A blizzard of Blitzen

Remember Blitzen papers from Basic Grey? I loved those. I used a bunch to scrap Christmas a year or so ago (or was it two?) but I still had paper left. So, I decided to use them to make my Christmas cards this year. I originally thought I would get through all my paper this weekend, but I am not even close. I little patterned paper goes a long way!

The first card was made for the Mojo Monday Sketch on Poetic Artistry.
I have such a hard time using sketches, but Julee's seem more natural to me. I decided I had to use the Merry and Bright SU set - I just love snowmen and this one was so cute! The set is in the mini catalog, so you only have until the 30th if you want one...

Stamp: SU Merry and Bright
Ink: SU Basic Black, Real Red, Old Olive and Only Orange (coloring was done with the markers)
Paper: Basic Grey Blitzen, SU Real Red and Old Olive
Punches: SU 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 circles, SU scallop

Pretty simple, isn't it?




The next little batch of cards (on the right) were all the same supplies as above. I actually made 4 of each style. That way I can mass produce some easy cards but not get too bored. Somehow, 8 cards is my limit. I wanted to play with the glitter my friend Stacey gifted me, so the red on the snowman and the tree is colored with Red Real for a base, and then I used the 2 way pen to attach Making Memories glitter. This stuff is solid coverage. I kept coloring just in case, but I am not sure you can see any of it under the glitter.

Then I started making the little vignette cards (see left). They take longer, so no real multiples here. But this little set is so cute together, I had to put all the images on at least some of the cards.


I think the bottom card was inspired by a sketch on www.splitcoaststampers.com, but I did not keep track of which one. I just kind of made the card as I had the sketch in mind. I am not sure whether or not it is true to the sketch or even close for that matter. Of course, I had to glitter these trees too.






Speaking of SplitCoast, the Chrismas card frenzy started because I wanted to try this star tag punch tutorial. I made the red star last Friday (card on right again) and then really wanted to make a card to put with it. The star was really not hard, though I think it would have been cuter with patterned paper on the inside. The Blitzen papers were a natural with the colors I happened to use for the star. Since I never do anything with them, I wanted to use the tags that come with the kits, which explains the background...

(Sorry, I cannot remember who makes the metal flower - it was just in my Scrap Rack and I wanted to use something in the middle).

Okay, last one...
The stamp on here is actually from 2 years ago. I bought it when it was on sale after Christmas last year from my friend Eva - who, incidentally, just started selling her supplies on line. She has some fun stuff, so check out her store. I buy a lot of my Adirondack/Ranger and non SU stamps from her. This just uses more leftover Blitzen and a prime flower I have been saving forever. Kind of hoping it works for Christmas due to the color. I am so addicted to those Primas...

Well, I have some more card basis cut, but I need work to slow down a bit before I can finish them. Maybe this weekend will work.

Thanks for checking out what I have so far.

Donation card

Stampin' Up does some with with Ronald McDonald House. This year, we are making little packets of holiday cards for the residents. So, I made a bunch of these cards with the Snow Burst set I am so in love with. I may be making a lot of my own cards with this set. The layout design was inspired by Jennifer MacGuire's floral cards on 2Peas.

Stamps: Stampin' Up Snow Burst
Ink: Encore Metallic
Cardstock: Club Scrap
Paint (star center): Ranger Adirondack Pearls
Ribbon and cord: Stampin Up

A fast, fun digi page....

I finally learned how to use a digi template! Jessica Sprague is giving a mini album away with a page each day in December. I guess this page is an early bird. She had outstanding directions on how to use the template, so I learned something new and got this page done in about 15 minutes this morning. It is a layered .psd file, so I could take off the element I did not want on my page and I just added the photos and the red swirls, which are by Shabby Princess from her free kit last year (recolored). Wasn't that easy?

Give it a try:
http://spraguelab.squarespace.com/blog/2007/11/23/photoshop-friday-daily-december-mini-album.html

Happy Thanksgiving!

I thought I would share the little card I made for my brother and his wife. They are doing Thanksgiving for the first time at their house and seemed a bit stressed about it. So, I thought this may be a good pick-me-up. All colors are Stampin Up (Old Olive, Only Orange, Creamy Caramel and Whisper White). The stamp sets are retired Lovely Leaves and More Great Greetings. Giga scallop punch by EK Success - and I used to Coluzzle for the first time to make the circle shapes. It worked so well! I may be using that again a lot more.

I am off to make mashed potatoes, green beans and a salad to help out for dinner.

Have a great Turkey Day everyone!

KAYAKING!

It was awesome! I took kayak lessons last summer, but have only been able to go practice on sit-on-tops. Sunday I got to use the faster and more comfortable ocean kayaks. My friend R. came with me and we had a blast paddling around the harbor. I thought I would show you a few pictures. Not exactly graceful with the PFD on, but hey, a good time was had by all.

First Dive Photos

A couple of weeks ago, I got certified in diving. It was so fun - and kind of exciting! Yesterday, I went on my first post-certification dive. I had bought a case for my little camera and went to town. I thought I would share some of those photos. Location is Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach.

Sea Urchins... yummy - and so cute underwater!

There were lots of these bright yellow fish (garabaldi, I am told). I loved them because they showed up so well in pictures.


This star fish was HUGE - over a foot across.


This little bitty guy was cute too! Not as magnificent, but cute.


Sea plants. They were really more colorful. I guess one day I will need an underwater camera with a strobe. For now, this will have to do for sharing.

I forgot what this was. One of the guys diving with us did tell me though. It was maybe the size of a large fist.

And lastly, my dive buddy was my ex, Jim. It was his first post cert dive too. Not the perfect dive position, but hey, we both just swam the best we could. And as long as I was floating and not sitting on the bottom, I was calling it good!

No pictures of me because I had the camera. Mauricio took some of me for my certification dive, but I don't have his pictures yet. If they are good, maybe I will share them later.