Thanks for the Memories

I have not had a chance to craft today but did want to let everyone know how much these last few months of 2008 have ment to me. I have met so many lovely people and enjoyed looking at crafts galore. I know that 2009 will be wonderful as I get to know each of you better and maybe make some more new friends along the way. Thanks to people like Shirley who always comments. I hope she knows how great this makes me feel.

To all who read this, I have sent a special wish to the heavens for a fantastic 2009.
Hugs to All
Heather

Claudia`s Post Christmas Challenge

Good Morning all. This is my first after Christmas Challenge. Claudia of Pretty Pressings has a sketch out for a challenge and this is my take on it.


I received some beautiful paper form Basic Grey and I had to use some. I love this collection. These DP are from the Mistletoe and Pears collection. Don`t you love the color. The glitter paper is from DCWV and it is just the perfect color. Not green and not blue and certainly not turquoise....almost a hunter`s green. Love the sparkle it gives to the card.

I used two Magnolia stamps and colored them with my Prismacolored Pencils and OMS. I am learning on the markers but I so love my pencils. I love blending and shading with the pencils.


I used a Turquoise Spica Pen to highlight as well as my Inkadinkado white gel pen. The spica pen certainly dresses up am image...they just sparkle.
I used the largest square nestibility to cut the sentiment section for the inside and used CB dies to make the corner trims. The Remember When stamp is from Inkadinkado. I love it....it starts a multitude of sentiments.

So, guess what we`re doing today....taking down some decorations. We normally don`t start until New Years Day but today it seemed time so....off I go to the land of `Where the He_ _ is the box for this stupid ornament!

Wish me luck...this is always a trial to our marriage. I hate doing it and know it has to be done. Sounds like fun eh! Talk later.

Heather

Thank You So Much

I felt like making a very cheerful thank you card. I got this Inkadinkado stamp set for a gift at Christmas and just had to put it to ink today. I used versamark and versafine onyx black for the bird stamp and embossed it with detail clear powder. The flower trail is stamped with onyx black and colored with spica pens. I used dimensionals on both when I added them to the whisper white base but I kept the bottom section of each attached without dimensionals. Its hard to see this on the photo but the slant look great in the real. I used the JustRite Harmony Rectangle stamp set with the Bayton font. I used the 50 size on the Thank You and the 25 on the so much. I stamped using the Onyx but I should have used the versamark with detail clear powder as well...that`s my plan for the next one.
This little bird flair is also in this stampset and I used it on the inside of the card.

Today was my day to shop and I managed to buy a leather car coat at 50% off the already 25% reduced price so it was calling me to take it home. I have never had a leather coat before and love it. I went in looking for a purse but came home with a coat...not bad eh! I also had to go to Micheals to see what they had on special and found a great price on cricut cartridges...so 3 cartridges later I headed home. This is why I do not go shopping much....sales just call to me.

My DH and I went to BF house for dinner tonight and it was such a great night. Another couple joined us and we talked all evening. Now I am still up waiting for Son #1 to get his butt home and take his dogs. Someday I too will go to bed whenever I feel like it.

Talk tomorrow and thanks for all the lovely comments. It sure does make a person feel great.

Heather

New Year is Almost Here

Time to prepare for New Year`s Eve. Now that one big day is come and gone it is time to think New Year. This card is close to my heart. Every year I plan on seeing in the new year laughing and playing but instead, I usually am fighting off sleep and just wishing it would finally get here.

I love this stamp...sleeping Tilda. You see children all the time trying so hard to stay awake and not quite making it.
I used the Prismacolored Markers again. I think I will always love my pencil crayons for their blending ability but markers are certainly faster. I used spica pens to highlight on the hair and the dots on her nightgown. The tag and the clock are from Magnolia`s Christmas/Winter collection. The tag is so wonderful to use. It is small and has that wonderful ribbon on it.
I used the 5 petal punch from SU and cut one pinkish and one blue which I dotted with a blue spica pen. The other two pieces are from another SU punch. I attached it to the card using a black brad.I added this circle on the inside of the card. I have decided to try to always add a little something to the inside of the card.

The DP is from the $ store...can you believe . It is an 6x6 mini slab and is really nice. A little gift from Santa. The pink and blue cardstock are both scraps so no idea what it is.

I gave my husband a Wii for Christmas and we are have a tournament today with our nephew and it is a hoot. This toy is great family fun. You can get exercise and a huge amount of laughs which is also great for a person. If you have a chance to try it out go for it. I am disabled (something I rarely talk about) but even I can participate in all the games. It is good for your health and great fun. Gee maybe I should make a commercial or something.

Gotta go. I`m in the next game.

Talk later.

Heather

Thank You

Happy Boxing Day plus 1. I really hate to think the Season is almost over. Smudge, the oldest Yorkie will hate to give up his Christmas couch. This bed sits on the window seat and Smudge guards the house form there. He is such a cutie.

I had such a great Christmas. I got all kinds of cardstock and DP and Prismacolored Markers. I am so happy. I went with the same markers used by Michelle Zindorf. I used her advice and I am so happy. I am certainly just learning but so far I am enjoying the learning. So in the language of a newbie to markers....here's my first try.

This is one of the Magnolia stamps I won from Bea the first of the week. I love this image since it works for the entire winter not just Christmas. I colored it with both the markers and the pencils from Prismacolors. I highlighted with an Inkessentials pen. The Thank You stamp and punch are from SU Curly Tags.
I used Chocolate paper to cut out the ornamental die (CB) and used the hinge on the top and a swirl on the bottom right.

I tried to decorate the inside of the card using the DP from DCWV Pets Stack and another piece of the Ornamental die.I am using this as a Christmas Thank You so I will be using a white pen for journalling. The second side is wider than the front so the DP shows on the front.

This final photo shows the remainder of the hinge and how I used a die cut to attach the ribbon the the back of the card.

Well how do you think I did with the markers? Comments are so wonderful to read and I thank all who take the time to comment.

Have a great shopping day. All the sales are on now so its off to get the wrapping paper and lots of goodies for next Christmas. This is when I get a lot of my 2009 Christmas Goodies.

Hugs

Heather

Wishes for You

Just a quick wish for a Fantastic Merry Christmas. Its boxing day now and I want all to know I really missed blogging yesterday but had such a wonderful time with family. I will return full time later, just wanted you to know I am thinking of you all and extending wishes of great joy.
Hugs to All
Heather

Blog Candy Alert and Some Arrives

I just found another blog candy so go check this out.
http://spiralwhisper.blogspot.com/2008/12/new-designs-competition.html
Good Luck

Yesterday I received my Blog Candy Prize from Bea and it is wonderful. I would have been happy to have a real Bea card but the other gifts are absolutely fantastic.

Isn`t this wonderful. I can hardly wait to play with all these goodies. Thanks so much Bea.
Happy Holidays
Heather

Merry Christmas to all. I wish all bloggers and their families the perfect Holiday. May all your celebrations and wishes be just perfect for what ever holiday you are celebrating. I have met many new friends through blogging and look forward to 2009. Be Happy All.

For today`s post I am doing a card for a challenge. You had to show your enduring love for someone. Who could resist this wonderful stamp set from Magnolia. Tilda and Edward are about to kiss and I think this is wonderful. The eternal sign of romantic love is kissing so I send this card out to all lovers of Romantic Love and to my Dear Husband.

I colored with my Prismacolored pencils and OMS. I really love pencils. I am able to blend and shade with them. I asked for markers for Christmas so we`ll see how that turns out.

I used the CB and the largest Heart nestibility for Tilda and Edward to sit on. I highlighted with distress ink and stickles. There is a crystal heart on both Tilda and Edward. I layered two ribbons on the BG and used My Mind`s Eye Bohemian paper.

Not much spare time...still delivering gifts. Yesterday`s blizzard put me behind a day so the rush is on. My son has the car this am but this afternoon is mine.

Again have a wonderful Holiday and Talk soon.

Heather

New Year`s Resolutions

No more Christmas cards so unto New Years Day greeting. I know you are supposed to make resolutions but I`m just not good at that. Instead I made a card for other people to do the resolutions! Here is hoping they do a good job.

I used one of the Magnolia images Claudia Rosa sent me as part of her blog candy. I love this stamp. Tilda looks like she is seriouly following the rules. I used Prismacolored Pencils with stubs and OMS.

I need a flower on the top left and all mine are packed away for Christmas. I used SU punches to create this flower grouping. I am rather pleased with it.

I used papers from Making Memories. I used two coordinated papers for this sketch. Oops I forgot to explain the sketch. This card follows the sketch on Fridays Sketches. It is a great sketch and loads of fun. I really like this card. Hope you do too.

On the inside I used the Journal stamp again. I haven`t decided who to give it too but there is space for a short note.

Off the wrap again.

Happy Holidays

Heather

Office Gifts and Mega Blog Candy Alert

So today ends the time when I think I am going to kill my DH. Again this year, I had to panic and make 24 of these snowman pictures for my DH`s staff. I was told since Sept. that he had their gift looked after...something he bought after Christmas last year so I didn`t prepare anything. But when all the gifts were found and we started to wrap gifts....there were not enough so....off to the stamping table I went.

Honestly, I enjoy making gifts for his staff because they are always so appreciative of them but the week before Christmas is just too close for comfort.

So what did I make...this.I used my favorite shadow box frame from the $ store. It comes with 2 mats that I used the bayer to cover. This time I used Rose Red ink and left quite a bit of white showing. For the image I used Wishing You Cheer from SU. I masked the snowman and the tree to put in the background snowman. I painted using Spica Pens and highlighted the snow with diamond dust the image really sparkles.

It was really hard to produce a photo that shows true colors and the sparkle but trust me it is very cute. I framed the image in scraps of red and black papers and put it on either silver or gold shimmer paper from The Paper Company. When I looked at the first photo it looks like the BG paper goes from silver to gold but it is actually silver. The magic of the camera strikes again.

So, I finished them last night and wrapped them all for him to give away tonight at their staff party....the one I can`t even go to. Imagine!

Well it is the last day of school for the boys and then Christmas break starts. My Oldest son works but he also managed to get his vacation over Christmas. I looked forward to spending time with them but I think they have plans to spend time with friends...sure hope they can fit me in for some quality time!

Almost forgot to say Get Yourself over to this blog for some Mega Blog Candy.
http://charmedcrafts.blogspot.com/2008/12/mega-mega-mega-christmas-blog-candy.html
Trust me it is fantastic. Good Luck to all.


Off to wake the crowd up for another day. Talk later.
Happy Holidays to all.
Heather

Card for Francesca & Christmas Decor

This is the card I made for the Cards for a Cause explain in the previous post. I used a Tilda from the Winter Christmas stamps. I love using 2 different colors on a dress and I am pleased with this image.

Since she is sitting I used an Inkadinkado Journalling stamp to work something like a cloud. I had fun coloring in the design. I used Prismacolored Pencils with OMS. I used a pink glaze pen to add some dimension to the card. The Journal stamp is on dimensions to create texture as well.


I used paper from the DCWV Glittered Christmas paper and whisper white. I used the Dotted Swiss ebmossing folder and the cuttlebug for the top have. I used a ribbon slide to attach the sentiment. I hope this card gives some joy to Francesca`s family.


Now onto to the Decorations. Todays photos are of the Guest Room. The tree is decorated with my son`s Beanie Babies ( from childhood).

#1 View from doorway #2 shelves along the wall facing bed. #3 top of dresser

#4 another dresser top

Time to go get supper ready. Hope you have time to make a card for Francesca and that you have a wonderful day.

Happy Holidays

Heather

Help Francesca Blog Candy

I found out about this wonderful Christmas gift that I would like you all to take part in. I know it is a very busy time for all but just please, take the time to read this and help Andrea make her friend know people around the world care about their baby. Andrea calls it her blog candy for a cause so please check it out here:
http://craftyengineering.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-candy-for-cause-ii.html.

As Promised Christmas Decor Again

I promised I would show the village at night all lite up. Here is one of the village all ablaze.

Now isn`t that something! It is so gorgeous in real life. But now onto the Dining Room.

#1 The table all set. The chairs have covers on them ...snowman or Santa.

#2 My 90 year old Mom made the angels that hold the silver. She had them done just in time for the Open House.
#3 The theme for this room is snowman. The buffet under the window shows Snowland. Oops, I forgot to turn the lights on in the tree.

#4 The sideboard on the other corner of the room also is covered with Snowmen but I remember to turn on the tree.#5 A china case holding....guess what.....yes Snowmen.

So, what do you think of the dining room....snowman central? I must thank all who are commenting. It does make a person feel great. I plan on having something craft like to post tomorrow. We are in crisis in the house...someone took my craft scissors and I cannot make anything! I am about to phone the police because `no on`in this house has taken it!

Talk tomorrow.

Happy Holidays

Heather

Sections 3 &4 Acrylic Album and Blog Candy Alert

It seems fitting that today I show this section of my DH`s gift...the animals. Yesterday started off terribly. I had let the dogs (6) out for their morning run in our fenced in yard. This yard is attached to the back deck where we have a pool. Yesterday was a normal Dec. morning in the Maritimes 4* Celsius and the pool was almost completely frozen. Its the almost in life that cause so much pain and yesterday was an example. I checked on the dogs and then decided about 5 min. later that it was awfully cold for the little ones so I went to let them back in as soon as the family all left for school or work. The problem was apparent as soon as I went to the door...the little pup had fallen into the pool and was drowning! I used my cane to lift her out and she was unable to walk. I think she had been in the pool about 5 minutes but she was in a terrible state. I grabbed towels and blankets and rubbed and rubbed. Thank God for speaker phones because I was able to call my husband to come back home and help...this is the favorite pup in the house and I was not sure I could save her alone. She was in a really bad state. We rubbed and used a blow dryer to get her warmed up. I had put her next to my body and that and the rubbing seemed to help. Finally she perked up and I am proud to say she live to order us all around again.

Our dogs are a part of our family so this was a horrible time. The pup is pictured in the top left corner and only weighs 3 pounds so she was in a really bad spot.

The final section is supposed to sum it all up. I noticed that one of the stars had fallen off and has since been glued back on. This is our human family and I wrote the center section.

I tried to be real in this...not too lovey dovey. I mean what I wrote and I know it will be a precious gift for my husband...the great guy.
For some reason I seemed to have lost the enlarger on my photos and I realize you couldn`t read this so here is what it says:

The Story of Blake
Who is this man that some call Dad, others Boss and I call...well sometimes Idiot but always My Dear Husband. This is the man who loves to go to auctions and yard sales to buy those, oh so special, Christmas items. This is also the man who demands that we all tidy up everyplace. This man has gone to hockey games, ballgames and driven boys to all kinds of activities. This is the man who you don`t take to the SPCA unless you have room for one more animal. This is the man who loves celebrations that allow him to dress up or to decorate. Finally this is the man who makes our family complete, who looks after us all, and who loves us and we love him.

I now have to find out what color his new office is to be. He moves into it on Monday next week. I plan on attaching the puzzle together and framing it on a coordinated board. The local hardware store will hopefully cut it to size for me. I will take a photo to show the finished project.
Found a new blog to day and she has blog candy. Go on over and check it out.
http://screppa.blogspot.com/

Be back later with next set of Decoration photos.
Happy Holidays
Heather

Section 2 Acrylic Album/More Decorations

Well I finally have the album done. This is section 2 and the photos are our family...one section only. These are our boys and nieces and nephews. I have decided that my most hated part of blogging is taking photos involving acrylic! I want you to know that this looks so much better in real life...no flash reflection.
I wish you could see the shimmer/shine from this `family`acrylic piece. I should have ordered it in color but I choose clear and had to outline the letters with stickles...lots of sparkle now. The star is grungeboard painted with Twinkling H2Os.

Now onto the decor of our Christmas Home. These photos are from our Living Room.

#1 This is our 9.5 ft tree. It is so full of decorations and revolves. Couldn`t show this in the photo but it slowly turns so you can see the entire tree.
The treetop is a Black Angel...a baby gift for our second adopted son. Friends also made the Doll angel in the top right hand corner. She is made using a baby doll and a tomato stand. She is beautiful but this year the glue from a glue gun had turned yellow so had to be covered. We used snow from a can to try and hide some of the yellow. Guess I need to make a new dress for next year.

#2 is the fireplace scene. My father did the painting for us the year we were married...just before he passed. It had always hung in our living room at Christmas.

#3 Is the Water scene of our `small`village. Three years ago my husband`s mother passed and he decided to honor her at Christmas with a village. It started with 10 homes but now has many more. I think it has reached the `addiction`stage for DH. He takes all my Michael`s coupons and that is simply not correct.

#4 the circus of the village.#5 / #6 The Mountain Scene of the Village followed by the village service center.#7 This is the largest section and it is the town center.I will take a photo showing it altogether and lite hopefully later this week. My good lens for my camera had to be sent away to be fixed and they phoned today to say it was back. It will allow me to photo the entire village and show it all connected...hopefully.

So are you beginning to get the drift...we are addicted to Christmas in this home. My sons threaten us with a massive yard sale each year...but demand it all go up each year.

So off to wrap presents...not my favorite job. I always seem to be hunting...tape, scissors, tags, pen. When I finally find them all, the fun is gone. But I do love watching someone open their gift and choosing them/making them is great fun. So talk later.

Happy Holidays

Heather

Acrylic Album and More Christmas Decorations

Happy Holidays All. Things are really hoping around here. Last night we went to the most amazing presentation called the Nativity Story. A church had their whole gym set up to look like Bethlehem so that you could experience the world Jesus was born into. It was fantastic and so realistic. Once you walk through this area you went into the Church where a play was presented It was all Wonderful. Such a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas.

Now onto our home. I tried to take a photo to show you one corner of the Acrylic Puzzle I am making for my DH.

I am calling it the Story of Blake. This is the top left section and since it is clear I didn`t know how to attractively photo it...hence boring white. I am having a great time making this. Hope he enjoys it. Section 2 tomorrow.

I have some more photos of our Christmas Home. These are all from our Family Room/Stamping Room. Hope you enjoy them.

1. My wonderful fireplace. The angels on top were a present from DH this year. He bought them in July and gave them to me as a Wedding Anniversary.

#2
The angels hanging underneath are from my childhood. I have loved these since I was a young child. They are probably my most precious decoration.

#3 This is my absolutely favorite decoration. It was made to celebrate our two boys...one white and one black. The year we adopted our second child my SIL had this made for us and I love it. It hangs in the livingroom on the large tree...9.5ft.
#4 this is the tree in our Family Room/Stamping Room. All these ornaments are non breakable so the dogs do not cause a great deal of mess. They do love to roll ornaments around after they (actually just the puppy) get them off the tree.
#5 Tree decorated with only angels.#6 The tree and angels on my shelves behind my desk. I have to put away everything on this top shelf so that we can decorated the top. Blue material hangs infront to cover my shelves. I hate this material.

#7 This beautiful Nativity set was given to us and it is on the shelf above the family computer.

#8 My angel collection is found on the stand that was built to surround my DH`s very large TV.

Happy Holidays

Heather