Ah Thanksgiving!

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Thanksgiving is certainly in the air this week and on my mind, it is, after all, my very favorite holiday. Remember the old poem/song, "Over the River..."? That has always been one of my favorite songs and a lot of people don't know that it is really written about Thanksgiving. Before you get caught up in the busy preparation of Thanksgiving...sit a spell, have a cup of tea and enjoy the words/lyrics that take you back to a simpler time...

Over the River
(Thanksgiving Day)

Over the river and through the wood
To Grandmother's house we go.
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh
Through white and drifted snow.

Over the river and through the wood
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

Over the river and through the wood
To have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring
Ting-a-ling-ling!
Hurrah forThanksgiving Day!

Over the river and through the wood,
Trot fast, my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground
Like a hunting hound,
For this is Thanksgiving Day

Over the river and through the wood,
And straight through the barnyard gate.
We seem to go
Extremely slow~
It is so hard to wait

Over the river and through the wood~
Now Grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for fun!
Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

By Linda Maria Child

Be still and know that I am God!

What a great scripture...at first glance, it doesn't say much, but when you consider the Lord, you realize how much it does say! I was inspired by this scripture when I created this card...when I think of God, I think of his marvelous works and how the heavens declare His glory! Here's the deets:

Dimensions: 5"X5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Leaves & Pretty Little Scriptures
Cardstock and Paper: Basic Grey Ambrosia Collection, Paper Trey White Cardstock, Black Cardstock
Inkpads: SU! More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal and Stazon Black
Accessories and Embellishments: Nestabilities Regular Square Dies, Martha Stewart Border Punch, SU! Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Tsukineko Daubers, Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Argyle & Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Gold Brads, Black Photo Anchors, Making Memories Black Grommet/Jumbo Eyelet, American Crafts Dimensionals, Signo Black Gel Pen, Krylon Gold Leafing Pen, Satin Ribbon
Special Technique: Cuttlebug Embossing, Sponging, Paper Piercing

Instructions:
From the Basic Grey Ambrosia Collection, I cut the 5"x5" card base mat, a 4.5"4.5" gold mat, a 4-3/8"x4-3/8" black cardstock mat, a 3-7/8"x3-7/8" patterned coordinating mat. The gold mat was run through the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder and the paisley patterned paper was run through the Cuttlebug Argyle Embossing Folder for added texture. I cut a 1" wide strip of another coordinating print for the horizontal strip under the stamped image. The black border was punched using a Martha Stewart Zig Zag Border Punch, and glued under the print horizontal strip.

Two square mats were cut using Nestabilities Regular Square Dies. The leaves were stamped onto PaperTrey White Cardstock and then cut with Nestabilities Regular Square Die. I sponged the four corners of the stamped image using SU! Apricot Appeal first, then Pumpkin Pie for added intensity. I paper pierced the upper left corner and the lower right corner of the stamped image. I added dash doodles around the four edges using a Signo Black Gel Pen. A black cardstock mat was cut using Nestabilities Regular Square Die.

Using a Krylon Gold Leafing Pen, I edges the four sides of the two black mats, as well as the black zig zag punched border. I popped up the stamped image mat on the black mat. A hole was punched fr the large black grommet, where I ran the rust colored satin ribbon through the grommet and around the backside of the card base, adhering it to the back. The stamped image and black mat were popped up over the underneath card layers and ribbon. I punched 2 holes for the two photo anchors and brads for embellishing. The card was finished by gluing the card base to a 5"x5" white cardstock lining.

Monochromatic for Vikki

One of my friends in the "Travelin' Dork Sisters" group on the SCS website, VikkiJo Erickson, requested a monochromatic card from her sisters...she was very curious about them and was, for some reason, focused on them like a cat eyeing a spider! LOL Anyway, I created this card for my friend, Vikki, before I was hit with that nasty gastrointestinal superbug last week and I'm just now uploading it and getting it out in the mail to her. I wasn't sure of all the "rules" of a monochromatic card, but I just "winged it!" To me, a monochromatic card is simply one of different tones of the same hue...well, that's my interpretation. Here's the deets:

Dimensions: 5"X5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Pretty Little Scriptures, Scrappy Cat Floral Scrolls
Cardstock and Paper: K& Co. Addison Scrap Pad, K&Co. Remake Blue Collection, ColorMates Deep Terrific Teal and Light Terrific Teal, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Inkpads: SU! Tempting Turquoise, Taken with Teal and Stazon Black
Accessories and Embellishments: Marvy Regular and Scalloped Oval Punches, SU! Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Tsukineko Daubers, Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Fanciful Flowers & Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Sewing Machine, Thread, Self-Adhesive Pearls, American Crafts Dimensionals, Satin Ribbon
Special Technique: Cuttlebug Embossing, Sponging, Paper Piercing

Instructions:
The card base was cut to 5"x5" from Colormates Deep Terrific Teal, then a 4.5"x4.5" mat from K&Co. Addison Scrap Pad, then a 4"x4 mat from Colormates Light Terrific Teal and the center mat to 3.75"x3.75" from K&Co. Remake Blue Collection designer paper. I ran the 5"x5" mat through the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, and the smallest 3.75"x3.75" mat through the Cuttlebug Fanciful Flowers Embossing Folder. I machine stitched around all four sides of all square mts except the Colormates Light Terrific Teal mat (2nd smallest mat).

The sentiment was stamped onto Paper Trey White Cardstock using SU! Taken with Teal ink and the sentiment was stamped over the leaves using Stazon Black Ink. The sentiment was punched out using a Marvy Regular Oval Punch and I punched a scalloped mat using K&Co. Addison Scrap Pad paper using a Marvy Scallop Oval Punch. I sponged the edge of the sentiment oval using first SU! Tempting Turquoise and then more heavily using SU! Taken with Teal. I paper pierced around the scallops of the sentiment mat. I popped up the sentiment oval using American Crafts Dimensionals on the scalloped mat, and then popped that up on the center square 3.75"x3.75 mat.

To embellish, I wrapped a turquoise satin ribbon around the upper left corner and lower right corner. I added self-adhesive "pearls" around the sentiment and to tie things together on the lower right corner ribbon. The card was finished by gluing the card base to a 5"x5" white cardstock lining.

A little sick

Just a short post to say that I've been hit with a gastrointestinal virus that has been wicked to say the least. As soon as I bounce back, I'll be uploading a few new creations to share, as well as new December sneak peeks for Clear Dollar Stamps. The sneak peeks will be uploaded beginning November 26th, and I have to say there are a lot of very cute stamps sets about to be released! Stay tuned...

To Brighten Little Reggie's Day

I'm a member of the Splitcoast Stamping Community and also a member of the "Traveling Dork Sisters" thread. One of our "Dork Sisters" Jackie Bowman's son, Little Reggie has been struggling with a health situation and has been hospitalized. The physicians have not made a diagnosis, and he has been to two different hospitals. Latest word is that he is home, still in pain and still no diagnosis! I made this card to brighten his day with some neon! Please remember Jackie and Little Reggie and family in your prayers as they struggle through this storm.

Dimensions: 4.25"x5.5', Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Stampin' Up! Pun Fun
Techniques: Basic Stamping,Sponging, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: Generic Black Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Brilliance Moonlight White, Stampin' Up! Summer Sun & Pacific Point Inks
Tools: Nestabilities Regular and Scalloped Round Dies, Cuttlebug and Dots Embossing Folder, Krylon Brights Pens - Yellow, Blue & Green, Prismacolor Pencils, Odorless Mineral Spirits, Blending Stumps, Signo White Gel Pen, Signo Black Gel Pen, American Crafts Dimensionals
Embellishments: Doodlebug Limeade Ric Rac, Doodlebug Brad

Instructions:
The card base was cut from black cardstock to 4.25"x5.5" size. Four rectangular mats were cut by hand to the following sizes: out of white cardstock 5-1/8"x3-7/8", out of black cardstock 4.75"x3.5", out of white cardstock 4-3/8"x3.25", and out of black cardstock 4"x2.75". The largest white mat was sponged with SU! Summer Sun ink all over and then edged around the 4 sides using a Krylon Brights Green Paint Pen, and set aside to dry. The next mat, a black one was sponged with Brilliance Moonlight White all over and then edged around the 4 sides using a Krylon Brights Blue Paint Pen, and set aside to dry. The next mat, a white one was sponged all over with SU! Pacific Point ink all over and then edged around the 4 sides using a Krylon Brights Yellow Paint Pen, and set aside to dry.

The image was stamped onto black cardstock using Brilliance Moonlight White, and then coloring with Prismacolor Pencils and blended with Mineral Spirits, using blending stumps. The stamped image was cut out using a Nestabilities Regular Round Die and then, I cut a Round Scalloped Mat out of Paper Trey's Gorgeous White Cardstock using the Nestablities Scalloped Circle Die. I edged the black stamped circular mat using the Krylon Brights Yellow Paint Pen, and set aside to dry. Then, I edged the scalloped edges using a Krylon Brights Blue Paint Pen, setting that aside to dry. I glued all 4 rectangular mats together. Dot doodles were added to the circular mats using Signo White and Black Gel Pens.

To embellish, I added 2 rows of Doodlebug Limeade Ric Rac, securing to the back of the stack of rectangular mats. I glued the two circular mats together, and then popped them up on American Crafts Dimensionals over top the secured Ric Rac. I added one single bright yellow big brad from Doodlebug. All glued layers were glued to the black cardstock base. I added doodle dots around the edge of the card base using a Signo White Gel Pen.

I hope that you like this Reggie, and we're praying for you, hon! God Bless!

Fast, But Lovingly Created!

Would you believe I had to whip out another card in a hurry? Whew! My Little Sister on SCS (Divine Secret Siblings) needed some happy mail, so I had to get crackin' and whip up something. I decided to use my new Clear Dollar Stamps Set "Deer Wishes". It is their Stamp of the Month Set for November, and if you order $50.00 or more, the Stamp of the Month Set is free! I love the deer's dear sweet face (no pun intended!). Okay, now for the deets:

Dimensions: 5"X5", Card opens from the bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps "Deer Wishes" Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Background Stamping, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits, Sponging, Machine Stitching
Paper: DCWV Winter Glitter Mat Stack, Colormates Medium Berry Red & Deep Teal, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Baja Blue Ink and Stazon Black Ink
Tools: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Snowflake Embossing Folder, Cuttlebag Tags Die Cuts, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch, Krylon Gold Leafing Pen, Signo White Gel Pen, Signo Black Gel Pen, Sakura Stardust Glitter Pen, Sakura Souffle Pen, Amercan Crafts Dimensionals, Tsukineko Sponge Daubers
Embellishments: Hero Arts Snowflake Brad, American Crafts Brads, Scrapworks Alphadots Sentiment & Conch, Michael's Holiday Ribbon

Instructions:
The card base was cut from Colormates Deep Teal cardstock to 5"x5". I embossed that square using the Cuttlebug and the Snowflake embossing folder. Next, I cut a 4.5"x4.5" square mat out of the DCWV Glitter Mat Stack using a piece of white glittered cardstock. Another square mat 4.25"x4.25" was cut using the Colormates Medium Berry Red cardstock, and another square mat using the DCWV Glitter Mat Stack was cut with an aqua and white chevron/snowflake/stripe patterned piece of cardstock to 4"x4". I machine stitched around all 4 sides on the deep teal and the aqua and white patterned square mats.

The image was stamped using Stazon Black ink on Paper Trey's gorgeous White Cardstock. I prismacolored the image using mineral spirits and blending stumprs. I cut out the image using the Nestabilities regular square die and then made a scalloped square mat using the Nestabilities scalloped square die set. I sponged around the edge of the stamped image with Stampin Up! Baja Ink. I "dotted" the background sky using a Tsukineko spong dauber lightly. I added some dimension to the ground simulating snow with a Sakura Souffle pen. I retraced the snowflake stamped images using a Sakura Stardust Glitter pen to add some sparkle. I added a little "Stardust" to the little cardinal, as well. I dot doodled around the image using a Signo Black Gel Pen and then dot doodled around the red scalloped mat using a Signo White Gel Pen. The stamped image was popped up on American Crafts Dimensionals and then adhered to the red scalloped mat, which was also popped up on Dimensionals on the center square aqua & white patterned mat.

The sentiment was from an old stash of Scrapworks Alphadots. These are chipboard preprinted circles that you just punch out and put inside a matching size metal "conch". The Scrapworks conch was silver in color, and since I wanted to use a ribbon edged in metallic gold, I decided to paint the conch using a Krylon Gold Leafing Pen! I added dot doodles around the parameter of the sentiment using a Signo Black Gel Pen. The sentiment slide was created using a Cuttlebug Tag/Slide die set out of the Colormates Medium Berry Red cardstock. I dot doodled around the sentiment slide using a Signo White Gel Pen. I attached the sentiment and conch to the sentiment slide and slide my red holiday & gold edged ribbon behind the slide and anchored to the back of the card. I added two bow knots and added a white piece of organza ribbon on each bow knot.

To embellish and balance the card elements, I added 2 red brads from American Crafts and one white snowflake brad from Hero Arts to bring the eye to the sentiment. I dot doodled around the red mat using a Signo White Gel Pen. The card was finished by gluing the card base to a 5"x5" white cardstock lining.

A New Little Monkey...

I seem to be at a place where I'm making cards in a hurry...not a place I like to be! I usually take 3-5 hours to complete a card from beginning concept to finished product. This card was one that I needed to get done in a hurry because I procrastinated for months. I only procrastinated because my collection of "baby" type stamps is limited, and I didn't want to buy a new set, so I just kept putting it off. The card is for my niece, Jessica, who just gave birth to her second child, a boy, on her grandfather's (my father) birthday, October 23rd! I had this cute set by Clear Dollar Stamps called "Monkey Accessories"...I guess the Baby Monkey is an accessory (LOL), and the Mama Monkey is from a CDS set called "Monkey Madness". As followers of my blog are learning, I am obsessed with this monkey ; )

Dimensions: 4.25:x5.5", Card opens from right side
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps "Monkey Madness" and "Monkey Accessories" Stamp Sets
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: K&Co. Blue Collection, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stazon Black Ink
Tools: Cuttlebug, Dotted Swiss Embossing Folder, Buttons Embossing Border Folder, Nestabilities Regular Square Die and Scalloped Square Die, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch, Primsacolor Pencils, Odorless Mineral Spirits, Blending Stumps, American Crafts Dimensionals
Embellishments: American Crafts Striped Ribbon, Bo Bunny Brads

Instructions:
The card base was cut from Paper Trey White Cardtock to 4.25"x5.5" size. The front panel was run through the Cuttlebug using the Dotted Swiss embossing folder. On a separate strip of matching white cardstock, I embossed with the Buttons Embossing Border folder and then using Fiskars Paper Shapers Scallop Scissors, I hand cut the bottom scallop border.

A strip of turquoise striped patterned paper was cut and glued down across the bottom and the sentiment was stamped with Stazon Black Ink onto the turquoise paper. I glued the embossed button, scalloped strip over the turquoise strip.

The Mama Monkey was stamped onto Paper Trey White Cardstock as well as the Baby Monkey, and both were colored with Prismacolor Pencils, blending with mineral spirits and blending stumps. Another Baby Monkey was stamped on another piece of matching white cardstock, colored in the same manner and hand cut out and then placed over the Baby Monkey image underneath and popped up on American Crafts Dimensionals for dimension and whimsy. The stamped image was die cut using the Nestabilities square die and then matted with a matching turquoise scalloped square mat, using the Nestabilities scalloped square die. After gluing the white stamped image mat to the turquoise scalloped mat, I ran the ribbon vertically under the the lower turquoise and white panels, and the stamped image mats, then securing the stamped image mat with more American Crafts Dimensionals to pop up. I added a ribbon bow to the secured ribbon strip and finished with 2 Bo Bunny turquoise brads to balance the card. The card was then lined with matching Paper Trey White cardstock cut to 4.25"x5.5" size.