Come to Bethlehem and see...Christ whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee...Christ the Lord, the newborn King...

Happy Thursday, y'all! I hope your week is going great. Mine is! I had a quick second to post, so I thought I'd share an ornament I made last week when I had the company of a precious 8 year old little girl and we did some playing. I didn't snap a picture of her ornament, but here's one of the one I made.



Yep, it's simple, but I like it. I used a 3" round coaster from my stash and paper from The Girls Paperie Tinsel & Twig Collection. After adding some bling from Zva Creative, I cut some kraft cardstock with my Vintage Oval Die from Verve. I stamped the Vintage Oval Frame in Old Olive ink, then added a snowflake and the word "Joy" from Papertrey's Snowflake Serenade in Crumb Cake ink. Then I overstamped the word in Early Espresso so it looks like a drop shadow. Love the way this looks on Kraft cardstock! I colored a few Swarovski Crystals with a red Copic marker, then adhered them to the snowflake before popping up the Kraft piece onto my ornament above the bling. The finishing touch was some wrinkled seam binding dyed with glimmer mist and aged with ink.

I hope you like it...and hope you're all doing well. Talk to you soon!

Back when I was a child, before life removed all the innocence...my father would lift me high, and dance with my mother and me...

Hey y'all, what's up? It's Tuesday, and I'm headed to Austin, but I have a cool project to share with you today, and something scheduled for tomorrow, too! (Go me! *grin*) Today is my day on the Verve Blog for the Project Parade, so I thought I'd share that here as well.


When I was at Stamp Asylum last week, I stumbled upon this cool stuff called Sophisticated Finishes. It's a two-part process that involves painting a surface with a Metallic Surface finish (I used Copper), and then applying an Antiquing Solution (I used Patina Green) to areas to create a cool finish. Off to Hobby Lobby I went to look for something to antique! I happened upon this unfinished wood cube with inserts for photos, and it is on a little turntable so it spins. I thought it would be a perfect addition to my dad's desk.

After the antiquing process (which I have the urge to do on all non-moving objects at this point), I went to work on the inserts for the cube. They measure just over 3 1/4" square, so I cut some Classic Cream cardstock to size and then decorated them with my stamps. For the first square, I stamped the second generation image of the background from the Protector set in Distress Tea Dye ink. I repeated that image until the entire square was covered. Then I stamped Whimsy Tree in Distress Walnut Stain (stamped off once), and added the sentiment from Dare to Be You in Walnut Stain full strength.The edges were then sponged with Tea Dye and then Walnut Stain.

The next square was stamped with the "another name for love" stamp from World's Best. I then stamped the frame from Dad's Day in Tea Dye ink, and the sentiment in Walnut Stain, and finished by sponging the edges.

For the third square, I inked up the "DAD" image from Protector in Tea Dye, and then created a pattern from the strip of dots from Father Figure in second generation Tea Dye. The sentiment is also from Father Figure, and I stamped it in Walnut Stain before sponging the edges.

The last square is probably my favorite. I stamped the Dad image from Protector repeatedly in second generation Tea Dye to create a background. Then I added the sentiment (my favorite!!) from Dad's Day in Walnut Stain before sponging the edges.

Once I finished all four of the inserts, I glued some Natural Jute along the bottom of the box, along the trim. I also covered the top with the same jute, wrapped in a square pattern working from the edges to the inside.

All in all, a very manly, rustic gift that took me about an hour and cost less than $10 to create! I'm pretty proud, if I do say so myself. *wink*

Don't forget to check out the rest of the projects on the Verve Blog...the Divas are rockin' it so far!! Have a wonderful Tuesday!

We've been friends for a long, long time...You tell me your secrets and I'll tell you mine...

Happy Thursday, yall! I hope you're having a fantastic week so far. It is supposed to get really cold here, (you know, like less than 70!) so hopefully you're staying warm where you are.

Today I have a cute little tin to share that I created for the Verve Project Parade over on the Verve Blog. The challenge this time was to create Anything but a Card. Which used to scare me, but I think I'm getting over that these days! *wink* My problem is always the starting point. When I get stuck, I sit in my chair in my stamp room, and look around. This is why I like everything out where I can see it (aka Total Disaster). I look at everything, no matter if it's in use or not, to see if I can alter it or recreate it using cardstock. This time I got lucky and found this cute tin full of Prima Flowers that I bought from Jacksonbelle. Perfect!!

After cutting the Pink strip from the Arctic Chill collection from Fancy Pants, I stamped the background from Snow Wonderful in Versamark Dazzle Champagne and embossed with Clear embossing powder. It has a nice shimmer to it in real life that's almost impossible to capture in a photo.

The top of the tin was wrapped in 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon with a little bow, and the top was covered using cardstock layers cut with my Circle Nestabilities dies. The top layer is the other side of the Fancy Pants Arctic Chill paper that I used to wrap the bottom of the tin. I sponged all the edges, then added the sentiment in Brilliance Pearlized Chocolate ink.

To finish off the tin, I stamped the snowman three times in the same Brilliance ink, then colored the appropriate pieces with Copic markers. I cut them out and layered them with Pop Dots to make the snowman jump right off the top!

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little project and that you have a wonderful day! 

Stamps: Snow Wonderful (Verve)
Paper: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip (SU), Classic Crest Solar White (Neenah), Arctic Chill Collection (Fancy Pants)
Ink: Brilliance Pearlized Chocolate (Tsukineko), Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa (SU)
Accessories: Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Sponges, Copic Markers, Liquid Applique (Marvy), Dimensionals, 5/8" Chocolate Grosgrain (SU), Versamark Dazzle Champagne (Tsukineko), Clear Detail Embossing Powder (Ranger)

Leave to your God to order and provide...in every change, He, faithful will remain...

Hi Yall! I have some projects to share with you today...these are some of my favorites in a long time! Verve just released some awesome sets, and these are some samples of the new Plain Jane scripture stamps. Hope you like them!

The first sample is for Proverbs 3:5. I love love love this scripture!
I found this awesome wood plaque at Michael's for next to nothing (under $2 I think!). I painted it with off-white acrylic paint, then added some Basic Grey Sultry paper to the top panel. After sanding the edges, I softly painted the edges of the plaque with brown acrylic paint. Once the paint dried, I painted 3 layers of off-white paint to the center of the plaque, over the patterned paper. After it was dry, I stamped the scripture in Brilliance Pearlized Chocolate. The buttons from Stampin' Up matched perfectly, so I tied them with Linen DMC Floss and adhered them to the plaque. Super easy!

The next plaque was painted and sanded, in addition to covering the top with Basic Grey Figgy Pudding paper.
After stamping Philippians 4:13, I added the trim (from My Mind's Eye) and a Foof-la-la button tied with linen DMC thread. This will be awesome hanging in my office!

The last project I created was a canvas with the Psalm 46:10 stamp. I created a mini canvas to hang on the wall:
First I painted the canvas a soft blue, then stamped the Aged Sheet Music Scrapblock around the edges in acrylic paint. Then I added a center distressed panel of paint and adhered the sentiment and matte (cut out with rectangle nestabilities) to the center. I wrapped the edges with 5/8" Brown Satin ribbon, then hung it with the same ribbon and hodgepodge hardware. I love the way this one turned out!

Julee has really outdone herself with this release...as always. You can check out the specials and deals HERE. Have a great night!

Here they come, every night the same...silent stars, light from a distant flame...

Happy Friday, yall! Today I have a Sneak Preview of new Verve sets to be released on Sunday night...Poinsettia Christmas and Ornamental Christmas. You will love these sets!

I ran across this paper mache' house on sale on a recent trip to Hobby Lobby, and I knew I had to pick it up. Turns out, it was perfect for this sentiment from Poinsettia Christmas!
Cute, huh? I covered the house with Cosmo Cricket's Oh Joy paper, then added some ribbon and a sentiment from Poinsettia Christmas. I stamped the flower on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, then colored it with Copic markers and cut it out. The sentiment was stamped on Very Vanilla and matted with Chocolate Chip cardstock. After applying Crackle Accents, I cut out the flower and popped it up on the sentiment. Inside the box is a gift card to Pottery Barn. (Is it sad that I want to keep it for myself? *grin*)

The card is fairly simple, and uses the Verve Holiday Release Sketch Blitz #1. Finish these sketches and you'll have a chance to win FREE STAMPS!! Woo hooo!!!!

Anywho, instead of the image, I added a piece of a Cinnamon stick...it smells yummy! Thought it would be the perfect addition.

For more previews of the sets to be released on November 10th, visit the Verve Blog. The divas and guests have outdone themselves...plenty of inspiration here! I hope you enjoy all the eye candy, and join us on Sunday night at 7:00 PM Central in the Verve Forum for the release party. All the info is HERE.

Have a fabulous day!

September Class #1

This weekend I'm finishing up samples for my September/October classes. I'm rolling out 3, and as each one passes, I'll be introducing a new one. They will start to gear towards gifts for the holidays, and other helpful and fun projects!

This first one is a giant Clothespin, which I've decorated with designer paper and ribbon. I added some rhinestones and a chipboard initial, covered in dp and Icescicle Stickles. I stamped a scripture on the bottom from Biblical Impressions, which says "I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me."

Tomorrow I'll be posting the other 2 class projects, so if you want times, dates, and info, let me know and I'll email you the flyer!

Have a great weekend!

Stamps: Biblical Impressions Verse
Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir
Cardstock: Notations DSP from Spring Mini (SU!)
Accessories: Ribbon (all SU!), Basic Grey chipboard monogram, Mod Podge, Craft Knife, Basic Grey file set, Stickles, Diamond Glaze

Yes, Another Paint Can!

Finally done with the paint cans...I had to do 2 this weekend. This one is for the daughter of a lady I work with, and she's having a girl in about 4-6 weeks. Yeah, I know this one looks remarkably like the one from the other day, but when it works, it works! I used my Tres Jolie paper from Eclectic Paperie on this one...it's just sooo yummy. Stitched around the edges and used my cuttlebug for her name. I painted the chipboard letters with Deco Color Pigment Ink, and then embossed them with Irridescent Ice embossing powder. Ribbon is from May Arts and grosgrain from Michaels.

Inside the tin were these stamped onesies...how cute are they?!

Stamps: Sweet on You, Big Blooms, Think Big, Wild About You, Headline Alpha, So Very, Mike's $1 Stamps, Small Sayings, Autumn Leaves Clear Stamps

Ink: Real Red Craft, Chocolate Chip Craft, Colorbox Pigment Ink, Deco Color Pigment Ink

Tomorrow's the day!!

The new Verve Visual set, Fancy Florals, will be shipping to those who preordered it, and will be available to order. If you haven't preordered, there's still time to get the special pricing...so hurry!

A few months ago I went through a phase of collecting items to alter. Most of them never got altered...so I decided to pull out one that was much neglected, this DVD tin I bought at Stamp Salado a good year ago. I covered the front with my Cosmo Cricket Gretel Paper, and then sanded and sponged the edges. Then I took another piece of Gretel in a different pattern, layered it onto Blush Blossom Cardstock, and stitched around the edges with my sewing machine. Using my Tonic Distressor, I roughed up the edges of the Blush CS, then sponged all the edges with Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip ink. You can't really see it very well, but I stamped "Cherish" from my Baroque Motifs set in Chocolate Chip Craft Ink & embossed it with Antique Gold embossing Powder. I wish it was more prominent...oh well.

The flower was made with a technique that's new to me called Paper Tole. It was pretty fun, and I think it turned out ok. The flowers from Fancy Florals were stamped in Palette Hybrid Burnt Umber on Pearlized Cream cardstock, and then I colored them with Prismacolors & Odorless Mineral Spirits. For the flower center, I used some cool Nostalgiques Paper Clips, but I cut off the clip with my Craft & Rubber Scissors from SU, and glued it down with Diamond Glaze. Pretty nifty, huh?

I thought the May Arts ribbon added a little something to the front, and so I wrapped it around and tied a bow on the inside. I make kind of a little pocket inside the lid of the tin using a solid side of the Gretel Paper and then a patterned piece. I used Tacky Tape on the sides & bottom of the patterned piece to create the pocket, and stuck the ribbon in place with Glue dots.

Well I better run...for some strange reason, my family expects food. Why can't we have Pop Tarts for dinner? ;)

Stamps: Fancy Florals (Verve Visual), Linen BG, Baroque Motifs
Paper: Gretel by Cosmo Cricket, Blush Blossom, Pearlized Cream
Ink: Palette Hybrid Burnt Umber, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip Craft
Accessories: May Arts Ribbon, Tonic Distressor, Sewing Machine & Thread, Nostalgiques Paper Clip, Antique Gold EP, Diamond Glaze

One Word

So I got this email from my mom a few weeks ago, and it said, "If you had to describe me in one word, what would that word be?" One of the replies she received inspired this card. I think her friend just made it up, but my mom said she probably just didn't have her glasses on. All it said was: INDOMTABLE. ??? Since then my mom has decided that it's French for "brave." LOL

So before I show you what I made for my indomtable mother, I challenge you to make up a word to describe me. How fun is that?!

This is the card I made for my mom. Inside it just says "Happy Mother's Day." Very simple (since I waited till the last minute-SURPRISE), but I kinda like it. I used my new Karen Foster Snap Stamps that I ordered from Cindy (love them!) and one of my brand new favorite papers - Cosmo Cricket Wanted Collection (get it here). This one is Slim Jim. I layered it on a sage shadow panel and then onto a Chocolate Chip card base. Tied a bow, and BAM! (sorry) ;-)

I found this box at Recollections tonight, and it was $5! Can you believe it?! It measures about 6" deep x 7" wide, and I covered it with the Cosmo Cricket Wanted Collection as well. I used the Slim Jim, Kissin' Kate, and Buffalo Bill papers on this one, in addition to fibers and ribbon (for that "cowgirl chic" look). My parents live on 5 acres and have 2 horses and a donkey, so Mom is really into the cowgirl stuff. I stamped her 5 Flour Sacks with my Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and B-Line Designs Cowgirl stamps, with sayings like, "My heroes have always been cowgirls" and "Does this saddle make me look fat?" They are so cute but weren't dry and honestly I'm too tired to wait to take a pic. Love you all but seriously I'm tired. I'll post them tomorrow, I promise. They're super cute, and will go inside this awesome box. She's going to love them!

Ok, so I'm off to bed. Don't forget, post a reply and make up a word to describe me! G'Night!