late for this weeks challenge : ) but I don't do these cards for the prize anyway! : ) This was really a hard sketch for me for some reason. I like how this card turned out.... kind of. I'm just not sure if all this patterned paper "works" but that is what a challenge is good for! it gets us out of the norm. I think I will try this one again maybe using a different pp.

The image and sentiment are Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamps. I have been shopping - can you tell!! I'm sorry but I do not recall the name of my beautiful patterned paper and the label is no where to be found : ) I had resolved to be better about logging in my supplies with my posts but I guess I will first have to start being better to catalog my supplies before I loose the labels! : ) The YUMMY! ribbon is from Stampin' Up! I know that : )

I hope you are enjoying a happy healthy spring! Patti

Perk Up!!

Here is my Mojo Monday card : ) I am not really sure what Mojo means....maybe I don't want to know LOL! but maybe it is like a big cup of old fashioned percolated coffee! : ) I just love this little gal : ) We used to have percolator like this... ok, well not exactly like this! ours didn't have legs *wink*. The image is from a set by Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamps called "Coffee & Tea" there are some really sweet old fashioned images in this set. I am having fun playing with it.

My pink paper is a two-sided paper by WorldWin. The dark pink is on one side and the light pink on the other so when I scalloped the bottom edge it made a nice layered look. I used Cuttlebug "Bloom Dots" as my embossing folder and "lifted" the idea of placing pink circles inside some selected flowers from my friend Cheryl Hellem. Cheryl did this technique on a card she made for a swap I hosted and I love the look! I highlighted the percolator with my Stardust glitter Gel Pen by Sakura. The rest of the supplies I used were simply scraps from my bin. I'm working hard to use up my scraps these days!!

LOVED this sketch : ) Thank you so much for the inspiration. I hope you like my card - I do, it makes me smile. I plan to send it to my SIL, Joan. I hope it "perks her up too!

Have a great weekend!!

Patti

Welcome Levi

This card started out to be for the Mojo Monday sketch but it "evolved" LOL I finally decided to forget the sketch because it just wasn't coming together and do something else for Mojo Monday : ) But the sketch did get my "mojo" moving because I do I like how this card turned out anyway.

The cardstock and ribbon are from Stampin' Up. I cut the little "buckle" with my Quick Kutz. I used my Animal Kingdon Cricut Cartridge which I HAD to have but rarely use! and two Cuttlebug embossing folders: "Traffic Jam" and "Spots & Dots" - both kind of looked like giraffe shapes to me : ) This card is for Levi, the newest little miracle in my friend Missy's life : )

Thanks for looking : ) Patti