Card GIVE-AWAY! win this card

And the Winner is...

KT Fit Kitty from KT Designs


Please send me your address via e-mail and I will send your card to you : )
 
Thank you everyone who played along! Be sure to watch for my free card give-away in February coming soon : )

Patti

p.s. I am so sorry it took me so long to post the winner.  I will do better next month! *wink*


Happy New Year!!

Beginning with THIS CARD!! 

I will be giving away one handcrafted card per month to friends and followers!  All you must do to have a chance to win is "follow" my blog and leave a comment on this post and you will be entered in the drawing for this card.   International friends are welcome!!  A-2 size cards will not come with an envelope but if the card is any other size I will also include the envelope.  The drawing for this 6 x 6" card will be January 10, 2014. I will announce the winner on my blog so don't forget to check back on January 10th to see if you are the winner of my first give-away!!

The design for my card was inspired by the amazing gals at Mojo Monday - my CONTINUAL inspiration and mojo exerciser!! 

I knew right away that I wanted to use this sweet digi from Sassy Cheryl's Digital Stamps and that I wanted to do a spotlight technique with this design.  You know what they say about great ideas being in the mind.... once I got started I quickly threw the idea out! and tried to do something else altogether.  I guess I am stubborn because I just couldn't let it go! LOL  Originally, in place of the dark blue background, I had a light snowy background so that - coupled with the uncolored portion of the image was too much white space.  I grabbed this blue paper and things began to look better to me. : )  

To spotlight just the snowman portion of the image I colored it with watercolor pencils and Stampin Up markers.  I Added some bling bling with a Stardust Gelly Roll pen and the sprayed my fav! glitter spray all over it.  

Papers are from the "Sent with Love" Designer papers by Stampin Up. Sentiment "A Round Array" also from Stampin Up

I then put the whole thing together and was pleased as punch! : ) I hope you like it too.

Please leave a comment and follow my blog for a chance to win this silly little card.

Thank for looking!

Have a wonderful and hApPy NeW yEaR!!!

Patti

A girl can never have too many purses!

Especially when they are THIS cute!  

Here are some Dooney & Bourke inspired Handbags designed by Becky Roberts that I created for a few special gals on my gift giving list. 

These amazing little cuties measure about 6" high x 5.5" wide and 2" deep inside. 

KI Memories, Inc. Over the Rainbow Collections.  I do not have the pattern name on this paper.

I made five little gift card enclosures (3.5 x 2.5") to go inside each purse.   Unfortunately I erased all the individual pictures of the gift card enclosures for each purse before I had downloaded them to my computer! So all I have are a tiny sampling of what they look like but you will get the idea : )

Bo Bunny paper from their "Back to Basic" series

 

 

This wonderful downloadable pattern:  "Tres Chic Handbags" was created by Becky Roberts and is available for only $3.95 through her website.  It has been good for hours - and I do mean hours!! of fun!!

These purses inspired the sweetest ooohs and ahhhs! you could hope for when giving a gift of love.  So fun!! so sweet!! 

The small 3.5 x 2.5" cards with envelopes fit really nice but you could add all sorts of treats to your handbag in any theme.

I searched high and low for some little buckles and was excited to come across these by Tim Holtz. My engineer husband told me AFTER I had completed all and mailed some of my purses that I positioned the buckle upside down LOL Dooney & Bourke will frown! but alas I never got one complaint! heehee I will take the time to change that up on my next round of bags! : )

I also added a magnetic closure from Basic Grey behind each buckle so that the flap closes nicely.  I failed to get a picture of that so just follow the link above to the product I used.

Be sure to take a look at the rest of the purses I have created (so far!)  - pictured below and then blurf on over to Becky's blog and purchase the pattern to make your own! : ) I would really love it if you would send me a link to yours! It would be fun to see what you create.

Thank you for looking!  

Patti

Love this paper! This is some new paper I found at my LSS. "Collectable" paper designed by Jen Allyson for "My Mind's eye"

In searching for the perfect paper with a small print I had to go to my "scrap" bin sometimes.  Unfortunately that means that I do not have the name of the paper in every case.  I wanted so badly to use this one because the outside print was small and perfect and the inside had a big and bold floral print.  I think it is neat when the inside of the purse looks as cute as the outside! So sorry I don't have the paper name for this one.

Bo Bunny's Back to Basic Paper

"Collectable" paper designed by Jen Allyson for "My Mind's eye"

KaiserCraft paper's December 25th Collection "Noel"

Christmas Thanks

Here is one of the thank you cards I created using a digi image from Sassy Cheryl's Digital Stamps.

Papers are all from Stampin Up "Snow Festival" designer papers

Isn't she simply adorable!! My design was inspired from the wonderful gals at Mojo Monday!  For the heart on the lower left side of the card I tried a couple of different things because I didn't want the heart to cover her cute little ice skates! What I ended up doing is cutting a heart from a clear acetate and then embossing it with a snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I attached my heart with a zig zag stitch on the sewing machine : ) I can't seem to get away from that beloved tool! heehee  I then added a little white bow and a button.

Inside I applied a die cut sentiment from Cuttlebug .

Please be sure to check out the wonderful cards that were created by women all over the world because of the inspiration of the folks at Mojo Monday!!

I may never eat sugar again!

What is is about the holidays?  I seem to loose my sense of reasoning where the sweet stuff comes in. LOL Thank goodness THAT is over for another year.  It seems if I'm not eating it - I'm struggling to resist the urge - heehee.  Here is a darling little digi image from A Day for Daisies.  She looks like she might just give in to the urge!

 "all you need" sentiment by CTMH CC1014

This sentiment was computer generated

I hope you enjoyed a SWEET celebration!... now back to the treadmill! : p

Have a wonderful day! Thank you for stopping by.

Patti

Merry Christmas!

From our house to yours!

Patti

Baby it's cold outside!!

I mean really really cold!! : )  I actually love winter but not everyone in my life shares the feeling.  I have a very good friend, almost like a Mom, whose heart is in Florida! and who especially dislikes the winter here in Wisconsin.  I created this special Christmas card for her. 

Lattice die cut by Stampin Up highlighted with little clear rhinestones

I wanted to simulate a scene outside a window.  The inside of the card has an image of children making a snowman.  I layered the image on top of a background of embossed snowflakes.

Silhouette image from Close to my Heart. Sentiment from Stampin Up

I first cut a square using a square die from Spellbiners and then sandwiched the lattice between the card front and a piece of acetate to create my window.

I'm having way too much fun with the glitter spray I found at Wal-Mart so everything that is not nailed down is getting hauled out onto the back patio to be sprayed!  It is a beautiful snowy look but it is not making the task of photograping my cards any easier.... heehee

I finished off the card front with a bright red ribbon and a white foam snowflake.  As is becoming my favorite color combo of the season I tied two little bows using bakers twine.

It's Christmas Eve and I pray that all the travelers are safely at their destinations and that each heart is filled with the Love and Hope that only knowing Jesus brings!

Merry Christmas!

Patti

Thinking of You

This is the third card I created using Bo Bunny's Woodland Winter paper series.

Besides the Bo Bunny papers I used the "Snowflakes" embossing folder by Cuttlebug.  I used a die cut from Spellbinders for the frame of my sentiment called "Fancy Ribbon Threader".

"thinking of you" sentiment is from Stampin Up from their Teeny Tiny Wishes set

Thank you for looking!

Patti

Woodland Winter

Here are three cards I created using Bo Bunny's Woodland Winter paper. I really love this paper and after I bought it I realized it works really well for masculine cards.  I created this one for my brother.

Snow globe image and snowman image are from Peachy Keen Stamps

 He once told me that he saves all the cards I make. : ) I never forget that when making a card for him.

One more card - using the same Bo Bunny papers.

Die cut shapes are by Spellbinders. Sentiment from The Angel Company

 

Thank you for looking!

Patti

Laugh until your heart overflows!

Stamped image and sentiment are from CTMH C1468 Winter Joy.

 I've been creating Christmas Cards this week for my friends and family and this is one of my favorites!  I love this sentiment and the children at play! It brings back memories of sledding at the golf course with my sisters and brother.

I wanted to add a little color to the silhouette image so I double stamped the image.  The first time using some aqua blue ink and then I stamped over the colored image with Staz On Jet Black ink purposely stamping off center - just a bit.  Because I created a multiple number of these cards I sometimes got "too good" LOL and stamped my black too close to the blue - when that happened I inked up a Stampin Up blender pen with the blue ink and added back some of the shadow to get the look I wanted.  Here is a closer picture that I darkened a bit so that you could clearly see my shadow:

I hope your holidays are filled with wonderful memories new and old.

Thank you for looking!

Patti

Warm Wishes - Embossed Wreath

Have you ever noticed that embossing is present on pretty much every card I create? I just love the look! I love the... professional touch that embossing gives any card.

Here is a simple card created using a Cuttlebug embossing folder by Provo Craft.  I used an exacto knife to cut out the petals of the poinsettia on the wreath then glued a colored (glittered) paper behind the wreath before attaching it to my white cardstock.  Nothing fancy but oh so elegant!

Thank you for looking.  Have a wonderful day!

Patti

Bob made me do it!

Ok... not really I came up with this on my own!!

Here is a birthday card for my sister-in-law, Mary Kay.  I selected the vintage papers from Graphic 45 because she has admired them in my recent blog posts.  I thought these ladies looked like they might be gossiping so I was "inspired" to add this sassy sentiment all on my own! Bob really didn't have anything to do with it heehee.  I thought a little black feather boa embellishment was in order to capture "their" naughty behavior. : )

I hope I will still be Kay's favorite sister-in-law after she receives this card! *wink*

The card design was taken from the MojoMonday  sketch 323.  Please blurf on over to Mojo Monday's blog for some wonderful inspiration!

Join me in wishing Mary Kay a Happy Happy Birthday!

Patti

For my dear ol' Dad

I've been working on some Christmas cards this weekend.  This one is for my Dad.  His favorite color is blue and if he were a mouse he would be a "House Mouse" getting into all sorts of mischief just like this!!

Check out some other really sweet House Mouse cards here at the HMFMC159 challenge.

Happy Holidays!!

Patti

Gifting... Gift Tags

This time of year we can all use ideas for simple and inexpensive gifts.  I want to share a simple and inexpensive gift idea that I have created and you can too!

 In my "hApPy mAiL" post I talked about the little bags of gift tags that Diane and I are including in our outgoing packages as "Thank-you" gifts for our neckStyles™ customers.  Today I will share some pictures of what some of the tags we sent look like and another packaging idea for these sweet little tags.

Wonderful gifts for Teachers, Mail Carriers, Dentist, Friends, Neighbors... the list is endless!

This is an A6 size clear bag.  I created the topper by cutting white paper  5" high by 5.25"wide - then scored at 2.5".  I layered a red piece of paper and another piece of white card stock on top of that.  Then I stamped my ADORABLE!! image on the top white card stock.  The image is from my friends at Peachy Keen Stamps.  I sandwiched a red gingham ribbon between the layers and stuck my red bow on top.  I colored my adorable little snowman with watercolor pencils and highlighted some of the features with a glitter pen.  The next step is to staple the topper on to the BOTTOM of the clear bag.  Finally fill the bag with as many tags as you like.  If you want a different size bag of tags simply customize your topper to fit the bag size of your choice.   I will show off some of the tags in individual photos below. 

The best part about these gifts is that you can create the little tags over the course of the whole year and when the busy holiday season comes around all you have left to do is select the tags you want to include in your gift bag and in no time you have simple and inexpensive gifts that will sure to please and impress!

These little book-fold tags were created by taking a 5.25" x 1.75" piece of paper and folding it in three equal parts along the long side. I punched out my snowman and set it aside for use with a different tag.  Then sandwich narrow strips of ribbon scraps in the first fold and close it securely.  What will be left is a finished 1.75" square book-fold tag.  You may then stamp your To and From images on the inside of the tag.  Easy and sweet!! I added some snowflakes and a teeny sentiment from CTMH.

1.5" square book-fold tag. Snowflake punched from a Martha Stewart hand held punch.  I embellished the snowflake with  a teeny tiny pearl.  All papers were from my scrap bin.

These snow faces are easy peasy! 1 3/8 circle punch for the white card stock then stamp more ADORABLE from Peachy Keen stamps and give them some color! The hats are simply a rectangle and a thin strip for the brim cut from scraps stamped with To and From from CTMH (D1497).  I added some glitter to the brim of some of my hats.

Skate 2.25" cut from "Christmas Noel" Cricut Cartridge

Old TAC image and a new Martha Stewart edge punch

The finished size of this tag is 2.25 x 1.75".  I cut this tag with the Cricut machine using "A Child's Year" cartridge.  I layered a piece of green card stock on the inside so that the holly cut out would be highlighted.  I added a red rhinestone for the holly berry and stamped "Joy" from CTMH (1498)

This is simply a 2.5" square piece of cardstock with a tiny bow I got at the Dollar Store.  Some of the tags were stamped with a "Just for you" sentiment on the front of the card and some were stamped with the To and From on the back.  The paper is from my scrap bin.

This tag is approximately 3.25 x 1.5" high.  It was cut on the Cricut machine using the "Create a Critter" cartridge.  I tied a wired silver ribbon through the snowflake in the hold of the "o".

This tag was created using "Wild Card" Cricut cartridge.  I wanted to show this one because it highlights that not all the tags need to be "Christmasy" nor does your tag bag need to be related to the Christmas holiday only.  You could create a neat bag of tags for birthdays or any occasion! The possibilities are endless? heehee

1 3/8" Circle

Finished size is 2 1/8 x 1 1/4" Stamp set used is CTMH

This is simply a 2" circle with holly attached.  The holly was cut using my old pal Quic Kutz! : ) one of the first papercrafting tools I obtained.  I added glitter because that's what I LOVE!

This tag was created using a Cut and Emboss set from Cuttlebug.  I created a back - like an easel -  and stamped it with the To and From stamps.  I applied a small amount of light blue ink to highlight the embossed snowflakes and attached a pretty "Peace on Earth" silver trimmed white ribbon from... from... gulp! I used the last of this ribbon and threw out the roll - oopie! sorry.  Then I applied a small bow from the Dollar Store.