November CCAYR Sketch Challenge

The challenge this month at Christmas Cards All Year Round is a sketch challenge, no twists, nothing difficult, and one we hope you you like.  Remember there are only 40 days until the post office wants you to have your cards mailed so they arrive at their destination on time.  Now that's scarey.....what's worse is Christmas is only 55 days away.........YIKES!!!  Better get hopping on those cards or you'll be making a quick dash to somewhere to catch up.

***Remember if you do 5 cards this month following the challenge, your name will go into a draw for a prize at the end of November! (This challenge CAN be combined with any other blog or forum challenges that you do this month.)

This digital card was made using My Memories software with a variety of papers and elements from CoolScraps Digital. 

Short post this time cause I'm moving to get things done before the season begins.  I've scheduled this post and I sure hope Blogger is being good and it gets done on time....  Have a good one!
Be around soon to see you.

"Love & Hugs" Carol

Planting Some Love

Gee, can you believe it's Wednesday already and the first week of November.  I don't know about you all but our weather is crazy here.  Yesterday it was almost 80 and today it's in the 50's, rainy, possibly snow tonight, and colder than I'd prefer....  Needed a break from Christmas cards and I had never colored this adorable image from Bells'n Whistles so decided to "think" spring cause I'm not a big fan of winter.

I made this card for 2 challenges today,  Bells'n Whistles Pins and Pearls Challenge and Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge, Pink, Purple, Pearls, and Pretties.

Close up of front

The stamped image is from Bells'n Whistles by Elisabeth Bell named "Planting Some Love".  Flowers are WOC as is the metal corner and pins.  She is colored with Copics.  The butterflies are a MS Butterfly Punch with pearls from stash added.  The bows on each side of the sentiment are also from stash.  Don't have a clue what paper pack the DP is out of but I think it's from Kaiser Kraft.  So dark and dreary here and apologize the picture is not all that great.  Light Box is on my Christmas Wish List...

Thanks so much for stopping by and I sure hope to see  you again soon.

"Love & Hugs" Carol (Granny)

Congrats - Candy Winners

Special thanks to all of my followers that left a comment on my candy post.  Wish I had something for all of you sweet people other than my admiration for sharing your wonderful talent and for your support.

My wonderful hubby drew the following candy winners:

Linda Palmer 

Mary Lou

Linda and Mary Lou, if you will email me your addy I will get your dies in the mail this week.

Scroll down to see my most recent post with one of the HFC stamps.

"Hugs" Carol (Granny)

It's A Sketch Challenge at CCAYR

What a fun time I had with this card.  Decided to try something a little different for me with these HFC stamps I got a CKC.  Oh how I'm lovin these new stamps and what you can do with them.  The workshops were so much fun and for sure you will be seeing all of the new stamps I got before years end.

The challenge this month at CCAYR is a sketch challenge and if you'll hop on over to the challenge blog you'll see what an easy sketch they have for you this month and some wonderful inspiration by the design team.  Christmas mailing time is just a skip and hollar away and will be here before ya know it.  I usually include a Christmas Letter with my cards so sometimes you won't see a  place on the inside to add a note.  That is when I get them mailed out.......Last year I did not mail one Christmas card and boy did I hear about it from some of our dear friends, so this year I'm sending them out early.

Card Deets:

• HFC 3347 Cardinal Bird Feeder & HCPC 3432 Magnificent Spruce Trees
• DP SU Cherry Cobbler & Bo Bunny Father Christmas 6x6 paper pad
• Go Create XXL Frilly Frame (chipboard) & Spellbinder's Long Classic Rectangle
• Memento Black and Green Verte Verde ink for the trees - Color Box Ice Blue Chalk for clouds
• Copics G28, 24,21, 20 - E59, 57, 55, 53 - C7, 1
• Other:  Crystal Dust, Snow-Tex, White flat paint, Clear embossing powder, Polar White Flower Soft, micro glitter, and pop dots for dimension
• Card shape - Center step card

That's all from me today folks.  Thanks so very much for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon.  If you have the time to leave me a comment I will come visit.  I've tried to get around to visiting everyone but in case I missed you, your comment will definitely warrant a visit from me.  Have a wonderful day!

"Love & Hugs" Carol (Granny)

Candy - For NO Reason

CANDY FOR MY FOLLOWERS

Just leave me a comment prior to November 1

Candy closes October 31, Midnight CST  USA

OMG, we had a great time at the CKC Scrapbook Convention in Kansas City last Friday.  It's the first time I've left my husband alone for that long in over 3 years and was gone almost 6 hours.  I did have backup just in case but he's doing really well with the new Aricept 23 and I really needed some me time.  Selfish as that may sound.

The 2 Heartfelt Creation classes were so much fun and I finally learned how to use the dies with the stamps (I think)....  At least I got a bunch of red birds and flowers stamped and cut out.  Even have made 2 cards and spent 2 days in the craft room playing.  Can't show you some of my cards until November 1 but I really did like the way they turned out.

Spent so much money at the Heartfelt booth that they offerd me a platinum membership.......lol  BUT, I did save a ton and came home with 2 sack fulls.  In fact, I bought 2 dies that I already had.  Ever done that??? Because I love ya all so much I'm going to be giving away 1 set of dies to 2 lucky winners.  One die is the Heartfelt Creations Daisy Patch HCD 703 and the other is Spellbinder's Layered Poinsettia.

Nope you don't have to become a follower unless you like what you see here and lately there hasn't been too much to see..  This is only for my followers and all you have to do is just leave me a comment, no posting anything on your blog or anything else.

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!  Blogger crashed before I got this finished and I forgot what I said....... ROFLOL

Will be around to visit Monday or Tuesday and maybe have a post before long.  Better sign off before it crashes again tonight.  Have a great week!

"Love & Hugs" Carol (Granny)

Lilly's On Her Way Home

I'm so excited about what I can do with this My Memories Suite program that I just couldn't wait until tomorrow to show you another page from the album.  This time I played around with incorporating some digi elements I had  downloaded from other sources to see how it worked.  Yeah, they worked.  Can't believe how easy this program is to use.  If you are interested in checking out this program be sure you use the special coupon code on the right side of my bar to save $20, $10 on the program and $10 towards kits.

Well, "That's all I got to say about that!" (Gump quote)...........LOL  Yes,  my card making and sharing  is suffering terribly at this point in time but I'm getting back on track to play in challenges and back to the craft room.  Amazing at easily I can get sidetracked.....

Friday I am off to the CKC Show in Kansas City to attend 2 Heartfelt Creations workshops and do some shopping.  Hope I don't spend all my Christmas stash in one spot.  Now if that doesn't motivate me to get back into stamping and coloring I'm doomed.

Did you all see that amazing decorated tin that Angelica made for HFC?  OMG, it's totally gorgeous!!  I'm going to try and get one made tonight and hope it turns out half as beautiful as hers.  Going to get out those alcohol inks I've never used, and had for a few years, to see if I can get my tin colored.  Wish me luck!  If you haven't seen this gorgeous project hop on over to Angelica's blog and check it out.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I have been out visiting this week but if I missed you, please leave me a comment and I'll hop on over.  Have a wonderful day!

"Love & Hugs" Carol (Granny)

My First Album Using My Memories

OMG, if you've ever wanted to make a scrapbook album fast and in minutes and have not used My Memories to do so you are really missing out.   It took me all of 5 minutes to create this template page once I downloaded the program.  I've tried other programs and could never really get them to work for me the way I wanted and am amazed at the ease and comfort of use along with the affordability of the program.  You get a bunch of templates with the program and you can also incorporate your jpg and png backgrounds and elements from other sources to create your own pages instead of using the templates. I have so many pictures just sitting, waiting to be printed, and put in scrapbooks, most are from my digital camera so they are already loaded on my computer.

I am so excited to be able to share this program with you today because I love it so much and think you might too, especially those of you that procrastinate the way I do about sitting down and putting together a scrapbook from scratch.  This takes all the guess work out of scrapbooking and is so much fun, fast, and easy to use.  You can make it any size you want, print it out yourself, or have it professionally printed, bound, and shipped to you.  What a wonderful gift for Christmas for some lucky member of your family or especially for grandparents.

AWESOME SAVINGS FOR YOU!!!

I have found a way for you to get this amazing software at a more than affordable price.  Simply go to MY MEMORIES (click on the link) and enter STMMMS12541 to save $10 off the software $39.95 (reduced price of only $29.95) and a $10.00 coupon to use at the My Memories online store.  In reality, you are spending $19.95 for am amazing program and extras that will give you the freedom to create amazing scrapbooks, cards, and so much more.  Check it out and let me know what you think.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask and if I don't have the answer I'll be sure and get it for you or refer you to someone that can.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon.  I'll be sharing a scrapbook page with you on a weekly basis so be sure to check back next Thursday afternoon with a new page either from this album or for one I'll be creating from scrap and not using a template, along with possibly some freebies to use with the program every now and then.

Have a marvelous weekend!

"Love & Hugs" Carol

LOTV Stamped Feathered Friends

First, I would like to welcome my new followers and let you all know I am so happy you are here.  Hope you enjoy your visits and find a little inspiration to take back to your craft room.

Oh my gosh, it's already Sunday night and we have had a beautiful weekend.  The weather is gorgeous with low humidity and been in the 80's for the past week, 90's one day.  I love it but I'm so ready for some cooler weather, like low 70's, which is due to move in this week along with some much need rain.  We've had only a trace of rain for the past month and it's sooooooo dry here.  Enough chatter for now, got to get a card finished before bedtime.

I'm entering this card in two challenges: 

LOTV Challenge 115 - Let it Snow 

Christmas Challenges {with sketches}
Guess I'm going to have to figure out Dutch Time.  I missed it...sobs!

The image is from LOTV named "Stamped Feathered Friends" and is available HERE along with lots of other adorable new Christmas stamps.  I've colored using Copics, added Polar White Flower Soft for the snow, white velvet flock for the fur on her hat and coat.  The pink gem in the bow is from my stash as are the 3 at the top of the card.  I colored the Christmas ornaments and then added Gold and Stardust Stickles to make them sparkle.  The sentiments are also from LOTV, stamped and embossed with white embossing powder.  The lace is from WOC and attached to white ribbon and adhered with Wacky Tacky (I love this stuff for adding ribbon and lace to cards).  The snowflakes are made by the MS Snowflake punch and covered with Stardust Stickles.  The DP is from my stash and I think it's Bo Bunny, the white glittered and embossed paper is from Imaginesce.

Thanks so very much for stopping by.  Been too busy to get around to say hi to everyone but I do think I've made it to everyone that's left comments.  If I've missed coming to visit, please leave me a comment and I'll hop on over real soon.  I'm going to be taking a class at CMC and try to learn how to color with Distress Inks.... Wish me luck!

"Love & Hugs" Carol

Beautiful Warm Colors of Fall

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Canadian friends and bloggers who celebrate Thanksgiving at a time of the year different than those of us in the USA.  May you have a blessed day with family and friends celebrating this beautiful and festive time of the year.  The beautiful warm colors of fall with the reds, oranges, browns, yellows, and greens seems to be a favorite for a lot of us with cooler temperatures and low humidity.  After such a hot summer it is wonderful to be able to open up all the windows and feel the cool and crisp air.

Finally getting back into my craftroom after what seems like forever and I'm so lovin it!!  Here are a few challenges I've designed this card for and I sure hope you like it:

Pink {INK} Sketch - Sketch (altered sizes)

Stamptacular Sunday - PHOTO Inspiration

Shopping Our Stash - Thanksgiving or Thank You Card

Paper Sundaes - Lots of Layers

Anything Goes Challenge - Die cuts/Punches or Both

Paper Take Weekly - Anything Goes - Happy 4th Birthday

Elphine House - Tasty Treats

Elisabeth Bells World Challenge - Color Inspiration

Bells'n Whistles - Your Favorite Color Choices (Fall is mine this time of the year)

Phew, this is a lot for me.......

All of the items used on this card are from my stash, absolutely nothing new here.  The image is an Elisabeth Bell image from Bells'n Whistles named Hearty Thanksgiving and can be purchased HERE, stamped with Memento Ink and colored with Copics, Flower Soft for the grass.  The DP is from a year or two ago and I think it's Debbie Mum.  I cut out and used some of the items from the paper pack for embellishments, Marianne and Spellbinder's Dies.  Here is a side view that gives you a peek at the inside:

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope I've left you with a little inspiration today.  Oh, I almost forgot, I won the newest digi from The September Digi Bell's Hop and is she ever adorable (I'm Jumpin for Joy) - oops, not the name of the stamp...lol. You'll be seeing her soon.

Have a wonderful day!

"Love & Hugs" Carol

Halloween Colors for Christmas Cards - WHAT?

Keeping it pretty simple again this month.  Feel like it's December already and I need to hurry......lol  Time to slow down cause it's only October 1.  Here are one of my cards for CCAYR for October.  In the beginning I struggled with this one so I pretty much let the DP do the work for me.

The challenge this month at CCAYR is:

OK, we all know that there's another "holiday" in October and that's Halloween. So... your Christmas cards this month need to have at least one of what are considered Halloween colours (orange, green, purple, black). We'd also like to see a punch or die cut somewhere on your card and this can mean regular punches, Spellbinders dies, border punches, something that was purchased pre-done, etc!

DP is from Bo Bunny Blitzer Collection, Tree die is Elegant Evergreen by Cherry Lynn, stamp is WOJ (but darn if I can remember the name of it) colored with Copics and Cinnamon Stickles add to the ornaments.  I found this Joy Fold card over at Beccy Muir's blog and just loved it.  Can't believe how easy it was to put together and her dimensions were perfect.  I wanted something different and that I didn't remember seeing on anyone's blog yet so gave it a try.  I'll have another one of these to Joyfold cards share with you later in the month.

 

Now head on over to the CCAYR blog to see all the wonderful cards and inspiration by the DT.  After all, using Halloween colors on a Christmas card is somewhat different and they have done a wonderful job on creating cards that will inspire you.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'll be by to visit on Monday as company will all be gone, the baby is here, and I'll have a little peace and quiet for a little while.....I hope!  Keep those posts going as I'm sure there will be lots of delicious eye candy from you all that I can't wait to see.  Have a wonderful weekend!

"Hugs & Love" Carol (Granny)