One seed can start a garden, one candle can light a room, one step can begin a journey, one conversation can start a friendship, one smile from a handmade card can lift one's SPIRIT!

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Festive Friday meets Merry Monday for the final time this year

You get to select which of the challenges from the whole
year you would like to do AGAIN!  It must be new!
 
I chose the one with the trigger word PEACE.
Do you see it a few times on my card?
True peace comes from Our Savior...do you see HIM?
 
I couldn't NOT do this challenge along with Merry Monday
because that was white on white with a smidge of brown or kraft.
It is called "Magical Wonder"!
I used kraft for all the sentiments, stamped OFF once before stamping on my card.
After all the words from as many sets as I could find that had "peace" I then ran it through my cuttlebug with the PTI woodgrain embossing plate.
 
I stamped baby Jesus with dark chocolate and fussy cut HIM, (how come I don't have those dies?)
 
I wish you all a very blessed Thanksgiving day!
Heart Hugs,
Colleen

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

WPlus 9 Mood Board # 24

Hi Friends!  I have been gone for a few days...went to a memorial service for a cousins wife and I was able to spend the weekend with my BFF Linda in Maple Valley, WA.  We had a good time, talking, shopping and doing a little crafting....not as much as we usually do, but I was intent on making some Christmas tags to give as a gift to my hairdresser.  And it just so happened that WPlus9 was having their # 24 Mood Board, so I played along.
I used the Merry & Bright stamp set with the candle, greens and pinecone.
The sentiment is from a Papertrey set also called Merry & Bright.
I used the Lil' Inker circle stitched mat.
And the dimensionals on the berries are made with the Pearl Pen and then colored with red copics.
You can go HERE to play along.
And here is the inspiration photo:
I also used a little bit of Wink of Stella to give some shine to the greens and pinecone.
 
I rode the train home from Seattle to Oregon City and had a wonderful time just reading and relaxing.  Today my two girls and I did a little more Christmas shopping for their children...I always need a little help with the children, the mom's know the kiddos so well, then of course we had lunch together...just the three of us.  It was a special day to be shared with my daughters.
I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, I know our family has much to be thankful for this year.
Last year at this time my daughter was in chemo treatment and I was having surgery to remove a lower lobe of the lung because there was a cancer tumor on it...this year we both are in good health and the latest scans for both of us came back clean...so much to be grateful for, so thankful for the many prayers and love from everyone who helped us through those difficult times.  We look forward to sharing another holiday season with our family.

God Bless you all,
Heart Hugs,
Colleen

Thursday, November 21, 2013

A Special "BIRTH" day card for one of Our Own!!

                                      
       
Here at SEIZE THE BIRTHDAY  we are celebrating a special  "BIRTH" day today.  Jenny one of our design team members on Seize the Birthday had TWIN GIRLS on October 30th. and we are surprising her with special BIRTH - DAY cards to welcome her two sweet little girls into her family.

Congratulations Jenny!
I have two cute little bloomer outfits...identical for your little girls...along with matching hats!
 
Stamps: Stampendous: Baby Girl Block, PTI: Inside & Out Baby
copics for coloring
paper:  PTI white, Hibiscus burst, paper from stash
versarmark and white embossing powder
and some rock candy stickles over the BIRTH
 
Play along with us, please!  Go HERE  and check out the other cards.  Then join in the fun of double everything!
 
 

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Merry Monday # 84 and Curtain Call

This is for the Merry Monday Challenge where the cue word is "tree" with bling!  I added glossy accents to each of the red berries.
and also for the Curtain Call Challenge
Stamps:  PTI "Believe" colored with copics.
We are winding down with the Christmas challenges for this year...I think I have enough...more than enough!  But I am excited to continue with making cards even if it is for next year!

Colour Q # 216

LOVE the colors this week!!
You can go HERE   and access the challenge:  here are the colors for this week:
Fun, right?
 
and the inside

Lawn Fawn dies, PTI paper, and sentiment and border stamp
oh and a little blue twine from the Twinery!

Happy Day everyone!
Heart Hugs,
Colleen


CASology # 71 ~ Bells

In real life, this is so shiny, I used PTI shimmer paper for the bells and the bows, embossed with silver powder...so shiny and bright!
This is for the CASology challenge which you can access HERE .
Lots of different ideas for the "bells" cue word!  Go check it out!
 
Paper is all PTI, white and shimmer paper
stamps and dies:  Bells & Boughs, Holiday Lights
ink:  simply chartreuse
 
Heart Hugs,
Colleen

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Christmas Tags

Did you see Tracey's tags for the 25 Days of Christmas over on her blog: In My Creative Opinion ?  she is giving us lots of inspiration and a give away too!  And she has some fabulous guest designers showcasing some tags...very fun and very inspiring.  I couldn't help but get in on the fun.
I made a set of snowman and snowlady...holding a snowflake that was spread with rock candy stickles and some glitter.  I die cut them on the fold, so you can write inside the name of the person receiving the gift.
 
Thanks for the inspiration Tracey!
 
I have a couple of others from the first day that didn't get posted, I will do it here:


Since I was doing one, thought I may as well, do more...so here are three all using the Wonderful Words:  Snow stamp and die set...added some trees from Background Basics:  Evergreen and also trees from Masculine Motifs.
 
I am going to give a gift set of these tags (plus a few more that I will make) to my hairdresser, she loves them!  To and From are stamped on the back...from Bells & Boughs.
 
Do you make your tags?  Certainly is a good idea to get started early...and when you make one, make several...so easy to do that way!

Holiday card class day 2





I had to give it one more try, a little more elaborate this time.  I had to think about this and pay attention to what would be "on top" that was the first thing I had to cut, then worked my way down to the bottom layer...and it is indeed a bit of a puzzle...so everything here was die cut and then put back together, nothing layered on top!  It is called "Layered Die-Cut Inlay Cards"!
and the inside
Stamps are Wplus9 "Merry & Bright
PTI inks:  pure poppy, scarlet jewel, simply chartreuse, ripe avocado, harvest gold
the candle was made with Inka gold Metallic Rub in "silver"
thanks for taking a look!


Sunday, November 17, 2013

Holiday Card Class ~ Shari Carroll inspired


 
A little bit of stamping, pattern paper, embossing, twine and it is a quick and easy card!
 
The tree is a HA stamp, the sentiment is from a PTI winter Snow Globe set. The paper is lawn fawn: Peace, Joy, Love.
Lots of inspiration with this class.
I think I am finally getting caught up!
 
Happy Sunday, friends,
Colleenm
 


Saturday, November 16, 2013

Holiday Card Workshop day 2 JOY card with plaid stamping

The inspiration for this card came from Laura Bassen...you all know she loves to do plaids...so I gave it a try,  I need more practice!  and it is a little time consuming...but a very nice effect!
I used PTI one-liners and then stamped my plaids with PTI Super Stripes in Hawaiian shores, spring moss and winter wisteria.  I have to do some thinking for the inside of this card!  I am will come up with something!
 
 


Holiday Card Class Day 2 "layered Die-Cut Inlay cards"

Now that is a mouth full, isn't it?  The amazing Jennifer McGuire showed how to layer your die cuts, but still have them inlaid on the paper so it is a one layer card...Amazing.  I kept mine pretty simple, trust me, she had a lot of little pieces she was putting back together like a puzzle.  I thought I would keep it simple for my first try:

 
I always learn so much in these Online Card Classes!  Great teachers, great videos...
 
Papertrey stamps:  Bells & Boughs, TBF # 20
PTI paper:  white and pure poppy pattern paper
 
 Have a great weekend... am trying to play catch up with this card class...so hopefully you will see more of me!
 
Heart Hugs,
Colleen

Holiday Card Class Day 1 Using a PEACE die cut inside and out

One must improvise when one doesn't have the 'exact' stamps, die cuts or stencils...Joy Taylor made a beautiful card using a Falling Stars Die...it put little stars all over the face of the card...well, I did have a stencil, so I daubed on some winter wisteria ink (and it looks gray!) so I do have my stars!


I swiped a piece of paper with aqua mist, lavender moon and winter wisteria, then die cut the PEACE.  I saved the die cut for the inside of the card:
 
I selectively inked up a stamp from Signature Christmas for the inside sentiment.
Thanks for taking a look!
Colleen


CAS-ology # 70 ~ Triangle

 
Triangles is the cue word for this week's challenge.
I pulled out Holiday Cheer...it has three triangles!
 MFT stitched mat squares
simply chartreuse, orange zest, winter wisteria, Hawaiian shores
PTI paper white
 
You can go HERE  to access the challenge.

the inside...this is a square card 4.25 x 4.25 
have a great weekend
Heart Hugs,
Colleen

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Merry Monday # 83 Stripes, Red, brown...stars or hearts AND The Holiday Online Card Class



Over at The Merry Monday on Lelsey's blog Always Playing with Paper you can find the newest challenge for Merry Monday.  Red, Chocolate, stripes and stars or hearts.  Do you see that I have one little heart on my card?  Plus I have the word heart...that counts too, right?  And of course the stripes are there.
the inside has a gift card holder

All products are Papertrey
stamps:  Peaceful Pinecones, Love Lives Here: Holiay, Think big Favorites #20
paper:  dark chocolate, white, pure poppy, vellum
Super Stripes Embossing Plate
dies:  Bells & Boughs, Peaceful Pincecones
ink:  dark chocolate, pure poppy
Twinery Twine, washi tape

I am also going to enter this into the Hoilday Card Class...I embossed the front of my card and added the vellum to the inside for a little pocket for a gift card.

Thanks for taking a look friends!
Heart Hugs,
Colleen

Monday, November 11, 2013

Holiday Card Class Tri-Fold Card

 A tri-fold card with a large background stamp.
 
 
And with the card opened you can see the strip with the sentiment lays nicely in alignment with the front sentiment.  Another fun and different kind of card for the holidays!
 
Stamps & dies:  Love Lives Here:  Holiday, Stylish Sentiments:  Holiday, HA Holly Flourish,
 Fancy Flourishes
ink:  pure poppy, aqua mist, versamark
misc:  white embossing powder
paper:  PTI kraft, white, vellum


Festive Friday # 21 Colour Challenge ~ Holiday Card Class



Love these colors for Christmas!  Aqua, white and red! And if you would like to play along, go HERE   to access the Festive Friday blog and play along! 
and the inside is a little gift card holder
 
I wasn't going to take the Online Card Class, but have been feeling not so inspired the last couple of weeks, so I thought the class would give me a little boost and I think it did!
I like the idea of adding the little pocket to the inside, because I am like many who give a gift card to nieces and nephews.  I used washi tape to secure the three edges of the vellum pocket...and it "kind of" matches the polka dots on the face of the card!
 
stamps:  Fresh Squeezed: A Wee Christmas
paper:  PTI white and pure poppy pattern paper, aqua mist, vellum
ink:  black memento
copics, washi tape
 
God Bless all our Veterans who live and those who gave their lives for our freedom!
 
Heart Hugs,
Colleen
 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Dynamic Duos # 78 ~

This week it is "Subtly Yours" week over at Dynamic Duos green  and crumb cake colors!
 
Stamps:  Wplus9 Merry & Bright
dies:  Lil' Inkers stitched mat, Merry & Bright dies
paper:  PTI white, kraft, ripe avocado
inks:  PTI ripe avocado, fine linen and classy kraft, versafine black
misc:  a little glue pen and prisma glitter 
inside 
 
Busy weekend, now it is Sunday...a day to rest...enjoy yours!
Heart Hugs,
Colleen



Friday, November 8, 2013

Make It Monday: Stamped Frames

Well, hello, the title actually says "stamped square frames"...and I did a stamped circle frame...I guess I have to be a little different!  A great video by Dawn McVey over at the Capture the Moment Blog,
I took a sentiment from Tiny Treats: Christmas and placed it on my block following the curve of the circle. 

 
and the inside!
PTI pure poppy, white paper
Tiny & Tremendous Treats: Christmas, Peaceful Pinecones, HA sentiment
memento markers, Wink of Stella (gold, silver and clear!) and copics, silver uni-ball
inks:  pure poppy
dies:  Tremendous Treats: Christmas

Thanks for taking a look, hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Heart Hugs,
Colleen


 

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Seize the Birthday + toppings: Lots of texture (embossing!)





Welcome to Seize the Birthday!  And this week we have a topping...lots of texture (embossing!!).  Nothing like getting a vase with flowers for your birthday, is there?  I embossed the pink with PTI Woodgrain Impression Plate, the white was first cut with Lil' Inkers stitched mat stack and then embossed with the Linen Impression Plate.  I die cut the vase and then added it back in for texture.  The flowers and leaves were all die cut and then stamped.  I hope you will join us with a birthday card that has some texture to it, although it is just a topping, not mandatory on your card!

And the inside
PTI: paper:  white, sweet blush
stamps:  mega gracious vases, bigger blooms, Ruby Rose
inks:  hibiscus burst, lavender moon, winter wisteria, new leaf
dies:  Lil' Inkers stitched mat stacks,
Impression Plates:  wood grain, linen
Go HERE  to Seize the Birthday to play along.
Go Out and Make It a GREAT DAY!
Heart Hugs,
Colleen


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

CAS*ology # 69 "Brown"

The cue word this week is "Brown"...

You can go HERE  to access this challenge at the CASology Blog.
Stamps:  Hero Arts 'Tall Wheat', PTI 'Falling Leaves', PTI Autumn Abundance
inks:  distress vintage photo, versamark
misc:  white embossing powder, bling, golden wink of Stella
paper:  PTI white, dark chocolate
dies:  Lil' Inkers Stitched Mats rectangle
and the inside of the card...
 
Thanks for stopping by...
Heart hugs,
Colleen

Merry Monday # 82...Colors to play with


 
This week we have some colors to play with on our Christmas card.  Aqua, Red and White with CIRCLES!  I used the Lil' Inkers circle stitched set and then stamped my wreath on it.  I embossed the sentiment with 'rouge' Zing embossing powder.
 
Here  is where you need to go to play along with this weeks challenge.  I hope you will join in the fun...I love these Christmas colors!  Almost as much as I love the looks of those yummy cupcakes!!

 
stamps:  PTI Wreath for all Seasons, Think big # 20, Happiest of Holidays, Two Feet Deep
paper:  PTI white and aqua mist
ink:  dark chocolate, aqua mist, pure poppy, kraft
dies:  Lil' Inkers Circle Stitched Mat stack
and the inside of the card...I always try to make it a little softer, so I normally stamp off once before stamping the image on the inside of the card.
 
Thank you so much for taking a look!  Hope you have a great week!  I have NO voice...I bet my husband is happy about that!!
 
Heart Hugs,
Colleen