Thursday, December 29, 2011

Miss You

Hi there.

I hope your Christmas was amazing and you have been enjoying your time before the New Year. My mom was admitted to the hospital on Monday, so things have been a little out-of-sorts around here. My parents live just down the street from me, so this is typically an opportunity for us to enjoy a little extra time together. Even though she is improving, it is still really bringing me down. I had a great list of things to accomplish while I was off work and I haven't managed one of them. I hope that things get back to normal before the beginning of the new year so we can start things off right.

I have a little card to share with you today, inspired by this week's Tuesday Trigger on the Moxie Fab World Blog.

I also tapped into inspiration from Maile Belles color blocking with dies post, which seemed perfect for this week's trigger.

The leafy branch and bird images are both from the Woodgrain Silhouettes Additions set from Wplus9. Both were embossed in white onto Crumb Cake cardstock and cut out. The sentiment was typed with an old typewriter that my mom dug out for me. I think the crookedness is part of the charm. Pretty simple - a bit relieved for actually finishing it.. it has been in pieces on my desk for the past few days. I'm hoping the act of finishing this card will help me to get some other things moving as well. If you can't tell, I don't deal well with not knowing what to do with myself - I like tasks and lists and crossing things off. I'm glad you stopped by, I am thinking of you!

Anya

Recipe
STAMPS: Woodgrain Silhouettes Additions - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Vintage Violet, Crumb Cake, River Rock, Blush Blossom, Baja Breeze - Stampin' Up!; White - Papertrey Ink
INK: VersaMark - Tsukineko
OTHER: Detail White Embossing Powder - Stampendous; Typewriter

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas

My dear, sweet friends - wishing you all a blessed and beautiful Merry Christmas. I hope your day is full of love and laughter and all the wonderful things that come with the season.

Merry Christmas!

Anya

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Quilted Tree

Good morning! Today is a Serendipity Stamps DT challenge day, and today we were challenged to create a simple Christmas card. Thank goodness for that, I think simple is all I've got left in me right now!

I get a great deal of enjoyment out of fussy cutting, and so paper piecing was the way to go for me. It might not be quick, but it is simple. Certainly an easier way for me to add color than coloring!

I paper pieced the Quilted Tree (1252F) image using the Season's Greetings patterned paper collection from Echo Park. I love the colors and patterns in this pack. I feel that images like this one that have a heavy line weight are easier to paper piece, they are a little more forgiving than those with skinny lines.

I matted the image with a strip of punched scallop paper and added another strip of coordinating patterned paper to the card. I finished it off with Stickles on the bottoms of all the branches. Easy peasy!

Before I head out for today, I just want to say thank you to Mary and the other Serendipity Design Team members. This is my last challenge as a part of the DT; after much thought I have decided not to renew my term after this year. I am so grateful for the opportunity Mary has given me and the chance to work with the other DT members. On the upside, the sweet and super talented Jeanne Jachna has joined the DT and I know she will do amazing things with Serendipity's stamps!

Thanks for stopping by today. Please be sure to visit the other Design Team members playing along today to see their take on this challenge!



Have a great day!

Anya

Recipe
STAMPS: Quilted Tree (1252F) - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink; Pear Pizzazz - Stampin' Up!
PATTERNED PAPER: Season's Greetings - Echo Park
INK: Onyx Black VersaFine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Scalloped Scallop Punch - EK Success; Star Dust Stickles - Ranger Industries

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

C'est La Vie

It has been a while since cardmaking happened in my house, its been a little hectic, you know? So today when I had some things that needed to be finished, I sat down with no mojo. Then I remembered that I had not yet played along with this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge, and I knew that would be the kick I needed.

Here's the color story for this color splash week:

And my card:

I used images from the Wplus9 sets C'est La Vie and Defining Words. I am in love with the bow around the waist of the dress form.

I always feel like such a procrastinator when I wait until the last minute to take on these challenges, but today it worked out perfectly! Have a lovely evening!

Anya

Recipe
STAMPS: C'est La Vie, Defining Words - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Rustic White - Papertrey Ink; Baja Breeze - Stampin' Up!
INK: Baja Breeze, Going Gray - Stampin' Up!; Pumice Stone Distress Ink - Ranger Industries; Onyx Black VersaFine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Label Layers 2 Die - Wplus9; Silk Ribbon - Papertrey Ink; BG11 Copic Marker - Imagination International; Houndstooth Felt - New Image Group (Hobby Lobby Stores); Labels Eight - Spellbinders Paper Arts

Monday, December 19, 2011

Happy Holidays

Whew! I am so sorry for neglecting you, my friends, I feel like whirling dervish. Can anyone relate?

How about a quick little card for you today? Not much on this but some die cutting, a quick sentiment, and a million pieces of foam tape, but it packs a fun winter holiday punch.

The snowflake dies are the Die-namics Let it Snowflake dies from MFT. I used the larger two of the set on my pink cardstock and ran it through my die cutting machine until I had the look I wanted. The sentiment is a simple one from the Wplus9 Christmas Wishes set. After the die-cutting and stamping, I spritzed the pink cardstock with some Sprinklers ink from October Afternoon and adhered it to my card base (that's where the million pieces of foam tape came in). Super cute, reminds me of something Cristina would make.

Here is another version - this was actually my first attempt.

The shimmer cardstock was a heavier weight and so a first pass through my die cutting machine didn't cut entirely through the cardstock (plus, my cutting plates are warped - it happens). No worries, I just went with it and do like the deep embossed look this has.

Thankfully, these guys *finally* went out in the mail with the rest of my Christmas cards. You would think being a cardmaker I'd be a bit more together when it came to Christmas cards. I bet you all know exactly what I'm talking about. Next year, I swear I am playing along with the Waltzingmouse monthly Christmas Card Challenge!

Hope your days is great! I promise I'll try and pop back soon!

Anya

Recipe
Happy Holidays Snowflake Card
STAMPS: Christmas Wishes - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Rustic Cream, Sweet Blush - Papertrey Ink
INK: Early Espresso - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Let it Snowflake Die-namics - MFT; Paper Doily Sprinklers - October Afternoon

Merry & Bright Snowflake Card
STAMPS: Christmas Wishes - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Night of Navy - Stampin' Up!; Shimmery White - Papertrey Ink
INK: Night of Navy - Stampin' Up!
OTHER: Let it Snowflake Die-namics - MFT

Thursday, December 15, 2011

WMS is Moxie Fab!

Good morning!

Today Cath Edvalson is featuring Waltzingmouse Stamps for the Stamp of Approval feature on the Moxie Fab World Blog. Yay! Cath has extended the opportunity to win six WMS stamp sets (all of the goodies from the most recent release) to not one, but two lucky people!

I'm here to share some eye candy made with these lovely stamps. Some of my most favorite yet.

This card uses Seasonal Remedies, a holiday follow up to the popular Rescue Remedies.

I just fell in love with this next card.

I'm not sure if its the simple design, the classic colors, or that delicious font but I just love it. If I end up needing a few extra Christmas cards here or there, this baby is going to be it. This uses two of the smallest ornament images from 2011 Holiday Ornaments. I stamped them and then die cut them with the coordinating 2011 Heirloom Ornaments dies from Spellbinders.

And finally, a card for someone special that uses one of my favorite single images from this release - the cluster of candy canes from Candy Jar Christmas Fillers.

This idea was totally inspired by Cathy Weber's Dessert Buffet Placecards where she accented her various images with the holly from Festive Foliage. I loved the look of this and incorporated it onto my card .. this went to my sweet WMS Secret Santa :)

So, enough of my chit chat - rush on over to the Moxie Fab World Blog and enter to win some of these yummies for yourself! Thanks for visiting!

Anya

Recipe
Pure Distilled Christmas Wishes Card
STAMPS: Seasonal Remedies - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Sahara Sand, Riding Hood Red - Stampin' Up!; Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
PATTERNED PAPER: Season's Greetings - Echo Park
INK: Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Detail White Embossing Powder - Stampendous; Eggshell Seam Binding - Hug Snug; French Pastry Doily Die - Cheery Lynn Designs; Sewing Machine - New Home

Merry Christmas Ornaments Card
STAMPS: Nordic Winter, 2011 Holiday Ornaments - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Pear Pizzazz - Stampin' Up!; Rustic White - Papertrey Ink
INK: So Saffron, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz - Stampin' Up!; Pebble - Amuse|Studio; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: 2011 Heirloom Ornaments - Spellbinders Paper Arts; Maraschino, Honeydew, Buttercream Baker's Twine - The Twinery

Sweetest Christmas Wishes Card
STAMPS: Candy Jar Christmas, Candy Jar Christmas Fillers, Festive Foliage - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Rustic White - Papertrey Ink
PATTERNED PAPER: Woodgrain Assortment - Amuse|Studio
INK: Black Onyx VersaFine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries; Wild Wasabi - Stampin' Up!
OTHER: R27 Copic - Imagination International; Dazzling Diamonds Glitter - Stampin' Up!; Houndstooth Felt - New Image Group (Hobby Lobby Stores)

Monday, December 12, 2011

Warm Wishes

I'll take some warm wishes - it is freezing here!

Here is a card today based on the ideas that were swirling after seeing this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge and Tuesday Trigger.

Here is what I created. Turned out just like I saw it in my head (love when that happens! :)

I combined the images of the mittens from Winter Wishes with the clothespin and triple string images from Heartfelt Mix. The sentiment was stamped on a die cut from the All Occasion Label Die and then trimmed to use just the top. I like doing this.

The edges were painted with an acrylic paint dabber, which reminded me of the wood floor in the Tuesday Trigger picture. The finished size of this card is 6-3/4 by 3-3/4. Instead of mailing this one, I think I'll tuck it in a little package to a friend.

I hope you all are enjoying the rush of the holidays. I just wish I could get something crossed off my list!

Have a great day!

Anya

Recipe
STAMPS: Winter Wishes, Heartfelt Mix - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Rustic White - Papertrey Ink; Crumb Cake - Stampin' Up!
INK: Real Red, Cool Caribbean, Lucky Limeade, Pacific Point - Stampin' Up!; Onyx Black VersaFine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: All Occasion Label Die - Wplus9; Snow Cap Acrylic Pain Dabber - Ranger Industries; Sewing Machine

Friday, December 9, 2011

Talkin' Tags

Happy Friday morning to you! I am excited for the weekend to get underway, tonight I have a hot date with my hubs for dinner and then tickets for A Musical Christmas Carol. We are heading out to get our tree this weekend, and generally Christmasify the house. Its the most wonderful time of the year!

Today I'm talkin' tags. Maybe you've been around before to hear about one of our holiday traditions, but my husband and I celebrate our anniversary on the 15th, and we share a gift a day with each other between then and Christmas. I always create a tag for each of his gifts that eventually is added to our tree. It came about purely because I love creating tags, I love family traditions, and I love my hubs. Wanna see some?

I used the Love Birds set from Wplus9 along with the coordinating Love Birds Die (this is a fantastic die set - must have). You know how much I love birdies, and this just seemed perfect for our anniversary. I also combined some other sets (cloud images from Heartfelt Mix and sentiment from Love You More) to finish the scene.

One of the reasons why I think I love creating tags so much is that they can be as simple or as complicated as you want. You can sit down and easily put together a little work of art.

Here is the second tag I created.

For this one, I started by stamping the tag base with one of the text images from Text It. Then I added some Iced Spruce Distress Ink to the edges and sprayed it with some Mister Huey's Calico Shine. The sentiment is from Say It Loud Winter Holiday and the snowflakes are from Nordic Winter. I stamped them onto scrap and cut them out, inking the edges with Antique Linen and adding some Copic-colored rhinestones to the center.

Here is a better shot of the shimmer and shine.

I set up a little tag station to keep me on task. I inevitably end up creating the night before what I need the next day, and sometimes that is ok, but I really do prefer to be a little ahead of the game :)

I cut all 11 tags at once so I can just sit down and grab one when I need it. In the past I have used all the same shape, but this year I thought I'd mix it up and used dies to cut some of the tags. I put them all in a little galvanized tin along with some Red Wood Bingo Calendar Numbers from Maya Road that I'll add to the tags each day.

Here are some of my previous tag posts if you're interested: here, here, and here.

With all this talk of tags, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that Waltzingmouse is having their annual Christmas Tag Challenge. You can read more about it here on the WMS Blog, the deadline is December 20th and the winner gets four stamp sets!

Have a wonderful day, loves!

Anya

Recipe
Love Birds Tag
STAMPS: Love Birds, Heartfelt Mix, Love You More - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
PATTERNED PAPER: Season's Greetings - Echo Park Paper Company
INK: Soft Sky, Cool Caribbean, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red - Stampin' Up!; Coffee Archival Ink, Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Love Birds Die - Wplus9; Tag Sale #1 Die - Papertrey Ink

Warm Wishes Tag
STAMPS: Text It, Say It Loud Winter Holiday, Nordic Winter - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
INK: Going Gray - Stampin' Up!; Pebble - Amuse|Studio; Iced Spruce, Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Adhesive Rhinestones - Recollections; Mister Huey's Calico Shine - Studio Calico; Tag Corner Punch - Stampin' Up!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

My Cup of Tea

Hi there! Today is a Serendipity Stamps DT challenge day, and today we were challenged to create a tea-themed card.

I used the Heart Cup and coordinating You're Just My Cup of Tea sentiment for my card. I also used the Postcard stamp.

I started by stamped the postcard border and sentiment onto a piece of cream cardstock, then punched the edges with the SU! ticket punch. I stamped the tea cup onto a square of cardstock and then colored it with Copic markers. I matted this with a bit of pink cardstock die cut using one of the postage stamp nestabilities. Some coordinating pink patterned paper, a bit of stitching and some Distress Ink and I was pleased!

Thanks for stopping by today. Please be sure to visit the other Design Team members playing along today to see their take on this challenge!



Have a great day!

Anya

Recipe
STAMPS: Heart Cup, You're Just My Cup of Tea, Postcard - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Pretty in Pink - Stampin' Up!; Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
PATTERNED PAPER: Uncommon Collection - Authentique Paper
INK: Coffee Archival Ink, Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries; Latte - Amuse|Studio
OTHER: Postage Stamp Nestabilities - Spellbinders Paper Arts; Copic Markers - Imagination International; Ticket Corner Punch - Stampin' Up!; Vintage Button; Sewing Machine

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Deck the Halls

Hello, hello my friends. I hope you don't think I'm neglecting you - I haven't been posting here as often as I like, but it is for good reason. I've been busy with some things that I can't share quite yet, but come January you'll see!

I am sneaking in just in time with a card for this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge. This week's color story is a soft combination of pinks and purple.

For some reason, I knew what I wanted to do as soon as I saw these colors. Here is my card.

I created this card using the Bells & Boughs set along with the coordinating dies from PTI. These images, along with these colors make me think of something a little retro, and I love it! I finished my card off with some flicks of Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls. They are a richer gold than the Perfect Gold color and I think it really adds to the retro look.

You'll have to take my word for it that this is nice and shimmery! Thanks for stopping by today! Take care!

Anya

Recipe
STAMPS: Bells & Boughs - Papertrey Ink
CARDSTOCK: Rustic Cream - Papertrey Ink; Blush Blossom - Stampin' Up!
INK: Wisteria Wonder, Blush Blossom, Crumb Cake - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Bells & Boughs Die Collection - Papertrey Ink; Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls - Ranger Industries

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Happy Holidays

Hi there! Happy Friday to you. The days sure are flying by, aren't they?

Here in my world, I am super glad that the weekend is here. No big plans, just looking forward to the days off. How about a cute little card for Friday?

Don't you love these Four Framed Snowflakes from Hero Arts? I stamped each of them in a different color - I am a big fan of these four colors together for the holidays. I cut each snowflake out, inked the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink, and adhered them to a mat of cardstock cut with the pinking blade on my paper trimmer. I added a strip of patterned paper from Crate Paper's Peppermint Collection, some paper piercing, and coordinating rhinestones in each of the snowflake centers. The sentiment is from the Wplus9 set Christmas Wishes, which was selectively inked to split the phrase.

This is a 4-1/4 inch square card. It makes me smile! Imagine all the different colors.. I'd like to try this in different shades of blue with lots of glitter!

So glad to see you today, have a good one!

Anya

Recipe
STAMPS: Four Framed Snowflakes - Hero Arts; Christmas Wishes - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Fine Linen, Rustic White - Papertrey Ink
PATTERNED PAPER: Peppermint Collection - Crate Paper
INK: Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Cool Caribbean - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries; Onyx Black VersaFine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Adhesive Rhinestones - Recollections; Pinking Blade - Fiskars; Paper Piercer