Chillin' On a Ribbon...

Santa's CAS Wishes

Welcome back again for our 

SUPER DUPER Tuesday CHALLENGE at

It's a good one and perfect for the holiday season

It's time for a 

COLOR CHALLENGE!

and here's the colors...

This was so much fun to do, but the "hint of a color" actually was a great challenge for myself. 

Our challenge this week is sponsored by  none other than

Who is offering $10 gift certificate

as well as

Who is offering a winner 3 digital stamps!

Sparkly White Combo

2 different kinds of white sparkle glitter added here.

The red in Santa's outfit isn't really a 'hint' of color, but I did subdue the bright colors with W3 and W1 with the Copics.

Side view of 3D Santa on ribbon

Well, that's it for me on this card but we'd love to see what you come up with for this challenge!

Make sure to check out how creative the DT at 

TOP TIP TUESDAY 

were for this fantastic challenge.

Thank you SO much for stopping in and 

Hugs and Happy Stamping...

Lisa xx

BLOG CANDY REMINDER

I will be picking the winner of my

Naughty or Nice Blog Candy on the first of December,

so be sure to check back here and see who made it on Santa's Naughty and Nice List...

Hopefully it's YOU!! 

Challenges I would like to enter:

Funkie Junkie #11 Milkcarton

Blogger is doing some unusual things to my blog today and this was supposed to run on Wednesday, BUT...since it's up, I'll keep it here and if you missed the Make It Monday post from earlier this morning, please click here.

Silly Blogger!

Acetate Window and Suspended Snowflakes

I finally finished carton #11 for the modified advent calendar 

that I've been so inspired to make, thanks to Linda at the 

Funkie Junkie!

Pics of the different sides

Linda is hosting her 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge and you have until the 15th of December to finish all 12 challenges.  

There's only one simple rule,

Use her tag as your inspiration and then the sky is the limit on your creativity.

I've been so truly inspired by Linda and all the other creations submitted over at Funkie Junkie.

I began the challenge by making a milk-carton and have continued with that theme throughout.

All 12 of them will hang on our Christmas tree and on the 13th day before Christmas, my kids will locate the carton that says #12 and open it up to see what special gift is inside for them.

I thought this would be more fun than a chocolate advent calendar.  Not that I'm knocking chocolate, God knows I love me my chocolate.

It just seemed like a really fun and wonderful new tradition.

Here is  Linda's challenge Tag

I took from this the snowflakes, newsprint, brass 25 and the clear rectangle.

The carton is created from golden cardstock (really wanted a brass color) and then versamark and white embossed snowflakes applied.

Each of the windows on my carton are cut out and acetate covered.  A black snowflake is suspended behind the window and a gem is applied to outside of the window on the center of the snowflakes.

Newspaper was fitted and torn and then stain inked.

The cardstock is more gold than brass (sigh) ; will have to work on creating a more brass look.

The number 25 is embossed with my stylus.

The snowflakes are cut with Spellbinders and ink stained as well.

Brass Stickles are applied sporadically as I was still desperately trying to get the texture correct.

A file was rubbed over the entire surface for a worn look.

Small raffia adorns the snowflakes and makes the hanging loop.

The Christmas tree is officially up in our house and these little cartons look adorable on it!

I can't wait to watch the kids open them up...

As soon as I get out of the house and find wonderful goodies to fill them up with. 

Thank you so much for stopping in and taking a look.

Hugs and Happy Stamping...

Lisa xx

Challenges I would like to enter:

The Funkie Junkie - 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge (#11)

Christmas Wishes Times Two

Warm & Hearth-felt Wishes

Santa's Suit

Welcome back to another fantastic linky party at

Make It Monday

With our gracious Sponsor Mandy at

Who is offering the winner

The wonderful prize this week of a CD with the winner's choice of 4 collections!

Be sure to check out the amazing DT creations as well....

You will be amazed at what they've been up to!

Head on over because linky party #65 is

NOW OPEN!!!

It's time now for my

PICK OF THE WEEK

LOVE the shape, LOVE the humor and what a fantastic job with the snow bouncing off the poor kids' head! 

LOL...LOVE IT!

But let me also say that I had the hardest time just picking 1. 

All the projects were just incredible!!!

Thank you Kerry for this wonderfully fun and festive holiday card. :)

DT Card #1 for MIM

This cute little image is from Happileigh Scrappin' called 

Christmas Hearth.

Colored in Copics with a 3D foam dot behind the stockings.

DT Card #2 for MIM

I just won this digi from The Paper Shelter called

Getting Ready for Christmas....

SO, so cute!

I'm not real sure I like the layout.  The card started out a lot larger and ended up being rather small.  It was supposed to be a CAS card but as you can see, that also went haywire.  

I like that it turned out looking kind of vintage, but it's completely different than the image in my head. 

That's okay though, it was so fun to color, I'm thinking I'll give it another go soon.

Well, that's it for me on these cards, but I do hope you take some time to check out our wonderful DT ladies' creations and share your creations with us as well at

Make It Monday!

Hugs n' Happy Stamping...

Lisa xx

Abstract Purple Passion

The Squirrel & The Fox DT card

It seems like forever since I posted a card, but I think I've been hibernating/digesting from the Thanksgiving holiday and feast.

I hope everyone who celebrated the holiday had a truly relaxing and blessed day.

If you're ready for an amazing versatile challenge,

we've got just the perfect one for you at 

The Squirrel & The Fox

This weeks #6 challenge is a

Photo Inspiration 

using one of the most beautiful trees I've ever seen

The Jacaranda Tree

Our very own Tracey at the Squirrel & The Fox took this picture from her house...

All I can say is....."Lucky!"

I've never seen one in person, but I can only imagine it's truly stunning.

Our generous Sponsor this week is 

Who is offering the lucky winner

a $5 Voucher to spend in their store!

Close-up of my card

The background papers were designed by taking Lovely Lilac and Lavender Lace ink pads and streaking them down the cardstock.  I added two additional layers to base for more depth, and because purple is my favorite color and just couldn't get enough of it.

I added a thick strip of checkered purple ribbon from my scraps and thin purple ribbon as an accent.

The polka-dot purple ribbon is supposed to symbolize the actual leaves of the Jacaranda Tree with the pop of green leaves and some extra pearl strands for decor.

I left it without a sentiment so that it could remain very versatile for any occasion that I might need in the future.

Well, that's it for the card, but before I go, I would just like to say,

Thank you SO much for all the wonderful messages that I've received for the posts and my

 Naughty or Nice Pay It Forward Blog Candy.

You have made me smile daily and I thank you for that!

Hugs and Happy Stamping....

Lisa xx

We Interrupt Your Program To Bring You This....

HUGE BLOG CANDY!!

For a very limited time only

(Until November 25th)

You have the opportunity to try for this very graciously offered blog candy at

THE CRAFT BARN

They have very simple entry requirements and I just wanted to pass on this great offering.

So hurry over there and good luck to you!!

Hugs and Happy Stamping...

Lisa xx

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

I wanna Build One, or More....

I do, I really really do wanna build a snowman/woman.

Snowman Holiday Lineup

I'm hot, I'm cold, I'm hot, I'm cold

and NO, it's not menopause..yet..

I don't know...

I think the roller coaster weather has finally gone to my brain.

30 degrees one day, 70 the next.

Umbrella, Shovel, Wind breaker and Heavy Jacket all by the door just incase!

It really needs to make its mind up because I'm putting the tree up in 3 days and it ought to feel like winter!

Oh well, 

if mother nature can't make up her mind, at least they know what's going on over at

TOP TIP TUESDAY!!

Yea they do...

It's Challenge Time again and this week's theme is...

MORE THAN ONE FOLD

Our very own Janette has created a fantastic tutorial as inspiration on the

Tri-Fold Shutter Card!

So be sure to check out her detailed and very easy instructions!

Sponsoring our challenge this week we have:

First prize winner will receive a $20 gift voucher!

Second Prize winner will receive 

A  £10.00 voucher to her store!

and lastly,

Our Top Tipper will receive

 This book

WOW!!!

We'd love for you to join us this week with your 

MORE THAN 1 FOLD 

cards!

Here's my Tri-fold shutter card opened up

Everything colored with Copics

and you'll be proud to note, that from reading so many other blogs,

I was inspired to use my scraps, so everything on here (except the card base) is from my completely and totally overflowing, unorganized, hodgepodge of whatnots and so forths!!  

YEAH ME!!!  

Even if you can't tell I even put a dent in it...ah well.  

Stampin' Up Snow Much Fun Set

I even recycled cardboard and made a corrugated snowflake....

WOO HOO!

I'm really trying to take all the information I'm learning from everyone's blog and incorporating it as well.  Not sure why I waited so long to to try this.

 I didn't want to stamp anymore when I got to this point in the card

so I just cut letters out of the background DP and popped a foam dot behind it and called it done.

Well, that's it for me on this card.

So glad you stopped in..

Let me know you were here and I'll swing over and see what cool things you've been up to!

Hugs and Happy Stamping as always,

Lisa xx

Challenges I would like to enter this card into:

Kaboodle Doodles - #94 Baby It's Cold Outside

The Crazy Challenge - #94 Shaped Cards

I Can't Put My Arms Down....

Little Randy's Revenge

A Christmas Story Blip and My Inspiration

Love, LOVE, Love this movie!!
Yes, I'm one of those that will watch it when they play it ALL day long.

This card was created for the open link challenge at

MAKE IT MONDAY

Where FUN, CREATIVITY, SHARING, COMMENTING & INSPIRATION are found daily!

Hurry over to see what the TOTALLY TALENTED Design Team Ladies have put together for this weeks

#64 LINKY PARTY!!!

 And it wouldn't be a party without party favors...

so this weeks amazing sponsor is

 Who is graciously offering the winner...

A £10 voucher to her store!!

Would you like to see who I selected for my 

PICK OF THE WEEK??

Teddy Bear Thank You from

Alyna at Mystical Krafts.

Why do I like this card so much, you ask?

Wellllll, it just goes to show that a cardmaker will create a card regardless if they have all the necessary supplies or not and will also use all their resources available to them.

This card was created using internet images, gift wrapping paper, hand drawn scallop and homemade foam squares.  

I think it's a true tribute to the mission of every crafter...

"Craft it if ya got it and even if ya don't!"

The Bully Gets His

As soon as I saw this image, The Snow Suit, from

Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps, I knew I had to make a card showing poor little Randy.

I used lots of Copics, Stickles, white acrylic dimensional writer and white embossing powder all atop the Pearl EX dusted sky and cardstock torn snow, to create the scene of the bully just about to get his.

Hope you've enjoyed this post and please come visit us at

MAKE IT MONDAY

and link up your wonderful creations!!

Hugs and Happy Stamping....

Lisa xx

Challenges I would like to enter:

Wags 'n Whiskers -  #67 Christmas Themed (Inside says Christmas Cuddles)

Winter Wonderland Challenge - Awwww What a Cutie (Randy is the cutie)

Crimbo Crackers - #2 - Make It Sparkle (All the Snow)

Moving Along With the Times - #125 Let It Snow

Under The Sea...

My Mermaid

It's my first ever time submitting a card into a Copic challenge and over at 

Color Me Creative,

their theme is 

Colors Of The Sea.

I have no "sea scape" pictures or mermaids so I had to go on a little hunt and found this amazing drawing at Deviant Art called 

Leafy Sea Dragon Mermaid

by

The artist who goes by Dream of Fire,

and it's a free downloadable.

Close-up of her Tail

I went Copic nuts and so I do not have a listing of all the colors I used but I stayed with blues, greens, corals and pink.   I just colored and had a blast.

I initially planned on accents to go with the picture, but decided against it and let her stand alone.  Figured she could hold her own just fine.  I did however, tear and burn the edges of the paper, just simply for randomness and thought as a small tribute to the artist, I'd add fire too.  It's the least I could do for offering up such an incredible image.

 Side View

The card is 5" x 5.5" white cardstock and I cut a matching size of light brown leather texture paper to lay  on the top.  Took out the Bordering Blue and Tempting Turquoise ink pads and smeared them randomly over the leather.  Using the file, I sanded down a few areas of the card just for texture and to let the brown leather come through a bit.

I then dusted on four colors of Pearl Ex (blue, light blue, green and gold).

Placed Adhesive foam squares to the back of the mermaid and assembled it to the card.

Thank you SO much for stopping in.

HUGE welcome to my new blog buddy followers.

Good Luck to those who have entered my blog candy

and 

Hugs and Happy Stamping!

Lisa xx

This n' That and a Doodle...

White On White With a Splash of Color

Just a few Christmas cards I worked on that I wanted to post for inspiration.

Hello to you!

I was tinkering at my desk yesterday and felt inspired to challenge myself to white on white cards with a splash of color.

Trying to stay 'elegant' with a CAS canvas, I created this NOEL card.

Acetate NOEL

I stamped N-O-E-L with white craft ink onto a sheet of acetate and then applied SU! Iridescent Ice embossing powder.  Heat dried the powder, cut the letter out, adhered them to cranberry red cardstock, trimmed the edges and mounted adhesive foam squares to the back and applied to the ribbon on the card.

I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.

I'm hoping it's elegant and simple...

Suspended Snowflakes

Going for another CAS white on white, I punched out several snowflakes with my Martha Stewart punch and pressed them onto Versamark.  Applied the Iridescent Ice embossing powder again and heat dried.  

Using my BigShot, I cut a circle in the center of the card and then made a scalloped circle frame to go around.  

Applied dental floss strips to the inside front of the card, adhered snowflakes to the front and back of floss.  

Measured another piece of cardstock with a circle window to apply over the dental floss so it wouldn't show and then cut out a soft blue cardstock for the inside background and added another snowflake on the inside for more decoration.

 Snowflake Bow Topper

Last years Gingerbread Men

Ran across this card that I made last year and thought I would share it as well.  

Thought the 'Warm Wishes' went really cute with fresh out of the oven gingerbread men.

Well, that's it on the card front for me this morning, but before I go, I do have another little story and a doodle.

(Contains Mild Adult Humor and May Not Be Suitable For Children or Possibly, Some Adults)

Here we go into my brain again,

brace yourself...

The past several days I've been mulling over ideas in my head for  holiday doodles that I hope people find humor in.  I began thinking about life in the country. Since I do live in the 'sticks' and the wonderful feeling of snow covered trees, deer in the yard, warm fireplaces, beautifully decorated trees and the happy warm feeling of family and love.  I do count myself very fortunate for what I am blessed with.  

The country has so much peace and serenity to offer, but there is ONE thing that I must admit, drives me nuts (for lack of a better word) and makes me a little embarrassed at the same time.

If you're from the country, you'll know what I'm talking about...(or maybe it's just my neck of the woods)

It's the oddest craze, and has been going on for some time, but never ceases to amaze me and nearly drives me off the road into an embankment, due to the 'large' distraction.

It's called...

Truck Nutz!

These are articles that you can purchase and hang from the back of your vehicle. 

You can find them in all kinds of metals, neons, pastels,  and flesh colors.

I'll be honest, I've had my giggle at them, but when I think of all the things I am proud to say about country life....I can't quite bring myself to add this one.

Sooooooo,

further into the cerebellum we travel,

Now I have gathered images of holiday, country, truck nutz and then I watch the news.

It saddens me deeply to think of so many people who are currently unemployed and have families to feed and provide for.  Who's Christmas will probably not be as blessed as others and I find great sadness in this.  It is truly the time to remember other's at this time of year and do for them what they are having a difficult time doing for themselves.

Offer a helping hand, Volunteer to donate food and clothing, give a hug and always a smile!

Life can change so fast and you never know when you might be wishing for a helping hand.

This brings me to my doodle....

Taking a serious issue with a twist of humor, 

I hope I offer a smile.

Country Humor Meets Real Concerns 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs, Smiles and Happy Stamping...

Lisa xx