Merry Chris-Moose

How about a non-traditional Christmas card? Maybe it's my age, (been there, done that attitude) but I lean more and more away from red and green. When I finished 'dressing' the moose and mice I decided it needed a brighter/happier background. The glitzy stripes and bright colors seemed just right to me!



The moose and mice are a free digi from Nina's There's Magic In the Air! I popped up the mouse in the Santa hat, the present and the star with a gold thread hanger. Along with the digi, Nina wanted us to help the moose feel warm and fuzzy, so his blanket is blue flower soft, the mice are wrapped up in Stickles along with the present, the star is punched from blue glitter CS and I replaced the Christmas light in the digi with an embellishment I bought years ago when visiting my DD, Kim, in paradise. Be sure to take a look at her take on this challenge, the moose is snuggling inside waiting for Santa to come!

I am also entering this in the following challenges:

* Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!! Challenge # 8 to be Touchy Feely

* Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays, Challenge #17 to make a Christmas Theme project.

* Crazy 4 Challenges, Week 13, Punch Happy!

Don't forget to check out There's Magic In the Air for news about the upcoming Blog Hop! Check my sidebar for more info!

Thanks for looking, have a good rest of the week-end and here's to the rush for the upcoming next holiday - Christmas!

Stamping by SAM

The Walnut Tree of Memories Past...

This post is to honor our cousin, Bev, for the poem she wrote and read at my MIL's funeral service in June. The poem is about the Walnut Tree to the right of the picture. Her poem below the pic explains the meaning of the tree to her and the family. Many summers and winters were spent at Great Grandma's farm and the tree was always there for all that visited. A huge storm passed through the valley the day before my mother in law passed away and uprooted the old walnut tree. This is the house Becky (MIL) grew up in and the place that was heaven for my husband. Stories about the farm have been passed from generation to generation, but now it is up to this generation to keep it going. Lucky for us, Bev put it into words for the next generation to read and know about the old family farm.



The Walnut tree of memories past......
By Beverly Blanton Fischer

I remember hearing stories shared of the “Blanton Walnut tree,”
Between my Aunts’ Becky and Margie, without Dad there to referee.

It seemed to spark quite a few tales of childhood memories,
Although both had renditions which neither one could agree.

During the spring the sparse leaves would finally come in full,
Providing shade to the horses, sheep, cows, and maybe even a bull.

The tree may have served as base during those childhood games of hide and seek,
Or maybe it was the place of hiding, hoping no one would dare look up and peak.

It would also provide a bounty of nuts each and every beautiful fall,
Grandma added them to the fudge to be enjoyed at Christmas by all.

I was deeply saddened to get the call today when Mom told me of the news,
A savage storm swept through the farm and left everything gravely bruised.

The Blanton Walnut tree had been uprooted, and was no longer standing tall and proud,
Instead, it lay on the ground looking beaten, and ready to be covered with shroud.

There is no other piece of wood more beautiful than the grain of a Walnut tree,
It possesses such a dark, rich, earthen color, I dare anyone to disagree.

I truly believe that its purpose was served and the time had come to move on,
Instead of being the tree of memories past……it can now be timber full of brawn.

June, 2009

It just seemed too much of a coincidence that the tree fell at the same time my MIL made her journey to heaven. The analogy of the tree and Becky is just too clear. Thanks Bev for your beautiful words and love. This picture is for you with a ton a gratitude.

The picture is an old photograph borrowed from Aunt Wilda (Bev's mom). I scanned/enlarged it and put it in the back of the shadow box frame. The poem is printed on a transparency and placed behind the glass.

Thanks for sharing in our memories...
Stamping by SAM

Snow Baby the Snowman Has Heart...Viola!

Challenges for 365 Cards, Days 262 - 266, so please keep scrollin' down!

Short post, except for the 5 card pics. It's late and I know I'll make tooooo many typos!

Day 266 - Color me with This. I used colored pencils w/OMS. Also used 'out of the box' technique with the rectangle nestie.

This is Day 265, Simply Put. Challenge was to use one DP, one embellishment and one sentiments. The DP is a carboard backing from a Mary Engelbreit bookmark package, the embellishment is ME and the sentiment is SU!

This is for Day 264 - Keep it To Yourself. The challenge was to make a congratulatory card without a sentiment. Can you guess what the congratulations is on this one??? The squares were punched out with a nestie and it punched through the CA and DP at the same time. Didn't think it would work but it did.

This shows the inside of the baby congrats card.
The heart and wheels are punched out of glitter paper.
I cased this from raiwolf on Splitcoast Stampers.

This is for Day 263 - Ad Inspired. I zoomed in on the picture on the right side of the picture. This is cased also, from Zindorf!
Wish I had a lighter touch on the shading like she does! If you haven't looked at her work please take some time to, she is inspirational. She is not 'just' a card maker (like myself) she is an artist!

This is for the last day, the 5th and final card I made today. It is for Day 262 - Color scheme challenge. I used all the colors but some are minimal - so look close!

That's all folks! Let me know if you need anymore deets. I was asleep 3 hours ago so it will be interesting to proof read this in the morning. You might want to check back and see all the changes I made!

Ok, I slept till 9 this morning and did find a few minor typos. I'll drink another cup of java and check again later! Hope you enjoyed my creations. By the way, I started making the 5 cards last night after dinner at 7 and completed them by midnight. Those that know me know this is a miracle of sorts!

Stamping by SAM

Royal Christmas Card

Quick card for Sunday, November 15 Day 260 - Super Sketchy Sunday.

This is the sketch...

Used a dimensional sticker by Pooch and Sweetheart, Hampton sentiment stamp, the tag is the cardboard backing from 'some package', lavender paper and ribbon. The inside is finished also, I'll try to get a picture in the morning...for now...going beddy bye!

Thanks for looking!

Stamping by SAM

Inspirational Mug Shot!

Made a quick card tonight, ya know, the 10 minute card that takes 60 minutes!

My inspiration was the mug in the photo. My DD Kim gave it to me some years back (Thanks Kimmy) and I have been wanting to make a card with the red stripes and snowflakes. This fits perfectly with 365 cards challenge for Monday, November 16, Day 261 - Card Recipe.

• 4x4 Card
• Red Background
• Snowflakes (pattern, embellishments, any #, and any variety)
• 1 ribbon
• stamped sentiment

I used clear embossing on the cuttlebugged snowflakes card base and to make the stripes. The snowflakes are embossed with white and glitter. The Merry and Bright is from Stampin' Up.

Wouldn't this be a great gift, mug with a card to match and fill it with goodies. Sorry my friends, this is my favorite winter mug for hot chocolate and Chai Tea Latte! Maybe, just maybe, I'll look for another mug to use for an inspirational gift!

Night all!

Stamping by SAM

Reflective Penquin!

What else can you do on a snowy night, ice skating all by yourself? Reflect about why you can't sleep...oh wait a minute, I'm reflecting my issues on the penquin!

The penquin is printed on acetate and colored with sharpy markers. I added red stickles to the hat and liquid applique, heated very carefully (acetate is allergic to heat!). The white snowflakes are stamped on the inside so they show through the window. The gold and silver metallic cardstock is from the same sheet. I used Staz-On stamp cleaner to remove the gold finish!

I didn't much like it as I was finishing it up, but then my DH said, "I like it, is it going to be our Christmas card this year?" That's pretty much a compliment in this house, or was he just trying to get me motivated? That is the question.  This is for for There's Magic In the Air challenge...go by and grab the cute litle penquin guy for free!

Night all!

Stamping by SAM

Thank you Kimmy!

My DD is passing this honor to me - Thank you Kimmy!

The rules are this: I need to pass this award on to five people, post on their blog to let them know I left this award, and then I need to answer a list of questions in ONE word (now if you know me in person, well, it may be darn near impossible!)

1. Where is your cell phone? charging

2. Your hair? Natural dark ash blond

3. Your mother? Nettie

4. Your father? John

5. Your favorite food? all, except liver

6. Your dream last night? ?

7. Your favorite drink? hot chocolate

8. Your dream/goal? Have my daughter take care of me in my old age...I knew I couldn't do it in one word!

9. What room are you in? craft/office

10. Your hobby? card making

11. Your fear? rodents and reptiles

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Hawaii

13. Where were you last night? home

14. Something that you're aren't? skinny

15. Muffins? yes

16. Wish list item? finished house

17. Where did you grow up? Missouri

18. Last thing you did? paid bills (after talking to KIM!)

19. What are you wearing? sweats, t-shirt, jacket

20. Your TV? Living room and craft/office

21. Your Pets? adopted mutt, Buddy!  (Everyone needs a Buddy!)

22. Friends? near and far

23. Your life? Yeah...

24. Your mood? hotflashes, need I say more?

25. Missing Someone? always, my dear Kim

26. vehicle? sable

27. Something your not wearing? bra

28. Your favorite store? Hobby Lobby

29. Your favorite color? blue, color of Paradise!

30. When was the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? Friday - remember the hotflash answer???

32. Your best friend? my daughter!

33. One place that I go to over and over? work, blah, blah, blah :(

34. Facebook? yes, just to be nosey!

35. Favorite place to eat? What's open?

Stamping by SAM

"Elegant Pumpkins"

Created a card today using There's Magic In the Air digital stamp, Elegant Pumpkins. The challange by Leigh Anne asks us to do a monochromatic card and then add either white, black or grey. Well, elegant makes me think of either white, black or grey, so I decided my monochromatic color would be gray/silver with black accent. The pumpkin/cake stand are printed on metallic silver cardstock.

The other challenges I used to make this card are:

1. Diva Coffee Break Design Sketch Challenge #153
   
2. La La Weekly Challenge #12 ~ Getting Punchy!
   
3. Challenge #6 - Lotsa Circles!! at Kraftin' Kmmie Stamps
   
4. Pile it On! to use leaves (good thing I bought a new leaf punch!)
   
5. Just Us Girls week #7 challenge to dry emboss
   

Total of six challenges...I should start charting this, oh no!, did I say that!, ugh! reminds me of work!
Enjoy your Sunday, I'll be playing ketchup again!

[ketchup means...I need to 'catch up' with everything I have put off and need to get done!)

ps Does anyone have a sandwich recipe for using Big Shot Texture plates from Stampin' Up in the cuttlebug?
Thanks!

Stamping by SAM

Posting a card tomorrow! Enjoy the slideshow...(I'm experimenting!  LOL!)

Stamping by SAM

Cornucopia

Quick Post – late, still need to fold a load of clothes, pack and get ready for a 4 day trip. I should be ready by 7 AM when my ride arrives! LOL

Trouble getting this card done because I wanted to be a little more creative with it. I kept holding myself back so I could get it done and posted tonight before I leave. Therefore, my digi and sentiment are not straight. Maybe I shouldn’t lay my head down and snooze when putting cards together!

This is the sketch I followed for Stamp TV challenge STVSC37

This is the color challenge I followed from Diva Coffee Break Design - Challenge #152.

And this is the card with the digi from There’s Magic In the Air.

And this is where the Bravo Burgundy ended up!

Hope you have a great week-end and those of you in the Midwest – enjoy the great weather!

PS to Kim - Sorry, I took one more step and did 3 challenges!!!

SAM

Recycled Thanksgiving - but not the Turkey!

I was looking at challenges yesterday trying to get ideas for a card to make. Well, it was just overwhelming! The one challenge that stuck in my head was Stamp Simply to make a 3 panel accordion card. It was different and sounded like a challenge to get my Mojo going! Then I was cleaning off the kitchen table, throwing away junk mail and to my surprise – I found this…junk mail in a 3 panel card!

Well, it just so happens that we had two (one for DH and one for me!) He didn’t want his, go figure, so my little mind thinks, “If I mess it up, I’ll have a backup!” Of course I need a backup, I mess everything up! So I sponged the edges in Bravo Burgundy, Really Rust, Taken with Teal and Old Olive for the ColourQ challenge. Wow, it ended up with a marble look.

Took some thinking (that hurts!) and I wanted to decorate the back side (I did put DP on it, just didn’t embellish) Thought I could use 6 different sketch challenges instead of just the 3 I did use. Ran out of that Mojo juice, wonder if Wally World sells it?!?

So what you see is what I got - the finished card…

And below are the challenges I met in the making of my Thanksgiving Accordion Card!


1. Stamp TV # STVC36 – sketch, third panel
2. Whimsy Stamps – Sketch, second panel
3. Eat, Sleep, and Stamp – Sketch, first panel
4. Stamp Simply – 3 panel accordion card
5. ColourQ – use Bravo Burgundy, Really Rust, Taken with Teal and Old Olive
6. Cuttlebug Challenge Blog #55 – Use “your favorite” and mine is the *BLING*
7. Our Creative Corner – make it vintage
8. Pile It On – a card that sends “thanks”
9. Gingersnap Creations – 2 Challenges: 27 to use orange, green, brown and 28 to make a Thanksgiving card
10. Sunflowers and Dragonflies #15 – flower power!
11. Crafty Creations – a Thanksgiving card
12. My Creative Moments #4 – to use circles
13. Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #31 – Friendship
14. Challenge Up Your Life – to Pimp it Up! To take something and make it look better
15. There's Magic In the Air - the pumpkin Digi and the first panel

Just think – this card base could be in the trash can now!

Sorry for the long post. Making a card once a week leads to a lot of wordiness. Have a great week everyone. I’m just hoping for a better week than last week… SAM

ps...DH is still sick with that darn flu, it's been 2 weeks now. I noticed a lot of blogs I went to are discussing dealing with the same type of symptoms. It sure does wipe you out!