BELIEVE

Gosh it was a BUSY day at work today!  I had to be there at 7am this morning and didn't quit or take a break until 3pm....Mondays are always crazy at a doctors office...but the Mondays after a holiday weekend are the BUSIEST!!!  Needless to say my post today is REALLY LATE!!!!  Hope you like it though!  It's a spin from yesterday's card....I made it for a card challenge with my Stampin' Up team.  Each month there is a challenge and we vote...and someone wins $25 in product from our leader!  It's FUN and often gets me to try something new.  This month it was a color challenge.  We had to use Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White and Silver.

I used the background from Everything Eleanor again and the Believe stamp is a carryover stamp from last year.  It is in the set Snowflake Soiree...(item#127925 for clear and #127922 for wood).  It's a great set.  On the inside of the card I dry embossed the new Silver Foil paper (LOVE this paper) with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder and the sentiment is from More Merry Messages (item #126402 clear and #126400 wood)...another carryover set.  It was a FUN challenge....I'll let you know if I win!!!hehehe

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Hope YOU ALL have a FANTASTIC week!!


Until next time.....Darla

Joyful Tidings

Well...Thanksgiving has past...so quickly!  We enjoyed a delicious traditional turkey dinner with all of the fixings.  I hope you all enjoyed and cherished your friends and family over the last few days.  I was blessed to have all but my oldest home for the holiday.  He had to stay in Davis and be available at work...in case there was a power outage.  He's gonna try to come home this weekend!  I am so thankful that my kids want to come home to visit, catch up and refresh...it simply doesn't matter when...just that they do!!!

Now we are on to Christmas....we went and cut down our tree yesterday...it's just perfect...CAN'T WAIT to decorate!  Today I want to share a simple card that I just loved making!  My home group made it at my last workshop...along with a few other things which I will be sharing in days to come!

 

To make this card I used the Christmas Messages stamp set in the Holiday Catalog.   I stamped the Joyful Tidings in Sahara Sand on Whisper White cardstock, punched it out with the Decorative Label punch and inked the edges with Early Espresso Ink.  The base of the card is Crumb Cake with a layer of Cherry Cobbler and then a layer of Whisper White.  I used a stamp from the Everything Eleanor set to stamp the background...on the outside in Cherry Cobbler and on the inside in Sahara Sand.  I then attached the Joyful Tidings with dimensionals.  The bottom of the card front is Old Olive cardstock which I dry embossed using the Stripes embossing folder.  To finish it off I used Early Espresso 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, a few Pearl Basic Jewels and stamped the sentiment (also from the Christmas Messages set) on the inside in Early Espresso.

I hope this gives you some ideas for your cards or just simply copy this one.  Either way...take time to create today!  Be sure to come back for more ideas and techniques...AND...I have a new advent calendar idea I am going to be sharing (I'm already a day behind...but my kids will have fun catching up!)

Thanks a bunch!!

Darla

 

WEEKLY DEALS!!!!

Good Morning Everyone!!!  Hope it is a TERRIFIC TUESDAY for you!  Yesterday was definitely a Monday for me!  I forgot to rinse the conditioner out of my hair and couldn't figure out why I couldn't get my hair to go right....when I finally did  GET IT...it was to late to start over so I just had to go with it! YIKES....no one could tell but I felt horrible.  I have a part time job at a doctors office and didn't want to be late...and then...I didn't have any ice tea made..so NO CAFFEINE! What a day!  

 TODAY

I wanted to make sure you were in the know about the Weekly Deals and don't forget about the Holiday Sale!

Be sure to check back...I have lots of ideas and techniques coming up!!!

A Special Gift

Today I wanted to share a special gift idea!  This is a project I did with my workshop ladies earlier this year so they could have something to jot ideas, measurements, etc. down in.  We simply covered those black composition books with designer paper....adhering them liberally with the Anywhere gluestick.  I used the sanding block to sand the edges around the book....melding them together and then distressed inked those edges with Early Espresso Ink.  Notice the Basic Pearl Jewels and the Antique Brad.  We also made the decorated the pen using the multipurpose adhesive sheets and micro beads....

I also decorated the inside (and outside) cover...including a spot to put a special note, example, wishlist....

Below is a close up of the stamped detail on the inside cover.  I just LOVE this stamp...Daring Adventure. Unfortunately it is retired, but you could use of the great saying from the Feels Good stamp set...or so many others.

I use these decorated notebooks for so many different things.  I have a JOY Journal where I find at least one joyful thing to write about each day.  I have one to keep track of my family budget.  I even have a FOOD and EXERCISE journal to keep track of my food intake and exercise.  My ladies LOVED this project.  I let them choose their paper, so everyone was different.  I SHOULD HAVE TAKE PHOTOS!!!  

TIP:  you can find these notebooks for under a dollar during back to school sales, so stock up!

Start now and make one for your Christmas memories!  There is no limit to your creativity!

Have a SUPER day and come visit again soon!

Thanks a bunch!!

Darla

 

Gift Bow Die....LOVE IT!!!

Last night was my husbands birthday!  We celebrated with barbequed porterhouse steaks (what a treat), baked potato, broccoli salad, garlic bread, yellow cake with chocolate frosting and vanilla ice cream.  My gift to him was a Magic Bullet.  Of course I had to make my own bow with the Gift Bow Bigz L Die.  When I first saw this die I didn't really think much of it....it wasn't on that I was dying to get my hands on....BUT then I tried it and FELL IN LOVE!

At my November workshop we put together this cute, quick and easy gift bag...IDEAL for a big cookie or CD!  We used a Tag a Bag gift bag, 7/8" Cotton Ribbon, Linen Thread and the Gift Bow Die.  The bow was made from Polka Dot Parade designer paper.  The center of the bow was stamped with a carryover stamp from More Merry Messages on Real Red card stock with versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  A rhinestone in the middle adds a little bling.  FINISHED IN A SNAP!

I also made this adorable hair clip for my eight year old daughter, using felt and a Frosted Finishes Embellishment!  Yes...It cuts through felt....TALK ABOUT EASY!!!!



I have a plan now for all of my Christmas bows!  I have seven children and a husband...(thank goodness)!  When I wrap packages, each child has their own wrapping paper for all of their packages.   This year I am going to wrap all of my packages in butcher paper and I designate a different color of bow to each child's package.  I don't put names on any of the packages, but have a list of who has which wrapping paper...BUT THIS YEAR...who has which color of bow!!  FUN FUN FUN!!!!  As an added bonus....if I box them up safely...I can reuse them next year....(I'm turning into my mother!!!!)

Hope you enjoyed this post....thanks for stopping by and have a BLESSED DAY!

Thanks a bunch!!

Darla

Joseph's Coat Technique

This technique is called Joseph's Coat.  I'm sure many of you have heard of it and have played with it before.  I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED IT AND I LOVE IT!!!  The stamp set I used was Magnificent Maple from the Holiday Catalog.  The colors of ink I used were Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green and Early Espresso.  I also used the Expressions framelits and burlap ribbon from the Holiday Catalog.

To do this, I simply sponged Garden Green, Crushed Curry and Pumpkin Pie completely covering a piece of Whisper White cardstock (4 x 5 1/4).  Next I stamped with versamark the maple leaf and I heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I then took my brayer, inked it up with Early Espresso and rolled it over the cardstock until it was as dark as I could get it.  I then took a paper towel and wiped away the ink that didn't adhere to the stamped image to reveal my BEAUTIFUL LEAVES!!! Isn't it amazing!!!  On my second card I really inked the paper up good...so that the colors were deeper.  Don't you just love this technique?!?!  I can't wait to play some more!   
You should give it a try!

I love that you visited my blog today!  HAPPY STAMPING!!

Thanks a bunch!!

Darla

BACK TO BLOGGING....hope you'll join me!

Hi Everyone....LONG TIME...NO BLOG!!!!   I have really missed doing my blog and look forward to getting back at it!  I have lots to share with you!  I have been MISSING IN ACTION for nearly a year.  

So much has happened....but I have never stopped my paper crafting.  It did have to slow down a bit though, as I have been blessed to be able to help my mom and dad as my dad battled colon cancer.  He lost his 2 1/2 year battle on October 26th, 2013 after the cancer metastasized to his brain.  My folks would be celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary this Sunday, November 24th, had my dad made it just a little bit longer.   I hope I have that many years with my husband!!!

I have also had my fourth child, Erik graduate high school!  My fifth, a daughter, Becca, is graduating in June of 2014...and then my husband and I will only have two left at home...Kate currently in third grade and Adam a sixth grader.  Life just continues to happen and changes so quickly!!!!  

I am committed to making this blog a success and keeping it up to date now that life is calming down a bit.  So be sure to check back regularly for updates and ideas.  

Tell your friends about me and help me get the word out that I AM BACK!!

I chose now to get back at it because Stampin' Up is having an incredible sale and I wanted you to at least know about it.  Click on the link below to see what is on sale...there are some FANTASTIC deals!!!

There are also some FUN weekly deals to check out!  Just click below.

I have some projects to share with you also...so don't forget to check back!  I will be posting one later today!  Thank you all for your support and encouragement!  I can't wait to blog with you today, tomorrow and in the future!

Thanks a bunch!!

Darla