Top 10 or 2010

Seeing that several people have been posting their top 10 cards of the past year, I decided to stroll  through my own blog  and see what I had posted over the last year. This turned out to be a very good exercise for me. My mojo has been missing lately, so it was encouraging to see what I had created during the year. I chose the following for various reasons--satisfaction in the final product, joy in the creative process, fondness of the stamp set.  In no particular order-- my top 10 of 2010.

Happy New Year !!!

Seasonal Silhouette

Hello, everyone!   I hope you are having a fabulous weekend. Friday night we celebrated my SIL's birthday. My MILtreated us to dinner at the city's longest operating restaurant which has been owned by the same family and in business for over 90 years. Sadly, it is closing at the end of the year. The current owner, an elderly gentlemen, greeted guests at each table. He seemed so sad as he thanked us for the memories.

Yesterday, I finished baking the last of the holiday cookies---appoximately 42 dozen this year. I'll be glad to put away the flour sifter for awhile :)  I've just a few more gifts to wrap, so the next few days are all about cleaning until Thursday when I'll be doing some cooking for our dinner on Friday with my sister and BIL and Christmas Day when my husband's family comes for dinner.

Tonight, we plan to take my MIL out to look at Christmas lights and decorations.

Now for a little crafty talk. Have you noticed a growing trend in silhouettes?  Have you seen the new releases from Hero Arts? There are several silhouette stamps in the new catalog. Also in the latest issue of Paper Crafts there is card featuring a cameo inspired stamp. I took this growing trend and pulled out my Cricut and A Child's Year cartridge earlier this week and cut some holiday silhouettes. The santa silhouette is hiding somewhere on my desk waiting for his home on tag.  But I did finish this card in time to mail to my dear sis.

I am linking this to The Pink Stamper 12 Days of Christmas Challenge

 I have a strong feeling, I'll be making silhouette cards throughout the year.

A huge thanks to my blogging friend Peggy at Artfull Journey, whom I wrote about meeting in this post, and  who kindly  gave me

Once given this award, you are to:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this
2. Share 8 things about yourself
3. Pay it forward to 8 bloggers you have recently discovered
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards


So eight random things about me.

   1. When, I was six,  I had a pink- dyed chicken that I cleverly named Pinky. Does any one else remember when live chickens were dyed at Easter?

   2. Speaking of chickens, I got the chicken pox when I was student teaching.

   3. My favorite television shows include The Closer, NCIS, Burn Notice, The Mentalist, and The Daily Show.

   4. I love to look at Johnny Depp.

   5. My husband and I began dating in high school and married 6 years later.

   6. I prefer cookies over candy. (I guess this explains my Christmas baking. :)

   7. I love big purses

       8. Oprah's latest book club selection, Charles Dickens'  A Tale of Two Cities selection, was the first novel I taught in 1979, one I taught  many times during my 30-year career, and a novel I still read once a year.   I love Dickens's style; he has some of the most clever figurative language. And two of my favorite character are Sydney Carton and Madame Defarge. One of my most treasured teaching keepsakes is a student's college application essay on how this novel influenced him.

I am happy to pass this award on to these following talented ladies.

Diane at Peaceful Lane

Nerina at A Creative Inkling

Angy at The Crafty Cappuccino

Aimes at Crafting Confessions

Peggysue at Roses by my Window

Sue Ann  at Simply Sue Ann

Kelly at Gingham Girl

Linda at Stitches and Ink

Finally,thanks to those of you who have recently become followers; I promise to visit you soon.

Stamps :Documentary (Prima)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black(Tsukineko), Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Aqua Mist,True Black (PTI); Christmas Town /Night Divine (LillyBee Designs)
Other: A Child's Year Cricut Cartridge; Deckled Rectangle die, Snowflake die (Spellbinders); Aqua Mist grosgrain ribbon, Vintage button (PTI);glitter (Martha Stewart); tinsel

November Papertrey Blog Hop Challenge-- Tag Time

Welcome to another stop on the PTI blog hop where the challenge this month was to create holiday tags. I know you've many blogs to visit, so let's get to it.  I created some single layer tags that should withstand piled-on  gifts under the Christmas tree.

First, I cut Rustic Cream cs with  the Tag 1 die. Then inspired by Betsy Veldman, I pullled out several stamps and created a collage background  in Simply Chartreuse ink (PTI) for each tag and aged the edges with Antique Linen distress ink (Ranger). Then the other images were stamped in Scarlet Jewel (PTI) and Olive (Colorbox pigment) inks. I've listed the stamps below.

 I am looking forward to visiting your blogs later this evening or mayby tomorrow and seeing what everyone has created and getting more ideas for tags (perhaps with a cup of coffee and a slice of  pumpkin pie--that's me,not the tags, with the coffee and pie) :)

Finally, I want to leave you with my deep gratitude for your kindness, encouragement, inspiration, creativity, and friendship. When I purchased my first stamp set, I had no idea what a wonderfully beautiful and warm world would open for me.
With heartfelt thanks,


All stamps used are PTI
Seasons Greetings: Round and Round,  Just the Ticket, Holly Jolly, Distressed Stripes, Background Basics: Text Style, A Little Argyle, Mini Scrapbook Series: Library Ledger
Joy: Stocking Prints, Signature Christmas, Beyond Basic Borders, Background Basics: Text Style, Embellishments, Background Basics:Botanicals, Limitless Labels, Background Basics: Hearts
Happy Holidays: Holly Jolly, Distressed Stripes, Background Basics: Text Style, A Little Argyle
Merry Christmas: A Wreath for All Seasons, Background Basics: Text Style, Background Basics: Hearts, Background Basic Botanicals

Thanksgiving Favors

I love PTI's favor dies.  You can quickly crank out these little treat holders.   I made these favors filled with chocolate mints for our Thanksgiving guests. Making these has been the best part of Thanksgiving preparations.  That's right-- more fun than grocery shopping, house cleaning, and ironing. :)

For those of you in the states-Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thankful for your sweet comments and friendship,

Holiday Planner, Peeps Challenge #20

Many are gearing up for the holidays. Here in the U.S. Thursday is Thanksgiving, so I have been busy planning our menu , grocery shopping, and the preparing the house for Thanksgiving guests.  I love making lists and checking off items. Are you a list maker? As a list maker, I love Michelle Wooderson's notebooks. Last year I gave a holiday planner to my SIL. This year she is participating in a stocking party with her coworkers and asked me make some holiday planners which I made last month but never got around to posting. (My first official commissioned work!)

 Some small gift tags to tuck  in the interior pocket.

A few large tags to dress up the packaging. I used the Limit Layer Die and followed Nichole Heady's tutorial to make the rosettes.

I hope these planners help these ladies organize their holidays.

Since I am behind in the Papertrey Peeps Challenges, I was glad to see Kim's challenge to use a PTI product line since several of the stamps I used fit the requirement.

Now I'm going to check off a few items on today's to-do-list.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
 
Supplies:
Stamps: Take Note, Tiny Treats:Christmas, Distressed Stripes, Fillable Frames #9,Holly Jolly (PTI)
Ink: Simply Chartreuse (PTI),  Memento Black Tuxedo (Tsukineko), Cranberry Pigment Ink (Colorbox)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy (PTI)
Patterned Paper-Tinsel and Twig (The Girls Paperie)
Other: Copics, Christmas tree die (Spellbinders); Button die (MFT); Limitless Layers Die, Rickrack die,    Tag die, Fillable Frame #9 die, Simply Chartreuse felt (PTI); baker's twine, holly punch (Martha Stewart)

Papertrey October Blog Hop Challenge

Welcome to my stop on this month's PTI Blog Hop. You can find  the challenge and the list of the participants here.
The front of my card has a little vintage look with PTI's Background Basics Botanicals and Everyday Treats. The sentiment is computer generated.

But the purpose is not clear.So let's look inside.

Still wondering?  Pull the string.

Keep pulling.
A baby banner ( dont you love alliteration?)  And a wish for a Happy Hanukkah.

Where to put this?
The hutch?

The book case?

A picture?

Think of all the special  individualized pocket pennants or baby banners you can make with a tiny triangle or circle, an alphabet stamp set, and some twine.

Now, I'm off to do a few tasks around the house and then I'll start hopping.

Supplies:
Stamps: Background Basics: Botancicals, Everyday Treats, Ambassador Monogram Edition (PTI); Very Small Circles(Waltzingmouse Stamps); Banner-small (Pink Persimmon)
Ink: Enchanted Evening, Fresh Snow(PTI)
Paper: Enchanted Evening (PTI)
Other: Mat Stack Die #4, Beautiful Blooms Die #1, Baker's Twine-Enchanted Evening, Enchanted Evening twill ribbon, White and Cream Vintage Buttons (PTI); Star Dust Stickles (Ranger)

Soft Sympathy --Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge 89

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend.  Since it was sunny and warm here, yesterday afternoon I pulled up the last impatiens and planted some more violas; then I found a sunny spot to soak up a little vitamin D while reading and watching the falling leaves. Today is a rainy day, so I'll be inside, watching "those falling leaves drift by my window"
The latest Flourishes challenge which ends today is to make the sentiment the focus of the card.

I love the elegant font of this sentiment from Thinking of You by Flourishes.  The elegance of the focal point and the papers is contrasted with the simple design of the card. And from a practical side, this is a mail-friendly card.

Thanks for stopping by and have wonderfall day,
 
Supplies:
Stamps: Thinking of You (Flourishes), Very Vintage Labels No. 4 (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Versacraft Cool Grey (Tsukineko)
Paper: Fine Linen(PTI),  Cappella Paper Pad (Basic Grey)
Other: Labels 4 (Spellbinders), border punch (Fiskars), Fine Linen satin ribbon (PTI)

Flourishes Details are Sketchy Challenge

I'm posting this as time is running down for Flourishes Details are Sketchy Challenge. I'll be back later to add the details for this card.

Happy Halloween, Sis

I made this card for my sister. This little pumpkin miss and cat are perfect for her since my sister is an avid reader, although she is a complete Kindle convert, so her piles of books are diminishing as her e-books grow. And the black cat will remind her of our childhood cat Inky and his connection to Halloween which I explained in this post and her cat Isabeau and my cat Augustus Ciaran. She also is a former English teacher, so I  am sure she will love  the background paper that includes text from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." I made sure to leave some of the characters' names visible. The top of the tag is stamped with Background Basics:Botanicals in Orange Zest ink. I colored the tag reinforcement with a Copic Marker. I added the black bow to complement  the bow on Miss Pumpkin's bonnet. I added an orange felt flower ,cut with Cuttlebug dies, with a button and cut the 31 with Cuttlebug dies.
 I wonder if the rick rack trim (made with PTI's die) will remind her of our sewing rick rack on bathroom curtains.
 I enjoyed making this vintage styled card for my dear sister.

Challenges for this card

The Shabby Tea Room :Vintage Halloween using the colors orange and blag in the inspiration photo
Cards Blog :Halloween card.

As always thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment,

EHWCMD4

Another quick post for Ellen Hutson's WCMD festivities.
 The fourth of six challenges posted on Ellen Hutson's the Classroom blog to celebrate WCMD is a Glitz Challenge hosted by Sharon Harnist.

I made this gold glittery frame about a year ago, so I was glad to be able to use it along with some of the Webster's Pages paper I so love. I used Card Patterns Sketch 84

The flower is spritzed with Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist, a recent purchase from Ellen Hutson.
Thanks for stopping by,

Supplies:
Stamps:Holiday Wishes(PTI)
Ink: Ripe Avocado(PTI)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado (PTI):  Petite Papers: Home for the Holidays and Winter Wings(Webster's Pages)
Other: Labels 4 (Spellbinders), Smoky Quartz glitter(Martha Stewart), cream satin ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Pearl Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Fairyland Roses (Prima)

EHWCMD2

I hope you had a little time to get crafty this weekend and celebrate World Card Making Day. I had some time to play along with some of the great challenges posted on Ellen Hutson's the Classroom Blog and had a chance to use some of the items that I ordered from Ellen earlier in the week. This is a great place to shop--- so many products, great customer service--frequent shopper discounts and super fast shipping, and great educational and inspirational blogs.
All righty, on to  the sketch challenge hosted by Julia Stainton.

My card---

While the smaller snowflake is cut from Craft-a-board, the larger is simply cut from cardstock because  of the ease of cutting the more intricate design. I attached the smaller with snippets of dimensional tape.

Check out these fun challenges. You have until Wednesday evening to play along.


Supplies:
Stamps: Signature Greetings: Christmas(PTI)
Ink: Smoky Shadow (PTI)
Paper: Vintage Cream PTI), Road Show (Fancy Pants)
Other: Snowflakes (Spellbinders), border punch (Fiskars), Crystal Coarse Glitter (Martha Stewart),  cream twine (PTI), Essential by Ellen Craft-a-Board (Ellen Hutson), Glossy Accents (Ranger), cream twill (Wrights)