Thank you

Boy did I have a scare!  I went to get a tissue and when I came back my monitor was off and it wouldn't come back on!  I wiggled all the cables and right now it's working.  I hope I can finish this post!

This card is for the Clean&Simple FTL121.  This is the layout.....

I flipped it!

I used the colors from the SCS CC303; Night of Navy, Old Olive & Daffodil Delight.  I love that color combination!

The bird was stamped, then smacked with VersaMark and clear embossed.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Because I Care, Punch Potpourri
Ink:  Night of Navy,  VersaMark
Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Extra Large 2-step Bird Punch, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Clear EP, Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, Basic Pearl

Thank you for your friendship and encouragement during the past year. I feel like I've made some good friends through this blog and I treasure all the comments you've left as well as the creativity that you share on your own blogs.

Wishing you many blessings in the New Year.
Bonnie

Occasions Mini Preview

Wow, I can't believe it's the last day of 2010!  My but this year has flown by.  Seems like each year flies faster than the one before!

I made this card for the One Layer Wednesday challenge hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink.  This time Jennifer wanted us to use one image and we could use a sentiment and no more than 2 colors. Thanks for a good challenge Jennifer!

I ordered this set during the Demonstrator pre-order.  It's called Nature Walk and when I saw it, I knew I had to have it!

I used markers (Rich Razzleberry & Always Artichoke) to ink the flower and also inked the sentiment in Artichoke.  These images are perfect for one layer cards.  And if you make a mistake you can cut it out and make a 2 layer card.  I can tell you that from experience!  LOL, the sentiments will get me every time even with clear stamps and a Stamp-a-ma-jig!  Maybe I should resolve to master getting thing stamped straight in the next year!

Care Recipe
Stamps:  Nature Walk, Curly Cute
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Always Artichoke SU Markers
Paper:  Naturals White

I'm going to drop this off at Jennifer's Blog and come back with another card.

See you later,
Bonnie

Combining Challenges

Hello Stampin' Friends.  Sorry I'm at this so late.  Seems like I've been burning up the phone lines today.  But it's always nice to have a chat with a friend or brother.

I'd like your opinion.  Which photo do you like the best?  This one......

or this one......

I tend to like the white background but I do so admire the photos with the colored backdrop.

This card uses the colors from the Color Challenge on SCS to use Night of Navy, Old Olive and Daffodil Delight.  I also used the sketch challenge on SCS today.

I decided to keep the white space but used different textures for the sections.

I inked the Very Vintage Large Wheel with Daffodil Delight and wheeled over the flower sections.  It gave it a very subtle pattern.

I used some faux flower soft in the center of the flower.  MrsBoz on SCS gave me the recipe.  Just rub 2 styrofoam balls together into a plastic bag and put a drop of re-inker in to color it.  Thanks for the tip Carroll Ann.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Short & Sweet,Very Vintage Wheel
Ink:  Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight
Paper:  Whisper White, Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive
Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Birds & Blooms Sizzlit, Word Window Punch, Faux Flower Soft

Don't forget to let me know if I should start using color in my backdrop.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Forever Birthday Wishes

Hello again Stampin' Friends.

Did you see the Holiday Forever stamps this year?  I think they are wonderful stamps for any time, not just Christmas.  We bought a lot and sent a lot of Chirstmas cards.  What to do with that piece that's left on the sheet?

This week's CAS challenge over at SCS is to use Wild Wasabi, Kraft (Crumb Cake), Chocolate Chip & White.  This leftover from the stamps has all those colors but the Crumb Cake!  I cut out the pine cone a bit.  It was a way to cut the writing off and I like the way the pine cone hangs off the design.  I was able to mat it with scraps of Wild Wasabi & Chocolate Chip.

I inked the Sanded Background stamp with Crumb Cake and stamped on the Crumb Cake card base, stamped the sentiment and quickly had another card for one of the guys in my life.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Sanded, Sincere Salutations
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi
Accessories:  Paper Snips

By the way, I just went over to Just Add Ink to link my Emmy card.  The link has closed!  I keep forgetting that it's tomorrow over there!

Enjoy,
Bonnie

For Sweet Emmy

I wanted to do a card for the Just Add Ink #48 challenge.  Fortunately the challenge was extended until Wednesday of this week.

I'm trying to make cards for a particular person or holiday so that I don't end up with hundreds of cards to find homes for.  I'm also going to make it a goal to make cards that can be mailed without adding extra postage.  The postage isn't as bad as having to stand in line at the Post Office.  That's time I can use for making cards!

This was the sketch to use for the challenge....

I flipped it and didn't use the big scallops.  I wanted a more feminine border since it's for my only granddaughter.

Hmmm,  I may go  back and add some pearls since it will be handed with the gift.  Maybe not, she might think it's candy and try to eat it.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Lovely Letters Alphabet

Ink:  Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz

Paper:  Regal Rose, Whisper White

Accessories:  Daffodil Delight, Regal Rose & Pear Pizzazz SU Markers, Eyelet Border, Corner Rounder & Boho Blossoms Punches



Emmy

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Love Promotion

From now until January 24th, you can get a free package of  Bitty Buttons with the purchase of a Filled with Love Bundle.

See the paper and more details on my Stampin' Up! Website.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

White Christmas (1 Day Late)

The view from our front yard yesterday and this morning.

And a view of our backyard.  See the little Junco shivering on the branch?

I know some of you got the worst of this storm and are trying to dig out.  I'm thankful that we didn't have any inconvenience and that we got that glorious view!

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Back to Stampin'

It's been a while since I've been able to do any challenges.  Actually it's only been a couple of weeks, but it seems like a long time!

I checked out some of my favorite challenges and made this card this afternoon.  It will go to my brother-in-law for his birthday.

The sentiment is from the Hostess Level 1 set, Afterthoughts.  I cut off the little afterthoughts and went for the BIG MESSAGE.

The Burgundy base card is 4 1/2" square.  The Mustard piece is 4 1/4" square and stamped with the Sanded background stamp with More Mustard.

The burgundy square is 3 1/4" square and the vanilla embossed piece is 3 1/8" square.

The sentiment was stamped with Burgundy and punched with the Curly Label punch and mounted on a Burgundy punch with the Movers & Shapers Die on the Big Shot.

I debated about putting the brads in the corners because of mailing concerns.  However, I can put the card in a bigger envelope and line it so that the card doesn't shift. I think it will make it through the mail ok.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Sanded, Afterthoughts
Ink:  More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy
Paper:  Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Movers & Shapers, Curly Label Punch, Gold Brads

I used the colors from the Stampin' Up! Only Challenge #8 to use Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard & Very Vanilla and dry embossing. The vanilla panel is embossed with my favorite Square Lattice Embossing Folder.


I used the sketch from Stamping 411's Saturday Sketch #183. This is my first time participating in this challenge.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Christmas Wishes

As we celebrate His birth,

may the love

He brought to the world

draw us closer

to Him

and to one another.

Merry Christmas

Blessings,

Bonnie

Creative Friends

I still haven't made a card.  It makes me question my sanity!

But, my friends have been making and sending handmade cards.  So I'm going to share them with you.

This first one is from Peggy.   It has been gracing my handmade Nativity.  I love all the stars making the angel sparkle!

This next one is from Gayle.  Did you notice the bling in Dasher's antlers?  He's embossed and just lovely!

And Nell's card is so elegant with the burgundy trees and corner punching! (It says be merry not berry. I didn't do a great job on the photo.)

I'm not sure if Karen made this herself or not!  It's handmade and I know that she can make beautiful cards.

Barb made this one.  She's new to card making and I love her simple and elegant style.  I can't wait to see what she does in the coming year!

The last card is a joint project.  My DD Jenny asked for some Christmas cards for her birthday that she could add the children's picture to.  She gave me some ideas and this is what we came up with.

I save all my handmade cards from year to year and some that I see a possibility of repurposing.  It's very confusing when someone goes through the basket though.  My husband couldn't figure out why one daughter had sent so many cards!

Tomorrow I am going to finish a card that I started months ago.  It was going to be my Christmas card this year.  Then I got sidetracked.  I'm going to finish this one just for you.

See you tomorrow.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Rejoice

Since I haven't had much time to stamp, I thought I would share some of the beautiful Christmas cards I have received.

This one was a total surprise from one of my blogger friends.  I would love to meet her in person one day.  She has a clean and uncluttered style that I always enjoy.

You can check out her blog yourself by going to The Stamping Tower.  You'll be glad you did.

I am really enjoying this card and have it on an easel next to a cross stitched Nativity scene.  It is the perfect compliment.

Thanks so much Doris.  And thank you for your friendship.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

.....Boughs of Holly

I love this stamp set from the Holiday Mini Catalog.

I stamped it on Shimmery White with StazOn and colored with markers and a blender pen.

Then I stepped it up a bit with some sponging.

I used an oval mask from cutting an oval with the Big Shot and sponged around the edges.  I sponged the edges of the base card a bit lighter.

The Technique Lover's Challenge on SCS today is to use sponging.  I'm going over there to leave this off.

Card Recipe

Stamp:  Bells & Boughs

Ink:  Black StazOn, Garden Green

Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Garden Green

Accessories:  SU Markers (Garden Green, Real Red, Soft Suede, Early Expresso, Real Red grosgrain ribbon

It's really cold here.  Good weather for stamping but I really need to get my Christmas cards out!

Enjoy,

Bonnie

More Snow (I wish)

I know my Northern friends & family can't believe how much I love snow!  But here in NC it doesn't last too long.

We did this card in a Workshop a while back.  Everyone did a great job on their cards and seemed to love the design.

Then I went home and stepped it up a notch to this......

All I did was add some Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding and a couple more Basic Rhinestones.  It really warmed it up!  No shoveling needed!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Northern hearts, Sincere Salutations
Ink:  Whisper White, Night of Navy
Paper:  Whisper White, Night of Navy
Accessories:  Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Basic Rhinestones

My Dad's on the move so I'd better stop now.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Poppy Red Cardinal

One day I saw a Cardinal in the back yard and I thought "Poppy Red".

I had stamped this Cardinal and tried to watercolor it.  I didn't do a very good job!

Stamping it with Basic Black on Poppy Red was a big improvement!

I've seen some of these Cardinals watercolored and I wish I could do that well.  Until then, I'll take the short cut.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  A Cardinal Christmas
Ink:  Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Soft Suede & Cherry Cobbler SU Markers
Paper:  Poppy Red, Naturals White, Garden Green
Accessories:  Ticket Corner & Modern Label Punches, Big Shot, Movers & Shapers, Watercolor  Pencil (for beak), White Gel Pen (for eye)

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Cookie Snow

Hello Stampin' Friends.  I'm sorry I haven't been blogging lately.  Life has become so crazy with preparations for Christmas, my Dad's extended visit and an upcoming Craft Show.  Tis the season for family and we have had several family gatherings which I love.  It doesn't leave much time for blogging or card making though.

We had Cookie Day last Saturday.  It's a day when all 3 of my girls and their children get together at my house and make cookies & candy all day.  This year we had a very special treat.  IT SNOWED!!! 

This is what it looked like from my front door.  Isn't it pretty?

Now I'm going to boor you with pictures of my grandkids in the snow.  If you're looking for a card and don't like pictures of kids, check back tomorrow and I'll try to get a card in.

Thomas loves it.  He had snowballs going everywhere!

Sweet Emmie's not sure what to make of it.

Gavin wouldn't come off the porch. He just likes to look.

Luke was very puzzled about what all the excitement was about.  It was COLD!

It was a fun day filled with fun, laughter, good smells and lots of calories! 

I'll try to sneak a few minutes tomorrow to share a card.

Meanwhile, I hope you are warm and cozy.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Happy Hanukkah

I did this card for my sister-in-law and her family who celebrate Hanukkah.

This is pretty simple and straight forward.  I stamped the menorah with Encore Silver on Whisper White and embossed it with  Silver Embossing Powder.  I matted the design on Night of Navy and placed it on a Brushed Silver card.  Some scoring around the design and the edge of the card finished it off.

Hope she likes it.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Shalom Sayings (111686: $15.95 still available)
Ink:  Encore Silver
Paper:  Brushed Silver, Whisper White
Accessories:  Silver EP

Thanks for the visit.  I hope you'll be back soon.

Enjoy,
Bonnie