Winters Wonderland

Ahh the beauty of winter days.  We went to Wausau last night and on the way saw the frost appearing before our eyes on the trees.  We knew this morning would be beautiful.  I went to the mailbox and looked back at the house and saw the frosted trees.  When I came in I said to Gilbert, we missed the beautiful scenery this morning. He said, Quick, lets go for a drive.  We grabbed a couple of coffees at McDonalds and set off.  This was taken going down by the Homme Home pond.  It was an absolutely gorgeous morning with the sun shining through and the sparkley diamond frost everywhere.  Then we went to the local "Coffee Cup" for breakfast.  Gilbert is taking vacation days this week and we are having a great time relaxing, shopping and eating out.  We had the most fabulous Thai soup in WAUSAU-gasp- we were so pleasantly surprised. Annnnd we found a new place that is very upscale Thai called BaSil's  We will probably go there on Friday night. So we are having a mini-vacation at home.

Awww...An Award

My friend Rebekka chose me for this award.  That is so like her to do that!  Rebekka and I met through StampTV and we just were connected to each other right off. Now if I get this right I am supposed to list eight things about myself and then choose others to share the award with.  It's a fun way to get to know others through blogging. Thank you Dear Rebekka. :)

Here's my list:

1.  I just learned to blog a couple of months ago.

2.  My other love is baking Artisan Breads

3.  I have two adult children in their mid-thirties ~Male and Female

4.  I love to laugh (it's good for your digestion) 

5.  I like to be challenged.. 

6.  I love TEA. English Breakfast is my favorite.

7.  I like to cook but not bake (except bread)

8.  My nationality is 1/2 Mexican but I don't know Spanish

There you have it and now I will find some friends to pass this Award onto.  Thanks Rebekka. :)

Rebekah :  http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/
Barbara:   http://stamptv.ning.com/profile/BarbaraColbert
Stacy:  http://shareandremember.blogspot.com/

stampin sisters

Well, after taking sooo long to make my other "inches" card for Stampin Sisters I was cleaning up after myself and came across this autumn image that I had removed from a "make and take" at a party and I didn't really like the way it turned out with the card they had us do and I added some Tim Holtz tea party distressed ink to it and some shimmer (mix liquid pearl ex with 90% alcohol in a small spray bottle it works just like Smooch).  Anyway, I saw it lying there and thought, well that would make a good card for that challenge. It just took a couple of minutes to make.   So here is my second entry. The inside says "Hope is believing in a brighter tomorrow.  With Deepest Sympathy." ~~ Thanks for looking.

MFP and Stampin Sisters

Stampin Sisters is having a challenge for inches and MFP is hosting this color challenge for week 34 extended. 

  I wanted to combine the two and you will never know what it took to come up with such a simple looking card.  :)  I like the end result. I didn't have any real mustard colored cardstock but the DP is like a champagne mustard I had once.  Ha!  It's been a great year and I have had fun finding out about blogging and online stamping communities.  Thanks everyone. 

Artisan Bread-MMMMMMMM

Oh my, it's been a full week since I posted.  I am working on being more diligent about this.  Today I made the most wonderful artisan bread from this site.   It is super easy and so yummy you won't believe it. I just had to share this picture with you.  I made baby boulee's or baguettes, if you will.  I wish you could smell the wonderful aroma that is wafting from the kitchen.  Hey, if you have never even made bread before I think you could do this one. Since I was making baguettes, smaller loaves, I only baked them for twenty minutes and I really should have taken them out at seventeen (but I got busy making a card and I kind of ignored the buzzer thinking they would need the full twenty minutes.)  Oops!  Okay, tell me you love them and when you next come visiting I will make some for you.

Flourishes White

Poked around tonight. Found a new site.  The challenge is white. I hope i get it right. (okay I know it must be late.) :)http://www.flourishes.org/2010/12/the-winter-white-challenge/

Tuesday Morning Sketches 71

 

It has hardly snowed and I am tired of winter already. I'm using red  for SCS flybaby challenge; but I had to make a summer card. Actually, I wanted to make this for Tuesday morning Sketches challenge b/c as soon as I saw the sketch I knew I wanted to use this image.

--Is it summer yet??? I like long sunny days and not short grey days and loooonnnnngggg nights.

Mojo Monday 168

Mojo Monday has a sketch challenge and I needed a card for a sweet little girl .  Here's my take of the sketch.  My friend Edith gave me these cute cut-outs of little fairies.  I don't know who the designer is but they are adorable.  She bought them at the Stamp Shoppe in Weston.  The shiny paper was also given to me and I ran it through the CB.  The stars were die cut from a CB die that has snowflakes and stars on it. I used sparkly gels to glitz them up a bit. Thanks for looking.

The Whites and Red

Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge this week is white with a touch of red based on the scripture Is:1:18  I really enjoy their blog posts as there is so much negativity in our world today it's nice to read uplifting Bible verses and think about things beyond our every day life.

The Blues

Sometimes the Blues are a good thing.  As in ~the blues-jazz type singing made popular by Louis Armstrong

or as in ~the blues-card challenge #141 by Cute Card Thursday.  I just had to do one more challenge and as long as I was doing I hopped on over to Our Daily Bread and used their very pretty sketch.  Thanks all for the inspiration and who knows maybe I'll end up a winner like Louis.  (i love his music) It's a good time to think about his famous song, What a Wonderful World.  Oh Yeah!  Sing it out,  Louis!

Caardvark Challenge

It's bed time but I just poked around a bit and tapped into Caardvarks blog.  I can do this challenge really quickly.  I already had made a bookmark today and I just added a place to put the money to purchase a good book. Here is the front and back of the bookmark. Thank you for the little push Caardvarks.

peace

It felt SO good to stamp today.  It has been thirty days of having someone in our home or being away from home or having somewhere to go every single day and it was wonderful to have a day that I didn't have to go anywhere or talk to anyone besides dear Gilbert.  Sometimes a person just needs peace and quiet.  I was going to post a picture of my baked apples but they got eaten already.  I will post a picture of the card I made for our wonderful daughter and hubby who moved into a new home in June and I am finally getting this card made for them.  Her m-i-l had given me the article and directions out of  Womans Day magazine Aug/Sept. 2009 issue and then I mis-placed it and I really did want to give it a try.  So here it is...isn't it a cute idea?

It was such a nice surprise to answer the door yesterday and find her and her friend on the porch.  They were making a quick run up to friends cabin and stopped for coffee and a quick hello.  I loaded them up with some of that good bean soup I made the day before and Sarah grabbed some cleaned veggies out of the fridge so they would have lunch up there.  Love surprises like that.

Stamping Day-Speedy Cat #33

Had a wonderful time with Edith. (my 93 yr.old stamping friend)  We started out with potato pancakes for lunch.  She makes the best, added homemade applesauce and coffee from Oregon and we had a great start.

We made a few cards.  I left her all the cards we made except for this one.  She had made a couple like this already. We just did CAS as neither of us could really get a flow going.  We ended up playing Rummicube which left her happy and destressed.  She doesn't like to play for points so we just play til one or the other goes out and then start again.  We played five hands I think.

So here is the one card and it fits right in for Speedy Cat #33 challenge.  Thanks for visiting.

Split Coast

I've been away for awhile.  Time to get creative again to get myself in balance.  :)  Here's a quickie one layer I did for a SCS challenge. Hope you all sail through the holidays and enjoy the beauty of the season.

Speedy Cat #30

I made several holiday cards at a ladies day workshop this weekend.  I left my bg stamp at home by mistake and borrowed this Embossing Folder by cuttlebug from my daughter. I inked the folder with black ink and got three impressions out of it in varying shades and they all looked nice.  This one was one of the the third time through so the black is quite light.  The greeting on the red strip and the holly leaves are from Mark's Finest Paper Musical Holiday Set and the black circular frame is from MFP Frames and Flourishes set. Inside is the rest of the greeting that says this Joyous Holiday Season

Silver Snowflake

Okay, I reaaalllly am not ready to start in with all the snowflakes and such.   Winter is sooooo long here I try to put it off.  There is snow in the forecast for tonight though so I guess it's time.  :(

I have entered this in three challenges StampTV sketch, Stampin Sisters#64 weather and Speedy Cat Snowflake #29

I embossed the snowflake with silver EP and then cut with nesties and taped to a chipboard. Red paper and ribbon are SU. Thanks for looking and becoming a follower.

Coffee Shop Inspiration

ODBD has a challenge to use gold cord.  I thought this was funny b/c I hardly ever grab that stuff (it just doesn't stay tied right for me) anyway I used it on two cards this week.  I thought I would enter this one for ODBD.  I got the inspiration for this from a new coffee shop my husband and I went to last Sat.  It was so gorgeous in there and I told hubby...I can make a card like that.  This is my take of their decor.  Notice the gold cord! --A three fold cord shall not be broken the scripture says. It's true and that stuff is TOUGH.

paper piercing

For Speedy Cat's Paper Piercing challenge #28.  I haven't used this template in a loooonnnngggg time.

Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous

/Melanie Meunchinger is a designer for GKD.  Go at take a look at these beautiful new stamps she has created.  Don't those poinsettas just pop off  the page.  Click here to leave a comment on her blog for a chance to win one of her new sets.

Cherish Love

SSIC challenge is to use monochramatic cream or white.  This was a challenge for me. I decided to use Cuttlebug Grace's Frame and then use those white rub-ons from SU that have been sitting in a bin. Flowers and 1/2 pearl are from the Pretties Kit-another purchase that I thought I would use and have barely touched. I am so glad for these challenges that are helping me to use my stash!  Otherwise I guess I was just not thinking outside my usual same old same old card.  I love the challenges and viewing everyone's interpretation of them.  Thank you to all. --It's kind of difficult to see the rub-ons There are three of them- Cherish, Love and the floral .

sparkly holiday

ODBD challenge choice- I chose Sparkly and Texture -BG is embosssed with CB folder snowflakes, Pinecone image is SU. I  stamped pinecone image in white pigment on Real Red SU CS and embossed with clear EP.  Then inked all over with VersaMark pad.  Sprinkled with Heat and Stick Powder (SU) heated, sprinkled again with SU Diamonds Glitter, heat again.  Then trimmed with SU scissors Colonial.  Added SU Real Red ribbon.  Simple and elegant. Inside greeting stamped with Red and red EP

Also entered in Speedy Cat Challenge 37 Holiday Card  --Now look how just a tiny bow really dresses it up.  Polka dot scrap is from Michaels.
Thanks for looking.

Caardvaark Challenge

The challenge at Caardvaark is to see the inside from the outside.  I used an acrylic circle to show the snowflake stamped inside.  Photographing it was a lot tougher than making it.  :)  It is centered when the card is closed it just doesn't look like it the way I had to photo it.   Thanks for looking.  Thanks Barbara for the tip of Caardvaark's web page.

Also entered in Cute Card Thursday-- So Transparent challenge 136

One layer card

When I saw this technique I just had to try it.  What a great idea for a one layer card.  The details can be found here where I shamelessly stamp lifted the whole thing.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1829064

I am entering the card for One Layer Wednesday which is a new site I found. Thanks for looking.  Isn't learning new things just sooo fun?????

Silent Night

Here is a CAS card to enter for the winter blog hop with TSG  Such cute stamps they have.

This beautiful stamp came from Friends of Speedy Cat.  It is an absolutely gorgeous set being released for November.  The beauty and simplicity is something you will get a lot of use from.

Noel-Speedy Cat's Challenge #26

Just wanted to post a card made with my new stamps from friends of Speedy Cat.  They came to me free when my name was drawn for the blog hop. The stamps are gorgeous and I am grateful for them. Notice the difference just adding a black line frame makes.
I like it so much better than w/o.

This set is titled Speedy the Cat's Holiday Collection -Musical Holiday 2010-
SU -all papers
SU-Ribbon
SU-Gold detail embossing pwd
Cuttlebug die cuts

I am entering it in the contest at Mark's Finest Papers

Thanks again for this gorgeous set.

whew

This past week has been busy but mostly with trying to get my computer straightened.  It must have missed me for five days and decided to show me how much I needed her. Anyway I'm glad to have the problems solved.

WHEW! I got back on Sunday evening from Salt Lake City.  What a wonderful time we had at the nutritional convention. It was my first one with this company and it was a great experience. Such caring people.  You know how it feels when someone sincerely wants to help you?  It's built into the very fiber of this company.

If you know anyone who wants to get back the resilience and youthful feeling or move away from pain share this link with them because I do care deeply when I hear about people who's health fails them.  Everything is going along fine and then BAM something comes up seemingly out of the blue and they miss the good health they once had.  Just click here to watch a short video and know that you can give your body a HUGE boost in the right direction. The results we heard were nothing short of shocking.

Thank you to each of you who have commented and encouraged me in my lifetime to continue to research and help those who are looking for change before they are in a necessity change mode. Have a wonderful weekend. With care-Janeen

Embossed Thank You

In all things Give Thanks

I saw this link on Rebekka's site for a Give Thanks card.  I was looking at the JUGS site and the Daily Bread and figured out how to do a card to meet all the challenges.  I embossed the leaves on the pearlescent gold from marco's papers with the cuttlebug EF,  the deep purple is also marco's papers embossed with SU brass template.  Image is SU stamped on acrylic with Staz-on and colored with Tim Holtz alcohol inks Eggplant, Lettuce and Butterscotch. Purple ribbon is SU other ribbon is unknown but purchased at the Stamp Shoppe in Weston.  Thanks for looking have a wonderful week.  It's gorgeous fall weather here in mid Wisconsin. (add-on...When you stamp with the Staz-On on the front of the acrylic piece you use the alcohol inks on the back of the image.  Turn the acrylic over and paint it.)

Royal Leaves

I stamped this for StampTV color challenge this week and am also entering in ForFun Challenges http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ which is to use something you have never used before.
Something hiding in your stash.  LOL.  I have had these large gems for a long time and couldn't seem to find a way to use them. I love it on this card.  Will have to make more just to use them up.  :)
Also entered in Speedy The Cat Friends http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/ which is use some stripes.  (Thanks Joanne)

Buttons and Bows

I created this card using the Colored Cuttlebug folder from StampTV's Blast from the past video and also for Speed the Cat buttons and bows challenge at http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/

My FREE stamps

I was so happy to get my stamps from Marks Finest Papers.  Free for being randomly selected on challenge # 20.  I had to at least try one of the set out right away. I inserted the Speedy Cat logo as a stand up just b/4 shooting the pic.  I LOVE the quality of the stamps and such a nice set they sent me. Flourishes and Frame they stamp beautifully. I will enter this also into the Pumpkin Challenge for this week.  Thanks Speedy Cat for the gift.
http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/2010/09/speedy-cats-friends-challenge-22.html
The pumpkins are dry embossed with Paula Hallinan Brass template. Colored with pencils. Flourish is from Speedy Cat. Fiskars texture plate on red CS.  Punched corner is Stampin' Up and then rounded with a corner punch..  Thank you for looking.

speedy cat challenge 22 pumpkin1

This looks kind of boring and flat on the pic but really its kind of haunting looking in front of me.  A good Halloween card.  Do you see the ghost? lol
http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/ for the challenge

In memory of Rachel

 Here's a couple of pics of the cards I made for the troops.  We have had a lot of family members in the military.
Our niece Rachel Bosveld gave the ultimate sacrifice on October 26, 2003.  Oh my, can it be seven years already? She was buried on her 20th birthday.  Here is a picture of her.

Operation Write home

 Speed Cat challenge is for the troops this week.  I am making twenty cards most CAS.  These two are for the challenge.  These were cards I found in my stash that never  got completed.  You know how you do that...it looks okay but not quite done.  I had put these away quite a while ago they looked so "boring".  Last night I jazzed them up a bit and now I like them.
http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/ is where speedy cat hangs out.

Challenge 131 Sketch

Oops! Well I missed the time for the Cute Card Thursday Challenge for Tweet and Flutter. This is for the sketch challenge they have this week. Since this is such a funky card I also entered it in Charisma Cards Anything goes challenge.
  I love this fun ribbon and wanted to use it. The buttons are one of the Cuttlebug edges folders.
http://www.cutecardthursday.blogspot.com
http://charismacardz.blogspot.com
I like to add new cards to the blog because I like looking at others.  It's inspiration.  Thanks all.

Challenge 130 Tweet and Flutter

I just found Cute Card Thursday's challenge today. Here is my offering for something with birds or butterflies. Thank you for the challenge
http://www.cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/

Here is today's creation.
I just wanted a fun get well card and with all the apples being shown on StampTV cards I had to include an apple. I got the apple stamp years ago in Vegas. The Truck is PrintWorks "Dad's Truck" Main coloring is done with Copics and Highlighted with SU markers. Bling is Stampendous Diamond Dots Circle Red- I cut the corner piece in half and edged and sanded both pieces and then put them back together for a roughed up look. Sentiments are hand printed.
.

This card is for StampTV's Favorite Fall Memories Challenge. I love working in the last of my fall flowers and hearing the birds on those beautiful autumn days. The redwings are still trilling and it's such a nice feeling. I love that last bouquet of flowers that feeling has to last me til springtime.

This is Edith, my 93 year old stamping friend. This is taken at the Stamp Shoppe in Weston, WI. Her granddaughter owns it. It's one of our favorite places to shop. We like to get together a couple of times a month to make cards. She really does make the nicest cards. She only lives a couple of miles from me and sometimes we drive to each others homes just to show our creations to one another. She's a gem.  Here is a link to the Stamp Shoppes blog  http://stampshoppecreations.blogspot.com/

First Post Attempt

This is my first attempt to post on a blog. It will be short and I feel inadequate but if I don't try I will never know how this blogging stuff works. I am excited about creating something and feeling foolish, like I've been left behind with all this blogging education. So my friends, Here it goe--sss.

Thanks for your patience.