Simply Black ...

TGIF hoarding card-makers and welcome to the long holiday weekend! Hope your Thanksgiving was full of family, friends, love, and laughter ... oh, and lots of yummy turkey, too! And, since it's finally another Friday, it's time for another fun "Stamp Simply" challenge!

This week, Sharon reminds us that, "here in the U.S., "Black Friday" is the day after Thanksgiving when the holiday shopping season steps into full gear and all retailers hope to get their books out of the 'red' -- and into the 'black.' So, taking our inspiration from that -- today we will use black in our creations. Use black as one of your feature colors or merely as an accent -- or use a black ribbon or other embellishment -- whatever works for you."

I love teaming black with bright white ... these colors just "pop" when used together. My card is super-simple ... just an embossed card base and some black embellishments:

To play along in this week's challenge ... and we hope you do! ... simply create a paper project featuring the color black. Then, upload your project to your blog or online photo gallery and visit Sharon's blog, located HERE and link your project up to Mr. Linky, located HERE.

When uploading to an online gallery, such as Splitcoast Stampers, SNR, or Paper Craft Planet, please use keyword: "ssnotime167" so that we can find your project.

Need more inspiration? Don't miss the fabulous "Black Friday" projects created by the rest of the "Stamp Simply" team:

Sharon Johnson, Our Fearless Leader: No Time to Stamp?;

Barbara Anders: Paper Pursuits;

Jenny Gropp: One Krafty Kat;

Janine Orchard: 2 B Krafty;

AJ Otto: The Willow Garden;

Deb Saaranen: Dream in Color;

Barb Schram: Explore. Dream. Discover.; and our amazing Guest Designer for November,

Claudia Rose: Pretty Pressings.

If you'd like, you can check out all of the Splitcoast Stampers gallery submissions HERE.

We can't wait to see your black creations!

Thanks so much for spending part of your very busy day with me ... hope you have a fabulous weekend!

~Hugs,


Card Recipe:

• Card Stock: "Basic Black" and "Whisper White" Card Stock by Stampin' Up
• Accessories: Charm Clip by Tim Holtz; Vintage Black Seam Binding Tape from Stash; Typewriter Key-Style Word Tile by K&Company
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine; 5" x 7" Embossing Folder by Provo Craft; Snowflake Die by Spellbinders; Corner Chomper by WRMK'ers; Stampin' Dimensionals by Stampin' Up
  
• Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (Top-Folded)
  

A Holiday Paper Bag Album ...

Happy Stump Day hampers ... hope your work-week is flyin' by. BTW, do you know that Christmas is just 38 days away?!? Yikes!

Today's quickie post is just a look at the front cover of my latest altered paper bag album. So, if you're not one of my regular buyers, feel free to look away now.

For more details, or a look at the interior pages of this album, you can visit it where it currently lives: on eBay. To visit my eBay auction page, you can clicky HERE.

Thanks so much for spending part of your very busy day with me ... I'll be back on Friday with another fabulous "Stamp Simply" challenge; 'til then, stay safe!

~Hugs,

Tags R Fun!

TGIF hoarding card-makers and welcome to the weekend! And, since it's finally another Friday, it's time for another "Stamp Simply" challenge!

This week Sharon says, "who doesn't like to make a tag or two!?! Tags are small canvases to decorate that we pass on with a gift or use to embellish a card or other project. Today we are making tags ... these could be Christmas tags or ANY tag you might need for any occasion. Whether it be a tag to hang on a bag handle or gift, or an adornment for a card or some other project, let's just have some fun today making tags!"

For my tag project, I created a holiday card embellished with a tag that could be easily removed for gift giving:

To play along in this week's challenge ... and we hope you do! ... simply create a paper project featuring a tag. Then, upload your project to your blog or online photo gallery and visit Sharon's blog, located HERE and link your project up to Mr. Linky, located HERE.

When uploading to an online gallery, such as Splitcoast Stampers, SNR, or Paper Craft Planet, please use keyword: "ssnotime164" so that we can find your project.

Need more inspiration? Don't miss the fabulous tag projects created by the rest of the "Stamp Simply" team:

Sharon Johnson, Our Fearless Leader: No Time to Stamp?;

Barbara Anders: Paper Pursuits;

Jenny Gropp: One Krafty Kat;

Janine Orchard: 2 B Krafty;

AJ Otto: The Willow Garden;

Deb Saaranen: Dream in Color;

Barb Schram: Explore. Dream. Discover.; and our fabulous Guest Designer for November,

Claudia Rose: Pretty Pressings.

If you'd like, you can see all of the Splitcoast Stampers gallery submissions HERE.

We can't wait to see your tag-a-licious creation!

Thanks so much for sharing part of your very busy day with me ... hope you have a fabulous weekend!

~Hugs,


Card Recipe:

• Card Stock: "Cherry Cobbler," "Night of Navy," and "Very Vanilla" Card Stock by Stampin' Up
• Designer Paper: All Designer Paper from "Mistletoe" Collection by Making Memories
• Other Paper: 2 1/2" x 4 7/8" Distressed Shipping Tag
• Stamps: Focal Image from "Seasonal Whimsy" Stamp Set (Retired) by Stampin' Up; Sentiment from "Season of Joy" Stamp Set by Stampin' Up
• Ink: Versamark Watermark Ink by Tsukineko; "Cherry Cobbler" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up
• Accessories: Zing "Denim" Embossing Powder; Baker's Twine; Ultra-Fine Crystal Snow by Stampendous; Holiday Brad by Making Memoires; Quicky Glue Pen; Twill Tape by Stampin' Up
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Spellbinders Rectangle Die; Heat Gun; Walnut Ink Crystals; Stampin' Dimensionals and SNAIL Adhesive by Stampin' Up
• Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (Top-Folded)
  

A Super Simple Christmas Card ...

TGIF hoarding card-makers and welcome to the weekend! And, since it's finally another Friday, it's time for another "Stamp Simply" challenge!

This week, Sharon says: "Clean and Simple is definitely the way to go when we need to mass produce. But it's also a very refreshing and pleasing style to fall back on any time at all. Today let us truly think Clean and Simple ... SUPER SIMPLE! And let's make cards with Christmas OR winter in mind as we inspire each other with all our Clean and Simple creations!

Shut the front door! This is The. Best. Stamp. Simply. Challenge. Ever! I {♥} this challenge! Thanks so much Sharon, for combining my very favorite style and theme!

Sooooo, if super-simple is what you want, super-simple is what you get:

To play along in this week's challenge ... and we hope you do! ... simply create a SUPER CLEAN and SIMPLE card. Then, upload it to your blog or online photo gallery and visit Sharon's blog, located HERE and link your project up to Mr. Linky, located HERE.

When uploading to an online gallery, such as Splitcoast Stampers, SNR, or Paper Craft Planet, please use keyword: "ssnotime163" so that we can find your project.

Need more inspiration? Don't miss the fabulously creative projects created by the rest of the "Stamp Simply" team:

Our Fearless Leader, Sharon Johnson: No Time to Stamp?;

Barbara Anders: Paper Pursuits;

Jenny Gropp: One Krafty Kat;

Janine Orchard: 2 B Krafty;

AJ Otto: The Willow Garden;

Deb Saaranen: Dream in Color;

Barb Schram: Explore. Dream. Discover.; and our talented Guest Designer for October,

Jerri Kay Jimenez: A Touch of Grace.

If you'd like, you can see all of the Splitcoast Stampers gallery submissions HERE.

We can't wait to see your clean and simple creation!

Thanks so much for sharing part of your very busy day with me ... hope you have a fabulous weekend!

~Hugs,


Card Recipe:

• Card Stock: "Real Red" and "Whisper White" Card Stock by Stampin' Up
• Stamp: "Make Merry" from "Tags So Much" Stamp Set (Retired) by Stampin' Up
• Ink: "Real Red" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up
• Accessory: Red and White Checked Gingham Ribbon
• Tools: Tag Punch by Stampin' Up; Stampin' Dimensionals by Stampin' Up
• Finished Size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" (Top-Folded)
  

Delightfully Red Decorations ...

Happy Friday, Stampers!

Today's card project was created for SCS's "Was To Use It" challenge, WT235, "Revved Up for Red."

For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the WT235 card gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my card, clicky on the photo.

I stamped my ornaments, from Stampin' Up's new "Delightful Decorations" stamp set, punched them out with the matching "Ornament" punch, and mounted them on my card base using foam dimensionals. The sentiment, from Stampin' Up's "Sincere Salutations" stamp set was stamped using SU's retired "Riding Hood Red" dye ink.

Soooooo, the other day I was hangin' out at Sheila's when Reid-the-Wild-Child arrived home from school. Sitting at the counter eating his after school snack, Reid held up his middle finger and asked us what it meant.

Sheila was so shocked that the best she could manage was, "Shame on you," followed by, "If anyone does that to you, just say, 'Shame on you' to that person."

Last night, Sheila invited the DH and I over for some of her world class ribs and while we were at the dinner table, Sheila's DH, Ken, let out a huge ... ummm ... belch. Sheila blushed and immediately scolded him saying, "Shame on you."

Reid-the-Wild-Child turned to his Dad, held up his middle finger, and exclaimed, "Don't worry, Mommy, I'll give Daddy the 'shame on you' sign!"

Thanks for swinging by and have a great weekend!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: "Riding Hood Red" and "Very Vanilla" Card Stock by Stampin' Up
• Designer Paper: BasicGrey
• Stamps: "Delightful Decorations" and "Sincere Salutations" Stamp Sets by Stampin' Up
• Ink: "Riding Hood Red" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up
• Accessories: Gold Cord; Grosgrain Ribbon
• Tools: Ornament Punch by Stampin' Up; Key Tag Punch by Stampin' Up; 1/16" Circle Punch by Stampin' Up; Star-Shaped Punch; Foam Dimensionals; SNAIL Tape Runner; Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
  
• Finished Size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
  

To purchase Stampin' Up! products, click HERE.

Vote for Me an' I'll Set Ya Free!

Not really ... I'm jess feelin' the Election Day vibe. Don't even tell me you didn't vote today ...

So, yuppers, it's me ... I'm back ... for today, anyway ... with another paper bag album to show y'all. This is what I do with myself these days:

This ^ is the cover ... duh:


This ^ spread is pages two and three;


This ^ spread is pages four and five;


This ^ spread is pages six and seven:


This ^ spread is pages eight and nine; and,


This ^ spread is pages ten and eleven.

This album is currently up for bid on eBay. There's also more (larger and not-so-distorted), photos on my listing ... if you'd care to check it out, you can clicky HERE ... and a new window will open ... not an old window; a new window.

Since I decided to actually make some money rather than just spend it, I've been horrible about card making ... and bloggin'. I have every intention of returning to full-time blogging and card making when I begin to enjoy the effects of my micro-economic recovery plan, or "M-ERP" for short. Provided that actually happens ...

But I want you to know I miss ALL of you horribly ... and I miss spending hours and hours visiting your blogs and seeing all of your amazin' paper creations. Let's face it: you guys rock!

In other news, Sheila asked me to go with her to a funeral parlor and look at urns.

"Yucko," I answered, "Why?"

"Well, the DH and I want to have all this stuff resolved now so that the kids won't have to worry about it later on down the road," she responded.

So, off we go to Palms West Funeral Home ... to pick out funeral urns. Big fun ... and totally my idea of the perfect day!

"Well, which one do you like?" Sheila asked.

"Ummm ..." I stammered.

"How 'bout this one?"

"Ummmm ..."

"You're no help," she sputtered.

"Ummmmmm ..."

"Never mind," she said, "I'll take the blue one. You know I always look good in blue."

Seriously. No, REALLY. Cross my heart and hope to ... ummmmm ...

~Hugs,

Is Not Bloggin' the New Black?!?

Hey, there you are! I hope you're enjoying "Sylvia Plath Day." I know I am ... and I plan on stickin' my head in the oven just as soon as I finish this post! Seriously ...

ONward H-C-Ms:

So, once again I'm posting a paper bag album I have listed on eBay. If you'd like to see the listing, for more pix of this project ... or my kewl auction template, click HERE.

Okay, so obviously, that ^ is the cover ...


And this ^ spread is pages 2 and 3 ...


^ Pages 4 and 5 ...


^Pages 6 and 7 ...


^ Pages 8 and 9, and ...


^ And, finally, pages 10 and 11.

Being that the holidays are upon us, I have hundreds of cards to create ... not to mention gifts and paper bag albums. A girl's gotta have $$ for the holidays, right?!?

Ummm, none of which is going to leave me a lot of time for bloggin'. Sooooo, unfortunately, I'll be posting infrequently at best for awhile. But I see I'm not alone here ... many of you have either emailed me, commented, or posted on your own blogs that, for at least the time being, bloggin' has to take a backseat to other obligations. And no one has to tell me how much time photographing, editing, uploading, posting, and return-comment-blurfin' takes! WoWzA, who knew?!?

Which raises the question: is NOT bloggin' the new craftin' trend?!?

Okay, for all you Sheila-junkies, here's a true ditty:

I stopped by Sheila's this weekend for a sec ... and basically watched her run up and down stairs, out to the garage, and back and forth to her laundry room.

"Is this a bad time, Kiddo?" I asked.

"Oh, no, just hang for a few minutes while I run this load of laundry upstairs."

About halfway up the stairs, her phone rang.

So, here comes Sheila runnin' back down the stairs to answer the phone.

The man on the other end of phone said to her, "Hi, Mrs. L.; we're calling people in your area today and would like to know if you would help us by participating in a brief survey."

Without missing a beat, she told them, "Sorry. I'm BUSY, survey your own briefs!"

Seriously ... outta the mouths of blondes! I'm definitely gonna be using that one too ...

~Hugs,

Yay! It's "Gaudy Day" ... Do I Win?!?

Wooohooo, it's "Gaudy Day!!!" This ^ card is my official entry ... prolly could be gaudier, but it's a damn fine start, wouldn't you say?

ONward H-C-M~s:

Today's card project was created for Allison's "Suggestive Sunday" blog challenge. This week, Allison's challenge required the creative use of punches ... or something like that. I read punches and kinda zoned out from that point forward.

My pine cones (yup, that's what they're supposed to be), were created with a pear punch ... and fern and pine bough punches. 'Course I haven't used the fern and pine bough punches in a particularly creative manner ... I just clipped into the fern fronds to try to create the appearance of needles. The only truly "creative" punch-use was creating the cones using the pear punch. But you can't have pine cones without branches and whatnot, sooooo ... there they are.

I stamped my snowflakes on my card base using glue then poured sprinkled Crystal Snow over ... umm, everything. ALL of the snowflakes are glittery but the ones on the left-hand side of the card look bare. IRL, they're sooooooo stinkin' glittery, I almost can't stand it. Just a light thing, KWIM? But those pine cones? They're buried in Crystal Snow! But first, I sprayed them with Artists Spray Mount Adhesive.

TIP: Man, don't ever spray Artists Spray Mount Adhesive anywhere indoors! You know those non-stick craft sheets? Yeah, it's not non-stick when it comes to Spray Mount Adhesive ... honestly boy and girls, it took me longer to clean up the spray adhesive mess than to make the pine cones, make the card, photograph the card, or edit my photos ... and it's still stuck to my hands. {Sigh} Good times!

The sentiment, maker unknown, was stamped in Versamark, heat embossed with "Moonlit Forest Glitz" powder, and mounted on dimensionals. And that's all folks!

So, yesterday Sheila came over all agitated and asked me to go to Publix-Where-Shopping-Is-A-Pleasure with her.

"What's wrong, Kiddo?" I asked.

She thrust a box of animal crackers at me and said, "See this? I bought this box of animal crackers and look! It says right on it, "Do not eat if seal is broken."

She reached into the box and sure enough ...

Seriously.

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Bazzill Basics
• Designer Paper: None (AGAIN! Why do I hoard this stuff? Why?!?)
• Stamps: Snowflakes from "Snowflake Serenade" by Papertrey Ink; Sentiment, Unknown
• Ink: Versamark; "Creamy Brown" Fluid Chalk Ink by Clearsnap
• Accessories: "Crystal Snow" by Stampendous!; "Moonlit Forest Glitz" EP by Comotion
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Spellbinder's Die; Pear Craft Punch by Punch Bunch; Pine Bough Craft Punch by McGill; Large Fern Craft Punch by Punch Bunch; Golden Heavy Gel Medium; "Palette" Glue Stamp Pad by Stewart Superior; Black Dimensionals; The Ultimate Craft Glue by Api; Artists Spray Mount Adhesive by 3M

Need a Tree Topper? How 'Bout a Tree?

Hey, anybody need a Christmas tree topper? Maybe a nice l'il tree for a tabletop? Well, then, here ya go!

Today's no-stampin' paper project was created for Allison's "Suggestive Sunday" blog challenge. This is my second project created using the Pyramid fold and as promised, it's totally over-the-top, no?

Using green card stock and my pine bough paper punch, I punched out a bazillion pine boughs and layered them on to my pyramid.

I created a star-topper using a Cuttlebug die, wrapped a length of iridescent pearls around the tree, then created 'ornaments' using a star and circle punch.

Yup, I can hear you already, "w-a-y too much time on her hands," but I created this pyramid card in less time than it took to create my Halloween pyramid card. My speedy secret? A Power Punch tool and lots of fast drying super-sticky-craft glue. Oh. And Red Bull ...

Hope you're enjoying your Sunday; thanks so much for spending part of your day with me!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: DCWV; Bazzill Basics
• Accessory: Iridescent Pearls
• Tools: Power Punch; Star Punch; Circle Punch; "The Ultimate" Glue

PS PEEPS: If you're interested in purchasing stamps ... as if ... I've just listed several nice ones in my eBay store. To check 'em out, clicky HERE. Thanks for lookin'!